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"I had no opportunity of asking her any question, until I had

told the brothers she was sinking fast, and could not live

another day. Until then, though no one was ever presented to her

consciousness save the woman and myself, one or other of them had

always jealously sat behind the curtain at the head of the bed

when I was there. But when it came to that, they seemed careless

what communication I might hold with her; as if--the thought

passed through my mind--I were dying too.