Part 38 (1/2)

”So you came after all,” she said at last in a trembling voice. ”I knew you would come--some time. And good that you came just now....”

She sank back wearily on the pillow, and the man sat down on a chair at her side, still holding her hands in his.

The old woman lay with her face turned towards her son, looking at him with love in her eyes.

Then her look turned to one of questioning--there was something she had been waiting years to ask.

”Tell me, my son....” Her voice was almost a whisper.

But he could not answer.

”Olof, look at me,” she begged.

And the man beside the bed lifted his eyes, great dark eyes full of weariness and stark fear--but bowed his head again and looked away.

The smile vanished from the old woman's face. She gazed long and searchingly at her son's haggard chin, his sunken cheeks and loose eyelids, the pale forehead, the furrowed temples--everything.

”Perhaps it has to be,” she murmured, as if speaking to someone else. ”'_And wasted all his substance.... And he said, I will arise and_....'”

Her voice trembled, and Olof, in a hasty glance, saw how her wrinkled mouth quivered with emotion.

And suddenly the coldness that had almost paralysed him up to now, seemed to melt away. He fell on his knees beside the bed, his face in the coverlet, and knelt there sobbing.

It was as in church, at the moment when each single heart withdraws from all the rest to offer up its own silent prayer.

The old woman lay resting in her bed; her face wore the same look of sorrowful gentleness that it had done for years, despite the ravages of sickness.

But to-day, signs of uneasiness were apparent; shadows of fear seemed flitting ever and anon over her features.

Olof wiped his mother's forehead gently. ”You are not so well to-day?”

he asked.

”'Tis not that--no. I called you, there was something I wanted to say.

But I'm not sure--perhaps it would be better not....”

He took her withered hand tenderly in his.

”Why do you think that, mother? You have never said anything but what was good.”

”'Twas meant to be so--ay, that's true. But there's times when it's hard to say what's best to do, and it's so with me now. For years I've been thinking to tell you before I closed my eyes the last time.

And it's been a comfort to me in many trials. But now I come to say it....”

The sick woman's breast heaved, and drops of sweat stood out on her forehead.

”Best not to think too much if it worries you,” said Olof, wiping her brow once more. ”'Twill be all right in time.”

”'Tis right enough--I know that really. 'Twould be a wrong to myself and you, and to all I've hoped and believed, if I didn't speak--yet it's hard to begin. Come closer, you too, Heikki--I can't speak so loud....”