‘As God is above us, Nita, I love you dearly,’ he answered; and he spoke what was the truth at the moment, at least.
‘I am glad that I was able to speak to you,’ she said. ‘But if—’
These were the last words. When, alarmed by the long silence, Avice and Miss Shuttleworth entered the room, they found Wellfield kneeling still beside his dead wife, holding her cold hands to his breast, and motionless almost as herself.
CHAPTER X.
CAUGHT.
A few days later, Nita was laid to her rest in the churchyard at Wellfield, beside the father who had loved her so well, hard by the paved footpath leading to the church-door. Many feet would daily pass beside her grave: lovers walked through the churchyard; the old people strolled there to sit on the bench by the porch at sunset; the feet of those who were full of life and business hastened constantly to and fro; for the gates were always open, and the churchyard path was a much-used thoroughfare.
When it was all over, Avice put her hand through her brother’s arm, and turned to the two other persons who had come with them as mourners–John Leyburn and Father Somerville.
‘I think we will go home alone, if you do not mind,’ she said, offering her hand first to one, and then to the other of them.