“Forgive me, my mother!” came in a voice full of tenderness and love. The sun had set, leaving a crimson glow on the hills, which swiftly faded into the early gloom. James, hearing a horse, hurried to assist his sister, but met instead a man who had brought a message for Berenice Morton. She tore the envelope open hastily and read its contents at a glance. “My sister is—dead,” she said in a whisper, with a face even more pale than it had been during the long afternoon. “I must go at once; my father needs me. If he had only called me sooner. No—no, I am glad he did not—for Bess’ sake,” she added hurriedly. Just then Bess came, filling the room with the perfume of fresh air. Her face was still pale and drawn, although she tried to assume an air of serenity. She was immediately apprised of the message, and began at once to plan for her friend’s hasty departure. Berenice was sent to bed to rest and sleep, while the others packed her trunk and made all the preparations to drive to Selish at midnight. Bess tried to persuade her brother to accompany Miss Morton, as she ought not to go on such a long journey alone. “I will finish your packing and send your trunks later on,” she argued when he said he could not leave so suddenly. “We planned this afternoon while you were gone to go all at the same time,” said James. “I do not wish to go now, James. I feel—I wish to stay here where it is quiet, to rest.” At last, when Bess had consented to come very soon, at least as quickly as she should feel herself again, James decided to go on to New York with Berenice Morton. CHAPTER XXVIII A WINTER’S VIGIL Everything was ready for the long drive shortly after midnight. As Bess stepped out-of-doors and beheld the glorious moonlight making everything as bright as gold, she wished she were being tucked snugly into the seat beside her friend, that she might enjoy the drive over the hard, smooth road. The good-byes had all been said, but Bess climbed up beside Berenice Morton to give her one more farewell kiss, then ran quickly into the house. She flung herself upon the couch and burst into passionate, burning tears, the first which had come to release the tension upon the overwrought nerves.