"Tell me!" he exclaimed, vehemently, "is she—will she——"
"No, she will not die," replied the doctor, who knew what he would ask. "The wound is dangerous, but not mortal. She must be taken care of. I will have her immediately removed from here."
"Then she will recover!" said Louis, fervently, "Thank God!"
"Yes, she will recover," said the doctor, hesitatingly, "but——"
"But what?" exclaimed Louis, in vague alarm.
"She will be blind for life!"
"Great heaven!"
"Her right eye is already gone, and the other, I fear, will never more see the light. Still, you should be grateful that her life will be preserved." And the surgeon took his hat and left.
"Blind! blind for life!" murmured Louis, in horror; "a fate worse than death. Oh, Minnette! Minnette!"