Mrs. Quirk turned her head, and her thin, white face broke into a sweet smile.
"Come to me, Denis. God is good to send you. Sure, I am blessed above all women. Himself is with me, the Divine Redeemer, and His Blessed Mother, and the angels. Father Healy has been praying over me, and now you have come to say good-bye. Sit beside me, and take my hand. Don't be crying. I am just passing to God. Don't forget to say a prayer for me."
She paused in distress, while Denis took her hand, and sat on a chair, the tears rolling down his cheek. After a few seconds she spoke again:
"Don't be fretting because the world is hard, boy. All will come right, and there's a good wife waiting you—one that will be true to you."
"Don't be worrying yourself about me. I shall always land on my feet," he answered. Then, after a pause, he added: "You have been perfect as a mother and as a woman. There is nothing to regret on that score."
"Many things undone, and many that might have been done better. But God is good and merciful, boy. He doesn't expect too much."
Thus they spoke together for ten minutes. Then Denis saw that she was exhausted. He rose to call the nurse, but she held his hand for one minute.
"Promise me that you will marry Kathleen," she whispered.
"I am already married," he answered.
"You will be set free—I am sure of it. Promise me, Denis."