“Ah! you are true to yourself at last.” Suddenly he shook from head to foot, and leaned heavily against her.
She put her arms about him. “What is the matter?” she asked through white lips.
“There is a trouble of the heart,” he murmured unsteadily, “it is not dangerous. The tension has been very strong to-night—but—to-morrow”—and then he fell to the floor.
She was beside him still when Miss Starbruck entered the room. The old lady’s eyes were angry and defiant, and her mouth was set in a hard line. For the first time in her life she was not afraid of Hermia.
“I heard his voice some time ago,” she said, hoarsely, “and at first I did not dare face you and come in. But you are my dead sister’s child, and I will do my duty by you. You shall not disgrace your mother’s blood—why is he lying there like that?”
Hermia rose and confronted her, and involuntarily Miss Starbruck lowered her eyes.
“He is dead,” said Hermia, “and I——have promised to live.”
THE END.
Transcriber’s Notes: