’Only that he hadn’t time.  Dear, you mustn’t excite yourself so.  Isn’t it all right, Jane, as long as I don’t mind it?’

’Why do you look away from me?  No, it isn’t all right.  Oh, I can’t rest, I can’t lie here!  Why haven’t I strength to go and say to him what I want to say?  I thought it was him. when the knock came.  When Kate told me it wasn’t, I felt as if my heart was sinking down; and I don’t seem to have no tears left to cry.  It ’ud ease me a little if I could.  And now you’re beginning to have secrets.  Emmy!’

It was a cry of anguish.  The mention of tears had brought them to Emma’s eyes, for they lurked very near the surface, and Jane had seen the firelight touch on a moist cheek.  For an instant she raised herself from the pillows.  Emma folded soft arms about her and pressed her cheek against the heat which consumed her sister’s.

‘Emmy, I must know,’ wailed the sick girl.  ’Is it what I’ve been afraid of?  No, not that!  Is it the worst of all?  You must tell .me now.  You don’t love me if you keep away the truth.  I can’t have anything between you and me.’

A dry sob choked her; she gasped for breath.  Emma, fearful lest the very life was escaping from her embrace, drew away and looked in anguish.  Her involuntary tears had ceased, but she could no longer practise deception.  The cost to Jane was greater perhaps than if she knew the truth.  At least their souls must be united ere it was too late.

‘The truth, Emmy!’

‘I will tell it you, darling,’ she replied, with quiet sadness.  ’It’s for him that I’m sorry.  I never thought anything could tempt him to break his word.  Think of it in the same way as I do, dear-sister; don’t be sorry for me, but for him.’

‘He’s never coming?  He won’t marry you?’

‘He’s already married, Jane.  Alice came to tell me.’

Again she would have raised herself, but this time there was no strength.  Not even her arms could she lift from the coverlets.  But Emma saw the vain effort, raised the thin arms, put them about her neck, and held her sister to her heart as if for eternity.

’Darling, darling, it isn’t hard to bear.  I care for nothing but your love.  Live for my sake, dearest dear; I have forgotten every one and everything but you.  It’s so much better.  I couldn’t have changed my life so; I was never meant to be rich.  It seems unkind of him, but in a little time we shall see it was best.  Only you, Janey; you have my whole heart, and I’m so glad to feel it is so.  Live, and I’ll give every minute of my life to loving you, poor sufferer.’

Jane could not breathe sound into the words she would have spoken.  She lay with her eyes watching the fire-play on the ceiling.  Her respiration was quick and feeble.

Mutimer’s name was not mentioned by either again that night, by one of them never again.  Such silence was his punishment.

Kate entered the room a little before midnight.  She saw one of Jane’s hands raised to impose silence.  Emma, still sitting by the bedside, slept; her head rested on the pillows.  The sick had become the watcher.