"I sent her to the drug store, sir, to get certain medicines that the
doctor ordered."

"When she returns, send her to Catalina's room. I shall remain there until,
until--" My poor father could not conclude the sentence.

Then turning to me, "When Paula returns I wish you to come in to Catalina's
room also, Lisita."

"Yes, father," I answered him in a low voice.

A quarter of an hour later Paula returned. Never shall I forget the anguish
and terror that I experienced when Teresa, warning us to be quiet, led the
way to the bedside of my dying sister.

Catalina did not appear to notice our entrance. Her eyes were closed, and
her face so pale that I believed her already dead, but my father made signs
to us to draw a little nearer and putting his hand over the forehead of my
poor sister, he called to her gently, in a voice that betrayed great
anguish.

"Catalina, Lisita and Paula have come to visit you. Would you not like to
embrace them?"

"Lisita ... Paula ..." I heard Catalina murmur in a far-away voice. "Ah,
yes, I remember. Help me up, father." My father lifted the poor thin body
of his daughter. In spite of all I could do, I could not keep from crying,
thinking that it would be the last time that I would embrace my big sister,
whom I had loved so little. She looked at us for a long while, and then
said calmly, "Have you two come to say good-bye to me?"