"Nora, where did he die?" asked Maude, in a whisper. "Did they take him up to his bedroom when they brought him home?"
"They carried him in there," said Nora, pointing to the sitting room door. "He is lying there now."
"I don't know whether you had better," said she, after a pause.
"Yes, I must, Nora. What was that about the dog scratching a grave before the porch?"
"Who told you anything about that?" asked Nora, sharply.
"Ann Canham came up to the Hold and spoke about it. Was it so, Nora?"
Nora nodded. "A hole, Miss Maude, nearly big enough to lay the master in. Not that I thought it a token for _him_! I thought only of Jim Sanders. And some folk laugh at these warnings!" she added. "There sits one," pointing to George.
"Well, never mind it now," said George, hastily. Never was a boy less given to superstition; but, with his father lying where he was, he somehow did not care to hear much about the mysterious hole.
Maude moved towards the door. "Take me in to see him," she pleaded.
"Will you promise not to be frightened?" asked Nora. "Some young people can't bear the sight of death."
"What should I fear?" returned Maude. "He cannot hurt me."
Nora rose in acquiescence, and took up the candle. But George laid his hand on the girl.
"Don't go, Maude. Nora, you must not let her go in. She might regret it. It would not be right."
Now, of all things, Nora disliked being dictated to, especially by those she called children. She saw no reason why Maude should not look upon the dead if she wished to do so, and gave a sharp word of reprimand to George, in an undertone. How could they speak aloud, entering that presence?
"Maude, Maude!" he whispered. "I would advise you not to go in."
"Let me go!" she pleaded. "I should like to see him once again. I did not see him for a whole week before he died. The last time I ever saw him was one day in the copse, and he got down some hazel-nuts for me. I never thanked him," she added, tears in her eyes. "In a hurry to get home, I never stayed to thank him. I shall always be sorry for it. George, I must see him."
Nora was already in the room with the candle. Maude advanced on tiptoe, her heart beating with awe. She halted at the foot of the table and looked eagerly upwards.