Kemp gave one sharp glance over to the bed; Ruth had laid her head beside
her father's and held his hand. In such a house, in every Jewish house,
one finds the best nurses in the family.
Chapter XXV
Shafts of pale sunlight darted into the room and rested on Mr. Levice's
hair, covering it with a silver glory, --they trailed along the silken
coverlet, but stopped there; one little beam strayed slowly, and almost as
if with intention, toward Arnold, seated near the foot of the bed. Ruth,
lovely in her pallor, sat near him; Mrs. Levice, on the other side of the
bed, leaned back in her chair placed close to her husband's pillow; more
remote, though inadvertently so, sat Dr. Kemp. It was by Mr. Levice's
desire that these four had assembled here.
He was sitting up, supported by many pillows; his face was hollow and
colorless; his hands lay listlessly upon the counterpane. No one touches
him; bathed in sunlight, as he was, the others seemed in shadow. When he
spoke, his voice was almost a whisper, but it was distinctly audible to the
four intent listeners; only the clock seemed to accompany his staccato
speech, running a race, as it were, with his failing strength.
"It is a beautiful world," he said dreamily, "a very beautiful world;" the
sunbeams kissed his pale hands as if thanking him; no one stirred, letting
the old man take his time.
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