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drew her away。 〃I shall be here to…morrow；〃 she said to Ethel； and
went。
The morrow； however； brought no Flora。 The agitation and distress of
that day had broken her down completely； and she was so ill as to be
unable to move。 Her aunt went at once to see her； and finding that
her presence at the Grange relieved some of Dr。 May's anxieties；
chiefly devoted herself to her。 Flora was grateful and gentle； but
as silent and impenetrable as ever； while day after day she lay on
her couch； uncomplaining and undemonstrative； visited by her father；
and watched over by her aunt and sister…in…law； who began to know
each other much better； though Flora less than ever； in that deep
fixed grief。 She only roused herself to return her husband's
affection； or to listen to the daily reports of Margaret。 Poor
George； he was very forlorn； though Meta did her best to wait on him；
and he rode over twice a day to inquire at Stoneborough。
The doctors were right； and the consecration morning was her last of
full consciousness。 From the hour when she had heard the sound of
Alan's bells； her ears were closed to earthly sounds。 There was very
little power of intercourse with her； as she lingered on the borders
of the land very far away； where skill and tenderness could not
either reach body or spirit。 Often the watchers could not tell
whether she was conscious； or only incapacitated from expression； by
the fearful weight on her breath； which caused a restlessness most
piteous in the exhausted helpless frame； wasted till the softest
touch was anguish。 Now and then came precious gleams when a familiar
voice； or some momentary alleviation would gain a smile； or thanks；
and they thought her less restless when Richard read prayers beside
her； but words were very rare； only now and then a name； and when in
most distress； 〃it will be soon over；〃 〃it will soon be over；〃
occurred so often； that they began to think it once her solace； and
now repeated habitually without a meaning。
They could not follow her into the valley of the shadow of death； but
could only watch the frail earthly prison…house being broken down； as
if the doom of sin must be borne； though faith could trust that it
was but her full share in the Cross。 Calmly did those days pass。
Ethel； Richard； and Mary divided between them the watching and the
household cares； and their father bore up bravely in the fullness of
his love and faith； resigning her daughter to the Hands which were
bearing her whither her joys had long since departed。
Hector Ernescliffe arrived when the holidays began； and his agony of
sorrow； when she failed to recognise him； moved Dr。 May to exert
himself earnestly for his consolation； and； at the same time； Tom； in
a gentle； almost humble manner； paid a sort of daughter…like
attention to the smallest services for his father； as if already
accepting him as his especial charge。
It was midnight； on the longest night of the year； Ethel was lying on
her bed； and had fallen into a brief slumber； when her father's low；
clear voice summoned her： 〃Ethel； she is going！〃
There was a change on the face； and the breath came in labouring
gasps。 Richard lifted her head； and her eyes once more opened； she
smiled once more。
〃Papa！〃 she said； 〃dear papa！〃
He threw himself on his knees beside her； but she looked beyond him；
〃Mamma！ Alan！ oh； there they are！ More！ more！〃 and； as though the
unspeakable dawned on her； she gasped for utterance； then looked；
with a consoling smile； on her father。 〃Over now！〃 she saidand the
last struggle was ended。 That which Richard laid down was no longer
Margaret May。
Over now！ The twenty…five years' life； the seven years' captivity on
her couch； the anxious headship of the motherless household； the
hopeless betrothal； the long suspense； the efforts for resignation；
the widowed affections； the slow decay； the tardy； painful death
agonyall was over； nothing left； save what they had rendered the
undying spirit； and the impress her example had left on those around
her。
The long continuance of the last suffering had softened the actual
parting； and it was with thankfulness for the cessation of her pain
that they turned away； and bade each other good…night。
Ethel would not have believed that her first wakening to the
knowledge that Margaret was gone could have been more fraught with
relief than with misery。 And； for her father； it seemed as if it
were a home…like； comfortable thought to him； that her mother had one
of her children with her。 He called her the first link of his Daisy
Chain drawn up out of sight； and； during the quiet days that ensued；
he seemed as it were to be lifted above grief； dwelling upon hope。
His calmness impressed the same on his children； as they moved about
in the solemn stillness of the house； and when Harry； pale； and
shocked at the blow to him so sudden； came home； the grave silence
soothed his violence of grief； and he sat beside his； father or Mary；
speaking in undertones of what Margaret had loved to hear from him；
of Alan Ernescliffe's last moments。
Mary gave way to a burst of weeping when she sought； in vain； for
daisies in the wintry garden； but Hector Ernescliffe went down to the
cloisters； and brought back the lingering blossoms to be placed on
Margaret's bosom。
The dog Toby had followed him； unseen； to the cloister； and he was
entering the garden； when he was struck by seeing the animal
bounding； in irrepressible ecstasy； round a lad； whose tarpaulin hat；
blue…bordered collar； and dark blue dress； showed him to be a sailor；
as well as the broad…shouldered； grizzled； elderly man； who stood
beside him。
〃I say； sir；〃 said the latter； as Hector's hand was on the door； 〃do
you belong to Dr。 May？〃
Hector unhesitatingly answered that he did。
〃Then； maybe； sir； you have heard of one Bill Jennings。〃
Hector was all in one flush； almost choking； as he told that he was
Mr。 Ernescliffe's brother； and gave his hand to the sailor。 〃What
could he do for him？〃
Jennings had heard from one of the crew of the Bucephalus that Mr。
May had been met； on his return to Portsmouth； by the news of his
sister's death。 The Mays had helped his boy； he had been with Mr。
May in the island； he had laid Mr。 Ernescliffe in his grave； and some
notion had crossed the sailor that he must be at Miss Margaret's
funeralit might be they would let him lend a handand； in this
expedition； he was spending his time on shore。
How he was welcomed need not be told； nor how the tears came forth
from full hearts； as Dr。 May granted his wish； and thanked him for
doing what Margaret herself would indeed have chosen； and； in his
blue sailor garb； was Jennings added to the bearers； their own men；
and two Cocksmoor labourers； who； early on Christmas Eve； carried her
to the minster。 Last time she had been there； Alan Ernescliffe had
supported her。 Now； what was mortal of him lay beneath the palm
tree； beneath the glowing summer sky； while the first snow…flakes
hung like pearls on her pall。 But as they laid her by her mother's
side； who could doubt that they were together？
CHAPTER XXVI。
At length I got unto t