"You saw Gustav and he kissed you—and then in your delight you fainted, and I brought you up here."
"But my father——"
"You have not seen your father yet, Gareth. He is eager to see you." I told the flat lie as sturdily as I had told the other, and didn't stop to consider whether it was justified or not. I just told it.
"But he was there, and he—all but cursed me, Christabel; and oh, his eyes...."
"You have only dreamt that part, Gareth," I said, using a sort of indulgent tone. "You have been frightening yourself, dearest. You have always been afraid of what he might say to you, and—you have been imagining things."
She found it difficult to believe me, strong as her desire was to do so.
"But it was all so real, Christabel."
"It is more real that they are both waiting for me to say if I think you are strong enough to see them."
"Do you mean—oh, Christabel, how happy you have made me;" and with that, thank Heaven, she burst into tears.
She was still weeping when the doctor came; and noting the change in her, he gave a ready consent to her seeing Gustav and the Colonel for a short interview.