"Both of 'em dead. Oh, Miss Patten, you'll die, I know you'll die!"
"No, I shan't. I died when they went away."
"What can I do, Miss Patten? Oh, some of you do speak! Mis' De-mond, you tell; you are allus right."
Clara crossed the room, and kneeling on the carpet before her, said:
"My dear soul, is it the one you told me of?"
"Yes, yes," said Jane, "the very one; gall and worm-wood I drank, and all for him; he ran away and—"
"Yes," added Aunt Hildy, "tell it all. Silas and our boy went with him, father and son, and Satan led 'em all."
"Has he suffered much?" said Clara.
"Oh, yes, marm, but he says he can't live without me! He hain't never been married; I'm fifty-four, and he's the same age."
"Jane," said Clara, "I guess it will be all right; let him stay with you."