At last she heard
the words, "Come here," and listlessly obeyed the command. She
had to steady herself in the rocking chamber before she could
walk to the bed by which Mr. Davis stood; but the effort to do so
roused her, and, though conscious of an oppressive headache, she
viewed with sudden and clear vision all the circumstances of her
present position. Mr. Davis was near the head of the bed, holding
the night-lamp high, and shading it with his hand, that it might
not disturb the sick person, who lay with his face towards them,
in feeble exhaustion, but with every sign that the violence of
the fever had left him. It so happened that the rays of the lamp
fell bright and full upon Ruth's countenance, as she stood with
her crimson lips parted with the hurrying breath, and the
fever-flush brilliant on her cheeks. Her eyes were wide open, and
their pupils distended. She looked on the invalid in silence, and
hardly understood why Mr. Davis had summoned her there.
"Don't you see the change? He is better!--the crisis is past!"
But she did not speak her looks were riveted on his
softly-unclosing eyes, which met hers as they opened languidly.
She could not stir or speak. She was held fast by that gaze of
his, in which a faint recognition dawned, and grew to strength.
He murmured some words. They strained their sense to hear. He
repeated them even lower than before; but this time they caught
what he was saying.
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