No sooner had she awakened than Adèle, who had been watching her, came over and said gently, in French:—
‘I am glad you have slept, mademoiselle.’
Jane Peartree thanked her, and, rising on her elbow, looked round her, as if preparing to rise also.
‘Ah! but you must not rise,’ continued the other. ‘It is very early, and Sister Ursula says you are to keep your bed. Shall I fetch you a cup of tea?’
Jane Peartree did not reply. She was looking around her in a vain search for the clothes she had worn the previous day, and of these there was no sign.
‘I must get up,’ she said impatiently. ‘Call the lady—tell her I wish to go. I have a long journey before me, and I cannot remain any longer in this place.’
But even as she spoke her head swam round, and she sank shivering back upon her pillow. On her cheeks there were two hectic spots, her eyes seemed wild and wandering, and the left pupil of one was widely dilated.
A minute afterwards Sister Ursula entered the room, and, after a quiet good morning to the other women, bent over the occupant of the bed.
‘Good-morning, Jane,’ she said, smiling.
Jane Peartree looked up; as she did so her face flushed and her teeth chattered in her head.