brought close to death, and it frightened me. I lay awake, listening to the
hall clock as it struck one hour after another. Then I crept out of bed,
and put my head out of the window. It was a close, oppressive night,--not a
breath seemed to be stirring. I wondered what was going on in the next
room, and whether I should ever see my father again. Then I thought I heard
a sound, but it was only Lucy sobbing beneath the bedclothes.

'"Lucy," I said, glad to find she was awake, "isn't it a long night?"

'"Yes, Norah," she answered. "I'm so frightened; shall we have a light?"

'I found the matches and lighted a candle; but three or four large moths
darted into the room, so that I had to close the window.

'We lay awake in our little beds watching the moths darting in and out of
the candle, and straining our ears for any sound from our father's room.
Each time a door shut we started, and sat up in bed listening.

'"Wouldn't you be frightened if you were dying, Norah?" said Lucy, under
her breath.

'"Yes," I said, "I'm sure I should."

'Then there was silence again for a long time; and I thought Lucy had
fallen asleep, when she got up in bed and spoke again--

'"Norah, do you think you would go to heaven if you were to die?"

'"Yes, of course," I said quickly; "why do you ask me?"