Annella, not daring, for Eudora’s sake, to speak freely before this she-dragon, yet had not the heart to take leave of her unhappy friend. She sat down beside her on the cot, and silently took and held her hand. She remained as long as she possibly could do so, and then, in parting, promised to re-visit Eudora, if permitted, the next day.
With the departure of the wild, though true-hearted girl, a sunbeam seemed to have been withdrawn from the cell.
During her visit, Eudora’s agonizing consciousness of her situation had been suspended, or modified.
Nature, indeed, the most tender of mothers, never permits her children to endure a long continued strain of suffering, whether of mind or body. She makes the tortured victim faint upon the rack, and in unconsciousness lose the sense of physical agony. She gives the mourner long intervals of stupor, distraction of hope, to alleviate the effect of mental anguish.
Such a blessing had come to Eudora with the entrance of Annella, but had gone with her exit. After the departure of her visitor, all the full realization of her dreadful position rushed back upon the mind of Eudora and overwhelmed her, and she sank upon the bed in the collapse of despair.
She had not remained thus many minutes before the door was once more unlocked, another “friend to see Miss Leaton” announced, and Malcolm Montrose entered the cell.
Forgetting everything else, Eudora started up and sprang towards him, exclaiming:
“Oh, Malcolm, have you come at last? What a weary, weary time you have been away! God bless you, I am so glad to see you! But, oh, Malcolm! will they let me live? Quick, tell me if you will!”
He could not answer her; he pressed her hand with an unconsciously cruel force, while he turned away his face in silent misery.
She looked at him in sudden terror, and in the written agony of his brow she read the truth. Her beating heart grew still as death; her flushed cheek turned pale as marble, and she sank upon her seat and covered her face with her hands.