en the door, which seemed to be locked, when a gentleman
came up from the boat and followed her to the cottage. That, the women
who were watching her thought quite natural, for surely such a young
lady would be followed by a lover wherever she went! Indeed, Mrs.
Darke said so.

"'Tis in that there kind," she observed philosophically, "like the
cuckoo and the bird that follows; never sees one wi'out the other!"

"'Tis quite that way, Mrs. Darke," agreed the neighbour, approvingly.

Robinette turned a white face to Lavendar as he approached.

"Nurse won't answer, and I can't get in!" she cried. "Something must
have happened. I--I'm afraid to go in alone. The door is locked,
too."

"It's not locked," said Lavendar, and exerting a little strength, he
pushed it open and gave a quick glance inside. "I'll go in first," he
said gently. "Wait here."

He came again to the threshold in a few minutes, a peculiar expression
on his face which somehow seemed to tell Robinette what had happened.

"Come in, Mrs. Robin," he said very gravely and gently. "You need not
be afraid."

Robinette instinctively held out her hand to him and they entered the
little room together.

She need not have feared for the old woman's distress over the ruined
plum tree, for nothing would ever grieve Nurse Prettyman again. Just
as she had lain down the night before, she lay upon her bed now,
having passed away in her sleep. "And they that encounter Death in
sleep," says the old writer, "go forth to meet him with desire." The
aged face was turned slightly upwards and wore a look of contentment
and repose that made life seem almost gaudy; a cheap thing to compare
with this attainment....

Robinette came out of the cottage a little later, leaving the
neighbours who had gathered in the room to their familiar and not
uncongenial duties. She went into the garden, where Mark Lavendar
awaited her. He longed to try to comfort her; indeed, his whole heart
ran out to her in a warmth and passion that astounded him; but her
pale face, stained with weeping, warned him to keep silence yet a
little while.

"I just came for one branch of the blossom," Robinette said, "if it is
not all withered. Yes, this is quite fresh still." She took a little
spray he had found for her and stood holding it as she spoke. "Only
yesterday it was all so lovely! Oh! Mr. Lavendar, I needn't cry for my
old Nurse, I'm sure! How should I, after seeing her face? She had come
to the en