"'You look so thin and ill, my dear,' she said gently. 'You have worried too much over me. You have paid too great a price for your wife.'
"She felt him tremble between her arms.
"'A great one,' he answered, 'but not too great.'
"'Not?' she smiled restfully, as he lifted his face from her bosom and looked into her eyes.
"'Never too great a price for you,' he said. 'Never that.'
"'My love!' she answered, and for a while they were silent together.
"Then she stirred. 'Do you know, John,' she said, 'that you and I have not prayed together since first this sickness took me? Shall we thank God together, now that He has willed to leave us our companionship for yet a space?'
"'No!' he said quietly.
"'Dear!' She was surprised. 'I was asking you to thank God with me.'
"He nodded. 'I heard you, but it serves no purpose. God forgot us, Paula.'