The night drew on.  No sound was to be heard in the little cottage except the ticking of the wheezy clock, as Dyce kept her solitary vigil by the side of the man she loved.  She knelt beside his pillow, and, for her sake, Pompey made haste to die.  As the shadows of the night were fleeing before the heralds of the dawn, she saw the gray shadow which no earthly light has power to chase away fall swiftly over his face.

He opened his eyes and spoke in a rapturous whisper.  “Dyce!  Dyce!  I see de Lord!”

The morning broke.  Dyce still knelt on with her face buried in the pillow; the asthmatic clock still kept on its tireless race; but Pompey’s happy spirit had forever swept beyond the bounds of time.

* * * * *

The humble funeral was over.  The Hildreth carriage, behind whose curtained windows sat Dyce and Evadne, had followed close after the hearse.  The Judge had walked behind.

“So uncalled for!” Mrs. Hildreth said in an annoyed tone when, she heard of it.  Your father never will learn to have a proper regard for les convenances.”

“Uncalled for!” ejaculated Louis.  “I’ll venture to say the Judge will never have a chance to follow such a brave man again.”

“He sent his carriage.  That was all that was necessary.”

“Doubtless Dyce finds that superlative honor a perfect panacea for her grief,” said Louis sarcastically.  “It is eminently fitting that Brutus and Caesar should have walked as chief mourners for they have lost the truest friend they ever had.”

CHAPTER XXV.

“I’m afraid poor Evadne will be worn out with such constant attendance upon Louis,” said Marion some weeks after Pompey’s death.  “I don’t see how she stands it.”

“It is hardly worth her while to undertake nursing,” said Isabelle coldly, “if she cannot stand such a trifle as this.”

“Why, Isabelle, just think of the strain night after night!  You wouldn’t like it, I know.  I want Mamma to get a paid nurse, but Louis won’t have any one near him but Evadne.”

“Of course I could not stand being broken of my rest,” rejoined Isabelle, “it is hard enough for me to get any under the most favorable circumstances, but probably Evadne sleeps like a log in the daytime.  It is the least return she can make for having disgraced the family, to be of some use in it now.”

Marion laughed incredulously.  “I should never think of associating Evadne’s name with disgrace,” she said.  “What do you mean, Isabelle?”

“Mamma says this nursing fad of hers upset Papa completely.  He said the Hildreth honor had better not be mentioned any more.”

“Well, I don’t know.  It seems to me she is of a good deal more value to him now than the Hildreth honor.  Dr. Russe says she is one of the best nurses he ever saw.  That is a high compliment, for he is dreadfully particular.  It is my opinion, Isabelle, that Louis is a good deal worse than we think him to be.  Don’t mention it to Mamma, for she is so nervous, but I heard Dr. Russo talking to Papa in the hall this morning, something about an inherited tendency and a derangement of the nervous system.  I could not understand—­he spoke so low—­but Papa looked dreadfully worried after he had gone.