A mortal sickness had fastened upon the old man; and so it proved.

When she went to his home the next day, he was in a high fever and delirious; and he lived only a few days.

He had intervals of partial consciousness, and in those he seemed to be much touched by the patient care which his two sons were giving to him.

He had always been a hard father; had compelled his sons very early to earn their own living, and had refused to give them money, which he could so easily have spared, to establish themselves in business.
Now, that it was too late, he repented.
"Good boys, good boys, good boys after all," he would mutter to himself, as they bent over him, and nursed him tenderly in his helplessness.

"Might have left them more money, might have left them more.