Mrs. Armine sauntered up, with an indolent, careless air, and sat down near her husband.
"Dreaming?" she said, in her sweetest voice.
He shook his head.
"Waking!" he answered. "Waking up to life."
"You do look much stronger to-day."
"Stronger than yesterday?" he said, eagerly. "You think so? You notice it, Ruby?"
"Yes."
"That's strange. To-day I—I know that all is going to be right with me. To-day I know that presently—Ruby, think of it!—I shall be the man I once was."
"And I know it, too, Nigel—to-day—and that is why at last I feel I can ask you something."
"Anything—anything. I would do anything to please you after all this time of misery, and dulness for you!"