"I can tell you," he said. "Because you'll understand. His troubles are ended for ever now. He won't have another pang. I've taken it upon myself. You're a wise and patient woman. You've got other secrets. Better keep this with the rest." He was excited. His forehead grew wet and he mopped it with the sheet of the bed. Priscilla did not reply; but she went on her knees beside Nathan and listened. "At six o'clock, or maybe a bit earlier, he'll stop. Till then he'll sleep in peace. When does Eliza Gollop come back?" "After four." "I'll wait then." "You're a brave man. 'Tisn't many would do so much as that, even for a brother." "Do as you would be done by covers it. 'Tis a disgrace to the living that dying men should suffer worse terror and pain than dying beasts. Terror they must, perhaps, since they can think; but pain--no need for that." "I'll bless you for this to my own last day," she said. She rose then and fetched a chair. She held Nathan's hand. He was insensible and breathing faintly but easily. Suddenly Mrs. Lintern got up and hastened across the room to the medicine bottle. "We must think of that," she said. "Leave it. He's had enough." "He's had too much," she answered. "There's the danger. When that woman comes back she'll know to half a drop what's gone. She guessed the wish in me to do this very thing two days ago. She read it in my eyes, I believe. And God knows the will was in my heart; but I hadn't the courage." "Let her find out." "No--not her. Some--perhaps many--wouldn't matter; but not her." Priscilla took the bottle, lifted it and let it fall upon the floor. It broke, and the medicine was spilled. "There," she said. "That will answer the purpose. You had given him his dose and, putting the bottle back, it broke. I'll send Heathman off quick to Yelverton for another bottle, so it shall be here before the next dose is due. Then you won't be suspected." He listened, and perceived how easily came the devious thought to her swift mind. It did not astonish him that she was skilled in the art to deceive. "I've taken the chances--all of them," he said. "I've thought long about this. I needn't have told you to keep the secret, for it can't be kept. And I don't want it to be kept really. You can't hide it from the nurse. She'll know by the peace of poor Nat here how it is." Priscilla looked again. Profound calm brooded over the busy man of Shaugh Prior. He was sinking out of life without one tremor. "There's an awful side to it," the woman murmured. "There was," he said. "The awfulness was to see Nature strangling him by inches. There's nought awful now, but the awfulness of all death. 'Tis meant to be an awful thing to the living--not to the dying." For half an hour they sat silent. Then Priscilla lifted the clothes and put her hand to Nathan's feet. "He's cold," she said. "Cold or heat are all one to him now."