to speak except now and then a feeble whisper; but the fever was
entirely gone, and his excellent constitution began rapidly to repair
its ravages. Day by day, almost hour by hour, he was rallying, spending
most of his time profitably in sleep, and looking very contented in
his short intervals of waking. These became each day rather longer, his
voice became stronger, and he made more remarks and inquiries. His
first care, when able to take heed of what did not concern his immediate
comfort, was that Colonel Deane should be written to, as his leave of
absence was expired; but he said not a word about Hollywell, and Amabel
therefore hoped her surmise was right, that his confession had been
prompted by a delirious fancy, though Guy thought something was implied
by his silence respecting the very persons of whom it would have been
natural to have talked.

He was very patient of his weakness and dependence, always thankful and
willing to be pleased, and all that had been unpleasant in his manner to
Guy was entirely gone. He liked to be waited on by him, and received
his attentions without laborious gratitude, just in the way partly
affectionate, partly matter of course, that was most agreeable; showing
himself considerate of his fatigue, though without any of his old
domineering advice.

One evening Guy was writing, when Philip, who had been lying still, as
if asleep, asked, 'Are you writing to Hollywell?'

'Yes, to Charlotte; but there is no hurry, it won't go till tomorrow.
Have you any message?

'No, thank you.'

Guy fancied he sighed; and there was a long silence, at the end of which
he asked, 'Guy, have I said anything about Laura?'

'Yes,' said Guy, putting down the pen.

'I thought so; but I could not remember,' said Philip, turning round,
and settling himself for conversation, with much of his ordinary
deliberate preparation; 'I hope it was not when I had no command of
myself?'

'No, you were seldom intelligible, you were generally trying to speak
Italian, or else talking about Stylehurst. The only time you mentioned
her was the night before the worst.'

'I recollect,' said Philip. 'I will not draw back from the resolution
I then made, though I did not know whether I had spoken it, let the
consequences be what they may. The worst is, that they will fall the
most severely on her: and her implicit reliance on me was her only
error.'

His voice was very low, and so full of painful feeling that Guy doubted