'I am here, dearest,' she replied.
'Mamma, what is all this?' inquired Venetia.
'You have not been well, my own, but now you are much better.'
'I thought I had been dreaming,' replied Venetia, 'and that all was not right; somebody, I thought, struck me on my head. But all is right now, because you are here, my dear mamma.'
But Lady Annabel could not speak for weeping.
'Are you sure, mamma, that nothing has been done to my head?' continued Venetia. 'Why, what is this?' and she touched a light bandage on her brow.
'My darling, you have been ill, and you have lost blood; but now you are getting quite well. I have been very unhappy about you; but now I am quite happy, my sweet, sweet child.'
'How long have I been ill?'
'You have been very ill indeed for four or five days; you have had a fever, Venetia; but now the fever is gone; and you are only a little weak, and you will soon be well.'
'A fever! and how did I get the fever?'