“Take comfort,” said Miss Conyers. “I have watched her attentively for the last five or six hours. And friends and physicians may all be mistaken at last; and youth and constitution may eventually triumph.”
“Well, I hope so; or rather I would hope if I could,” sighed Elfie, despondently.
And then they talked of other matters.
Elfie had her own theory, true or false, of Britomarte’s hidden life; and so she forbore to ask Miss Conyers any questions about her manner of existence.
And indeed in a little while they returned to the sick room, where the beautiful Erminie still lay on her bed like a dead girl on her bier.
The gentlemen went down stairs to their late and comfortless dinner; for meals were now very irregular in this house of woe.
After dinner Dr. Sales went away.
And that evening the watch for the night was arranged in this manner:
Elfie, having been refreshed by her long afternoon’s nap, was to sit up from eight o’clock until two, and then she was to be relieved by Britomarte.
Miss Conyers, being fatigued by her long journey, was to go to bed at eight o’clock, and rest until two, when she was to rise and relieve Elfie.