last words she spoke to me,--did I tell you
she had a third stroke, and died suddenly, just as we were coming
home?--her last words were about Cass. Thought she needed looking
after, ... cheering up.--It was a great comfort to me, Peignton, that
the old Mater and Cass were on good terms at the last!"

"I am quite sure it was," Dane said sincerely. He was trying to banish
a picture that rose before him, of the paralysed old woman with the dead
body, and the live eyes that watched, hour after hour, the beautiful
tragic face of her son's wife. How much had the old Mater seen? How
much had she divined?

The next morning Dane stood by Teresa's side in the graveyard of the old
church, and drove back to the Cottage by her side. In the afternoon he
paid a second visit, and found the Vicar and his wife drinking tea with
the mourners. The two girls were silent and self-contained, but the
emotions of the day had had an exciting effect on Mrs Mallison's
nerves, with the gruesome result that she appeared to be in the highest
of spirits. Her voluble tongue discussed times past, present, and to
come, and very pointedly she gave her hearers to understand that no
condolences were necessary on the score of poverty.

"We shall give up the Cottage--it is unnecessarily large now that Papa's
two rooms will be empty. Is there any chance of Oak Lea falling vacant,
Mrs Evans? That's the kind of house that would suit us, wouldn't it,
Mary? Two nice sitting-rooms, three or four bedrooms, and not too much
garden to manage with a man once a week. I should like to keep on the
cart. So useful for paying calls at a distance. There _is_ a small
stable at Oak Lea, I think? We'll see! We'll see! I shall quite enjoy
a small, compact house. Mary and I don't need much space. Teresa says
we are not to count on her."

Everyone looked at Teresa, and Teresa stared fixedly at her cup. Not a
tinge of colour stole into her cheek.

When the Vicar rose to leave, his wife slipped her hand through Mary's
arm, and led her across the hall into the dining-room. At such a time
it was natural that there should be "private words" and no one exhibited
any surprise. Mrs Evans closed the door behind her, and held Mary's
hand in a firm, motherly grasp.

"Mary, dear--I am a very old friend,--may I give you a word of advice?
In these days of grief and emotion, don't be tempted into making plans,
which you may regret later on. Wait until you have had ti