human
Oh me! oh me! he said faintly;
gpt
It's Saturday night, you ken, said a soft voice, in reply.
human
She can't be home quite so soon to-night. But the shadow of the speir has got round to the yew-tree at the gate, and it won't be long now.
gpt
Oh me! he murmured again,
human
What do you wish was at an end?
gpt
All these long days and my mother's going out when she's not able to go, and you sewing so busy all the day, and me waiting, waiting, never to be well again. Oh, Lily, I wish I was dead.
human
Whisht, Archie! said she, gravely, as she smoothed the pillow and placed his restless head in a more easy posture.
gpt
Do you not ken it's wrong for you to say the like of that? It's an awful thing to die, Archie.
human
Well, if it's wrong to be weary of lying here, I can't help it, said the child;
gpt
But it is wrong not to be willing to live, and suffer too, if it be God's will, said his sister, earnestly.
human
And what would _we_ do if you were to die, Archie, my mother and me?
gpt
I am sure you could do far better than you can do now. You wouldn't need to bide here longer. You could go to Glen Elder to Aunt Janet, you and my mother. But I'll never see Glen Elder, nor Aunt Janet, nor anything but these dark walls and yon bit of the kirk-yard.
human
Whisht, Archie, said his sister, soothingly.
gpt
Aunt Janet has gone from Glen Elder, and she's maybe as ill off as any of us. I doubt none of us will ever go there again. But we won't think of such sad things now. Lie still, and I'll sing to you till my mother comes home.
human
Yea, though I walk through death's dark vale,