? ? ? ? 'My heart, who is there upon earth that I could miss so much?'
? ? ? ? 'Oh, husband! I am so glad, yet so sorry!' creeping closer to me, and folding me in both her arms. She laughs and sobs, and then is quiet, and quite happy.
? ? ? ? 'Quite!' she says. 'Only give Agnes my dear love, and tell her that I want very, very, much to see her; and I have nothing left to wish for.'
? ? ? ? 'Except to get well again, Dora.'
? ? ? ? 'Ah, Doady! Sometimes I think - you know I always was a silly little thing! - that that will never be!'
? ? ? ? 'Don't say so, Dora! Dearest love, don't think so!'
? ? ? ? 'I won't, if I can help it, Doady. But I am very happy; though my dear boy is so lonely by himself, before his child-wife's empty chair!'
? ? ? ? It is night; and I am with her still. Agnes has arrived; has been among us for a whole day and an evening. She, my aunt, and I, have sat with Dora since the morning, all together. We have not talked much, but Dora has been perfectly contented and cheerful. We are now alone.
? ? ? ? Do I know, now, that my child-wife will soon leave me? They have told me so; they have told me nothing new to my thoughts- but I am far from sure that I have taken that truth to heart.
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