Look at her, man! she's worn to a shadow already.' 'What are her sufferings to mine ?' said the poor invalid.

'You don't grudge me these attentions, do you, Helen ?' 'No, Arthur, if I could really serve you by them.

I would give my life to save you, if I might.' 'Would you, indeed?
No!' 'Most willingly I would.' 'Ah! that's because you think yourself more fit to die!' There was a painful pause.

He was evidently plunged in gloomy reflections; but while I pondered for something to say that might benefit without alarming him, Hattersley, whose mind had been pursuing almost the same course, broke silence with, 'I say, Huntingdon, I would send for a parson of some sort: if you didn't like the vicar, you know, you could have his curate, or somebody else.' 'No; none of them can benefit me if she can't,' was the answer.

And the tears gushed from his eyes as he earnestly exclaimed, 'Oh, Helen, if I had listened to you, it never would have come to this! and if I had heard you long ago--oh, God! how different it would have been!' 'Hear me now, then, Arthur,' said I, gently pressing his hand.
'It's too late now,' said he despondingly.