He swallowed the draught eagerly, and his handsome face wore a touching expression as he smiled and whispered—
"Hush! Jessie is singing under the old magnolia down by the spring. Listen! 'Fairy Belle!' We used to sing that in camp; but nobody sings like Jessie. So sweet! so sweet!"
He set his teeth hard and shuddered violently, and taking his fingers in hers she found them clenched.
"Andrew!"
"Here I am, Miss Irene."
"Go upstairs and ask the doctor to come here."
The surgeon came promptly.
"I am afraid he is going into convulsions. What shall I do for him?"
"Yes; just what I have been trying to guard against. I fear nothing will do any good; but you might try that mixture which acted like a charm on Leavans."
"Here is the bottle. How much shall I give?"