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he beheld as his most beautiful of all smiles beamed over his face； and
he said； 'Glory in the Highest！peacegoodwill'A struggle for
breath gave an instant's look of pain； then he whispered so that she
could but just hear'The last prayer。' She read the Commendatory
Prayer。 She knew not the exact moment； but even as she said 'Amen' she
perceived it was over。 The soul was with Him with whom dwell the
spirits of just men made perfect； and there lay the earthly part with a
smile on the face。 She closed the dark fringed eyelidssaw him look
more beautiful than in sleepthen； laying her face down on the bed；
she knelt on。 She took no heed of time； no heed of aught that was
earthly。 How long she knelt she never knew； but she was roused by
Anne's voice in a frightened sob'My lady； my ladycome away！ Oh；
Miss Amabel； you should not be here。'
She lifted her head； and Anne afterwards told Mary Ross； 'she should
never forget how my lady looked。 It was not grief： it was as if she
had been a little way with her husband； and was just called back。'
She roselooked at his face againsaw Arnaud was at handlet Anne
lead her into the next room； and shut the door。
CHAPTER 36
The matron who alone has stood
When not a prop seemed left below；
The first lorn hour of widowhood；
Yet； cheered and cheering all the while；
With sad but unaffected； smile。CHRISTIAN YEAR
The four months' wife was a widow before she was twenty…one； and there
she sat in her loneliness； her maid weeping； seeking in vain for
something to say that might comfort her； and struck with fear at seeing
her thus composed。 It might be said that she had not yet realized her
situation； but the truth was； perhaps； that she was in the midst of the
true realities。 She felt that her Guy was perfectly happyhappy
beyond thought or comparisonand she was so accustomed to rejoice with
him； that her mind had not yet opened to understand that his joy left
her mourning and desolate。
Thus she remained motionless for some minutes； till she was startled by
a sound of weepingthose fearful overpowering sobs； so terrible in a
strong man forced to give way。
'Philip！' thought she； and withal Guy's words returned 'It will be
worse for him than for you。 Take care of him。'
'I must go to him；' said she at once。
She took up a purple prayer…book that she had unconsciously brought in
her hand from Guy's bed； and walked down…stairs； without pausing to
think what she should say or do； or remembering how she would naturally
have shrunk from the sight of violent grief。
Philip had retired to his own room the night before； overwhelmed by the
first full view of the extent of the injuries he had inflicted； the
first perception that pride and malevolence had been the true source of
his prejudice and misconceptions； and for the first time conscious of
the long…fostered conceit that had been his bane from boyhood。 All had
flashed on him with the discovery of the true purpose of the demand
which he thought had justified his persecution。 He saw the glory of
Guy's character and the part he had acted；the scales of self…
admiration fell from his eyes； and he knew both himself and his cousin。
His sole comfort was in hope for the future； and in devising how his
brotherly affection should for the rest of his life testify his altered
mind； and atone for past ill…will。 This alone kept him from being
completely crushed；for he by no means imagined how near the end was；
and the physician； willing to spare himself pain； left him in hopes；
though knowing how it would be。 He slept but little； and was very
languid in the morning； but he rose as soon as Arnaud came to him； in
order not to occupy Arnaud's time； as well as to be ready in case Guy
should send for him again； auguring well from hearing that there was
nothing stirring above； hoping this was a sign that Guy was asleep。 So
hoped the two servants for a long time； but at length； growing alarmed；
after many consultations； they resolved to knock at the door； and learn
what was the state of things。
Philip likewise was full of anxiety； and coming to his room door to
listen for intelligence； it was the 〃e morto〃 of the passing Italians
that first revealed to him the truth。 Guy dead； Amy widowed； himself
the causehe who had said he would never be answerable for the death
of this young man。
Truly had Guy's threat； that he would make him repent； been fulfilled。
He tottered back to his couch； and sank down； in a burst of anguish
that swept away all the self…control that had once been his pride。
There Amabel found him stretched； face downwards； quivering and
convulsed by frightful sobs。
'Don'tdon't； Philip；' said she； in her gentle voice。 'Don't cry so
terribly！'
Without looking up； he made a gesture with his hand； as if to drive her
away。 'Don't come here to reproach me！' he muttered。
'No； no； don't speak so。 I want you to hear me； I have something for
you from him。 If you would only listen； I want to tell you how happy
and comfortable it was。' She took a chair and sat down by him；
relieved on perceiving that the sobs grew a little less violent。
'It was very peaceful； very happy；' repeated she。 'We ought to be very
glad。'
He turned round； and glanced at her for a moment； but he could not bear
to see her quiet face。 'You don't know what you say；' he gasped。 'No；
take care of yourself； don't trouble yourself for such as me！'
'I must； he desired me；' said Amabel。 'You will be happier； indeed；
Philip； if you would only think what glory it is； and that he is all
safe； and has won the victory； and will have no more of those hard；
hard struggles； and bitter repentance。 It has been such a night； that
it seems wrong to be sorry。'
'Did you say he spoke of me again？'
'Yes； here is his Prayer…book。 Your father gave it to him； and he
meant to have told you about it himself； only he could not talk
yesterday evening； and could not part with it till'
Amy broke off by opening the worn purple cover； and showing the name；
in the Archdeacon's writing。 'He's very fond of it；' she said； 'it is
the one he always uses。' （Alas！ she had not learnt to speak of him in
the past tense。）
Philip held out his hand； but the agony of grief returned the next
moment。 'My father； my father！ He would have done him justice。 If he
had lived； this would never have been！'
'That is over； you do him justice now；' said Amy。 'You did； indeed you
did； make him quite happy。 He said so； again and again。 I never saw
him so happy as when you began to get better。 I don't think any one
ever had so much happiness and it never ceased； it was all quiet； and
peace； and joy； till it brightened quite into perfect dayand the
angel's song！ Don't you remember yesterday； how clear and sweet his
voice came out