At last, towards the break of day, the time when so many souls go away, Wyndham stirred faintly and opened his eyes. Valentine moved forward with an eager gesture. He looked at her, but there was no comprehension in his glance.
"What is the matter?" said Valentine to the nurse. "I scarcely know him—his face has altered."
"It looks young, madam. Dying faces often do so. Hark, he is saying something."
"Lilias," said Wyndham. "Lilly—mother calls us—we are to sing our evening hymn.
'Bright in the happy land!'
Lilias, do you hear mother; she is calling? Kneel down—our evening prayers—by mother—we always say our prayers by mother's knee. Kneel, Lilias, see, my hands are folded—'Our Father'——"
There was a long pause after the last words, a pause followed by one more breath of infinite content, and then the nurse closed the dead man's eyes.