"
No more was said. The tramp followed the procession with the rest of
the crowd, first to the village church, where a portion of the funeral
service was read, and then back to the park, where the melancholy
ceremonial was completed before the family mausoleum.
It was while the crowd made a circle round this mausoleum that the
tramp contrived to push his way to the front rank of the spectators. He
stood foremost amongst a group of villagers, when Lady Eversleigh
happened to look towards the spot where he was stationed.
In that moment a sudden change came over the face of the widow. Its
marble whiteness was dyed by a vivid crimson--a sudden flush of shame
or indignation, which passed away quickly; but a dark shadow remained
upon Lady Eversleigh's brow after that red glow had faded from her
cheek.
No one observed that change of countenance. The moment was a solemn
one; and even those who did not really feel its solemnity, affected to
do so.
At the last instant, when the iron doors of the mausoleum closed with a
clanging sound upon the new inmate of that dark abode, Honoria's
fortitude all at once forsook her. One long cry, which was like a
shriek wrung from the spirit of despair, broke from her colourless
lips, and in the next moment she had sunk fainting upon the ground
before those inexorable doors.
No sympathizing eyes had watched her looks, or friendly arm was
stretched forth in time to support her.
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