the 'Times'
to-morrow? Their words too are still in the air, to endure there to
all eternity. Hm! How the air must be crammed with nonsense! Two sounds
sometimes produce a silence; perhaps ideas neutralize one another in
some analogous way. No, my dear; you are dead and gone and done with,
and I shall be dead and gone and done with too soon to leave me leisure
to fool myself with hopes of immortality. Poor Hetty! Well, good-by, my
darling. Let us pretend for a moment that you can hear that; I know it
will please you."

All this was in a half-articulate whisper. When he ceased he still bent
over the body, gazing intently at it. Even when he had exhausted the
subject, and turned to go, he changed his mind, and looked again for a
while. Then he stood erect, apparently nerved and refreshed, and left
the room with a firm step. The woman was waiting outside. Seeing that he
was less distressed than when he entered, she said:

"I hope you are satisfied, sir!"

"Delighted! Charmed! The arrangements are extremely pretty and tasteful.
Most consolatory." And he gave her half a sovereign.

"I thank you, sir," she said, dropping a curtsey. "The poor young lady!
She was anxious to see you, sir. To hear her say that you were the only
one that cared for her! And so fretful with her mother, too. 'Let him be
told that I am dangerously ill,' says she, 'and he'll come.' She didn't
know how true her word was, poor thing; and she went off without being
aware of it."

"Flattering herself and flattering me. Happy girl!"

"Bless you, I know what her feelings were, sir; I have had experience."
Here she approached him confidentially, and whispered: "The family were
again' you, sir, and she knew it. But she wouldn't listen to them. She
thought of nothing, when she was easy enough to think at all, but of
your coming. And--hush! Here's the old gentleman."

Trefusis looked round and saw Mr. Jansenius, whose handsome face
was white and seamed with grief and annoyance. He drew back from the
proffered hand of his son-in-law, like an overworried child from an
ill-timed attempt to pet it. Trefusis pitied him. The nurse coughed and
retired.

"Have you been speaking to Mrs. Jansenius?" said Trefusis.

"Yes," said Jansenius offensively.

"So have I, unfortunately. Pray make my apologies to her. I was rude.
The circumstances upset me."

"You are not upset, sir," said Jansenius loudly. "You do not care a
damn."

Trefusis recoiled.

"You damned