“Her heart is in a very bad condition. I can’t understand how she kept up so long.”

“Judy hasn’t felt well all summer,” said Pat heavily. “I’ve known it…though she wouldn’t give in that there was anything the matter with her or let me call you. ‘Can he be curing old age?’ she would say. I know I should have insisted…I knew she was old but I think I never realized it…never believed Judy could be ill….”

“It wouldn’t have mattered. I could have done nothing,” said Dr. Bentley. “It’s only a question of a week or two.”

Pat hated him for his casualness. To him Judy was nothing but an old, worn-out servant. When he had gone she went up to the kitchen chamber where Judy was lying. Pale rays slanted through the clouds above the silver bush and gleamed athwart all Judy’s little treasured possessions.

Judy turned her dim old eyes lovingly on Pat’s face.

“Don’t be faling down, Patsy darlint. I’ve been sure iver since Gintleman Tom wint away that me own time wasn’t far off. And of late I’ve been faling it drawing nigh just as ye fale snow in the air before it comes. Oh, oh, I’m glad I won’t be a bother to inny one long or make inny one much trouble dying.”

“Judy…Judy…”

“Oh, oh, I’m knowing ye wudn’t think innything ye cud do for ould Judy a trouble, darlint. But I’ve always asked the Good Man Above that I wudn’t be bed-rid long whin me time came and I’ve always been hoping I cud die at Silver Bush. It’s been me home for long, long years. I’ve had a happy life here, Patsy, and now death seems rale frindly.”

Pat wondered how many people would think that Judy had had a happy life…a life spent in what they would think the monotonous drudgery of service on a little farm. Ah well, “the kingdom of heaven is within you,” Pat knew Judy had been happy…that she asked for nothing but that people should turn to her for help…should “want” her. Nothing so dreadful could happen to Judy as not to be wanted.

But was it…could it be…Judy who was talking so calmly of dying? Judy!

Dr. Bentley had given Judy two weeks but she lived for four. She was very happy and contented. Life, she felt, was ending beautifully for her, here where her heart had always been. There would be no going away from Silver Bush…no long lingering in uselessness until people came in time to hate her because she was so helpless and in their way. Everything was just as she would have wished it.