"But I tell you that Nora is as innocent as her own babe; and her
character shall be cleared before the day is out!" exclaimed Hannah,
tears of rage and shame welling to her eyes.
"Yes, honey, I dessay; and when it's done I'll come back and nuss
her--for nothing, too," replied the old woman dryly, as she put on her
bonnet and shawl.
This done she returned to the side of Hannah.
"Now, you know I have told you everything what to do for Nora; and
by-and-by, I suppose, old Dinah will come, as old Jovial promised; and
maybe she'll stay and 'tend to the gal and the child; 'twon't hurt her,
you know, 'cause niggers aint mostly got much character to lose. There,
child, take up your money; I wouldn't take it from you, no more'n I'd
pick a pocket. Good-by."
Hannah would have thrown the money after the dame as she left the hut,
but that Nora's dulcet tones recalled her: "Hannah, don't!"
She hurried to the patient's bedside; there was another rising of the
waves of life; Nora's face, so dark and rigid a moment before, was now
again soft and luminous.
"What is it, sister?" inquired Hannah, bending over her.
"Don't be angry with her, dear; she did all she could for us, you know,
without injuring herself--and we had no right to expect that."
"But--her cruel words!"
"Dear Hannah, never mind; when you are hurt by such, remember our
Saviour; think of the indignities that were heaped upon the Son of God;
and how meekly he bore them, and how freely he forgave them."
"Nora, dear, you do not talk like yourself."
"Because I am dying, Hannah. My boy came in with the rising sun, and I
shall go out with its setting."
"No, no, my darling--you are much better than you were. I do not see why
you should die!" wept Hannah.
"But I do; I am not better, Hannah--I have only floated back. I am
always floating backward and forward, towards life and towards death;
only every time I float towards death I go farther away, and I shall
float out with the day."
Hannah was too much moved to trust herself to speak.
"Sister," said Nora, in a fainter voice, "I have one last wish."
"What is it, my own darling?"
"To see poor, poor Herman once more before I die."
"To forgive him! Yes, I suppose that will be right, though very hard,"
sighed the elder girl.