It was two miles to the cemetery, two miles farther away from their homes; but they repelled all suggestions of the exposure with indignant looks, and pressed on.

When the coffin was lowered into the grave, they pushed timidly forward, and began to throw in their green boughs and bunches of ferns.

Every one else stepped back respectfully as soon as their intention was discovered, and in a moment they had formed in solid ranks close about the grave, each one casting in his green palm of crown and remembrance,--a body-guard such as no emperor ever had to stand around him in his grave.
On the day after Mercy's arrival in town, Stephen had called to see her.
She had sent down to him a note with these words:-- "I cannot see you, dear Stephen, until after all is over.

The funeral will be to-morrow.

Come the next morning, as early as you like." The hours had seemed bitterly long to Stephen.