The String of Pearls (1850), p. 228

Tobias's chamber. How she trembled when they reached the landing; and
what a faintness came over her when the door was opened, and she saw that
dimly-lighted room.
"Courage," whispered Colonel Jeffery to her. " This is a holy errand you are upon
"Yes, yes."
"Cut your coat according to your cloth," said Mrs. Ragg, who, provided she
thought of a proverb, was not very particular with regard to its applicability to
the circumstances under which she uttered it. "Keep your feet to the length of
your sheet."
"Pray, madam," said the surgeon, who seemed to have quite a horror of Mrs. Ragg. "Pray, madam, oblige me by being silent."
"A still tongue makes a wise head."
"Good God, colonel! will you speak to her?"
"Hush, Mrs. Ragg!" said Colonel Jeffery. "Hush! You will perhaps be the means of spoiling this important effort for the recovery of your son if you are not perfectly quiet."
Thus admonished, Mrs. Ragg shrank into the background a little, and the colonel went to the window and let in a little more light. The surgeon conducted Minna Gray to the bed-side, and she looked upon the boy who had won her childish heart through a world of tears.
"It is---it is---Tobias!"
"Is he much altered?"
"Oh, yes; much---much. He---he used to look so happy. His---his face was like a piece of sunshine!"
She sank upon a chair that was by the bed-side, and sobbed.
"This will never do," said the surgeon.
"Wait---oh, wait a little," she whispered, "Only wait a little.---I shall be
better soon."
The surgeon nodded; and then stepping back to the colonel and the captain,
he said---
"This burst of grief must have its way, or it will mar all. We must have
patience."
They all hid themselves behind the folds of the bed furniture, and Mrs. Ragg
sat down in an obscure corner of the room, working her knee up and down, as
though she were nursing an imaginary baby. Gradually the sobs of Minna
Gray subsided, until all was still. She then gently took one of the thin wasted
hands of poor Tobias in her own, and looked at it. Oh, how changed it was.
She then bent over him, and looked in his face. What permeative lines of care
were there, battling with rounded muscles of early youth! Then she summoned
all her courage to speak. She placed her lips close to his ear, and in the soft
sweet accents that had long before sank deep into his heart, she said---
"Tobias!---my Tobias!"
The boy started.
"Dear Tobias, it is I. Minna!"
He opened his eyes, which had been closed and seemingly cemented by tears.
"Tobias! Tobias, dear !"
A smile---a heavenly smile. It was the first that had played upon his lips
since he set foot in the shop of Sweeney Todd, now broke like a sunbeam over
his face.
"I am mad---mad!" he said, gently, "or that is the voice of my Minna."
"It is your Minna. It is---it is, Tobias; look at me."
He rose up in the bed---he cast one glance at the well-known and dearly
remembered face, and then, with a gasping sob of joy, he clasped her in his arms.
"It's done," said the surgeon.
"Thank God!" said Colonel Jeffery.