The third day of Prin's illness was drawing to its close. Bert had drawn down the blind and lighted the solitary candle which illumined the room. The Princess had been very ill all day. The nurse had seen her in the morning, and had promised, if possible, to come in later; but she had not come. Bert was feeling intensely anxious about his sister, who had ceased to talk, and now lay in a heavy slumber.
In vain he had tried to induce her to swallow the milk and brandy which the nurse had told him to give her every hour. He had found it impossible to administer it, and he longed for the nurse to come to his help. The outside world was noisy as usual. Never had there been a greater turmoil in the street; but Prin was unconscious of it all. It seemed as if nothing would rouse her. As he sat beside her, Bert himself grew drowsy from protracted watching. His head began to nod as he sat there. How long he thus lost himself he could not have told, when suddenly he sprang up, roused to quick consciousness by Prin's voice. To his surprise, he saw her sitting up in bed and looking about her with a bewildered air.
"Bert," she said, "are you there? Where am I? Have I been ill? What place is this?"
"Why, it's our little room, Prin, where we used to live, don't you know? And you have been ill, very ill; but I'm so glad you're better."
"Where is Lady Millicent?" Prin asked. "Wasn't she here just now?"
"Oh no, Prin. No one's been here except me and the nurse and the doctor."
"But she was here," persisted Prin, "you must have been asleep. She came and stood beside me, and put her soft little hand on my forehead, and said how sorry she was. She said she forgave me, but she was so sorry; because she was going to heaven, and she wanted me to go there too, but I couldn't if I did such things. Oh, Bert, where is she now?"
"She has not been here, Prin. You are mistaken. It is all a dream."
"It can't be a dream," persisted Prin, "I saw her as plain as possible, and I can feel her touch on my forehead now. Is it—is it all a dream that I took the brooch?"
"No, Prin, that's not a dream," said Bert sadly. "It's here under the bed."