“Oh!⁠ ⁠… oh!” answered a hoarse, feeble voice. “Who is it?”

I told her, and asked how she was getting on.

“What’s my life worth?”

“Are you in pain?”

“Everything aches! Oh!⁠ ⁠… oh!”

“The doctor is here with me; shall I call him in?”

“Doctor!⁠ ⁠… Oh!⁠ ⁠… oh! What do I want with your doctor?⁠ ⁠… My doctor is up there.⁠ ⁠… Oh!⁠ ⁠… oh!”

“She’s old, you know,” said the widow.

“Not older than I am,” replied I.

“Not older? Much older! People say she is ninety,” said the widow. “All her hair has come out. I cut it all off the other day.”