He only shook his head. "Whatever you do, preserve a calm demeanour before her. We must keep her in tranquillity."
"Master Cheese says she went to the ball—and danced," said Deborah. "Mr. Verner, how could you allow it?"
"She did go," he answered. "It was no fault of mine."
Heavier footsteps up the stairs now. They were those of the physician, who had come by the train which had brought the Misses West. He, Dr. Hayes, entered the room, and they stole in after him; Lionel followed; Jan came bursting in, and made another; and Lucy remained outside.
Lady Verner saw Dr. Hayes when he was going away.
"There was no change," he said, in answer to her inquiries. "Mrs. Verner was certainly in a very weak, sick state, and—there was no change."
The Misses West removed their travelling garments, and took up their stations in the sick-room—not to leave it again, until the life should have departed from Sibylla. Lionel remained in it. Decima and Catherine went in and out, and Jan made frequent visits to the house.
"Tell papa it is the leaving Verner's Pride that has killed me," said Sibylla to Amilly with nearly her latest breath.
There was no bed for any of them that night, any more than there had been the previous one. A life was hovering in the balance. Lucy sat with Lady Verner, and the rest went in to them occasionally, taking news. Dawn was breaking when one went in for the last time.
It was Jan. He had come to break the tidings to his mother, and he sat himself down on the arm of the sofa—Jan fashion—while he did it.