90 SIR WILLIAM FLOWER CHAP. 



As the service went on the lines of Charles Wesley's 

 hymn were sung 



Part of the host have crossed the flood, 

 And part are crossing now 



Flower could bear the tension no longer, and 

 whispering to his wife to remain through the rest 

 of the service, he went into the Deanery, where he 

 was welcomed by the devoted sister-in-law, Lady 

 Frances Baillie, and Dr. Gerald Harper, the Dean's 

 doctor and friend, and still more by the patient him- 

 self, so that he remained, and relieving some of the 

 watchers, sat up all night with him. 



Stanley's mind was clear, though his speech was 

 rendered difficult owing to the swelling caused by 

 erysipelas. Flower's medical training made him a 

 helpful friend in this emergency, whilst, as he was 

 not in practice, there were no difficulties of medical 

 etiquette in his presence in the sick chamber, even 

 had he not been a personal friend of the attending 

 doctors, Sir William Jenner, Sir William Gull, 

 Mr. Prescott Hewitt, and Dr. Gerald Harper. 

 Eventually the latter, with Canon Farrar, informed 

 the Dean that he could not recover. Flower re- 

 mained with Stanley when Canon Farrar admin- 

 istered the Holy Communion to the Dean, 

 together with the relatives in the house, and some 

 of the household, the Dean himself pronouncing 

 the final blessing, and afterwards shaking hands 

 with all those who had partaken with him. Later 

 Flower read Stanley's own hymn on the Trans- 



