THE TWILIGHT GUESTS
have been alone. And you could not have kept yourself a man, if she had gone, too."
"Ah, yes!" said the old man softly, "that is it. She is an angel! When he was born I was almost afraid. I said, ^My son! I have a son! If I should die to-night, he would live and I should live in him!" And when she brought him herself into the orchard—I see her now—I see her now!"
He could not lift his head from the pillow, he was so tired and weak, but with his eyes he begged the other to come nearer. The man came close to the couch and looked down tenderly at the old man. "She wore the white trailing gown," he said.
"Yes," whispered the old man, "and the great wide hat. And she held him up under the brim and said that if it should rain, she and he could keep dry together, but I must stay in the rain!"
"Do you remember," said the other, "how when he could just say words, you played with him under the apple tree?"
"Can I ever forget?" said the old man. "But now the angels teach him a better language, so that he had but one to learn!"
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