"I know. You must only obey now, Andy. Remember I love to do my share!" Tears stood in her brave eyes, and Andy understood.
Andy fell asleep almost at once. The hot bath took the pain from his sore body, the clean, worn linen was cool and soothing, and the droning of the bees in the near-by hives hushed sorrow and weariness into deep oblivion.
And while he dreamed of peaceful walks with the master under sunny skies, and smiled in the dreaming, Ruth had summoned Janie, and the mother sat waiting patiently the awakening. There was much to tell and more to do. But Andy dreamed on.
Four o'clock! The tall clock in the living-room spoke loudly. Andy stirred and muttered something, then slept again.
Five o'clock! The boy sat up on the narrow bed and stared into his mother's face.
Janie never flinched, though his pallor and the cut on his forehead made her heart ache.
"Mother, I must get to Washington at once. I—I have a message."
"Yes, son."
"I do not fear death. It comes but once!"
"Yes, Andy, lad. But I'm thinking you'll not be meeting death just now. It looks like you were singled out to live and act for all my old misgivings. God forgive me."