‘I do hope Kate won’t be trying.’
‘Oh, I’m sure she won’t. Why, it’s quite a long time since she had one of her worst turns. It was only the hard work and the trouble as worried her. And now that’s all over. It’s you we have to thank for it all, Em.’
‘You’ll have to come and be with me sometimes, Jane. I know there’ll always be something missing as long as you’re out of my sight. And you must see to it yourself that the sheets is always aired; Kate’s often so careless about that. You will promise me now, won’t you? I shall be dreadfully anxious every washing day, I shall indeed. You know that the least thing’ll give you a chill.’
‘Yes, I’ll be careful,’ said the other, half sadly. She was lying in her bed, and Emma sat on a chair by the side. ‘But you know it’s not much use, love. I don’t suppose as I shall live so very long. But I don’t care, as soon as I know you’re happy.’
‘Jane, I should never know happiness if I hadn’t my little sister to come and talk to. Don’t think like that, don’t for my sake, Janey dear!’
They laid their cheeks together upon the pillows.
‘He’ll be a good husband,’ Jane whispered. ‘You know that, don’t you, Emmy?’
‘No better in all this world! Why do you ask so?’
‘No—no—I didn’t mean anything. He said you mustn’t wait much longer, didn’t he?’
‘Yes, he did. But he’d rather see me doing what’s right. I often feel myself such a poor thing by him. I must try and show him that I do my best to follow his example. I’m ashamed almost, sometimes, to think I shall be his wife. It ought to be some one better than me.’