Tears rose into his eyes. "I
didn't expect him to come," he said. "This is all very good of
him." Then, after a moment, he added, "Would you wish me in this
extremity, Hermy, to do as he advises?"
Herminia bent over him with fierce tears on her eyelids. "O Alan
darling," she cried, "you mustn't die! You mustn't leave me! What
could I do without you? oh, my darling, my darling! But don't
think of me now. Don't think of the dear baby. I couldn't bear to
disturb you even by showing you the telegram. For your sake, Alan,
I'll be calm,--I'll be calm. But oh, not for worlds,--not for
worlds,--even so, would I turn my back on the principles we would
both risk our lives for!"
Alan smiled a faint smile. "Hermy," he said slowly, "I love you
all the more for it. You're as brave as a lion. Oh, how much I
have learned from you!"
All that night and next day Herminia watched by his bedside. Now
and again he was conscious. But for the most part he lay still,
in a comatose condition, with eyes half closed, the whites showing
through the lids, neither moving nor speaking.
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