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           IwouldhavegiventheworldtotakebackwhatIhadsaid;butawordoncespoken,whocanrecaptureit?ImindedmeofallAlan’skindnessandcourageinthepast,howhehadhelpedandcheeredandbornewithmeinourevildays;andthenrecalledmyowninsults,andsawthatIhadlostforeverthatdoughtyfriend.Atthesametime,thesicknessthathunguponmeseemedtoredouble,andthepanginmysidewaslikeaswordforsharpness.IthoughtImusthaveswoonedwhereIstood.

           Thisitwasthatgavemeathought.NoapologycouldblotoutwhatIhadsaid;itwasneedlesstothinkofone,nonecouldcovertheoffence;butwhereanapologywasvain,amerecryforhelpmightbringAlanbacktomyside.Iputmyprideawayfromme.“Alan!”Isaid;“ifyecannaehelpme,Imustjustdiehere.”

           Hestartedupsitting,andlookedatme.

           “It’strue,”saidI.“I’mbywithit.O,letmegetintothebieldofahouse—I’llcandiethereeasier.”Ihadnoneedtopretend;whetherIchoseornot,Ispokeinaweepingvoicethatwouldhavemeltedaheartofstone.

           “Canyewalk?”askedAlan.

           “No,”saidI,“notwithouthelp.Thislasthourmylegshavebeenfaintingunderme;I’veastitchinmysidelikeared-hotiron;Icannaebreatheright.IfIdie,ye’llcanforgiveme,Alan?Inmyheart,Ilikedyefine—evenwhenIwastheangriest.”

           “Wheesht,wheesht!”criedAlan.“Dinnasaythat!Davidman,yeken—”Heshuthismouthuponasob.“Letmegetmyarmaboutye,”hecontinued;“that’stheway!Nowleanuponmehard.