He watched her ascend, heard her quick light tread along the hall above and the closing of a door.
"Esther!" he whispered. "My poor Esther! Who will help you?"
CHAPTER XIII
THE HAPPY ENDING
She halted just within the closed door. At first he could not believe it was she. For a little he went blind, a black streaming mist hiding her from him. But when it cleared away she was still there. Their eyes met and clung across the room.
"Esther! You came! I didn't believe—"
"He asked me to come."
"He asked you! I don't understand—"
"Would you rather I had stayed away?"
For answer he held out hungry arms toward her. He would have sat upright; pain and weakness were forgotten. But she was at his side in a breath.