Late in the afternoon, while Grace was placing fresh ice upon his head, he suddenly raised himself in bed, and grasping her hand he began to talk excitedly; but as he spoke in French, she could not understand him. Still, from the strange look in his eyes, she knew that Ed ward was delirious, and she called her father in.
"Lie down, Ed, lie down, like a good fellow," said Mr. Goodnow.
Edward stared at him an instant, and then fell heavily back in bed, still speaking French. After a while, he sat up again, and this time excitedly began to talk in English, asking, "Where is Nellie?"
"She is in the stable; lie down, Ed, lie down, my boy; Nellie is all right," said Mr. Goodnow, carefully pushing him back.
"I want to talk to her—bring her in here-I want her to sing for me—please bring her in here!"
"Poor fellow, he is completely out of his head—he wants to hear his mare sing," said Goodnow, who could not help but smile at the idea of Edward's mare singing.
Then Grace came in, and when Edward saw her, he seemed pleased, and trying to raise himself, he said: "Please, Nellie, sing me that old song—I mean that French song, you know?"
Grace looked at him, and tears came to her eyes when she noticed that tender and pleading expression on his face, and she hurried out of the room.
"She is mad at me, or she would not refuse to sing for me—oh, just once—let me hear 'Rendez moi ma patrie'."
From this time Edward was delirious and failed to know any one around him, and the doctor's prognosis was not very encouraging as to his ultimate mental recovery.