? ? ? ? 'Of course.'
? ? ? ? 'At nine,' said she. 'I'll tell you then, my dear.'
? ? ? ? At nine, accordingly, we went out in a little chariot, and drove to London. We drove a long way through the streets, until we came to one of the large hospitals. Standing hard by the building was a plain hearse. The driver recognized my aunt, and, in obedience to a motion of her hand at the window, drove slowly off; we following.
? ? ? ? 'You understand it now, Trot,' said my aunt. 'He is gone!'
? ? ? ? 'Did he die in the hospital?'
? ? ? ? 'Yes.'
? ? ? ? She sat immovable beside me; but, again I saw the stray tears on her face.
? ? ? ? 'He was there once before,' said my aunt presently. 'He was ailing a long time - a shattered, broken man, these many years. When he knew his state in this last illness, he asked them to send for me. He was sorry then. Very sorry.'
? ? ? ? 'You went, I know, aunt.'
? ? ? ? 'I went. I was with him a good deal afterwards.'
? ? ? ? 'He died the night before we went to Canterbury?' said I. My aunt nodded. 'No one can harm him now,' she said. 'It was a vain threat.'
? ? ? ? We drove away, out of town, to the churchyard at Hornsey.
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