e: "Will you go upstairs?"

"Upstairs! Why?"

"I--I thought you might wish to see--" He did not finish the sentence,
but Trefusis flinched; the blank had expressed what was meant.

"To see something that was Henrietta, and that is a thing we must cast
out and hide, with a little superstitious mumming to save appearances.
Why did you remind me of it?"

"But, sir, whatever your views may be, will you not, as a matter of
form, in deference to the feelings of the family--"

"Let them spare their feelings for the living, on whose behalf I have
often appealed to them in vain," cried Trefusis, losing patience. "Damn
their feelings!" And, turning to the door, he found it open, and Mrs.
Jansenius there listening.

Trefusis was confounded. He knew what the effect of his speech must be,
and felt that it would be folly to attempt excuse or explanation. He put
his hands into his pockets, leaned against the table, and looked at her,
mutely wondering what would follow on her part.

The doctor broke the silence by saying tremulously, "I have communicated
the melancholy intelligence to Mr. Trefusis."

"I hope you told him also," she said sternly, "that, however deficient
we may be in feeling, we did everything that lay in our power for our
child."

"I am quite satisfied," said Trefusis.

"No doubt you are--with the result," said Mrs. Jansenius, hardly. "I
wish to know whether you have anything to complain of."

"Nothing."

"Please do not imply that anything has happened through our neglect."

"What have I to complain of? She had a warm room and a luxurious bed to
die in, with the best medical advice in the world. Plenty of people
are starving and freezing to-day that we may have the means to die
fashionably; ask THEM if they have any cause for complaint. Do you think
I will wrangle over her body about the amount of money spent on her
illness? What measure is that of the cause she had for complaint? I
never grudged money to her--how could I, seeing that more than I can
waste is given to me for nothing? Or how could you? Yet she had great
reason to complain of me. You will allow that to be so."

"It is perfectly true."

"Well, when I am in the humor for it, I will reproach myself and not
you." He paused, and then turned forcibly on her, saying, "Why do you
select this time, of all others, to speak so bitterly to me?"

"I am not aware that I have said anything to call for such a remark. Did
YOU," (appealing to the docto