Our Mutual Friend

daged and bound, lying helpless on its back, with its two useless arms in splints at its sides. Only two days of usage so fa

ht before them, unless for a moment the brow knitted into a faint expression of anger, or surprise. Then, Mortimer Lightwood would speak to him, and on occasions he would be

she might attract his notice. With the same object, she would sing, just above her breath, when he opened his eyes, or she saw his brow knit into that faint expression, so evanescent that it was l

days became four. At length, quite unex

it, my dea

ou, Mor

ll

d for

ellow, she

blank, he supposed that they

ng, and nodded to him brightly. 'I can't shake hands, Jenny,' said Eu

made out by bending over him and closely watching

he has seen t

and this, neither could Je

he has smelt

, and she said, bending over the bed, with that better look: 'You mean my long bright slanting rows of chi

smiled,

aw you. I never see them now, b

etty fancy,'

reature, 'and I have smelt my flowers. Yes, indeed I

gene, quietly. 'I should like you to

as she went back to her work and her little low song. He heard the song with

rti

ear E

thing to keep me here f

you here,

I begin to be sensible that I have just come back,

th safety (they were always at hand, ready), and bending o

anxiety that gnaws and wears me when I am wandering in those places-where

ng himself; for he added after a moment: 'Do

ur old friend-to the friend who has always loved you, admired you, imitated you, founded himself

before his face. 'I am not worth it. I acknowledge that I like it, dear

th renewed attention, saying:

re, and when I lie here no longer, I trust to you

gen

r enough in fact; I have wronged her still more in intention. You recollect what pavement is said to

ted, my de

me; think only of hushing the story and protecting her. You can confuse the case, and turn aside the circumstances. Listen to what I say to you. It was not the schoolmast

red, broken, and indistinct; but by a great effor

ing away. Stay me for ano

the neck, and put a wine-gl

r weeks, days, or hours. No matter. There is i

es

The guilty man, brought to justice, would poison her name. Let the gui

do. I pro

is friend, he wandered away. His eyes stood still,

e would calmly speak to his friend after a long period of unconsciousness, and would say he w

a crouching attitude, attentive to his slightest moan. As he could not move a hand, he could make no sign of distress; but, through this close watching (if through no secret sympathy or power) the little creature attained an understanding of him that Lightwood did not possess. Mortimer would often turn to her, as if she were an interpreter between this sentient world and

the monotony of a machine. Equally, when he lay still and staring, he would repeat it for hours without cessation, but then, always in a tone of subdued warning and horror. Her presence and her touch upon his breast or face would often stop this, and then they learned to expect that he wou

desire to impart something that was on his mind, his unspeakable yearning to have speech with his friend and make a communication to him, so troubled him when he recovered conscio

ie, unrecognized, had just stolen out of the room to

Eugene, I

this to las

. 'Still, Eugene, you ar

ugh for you to do me one last service, and for me to do one

to believe that he was more composed, though even then his

w, if you can. Stop my wa

ll me, dear Eugene, w

I am going away again. Don't let me go

gene, try t

ew how hard! Don't let me wander till I

ainst the unconsciousness that was coming over him, and with

r what I beseech of her. You can leave me with Jenny, while you

l me what it is that

g! You can

in a word

that came from his lips was the word millio

ever in her watch, and she now came up and touched Ligh

yes are closing. He'll be conscious when he next open

could only give m

. Stoo

hispered in his ear one short word of a single

ver the unconscious man, and, for the first time, kissed him on the cheek, and kissed

od saw his consciousness come back, and ins

re than look at me, and listen

his head

e we broke off. Is the word we sho

ess you,

you make Lizzie your wife. You wish me to speak to her, and tell her so, and entreat her to be your wife. Y

d bless

l have to go away for some few hours, to give eff

iend, I

the clue then. How do

ooking at him with her elbows on the bed, and her head upon her hands. The

r here, in my present place at your bedside, to leave you no more. A final word before I go. This is the right course of a true man, Eugene. And I solemnly believe, wi

t. But I shall not come

ess hopeful or less st

ve you, Mortimer. Don't be uneasy for me while you are gone. If my dear brave girl wi

in the bower made by her bright hair, wept heartily, though noiselessly. Mortimer Lightwood was soon gone. As the evening

n by the pillow. For, Jenny had given place to it immediately, and could not

murmured Eugene for hims