"Irene—dear child—angel—do you hear me? It is I—Arthur," I whispered.
Irene raised her eyes, and met mine fastened on her.
I had often heard magnetic attraction spoken of, and this time I experienced its action and reaction.
I fixed an eager and despairing glance upon Irene. By degrees, as if her eyes took life from mine, they lost their dullness, they became clear, bright, beaming with intelligence.
On her countenance, returning to life, I could follow the progress of her thoughts, of her awakening mind.
She threw out her arms, and an angelic smile lighted on her lips.
Too weak to raise her head, she sought her mother with her glance.
Catherine bent over the bed, still holding, as I did, one of Irene's hands.
After looking at us for a moment, the child gently brought together her mother's hand and mine; her eyes suffused with tears, and she wept freely.
When my hand touched Catherine's, my heart received an electric shock. For a moment I heard no more, I saw no more. I held Catherine's and Irene's hands in mine, and became unconscious of the contact.