Milena's head drooped down. Milenko put his arm round her waist to keep her up.
"You here, my child?" added Mara, opening her arms and clasping the young woman within them.
Milena began to sob in a low voice.
"The blessed Virgin must have given you supernatural strength, my poor child; still, you have been killing yourself."
Milena did not utter a word. She pressed Mara's hand convulsively; her face twitched nervously as she looked upon her lover lying lifelessly on his bed; then (Mara having made way for her) the exhausted woman sank down upon her chair.
"I told you," said the old monk, coming in, "that in your weak, exhausted state it was not right for you to see your friend, but nowadays," added he, in a grumbling tone, "young people are so headstrong that they will never do what is required of them for their own good. Now that you have seen him, I hope that you are satisfied and will come out."
"Just let me stay a little longer, till he comes to himself again, only a very few minutes," said Milena, imploringly, and clasping her hands in supplication.
"Please let him stay; Uros 'll be so glad to see him when he opens his eyes. He'll keep very quiet till then."
"Be it so," said the monk; "only the room is getting too crowded. The best cure for a sick man is sympathy and fresh air."
"You are right," said Milenko, "but I give up my place to him; besides, I have some business in town."