The old man began to talk, much to his son's satisfaction, who assured him that they should presently have him sitting up.
"No, my boy," said Mr.Touchett, "not unless you bury me in a sitting posture, as some of the ancients--was it the ancients ?--used to do." "Ah, daddy, don't talk about that," Ralph murmured.

"You mustn't deny that you're getting better." "There will be no need of my denying it if you don't say it," the old man answered.

"Why should we prevaricate just at the last?
We never prevaricated before.

I've got to die some time, and it's better to die when one's sick than when one's well.

I'm very sick--as sick as I shall ever be.