"Yes, father, I am ready."
Her voice was low, but clear as the fall of water-drops.
"I am ready to live or to die as God shall will it. Our Lord has told me how to do both."
"Blessed be his holy name!" broke forth the old man.
"Amen," whispered the gentle woman by his side.
Katharine clasped her hands and lifted her eyes upward, while her lips moved silently.
"We have good counsel; every thing has been done that lies within mortal power," said Mr. Thrasher.
"I know it. The lawyers were here questioning me. They told me it might be soon, but to-morrow—that is sudden."
"But it will be over in a little while," said Mrs. Thrasher, anxious to throw in her mite of consolation.
"Yes, it will be over, and then——"