wild, and, doubtless, foolish words in themselves, but they must have
been wise and true in their meaning. When I ceased, I knew that I had
ceased only by the great silence around me. I was still looking at her
hands. Slowly she withdrew them. It was as when the sun breaks forth on
a cloudy day. The winter was over and gone; the time of the singing of
birds had come. She smiled on me through her tears, and heart met heart
in the light of that smile.

She rose to go at once, and I begged for no delay. I only stood with
clasped hands, gazing at her. She turned at the door, and said;

"I daresay I shall come again; I am afraid I cannot help it; only mind
you do not wake me."

Before I could reply, I was alone; and I felt that I must not follow
her.




CHAPTER XIII


_Questioning_.

I laid myself on the couch she had left, but not to sleep. A new pulse
of life, stronger than I could bear, was throbbing within me. I dreaded
a fever, lest I should talk in it, and drop the clue to my secret
treasure. But the light of the morning stilled me, and a bath in
ice-cold water made me strong again. Yet I felt all that day as if I