Mr. Huntress and Geoffrey proposed going away early the next morning, but Colonel Mapleson, who seemed greatly unnerved by the excitement of the previous evening, begged them to remain for a few days at least, as he could not bear to give up Geoffrey again so soon after being reunited to him.
They had not the heart to leave him in his trouble after that, and consented to remain long enough to learn what the prospect of Everet’s recovery would be.
But he grew steadily worse, and raved in the wildest delirium, recognizing no one, although there was no return of the hemorrhage. At the end of four days Mr. Huntress decided that he must go home, but Geoffrey concluded that it was his duty to remain with his father until the crisis in Everet’s illness should be passed, for Colonel Mapleson seemed to lean upon and to experience much comfort from his presence.
He proved of the greatest assistance in the sick-room, where he attended Everet most faithfully, and endeared himself to the whole household by his gentleness and courteous bearing.
At the end of three weeks the fever turned, and Everet was pronounced out of danger of any further brain trouble, although it would be a long time before he would fully recover from the weakness of his lungs.
Geoffrey withdrew himself immediately from the sick-room as soon as the patient recovered consciousness, realizing that his presence might be annoying to Everet, and retard his convalescence; although he remained at Vue de l’Eau for another week, at the earnest request of both Colonel and Mrs. Mapleson.
Then he felt that he could not stay longer away from Gladys, and he returned to Brooklyn, taking with him the knowledge of his father’s firm and lasting affection, and Mrs. Mapleson’s respect and friendship, together with the handsome fortune which he had inherited from Robert Dale, and which Colonel Mapleson had transferred to him.
It had been agreed by all parties that Gladys should never be told the secret of her parentage, although Mrs. Mapleson had wept bitterly when she consented to remain all her life unrecognized by the child for whom her heart yearned inexpressibly.
She could but acknowledge, however, that it would be for her daughter’s happiness, and she was willing to sacrifice her own feelings to secure that.
She had been greatly shocked upon learning of Everet’s wretched plot, and the narrow escape he had had from committing a fearful crime, and she had pleaded with Geoffrey, when parting with him, to forgive her son for the injury he had done him, saying she felt sure that he would deeply regret it, when he fully came to himself.