"I am your friend, Milly," replied Alice. "Do you feel better?"
"Yes, I feel better." The words came from her lips slowly, and with an effort. "Give me your hand."
Alice placed her hand in Milly's, and the sick girl raised it to her lips, and to her forehead.
"Who sent you here?"
"No one. Grif told me you were ill, and I came to nurse you."
"I never saw you before. Good God!" Milly exclaimed, feeling Alice's wedding ring. "You are married!"
"Yes."
"And you come to nurse me! Do you know what I am?" and she raised herself in the bed, and her eyes dilated with horror as she looked round the walls of the room.
"Hush, my dear! Lie down."
"What is this?" Milly cried, seizing Alice by the arm, and trembling violently. "Everything is fading from my sight. Don't let me go! Hold me--hold me! My heart is fainting--dying!" And a wild shriek issuing from her lips, as she fell back powerless on the bed, roused Grif from his slumber, and caused him to start to his feet.