"Sit up, mother, and drink your gruel," said Jerome, and his mother's eyes flew wide open at that, and stared up in his face with eager inquiry; for again she had that wild surmise that her lost husband spoke to her.
"Drink it, mother," said Jerome, again meeting her half-delirious gaze fully; and Ann seemed to see his father looking at her from his son's eyes, through his immortality after the flesh.

She raised herself at once, held out her trembling hands for the bowl, and drank the gruel to the last drop.

Then she gave the empty bowl to Jerome, leaned her head back, and closed her eyes again.
After dinner Jerome changed his clothes for his poor best for the second time, and set forth to Doctor Prescott's.

Elmira's wistful eyes followed him as he went out, but he said not a word.

He threw back his shoulders and stepped out with as much boldness of carriage as ever.
"How smart he is!" Elmira thought, watching him from the window.
However, it was true that his heart quaked within him, supported as he was by the advice and encouragement of Squire Merritt.