“Yes, there’s plenty,” said Caroline; “you can have some when you go to bed.”
“I think we had all better take some,” said Mrs. Brigham. “Oh, my
God, Caroline, what—”
“Don’t ask and don’t speak,” said Caroline.
“No, I am not going to,” replied Mrs. Brigham; “but—”
Rebecca moaned aloud.
“What are you doing that for?” asked Caroline harshly.
“Poor Edward,” returned Rebecca.
“That is all you have to groan for,” said Caroline. “There is nothing else.”
“I am going to bed,” said Mrs. Brigham. “I sha’n’t be able to be at the funeral if I don’t.”
Soon the three sisters went to their chambers and the south parlor was deserted. Caroline called to Henry in the study to put out the light before he came upstairs. They had been gone about an hour when he came into the room bringing the lamp which had stood in the study. He set it on the table and waited a few minutes, pacing up and down. His face was terrible, his fair complexion showed livid; his blue eyes seemed dark blanks of awful reflections.