He kept repeating "Clarissa—Clarissa—Speak to me," and after a long interval of silence she spoke.
"Did you speak to me, William?"
If the voice of one dead had answered him, he would not have been more startled. The shock broke the spell that bound him, and the man of science was once more alert. He lifted her head, looked intently into her eyes, rather at her eyes which were closed, and said—
"Clarissa, do you hear me? Are you awake?"
There was a brief pause, then she replied, but her voice sounded far away. "Yes."
"Do you know who is talking to you?"
"Yes—William."
"Have you anything to say to me?"
No answer,—then he said timidly but tenderly, "Clarissa, do you love me?" No words passed the cold, impassive lips, but her arms were raised and entwined themselves about his neck, and her head nestled lovingly and confidently against him. The answer seemed to satisfy him, and for a while, he made no effort to talk, apparently quaffing the enjoyment fate furnished him.—The past and future were a blank to him, and the present was fraught with such exquisite bliss, that he heeded not when Dinah spoke to him.