"No," said the nurse; "if any change occurs I will call you. Go--I can attend better to him alone."
"No, you will be in my way. Hush! Go at once; your mother is stirring. Be sure I will call you, I promise faithfully."
Basil left the room, carrying the cashbox with him, which he placed under his own bed, putting the key in his pocket. He did not seek rest, his mind was too perturbed. Towards midnight the doctor called in, and gently informed Basil that within a few hours he would lose both his parents.
"In one sense," he said, "apart from the grief which such a loss bears with it, it is a happy fitness that two old people, who have lived a long life in harmony with each other, should pass away at the same time, the allotted span of existence having been reached. I sympathise sincerely with you."
Basil gave him a strange look; so completely was his position recognised and established that he almost doubted his identity. It wanted a few minutes to sunrise when the nurse came to the door and solemnly beckoned to him. He followed her it silence; she pointed first to the bed in which Mr. Chaytor lay. The form thereon was grey and motionless.
"He died in his sleep," whispered the nurse; "not a sound escaped him. It was a happy, painless death."
"Now you know," he thought. "Forgive me for the deception which has been forced upon me."
The nurse touched his arm, and directed his attention to Mrs. Chaytor, saying softly, "I would not let her know of your father's death."
"Newman, Newman, my dear boy," murmured the dying woman, "put your lips to mine; come closer to me, closer, closer. My last thoughts, my last prayers are for you. Has your father spoken to you?"
"Then all is well. We shall trouble you no more, my darling. A life of happiness is before you. Think of us sometimes; and if your father does not get well, lay us in the same grave."
"I shall wait for you in heaven. How happy I am--how happy, how happy! I am not sorry to go now I have found you. I have prayed to die like this. God has been very good to me. He has answered my prayer. Kiss me, dear. God bless and guard you!"
She said no more; before the next hour struck her spirit was in another world.
"Remain with them," Basil said to the nurse, "and let everything be done that is proper and necessary."