But Matilde rose then and came between them and the dead.

They thought that she would look at him once more, and they drew back, while she looked, for she bent over his face.

But the shawl about her head fell about her, and they could not see that she kissed him.

They waited.
The great woman put her hands about him, and bowed herself, and lifted him from the couch, and the men could not believe it when they saw her turn with him and lay him down in his coffin, alone, with no one to help her.
For she was very strong.

She stood and looked down at him a long time, and once she stopped and moved one of his crossed hands, which touched the edge.