At first their expression was dreamy—unconscious—as if they shone without seeing—looked without recognising.
Gradually this appearance became changed. The spark of recognition betrayed itself fast spreading over pupil and iris—until at length, it kindled into the full flame of consciousness.
Close to hers was the face of which she had been dreaming. Looking into hers were those eyes she had beheld in her sleep, and with that same glance with which, in her waking hours, they had once regarded her—that glance so fondly remembered!
Again was it fixed upon her; but no longer in silence, and unexplained. Now it was accompanied by words of love—by phrases of endearment—spoken with all the wild abandon of an impassioned heart.
“Herbert! cousin!” she exclaimed as soon as speech was restored to her. “It is you? Where am I? No matter, since you are by me. It is your arm that is around me?”
“Yes, dearest cousin—never more to part from this sweet embrace. Oh, speak to me! Tell me that you live!”
“Live? Ah! you thought me dead? I thought so myself. That horrid monster! He is gone? I see him not here! Oh! I am saved! It is you, Herbert? you who have delivered me from worse than death?”
“Mine is not the merit, cousin. This brave man by my side—it is he to whom we are both indebted for this deliverance.”
“Cubina! and Yola?—poor Yola? She, too, has escaped? Oh! it is a fearful thing. I cannot comprehend—”
“Dearest cousin! think not of it now. In time you shall understand all. Know that you are safe—that all danger is past.”