"I have been unconscious?"
"Yes. But you are sure to be quite well in a little time."
"I am not anxious about the future. I am trying to recall the past."
"You are not to speak much, and you are on no account to excite yourself."
"I must be in possession of the facts of the past before I can rest. Tell me what has happened--what happened just before I fell ill? I have had fever, and been delirious."
"You have; but you must keep quiet, or I shall go away."
"I must know what took place before my illness, if I am to be at ease. There was some trouble about the law--some inquiry. What was it?"
"Dr. Santley has forbidden me to speak of that matter. You have been very ill, and your recovery depends on your keeping from excitement."
"I must know. I shall become delirious again if you do not tell me."
"My dear, dear Alfred, I cannot--I must not. You don't fancy for a moment I am going to help you back into illness! You shall know all in a little time; and now I must run away and tell father and mother and Edith of the good change in you."