“No change yet, Miss; but we must be patient and keep up this friction, and she will come to presently,” answered Marcy.
Anna went into her own chamber and quickly changed her splendid dress for a wadded white merino wrapper, and then returned to the sick chamber, and took her place beside the bed, saying;
“Matty, you may retire to rest. Marcy and myself will remain here to-night.”
Matty who was yawning fearfully, gladly availed herself of the permission and left the room.
And Miss Lyon willingly, gratefully, undertook the long night’s watch over the suffering young creature to whose almost incredible energy and heroism she owed her own preservation from a fatal marriage and her hopes of happiness with the man she loved.
CHAPTER XLVIII.
BALM FOR THE BRUISED HEART.
Nay, but Nature brings her solace, for a tender voice will cry,—
’Tis a purer life than his, a lip to drain her trouble dry.
Baby lips will laugh it down, his only rival bring her rest,
Baby fingers, waxen touches, press it from the mother’s breast.