"Father," she said, "a woman who is downstairs wishes to speak with you."
The troubled man did not answer. What was this to him; what was all the world to him compared with his grief?
"She says her daughter, who is dying, wishes to see you," continued the young woman.
"Tell her I am coming," said Mr. Soher.
A dying woman wishing to see him. How could he refuse that? Perhaps he would be the means of doing some good to this person. If he could thus begin to atone for his want of dutifulness towards his son.
He went downstairs.
"My daughter wishes to see you now," said his visitor. "You will come, Sir; you will not refuse a dying woman's request?"
"Refuse; certainly not," he said, and he immediately accompanied his visitor.
They walked the whole distance which separated the two houses without a word being exchanged between them.