“Your youth and inexperience shrink from the responsibility of the position; but look on the bright side and hope for the best. Now come, sit here by the fire with me, while I give you some directions about what I want done in case I——. You understand.”
“Don’t mention that horrid possibility, Ramie. I cannot bear it.”
“Yes; but it must be mentioned,” he said, crimping a strip of paper between his thumb and forefinger, while he gazed pensively at the coals flickering their red horoscope deep in the grate. “If I fall,” he at length said, “have my body brought back to town and carried to the hotel; I do not wish to shock the feelings of your kind family by being brought here.”
“It shall go nowhere else,” I replied, impetuously, forgetting that the neuter “it” might grate harshly on his ear.
“Then have a metallic case,” he went on, without noticing my interruption, “and have it expressed to New Orleans, telegraphing Mr. Dixon, our agent, to meet it and make necessary arrangements for interment. I expected my mother here soon, but I wrote her a few days since to remain in New Orleans till she heard from me again. I made my will yesterday, and had it signed and sealed, but there are a few articles of personal property I wish you to dispose of for me. My ring, with Lillian’s and my own likeness in it, together with the box of trinkets and souvenirs you will find in my trunk, please give to her; my watch and chain send to my mother, and this I wish you to keep,” and he placed in my hand a beautiful emerald cross, which he wore as a scarf pin.
He gazed again for some time in the fire, and then looked up and continued:
“And, John, write to mother and explain all the circumstances and reasons of the affair—omitting, of course, the slight connection you had with its beginning; and tell her that I die in the faith and communion of the Church, and in the hope of Heaven. I am speaking thus in case the worst happens. I trust, though, there may be no occasion for your carrying out these instructions. Now complete your arrangements and let’s go to sleep; I want to feel well in the morning.”
He retired to his room, which adjoined mine; and having occasion to go in there a few moments afterwards, I found that he was sleeping as peacefully as if on his mother’s bosom. I could not sleep, but tossed from side to side in a fever of restless apprehension.
About day I fell into a doze, from which I was awakened by father’s tapping at our door and telling us it was nearly train time. I found DeVare already up and dressed, and I rose, and hurriedly, shiveringly, slipped on my clothes and went down with him to the dining room, where mother had prepared an early breakfast for us.