The Consul-General laid one of his wrinkled hands on the counterpane, and in a moment the old lady had put her delicate white hand over it.
"Yes, it's harder for you, dear."
"No, Janet, no! ... But it's hard for both of us."
There was another moment of silence, and then, pressing the hand that lay under her hand, the old lady said—
"I think I know now what people feel when they are old and their children die before them. They feel that they ought to be more to each other than they have ever been before, and keep together as long as they can."
The Consul-General drew his hand away and covered his face with it. He was asking himself why, through so many years, he had buried his love for his wife so deep in his heart and sealed it as with a seal. Presently a more cheerful voice came from the bed.
"John!"
"Yes!"
"I'm going to get up to-morrow."
"No, no!"