At last she became more calm, stopped before him, and said, "Dr. Ashleigh, you were our brother's greatest friend; may I ask you to see to all arrangements connected with his funeral. We should wish him to be buried in such state as is becoming to the last of an old race. Alas! that he cannot be laid where his fore-fathers have been! Will you see to all this?" "I will, Miss Harmer, willingly. I do not know whether you have any particular wishes as to where he should be laid? I have heard him express a preference for the village churchyard here. I do not know whether he has mentioned his wishes in his will." "I know nothing of the will whatever!" Miss Harmer said positively, and Dr. Ashleigh noticed her sister cast one of the frightened glances towards her which he had before perceived. "I know nothing whatever of the will," she repeated steadily; "but if he expressed any preference for Sturry, let it be so. And now, Dr. Ashleigh," and here her voice softened, "I do not know that we have any more to say: you will wish, of course, to go up to see our poor brother. We shall see you, I hope, to-morrow or next day." So saying, the Misses Harmer took their leave of Dr. Ashleigh, and retired to their own rooms, while he took the well-known way to his old friend's bed-room. As he went up-stairs he met Mary--the girl who had been Sophy Needham's maid--coming down. Her eyes were red with crying. She curtsied to the Doctor as he passed--for they all loved him, and he had ever a kind word for all he met. "This is a sad affair, Mary!" he said. "Dreadful, Sir," the girl answered. "Will you please to tell me what has become of Miss Sophy? We are all so anxious to know the real truth." "I am afraid she has eloped with Mr. Gregory," the Doctor said, gravely; "there is no secret about it." "I was afraid she was gone, Sir, when I went into her room this morning, and found the bed had not been slept in, and the letter for Mr. Harmer on the table. It gave me such a turn, Sir; you might have knocked me down with a breath." "Did Mr. Harmer say anything when you gave him the letter?" the Doctor asked, anxiously. "No, Sir! I gave him the letter and went straight out, for I was frightened; he was sitting at the table just as he was when we found him dead--just the same. He was a kind, good master, Sir, as ever lived--never angry or put out; and he forgived Miss Sophy with his dying breath." And the girl began to cry again. "How do you know he forgave Miss Sophy?" Dr. Ashleigh asked, stopping, for he was just continuing his way up-stairs. "How do you know he forgave Miss Sophy?"