"I don't mind dying, Dolly dear," continued Mrs. Rushmere, gathering courage to speak at last. "But oh, my pet! it is such a cruel death."
"May God give you strength to bear it, my dear mother," said Dorothy. "This is sad news; it cuts me to the heart."
"I hope I may be spared to see Gilly again," continued Mrs. Rushmere, for a moment forgetful of her sad fate. "The doctor said that I might live for months, or even for years; but I only want to live long enough to look into his face once more."
After lying very still for a few minutes, she turned piteously to Dorothy, and continued—
"Dolly, if Gilbert should repent of his unkindness to you, would you forgive him?"
"Dear mother, I have done that long ago. How could I ask God to forgive me, and harbour resentment against anyone?"
"But would you marry him, if he wished it?"
Dorothy was silent. She felt in her heart that she no longer wished to be Gilbert Rushmere's wife, yet she did not wish to agitate Mrs. Rushmere, by giving a flat negative to her question.
Her inward retrospection was interrupted by Mrs. Rushmere sinking back on her pillow, and gasping out, in a faint voice,
"Dorothy, you no longer love him?"