But the light of the coming fire played and flickered over the still, white face, that never before had seemed so strangely beautiful.
“Miss Ludolph!—O Christine, awake!” cried Dennis, louder.
To his wonder and unbounded perplexity, he saw the hitherto motionless lips wreathe themselves into a lovely smile, but otherwise there was no response....
A louder and nearer explosion, like a warning voice, made him wholly desperate, and he roughly seized her hand.
Christine’s blue eyes opened wide with a bewildered stare; a look of the wildest terror came into them, and she started up and shrieked, “Father! father!”
Then, turning toward the as yet unknown invader, she cried piteously: “Oh, spare my life! Take everything; I will give you anything you ask, only spare my life!”
She evidently thought herself addressing a ruthless robber.
Dennis retreated towards the door the moment she awakened; and this somewhat reassured her.
In the firm, quiet tone that always calms excitement, he replied, “I only ask you to give me your confidence, Miss Ludolph, and to join with me, Dennis Fleet, in my effort to save your life.”
“Dennis Fleet! Dennis Fleet! save my life! O ye gods, what does it all mean?” and she passed her hand in bewilderment across her brow, as if to brush away the wild fancies of a dream.