, and to
see a vague mass of beautiful flowers within--white and purple flowers,
and wreaths of shining dark round leaves. With a quick-beating heart she
stepped softly inside, and went to kneel at the nearer coffin, and cover
her face with her shaking hands. The thick sweetness of the wet leaves
and blossoms enveloped her. Candles were burning; there was no other
light.

Two or three other women were in the room, catching their breath up
through their nostrils with little gasps, pressing folded handkerchiefs
against their trembling mouths, letting fresh tears well from their
tear-reddened eyes. Chris was standing a few feet away from the
white-clad, flower-circled, radiant sleeper who had been Alice; his arms
were folded, his splendid dark gaze fell upon her with a sort of sombre
calm; he seemed entirely unconscious of the pitying and sorrowful
friends who were moving noiselessly to and fro.

In the candlelight there was a wavering smile on Alice's quiet face, her
broad forehead was unruffled, and her mouth mysteriously sweet. Norma's
eyes fell upon a familiar black coat, on the kneeling woman nearest her,
and with a start she recognized Aunt Kate.

They left the room together a few minutes later, and Norma led her aunt
to her own room, where they talked tenderly of the dead. The older woman
was touched by the slender little black figure, and badly shaken by the
double tragedy, and she cried quite openly. Norma had Regina send her up
some tea, and petted and fussed about her in her little daughterly way.

"I saw about Miss Alice this morning, but I had no idea the poor old
lady----!" Mrs. Sheridan commented sadly. "Well, well, it seems only
yesterday that here, in this very house--and they were all young
then----" Aunt Kate fell silent, and mused for a moment, before adding
briskly: "But now, will they want you, Norma, after the funeral, I mean?
Wolf wrote me----"

"I don't think Aunt Annie wants me now," Norma said, and with a
heightened colour she added, suddenly, "But I belong here, now, Aunt
Kate--I know who I am at last!"

Mrs. Sheridan's face did not move; but an indefinable tightness came
about her mouth, and an indefinable sharpness to her eyes. She looked at
Norma without speaking.

"Aunt Marianna told me," the girl said, simply. "You're sorry," she
added, quickly, "I can see you are!"

"No--I wouldn't say that, Baby!" But Mrs. Sheridan spoke heavily, and
ended on a sigh. There was a short silence.