RAB AND HIS FRIENDS 



which one day we must all enter and yet 

 she was not alone, for we know whose rod 

 and staff were comforting her. 



One night she had fallen quiet, and, as we 

 hoped, asleep ; her eyes were shut. We put 

 down the gas, and sat watching her. Suddenly 

 she sat up in bed, and taking a bedgown 

 which was lying on it rolled up, she held it 

 eagerly to her breast to the right side. We 

 could see her eyes bright with a surprising 

 tenderness and joy, bending over this bundle 

 of clothes. She held it as a woman holds her 

 sucking child ; opening out her nightgown 

 impatiently, and holding it close, and brooding 

 over it, and murmuring foolish little words, 

 as over one whom his mother comforteth, and 

 who sucks and is satisfied. It was pitiful and 

 strange to see her wasted dying look, keen 

 and yet vague her immense love. 



" Preserve me ! " groaned James, giving 

 way. And then she rocked back and forward, 

 as if to make it sleep, hushing it, and wasting 

 on it her infinite fondness. " Wae's me, doc- 



