No answer; Beatrix turned away. Even though this woman was dying, the girl shrank in her own sensitive way from pressing her lips to those which contagion was powerless now to injure.
"I—can not," she responded. "Mrs. Ray, you do not know—I—am forbidden to kiss any living creature, even my own."
A strange light flared into the sunken eyes.
"God forgive me!" she muttered; "for I alone am responsible for all this."
But before Beatrix could speak an awful spasm of pain seized the woman, and for a few moments it seemed as though the life would leave the frail, pain-racked frame. But after a time the paroxysm passed, and very still and pale, Celia Ray lay back upon the pillow, her eyes closed, her breath coming and going in panting gasps. She opened her eyes at last and fixed them upon Beatrix's face with an eager look, a devouring expression that made the girl's heart throb with a strange sensation which she had never before experienced.
"I have never before felt so strange an influence," Beatrix said to herself, as she met the look of hungry affection from the sunken eyes.
Celia lifted one feeble hand with a gesture toward the door. Beatrix understood.
"I am going now for the notary," she responded at once. "Do you think that you are strong enough to attend—to—see him?"
"Yes, yes. I must be, I will be. It is a matter of vital importance, life or death. Go at once, my child."