n!”Iwhisperedsoftly,“areyouawake?”

    Shestirredherself,putbackthecurtain,andIsawherface,pale,wasted,butquiteposed:shelookedsolittlegedthatmyfearwasinstantlydissipated.

    “itbeyou,Jane?”sheasked,inherowlevoice.

    “Oh!”Ithought,“sheisnotgoingtodie;theyaremistaken:shecouldnotspeakandlooksocalmlyifshewere.”

    Igotontohercribandkissedher:herforeheadwascold,andhercheekbothcoldandthin,andsowereherhandandwrist;butshesmiledasofold.

    “Whyareyouehere,Jaispasteleveno’clock:Ihearditstrikesomeminutessince.”

    “Icametoseeyou,Helen:Iheardyouwereveryill,andIcouldnotsleeptillIhadspokentoyou.”

    “Youcametobidmegood-bye,then:youarejustintimeprobably.”

    “Areyougoingsomewhere,Helen?Areyougoinghome?”

    “Yes;tomylonghome—mylasthome.”

    “No,no,Helen!”Istopped,distressed.WhileItriedtodevourmytears,afitofcoughingseizedHelen;itdidnot,however,wakethenurse;whenitwasover,shelaysomeminutesexhausted;thenshewhispered—

    “Jane,yourlittlefeetarebare;liedownandcoveryourselfwithmyquilt.”

    Ididso:sheputherarmoverme,aledclosetoher.Afteralongsilence,sheresumed,stillwhispering—

    “Iamveryhappy,Jane;andwhenyouhearthatIamdead,youmustbesureandnotgrieve:thereisnothingtogrieveabout.Weallmustdieoneday,andtheillnesswhichisremovingmeisnotpainful;itisgentleandgradual:mymindisatrest.Ileaveretmemuch:Ihaveonlyafather;andheislatelymarried,andwillnotmissme.Bydyingyoung,Ishallescapegreatsufferings.Ihadnotqualitiesortalentstomakemywayverywellintheworld:Ishouldhavebe