Then Christopher Staines drew himself up, and the majesty of knowledge
and love together seemed to dilate his noble frame. He fixed his eye on
that reclining, panting figure, and stepped lightly but firmly across
the room to know the worst, like a lion walking up to levelled lances.




CHAPTER III.


The young physician walked steadily up to his patient without taking his
eye off her, and drew a chair to her side.

Then she took down one hand--the left--and gave it him, averting her
face tenderly, and still covering it with her right; "For," said she to
herself, "I am such a fright now." This opportune reflection, and her
heaving bosom, proved that she at least felt herself something more
than his patient. Her pretty consciousness made his task more difficult;
nevertheless, he only allowed himself to press her hand tenderly with
both his palms one moment, and then he entered on his functions bravely.
"I am here as your physician."

"Very well," said she softly.

He gently detained the hand, and put his finger lightly to her pulse; it
was palpitating, and a fallacious test. Oh, how that beating pulse, by
love's electric current, set his own heart throbbing in a moment!

He put her hand gently, reluctantly down, and said, "Oblige me by