"I fear so indeed, but am sincerely thankful to have gotten off so well," replied Leland, accepting the offered assistance.
"A most comfortable, nay luxurious prison cell," he remarked cheerily, glancing about upon the elegant and tasteful furniture, "truly the lines have fallen to me in pleasant places."
Mr. Travilla smiled. "We will do what we can to make amends for the loss of liberty. It can not be far from daybreak now: I will remove the light, throw open the shutters and leave you to rest. You must of course be anxious about your family. I will ride over to Fairview and bring you news of them within the hour."
Chapter Fifteenth.
"It gives me wonder, great is my content,
To see you here before me."
—SHAKESPEARE'S OTHELLO.
"Sir, you are very welcome to our house."
—SHAKESPEARE
Day had fully dawned when Mr. Travilla re-entered his sleeping apartment to find Elsie in bed again, but lying there with wide open eyes.
"How very quietly you came in; careful not to disturb me I suppose, my good, kind husband," she said greeting him with a loving look and smile, as he drew near her couch.
"Yes," he answered, bending over her and fondly stroking her hair. "I hoped you were taking another nap."
"No, I feel as if I should never be sleepy again. I'm thinking of poor
Mrs. Leland. How troubled, anxious and distressed she must feel."