He could not help it.

And it maddened him to see, as he thought he saw, that Becky Thatcher never once suspected that he was even in the land of the living.

But she did see, nevertheless; and she knew she was winning her fight, too, and was glad to see him suffer as she had suffered.
Amy's happy prattle became intolerable.

Tom hinted at things he had to attend to; things that must be done; and time was fleeting.

But in vain--the girl chirped on.