I took it up and took also my own Radical colours from my coat.

Holding one of them in each hand before Strong's dying eyes, I lifted up the Radical orange and let the Conservative blue fall to the floor.
He saw and understood, for a ghastly smile appeared upon his distorted face.

Indeed, he did more--almost with his last breath he spoke in a hoarse, gurgling whisper, and his words were, "_Bravo the A.V.'s!_" Now he shut his eyes, and I thought that the end had come, but, opening them presently, he fixed them with great earnestness first upon myself and then upon his wife, accompanying the glance with a slight movement of the head.

I did not know what he could mean, but with his wife it was otherwise, for she said, "Don't trouble yourself, Stephen, I quite understand." Five minutes more and it was over; Stephen Strong's dilated heart had contracted for the last time.
"I see it has pleased the Lord that dear Stephen should die," said Mrs.Strong in her quiet voice.

"When you have spoken to the people out there, doctor, will you take me home?
I am very sorry to trouble, but I saw that after he was gone Stephen wished me to turn to you.".