He broke off; and Mary could see, by the glow upon his face, that he was praying then.
She knelt down, reverently, and leaned her forehead upon the arm of his chair.
After a little, Fuller opened his eyes, and lifting one pale hand from his knee, laid it on his child's shoulder.
"Mary!"
She looked up and smiled. There was something so loving and holy in his face, that the child could not help smiling, even through her tears.
"Mary, listen to me while I can speak, for in a little while I shall be gone."
"Not to the hospital again—oh, not there!"
"No, Mary, not there; but look up—be strong, my child, you know what death is!"
"Oh, yes," whispered the child with a shudder.
"Hush, Mary, hush—don't shake so—I must die, very, very soon, I feel," he added, looking at his fingers and dropping them gently back to her shoulder; "I feel now that it is very nigh, this death which makes you tremble so."