Sometimes he says things that affright one, but it is impossible to understand what he says.

"I justwish I had a little of the money Laurie spends on that horse," sheadded, as if to herself, yet hoping her sisters would hear.

"I have to finish this, " she muttered to the picture, her voice faltering.

At first glance, from an outside observer, the whole thing looks silly and even laughable - a person speaking to himself, thinking that just by doing so, his every wish will come true.

And he communed with himself, saying:"One by one they have gone away and left me; and now she lies here, the dearest and the last.