“He wore it,” Heather answered.
“He! Oh! poor—poor Arthur!” and the tears poured from Bessie’s eyes as she looked upon the trinket. She had never thought to like Arthur greatly, or to be sorry for him over much; but now it seemed to her, thinking of the tragedy which had just been enacted, that no one had ever quite understood him, ever imagined it possible Arthur should find out his error, and try to repair it too late—too late!
“Why do you say ‘Poor Arthur?’” Heather broke forth, passionately; “why do you not pity me, finding out, after all, he was wearing next his heart a love token from that woman—that bad, cruel——”
“Hush, Heather!—hush—hush!” and Bessie put the open locket into her friend’s hand. “See what it really is—not what you imagine at all.”
Incredulously almost, Heather did as she was requested; then “Lally—Lally!” said the bereaved mother; “Lally, Lally!” and she covered the locket with hungry kisses.
“I have passed through the bitterness of death to-night, Bessie!” she exclaimed, at length. “I think it must be near morning now.”
CHAPTER XIII.
SUNSET AT BERRIE DOWN.
It was near morning; but before that new time, full of hope, and joy, and promise, dawned upon her life, there came a period of blessed unconsciousness, during which Heather Dudley lay ignorant of all passing events.
How Arthur came back from the valley of the shadow—how the management of their affairs was taken by stronger and abler hands than any which had hitherto touched them—how everything was made right with Mr. Lukin, and gossip silenced, and ill-nature refuted, she did not know until the long fever was over—until, seated again beside one of the windows of that pleasant drawing-room at Berrie Down, she could have fancied the events I have tried in this story to chronicle were all parts and portions of some unpleasant dream—of some weary attack of delirium.
For they were once more in the old house which Mr. Croft had purchased when it was for sale, and the management of which he had offered through his agent first to Arthur, and then to Alick.