'
Miss Anne sank down by the bedside, unable to answer him, save by a
prayer, half aloud, to God for His mercy to be shown to him, if it were
possible! He lay there, helpless and hopeless, tossing to and fro upon
the pillows. At last he spoke again, in a sharp, clear, energetic tone.
'Anne, be quick!' he said; 'find me my will among those papers. Perhaps
if I could do something, I might be able to believe.'
He watched her with impatient eagerness as she turned over the precious
parcel of papers which he had rescued from the fire. There were many
documents and writings belonging to the property he had gathered
together, and it was some time before she could find the will. The
master tried to take it from her, but in vain; his right hand was
powerless.
'Oh, I forgot!' he cried despairingly; 'this hand is useless, and I
cannot alter it now. God will not let me undo the mischief I have done.
Anne, I have left Fern's Hollow away from you to my brother Thomas, lest
you should restore it to Stephen; and now I can do nothing! Oh, misery,
misery! The robbery and murder of the fatherless children rest upon my
soul.
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