小说园

第16部分（第2页）

Close　by　Miss　Temple’s　bed；　and　half　covered　with　its　white　curtains；　there　stood　a　little　crib。　I　saw　the　outline　of　a　form　under　the　clothes；　but　the　face　was　hid　by　the　hangings：　the　nurse　I　had　spoken　to　in　the　garden　sat　in　an　easy…chair　asleep；　an　unsnuffed　candle　burnt　dimly　on　the　table。　Miss　Temple　was　not　to　be　seen：　I　knew　afterwards　that　she　had　been　called　to　a　delirious　patient　in　the　fever…room。　I　advanced；　then　paused　by　the　crib　side：　my　hand　was　on　the　curtain；　but　I　preferred　speaking　before　I　withdrew　it。　I　still　recoiled　at　the　dread　of　seeing　a　corpse。

“Helen！”　I　whispered　softly；　“are　you　awake？”

She　stirred　herself；　put　back　the　curtain；　and　I　saw　her　face；　pale；　posed：　she　looked　so　little　changed　that　my　fear　was　instantly　dissipated。

“Can　it　be　you；　Jane？”　she　asked；　in　her　own　gentle　voice。

“Oh！”　I　thought；　“she　is　not　going　to　die；　they　are　mistaken：　she　could　not　speak　and　look　so　calmly　if　she　were。”

I　got　on　to　her　crib　and　kissed　her：　her　forehead　was　cold；　and　her　cheek　both　cold　and　thin；　and　so　were　her　hand　and　wrist；　but　she　smiled　as　of　old。

“Why　are　you　e　here；　Jane？　It　is　past　eleven　o’clock：　I　heard　it　strike　some　minutes　since。”

“I　came　to　see　you；　Helen：　I　heard　you　were　very　ill；　and　I　could　not　sleep　till　I　had　spoken　to　you。”

“You　came　to　bid　me　good…bye；　then：　you　are　just　in　time　probably。”

“Are　you　going　somewhere；　Helen？　Are　you　going　home？”

“Yes；　to　my　long　home—my　last　home。”

“No；　no；　Helen！”　I　stopped；　distressed。　While　I　tried　to　devour　my　tears；　a　fit　of　coughing　seized　Helen；　it　did　not；　however；　wake　the　nurse；　when　it　was　over；　she　lay　some　minutes　exhausted；　then　she　whispered—

“Jane；　your　little　feet　are　bare；　lie　down　and　cover　yourself　with　my　quilt。”

I　did　so：　she　put　her　arm　over　me；　and　I　nestled　close　to　her。　After　a　long　silence；　she　resumed；　still　whispering—

“I　am　very　happy；　Jane；　and　when　you　hear　that　I　am　dead；　you　must　be　sure　and　not　grieve：　there　is　nothing　to　grieve　about。　We　all　must　die　one　day；　and　the　illness　which　is　removing　me　is　not　painful；　it　is　gentle　and　gradual：　my　mind　is　at　rest。　I　leave　no　one　to　regret　me　much：　I　have　only　a　father；　and　he　is　lately　married；　and　will　not　miss　me。　By　dying　young；　I　shall　escape　great　sufferings。　I　had　not　qualities　or　talents　to　make　my　way　very　well　in　the　world：　I　should　have　been　continually　at　fault。”

“But　where　are　you　going　to；　Helen？　Can　you　see？　Do　you　know？”

“I　believe；　I　have　faith：　I　am　going　to　God。”

“Where　is　God？　What　is　God？”

“My　Maker　and　yours；　who　will　never　destroy　what　He　created。　I　rely　implicitly　on　His　power；　and　confide　wholly　in　His　goodness：　I　count　the　hours　till　that　eventful　one　arrives　which　shall　restore　me　to　Him；　reveal　Him　to　me。”

“You　are　sure；　then；　Helen；　that　there　is　such　a　place　as　heaven；　and　that　our　souls　can　get　to　it　when　we　die？”

“I　am　sure　there　is　a　future　state；　I　believe　God　is　good；　I　can　resign　my　immortal　part　to　H