“Oh, brother, we can not let you go now, when happiness has come to you again! I am praying for you every moment!” cried the kind old lady, clasping hands with the beautiful woman whom she would be proud to call sister. CHAPTER XLI. “THE GREED OF GOLD.” Meanwhile, Janetta, watching by the bedside of Rachel Dane, did not like the looks of her patient. The woman had been very bad from the first, her body covered with bruises, and complaining of severe inward pains that indicated internal injuries. All that medical skill could do, combined with careful nursing, had been lavished on the sufferer; but it was quite evident that her days were numbered. To-day she was restless and querulous, sliding down in bed, and picking at the covers in an ominous way. “Where is my mistress?” she inquired, presently: adding in a fretful tone; “she has entirely neglected me to-day.” Janetta soothingly made excuses for Mrs. Flint, saying that her niece had arrived that morning, and they had been together in the room of Mr. Dawn, who was not expected to live long. “I should like to see Miss Dawn,” Rachel Dane muttered, curiously. “That would be impossible, for the young lady was quite prostrated by the excitement in her father’s room, and was carried to bed just now, with the doctor in attendance,” replied Janetta. Rachel Dane kept silence quite a little while, then she sharply ordered Janetta to go away and send Mrs. Flint. The maid obeyed, only too glad to get away from the grewsome company of the dying woman. Mrs. Flint came at once, wan and weary from excitement, but full of kindly sympathy. “Rachel, I am sorry to see that you are not so well to-day,” she said. “So you can see it? Well, I felt it myself; that’s why I wanted you. I knew you would tell me the truth. Am I going to die?” querulously. Mrs. Flint had been by many a death-bed, and she saw the signs here, so she answered, frankly: “Rachel, I don’t want to frighten you, but it’s time you should make your peace with God.” The poor wretch shuddered and moaned: “Are you sure? Did the doctor say so, ma’am?” “He has never had any hope of your recovery, Rachel, and you are failing fast to-day. You will soon be done with this world; but, alas! you are not ready for the next one.” She did not want to frighten the parting soul but she was sorrowful over the life going out into eternal darkness. Rachel Dane shuddered, and cried: “I always meant to get ready when the time came but it caught me unprepared. I’m only fifty odd years old, and I hoped to live to ninety. Oh, tell me what to do! help me, pray for me!” “I’ve prayed for you, Rachel Dane, ever since you made your home under my roof, and I’m glad your heart is softened at last. Try to love God and believe in His goodness. Say after me: ‘Lord, forgive a dying sinner, and save me, for Christ’s sake! Amen.’”