“I feel so happy and restful now.”
“And as if you can sleep?”
“Sleep? No. Let me lie and look at you. Don’t speak. I want to think. Shall I die?”
“Die? No; you must get better now, and grow strong, for Mary’s sake and for Hartley’s.”
“And for yours,” said Leo softly, as she smiled lovingly in his face. “I shall be your wife if I live.”
“You shall live, and grow to be happy with all who love you.”
“Yes,” she said softly, “with all who love me;” and she closed her eyes.
“It is delirium, poor child,” said North to himself. “Good heavens! am I such a scoundrel as to think otherwise?”
He sat back in his chair startled by the thoughts which had surged up to his brain. He was horrified. For, in spite of medical teaching, of his thorough command over himself, and of the fact that he had always been one whose love was his profession, he had found that he was strongly moved by the words and acts of the beautiful girl who had seemed to be laying bare the secrets of her heart.
“Delirium—delirium! the workings of a distempered brain,” he said to himself fiercely. “Good heavens! am I going to be delirious too?”