Yes; the grim farce was played out, and the little actor Jeannie was white in death! Just at the dawn, Augusta dreamed that somebody with cold breath was breathing on her face, and woke up with a start and listened.

Jeannie's bed was on the other side of the room, and she could generally hear her movements plainly enough, for the sick child was a restless sleeper.

But now she could hear nothing, not even the faint vibration of her sister's breath.

The silence was absolute and appalling; it struck tangibly upon her sense, as the darkness struck upon her eye-balls and filled her with a numb, unreasoning terror.

She slipped out of bed and struck a match.