Whether the presence of a great mutual sorrow broke the barrier which had hitherto existed between these two, I know not. As Mary begged him not to leave her, their eyes met, and something in those eyes gave Harry the courage he had never before been able to summon to his aid. It was as if by a mutual impulse that they bent towards each other, and their lips met for consolation and reassurance; and Harry, with a wonderful sense of strength of courage, put his arm round Mary’s waist, saying, ‘There’s nought I’d like so well as never to leave thee at all, Mary, if thou could look at such a poor, deaf, marred chap as me. Sometimes I think thou could, and sometimes I’m sure thou couldn’t. Dost think thou could make up thy mind to take me?’ ‘I made up my mind long ago what I’d do if ever thou asked me,’ said Mary, naïvely. ‘And what was that?’ ‘Why, to take thee, for sure,’ she answered. Harry, smiling, looking on her with amaze and admiration, ventured on another kiss, and said, ‘Eh, but I have been a fool not to speak to thee before.’ She smiled a little, and then the remembrance of the troubled present returning to her, said, ‘I’m very happy, but we mun think o’ poor Ned just now. Thee go upstairs, and tell him what thou’s done. He always _were_ suspicious about thee. It’ll cheer him up like, and I’ll come after thee in a minute or two.’ Just for a few moments the news had the desired effect upon Edmund. He shook hands with Harry, smiled and looked what he had not voice enough to say. But the same chill look of coming death was upon his face; and Mary, as Myles still did not come, could not rest until she had been out and brought the doctor back with her. The doctor was a busy man. He made a very brief visit--said nothing much in the sick-room, but ordered some restorative, and, when Mary followed him downstairs and tremulously asked his opinion, said brusquely, but not at all unkindly, ‘My good girl, you must make up your mind to lose him. I cannot even assure you that he will live till morning.’ Restraining her tears, Mary went upstairs again, and, with Harry, resumed her watch by the sick lad. They were slow and solemn hours. They saw the end approaching under their very eyes; they saw Death’s grey seal stamping its impress more and more visibly upon the features, and one on either side the narrow little bed they sat, while it grew deep night, and still Myles did not come home. ‘What can be keeping him?’ the girl uneasily wondered again and again; but she dared not speak her wonder, for every time that Edmund roused from the lethargy which was settling more and more heavily upon him, he looked round with an anxious gaze, and a vague astonishment at the absence of that brother who had been his stay and protection all his weak and painful life.