His breakfast came in and he ate with appetite.  I had thought him thin and pale, at first sight, but his color had come back now, and his eyes were bright.  He told me of the fierce attacks of the pain, and how he had been given hypodermic injections which he amusingly termed “hypnotic injunctions” and “the sub-cutaneous.”  From Mr. and Mrs. Allen I learned how slender had been his chances, and how uncertain were the days ahead.  Mr. Allen had already engaged passage home for April 12th.

He seemed so little like a man whose days were numbered.  On the afternoon of my arrival we drove out, as we had done on our former visit, and he discussed some of the old subjects in quite the old way.  I had sold for him, for six thousand dollars, the farm where Jean had kept her animals, and he wished to use the money in erecting for her some sort of memorial.  He agreed that a building to hold the library which he had already donated to the town of Redding would be appropriate and useful.  He asked me to write at once to his lawyer and have the matter arranged.

We did not drive out again.  The pains held off for several days, and he was gay and went out on the lawn, but most of the time he sat propped up in bed, reading and smoking.  When I looked at him there, so full of vigor and the joy of life, I could not persuade myself that he would not outlive us all.

He had written very little in Bermuda—­his last work being a chapter of amusing “Advice”—­for me, as he confessed—­what I was to do upon reaching the gate of which St. Peter is said to keep the key.  As it is the last writing he ever did, and because it is characteristic, one or two paragraphs may be admitted here: 

   “Upon arrival do not speak to St. Peter until spoken to.  It is not
   your place to begin.

   “Do not begin any remark with “Say.”

   “When applying for a ticket avoid trying to make conversation.  If
   you must talk, let the weather alone. . .

   “You can ask him for his autograph—­there is no harm in that—­but be
   careful and don’t remark that it is one of the penalties of
   greatness.  He has heard that before.”

There were several pages of this counsel.

LXIX.

THE RETURN TO REDDING

I spent most of each day with him, merely sitting by the bed and reading.  I noticed when he slept that his breathing was difficult, and I could see that he did not improve, but often he was gay and liked the entire family to gather about and be merry.  It was only a few days before we sailed that the severe attacks returned.  Then followed bad nights; but respite came, and we sailed on the 12th, as arranged.  The Allen home stands on the water, and Mr. Allen had chartered a tug to take us to the ship.  We were obliged to start early, and the fresh morning breeze was stimulating.  Mark Twain seemed in good spirits when we reached the “Oceana,” which was to take him home.