Part 16 (2/2)
Poor little Gracie! She little knew what manner of man it was to whom she had offered her affectionate, trusting little heart. Yet he had been kind to her, more than kind. There was pleasantness in the memory of that.
Fugitive thoughts were these; stealing in under cover of the night.
Those hours when that watchful keeper of the heart--a woman's pride--is p.r.o.ne to forsake his trust; to leave the secret of that heart revealed before its Maker, and herself. A moment, and the watchful sentinel is back again at his post; repentant for his lapse, guarding his treasure more jealously than ever.
The white soul of the child stood at the entrance of the Valley of the Shadow. Hour by hour the watching woman seemed to see the Shadow deepening, growing. Hour by hour she strove with all the power that in her lay to lead that white soul back into life's suns.h.i.+ne.
The watching and anxiety told on her. The doctor, noting her sunken eyes, had to speak firmly:
”You must take rest. You need it as much as your patient.”
”Rest!”
”Don't be foolis.h.!.+ You have a good woman; this woman who is helping you.”
”She has been a nurse.”
”I see she understands. You must take rest or you will be ill. Ill, too, at a time when you are most needed.”
”Tell me, doctor. Oh! For G.o.d's sake, tell me--you don't know what she is to me! Tell me----”
”My dear madam, I can tell you nothing. As it nears midnight, will come a crucial time. Humour her; whatever she wants, no matter how extravagant it may seem, let her have it. She has an excitable nature, a nervous temperament. Do all you can to soothe her. She must not worry for anything: it might prove her death. Gratify her desires and she may sleep--sleep will be her salvation. You understand?”
”Yes, doctor.”
”Whatever she asks for, gratify her.”
”Yes, doctor.”
”She is needing sleep; rest for that active little brain of hers. She is full of ideas of triple-headed giants, fairies and stories of that sort.
Don't contradict her, get her into a state of contentment if possible.
Who is this Prince Charlie she was asking for just now?”
”A friend--a casual friend--some one we know.”
”She is inexplainably anxious to see him. Soothe, by letting her do so if possible. She has intervals when she is as rational as you or I; it is well to prolong those by letting her talk to people she knows and wants to see. Does he live far away--this Prince Charlie?”
”In--in the town.”
”Then, by all means, if she asks again, send for him.”
”Yes, doctor.”
”Fretting and excitement are to be avoided. Soothe her in every possible way; gentleness and firmness combined go a long way. But this Prince Charlie--from the hold he seems to have on her--may go a longer way still. Of course she may not ask for him again--maybe it is a mere delirious fancy--but if she does, you will know how to act.”
But Gracie did ask again. Asked persistently, petulantly, pleadingly.
The watcher with the breaking heart allowed the mother in her nature to smother the mere woman. She resolved to humble herself in the dirt: to send for him; he who had so grossly insulted her.
<script>