trifle, had now not a tear. Her grief was as yet too deep, or
perhaps more truly sorrow and mourning had not begun while the influence
of her husband's spirit was about her still.

It was time to set forth, and the small party of mourners met in the
long corridor. Mr. Edmonstone would have given his daughter his arm, but
she said--

'I beg your pardon, dear papa, I don't think I can;' and she walked
alone and firmly.

It was a strange sight that English funeral, so far from England. The
bearers were Italian peasants. There was a sheet thrown over the coffin
instead of a pall, and this, with the white dress of the young widow,
gave the effect of the emblematic whiteness of a child's funeral; and
the impression was heightened by the floating curling white clouds of
vapour rising in strange shrouded shadowy forms, like spirit mourners,
from the narrow ravines round the grave-yard, and the snowy mountains
shining in the morning light against the sky.

Gliding almost like one of those white wreaths of mist, Amabel walked
alone, tearless and calm, her head bent down, and her long veil falling
round her in full light folds, as when it had caught the purple light
on her wedding-day. Her parents were close behind, weeping more for the
living than the dead, though Guy had a fast hold of their hearts; and
his own mother could scarce have loved him better than Mrs. Edmonstone
did. Lastly, were Anne and Arnaud, sincere mourners, especially Arnaud,
who had loved and cherished his young master from childhood.

They went to the strangers' corner of the grave-yard, for, of course
the church did not open to a member of another communion of the visible
church; but around them were the hills in which he had read many a
meaning, and which had echoed a response to his last chant with the
promise of the blessing of peace.

The blessing of peace came in the precious English burial-service, as
they laid him to rest in the earth, beneath the spreading chestnut-tree,
rendered a home by those words of his Mother Church--the mother who had
guided each of his steps in his orphaned life. It was a distant grave,
far from his home and kindred, but in a hallowed spot, and a most fair
one; and there might his mortal frame meetly rest till the day when he
should rise, while from their ancestral tombs should likewise awaken the
forefathers whose sins were indeed visited on him in his early death;
but, thanks to Him who giveth the victory, in death wi