At last came that kindly friend who brings healing and peace to all. The lights were burning low. In the solemn hush which precedes the dawn vague figures flitted soundless along the dim hall and gathered silent and awed in Helen's chamber, and grouped themselves about her bed, for a warning had gone forth, and they knew. The dying girl lay with closed lids, and unconscious, the drapery upon her breast faintly rising and falling as her wasting life ebbed away. At intervals a sigh or a muffled sob broke upon the stillness. The same haunting thought was in all minds there: the pity of this death, the going out into the great darkness, and the mother not here to help and hearten and bless. Helen stirred; her hands began to grope wistfully about as if they sought something--she had been blind some hours. The end was come; all knew it. With a great sob Hester gathered her to her breast, crying, “Oh, my child, my darling!” A rapturous light broke in the dying girl's face, for it was mercifully vouchsafed her to mistake those sheltering arms for another's; and she went to her rest murmuring, “Oh, mamma, I am so happy--I longed for you--now I can die.” Two hours later Hester made her report. The mother asked: “How is it with the child?” “She is well.” CHAPTER VII A sheaf of white crape and black was hung upon the door of the house, and there it swayed and rustled in the wind and whispered its tidings. At noon the preparation of the dead was finished, and in the coffin lay the fair young form, beautiful, and in the sweet face a great peace. Two mourners sat by it, grieving and worshipping--Hannah and the black woman Tilly. Hester came, and she was trembling, for a great trouble was upon her spirit. She said: “She asks for a note.” Hannah's face blanched. She had not thought of this; it had seemed that that pathetic service was ended. But she realized now that that could not be. For a little while the two women stood looking into each other's face, with vacant eyes; then Hannah said: “There is no way out of it--she must have it; she will suspect, else.” “And she would find out.” “Yes. It would break her heart.” She looked at the dead face, and her eyes filled. “I will write it,” she said. Hester carried it. The closing line said: “Darling Mousie, dear sweet mother, we shall soon be together again. Is not that good news? And it is true; they all say it is true.” The mother mourned, saying: “Poor child, how will she bear it when she knows? I shall never see her again in life. It is hard, so hard. She does not suspect? You guard her from that?” “She thinks you will soon be well.” “How good you are, and careful, dear Aunt Hester! None goes near her who could carry the infection?” “It would be a crime.” “But you _see _her?” “With a distance between--yes.” “That is so good. Others one could not trust; but you two guardian angels--steel is not so true as you. Others would be unfaithful; and many would deceive, and lie.”