"Praise God!" he fervently ejaculated, "I have found your remedy. Take this please." She opened her mouth and he shook from a tiny vial a dose of a white granular powder, just as he did the night before with her father.
"Now, I want you to cheer right up, and dismiss all thought of dying from your mind. I expect that within a very few days you will experience great relief. These sharp stitching pains will almost immediately disappear, I am sure."
And so he talked to her for a little time so brightly and cheerfully that the poor invalid seemed to catch his enthusiastic, hopeful spirit, and smiled and chatted in a way that lifted the Count to the very skies.
"Whether there be any efficacy in your powders or not, Doctor Jones, there is certainly wonderful potency in your sanguine manner of giving them."
"Now, to-night," continued the Doctor, acknowledging the Count's compliment with a smile and nod, "I desire to see you in the drawing-room. You must have pleasant, cheerful company. No more tears and sighing in this dismal room. Throw open the curtains and blinds, let God's sunshine and fresh air in. Take no medicine except what I give you. I must bring my wife and Mattie to see you, and you and they must romp all over this country in a few days—providing a favorable wind does not set in. For I must hie away to the North Pole at the earliest practicable moment."
"Please bring your ladies up soon, Doctor. I desire very much to know them, and I am sure that company does me good. I am afraid to be alone a moment. It has been too quiet in this great castle with no one to talk with but the servants. Do send for them immediately, please."
A few moments later they appeared and were introduced to Feodora. They were shortly upon very good terms, for each of them was exceedingly well bred and possessed of purest womanly instincts.
"I heard your beautiful singing last night, and how I did wish to join your company. And do you know that yesterday I had been suffering terribly with stitching pains in my side, and I was so tired and miserable that I asked God to help me or take me home. Just then your great silver ship sailed across my window so that I could see it as I lay upon my couch, and do you know that I believed, for a time, that God had sent his chariot for me. I did not seem the least frightened, though I could hear the screams of the servants in different parts of the house, and my nurse had crawled under the bed. I just closed my eyes and awaited the summons. I confess that I felt really disappointed when they told me the truth of the matter. But now, do you know," grasping the good little Doctor's hand, "that I believe this to be God's messenger, and through him I am to be restored to health again."
"The Lord grant it," said Dr. Jones. "But now we must leave you a few hours. You have had quite enough excitement for once. I expect to see you in the drawing-room to-night."
So they withdrew, leaving her smiling and happy. Count Icanovich joined the Doctor a few moments later and asked him to sit with him in his private office.