Cora stooped and kissed the placid brow, then covered the face, and went to open the door.
The gray-haired old Jason was waiting outside.
"If you please, ma'am, it is the—"
"I know, I know," said Cora, quietly. "Show them in."
And she passed out and went to her own room.
Her front windows were closed; but through the slats of the shutters she saw that it was still snowing fast.
"What a winding sheet this will make for her grave," she thought, as she looked out upon the wintry scene.
There was no wind, the fine white snow fell softly and steadily, giving only the dimmest view of the government house on the opposite side of the square draped in mourning.
The funeral of Mrs. Rockharrt took place on the third day after her death. The snow had ceased, and the winter sun was shining brightly from a clear blue sky on a white world, whose trees wore pendent diamonds instead of green leaves, and as every house in the city was hung in black for the dead governor, the effect of all this glare and glitter and gloom was very weird and strange, as the funeral cortege passed from the Rockharrt home to the Church of the Lord's Peace.
After the rites were over, the family returned to their city home, but only for the night; for preparation had been already completed for their removal to Rockhold, there to pass the year of mourning.