She smiled as though to cheer him, and said that now she saw him she could be quite happy, only for poor Alaric and Gertrude.

She hoped she might live to see Alaric again; but if not, Charley was to give him her best-best love.
'Live to see him! of course you will,' said Uncle Bat.
'What's to hinder you ?' Uncle Bat, like the rest of them, tried to cheer her, and make her think that she might yet live.
After a while Uncle Bat went out of the room, and Linda followed him.

Mrs.Woodward would fain have remained, but she perfectly understood that it was part of the intended arrangement with Katie, that Charley should be alone with her.

'I will come back in a quarter of an hour,' she said, rising to follow the others.
'You must not let her talk too much, Charley: you see how weak she is.' 'Mamma, when you come, knock at the door, will you ?' said Katie.
Mrs.Woodward, who found herself obliged to act in complete obedience to her daughter, promised that she would; and then they were left alone.
'Sit down, Charley,' said she; he was still standing by her bedside, and now at her bidding he sat in the chair which Captain Cuttwater had occupied.

'Come here nearer to me,' said she; 'this is where mamma always sits, and Linda when mamma is not here.' Charley did as he was bid, and, changing his seat, came and sat down close to her bed-head.
'Charley, do you remember how you went into the water for me ?' said she, again smiling, and pulling her hand out and resting it on his arm which lay on the bed beside her.
'Indeed I do, Katie--I remember the day very well.' 'That was a very happy day in spite of the tumble, was it not, Charley?
And do you remember the flower-show, and the dance at Mrs.Val's ?' Charley did remember them all well.