"I think not. I have been a bad man, and it is a wonder that I didn't break her heart. I would like to see her!"
"Where is she?" asked Patty.
The patient looked at her suspiciously: "What's the use of bringing my disgrace home to her door?" he said.
"But I think she would bear your disgrace and everything else for the sake of wiping your face as I do."
"I believe she would," said the wounded man, tremulously. "I would like to go to her, and ever since I came away I have meant to go as soon as I could get in the way of doing better. But I get worse all the time. I'll soon be dead now, and I don't care how soon. The sooner the better;" and he sighed wearily.
Patty had the tact not to contradict him.
"Did your mother ever read to you?" she asked.
"Yes; she used to read the Bible on Sundays and I used to run away to keep from hearing it. I'd give everything to hear her read now."
"Shall I read to you?"
"If you please."