"There they come now!" said Diana. "I will run out and ask them."
Fortune favored; one of the children was glad to return home and take Hilda with her, and Miss Flint was gratified to hear that the miller's family would keep her until after the funeral; and the way was now clear for business.
"Now if Mrs. Warfield would come, how thankful I would be!" sighed Diana as she set aside the remains of the breakfast.
"But we cannot wait for that. What is to be done about a burial dress?"
"I don't know," responded Diana anxiously. "Do you take the lead and I will help you all I can."
"What I want to know is, will it be made here, or bought ready made in Baltimore?" questioned Miss Flint sharply.
"I really cannot decide. Which do you advise?"
"That depends upon circumstances. What is there in the house?"
"Yes, money or clothes, or material to make a burial dress of," snapped Miss Jerusha impatiently.
"There is a bureau in her room with her clothing in two of the drawers; the third one is locked; I don't know what is in it."
"I really cannot; not while she is in there," said Diana, shrinkingly.
"Why, there is where she will have to be until taken to the grave; you certainly are not thinking of having her brought out here?"
"Oh, no; but it seems so hard to go in and unlock her bureau when she is unable to prevent us."
"We don't want to be prevented. Somebody must attend to this; come along and give me the key."
They went, Diana shading her eyes from the still form on the bed. The drawer was unlocked and a white cashmere burial robe was found, covered by a sheet of white tissue paper.
"Just as I expected the moment you told me that the lower drawer was locked," remarked Miss Flint. "She was exactly the woman to prepare for this in order to be independent of her neighbors. Well, it saves a day's work, so I am not the one to complain."
Sustained by the self-reliance of her companion, Diana became of "some use," as Miss Flint expressed it, and did as directed with many a longing to be away from it all.
The beautiful form of Mrs. Ashley was neatly arrayed in the robe and Diana waited for further orders.
"Give me a pair of scissors and I will cut off a lock of her hair; her sister may want it. But stop, you need not go! I have mine with me."