"Laws, Ann, but you have been dreadfully sick. You had fever, and talked out of your head. Henry was here every evening. He said that once afore, when you took the fevers, you was out of your head, just the same way. He brought you flowers; there they are in the vase," and she handed me two beautiful bouquets.
In this pleasant way she talked on until I had satisfied the cravings of an empty stomach with the niceties she had brought me.
That evening Henry came, and remained with me about half an hour. Miss Nancy warned him that it was not well to excite me much. So with considerable reluctance he shortened his visit.
CHAPTER XXXVIX.
GRADUAL RETURN OF HAPPY SPIRITS—BRIGHTER PROSPECTS—AN OLD ACQUAINTANCE.
When I began to gain strength Miss Nancy took me out in a carriage of evenings; and had it not been for the melancholy recollections that hung like a pall around my heart, life would have been beautiful to me. As we drove slowly through the brightly-lighted streets, and looked in at the gaudy and flaunting windows, where the gayest and most elegant articles of merchandise were exhibited, I remarked to Miss Nancy, with a sigh, "Life might be made a very gay and cheerful thing—almost a pleasure, were it not for the wickedness of men."
"Ah, yes, it might, indeed," she replied, and the big tears rested upon her eyelids.
One evening when we had returned from a drive, I noticed that she ate very little supper, and her hand trembled violently.