, till the whole earth
lay wrapped in solemn splendour--and then at last, through the open
gates, red, royal, triumphant, the sun-god came.

There came a moment in which all things were touched with the glory, all
things were made new. And in that moment, sudden as a flash of light, a
bird of pure white plumage appeared before their eyes, hovered an
instant; then flew, mounting on wide, gleaming wings, straight into the
dawn....

Even while they watched, it vanished through the gates of gold. And only
the gracious sunshine of a new day remained....

A low voice spoke from the chamber of Death. They turned from the vision
and saw Eustace standing in the doorway.

He was very white, but absolutely calm. There was a nobility about him at
that moment that sent a queer little throb to Dinah's heart. He held out
his hand, not to her, but to Scott. "She is gone," he said.

Scott went to him; she saw their hands meet. There was no agitation about
either of them.

"In her sleep?" Scott said.

"Yes. We didn't even know--till it was over."

They turned into the room, still hand grasping hand.

And Dinah knelt up and stretched out her arms to the shining morning sky.
Something within her was whispering that she and Scott had seen more of
the passing of Isabel than any of those who had watched beside her bed.
And in the quiet of that wonderful morning, she offered her quivering
thanks to God.

CHAPTER XXVIII

CONSOLATION

Of the long hours that followed that wonderful dawning Dinah never had
any very distinct recollection. Even Scott seemed to forget her for a
while, and it was old Biddy who presently found her curled up on the
window-seat with her head upon the sill asleep--Biddy with her eyes very
bright and alert, albeit deeply rimmed with red.

She came to the childish, drooping figure, murmuring tender words. She
put wiry arms about her and lifted her to her feet.

"There! Come to your own room and rest, my lamb!" she said. "Old Biddy'll
take care of ye, aroon."

Dinah submitted with the vague docility of a brain but half-awakened. To
be cared for and petted by Biddy was no new thing in her experience. She
even felt as if the old crystal Alpine days had returned, as Biddy
undressed her and presently tucked her into bed. Later, still in
semi-consciousness, she drank the hot milk that the old woman brought
her, and then sank into a deep, deep sleep.

She awakened from that sleep with a sense of well-b