`Whereishe？’whisperedtheservant，staringvacantlyattheflames。
`He’sdustandashes，’saidtheclerk。`Andthebooksaredustandashes——andoh，sirs！thechurchwillbedustandashessoon。’
Thoseweretheonlytwowhospoke。Whentheyweresilentagain，nothingstirredinthestillnessbutthebubbleandthecrackleoftheflames。
Hark！
Aharshrattlingsoundinthedistance——thenthehollowbeatofhorses’