The packing-up was not a long business, but we went through it very slowly, though we talked little. Who ever said the parting words they had meant to speak at the last? Ours were very few. Once Cuthbert looked up as he was kneeling on the floor beside the old chest that had held all our goods for so long. 'Will, I can't make speeches, but I am thinking very much to-night of the time you brought me home, and took me for your brother. There never was such a brother. I should like just for once to say, thank you.' I put my hand on his shoulder and pressed it hard. It was lucky he did not want words, for I had none. We lay down near each other for the last time. I don't know whether Cuthbert cried before he went to sleep. I know I did. It was soon over the next morning. As we went downstairs in the doubtful light, we could hear my father's heavy breathing. But poor Granny was down before us, with some breakfast ready that no one could eat, and a candle flaring with a sickly ray in the broadening daylight. 'I shall never see thee again, my dear,' Granny said, two slow tears rolling down her face; 'but be a good lad, and don't forget to say thy prayers.' 'I won't, Granny;' and as he kissed her she put her trembling old hand on his brown head and blessed him. Then Cuthbert went out quickly, and I followed. He stood still for a minute and looked round. He could not have seen the old place look more beautiful than in its morning stillness; the birds were waking up here and there, and a glitter of dew and sunshine lay on the grass. 'Come,' he said, 'it is late.' Hildred met us under the great yew tree. It had always been a trysting-place of ours, and we used to part there when we were children, coming back from school. Their great parting was to be there now. He went up to her, and took her in his arms as if he could never leave her. Hildred was crying. She did not say much, but she clung to him and held him fast. 'Dear heart!' he said, kissing her hair softly. 'You must not cry so. Hush, Hildred!' I did not know how much tenderness there could be in his voice till I heard those broken words--'See, here is our brother Willie. He is going to take care of you for me. He will watch over my dear love when I am gone.' A few minutes more, and Cuthbert said, 'I must go.' I did not see their parting. He came to me, grasped both my hands. 'God bless you. Take care of her. Don't let her forget me.' 'I am going with you.' 'No, go back to her. Stay and comfort her. Oh, be good to her, Willie!' The distant sound of the fifes and drums came from the village down below. 'I shall be late.' Cuthbert was gone. The cliff hid him directly. Those few hours had changed the world for me. My brother was gone, and I had lost my love.