They decided that his wishes ought to be followed, and that the
patients must be entrusted to old nurse. Richard told Flora, who
looked very pale, that she would be glad of it afterwards, and she
had his arm to lean upon.

The grave was in the cloister attached to the minster, a smooth green
square of turf, marked here and there with small flat lozenges of
stone, bearing the date and initials of those who lay there, and many
of them recording former generations of Mays, to whom their descent
from the headmaster had given a right of burial there. Dr. Hoxton,
Mr. Wilmot, and the surgeon, were the only friends whom Richard had
asked to be with them, but the minster was nearly full, for there was
a very strong attachment and respect for Dr. and Mrs. May throughout
the neighbourhood, and every one's feelings were strongly excited.

"In the midst of life, we are in death--" There was a universal sound
as of a sort of sob, that Etheldred never disconnected from those
words. Yet hardly one tear was shed by the young things who stood as
close as they could round the grave. Harry and Mary did indeed lock
their hands together tightly, and the shoulders of the former shook
as he stood, bowing down his head, but the others were still and
quiet, in part from awe and bewilderment, but partly, too, from a
sense that it was against her whole nature that there should be
clamorous mourning for her. The calm still day seemed to tell them
the same, the sun beaming softly on the gray arches and fresh grass,
the sky clear and blue, and the trees that showed over the walls
bright with autumn colouring, all suitable to the serenity of a life
unclouded to its last moment. Some of them felt as if it were better
to be there than in their saddened desolate home.