"Mebbe--mebbe so."

Dominique's eyes closed again. "I'll make up some," he said slowly: "And
if mother's lost, O Bon Jésu, bring her back again to us, for
everything's going wrong."

Again he paused, then went on with the prayer as it had been taught him.

"Teach us to hear Thee whenever Thou callest, and to see Thee when Thou
visitest us, and let the blessed Mary and all the saints speak often to
Thee for us. O Christ, hear us. Lord have mercy upon us. Christ, have
mercy upon us. Amen."

Making the sign of the cross, he lay back, and said: "I'll go to sleep
now, I guess."

[Illustration]




[Illustration]

III


The man sat for a long time looking at the pale, shining face, at the
blue veins showing painfully dark on the temples and forehead, at the
firm little white hand, which was as brown as a butternut a few weeks
before. The longer he sat, the deeper did his misery sink into his soul.