He looked up, and beheld Lucy opposite to him.

She did not see him; but throwing herself upon the bed, she took the cold hand of the deceased, and after a long silence burst into a passion of tears.
"My father!" she sobbed,--"my kind, good father! who will love me now ?" "I!" said Brandon, deeply affected; and passing round the bed, he took his niece in his arms: "I will be your father, Lucy, and you--the last of our race--shall be to me as a daughter!".