Weaker than a Woman — page 242: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_ de “WEAKER THAN A WOMAN. — 233 “You must promise to listen quietly to what I have to say. Tell me first whether Sir Owen has any worldly affairs to settle.” Lady Chevenix looked at Felix, as though she hardly understood. | “He cannot have much to do,” he said. “His will was made and signed some months since.’ She seemed to understand neither question nor answer. She looked at the doctor. “Whatis it?” she asked. “I do not understand. Tell me about my husband.” “He is very ill, Lady Chevenix—very ill. indeed.” “But,” she cried, “he has no pain—he has no wound !” “So much the worse. Any pain would be better than none. The truth is—now promise me to be calm, Lady Chevenix—the truth is that Sir Owen has injured his spine, and that there is no chance for his life.” She trembled so much that the doctor brought a chair and placed her init. He asked Felix to get her some wine. “Try,” he said, “to bear up for afew hours. Your hus- band cannot live longer, and you must be with him. You must comfort him to the last. Try to bear up.” “T will,” she replied ‘“My poor Owen! And he does not know 2” ee “No. He knows nothing of it yet,” he answered. “ Drink this wine, and come back to him. It is midnight now, and he cannot live until sunrise. Come at once, Lady Chevenix ; you must tell him, if you can, that he has to die.” “T cannot,” she said. ‘I know it is my place—my duty —but I cannot doit. In some things I am weaker than a woman; this is one of them.” “Then I must tell him myself,” returned the doctor, as he moved away slowly, “but that is not as it should be.” “Felix,” she said, ‘Il have never seen any one die. I know nothing of death. I am terrified at the thought of it. Do help me.” “T will,” he answered—“ all that I can.” They went back to the room, and Sir Owen looked up as - they entered. “Why did you let me be tortured with doctors?” he cried. “Iwas getting better quickly, and they have frightened me with their long faces. They say—oh, listen, Violet— they say that I am going to die!” He uttered the last word with a scream they never forgot. “It is all nonsense,” he continued. “My back 1s hurt with the fall—that is all; it is nothing more—nothing €o mn EOomIicbooks