Tom felt utterly bewildered and helpless. He tried to respond to the woman’s greeting, but found no words. May in the mean time had slipped off her coat.
“He’s in here, I suppose,” she said. “I will go in at once.”
The two went in together, and Tom sat down by the fire. The door had been left half open, and he could hear words spoken inside.
“Here’s Miss May, Jack,” said the woman, keeping to the name she had always known her by; “she’s come to see you.”
There was the sound of a chair being moved along the ground, and after a moment’s silence he heard May’s voice.
“Dear old friend, I have come just in time to see you before you go. It is not so dreadful, is it? Christ has taken you by the hand; He is just going to cure you of all your pain and suffering, and what is even better, of all your sin. He has been through all you are going through. We are very weak, but infinitely strong in His strength. Yes, you know that, do you not?”
There came some reply from the dying man which he could not catch, and the harsh, unpleasant voice of the doctor broke in.
“He’s going fast,” he said.
Tom heard the chair pushed away, and May’s voice began again.
“It is nearly all over. You are very tired, are you not, and want to rest. Let us say the best prayer of all over together—‘Our Father——’”