Assured as to that point, he added:  “The reason I wanted to know is because I’ve got to fix my concerns so as to leave ’em as well as I can; and all I want of you is that when you think I’m—­wall—­if you see there’s goin’ to be a change, I want you should tell me, so’s’t I can straighten things right out and git their consent to it.”  Having promised, the doctor apprised him as the last moments drew near.

“Sho!  I want to know!  Why, I feel full as well as I did yes’dy and a leetle grain easier, if anythin’.”

“I hope this notice does not find you unprepared,” observed the doctor.

“Wall, no; I’m prepared as much as I can be, as you may say.  I’ve been a member in good and regular standin’ this fifty-five year—­and I hain’t arrived at my age without seeing there’s somethin’ in life beside livin’.”  He paused, then added with an accent of pride, “I don’t owe any man a cent, nor never cheated a man of one.  Wall, I’ve had quite a spell to think of things in, durin’ my sickness, and I don’t know but what I’ve enjoyed it considerable.  Thought of things all along back to when I was a boy.  Events come up that I’d clean forgot.”

The doctor gone, he called his children in.

“Wall, Armidy, wall, Lucas, the doctor don’t seem to think I shall tucker it out much longer.  Wall, naow,” he exclaimed, quite vexed, “I vow for’t if I didn’t forgit to ask him how long!  Wall, too late naow.  He’s got out of sight, I s’pose.”

Armida stepped to the window, and assured him of the fact.

“Wall, no gret matter.  I jist thought if I could git him to fix the time I’d like to see how nigh he’d hit it.

“Naow, I want to fix the property so’s’t you won’t have no trouble with it.  No use wastin’ money gittin’ lawyers here.  There ain’t no cheatin’ nor double-dealin’ anywhere to be found amongst the Huxters nor the Lucases; and when you give me your promises to abide by my last will and testament I shall expect you to hold to it jist the same as if it was writ out.

“Naow, about the farm and house.  The house, as you know, stands in the middle line of the farm; that is, the north side has a leetle the advantage in hevin’ the Jabez Norcross paster tacked unto it, over and above the south half, but it’s near enough.  That paster don’t count for much.  Pooty thick with sheep laurel.  Wall, seein’ the land lies jist as it does, and the house is jist as it is, I propose to divide it even.  Lucas, you can have the north half, and Armidy the south, beginnin’ right to the front door, and runnin’ right through the house and right along down to the river, straight as you can fetch it.  Do you agree to my plan?”

Armida and Lucas exchanged glances.  “You speak,” said Lucas in a low tone.

“No, you,” said Armida.

“What you whisperin’ about?  P’raps you think I can’t hear because I’m dyin’, but I’d have you to know my hearin’ ain’t affected a grain.  Speak up naow!  What is it, Lucas?”