She watched his closed eyes, weeping all the time, and heaping the best of names and the highest of praise on him--in English. The words in the foreign language seemed to belong to an earlier time; Mary knelt by her father, taking them all in. They told of the days which the two old people had spent together. Each a lament, each an expression of gratitude, they recalled his friendly words, his kind looks, his gifts, his forbearance. They flowed abundant and warm, uttered with the fearlessness of a good conscience; for Mrs. Dawes had tried, as far as it lay in her power, to be to him what he was to her. The more precious the words poured forth in her father's honour over Mary's head, the poorer did they make her feel. For she had been so little to him. Oh, how she repented! oh, how she despaired! Jörgen Thiis appeared outside the door just as she was rising to her feet. She stooped again, picked up the letter, and was about to give it to him, when Mrs. Dawes, who had also seen him, asked him to help her to her room; she must go to bed. "God only knows if I shall ever get up again! If this is the end with him, it is the end with me too." Jörgen at once raised the heavy body from the chair and staggered slowly off, supporting it. In Mrs. Dawes's room he rang for a maid; then he went back to Mary. She was standing motionless, holding the letter, which she now handed to him. He read it carefully and turned pale; for a time he was quite overcome; Mary went a few steps towards him, but this he did not see. "This has been the cause of the shock," she said. "Of course," whispered Jörgen, without looking at her. Presently he left the room. Mary remained alone with her father. His sweet, gentle face called to her; she threw herself down beside him again and sobbed. For him whom she loved best she had done least. Perhaps only because he never drew attention to himself? She did not leave him until the doctor came, and with him the nurse. Then she went to Mrs. Dawes. Mrs. Dawes was ill and in despair. Mary tried to comfort her, but she interrupted passionately: "I have been too well off. I have felt too secure. Now misfortune is at hand." Mary started, for the thought had been in her own heart all the time. "You are losing us both, poor child! And the money too!" Mary did not like her mentioning the money. Mrs. Dawes felt this and said: "You don't understand me, my poor child! It is not your fault, it is ours. We gave in to you too much. But you behaved so badly if we did not." Mary looked up, startled: "I behaved badly?" "I spoke to your father, child; I spoke to him on the subject often. But he was so tender-hearted; he always found some excuse." Jörgen entered with the doctor. "If any complication arises, Miss Krog, the worst may happen." "Will he be paralysed?" asked Mrs. Dawes. The doctor evaded the question; he merely said: "Quiet is all important." Silence followed this utterance.