"She knows you are here, Oswald, and would like to see you. She wants to bid you goodbye. I think her saying that alarmed me more than anything."
Caroline was on the sofa as before. Very quiet, save for her panting breath. Her white hands lay listless, her face, dreadfully worn though it was, was calm, tranquil. She looked at them one by one, and slightly raised her hand as Oswald entered. He bent down to her, taking it in his.
"Thank you for all," she whispered.
The change in her countenance struck them. It so far frightened Mark as to take from him his self-possession. He pushed Oswald away.
"O Carine, what is it? You cannot be going to die! You must not die, now that all this good luck is coming upon me!"
She glanced up at him, her eyes wide open, as if she scarcely understood.
"There's the most beautiful home getting ready for you in Paris Carine," he resumed, his voice sounding as if he were on the verge of tears. "We'll live in the Champ Elysées; it is the loveliest spot, and you can't fail to grow better there, if we can only get your disease to turn. O Carine! don't leave me just when I am able to surround you with wealth and luxury again! This will be a greater and a surer thing than the Great Wheal Bang."
"Don't, Mark! I am going to a better home."
"But I can't let you go until I have atoned for the past! I----"
"Hush, hush!" she interrupted. "O Mark! if you only knew how welcome it is to me! I am going to be at peace after all the turmoil. I am going to rest."