Page:Mashi and Other Stories.djvu/19

Rh "Is Mani's health, then?"

"The doctors think she should not be allowed to visit the sick-room too often. She's too tender-hearted."

"But, Mashi, how do you prevent her from coming?"

"Because she obeys me implicitly. But still I have constantly to be giving her news of you."

The stars glistened in the sky like tear-drops. Jotin bowed his head in gratitude to his life that was about to depart, and when Death stretched out his right hand towards him through the darkness, he took it in perfect trust.

Jotin sighed, and, with a slight gesture of impatience, said:

"Mashi, if Mani is still awake, then, could I — if only for a?"

"Very well! I'll go and call her."

"I won't keep her long, only for five minutes. I have something particular to tell her."

Mashi, sighing, went out to call Mani. Meanwhile Jotin's pulse began to beat fast. He knew too well that he had never been able to have an intimate talk with Mani. The two instruments were tuned differently and it was not easy to play them