Estelle happened to visit Mr. Churchouse and he explained the tragedy.

"If you attend the funeral, the boy might tolerate you," he said. "Once
break down his suspicion and get to his wayward heart, good would come
of it He is feeling this very much and in a melting mood."

"I'll stop, if he won't be vexed."

Mr. Churchouse went into the garden and praised Abel's energies.

"A beautiful grave; and it is right and proper that Peter Grim should
lie here, because he often hunted here."

"He caught the mice that live in holes at the bottom of the wall," said
Abel.

"If you are ready, we will now bury him. Mother must come to the
funeral, and Estelle must come, because she was very, very fond of poor
Peter and she would think it most unkind of us if we buried him while
she was not there. She will bring some flowers for the grave, and you
must get some flowers, too, Abel. We must, in fact, each put a flower on
him."

The boy frowned at mention of Estelle, but forgot her in considering the
further problem.

"He liked the mint bed. I'll put mint on him," he said.

"An excellent thought. And I shall pluck one of the big magnolias
myself."

Returning, Ernest informed Estelle that she must be at the funeral and
she went home for a bunch of blossoms to grace the tomb. She picked
hot-house flowers, hoping to propitiate Abel. There woke a great hope in
her to win him. But she failed.

He glowered at her when she appeared walking beside his mother, while
before them marched Mr. Churchouse carrying the departed. When the
funeral was ended and Abel left alone, he sat down by the grave, cried,
worked himself into a very mournful mood and finally exhibited anger.
Why he was angry he did not know, or against whom his temper grew; but
his great loss woke resentment. When he felt miserable, somebody was
always blamed by him for making him feel so. No immediate cause for
quarrel with anything smaller than fate challenged his unsettled mind;
then his eyes fixed upon Estelle's flowers, and since Estelle was always
linked in his thoughts with his father, and his father represented an
enemy, he began to hate the flowers and wish them away. He heard his
mother calling him, but hid from her and when she was silent, came back
to the grave again.

Meantime Estelle and Ernest drank tea and spoke of Abel.

"When grief has relaxed the emotions, we may often get in a kindly word
and give an enemy something to think about afterwards," he s