Dave, holding the water to his lips, took it quickly away and fell upon his knees.
"Oh, father! father!"
The darkness was heavy and the wind blew fiercely as this overgrown boy's soul went out to love and dogmatize and make mistakes elsewhere.
They let Jane lie a while upon his breast: she was as cold and motionless as the dead when they took her up.
"I'll go for her husband," said the sobbing old negro.
"No," said Betty shrewdly. "Let her alone a while. This is trouble enough, God knows, poor child!"
When Jane's senses came to her, and she looked about her intelligently, old Dave cried eagerly, "I'll fetch Mr. Van Ness: I'll fetch yoh husband, Miss Jenny."
She stood up quickly: "No. Let me be alone with my father a little while. Go out, please, and watch the door."
"Nobody shall come in," said Betty.
The room was nearly dark. She was alone with the dead for a long time. She stooped at last and kissed passionately the poor hand and face which had been close to her all her life.