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326 sign of the cross over the body, knelt down, and began to pray. The children followed her example.

"Now tell me, are you satisfied, have we arranged everything as it should be?" asked the gamekeeper's wife anxiously, when Grandmother arose from prayer. "We did not give her any more flowers or pictures because we knew that you, too, would want to put some little gifts into the grave."

"Everything is well done, very well, indeed," replied Grandmother.

The gamekeeper's wife took the flowers and pictures from the children and placed them around the body of Victorka. Grandmother twined the rosary around her stiff hands, and looked long and lovingly into her face. The wild expression was gone! The black, burning eyes were closed, theirlight had died out. The black, tangled masses of hair were smoothly combed out, and around the forehead, cold as marble, was wound a red wreath, like the band of love. The distortion of features which had made her hideous in wrath was not seen; the muscles of the face were relaxed in calm repose; but upon her lips lay her last thought, as if in her surprise she had died with it,—a bitter smile.

"What was it that grieved thee, thou poor heart? what did they do to thee?" said Grandmother in a low voice. "Alas! no one can atone to thee for thy sufferings. God will judge the guilty one. Thou art in eternal light and peace."

"The blacksmith's wife wanted us to put shavings under her head, but my husband would have moss; I am afraid the people, and especially her relatives, will say that we took charge of her