Cicely frankly accepted the money, and made greater preparations than she could otherwise have made. She put more saffron and currants in the cakes, and with these necessary condiments the luxury of candied peel. Instead of providing cyder she put sherry on the table, and gave the bearers and undertaker cold round of beef instead of squab pie.
As Herring and Mirelle left the churchyard after the funeral, she took her hand off his arm, and in their walk back to West Wyke she was interested in the ferns and mosses of the banks. Herring spoke to her occasionally, trying to begin a conversation; but she answered shortly, and either dropped behind to examine a fern or was arrested by the view through a gate, plainly showing him that she declined to converse.
When they were on the moor, John Herring suddenly stopped and picked a tuft of white heath. He offered it to Mirelle, and she accepted it indifferently.
'Although this be a day of sadness, Countess, yet here is an omen that some brightness is in store for you. It is said in the West that the white heath brings good luck to the person that secures it.'
'But I pass on my luck to you. Keep it; I hope it may always spring up in your path as it has this day.'
She made no reply, but gathered a sprig of pink heath.
On reaching the gate of West Wyke Cicely met them; she had been looking out for their return.
'Voyez!' said Mirelle, 'I have picked a lovely bouquet of ferns and moss and wild flowers on my way. We have no ferns in France, at least I have never seen such. In this one particular you surpass us.'
She showed her bunch. The white heath was not there.
'Oh!' exclaimed Herring, incautiously, 'the best flower of all has fallen--the white heath.'
'So it is,' said Mirelle. 'I am sorry; my hand was full.'
'No, it has fallen in the mire, and is trodden under foot. I shall doubtless find my own good luck some day myself.'
As they entered the garden, Mirelle was about to take Cicely's arm, and walk round it with her, looking at the flowers, when John Herring stayed her--
'Excuse me, Countess, I must trouble you one moment. I think it time that we should make an attempt to find out your father's relatives or connections in England.'
'He did not speak to me of any. Besides, these people do not hang together like persons who have pedigrees.'