or that, I think.'

The invalid only replied by groaning aloud, and rolling his head on a
pillow in a paroxysm of impatience.

'I am in hell, already!' cried he. 'This cursed thirst is burning my
heart to ashes! Will nobody--?'

Before he could finish the sentence I had poured out a glass of some
acidulated, cooling drink that was on the table, and brought it to him.
He drank it greedily, but muttered, as I took away the glass,--'I suppose
you're heaping coals of fire on my head, you think?'

Not noticing this speech, I asked if there was anything else I could do
for him.

'Yes; I'll give you another opportunity of showing your Christian
magnanimity,' sneered he: 'set my pillow straight, and these confounded
bed-clothes.' I did so. 'There: now get me another glass of that slop.'
I complied. 'This is delightful, isn't it?' said he with a malicious
grin, as I held it to his lips; 'you never hoped for such a glorious
opportunity?'

'Now, shall I stay with you?' said I, as I replaced the glass on the
table: 'or will you be more quiet if I go and send the nurse?'

'Oh, yes, you're wondrous gentle and obliging! But you've driven me mad
with it all!' responded he, with an impatient toss.

'I'll leave you, then,' said I; and I withdrew, and did not trouble him
with my presence again that day, except for a minute or two at a time,
just to see how he was and what he wanted.

Next morning the doctor ordered him to be bled; and after that he was
more subdued and tranquil. I passed half the day in his room at
different intervals. My presence did not appear to agitate or irritate
him as before, and he accepted my services quietly, without any bitter
remarks: indeed, he scarcely spoke at all, except to make known his
wants, and hardly then. But on the morrow, that is to say, in proportion
as he recovered from the state of exhaustion and stupefaction, his
ill-nature appeared to revive.

'Oh, this sweet revenge!' cried he, when I had been doing all I could to
make him comfortable and to remedy the carelessness of his nurse. 'And
you can enjoy it with such a quiet conscience too, because it's all in
the way of duty.'

'It is well for me that I am doing my duty,' said I, with a bitterness I
could not repress, 'for it is the only comfort I have; and the
satisfaction of my own conscience, it seems, is the only reward I need
look for!'

He looked rather surprised at the earnestness of my manner.

'What reward did y