I was, after all, so fearful of her condition by this time, that I was glad to take advantage of his skill. It would soon be settled one way or the other, at any rate. So I said:
"All right, then, if she asks me to go, I will. But we'll wait and see."
And so we stood, facing each other, for a tense moment, then turned to her again. King came running in with a basin of water. Leah took it, stooped down and began to sprinkle the pale face.
At that moment I saw Minnehaha look up, and crawl, whimpering, to her mistress' side. Chevalier and John O'Groat followed her. Joy's eyes opened. I sprang to lift her up.
"Edna!" the doctor cried.
"Joy!" I called, myself.
Life came flooding into her face, and I knew intuitively that it was Joy—Joy illumined, now, in some secret way, by the knowledge of our victory.
"Chester!" She smiled wanly up at me. "Chester, send him away! I want to be alone with you! I have something to tell you!"
"Miss Fielding!" the doctor exclaimed, "I must see you a moment first."
She turned to him and a wave of crimson swept over her cheek.