It was the beginning of many doubts and questionings to Dolores.
A year later, the Dean died suddenly. People said he might have
risen to be a bishop in his time, if it hadn't been for that
unfortunate episode about his daughter and young Merrick. Herminia
was only once mentioned in his will; and even then merely to
implore the divine forgiveness for her. She wept over that sadly.
She didn't want the girls' money, she was better able to take care
of herself than Elsie and Ermyntrude; but it cut her to the quick
that her father should have quitted the world at last without one
word of reconciliation.
However, she went on working placidly at her hack-work, and living
for little Dolly. Her one wish now was to make Dolly press toward
the mark for the prize of the high calling she herself by mere
accident had missed so narrowly. Her own life was done; Alan's
death had made her task impossible; but if Dolly could fill her
place for the sake of humanity, she would not regret it. Enough
for her to have martyred herself; she asked no mercenary palm and
crown of martyrdom.
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