"Won't you eat your supper? It will help you; and your milk is already iced."
"I will try after a while, when I have rested a little. My child, you are very good to anticipate my wants. I noticed all you have done for me, and the flowers are lovely; so deliciously sweet too."
He opened his eyes, took the Grand Duke, smelled it, smiled and stroked her hand which rested on the arm of his chair.
Scarlet plumes and dashes of cirrus cloud that glowed like sacrificial fires upon the altar of the west, paled, flickered, died out in ashen grey; and a moon more gold than silver hung in shimmering splendour among the cloud ships, lending a dazzling fringe to their edges, and making quaint arabesque patterns of gilt embroidery on the verandah floor, where the soft light fell through interlacing vines of woodbine and honeysuckle. With the night came silence, broken only by the subdued plaint of the pigeons in the neighbouring yard, and the cooing or a pair of pet ring-doves that slept in the honeysuckle, and were kept awake by the moonshine which invaded their nest, and tempted them to gossip. After awhile a whipporwill which haunted the churchyard elms drew gradually nearer, finally settling upon a deodar cedar in the flower garden, whence it poured forth its lonely miserere wail.
Mr. Hargrove sat so still, that Regina hoped he had fallen asleep, but very soon he said:
"My dear, you need not fan me."
"I hoped you were sleeping, and that a nap would refresh you."
He took her hand, pressed it gently, and said with the grave tenderness peculiar to him:
"What a thoughtful good little nurse you are! Almost as watchful and patient as Elise. Have you had your supper?"
"All that I want, some bread and milk. Hero and I ate our supper before you came. Shall I bring your slippers?"