The women who were gathered in the middle room were weeping quietly.

Bill was nowhere to be seen, but near the inner door sat Gwen in her chair, with Lady Charlotte beside her, holding her hand.

Her face, worn with long suffering, was pale, but serene as the morning sky, and with not a trace of tears.

As my eye caught hers, she beckoned me to her.
"Where's Bill ?" she said.

"Bring him in." I found him at the back of the house.
"Aren't you coming in, Bill ?" I said.
"No; I guess there's plenty without me," he said, in his slow way.
"You'd better come in; the service is going to begin," I urged.
"Don't seem as if I cared for to hear anythin' much.