The disease had done the work rapidly on the mother's exhausted
frame, and she was buried a week after her boy. Lucy had seen the
procession from the window, and thought it necessary to tell how she
had cried.
Mr. Kendal's had been a long illness; the first knowledge of his loss
had caused a relapse, and his recovery had long been doubtful. As
soon as the children were able to move, they were sent with Miss
Meadows to Ramsgate, and Lucy had joined them there.
'The day before I went, I saw papa,' she said. 'I had gone home for
some things that I was to take, and his room door was open, so he saw
me on the stairs, and called me, for there was no fear of infection
then. Oh, he was so changed! his hair all cut off, and his cheeks
hollow, and he was quite trembling, as he lay back on pillows in the
great arm-chair. You can't think what a shock it was to me to see
him in such a state. He held out his arms, and I flung mine round
his neck, and sobbed and cried. And he just said, so faintly, "Take
her away, Maria, I cannot bear it." I assure you I was quite
hysterical.'
'You must have wished for more self-command,' said Albinia, disturbed
by Lucy's evident pleasure in having made a scene.
'Oh, but it was such a shock, and such a thing to see the house all
empty and forlorn, with the windows open, and everything so still!
Miss Belmarche cried too, and said she did not wonder my feelings
overcame me, and _she_ did not see papa.
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