“Come, Miss Arleigh,” he said; “my wife will take care of you now.”
He carried the half-fainting girl into the house and deposited her upon a sofa in the cheery little parlor.
Mrs. Dunbar—a bright-faced, gentle-looking lady—came to Violet’s side and removed the cloak.
“Why, she is fainting!” cried the lady in a tone of alarm.
“And so would you, too, my dear,” observed her husband, bluntly, “if you had not eaten or drunk a mouthful for over twenty-four hours, besides being subjected to an intense strain of excitement and terror—actually in peril of your life. Ask no questions now, Bertha, but get some wine and crackers—something very light. She must be brought around by degrees.”
Mrs. Dunbar flew to obey his directions, and soon returned with wine and a little light refreshment.
After a time Violet revived and was able to sit up. She grew rapidly better, and when Mrs. Dunbar had assisted her to retire, and sat down at the bedside, watching the white lids flutter down over the beautiful dark eyes, Violet felt that her great peril was over, and she was safe in a very heaven of comfort and rest. A good night’s sleep restored her entirely, and when morning came and Mrs. Dunbar entered her room bearing a tempting breakfast in her own hands for her young charge, Violet could not repress her tears of gratitude for this kind care.
“Dear Mrs. Dunbar,” she said, starting up, “you are making too much of me. Let me wait upon myself.”
The lady smiled as she placed the waiter upon a table near.
“No; I prefer to take care of you myself,” she said. “Mr. Dunbar says that you must be very careful, and try to be as strong as possible. You will have to go with him this morning to the prison, for the charge against Warrington must be substantiated; also you must identify old Langley as the physician in charge of that horrible institution. The morning papers are full of his arrest and the exposé of the asylum. Just think of it! people who lived right there in the very neighborhood did not know the real character of the place! Eat your breakfast, my dear; but first let me help you bathe your face and hands. I will have the bath prepared for you later; then you will feel better.”