"Will, is there anything you would like me to do for you?"
He closed his eyes slowly, thus signifying that there was, then, opening them again, he glanced toward the nurse.
"Do you wish to be alone with me for a while?" Mrs. Temple inquired.
Yes, the sad eyes signified, and the attendant went immediately out.
"Now, dear, how can I manage to find out just what you want?" said Mrs. Temple, when the door was closed.
Again that intensely yearning look was fastened upon her face, and she instinctively divined his thought at once.
"Is it that you wish me to say something kind to you?" she asked.
His look brightened, but the tears started at the same time.
"Well, then, Will, dear," began the chastened wife, in a voice that was tremulous with emotion, "I have fought my battle out, and I believe I can truly say that I forgive all. I see now that I was selfish in thinking only of my own suffering--I had no right to be cruel to you when you were more wretched than I. Get well, Will--try to get well, and then we will all go to some quiet place and begin to live in a more earnest and sensible way."
The tears were raining thick and fast now from the man's eyes, but she wiped them away, while she continued to talk to him in a soothing, comforting strain, until he became more composed. But she soon saw that there was still something on his mind, and she tried to ascertain what it was, but though she asked many questions regarding his business and certain appointments which she knew he had made, she could not seem to get at his thought.
At last she told him that she would say the alphabet and they would spell out his wish. When she reached the letter M, he signified that was right, and she instantly jumped to a conclusion, and inquired:
"Do you want Minnie?--how strange I did not think of that before!"
Yes, the eyes assented. Mrs. Temple rang the bell and sent for the child, who had not been allowed to come into the room, except for a moment or two, while her father was sleeping.
She soon made her appearance, looking pale and drooping, for the sensitive girl had been stricken to the heart by what she had learned, and inexpressibly lonely and wretched while her mother was brooding over her own misery.