The smile had left Rachel's lips; her face was paler, and there was a worn look on it. A terrible fear entered his heart.
"O God! if she should die! O God! if I should lose her!"
He took his silk taleth from its bag, and wrapping it around him, put on his hat, and stood and prayed, with his face to the east:--
"How precious is Thy mercy, O God! The children of men take refuge under the shadow of Thy wing. They are satisfied with the richness of Thy house, and Thou causest them to drink of the stream of Thy delight. For with Thee is the fountain of life; by Thy light only do we see light. O continue Thy mercy unto them who know Thee, and Thy righteousness to the upright of heart!"
One line in the prayer he repeated again and again--
"For with Thee is the fountain of life; by Thy light only do we see light."
And so he prayed till midnight, and the one supplication into which all else was merged was sent forth with touching pathos from his very heart of hearts--
"O Lord of the universe, Giver of all good, humbly I beseech Thee to spare my beloved! Take her not from me! Let her live, let her live, to bless my days! Let not darkness overwhelm me. It is Thy hand that directs the fountain of life."
His prayers ended, he sat by the bedside watching his wife's face, and listening to her breathing.
And Rachel slept on, and dreamt of the child whose face she was never to see on earth.