“She will weather it,” Doctor Hoyt said, under his breath, but in his brisk, decisive way, which instantly carried conviction and comfort to those parents’ fond hearts.
But when she did come fully to herself, and looked up into those earnest faces above her, when reason and memory reasserted themselves, that same look of horror came into her eyes, that rigid settling of her features returned, and were followed by another swoon, although not so frightful or prolonged as the first one had been.
It was ten o’clock before the physician succeeded in arresting the tendency to fainting, and she came fully to herself.
“Geoffrey!” she moaned, as soon as she could speak, and looking around for the dear face, while a shudder shook her from head to foot.
Doctor Hoyt shot a warning look at Mr. and Mrs. Huntress; then said, in a reassuring tone:
“He is all right, and shall come to you when you are rather more like yourself. Now, drink this for the sake of getting a little strength.”
He put a glass to her lips, and she drank mechanically.
Then, pushing his hand away, she struggled to a half-sitting posture, and looked fearfully about the room.
As her glance fell upon her wedding finery, which had been hastily thrown upon some chairs, she was seized with another violent shivering, and fell back among her pillows, covering her eyes with her hands, as if to shut out from sight and memory the fearful ordeal through which she had passed a few hours previous.
But the potion which the physician had administered was a powerful narcotic, which began almost immediately to take effect, and sleep soon locked her senses in oblivion.