and I don't know what. So I went up to him and I led him to the bedside,
and when I clasped my hands and lifted of them up, the Major did the
like.

"O Lord" I says "Thou knowest what we two saw together of the sufferings
and sorrows of that young creetur now with Thee. If this dying man is
truly penitent, we two together humbly pray Thee to have mercy on him!"

The Major says "Amen!" and then after a little stop I whispers him, "Dear
old friend fetch our beloved boy." And the Major, so clever as to have
got to understand it all without being told a word, went away and brought
him.

Never never never shall I forget the fair bright face of our boy when he
stood at the foot of the bed, looking at his unknown father. And O so
like his dear young mother then!

"Jemmy" I says, "I have found out all about this poor gentleman who is so
ill, and he did lodge in the old house once. And as he wants to see all
belonging to it, now that he is passing away, I sent for you."

"Ah poor man!" says Jemmy stepping forward and touching one of his hands
with great gentleness. "My heart melts for him. Poor, poor man!"

The eyes that were so soon to close for ever turned to me, and I was not
that strong in the pride of my strength that I could resist them.

"My darling boy, there is a reason in the secret history of this fellow-
creetur lying as the best and worst of us must all lie one day, which I
think would ease his spirit in his last hour if you would lay your cheek