A Death-bed Scene. 151

her more like a dream than sober reality; but
when she reached the room, and saw the
gathered household, and most of all, when she
first caught sight of the glazing eye, the
hollow sunken cheek, which had so strangely
altered during the last few hours, then indeed
the truth burst upon her. It was too solemn
a scene for tears; daylight was just breaking
through the closed window curtains, and a
candle seemed to illumine with dim cold rays
the face of the sister so loved and so cherished
-that sister beautiful even now, lying with up-
turned face and wide open unconscious eyes,
and, but for the measured heavy breathing,
it seemed, indeed, as if she had already passed
the gate of that home "whose portal we call
death." The end, however, was not so near
as was expected, hour by hour passed, and
still the bright spirit was detained in its
earthly tabernacle.
 A telegram had been despatched to Gilbert
as soon as Mrs. Hamilton found the necessity
of his presence. But so rapid and unexpected
had been the change, that long before he
could hope to reach the Grange, it was feared
that she whom he loved so well would have
passed away.