By the end of 1925 both Darrell and Millie Figgis were gone. Their untimely deaths must have left a huge gap in Emily’s life, who was no stranger to loss.  Her relationship with the Figgis’ was long standing, over a decade if not longer and they shared many intense occasions, were allies and supported each other.

Emily was quick applaud the endeavors of her friends and frequently wrote to the papers singing their praises and telling of their bravery. In the Mayo News of 22nd November 1924, she wrote the following of her friend Millie;

…(Her large circle of friends in Mayo will read this announcement with heartfelt sorrow. It would be hared to find a more estimable lady. We have a very lively recollection of the heard work she did for over 2,000 prisoners in Stafford jail in 1916.

The English authorities sent may of these prisoners form Richmond Barracks, Dublin, creeping with vermin. Mrs. Figgis followed the prisoners to Stafford and taking up her residence in that tow she organised and did with her own hands, in part, the washing for those prisoners. Ih that and in a thousand other ways she earned the undying gratitude of us all. Her trial and hardships for Ireland were many, and it is sad that in the end sh lost that mind which thought for others so unselfishly. – E. M. W.

Emily could never imagined that one year later she would be reading Darrell Figgis’ obituary too. It is unlikely that she attended his funeral as fewer than dozen mourners attended.

Sources
Mayo News November 22 1924. Page 3

31 October 1925 – Yorkshire Post and Leeds Intelligencer – Leeds, West Yorkshire

After Millie’s death Darrell Figgis’ political career was revived and his writing was well received. It appeared that he was getting his life back on track after the tragic death of his wife Millie. He had new work published such as “The Paintings of William Blake”, which he dedicated to her. His relationship with Miss North, a young dance teacher which possibly began before Millie, continued.

It continued until October 1925, when the couple arrived in London. They did not stay together. Miss North booked into a boarding house and he took a room in Bloomsbury. Later on in the month she was taken to Hendon Cottage Hospital, where two days later she died from toxemia following peritonitis. According to the inquest into her death the cause of the peritonitis was unnatural. Miss North was pregnant and had an illegal abortion had caused later complications that led to her death.

Figgis was a broken man and a few days later took his own life by gassing himself to death.

 Sources