"Thank you for that chorus," she said, hardly knowing what else to say. "I didn't know you were here." "Pardon us, miss," Jake replied, stepping forward. "It wasn't fair of us to be standin' here listenin'. But we couldn't help it. An' when ye sang that old hymn it jist melted us down. We come to inquire about the boy. Mebbe ye'd tell us how he's gettin' along."
"There's no change as yet, that we can see," Nellie replied. "But the doctor says it must come soon one way or the other. Would you like to see him? If you come in one at a time, I don't think it will do any harm."
Without a word Jake followed her into the room, and stood with his hat in his hand looking down upon the bed.
"Poor little chap," he whispered. "Ain't it a pity?"
Hardly had he ceased speaking when Dan suddenly opened his eyes and looked about him in a dazed manner.
"Where--where's my rose?" he cried.
Nellie was by his side in an instant.
"Here, Dan," and she lifted up the flower so he could see it. "Hush now, don't speak."
Dan gave a sigh of relief. He looked wearily around, then his eyes slowly closed, and he passed into a gentle sleep. A step was heard in the room, and the doctor stood by the bed.
"When did the change take place?" he asked.