DEATH IN 11EALITY. 405 



that he was indeed dead. His visit to London had been fruit- 

 less, excepting only of harass and fatigue. His banker's 

 failure was complete, and he had been disappointed also of a 

 small living, but of greater value than his own, which had 

 lately fallen vacant, and of which the patron had given him a 

 promise years ago when he did not want it. He was on his 

 way homewards by the coach, when, as he was dismounting at 

 an inn, where the stage stopped, he fell in a fit of apoplexy at 

 the door. He survived only a few speechless hours ; but from 

 papers found about him the people of the inn were enabled to 

 write to his brother, who arrived in time to find him just 

 expired. He had left no will had, indeed, excepting debts, 

 little to bequeath. His remains were laid within the shadow 

 of his own church, beside those of Lucy's mother ; after which 

 my father stayed at the parsonage but a few days, employed, as 

 days after death usually are, in the cold curious business of 

 prying into papers and personal effects of the departed, and in 

 forming such new arrangements as death may make recaiisite 

 for those left behind. 



To us, the four so long dependent on my generous easy 

 uncle, the two old servants, Lucy and myself, what a breaking 

 up did his decease involve ! Though savings-banks were not 

 then established, Dolly had happily laid by an annual some- 

 thing out of the wages of her half-century's service amounting 

 to enough to keep her from want for the remainder of her 

 a remainder which she was to spend in her accustomed 



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