"Just as I am, without one plea,
But that Thy blood was shed for me,
And that Thou bidst me come to Thee,
O Lamb of God, I come!"
'Your obedient servant,
'DEBORAH HOWLITT.'
Gwen hurriedly left the cottage after reading this, and went straight to the churchyard. No one evidently had been near Patty's grave that day, for there, lying in long grass, with her arms crossed on the uncovered mound, and her grey head bowed upon them, was the cold, stiff form of poor Deb. How many hours she had been there in the still coldness of an October's night no one could tell; but the doctor put down her death to grief and exposure. Gwen broke the tidings to Agatha with a sob in her voice.
'I loved those old women. They were the only friends I had here.'
CHAPTER XIX
The Rightful Heir
And words of true love pass from tongue to tongue,
As singing birds from one bough to another.'—Longfellow.
When Gwen had the savings of the old women dug up from the roots of their favourite apple-tree, she found to her amazement that no less than 95 pounds had been put away in the old teapot, and for some time she hesitated about appropriating it.
Miss Miller came round to advise, for she was most excited about it all.