"The boy ought to know; it will be a lesson for him, and it weighs upon my heart."
"I don't want my boy to hear anything bad about his father, and I forbid him to listen."
The conversation paused, and soon after William said that his strength was going from him, and that he would like to go back to bed. Esther helped him off with his clothes, and together she and Jack lifted him into bed. He sat up looking at them with wistful, dying eyes.
"It is hard to part from you," he said. "If Chasuble had won we would have all gone to Egypt. I could have lived out there."
"You must speak of them things no more. We all must obey God's will." Esther dropped on her knees; she drew Jack down beside her, and William asked Jack to read something from the Bible. Jack read where he first opened the book, and when he had finished William said that he liked to listen. Jack's voice sounded to him like heaven.
About eight o'clock William bade his son good-night.
"Good-night, my boy; perhaps we shan't see each other again. This may be my last night."
"I won't leave you, father."
"No, my boy, go to your bed. I feel I'd like to be alone with mother." The voice sank almost to a whisper.
"You'll remember what you promised me about racing…. Be good to your mother—she's the best mother a son ever had."