"You'll be asleep as soon as the light's down. But I'll stop a few minutes and talk to your daughter."
Charlton found Jane at the window in the dressing room next her father's bedroom. He said loudly enough for the old man to overhear:
"Your father's all right for the present, so you needn't worry. Come downstairs with me. He's to go to sleep now."
Jane went in and kissed the bulging bony forehead. "Good night, popsy."
"Good night, Jinny dear," he said in a softer voice than she had ever heard from him. "I'm feeling very comfortable now, and sleepy. If anything should happen, don't forget what I said about not temptin' your brother by trustin' him too fur. Look after your own affairs. Take Mr. Haswell's advice. He's stupid, but he's honest and careful and safe. You might talk to Dr. Charlton about things, too. He's straight, and knows what's what. He's one of them people that gives everybody good advice but themselves. If anything should happen——"
"But nothing's going to happen, popsy."
"It might. I don't seem to care as much as I did. I'm so tarnation tired. I reckon the goin' ain't as bad as I always calculated. I didn't know how tired they felt and anxious to rest."
"I'll turn down the light. The nurse is right in there."
"Yes—turn the light. If anything should happen, there's an envelope in the top drawer in my desk for Dr. Charlton. But don't tell him till I'm gone. I don't trust nobody, and if he knowed there was something waiting, why, there's no telling——"
The old man had drowsed off. Jane lowered the light and went down to join Charlton on the front veranda, where he was smoking a cigarette. She said: