think they are, for they sing sometimes of you, but oftener of
Bessie and a journey far away where she is going to be happy when we are
both gone and the winds are blowing across our graves--over there," and
he pointed toward the little yard where his father and mother were lying
side by side, and where he soon would lie.

For an instant Daisy shuddered, and fancied she felt an icy chill, as if
her husband's words were words of prophecy and a blast were blowing upon
her from some dark, cold grave. But she was too young to die; death was
not for her these many years; it was only waiting for this enfeebled
man, whom she wheeled back to the house where Bessie was, and where the
birds he heard so often came and sang to him of green fields and flowery
meadows beyond the sea, where he saw always Bessie with a look of rest
and sweet content upon her face, instead of the tired, watchful, waiting
look habitual to it now.

And so, listening to the birds, he fell asleep, as was his wont, and
Daisy shook off the chill which had oppressed her, and busied herself
with the preparations for her journey.

CHAPTER XVII.

MRS. ROSSITER-BROWNE.

In due time Mrs. Rossiter-Browne and her daughter, Augusta, came to the
"George," with their maid, and took possession of the best rooms, and
scattered shillings and half-crowns with a lavishness which made every
servant their slave. Of course Daisy called, bearing Bessie's
compliments and regrets, and then Mrs. Browne and Augusta came to
Stoneleigh in the finest turn-out which the hotel could boast, for
though the distance was short, Mrs. Browne never walked when she could
ride, and on this occasion she was out for a drive, "to see the elephant
of Bangor, trunk and all, for she was bound nothing should escape her
which she ought to see, if she died for it, and she guessed she should
before she got round home, as she was completely tuckered out with
sight-seeing," she said, as she sank pantingly into an easy-chair in
the large cool room, which Daisy had made very bright and attractive
with fresh muslin curtains, a rug, a table-spread, and some tidies
brought from Nice. This room, which was only used in summer, had on the
floor a heavy Axminster, which had done service for forty years at
least, but still showed what it had been, and spoke of the former
grandeur of the place, as did the massive and uncomfortable chairs of
solid mahogany, the old pier-glass against the wall, and the queer