the tone of command with which he addressed her, the more easily could
she pass over the error. There was a degree of pleasure in giving
momentary case to him, while he could not recognise the hand that
bestowed it. She dreaded, however, for the sake of both, an hour of
sanity. If he slept for a short interval, she feared to hear him speak
coherently on his waking; and the more because little or no chance of
his recovery remained. The thought of his carrying forward into the
hour of death the insolent temper of his life was terrible. She almost
hoped that, if he were to die, it would be without having been aware
that he and his nurse were no longer master and slave.

She was his sole nurse. There was no alternative between this and her
not being with him at all. It was impossible to allow any servant, any
stranger, to hear his talk of old times--to witness the mode in which he
addressed her. Except the physician, no one but herself entered his
chamber during his waking hours.

She now sat, as he desired, full in his view, at the foot of the bed,
encouraging repose by her stillness, and gladly turning from the ghastly
countenance of the dying man to the scene without--visible in all its
splendour, as the room had a north aspect, and the window stood wide, to
admit the breathing wind from the sea. The deep blue sea, under the
heaven of a lighter blue, looked glorious from the shaded apartment.
The rustle of the trees in the courtyard, and the fall of water there,
spoke of coolness, and seemed to make themselves heard by the patient
even in the midst of the fever-flames by which he was consumed, for he
spoke of trees and fountains, and fancied himself at Arabie. He asked
Therese to sing; and told her what to sing. She did not wish to refuse;
she would have indulged him; but there was a choking in her throat which
forbade it. Papalier was not long peremptory. From commanding, his
voice sank to complaining; from complaining, to the muttering of
troubled slumber; and, at length, into the silence of sleep.

Therese sat still, as before, looking out upon the sea, till its
brightness, combined with the whispers of foliage and waters, made her
eyes heavy, and disposed her to sleep too. Leaning back against the
bed-post, she was dreaming that she was awake, when she heard her name
so called that she awoke with a start. Papalier was himself again, and
was demanding where he was, and what had been the matter. He fe