Eveline a chance of life, and a change of climate without him could do no good.
But the sacrifice was unavailing;—Lady Eveline did not get better, and she longed to return to England, to be buried beside her boys. That desire was gratified; she lived through the voyage, and a month or two afterwards. Her anxiety about her little girl and her husband was very great; she spoke a little to the girl of her past life, gave her some advice which the child could scarcely underscored, but the words of which she begged her to recollect; and enjoined her especially to take good care of her poor papa when she was gone. This advice Amy could comprehend, and she resolved to act on it; but she scarcely understood the far-looking intense way in which her mother gazed on her father. Did she suspect what was unknown to Gerald himself, that he was so soon to follow her to the Silent Land?
I was not many months after Eveline's death that Gerald Staunton, not feeling very well, but by no means alarmed about himself, went to consult the excellent physician who had attended his wife, and from him received that terrible sentence of death which is so appalling when dear ones are dependent on your exertions.
There was no hope, but there might be delay.
