Did you hear what he said,
Michael?--that he was glad that he lay there; that it was all as it
should be? If ever a man yielded his life willingly, Cyril did!'

'His life was so hard, you see.'

'Yes; but he would have given it all the same if his happiness had been
perfect. He would not have stood by and seen even a beggar perish, he
was so generous. You would have done it yourself, Michael.'

'I do not know,' he returned with a shudder; 'I would not answer for
myself: it was such an awful death!'

'But I can answer for you,' she replied calmly: 'you would have done it
if he had not been beforehand.'

And then she moved away from him, and began to arrange the few flowers
that the people of the house had sent up to her.

Michael waited until she had finished. She was exhausted and weary, he
knew, and he was anxious to take her to South Audley Street, where her
mother would be awaiting them. Michael had telegraphed to her earlier in
the day, and the answer had come that she was already on her way.

Audrey made an attempt to see Mrs. Blake before she left, but Biddy
would not admit her.

'It will drive my mistress crazy to see anyone,' she said. 'She has
quieted down a bit, and the doctor has given me some stuff to make her
sleep; and his orders were that I was to keep her as still as possible.'
And after this Audrey dared not persist.

But it grieved her to leave poor Mollie in that desolate house, the girl
seemed so utterly alone; but Michael said he had spoken to the woman of
the house, and that she had promised to look after her.

'We ought not to take her with us, dear Audrey,' he said gently, but
firmly; 'it is her duty to stay with her mother.' And Audrey acquiesced
a little reluctantly.

Mrs. Ross cried abundantly as she took Audrey in her arms; her motherly
soul was filled with pity for her girl. But Audrey had no more tears to
shed.

'Mother,' she said pleadingly, when, after the late evening meal,
Michael had retired and left them alone together--'mother, I must wear
mourning for Cyril. I hope father will not mind.'

'You shall do as you like, my love,' returned her mother sadly. 'Your
father will not object to anything you wish to do. You know we all loved
dear Cyril.'

'Yes, mother; and you were always so good to him. Towards the last he
mentioned you and father: "Give my love to them both." Michael heard him
say it.'

'Geraldine is as unhappy as possible. She drove with me to the station.