Half-waking, half-dreaming, she spent the night which seemed long enough, and the light hours of the summer morning seemed still longer, before she could call it a reasonable time for getting up. Her splashings awoke her mother, who lay smiling for a few moments, realising and giving thanks for her great joy, then bestirred herself with the recollection of all that had to be done on this busy morning before any summons from her husband could arrive. Combining packing and dressing, like the essentially unmethodical little woman she was, Mrs. Egremont still had all her beautiful silky brown hair about her shoulders when the bell of St. Ambrose's was heard giving its thin tinkling summons to matins at half-past seven. She was disappointed; she meant to have gone for this last time, but there was no help for it, and Nuttie set off by herself. Gerard Godfrey was at his own door. He was not one of the regular attendants at the short service, being of that modern species that holds itself superior to 'Cranmer's prayers,' but on this morning he hastened up to her with outstretched hand. 'And you are going away!' he said. 'I hope to get leave to stay a few days after mother,' she said. 'To prolong the torment?' he said. 'To wish everybody good-bye. It is a great piece of my life that is come to an end, and I can't bear to break it off so short.' 'And if you feel so, who are going to wealth and pleasure, what must it be to those who are left behind?' 'Oh!' said Nuttie, 'some one will be raised up. That's what they always say.' 'I shall go into a brotherhood,' observed Gerard desperately. 'Oh, don't,' began Nuttie, much gratified, but at that moment Miss Nugent came out at her door, and Mr. Spyers, who was some way in advance, looked round and waited for them to come up. He held out his hands to her and said, 'Well, Nuttie, my child, you are going to begin a new life.' 'Oh dear! I wish I could have both!' cried Nuttie, not very relevantly as far as the words went. 'Scheiden und weiden thut weh!' quoted Mary. 'If his place was only Monks Horton. What will Aunt Ursel do?' 'I think perhaps she may be induced to join us,' said Mary. 'We mean to do our best to persuade her.' 'And there's the choir! And my class, and the harmonium,' went on Nuttie, while Gerard walked on disconsolately.