"What!" said Violet, opening her eyes suddenly and looking up; "is that true? will Violet soon have wings?"
"Yes, my poor little child, very soon."
"Oh, how beautiful! how lovely!" she said with a sigh of the utmost content. Then turning her head suddenly, she said quickly, "Fritz, dost thou hear what the doctor says? Violet will soon have wings." Then she closed her eyes again and fell asleep.
"We can do nothing for her," said the doctor, as he moved aside from the bed. "This stupor that she has fallen into is the result of the shock she received yesterday; for in her state good news is almost as disturbing in its results as bad. I think she may awake out of this sleep and be perhaps none the worse, but we cannot tell. God is very merciful, and the thread of her life is in his hands."
"Yes, sir," said Evelina faintly.
"Has she spoken at all to-day of her father?"
"No, sir, not exactly; only once she said something about a great victory, and smiled a little."
The doctor turned back and looked again at the quiet face on the pillow, and repeated in a low voice several times the words, "A great victory." "Yes, poor Violet! thy victory too is close at hand; and then cometh the peace which passeth all understanding."
"I shall come again to-night," he said, as he turned away towards the door; "and meanwhile no one must enter this room to disturb her, nor must she be left alone for a moment. Remember, she has been intrusted to your care by her father, and to mine, and we are responsible for her."
"Yes, sir; I shall watch her very carefully," replied Evelina humbly.