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'I cannot； I am not worthy；' he answered； not looking up。
'Nay； you are surely in no uncharitableness with him now；' said she；
gently。
A shudder expressed his no。
'And if you are sorrythat is repentancemore fit now than ever
Won't you come？ Would you grieve him now？'
'You take it on yourself； then；' said Philip； almost sharply； raising
his haggard face。
She did not shrink； and answered； 'A broken and contrite heart； 0 God；
Thou wilt not despise。'
It was a drop of balm； a softening drop。 He rose； and trembling from
head to foot； from the excess of his agitation； followed her into Guy's
room。
The rite was over； and stillness succeeded the low tones； while all
knelt in their places。 Amabel arose first； for Guy； though serene；
looked greatly exhausted； and as she sprinkled him with vinegar； the
others stood up。 Guy looked for Philip； and held out his hand。
Whether it was his gentle force； or of Philip's own accord Amabel could
not tell； but as he lay with that look of perfect peace and love；
Philip bent down over him and kissed his forehead。
'Thank you！' he faintly whispered。 'Good night。 God bless you and my
sister。'
Philip went； and he added to Amy； 'Poor fellow！ It will be worse for
him than for you。 You must take care of him。'
She hardly heard the last words； for his head sunk on one side in a
deathlike faintness； the room was cleared of all but herself； and Anne
fetched the physician at once。
At length it passed off； and Guy slept。 The doctor felt his pulse； and
she asked his opinion of it。 Very low and unequal； she was told： his
strength was failing； and there seemed to be no power of rallying it；
but they must do their best to support him with cordials； according to
the state of his pulse。 The physician could not remain all night
himself； but would come as soon as he could on the following day。
Amabel hardly knew when it was that he went away； the two Mr。 Morrises
went to the other hotel； and she made her evening visit to Philip。 It
was all like a dream； which she could afterwards scarcely remember；
till night had come on； and for the first time she found herself
allowed to keep watch over her husband。
He had slept quietly for some time； when she roused him to give him
some wine； as she was desired to do constantly。 He smiled； and said；
'Is no one here but you？'
'No one。'
'My own sweet wife； my Verena； as you have always been。 We have been
very happy together。'
'Indeed we have；' said she； a look of suffering crossing her face； as
she thought of their unclouded happiness。 'It will not be so long
before we meet again。'
'A few months； perhaps'said Amabel； in a stifled voice； 'like your
mother'
'No； don't wish that； Amy。 You would not wish it to have no mother。'
'You will pray' She could say no more； but struggled for calmness。
'Yes；' he answered； 'I trust you to it and to mamma for comfort。 And
CharlieI shall not rob him any longer。 I only borrowed you for a
little while；' he added； smiling。 'In a little while we shall meet。
Years and months seem alike now。 I am sorry to cause you so much
grief； my Amy； but it is all as it should be； and we have been very
happy。'
Amy listened； her eyes intently fixed on him； unable to repress her
agitation； except by silence。 After some little time； he spoke again。
'My love to Charlieand Lauraand Charlotte； my brother and sisters。
How kindly they have made me one of them！ I need not ask Charlotte to
take care of Bustle； and your father will ride Deloraine。 My love to
him； and earnest thanks； for you above all； Amy。 And dear mamma！ I
must look now to meeting her in a brighter world； but tell her how I
have felt all her kindness since I first came in my strangeness and
grief。 How kind she was！ how she helped me and led me； and made me
know what a mother was。 Amy； it will not hurt you to hear it was your
likeness to her that first taught me to love you。 I have been so very
happy； I don't understand it。'
He was again silent； as in contemplation； and Amabel's overcoming
emotion had been calmed and chastened down again； now that it was no
longer herself that was spoken of。 Both were still； and he seemed to
sleep a little。 When next he spoke； it was to ask if she could repeat
their old favourite lines in 〃Sintram〃。 They came to her lips； and she
repeated them in a low； steady voice。
When death； is coming near；
And thy heart shrinks in fear；
And thy limbs fail；
Then raise thy hands and pray
To Him who smooths the way
Through the dark vale。
Seest thou the eastern dawn！
Hear'st thou； in the red morn；
The angel's song？
Oh！ lift thy drooping head；
Thou； who in gloom and dread
Hast lain so long。
Death comes to set thee free；
Oh！ meet him cheerily；
As thy true friend
And all thy fears shall cease；
And In eternal peace
Thy penance end。
'In eternal peace；' repeated Guy； 'I did not think it would have been
so soon。 I can't think where the battle has been。 I never thought my
life could be so bright。 It was a foolish longing； when first I was
ill； for the cool waves of Redclyffe bay and that shipwreck excitement；
if I was to die。 This is far better。 Read me a psalm； Amy； 〃Out of
the deep。〃'
There was something in his perfect happiness that would not let her
grieve； though a dull heavy sense of consternation was growing on her。
So it went on through the nightnot a long； nor a dreary onebut more
like a dream。 He dozed and woke； said a few tranquil words； and
listened to some prayer； psalm； or verse； then slept again； apparently
without suffering； except when he tried to take the cordials； and this
he did with such increasing difficulty； that she hardly knew how to
bear to cause him so much pain； though it was the last lingering hope。
He strove to swallow them； each time with the mechanical 'Thank you；'
so affecting when thus spoken； but at last he came to； 'It is of no
use； I cannot。'
Then she knew all hope was gone； and sat still； watching him。 The
darkness lessened； and twilight came。 He slept； but his breath grew
short； and unequal； and as she wiped the moisture on his brow； she knew
it was the death…damp。
Morning light came onthe church bell rang out matinsthe white hills
were tipped with rosy light。 His pulse was almost gonehis hand was
cold。 At last he opened his eyes。 'Amy！ he said； as if bewildered； or
in pain。
'Here； dearest！'
'I don't see。'
At that moment the sun was rising； and the light streamed in at the
open window； and over the bed； but it was 〃another dawn than ours〃 that
he beheld as his most beautiful of all smiles beamed over his face；