s soon as he had put on his clothes he
went to Bessy's room. I stayed at the door. "You may come in, Tom; she's
muffled up in her blankets, and fast asleep."

"Quite fast," said Mrs. Maddox; "she has slept more than an hour. Dear
heart, it will do her good."

Bramble kissed Bessy's pale forehead, but it did not waken her. "Look,
Tom," said Bramble, "look at that smooth, clear skin--those pretty
features. Look at the delicate creature! and would you have thought that
she would have dared what no man dared to do--that she would have defied
those elements raging in their might, and have snatched their prey from
their very grasp? Did I ever imagine, when I brought her as a helpless
baby on shore, that she would ever have repaid the debt with such
interest, or that such a weak instrument should have been chosen by the
Lord to save one who otherwise must have perished? But His ways are not
our ways, and He works as He thinks fit. Bless you, bless you, my
Bessy--and may your fond heart never be again put to such trial! Is she
not beautiful, Tom? just like a piece of cold marble. Thank Heaven, she
is not dead, but sleepeth!"

I certainly never did look upon Bessy with so much interest; there was
something so beautifully calm in her countenance as she lay there like
an effigy on a tomb, hardly appearing to breathe; and when I thought of
the courage and devotion shown but a few hours before by the present
almost inanimate form, I bent over her with admiration, and felt as if I
could kneel before the beautiful shrine which contained such an
energetic and noble spirit. While this was passing through my mind,
Bramble had knelt by the bedside, and was evidently in prayer. When he
rose up he said, "Come away, Tom: she is a maiden, and may feel ashamed
if she awaken and find us men standing by her bedside. Let me know when
she wakes up, Mrs. Maddox, and tell her I have been in to see her; and
now, Tom, let's go down. I never felt the want of a pipe so much as I do
now."

CHAPTER FORTY-THREE

A Scene in the Hospital, and a strange Discovery.

In a very few days Bramble and Bessy were sufficiently recovered to
resume their usual avocations; but the former expressed no willingness
to embark again, and Bessy's persuasions assisted to retain him at the
cottage. With me it was different. I was still restless, and anxious for
change; my feelings toward Bessy were those of admiration and esteem,
but not yet of love. Yet I c