At length when they were almost ready to give over in despair, Alexander perceived a slight fluttering near the heart of his wife. With revived hope, he redoubled his efforts and soon had the satisfaction of seeing further signs of returning life. Her chest labored and heaved; her lips trembled and parted; and then she gasped and opened her eyes.
“Drusa, Drusa, my darling, do you know me?” he inquired, looking anxiously in her face.
But she only gazed at him, with wide open, soft inexpressive eyes, without replying.
He hastily mixed a little ammonia and water and raised her head and put the cordial to her lips. She drank it mechanically; but it immediately revived her.
“Drusa, my little Drusa, do you know me now?” he inquired, setting the glass aside and bending over her.
She looked at him with infinite love, put her arms up around his neck, drew his head down to hers and kissed him tenderly.
He returned her soft caresses, for while he gazed on her sweet, patient, loving face, and reflected that she was just rescued, as it were, from the jaws of death, he felt all his compassion, if not his affection for her, revived.
“What caused your swoon, my little Drusa?” he inquired.
But a spasm of pain, or fear, passed over her face and form, and she shuddered and closed her eyes.
“Beg your pardon, sir, but if I was you, I wouldn’t ask no questions yet,” said Pina in a low respectful voice.