Mrs. Sterling, “tough as a pine knot, and with no more nerves than it,” as the country doctor said, survived the fever and got up, though with a broken constitution, for all those whom that dreadful pestilence spared to life it ruined in health.
But Mrs. Lyon contracted the disease, and it made but short work with the feeble old lady.
In the beginning of her illness her son was summoned in haste from Richmond; but though he used his utmost speed in hurrying to her bedside, he only arrived in time to hear her last wishes and receive her dying blessing.
“You must not grieve after me, Alick, my dear. Think what a long and happy life I have had up to this time. But think, now that your father is gone, how lonely I must be. I want to be with him, Alick.”
These were almost her last words. She fell into stupor and revived only once more, long enough to lay her hand on her son’s head and bless him.
By her expressed wish her body was carried to Old Lyon Hall, and placed in the vault beside that of her husband.
And the wedding was put off for another year.
“There is a fatality in it. We shall never be united, or if we should be the union will bring nothing but woe,” said Anna to her grandfather.
“Wait until it is put off a third time, my dear, before you make such a fatal prediction,” answered the general.
After the burial, Mr. Lyon went down to Crowood, where his presence was necessary to the settlement of some local business.