“Hewillsacrificealltohislong—framedresolves，”shesaid:“naturalaffectionandfeelingsmorepotentstill。St。Johnlooksquiet，Jane;buthehidesafeverinhisvitals。Youwouldthinkhimgentle，yetinsomethingsheisinexorableasdeath;andtheworstofitis，myconsciencewillhardlypermitmetodissuadehimfromhisseveredecision:certainly，Icannotforamomentblamehimforit。Itisright，noble，Christian:yetitbreaksmyheart！”Andthetearsgushedtoherfineeyes。Marybentherheadlowoverherwork。
“Wearenowwithoutfather:weshallsoonbewithouthomeandbrother，”shemurmured，
Atthatmomentalittleaccidentsupervened，whichseemeddecreedbyfatepurposelytoprovethetruthoftheadage，that“misfortunesnevercomesingly，”andtoaddtotheirdistressesthevexingoneoftheslipbetweenthecupandthelip。St。Johnpassedthewindowreadingaletter。Heentered。
“OuruncleJohnisdead，”saidhe。
Boththesistersseemedstruck:notshockedorappalled;thetidingsappearedintheireyesrathermomentousthanafflicting。