hetriedtobuildaloftystoreyhimself,butitfelltopieces,andhefellwithitandbrokehisneck.however,hehadasplendidfuneral,withthecityflagsandmusicintheprocession;flowerswerestrewnonthepavement,andthreeorationswerespokenoverhisgrave,eachonelongerthantheother.hewouldhavelikedthisverymuchduringhislife,aswellasthepoemsabouthiminthepapers,forhelikednothingsowellastobetalkedof.amonumentwasalsoerectedoverhisgrave.itwasonlyanotherstoreyoverhim,butthatwas"something,"nowhewasdead,likethethreeotherbrothers.

theyoungest-thecritic-outlivedthemall,whichwasquiterightforhim.itgavehimtheopportunityofhavingthelastword,whichtohimwasofgreatimportance.peoplealwayssaidhehadagoodhead-piece.atlasthishourcame,andhedied,andarrivedatthegatesofheaven.soulsalwaysenterthesegatesinpairs;sohefoundhimselfstandingandwaitingforadmissionwithanother;andwhoshoulditbebutolddamemargaret,fromthehouseonthedyke!"itisevidentlyforthesakeofcontrastthatiandthiswretchedsoulshouldarrivehereexactlyatthesametime,"saidthecritic."praywhoareyou,mygoodwoman?"saidhe;"doyouwanttogetinheretoo?"

andtheoldwomancurtsiedaswellasshecould;shethoughtitmustbest.peterhimselfwhospoketoher."iamapooroldwoman,"shesaid,"withoutmyfamily.iamoldmargaret,thatlivedinthehouseonthedyke."

"well,andwhathaveyoudone-whatgreatdeedhaveyouperformeddownbelow?"

"ihavedonenothingatallintheworldthatcouldgivemeaclaimtohavethesedoorsopenforme,"shesaid."itwouldbeonlythroughmercythaticanbeallowedtoslipinthroughthegate."

"inwhatmannerdidyouleavetheworld?"heasked,justforthesakeofsayingsomething;foritmadehimfeelverywearytostandthereandwait.

"howilefttheworld?"shereplied;"why,icanscarcelytellyou.duringthelastyearsofmylifeiwassickandmiserable,andiwasunabletobearcreepingoutofbedsuddenlyintothefrostandcold.lastwinterwasahardwinter,butihavegotoveritallrewereafewmilddays,asyourhonor,nodoubt,knows.theicelaythicklyonthelake,asfaronecouldsee.thepeoplecamefromthetown,andwalkeduponit,andtheysaythereweredancingandskatinguponit,ibelieve,andagreatfeasting.thesoundofbeautifulmusiccameintomypoorlittleroomwhereilay.towardsevening,whenthemoonrosebeautifully,thoughnotyetinherfullsplendor,iglancedfrommybedoverthewidesea;andthere,justwheretheseaandskymet,roseacuriouswhitecloud.ilaylookingatthecloudtilliobservedalittleblackspotinthemiddleofit,whichgraduallygrewlargerandlarger,andtheniknewwhatitmeant-iamoldandexperienced;andalthoughthistokenisnotoftenseen,iknewit,andashudderingseizedme.twiceinmylifehadiseenthissamething,andiknewthattherewouldbeanawfulstorm,withaspringtide,whichwouldoverwhelmthepoorpeoplewhowerenowoutontheice,drinking,dancing,andmakingmerry.youngandold,thewholecity,werethere;whowastowarnthem,ifnoonenoticedthesign,orknewwhatitmeantasidid?iwassoalarmed,thatifeltmorestrengthandlifethanihaddoneforsometime.igotoutofbed,andreachedthewindow;icouldnotcrawlanyfartherfromweaknessandexhaustion;butimanagedtoopenthewindow.isawthepeopleoutsiderunningandjumpingaboutontheice;isawthebeautifulflagswavinginthewind;iheardtheboysshouting,'hurrah!