She did put her hand on his shoulder again, and Justin was thrilled by her touch. He felt inclined to take her in his arms and kiss her, but he controlled himself.
He was sweetness itself for the rest of the evening. The next morning at breakfast he said to her:
"Well, what are your plans for to-day? Shall I 'phone to Fenton to have the horse brought round again this afternoon?"
Anstice hesitated, then she said in her pleasant, even voice:
"I had better tell you straight out, though I fear it will annoy you, that I promised Miss Maybrick, if I did not hear from her this morning, that I would go over to Miss Carrie again this afternoon. She dreads being left with her, I think, and is afraid she may die whilst she is in the room. It is all very sad. Miss Carrie would hardly let me leave her yesterday. She literally clung on to my hand and would not let it go."
Justin put a great restraint upon his feelings. He responded in as quiet a tone as hers:
"Very well, we must leave our riding for the present."
But they had hardly left the breakfast table before a telegram was brought to Anstice. When she opened it, she drew a long sigh, and handed it to her husband. It was very brief:
"Carrie passed away eight o'clock this morning in her sleep: writing.—H. M."
"I hardly thought she would die so soon, but the doctor said her heart was very feeble, and evidently it has been very weak for a long time. Well, it is a merciful release for her."