Followed by faint
ethereal shadows, they passed over the grass, through the ghostly
luminous dusk--of funereal processions one of the strangest that
ever sought a tomb.
The ruin was in a hollow, surrounded by trees. Donal removed a
number of fallen stones and dug a grave. They lowered into it the
knotted sheet, threw in the earth again, heaped the stones above,
and left the dust with its dust. Then silent they went back,
straight along the green, moon-regarded rather than moon-lit grass:
if any one had seen them through the pale starry night, he would
surely have taken them for a procession of the dead themselves!
No dream of death sought Arctura that night, but in the morning she
woke suddenly from one of disembodied delight.
CHAPTER LX.
A LESSON ABOUT DEATH.
WHATEVER lady Arctura might decide concerning the restoration of the
chapel to the light of day, Donal thought it would not be amiss to
find, without troubling her, what he could of its relation to the
rest of the house: and it favoured his wish that Arctura was
prevailed upon by the housekeeper to remain in bed the next day. Her
strong will, good courage, and trusting heart, had made severe
demands upon an organization as delicate as responsive. It was now
Saturday: he resolved to go alone in the afternoon to explore--and
first of all would try the door beside the little gallery.
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