第16部分(第7/8 頁)

ed　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　griev