was, indeed, anxious
to get the affair settled and to dismiss Denasia from her life for
ever. Her lawyer and appraiser were busy when Denasia arrived, and
without ceremony each article specified in Roland's list was examined
and valued. Elizabeth offered her sister-in-law no courtesy; she
barely bowed in response to her greeting, and there was a final very
severe struggle as to values. Mrs. Burrell had certainly hoped to
satisfy Denasia with a thousand pounds, but the official adjustment
was sixteen hundred pounds, and for this sum Roland's widow, who was
irritated by her sister-in-law's evident scorn and dislike, stubbornly
stood firm.

It is probable that Elizabeth would also have turned stubborn and have
suffered the articles to go to the auction-room had not her personal
pride and interests demanded the sacrifice. But she had already
introduced Lord Sudleigh to these family treasures, and she could not
endure to go to Sudleigh Castle and take with her no heirlooms to be
surety for her respectability. So that, after all, Denasia won her
rights easily, because a man whom she had never seen and never even
heard of pleaded her case for her. But she had no exceptional favour.
It is the people whom we do not know that are often our helpers. It is
the people who seem to have no possible connection with us that are
often the tools used by fate for our fortune.

When the transaction was fully over and Denasia had Elizabeth's cheque
in her pocket the day was nearly over. The business agents left
hurriedly and Denasia was going with them, when Elizabeth said:
"Return a moment, if you please, Mrs. Tresham. I have heard nothing
from you about my brother. I think it is your duty to give me some
information. I am very miserable," and she sat down and covered her
face. Her sobs, hardly restrained, touched Denasia. She was sorry for
the weeping woman, for she knew that if Elizabeth had loved any human
creature truly and unselfishly, it was her brother Roland.

"What can I tell you?" she asked.

"Something to comfort me, if you are not utterly heartless. Had he
doctors? help? comforts of any kind?"

"He had everything that money and love could procure. He died in Mr.
Lanhearne's house. I was at his side. Whatever could be done by human
skill to save his life was done."

"Did he name me often?"

"Yes."

"And you never said a word--never would have done--you were going away
without telling me. How could you be so cruel?"