Part 95 (2/2)
”Be quiet, young master!” cautioned Quaco, ”else you may keep her longer from wakin' up. Hab patience. Leave the anecdote to do its work.
'Tan't goin' to be very long.”
Herbert, thus counselled, resumed his former att.i.tude; and remained silently but earnestly gazing upon the beautiful face, already showing signs of re-animation.
As Quaco had predicted, the ”anecdote” was not long in manifesting its effects. The bosom of the young girl began to rise and fall in quick spasmodic motion, showing that respiration was struggling to return; while, at shorter intervals, sighs escaped her, audible even amidst the sounds, so similar, heard from without.
Gradually the undulations of the chest became more regular and prolonged, and the lips moved in soft murmuring--as when one is endeavouring to hold converse in a dream!
Each instant these utterances became more distinct. Words could be distinguished; and, among others, one that filled the heart of Herbert with happiness indescribable--his own name!
Despite the prudent counsel of Quaco, he could no longer restrain himself; but once more imprinting a fervent kiss upon the lips of his beloved cousin, responded to her muttering by loudly p.r.o.nouncing her name, coupled with words of love and exclamations of encouragement.
As if his voice had broken the charm--dispelling the morphine from out her veins--the eyes of the young girl all at once opened.
The long, crescent-shaped lashes displayed through their parting those orbs of lovely light, brown as the berry of the _theobroma_, and soft as the eyes of a dove.
At first their expression was dreamy--unconscious--as if they shone without seeing--looked without recognising.
Gradually this appearance became changed. The spark of recognition betrayed itself fast spreading over pupil and iris--until at length, it kindled into the full flame of consciousness.
Close to hers was the face of which she had been dreaming. Looking into hers were those eyes she had beheld in her sleep, and with that same glance with which, in her waking hours, they had once regarded her--that glance so fondly remembered!
Again was it fixed upon her; but no longer in silence, and unexplained.
Now it was accompanied by words of love--by phrases of endearment-- spoken with all the wild _abandon_ of an impa.s.sioned heart.
”Herbert! cousin!” she exclaimed as soon as speech was restored to her.
”It is you? Where am I? No matter, since you are by me. It is your arm that is around me?”
”Yes, dearest cousin--never more to part from this sweet embrace. Oh, speak to me! Tell me that you live!”
”Live? Ah! you thought me dead? I thought so myself. That horrid monster! He is gone? I see him not here! Oh! I am saved! It is you, Herbert? you who have delivered me from worse than death?”
”Mine is not the merit, cousin. This brave man by my side--it is he to whom we are both indebted for this deliverance.”
”Cubina! and Yola?--poor Yola? She, too, has escaped? Oh! it is a fearful thing. I cannot comprehend--”
”Dearest cousin! think not of it now. In time you shall understand all.
Know that you are safe--that all danger is past.”
”My poor father! if he knew--Chakra alive--that fearful monster!”
Herbert was silent, Cubina, at the same time, withdrawing from the hut to give some orders to his followers.
”Ah, cousin, what is that upon your breast?” inquired the young girl, innocently touching the object with her fingers. ”Is it not the ribbon you took from my purse? Have you been wearing it all this time?”
”Ever since that hour! Oh, Kate! no longer can I conceal the truth. I love you! I love you! I have heard. But tell me, dearest cousin!-- with your own lips declare it--do you return my love?”
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