“Yes, I fear I have talked too long,” returned Ethel, with an anxious look at the face on the pillow, “and it is time she had something to eat,” and with that she left the room.
She found Harry seated in the little parlor below, looking over the evening paper.
“How is Nan?” he asked, glancing up at her as she entered. Then noticing that she had been weeping, “O Ethel, is she worse?”
At first Ethel answered only with tears and sobs; then in low, tremulous tones she said, “She is nearing home, Harry. The doctors say she can be with us only—a little longer—a few weeks or—perhaps but a few days.”
Harry had dropped his paper, and tears were coursing down his cheeks. “I don’t believe it! Dear little Nan! we can’t let her die. What could we ever do without her? something must be done to save her.”
Blanche had come in just in time to hear Harry’s last words, and was standing as if struck dumb with astonishment and dismay. “What is it? oh, what is it?” she asked wildly. “Nan can’t be so very ill with that lovely color in her cheeks and her eyes so bright. Oh, I’m sure she’ll soon be better! quite well, perhaps, when the warm spring days come and the flowers are in bloom.” But tears fell fast from her eyes even as she spoke.
“It’s an old saying that while there’s life there’s hope,” said Harry, trying hard to make his tones steady; “so we’ll just hope on, at the same time doing everything that can be done to—to prolong her precious life; for she’s just the loveliest and dearest little sister that ever anybody had.”
“Yes,” said Ethel, “and nothing is impossible with God. Oh, let us all three pray that she may be spared to us if it is best for her and for us. I must go now and get her supper ready and carry it up to her.”
“It is ready now; broiled bird, toast, fruit, tea, and cake. I thought they would all taste good to her, and you know the doctors say she may eat anything and everything she fancies.”
“That seems to show that they don’t consider her so very, very ill,” remarked Harry hopefully. “Let us all go up with the supper. I haven’t seen her since morning, you know.”