Part 22 (1/2)

”Distinctly; in case of fever. Besides, at this stage, the more she sleeps the more easily she will go to sleep again. Poor little mite!

This is not half so comfortable a position for her as if she were lying down, but I can't move her till the slumber feeling gets a tighter hold on her. I shall awaken her at medicine time, and she will go to sleep quickly enough by then in any position. Drink?”

”Milk. There is some.”

She pointed to a jug standing on a table near by. His eyes followed the direction of her hand; he nodded.

”Good. Now, lie you down on the sofa. Try and get some sleep yourself.”

She drew back in astonishment at his suggestion. Shook her head; then expostulated:

”I could not!”

”You must!”

”I cou--”

”You don't want to annoy--to seriously annoy me, do you?”

The voice was very earnest; that voice which she found so wonderfully deep and thrilling. Even in its whisper there was, for her, all the power of great music; even in the lightest words he spoke.

She brushed a tear from her eyes. Once more impulsively bent and kissed the hand which was resting on the rail. He whispered:

”Let me ask you to lie down--to oblige me. Will you do that? You have not slept for long. I, as you know, am a veritable owl; a complete night-bird. My consumption of midnight oil is a standing joke. It is easier for me to keep awake than to go to sleep--oblige me.”

All the boy in him had departed for the time. Yet there was no effort, no conscious a.s.sumption of manly dignity. On the contrary, it suited him well. Seemed merely another phase of his character.

Her answer was in as earnest a tone as he himself used; strangely earnest considering the smallness of his request; she said:

”I would do anything--anything in the world you asked me.”

”Then lie down. Remember that the greatest pleasure you can give me will be to see you asleep. That is not very complimentary to you, is it?”

That was said in an endeavour to make her smile. He was sorry he had spoken so when he saw how the lips curved. Sad smiles are not pretty things; he continued hastily:

”And you may sleep in peace. Your fears may be at rest; Gracie is doing well. Short as has been her sleep, so far, I feel the temperature is lower--her breathing to be more regular. Now go.”

Dutifully, obediently, she went. There are some men who must be obeyed without question. Masters was of those--when he chose. That was not often. He was of so kindly a nature that he never cared to press his authority: unless occasion rendered that course absolutely necessary.

The sofa was on the other side of the room. He furtively watched her for a long time, as she lay there with her eyes wide open. Watched her unavailing fight against sleep; smiled when at last she succ.u.mbed, when Nature conquered. She went to sleep: a sound sleep bred of that previous wakefulness and anxiety.

Time pa.s.sed. The hands of the clock on the mantel crept round slowly minute by minute, twice. Then, very quietly, very gently, he woke the child. She was so sleepy and drowsy that his heart smote him; it seemed almost cruel to rouse her.

The eyes opened widely for a minute in surprise at seeing him there.

Then she remembered; the lids half closed again. She stretched her hand a little higher up his shoulder and said:

”You're still here, Prince Charlie.”

”Yes, darling. I am going to stop all night. We must not speak loudly; Mamma is asleep; and she is so tired.”