ImmediatelyonLadyArdagh’sseeinghersisters，shestartedup，fellontheirnecks，andkissedthemagainandagainwithoutspeaking，andthentakingthemeachbyahand，stillweepingbitterly，sheledthemintoasmallroomadjoiningthehall，inwhichburnedalight，and，havingclosedthedoor，shesatdownbetweenthem。Afterthankingthemforthehastetheyhadmade，sheproceededtotellthem，inwordsincoherentfromagitation，thatSirRoberthadinprivate，andinthemostsolemnmanner，toldherthatheshoulddieuponthatnight，andthathehadoccupiedhimselfduringtheeveningingivingminutedirectionsrespectingthearrangementsofhisfuneral。LadyD——heresuggestedthepossibilityofhislabouringunderthehallucinationsofafever；buttothisLadyArdaghquicklyreplied：
’Oh!no，no!WouldtoGodIcouldthinkit。Oh!no，no!Waittillyouhaveseenhim。Thereisafrightfulcalmnessaboutallhesaysanddoes；andhisdirectionsareallsoclear，andhismindsoperfectlycollected，itisimpossible，quiteimpossible。’Andsheweptyetmorebitterly。
AtthatmomentSirRobert’svoicewasheardinissuingsomedirections，ashecamedownstairs；andLadyArdaghexclaimed，hurriedly：
’Gonowandseehimyourself。Heisinthehall。’
LadyD——accordinglywentoutintothehall，whereSirRobertmether；and，salutingherwithkindpoliteness，hesaid，afterapause：