years of our life are still ahead of us—so we’ll both go on and profit by the mistakes of the past and make the most of what time’s left,” she said. “That’s just exactly what we’ll do!”
And quietly, kindly, without moving, and with the impassive and limitless regret of a man who knows that there is no return, he answered:
“Yes, Eliza. That is what we’ll do.”
“And now,” she went on coaxingly, “why don’t you go on back to sleep now, Mr. Gant? There’s nothin’like sleep to restore a man to health—as the feller says, it’s Nature’s sovereign remedy, worth all the doctors and all the medicine on earth,” she winked at him, and then concluded on a note of cheerful finality; “so you go on and get some sleep now, and tomorrow you will feel like a new man.”
And again he shook his head in an almost imperceptible gesture of negation:
“No,” he said, “not now. Can’t sleep.”
He was silent again, and presently, his breath coming somewhat hoarse and laboured, he cleared his throat, and put one hand up to his throat, as if to relieve himself of some impediment.
Eliza looked at him with troubled eyes and said:
“What’s the matter, Mr. Gant? There’s nothing hurtin’you?”
“No,” he said. “Just something in my throat. Could I have some water?”
“Why, yes, sir! That’s the very thing!” She got up hastily, and looking about in a somewhat confused manner, saw behind her a pitcher of water and a glass upon his old walnut bureau, and saying “This very minute, sir!” started across the room.
And at the same moment, Gant was aware that someone had entered the house, was coming towards him through the hall, would soon be with him. Turning his head towards the door he was conscious of something approaching with the speed of light, the instancy of thought, and at that moment he was filled with a sense of inexpressible joy, a feeling of triumph and security he had never known. Something immensely bright and beautiful was converging in a flare of light, and at that instant, the whole room blurred around him, his sight was fixed upon that focal image in the door, and suddenly the child was standing there and looking towards him.
And even as he started from his pillows, and tried to call his wife he felt something thick and heavy in his throat that would not let him speak. He tried to call to her again but no sound came, then something wet
