"Only tell me that you will take my burden and bear it for me as best you can, if I am not able to bear it myself, and then I can be at peace." Katherine bent over him, gathering his feeble hands in a close clasp, and the steadfast light in her eyes was beautiful to see.
"Dear Father, I will do my very best to make the wrong as right as it can be made.

Now try to rest, and get better as fast as you can." He smiled, shook his head a little at her talk of getting better speedily, then to her great relief he shut his eyes and went to sleep.

The burden had fallen from him upon her, and it had fallen so heavily that just at first she was stunned by the blow.

There was no sound in the quiet room except the regular breathing of the sleeper.

Outside the brief winter day merged into the long northern night; the stars came out, shining with frosty brilliancy, but Katherine sat by the bedside, and never once did her gaze wander to the window.