Then his eyes, softened and he turned to her and arranged her head on the
pillow and drew the sheets closely about her.
"I must go now. It has been bad for you this talking, but it had to be. I'm
never, never going to leave you again--you shall not be alone any more--"
"Oh, Peter! I'm so happy! I have never been so happy... but it all comes
of being a coward. If I had only been brave--never be afraid of anybody or
anything. Promise me, Peter--"
"Except of myself," he answered, kissing her.
"Kiss me again.... And again..."
"To-morrow..." he looked back at her, smiling. He saw her, for an instant,
as he left the room, with her cheek against the pillow and her black hair
like a cloud about her; the twilight was already in the room.
An hour later, as he stood in the dining-room, the door opened and his
father came in.
"You have been with your mother?"
"Yes."
"You have done her much harm. She is dying."
"I know everything," Peter answered, looking him in the face.
IV
He would never, until his own end had come, forget that evening. The golden
sunset gave place to a cold and windy night, and the dark clouds rolled up
along the grey sky, hiding and then revealing the thin and pallid moon.
Peter stayed there in the dining-room, waiting. His grandfather slept in
his chair. Once his aunt came crying into the room and wandered aimlessly
about.
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