I took her hand; it was cold.

She grasped my hand firmly and there was something new, something I had not known before, in her handclasp.
She had never before clasped my hand as she did this time.
"How long ?" I asked.
"About an hour already.

Your brother has gone away.

He was apparently afraid that you would not let him go, so he went away quietly.

But I saw it." It was true then; the time had arrived.