th's heart warmed to him
for the first time. Grief has this that is noble in it--it accepts
all sympathy, come whence it may. She encouraged the lad by a few kind
words, and took his hand at parting.

Before noon Frank returned with a second message. His father desired to
know whether Mr. Pendril was not expected at Combe-Raven on that day.
If the lawyer's arrival was looked for, Frank was directed to be in
attendance at the station, and to take him to the cottage, where a
bed would be placed at his disposal. This message took Miss Garth by
surprise. It showed that Mr. Clare had been made acquainted with his
dead friend's purpose of sending for Mr. Pendril. Was the old man's
thoughtful offer of hospitality another indirect expression of the
natural human distress which he perversely concealed? or was he aware of
some secret necessity for Mr. Pendril's presence, of which the bereaved
family had been kept in total ignorance? Miss Garth was too heart-sick
and hopeless to dwell on either question. She told Frank that Mr.
Pendril had been expected at three o'clock, and sent him back with her
thanks.

Shortly after his departure, such anxieties on Magdalen's account as
her mind was now able to feel were relieved by better news than her last
night's experience had inclined her to hope for. Norah's influence had
been exerted to rouse her sister; and Norah's patient sympathy had
set the prisoned grief free. Magdalen had suffered severely--suffered
inevitably, with such a nature as hers--in the effort that relieved her.
The healing tears had not come gently; they had burst from her with a
torturing, passionate vehemence--but Norah had never left her till
the struggle was over, and the calm had come. These better tidings
encouraged Miss Garth to withdraw to her own room, and to take the rest
which she needed sorely. Worn out in body and mind, she slept from sheer
exhaustion--slept heavily and dreamless for some hours. It was between
three and four in the afternoon when she was roused by one of the female
servants. The woman had a note in her hand--a note left by Mr. Clare
the younger, with a message desiring that it might be delivered to Miss
Garth immediately. The name written in the lower corner of the envelope
was "William Pendril." The lawyer had arrived.

Miss Garth opened the note. After a few first sentences of sympathy and
condolence, the writer announced his arrival at Mr. Clare's; and then
proceeded, apparently in his