“Yes.” Both replied.
She moved to the bedside, uncovered the face of Madeline, and stood for nearly a minute gazing down upon it. All was still as death in the room, and hearts beat in muffled measure. Repressed excitement was intense. Then the woman laid her hands upon the child’s temples, and held them there almost a minute longer, then took both of her hands and clasped them within her own, seemingly to impart the warmth of her own body. After that she began a few slow, upward passes, which were gradually increased in rapidity. A slight convulsive start was the first sign of returning animation; a shudder next ran through the child’s frame; then she moaned plaintively. The anxious group, now bending around the bed, held their breaths. Mrs. Dainty was close beside Mrs. Jeckyl, and the face of Florence Harper hung over Madeline, a little way from that of the necromancer. Now there came the flush of quickening pulses into the child’s face; now its expression began changing to one more pleasant to look upon; now a feeble smile played around the arching lips; and now the lids unclosed, opening slowly, as if just overcoming the pressure of a sweet slumber, and revealing the bright blue eyes beneath.
At this instant the face of Mrs. Jeckyl was withdrawn.
“Mother! Oh, mother! Dear mother!” said Madeline, stretching up her arms and clasping the neck of Mrs. Dainty, who in turn threw her arms around the child, caressing her in the wildest manner, and almost devouring her with kisses.
“Be calm, Madeline, for Heaven’s sake!” whispered Uncle John in the ears of his niece.
“Oh, I have had such a terrible dream!” said Madeline, sobbing, her face still hidden in her mother’s bosom.
“All leave the room but Florence and her mother,” said Mr. Fleetwood, in a whisper. “This crowd will only excite her mind. If she thinks it all a dream for the present, so much the better.”
Acting on this hint, all retired but Florence and Mrs. Dainty. Mrs. Jeckyl was not with them. She had already glided from the chamber, passed down the stairs, and was now hurrying away from the house with footsteps quickened by fear. The officer kept his word, and permitted her to escape.
CHAPTER XXIII.
THE ANGEL STRONGER THAN THE DEMON.
“I have wronged you, Miss Harper,” whispered Mrs. Dainty.