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"She was beautiful, Toti; not much older than you are now. And she had such a lovely voice; it was like music to hear her talk."

"Were you with her often?"

"Every day, after your father died. She stayed at our house most of the time then. She had great courage. I shall never forget how brave she was.... You must forgive me that I don't keep the land cleared any more."

"There's no reason why you should."

"I did at first. It was beautiful then. Your mother loved her garden, and there were only these great trees to shade the grass. It was all open and sunny. Then I let things grow as they would. To see it as it was, before, made me too sad."

"I understand."

"But the graves--you will see."

The burial plot was not far from where the house had stood--a green sunlit place enclosed with a high hedge filled with blossom. It was in perfect order; the three graves were bordered with shells and strewn with white coral sand, making a contrast to the green lawn around them. Slabs of white coral stood for headstones.