Mr. Lusignan crept nearer, and stood with both hands on a table, and his old head bowed, awaiting yet dreading the verdict.
Up to this time, Dr. Staines, instead of tapping and squeezing, and pulling the patient about, had never touched her with his hand, and only grazed her with his ear; but now he said “Allow me,” and put both hands to her waist, more lightly and reverently than I can describe; “Now draw a deep breath, if you please.”
“There!”
“If you could draw a deeper still,” said he, insinuatingly.
“There, then!” said she, a little pettishly.
Dr. Staines's eye kindled.
“Hum!” said he. Then, after a considerable pause, “Are you better or worse after each hemorrhage?”
“La!” said Rosa; “they never asked me that. Why, better.”
“No faintness?”
“Not a bit.”