I believe he would have fired upon me at that moment, but the lady sprang forward and caught his arm. A slight struggle ensued, then followed a sharp report, and the pistol fell to the ground; a fearful shriek rent the air, and Richard fell heavily to the floor, covered with blood. I rushed to help him. He raised his glassy eyes to mine, and faintly murmuring “My God! I am lost!” expired.
CHAPTER XXI.
The shock was too much for me. I was seized with fearful dizziness. The objects in the room became black before my eyes, and I fell to the floor beside the bleeding corpse, insensible.
Convulsions, I was afterwards told, followed this swoon. A raging fever attacked me, and for weeks my life was despaired of. At length the crisis passed; my youthful constitution conquered the disease, and I was again restored to the world in which I had experienced so much joy and so much misery.
One morning the delicious feeling of returning consciousness revived me. Where was I? The room looked familiar, yet strange. Surely I had seen that silken coverlet before! The carved footboard of the bed on which I was lying was not new to my sight. My weak brain was busy with conjectures, when a woman approached, carrying a glass and spoon. It was Mary, the housekeeper of Bristed Hall.
“Why, Mary, are you here?” I asked in surprise.
“Yes, Miss, but you must not talk. Take these drops. I am heartily glad you are better, Miss.”
A sense of rest and peace stole over me, followed by a few hours of natural sleep.
On opening my eyes from this refreshing slumber, I found Mary still sitting near me.
“Mary,” said I, “you must tell me where I am; everything here looks so natural, and yet as if I were in a dream.”