"Edward, Nellie will sing for you," said the doctor to his patient, watching carefully the expression of his face.
"Good!" said Edward, clapping his poor bony hands together, and showing evidence of great satisfaction upon his face.
At the foot of the bed, facing the invalid, stood Sister Mary. Her face was pale and her lips were trembling, but by a supreme effort she sang:
"Rendez-moi ma patrie,
Ou laissez-moi mourrir,
Rendez moi mon pays
Ou laissez-moi mourrir."
At the first sound of the sweet voice, Edward sat up in bed, and watching eagerly the face of the singer, his eyes filled with tears. When the voice ceased he fell back saying, "My God! Nellie!"
"I have killed him," said Sister Mary.
"No, you have saved him!" answered the doctor, bending over his patient, whose face was covered with cold sweat, and every nerve twitching.
"Sing again," commanded the doctor, and once more the sweet and
tender voice of Sister Mary was heard, and Edward opened his eyes.
When the song was over, he looked strangely at the doctor, and said,
"Where am I? Where is Nellie?"
"You are all right," said the doctor; and Sister Mary walked out of the room, going to the little chapel of the hospital, where she prayed the most fervent prayer of her life. "My God. Give me the strength to keep away from him," she prayed, and her prayer must have been heard, because Edward never saw Sister Mary again.
From this time Edward's recovery was gradual and uninterrupted.