"
"There, there, Bee," responded the other with tender cheerfulness, "you
are not to agitate yourself or to excite me. I've lived half a year
more now than the doctors allowed me, and I've enjoyed it too. Besides,
think of the blessedness of not having any pain. Do you know, the night
after Mrs. Crapps had that scene in the hotel, I was in a panic of
terror lest my old agony should come back; but it didn't. Then I said
to myself: 'Of course I couldn't suffer; I'm really dead!' You can't
think what a comfort it was."
"Oh, don't, don't!" cried Bee. "I can't bear to have you talk like
that."
"Well, then, we won't. There's something else I want to speak to you
about while I am strong enough. Do you realize that when I am gone
you'll be a rich woman?"
"I haven't thought about it. I've hated to think."
"Yes, dear, I understand; but when you are older you'll come to realize
that half of the duty of life is to think of things which one would
rather forget."
"But it could do no good to think of this."
"Perhaps not; but I want to ask you something. I know you'll forgive
me. It's about Parker Stanford.
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