"Ah, yes," returned the other, speaking very gently. "Good-night, child."
"What! Is he dead?" said Ethan, feeling a double shock.
"Yes, dear; he's dead."
And he and Aunt Valeria went up-stairs in the dark.
"You never told me," said the child, when they had passed Yaffti in safety. "I s'pose Byron's all right," he added, remembering allusions to that person's physical prowess.
"Byron's dead, too," said Aunt Valeria, sadly, "and Keats—poor Keats!"
"All dead!"
They had been referred to as if they lived in the next street. If it had been Shelley who had come to make them a visit, it would have seemed as natural—more natural than the apparition of Tom Rockingham or the objectionable Uncle Elijah.
"I'll get a piece of net to put over the bottle while you undress," said Aunt Valeria.