'If she had had depth enough!'
'But, of course,' said Felix in a tone of defence, 'she never really knew; he guessed still less.'
'No, I am sure he never guessed. There is that comfort,' said Cherry.
'It is the greatest I have had all along,' said Felix. 'For the rest, it was no wonder.'
'No,' said Cherry; 'but it all managed to fall in the very hardest way on you. No wonder it was too much for you!'
'It is odd,' mused Felix, 'how this one dream has seemed to take all the heart and soul out of one; there seemed no elasticity to meet other things. I must say all this doctor's advice has been seeming an amazing amount of trouble for what is not very well worth having in the end.'
'O Felix, Felix you will—'
'My Chérie, you don't think I'd drop off the coach while you are in it if I can help it, to say nothing of the rest! I suppose every one has something of the sort in his turn, and I'll take good care not to be let in for it again. Thank you, Cherry,' he added presently, and now looking at her, 'I am very glad to have had this out with you. I think I can make a fresh start now. What, silly little thing! crying, when I thought I had brought you good news!'
'You are quite sure you have told me all Dr. Lee said?' she demanded, holding his hands tight, and gazing into the face, which certainly, with the still heightened colour, looked both delicate and weary. 'You have been so much worse than you told!'
'No, indeed, I have felt very little but weariness and want of energy; but I am better now than I have felt for weeks. And what is more, Cherry, I don't feel like getting worse. I mean to set myself to live to get through the work my father left me.'