. ." her voice died away, and she looked long and
anxiously at him. "You are not well," she said; "it is my fault."
"Ah, you must not talk, darling," said Howard; "we will talk later
on; just let me be sure that you won't leave me--that is enough,
that's all I want, just we two together again, and the dear child,
ours for ever."
"The dear child," said Maud, "that is right--he is ours, beloved. I
will tell you about him."
"Not now," said Howard, "not now."
Maud gave him a nod, in her old way, just the ghost of a nod; and
then just put her face beside his own, and lay in silence, till he
was called away. Then she kissed his hand as he bent over her, and
said, "Don't be afraid, dearest--I am coming back--it is like a
great staircase, with light at the top. I went just to the edge--
it's full of sweet sound there, and now I am coming down again.
Those are my dreams," she added; "I am not out of my dreams yet."
Howard went out, waving his hand; he found Mrs. Graves beside him.
"Yes," she said, "I have no more fear."
Howard was suddenly seized with faintness, uncontrollable
dizziness. Mrs. Graves took him to the library, and made him sit
down, but his weakness continued in spite of himself.
"I really am ashamed of myself," he said, "for this dreadful
exhibition."
"Exhibition!" said Mrs. Graves, "it's the best thing that can
happen. I must tell you that I have been even more anxious about
you than Maud, because you either couldn't or wouldn't break down--
those are the people who are in danger at a time like this! Why the
sight of you has half killed me, dear boy! If you had ever said you
were miserable, or been rude or irritable, or forgotten yourself
for a moment, I should have been happier.
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