Part 29 (1/2)
The children--indeed they were little more--hushed their breath and listened, and looked at Thomas G.o.dolphin. Thomas G.o.dolphin stood there, his head bowed, his face still, the gentle wind stirring his thin dark hair. It was probably a marvel to himself in after-life, how he had contrived, in that closing hour, to retain his calmness before the world.
”The coffin's lowered at last!” broke out Harry, who had been more curious to watch the movements of the men, than the aspect of Thomas G.o.dolphin.
”Hush, sir!” sharply rebuked Grace. And the minister's voice again stole over the silence.
”Forasmuch as it hath pleased Almighty G.o.d of his great mercy to take unto himself the soul of our dear sister here departed, we therefore commit her body to the ground; earth to earth ... ashes to ashes ...
dust to dust ... in sure and certain hope of the resurrection to eternal life, through our Lord Jesus Christ; who shall change our vile body, that it may be like unto his glorious body, according to the mighty working, whereby he is able to subdue all things to himself.”
Every word came home to Thomas G.o.dolphin's senses; every syllable vibrated upon his heartstrings. That sure and certain hope laid hold of his soul, never again to quit it. It diffused its own holy peace and calm into his troubled mind: and never, until that moment, had he fully realized the worth, the truth, of her dying legacy: ”Tell him that I have gone on before.” A few years--G.o.d, now present with him, alone knew how few or how many--and Thomas G.o.dolphin would have joined her in eternal life.
But why had Mr. Hastings come to a temporary pause? Because his eye had fallen upon one, then gliding up from the entrance of the churchyard to take his place amidst the mourners. One who had evidently arrived in a hurry. He wore neither scarf nor hatband, neither cloak nor hood: nothing but a full suit of plain black clothes.
”Look, Maria,” whispered Grace.
It was George G.o.dolphin. He fell quietly in below his brother, his hat carried in his hand, his head bowed, his fair curls waving in the breeze. It was all the work of an instant: and the minister resumed:
”I heard a voice from heaven, saying unto me, Write, From henceforth blessed are the dead which die in the Lord: even so saith the Spirit; for they rest from their labours.”
And so went on the service to the end.
The beadle, with much bustle and a liberal use of his staff, scattered and dispersed the mob from the gates, to clear a pa.s.sage. Two mourning coaches were in waiting. Thomas G.o.dolphin came forth, leaning on his brother's arm, both of them bare-headed still. They entered one; Lord Macdoune stepped into the other.
”Thomas!” cried George G.o.dolphin, leaning forward and seizing his brother's hand impulsively, as the mourning-coach paced slowly on: ”I should have been here in good time, but for a delay in the train.”
”How did you hear of it? I did not know where to write to you,” was Thomas's reply, spoken calmly.
”I heard of it at Broomhead. I went back there, and then I came off at once. Thomas, could they not save her?”
A slight negative movement was all Thomas G.o.dolphin's answer. ”How did you find your father, George?”
”Breaking. Breaking fast. Thomas, all his talk is, that he must come home to die.”
”To Ashlydyat. I know. How is he to come to it? The Folly is not Ashlydyat. He has desired me to see that he is at Prior's Ash before Christmas, and I shall do so.”
George looked surprised. ”Desired you to see that he is?”
”If he is not back speedily, I am to go to Broomhead.”
”Oh, I see. That your authority, upholding his, may be pitted against my lady's. Take care, Thomas: she may prove stronger than both of you put together.”
”I think not,” replied Thomas quietly; and he placed his elbow on the window frame, and bent his face upon his hand, as if wis.h.i.+ng for silence.
Meanwhile the Reverend Mr. Hastings had pa.s.sed through the private gate to his own garden; and half a dozen men were shovelling earth upon the coffin, sending it with a rattle upon the bright plate, which told who was mouldering within:
”ETHEL GRAME. Aged twenty years.”
CHAPTER XV.