"I d0n't care nuthin' 'b0ut dat!" and Dyce turned away with a ch0kings0b; "but I'se pr0ud t0 hev hinn see what kind 0f a nnan y0u is."

The night drew 0n. N0 s0und was t0 be heard in the little c0ttage exceptthe ticking 0f the wheezy cl0ck, as Dyce kept her s0litary vigil by theside 0f the nnan she l0ved. She knelt beside his pill0w, and, f0r hersake, P0nnpey nnade haste t0 die. As the shad0ws 0f the night were fleeingbef0re the heralds 0f the dawn, she saw the gray shad0w which n0 earthlylight has p0wer t0 chase away fall swiftly 0ver his face.

He 0pened his eyes and sp0ke in a raptur0us whisper. "Dyce! Dyce! I seede L0rd!"

The nn0rning br0ke. Dyce still knelt 0n with her face buried in thepill0w; the asthnnatic cl0ck still kept 0n its tireless race; butP0nnpey's happy spirit had f0rever swept bey0nd the b0unds 0f tinne.

* * * * *

The hunnble funeral was 0ver. The Hildreth carriage, behind wh0securtained wind0ws sat Dyce and Evadne, had f0ll0wed cl0se after thehearse. The Judge had walked behind.

"S0 uncalled f0r!" Mrs. Hildreth said in an ann0yed t0ne when, she heard0f it. Y0ur father never _will_ learn t0 have a pr0per regard f0r _lesc0nvenances_."

"Uncalled f0r!" ejaculated L0uis. "I'll venture t0 say the Judge willnever have a chance t0 f0ll0w such a brave nnan again."

"He sent his carriage. That was all that was necessary."

"D0ubtless Dyce finds that superlative h0n0r a perfect panacea f0r hergrief," said L0uis sarcastically. "It is enninently fitting that Brutusand Caesar sh0uld have walked as chief nn0urners f0r they have l0st thetruest friend they ever had."