“Is this necessary at once?” he asked.
“No, I will tell you when the need arises—that is, if any should. Her physique would tide over almost anything.”
As the clock began to strike midnight, Strange saw the doctor stoop suddenly, and lay his head on Gwen’s heart, then open her eyes and touch her eyeballs.
When he raised himself his face had altered.
“Now we shall soon see a change,” he said, “perhaps you had better stand back, even the shock of joy might hurt her.”
Strange gave a ghastly grin in the shadow of the curtain.
By a superhuman effort in all those hours of anguished waiting, even when the doctor and the nurse, in their consideration, had left him alone for the purpose, Strange had never once kissed or caressed his wife, or even so much as touched her except in matters of service.
Gwen stirred almost imperceptibly, the doctor looked round the curtain at Strange.
“Touch her, and speak to her very gently,” he said.
He bent gently over her.