THE UNDYING THING
could see through it, 'her body lies in great dignity and beauty upon the bed, and there is no horror in it. Why are you afraid?'
'I do not fear death, Sir Edric.'
'But your hands—they are not steady. You are evidently overcome. Does the child live?'
'Yes, it lives.'
'Another boy—a brother for young Edric, the child that Alice bore me?'
'There—there is something wrong. I do not know what to do. I want you to come upstairs. And, Sir Edric, I must tell you, you will need your self-command.'
'Dennison, the hand of God is heavy upon me; but from this time forth until the day of my death I am submissive to it, and God send that that day may come quickly! I will follow you and I will endure.'
He took one of the high silver candlesticks from the table and stepped towards the door. He
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