"It won't hurt her," said Almira, answering the look with one which Asahel and Marion well understood.
So Gerty was carried into the dining-room, and then into the kitchen for a moment.
"There! That will do," said Gerty. "I wanted to see it all once more. It looks very nice and pleasant. I've always been a good housekeeper, haven't I, Asahel?"
"Yes, indeed you have. Never was a better."
"I don't know about that," said Gerty. "If it was to do again, I should use my house more as Mother Van Alstine does. Marion is going to make a good housekeeper too, I see. She keeps things in nice order."
"I tried to keep them as I thought you would like to see them," said Marion, with a tight pain in her throat, but trying to speak cheerfully. She felt that Gerty was taking a last farewell of her house and home.
Once more Gerty stopped on the threshold of her room and looked about her for a moment. Then she drew a long, deep, sorrowful sigh.
"If it was to go over again, I would try to do differently in some things," she repeated. "But it is all at an end now. I have done with it all. There, lay me down, Asahel, I have done with it all."
Marion went out and left them together—to the parlour where Almira was picking up the pillows and shawls.
"What do—" Marion paused.