It is not so pleasant as they say, believe me.

But no pain: that came afterward, when I came to life, when I felt the touch of his hand on mine, and ceased to hear his cruel words.
I had shrunk back from him in my chair, and sat, I suppose, like a person in a trance, with my hands in my lap, and my eyes fixed on him with bewilderment.

But when he ceased to speak--and, leaning forward on one knee, clasped my hands in his, and drew me toward him, then indeed I knew I was not dead.

Oh, the agony of those few moments--I tried to rise, to go away from him.

But he held me with such strength--all his weakness was gone now.