"I wish you could see things as I see them, now that they have been cleared for me," she resumed. "It is so much better to be in heaven than on earth. We, who are here, have to battle with cares and crosses; and shall have to do so to the end. Archie has thrown-off all care. He is in happiness amidst the redeemed." The room was growing dark. Wolfe's face was one of intense pain. "Wolfe, dear, do not mistake me; do not think me hard if I say that you would be happier there than here. There is nothing to dread, dying in Christ. Believe me, I would not for the world have Archie back again: how could I then make sure what the eventual ending would be? You and he will know each other up there." "Don't," said Wolfe. "Don't what?" Wolfe drew her hand close to his face, and she knelt down to catch his whisper. "I killed him." A pause: and a sort of sob in her throat. Then, drawing away her hand, she laid her cheek to his. "My dear, I think I have known it." "You--have--known--it?" stammered Wolfe in disbelief. "Yes. I thought it was likely. I felt nearly sure of it. Don't let it trouble you now. Archie forgave, you know, and I forgave; and God will forgive." "How could you come here to nurse me--knowing that?" "It made me the more anxious to come. You have no mother." "No." Wolfe was sobbing bitterly. "She died when I was born. I've never had anybody. I've never had a chapter read to me, or a prayer prayed." "No, no, dear. And Archie--oh, Archie had all that. From the time he could speak, I tried to train him for heaven. It has seemed to me, since, just as though I had foreseen he would go early, and was preparing him for it." "I never meant to kill him," sobbed Wolfe. "I saw his head down, and I put my foot upon it without a moment's thought. If I had taken thought, or known it would hurt him seriously, I wouldn't have done it." "He is better off, dear," was all she said. "You have that comfort." "Any way, I am paid out for it. At the best, I suppose I shall go upon crutches for life. That's bad enough: but dying's worse. Mrs. Hearn, I am not ready to die." "Be you very sure God will not take you until you are ready, if you only wish and hope to be made so from your very heart," she whispered. "I pray to Him often for you, Wolfe." "I think you must be one of heaven's angels," said Wolfe, with a burst of emotion.