"Here is his card."
"'Edward Travilla!'—ah what joy! Let me see him at once. 'Twill be like a breath of home air!"
Every word had reached the ears of the two in the studio.
"Go! go!" cried Elsie, scarcely above her breath, and Edward rose and went softly in.
"Not much talk now, signores," Elsie heard the doctor say.
"No; we'll be prudent," Edward said, grasping Lester's hand.
"So good! so kind! more than I dared hope! But how is she? my darling?" Elsie heard in feeble, faltering, yet eager accents.
"Well, very well, and longing to come here and nurse you back to health."
"Ah, a glimpse of her sweet face I think would bring me back from the borders of the grave! But I could not expect or ask such a sacrifice."
Elsie could wait no longer; she rose and glided with swift, almost noiseless steps to the bedside.