“It is nothing, I never take cold,” she said. “All the same, I feel rather tired and will say goodnight at once, if you don’t mind. I am sorry if I have kept you up.” Then laying a hand affectionately on his shoulder, she added: “I have seen her, Luigi _mio_, I have talked with her, my arms have held her, my lips have touched hers! I am very, very happy.” Next mornings when she failed to come down at her usual hour, Luigi sent the girl of the house to call her; but she was beyond the reach of any earthly voice. She had died in her sleep peacefully and without a sound. “Disease of the heart of long standing, accelerated by cerebral excitement,” was the verdict of Dr. Mallory. CHAPTER LI. SAFE IN PORT The marriage of Everard Lisle and Ethel Thursby Clare did not take place till the following April. Sir Gilbert, his son, his granddaughter and Lady Pell spent the winter in the South of France, where they were joined in February by Everard on his return from Pineapple City, whither he had gone at John Clare’s request (for Sir Gilbert strongly objected to his son’s going in person) to wind up his affairs, which had been looked after during the past few months by a trusted subordinate, and to dispose of the business. But it now becomes requisite to go back a little, for many things had happened before Sir Gilbert and the others got back to the Chase. The first to whom our attention is due are the dear twin-sisters of Rose Mount. On the morning of the day following that scene at the Chase when Sir Gilbert had unconditionally sanctioned the engagement of his granddaughter to Everard Lisle, Ethel asked her father whether he had any objection to her writing to her “aunts” at Mapleford and informing them of all the wonderful things which had befallen her in the course of the last four-and-twenty hours. Not only had John Clare no objection to the sisters being informed, but he suggested that instead of Ethel writing to them, Everard Lisle should be sent to them as a special envoy, not only to tell them the news, but to bring them back, _vi et armis_, on a long visit to the Chase. It was a task which Everard accomplished to the satisfaction of everyone concerned. Of the meeting between Ethel and the sisters, when at length the latter had been persuaded into accepting Sir Gilbert’s hospitality, and of the genuine welcome accorded them, we have not space left to speak. It will be enough to say that, a little later, at Sir Gilbert’s earnest persuasion, they agreed to leave Rose Mount and St. Oswyth’s and make their future home at Maylings (of which they were to become the tenants at a nominal rent), where they would be next door, as one might say, to their “dear girl.” That Tamsin should accompany them to their new home was a foregone conclusion; indeed, it would not have seemed like home without her.