"He hasn’t been himself for a while now, and he’s getting worse. I doubt he’s going down the hill sharp-like, poor old chap!" "Ay, well, our time comes to us all, and we wouldn’t wish for owt else. But it’ll be rare an’ lonely for you wi’out him, all the same." "I’m used to being alone, though I can’t say it’s very grand.... You’ll have to let me come and see to you and Mr. Thornthet," she added, with a cheerful laugh. "We’re over old for the likes o’ you. You want friends of your own age to keep you lively-like." "I’m not so young myself, if it comes to that," May said. "And I don’t know as I ever had a real friend, barring Geordie-an’-Jim." "That’s enough o’ the two on ’em!" Sarah snarled, as they went out. "Geordie’s been a bonny friend to you, anyway,--he has that! We’d best be getting about our business. Talking o’ things as is dead and gone won’t make us any more lish." "Simon’ll be bothered about my eyes," she said presently, as they turned towards the shops. "It’s a deal worse having to tell him than to put up wi’ it myself." "Happen you’d like me to tell him for you?" May suggested, but Sarah shook her head. "Nay, you’d do it right enough, I’m sure," she said kindly, "but it’d come best from me. You’ve enough o’ your own to fash you, wi’out that. Married folk mun do their own telling over things like yon...." V But though Sarah had held to the telling of Simon, she seemed in no hurry to break the dismal news. All morning she clung to May, as if they drew together as a matter of course, and May was glad to have her, not only because she was old and needed help, but because of the tie between them which had never been loosed. It was true that they had seen little of each other of late years, but it had only needed the talk in the doctor’s house to draw them together again. The dwelling upon a lost hope may sometimes make the impossible possible and the dead live, if only for a space. The two of them had recreated Geordie in the quiet room, so that his mother had seen him plain before her darkened eyes, and his sweetheart had felt his kisses on her lips.