And then she drew from her neck, from beneath the shawl, a piece of fine black lace, and laid it gently over and about his head.
"Cover it," she said to the men, and she stood waiting, lest they should touch him with their hands.
She had seen his face for the last time, and when they had covered him, they laid the coffin in another of lead which they had brought, and she stood quite still, watching the gleaming melted stuff that ran along the edges of the grey lead, like quicksilver, under the hot tool of copper.
When that was done, with main strength they laid him in the third, which was covered with black velvet.

And there were screws.
At last they went away, and Matilde set the tall candlesticks on each side of the velvet thing, and looked at it again.

Then she, too, with still covered head, went towards the door.

But between the coffin and the door, she stood still, swaying a little, till she fell to her full length backwards and straight, as a cypress tree falls when it is cut down.

But she was not dead, for she was too strong to die then.