David Gilbank was in the porch as they went out of church, and Beryl addressed him eagerly, and hastened to make her father acquainted with her new friend. Mr. Hollys spoke cordially to the artist, and invited him to come some day to Egloshayle House to see some pictures of which their owner was rather proud.
Beryl was not allowed to go into the sick-room when she returned from church. Mrs. Despard was too ill to see her, Lucy said. But when bed-time came, she as well as Coral was allowed to go into the room to say good-night to the weary sufferer. Even to Beryl's eyes it was clear that a strange, indescribable change had come over the colourless, wasted face. And it was not good-night but good-bye she said to the children, clinging to her poor little Coral with a passionate tenderness which brought tears to the eyes of all who witnessed the farewell.
Some hours later Beryl awoke from her first sleep' to find a candle burning in the room, and Lucy standing by Coral's bed with red eyes and tear-stained cheeks.
"What is the matter, Lucy?" she asked, springing up. "Is Coral's mamma worse?"
"She is gone, poor lady," said Lucy, wiping her eyes; "she passed away in her sleep as gently as possible, and now she looks so peaceful and happy."
"Oh, Lucy, do you mean that she is dead?" said Beryl, in a tone of awe and sorrow.
"Yes, Miss Beryl, it is true; her troubles are over now; but don't make a noise and wake Miss Coral; she will know soon enough, poor dear."
Beryl covered her face with the bed-clothes, and cried bitterly at the thought of little Coral's loss. It seemed so sad and dark and terrible. But even as she cried, and thought of the dark grave and the lonely, motherless life, there came to her mind, with some sense of comfort, the words they had sung that morning in church—
"Jesus lives! Henceforth is death
But the gate of life immortal;
This shall calm our trembling breath,
When we pass its gloomy portal."