s; and the 'hysterical fuss' she
apprehended in the visit of this woman to Lord Dannisburgh's death-bed
and body, did not alarm her. For the sake of the household she determined
to remain, shut up in her room. Before night the house was empty of any
members of the family excepting old Lady Dacier and the outstretched
figure on the bed.

Dacier fled to escape the hearing of the numberless ejaculations
re-awakened in the family by his uncle's extraordinary dying request.
They were an outrage to the lady, of whom he could now speak as a
privileged champion; and the request itself had an air of proving her
stainless, a white soul and efficacious advocate at the celestial gates
(reading the mind of the dying man). So he thought at one moment: he had
thought so when charged with the message to her; had even thought it a
natural wish that she should look once on the face she would see no more,
and say farewell to it, considering that in life it could not be
requested. But the susceptibility to sentimental emotion beside a
death-bed, with a dying man's voice in the ear, requires fortification if
it is to be maintained;' and the review of his uncle's character did not
tend to make this very singular request a proof that the lady's innocence
was honoured in it. His epicurean uncle had no profound esteem for the
kind of innocence. He had always talked of Mrs. Warwick--with warm
respect for her: Dacier knew that he had bequeathed her a sum of money.
The inferences were either way. Lord Dannisburgh never spoke evilly of
any woman, and he was perhaps bound to indemnify her materially as well
as he could for what she had suffered.--On the other hand, how easy it
was to be the dupe of a woman so handsome and clever.--Unlikely too that
his uncle would consent to sit at the Platonic banquet with her.--Judging
by himself, Dacier deemed it possible for man. He was not quick to
kindle, and had lately seen much of her, had found her a Lady Egeria,
helpful in counsel, prompting, inspiriting, reviving as well-waters, and
as temperately cool: not one sign of native slipperiness. Nor did she
stir the mud in him upon which proud man is built. The shadow of the
scandal had checked a few shifty sensations rising now and then of their
own accord, and had laid them, with the lady's benign connivance. This
was good proof in her favour, seeing that she must have perceived of late
the besetting thirst he had for her company; and alone or in the medley
e