The others stole away and left them alone, Madame Winthrop reflecting with some comfort, in spite of her own smarting conscience, that matters would now be comfortably adjusted, and they would all escape being made disagreeably conspicuous in society. Evelyn’s haughty spirit had never received so severe a shock before, but she was still the same selfish girl, and she wondered with some trepidation if True would deprive her of the handsome sum with which he had hitherto supplemented her regular income. “They are all a set of sickly, sentimental fools!” was Mrs. Rochester’s angry verdict as she shut herself into her own room, no less wretched, but more defiant than the others. “I always hated that girl, and now I hate her a hundredfold. I never dreamed that she could triumph over me thus—I thought she was so safely caged in that mad-house—that treacherous doctor and I will have a serious reckoning yet—I wonder how she got out? She has outwitted me, but I shall at least have the income of the fifty thousand, and I can manage to make myself comfortable on that.” But alas! she reasoned foolishly, like the rich man in the parable, and morning found her a helpless paralytic! The shock and excitement of her defeat had been too much for her system, and her days were numbered. She lived a week, but could neither speak nor move during that time, and it was agony to those who watched beside her, to see her follow them with remorseful appealing eyes, which betrayed something of the mental suffering she experienced. Madame Winthrop believed that the look would follow her to her grave. It was a relief to them all when at last she ceased to breathe, and the white lids drooped and shut out forever that expression of remorse and despair. Throughout this time of trial and sorrow, Salome had proved herself to be truly a friend in need. She put aside her personal feeling, took her place at the bedside of the sufferer, and assumed the burden of care which no one else seemed equal to, and was as tender and thoughtful for her comfort as the fondest daughter could have been. She planned everything when the end came, saw that all due respect was paid to her father’s widow, and, after she had been laid away in a quiet spot outside the city, kindly asked Sarah if she could be of any assistance to her in her arrangements for the future. The girl’s proud spirit seemed to be utterly subdued by her recent trials, while the new resolves and hopes which had begun to take root in her heart were already showing signs of bearing good fruit in the future. She broke down entirely at Salome’s considerate offer.