“If the poor woman leads such a lonely, miserable life, I should think that death would prove a blessed release to her. Of course it is natural and reasonable that you should desire to save all your patients, but why are you so very unhappy about her?”
He did not answer immediately, and when he spoke his deep tone was tremulous with fervent feeling.
“Because I find that she is dearer to me than all the other women in the world, except my sister; and her death would grieve me more than any trial that has yet overtaken me—more than you can realize, or than I can express.”
He took Miss Jane’s face in his hands, kissed her, and left the room.
Meeting Muriel and Salome in the hall, the former seized his arm, and exclaimed,—
“You shall not leave home again! Let me tell Elbert to put up your buggy. If you continue to work yourself down, as you are now doing, you will be prematurely old, and gray, 274 and decrepit. Come into the parlor, and let me play you to sleep.”
“I heartily wish I could follow your pleasant prescription, but duty is inexorable, and knows no law but that of obedience.”
“Must you sit up to-night? Is that poor lady no better?”
“I can see no improvement, and must remain until I do.”
“You are afraid that she will die?”