“How do you find yourself this morning?”
Eudora, whose eyes were covered with her left hand, put out her right hand, and silently pressed that of Annella, but made no other answer.
Annella stooped and kissed her chilled lips, and after a few minutes, repeated her question:
“How do you find yourself this morning, dear Eudora?”
“Drifting, drifting down the dark river towards the horrible fall! I shall soon go over and be dashed to pieces! That will be well. There will be a catching of the breath, a shiver of fear, a shock of death, and all will be over!” murmured the sufferer.
Again Annella stooped and pressed her lips to those of Eudora, and then turning to the warder, she asked:
“How has she seemed since I was here yesterday?”
“Oh, Miss, it a’most breaks my heart to be with her and see her—it do. She bore up well enough even after Mr. Montrose told her as the petition had been refused, and she knew there was no hope at all. She heard all that as quiet as possible, and took leave of him quite calm when he went away. You see, I think she tried hard to bear up for his sake, to spare his feelings; for the moment he was gone, she turned and sank down in a deep swoon, poor dear! and that’s the second time she’s gone into one o’ them since she has been here. And it was a longer fit than the first, and we only brought her to this morning about sunrise, and she’s been lying as you see her, ever since. And what makes matters worse, the chaplain, as might ha’ spoke some words o’ comfort to her, is ill in bed,” replied Mrs. Barton.
Annella would have given much for the privilege of whispering into the ear of the despairing sufferer a few words of hope, but even her sanguine nature felt that the communication would now be premature, as it might also be cruel and dangerous. And as she might not speak of hope, Annella felt that all other words were worse than mockery in a woe like this.
She sat down beside the bed and took the prisoner’s poor little wasted hand, and held it in silence, sometimes pressing it tenderly, or kissing it, while she waited in breathless suspense for the appearance of Malcolm Montrose.