"Helen!"Iwhisperedsoftly,"areyouawake?"

　　Shestirredherself,putbackthecurtain,andIsawherface,pale,wasted,butquitecomposed:shelookedsolittlechangedthatmyfearwasinstantlydissipated.

　　"Canitbeyou,Jane?"sheasked,inherowngentlevoice.

　　"Oh!"Ithought,"sheisnotgoingtodie;theyaremistaken:shecouldnotspeakandlooksocalmlyifshewere."

　　Igotontohercribandkissedher:herforeheadwascold,andhercheekbothcoldandthin,andsowereherhandandwrist;butshesmiledasofold.

　　"Whyareyoucomehere,Jane?Itispasteleveno'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,andInestledclosetoher.Afteralongsilence,sheresumed,stillwhispering-

　　"Iamveryhappy,Jane;andwhenyouhearthatIamdead,youmustbesureandnotgrieve:thereisnothingtogrieveabout.Weallmustdieoneday,andtheillnesswhichisremovingmeisnotpainful;itisgentleandgradual:mymindisatrest.Ileavenoonetoregretmemuch:Ihaveonlyafather;andheislatelymarried,andwillnotmissme.Bydyingyoung,Ishallescapegreatsufferings.Ihadnotqualitiesortalentstomakemywayverywellintheworld:Ishouldhavebeencontinuallyatfault."