The doctor did as Andrew desired, and with a sigh of content, the invalid closed his eyes with Victoria’s hand clasped in his own.
An hour later Victoria awoke. Adam was sitting beside the bed fanning Andrew, who lay sleeping with a faint smile on his face, and with Victoria’s hand still within his. She gently drew it away and rose from the couch. Something in Andrew’s appearance told her that he had awakened in his right mind. The soft, rosy flush on his cheeks, which had long been so colorless, bespoke returning life. Although she had prayed that he might die, a rush of gladness that God had not seen fit to answer her prayer filled her heart. After all, how could she bear to have him put away from her sight forever, and too, there was Mary, who loved her father so passionately, that if he died it might seriously affect the child, who hung about the door all day, refusing to be enticed out to play, and eating scarcely enough to keep her alive. Once she had been admitted to the sick room, but her violent sobs at seeing her father’s swollen lips and colorless face, disturbed the sick man, and she was banished, but she knew that her father was still there, and nothing could induce her to leave the door, where Victoria found her as she went out. She took the child in her arms and carried her into the study where the doctor lay sleeping. “Papa will live, my darling,” she sobbed, burying her face in the clustering curls. “Papa will live. To-morrow you shall see him, and tell him how happy you are that he again knows you.”
The doctor arose as he heard Victoria’s voice and came to her. She looked up with a smile more cheerful than any he had seen on her face for many a day. “You know that he will live?” she asked.
“Yes, Mrs. Willing, he awakened while you slept. He asked for his brother, and then he wanted your hand in his, when he fell into a life-giving sleep, which will do him more good than all my medicines. Good nursing and strengthening food is all he requires from this on. I think I may safely return home to-night. I will come early in the morning to see how he is progressing.”
“Ah! do not leave me,” she said, clasping his arm. “What shall I do without your ever ready hand to assist me? Oh, my friend, you will never know what a comfort you have been to me in this my sorrow. No words can express to you what is in my heart. But for your thoughtful care and Christian example, I must have died. God bless and keep you.”
The physician bowed his head. Such sweet praise from the lips of the woman who was so dear to him, was balm to the scarred heart beating now so furiously. He raised her hand to his lips. “My dear Mrs. Willing,” he said, as calmly as if she were a perfect stranger, and he a man of stone. No sign of tumult within him showed upon his tranquil face. “My dear Mrs. Willing, all that I have done any compassionate man would also do. I deserve no thanks for doing my duty. I could not have saved that frail life if God had not willed it so. To Him belongs the praise.” He took Mary in his arms, and kissed her many times. It was a blessed relief to be able to ease his aching heart on the face of this innocent child. Her child.
“You hug almost as hard as papa,” she said, patting his cheeks caressingly. “Do you love me a heap?”
“Yes, heaps and heaps,” laughed the doctor. “What will you take for one of these curls. I would like to take it away with me and wear it next my heart.”
“Couldn’t spare the weentiest bit of a one,” she answered, shaking her head sagely. “My papa owns all of them. He says every hair on my head is more precious to him than all his gold. When he gets well enough to talk to me, I’ll ask him if you may have one. I could not let you have it else, but I’ll give you all the hair on Flora McFlimsey’s head. It’s a heap prettier than mine, and stays put a heap longer. I haven’t any bald-headed children. I reckon I’d like one for a change.”
The doctor laughed. “I should feel highly honored to receive Miss Flora’s hair, and you are very generous to offer it, but it is yours I wish. If I can’t have it I don’t want any.”