English
WhenSueawokefromanhour'ssleepthenextmorningshefoundJohnsywithdull,wide-openeyesstaringatthedrawngreenshade.
"Pullitup;Iwanttosee,"sheordered,inawhisper.
WearilySueobeyed.
But,lo!afterthebeatingrainandfiercegustsofwindthathadenduredthroughthelivelongnight,thereyetstoodoutagainstthebrickwalloneivyleaf.Itwasthelastoneonthevine.Stilldarkgreennearitsstem,withitsserratededgestintedwiththeyellowofdissolutionanddecay,ithungbravelyfromthebranchsometwentyfeetabovetheground.
"Itisthelastone,"saidJohnsy."Ithoughtitwouldsurelyfallduringthenight.Iheardthewind.Itwillfallto-day,andIshalldieatthesametime."
"Dear,dear!"saidSue,leaningherwornfacedowntothepillow,"thinkofme,ifyouwon'tthinkofyourself.WhatwouldIdo?"
ButJohnsydidnotanswer.Thelonesomestthinginalltheworldisasoulwhenitismakingreadytogoonitsmysterious,farjourney.Thefancyseemedtopossesshermorestronglyasonebyonethetiesthatboundhertofriendshipandtoearthwereloosed.
Thedayworeaway,andeventhroughthetwilighttheycouldseetheloneivyleafclingingtoitsstemagainstthewall.Andthen,withthecomingofthenightthenorthwindwasagainloosed,whiletherainstillbeatagainstthewindowsandpattereddownfromthelowDutcheaves.
WhenitwaslightenoughJohnsy,themerciless,commandedthattheshadeberaised.
Theivyleafwasstillthere.
Johnsylayforalongtimelookingatit.AndthenshecalledtoSue,whowasstirringherchickenbrothoverthegasstove.
"I'vebeenabadgirl,Sudie,"saidJohnsy."SomethinghasmadethatlastleafstaytheretoshowmehowwickedIwas.Itisasintowanttodie.
Youmaybringamealittlebrothnow,andsomemilkwithalittleportinit,and-no;bringmeahand-mirrorfirst,andthenpacksomepillowsaboutme,andIwillsitupandwatchyoucook."
Andhourlatershesaid:
"Sudie,somedayIhopetopainttheBayofNaples."
Thedoctorcameintheafternoon,andSuehadanexcusetogointothehallwayasheleft.
"Evenchances,"saidthedoctor,takingSue'sthin,shakinghandinhis.
"Withgoodnursingyou'llwin.AndnowImustseeanothercaseIhavedownstairs.Behrman,hisnameis-somekindofanartist,Ibelieve.Pneumonia,too.Heisanold,weakman,andtheattackisacute.Thereisnohopeforhim;buthegoestothehospitalto-daytobemademorecomfortable."
ThenextdaythedoctorsaidtoSue:"She'soutofdanger.Youwon.Nutritionandcarenow-that'sall."
AndthatafternoonSuecametothebedwhereJohnsylay,contentedlyknittingaveryblueandveryuselesswoollenshoulderscarf,andputonearmaroundher,pillowsandall.
"Ihavesomethingtotellyou,whitemouse,"shesaid.
"Mr.Behrmandiedofpneumoniato-dayinthehospital.Hewasillonlytwodays.Thejanitorfoundhimthemorningofthefirstdayinhisroomdownstairshelplesswithpain.
Hisshoesandclothingwerewetthroughandicycold.Theycouldn'timaginewherehehadbeenonsuchadreadfulnight.
Andthentheyfoundalantern,stilllighted,andaladderthathadbeendraggedfromitsplace,andsomescatteredbrushes,andapalettewithgreenandyellowcolorsmixedonit,and-lookoutthewindow,dear,atthelastivyleafonthewall.
Didn'tyouwonderwhyitneverflutteredormovedwhenthewindblew?Ah,darling,it'sBehrman'smasterpiece-hepaintedittherethenightthatthelastleaffell."
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