Pietro Ghisleri

h it and looked upon it as a necessary condition of mind, through which he must pass from time to time, and from which he was never very far removed. But he had rarely, in his ever-changing life, be

e deeply attached to the man than he had supposed himself to be, but he had not imagined that, at the critical moment, that attachment would outweigh all consideration for Maddalena Delmar. And yet, he not only clung to the belief that he loved her, but was conscious that there was a broad foundation of truth for that belief to rest upon. He asked himself in vain why he was at that moment going from her house to Arden's, and he found no answer. That Laura herself contributed in any way to strengthen his resolve was too monstrous to be believed, even by himself, against himself. He

came to his side, trying to keep back the scalding tears, lest they should fall on him as she bent down to catch his words. The doctor had been sent for a third time in great haste. Meanwhile, the sister went about her duties silently and systematically, making herself thoroughly familiar w

aid to Ghisleri, in a quiet, even

other side of the bed, watching every pa

eave him," sh

her arrangements, she sat down, accustomed to husband her strength always, against the strain that must inevitably fall upon

thing could be done. She did not seem to understand. He was glad he had come, for he fancied she was losing h

oom, for Laura would not leave her husband's side for a moment. "I hardly know what to make of it, though of course there can be no doubt

n old f

id of catching the fe

n the

m a question you a

d, and I wanted to be on th

ell that there should be a man at h

eplied G

er than it is now. It ought to go down. If I am called anywhere I will leave the address at my lodgings, where one of my se

me when she was exhausted, or when he had an opportunity of persuading her to take some rest. Until then there was nothing to be done but to wait. A servant came in and put wood on the fire and turned down a lamp that was smoking a little. He inquired of Ghisleri whether her ladyship would wish any dinner served, and

o be given for the night? The Signore did not know, as her ladyship was still with his lordship, and was not to be disturbed, but some food must be kept ready in case she needed it. Eleven, half-past, twelve. Again the door ope

nderstand," he said. He had known Ghis

eri, gravely. "It is scarlet fever, the docto

s,

se. He would have gone to Arden's room, but he fancied it would be better to let Laura stay there without him, until she was very tired, and then to take her place. She would be more likely to rest if she had a long watch at first, he thought. As a matter of fact, an odd so

thered about the waist and hanging in straight folds. Her heavy black hair was fastened in a great knot, low at the back of her head. The light fell full upon her pale face and deep, dark eyes as she c

here," she said softly. H

ng to go and rest," he answered. "I hav

eing there perhaps prevented his going to sleep, and so I came away.

. Any idea which could give Laura hope was good in itself. She sank into a deep chair by the fire and watched the flames, her chin resti

owards the door. Just as he touched the handle she called

leri! Please

resumed his f

ver. "Please do not leave me-I-I am afraid to be

wish she expressed was very foreign to her usually quiet an

ologetic tone. "But I see his face all the time, and

, too. Will you not lie down on the sofa, while I sit here and wait?

, as though struck by th

. Pietro sat down and looked at her, musing over the strange combination of circumstances which formed themselves in his life. It seemed odd that he should be where he was, towards the small hours of the morning, watching over one of t

e on the dark velvet cushion, and she sighed as she sank to sleep. She was less quiet after that. Her lips moved, and she stirred uneasily from time to time, evidently dre

aid Pietro. "She does not wish to be left alone

adyship sent he

wing-room, in case she should need anythin

good

ingness to remain in the drawing-room longer than necessary. It would not have believed in his motive, and it would have added that he was very foolish not to enjoy the artistic pleas

amp, the light being screened from Arden by a makeshift consisting of the cover of a bandbox supported by a few heavy books. When Ghisleri had entered she had glanced at him, and explained by a sign that there was no change. Neither he nor she thought of speaking during the hour that followed. The sister had a watch before her on the table, and at r

ow voice, in answer to Ghisleri's inquiry as to whether this

upport. So far as the nursing was concerned, the sister neither needed nor expected any assistance. Towards five o'clock, Laura enter

g over her husband, and softly smoothing

answered Ghisleri, giving her

side of the bed. Presently, by a sign, she

octor comes, and the other sister has arrive

d brought him some coffee, and he sat where he had sat in the

ould not be averse to asking the opinion of a colleague,-and later, the same colleague came, saw Arden, shook hi

thinner, while the sad eyes seemed to sink deeper and deeper beneath the marble brow. He went home for a few hours to dress, and returned at midday. The loss of one night's rest had not even told upon his face, but his expression was grave and

. This is not a time for turning phrases. You must positively rest

feel tired

ural that you should run at least the risk of contagion, but you have no right to risk another life than your own by uselessly wearing

s pale cheeks, and she turned away

aid at last. Then, without loo

rently perfectly cold and indifferent. Yet he had known himself so long, that he dreaded the sensation, and his ever-ready self-contempt rose at the idea that he could possibly find himself capable of loving his friend's wife, even in the most distant future. Be

hat he was of use when his strength was needed to lift the frail body from one bed to the other. Arden grew r

of Pietro in the hall, "I have no hope of his recovery,

t shivered as he thought of what was before him. He knew now that he must stand by Laura's side at the near last moment of great suffering, when she was to see the one bei

the anxiety of all was trebled. The other sister had returned, and Ghisleri saw by her face that s

as though she were on the point of bursting into tears. He knew how proud she must be, and he moved away towards the door. She heard his step behind her, and witho

id unsteadily. "You mu

st," answered Gh

rst sob, and as he closed it behind him the storm of her passionate grief broke upon the silence of the night. He was not a man easily moved to any outw

when Ghisleri looked at her. The end was not far off, as she in her great experience well knew. In hot haste Pietro sent for the doctor, with a message say

th," he said. "If you wish it I will

hat there is no hope, but she will feel less nerv

he little strength there was is all gone. There will be a lucid interval

o be with him now, in case

om, feeling that one of the hardest moments of his life had come. Laura was seated in a deep chair, le

"If you are able, it would be better-" H

s they entered the room th

saw that he was quite in possession of his faculties and

coming swiftly up to his side and s

id faintly. "I am so gl

to talk. You must

st speak, dear one-this once before I die. Yes, I know I am dying. It is better so. I have h

's face was like alabaster, but she did no

nd I have given you so little. But God will give it all back to y

most choked. Laura thought it was th

. You must try and think that if you forego any happiness for the memory of me, you will be taking that same

ried Laura, pressing him

nd," he said earnestly, speaking with more and mor

owed he

dear, because

you,

emed to be thinking, or at least t

said, in a breaking voice. "Then I shall know

bert," said

head a litt

"always remember that my last

wards did she realise the perfect unselfishness of the man's end, nor how ever

not far off. Say something in your o

The sister, little used to seeing men die without comfort of Holy Church, kn

ones that are with Thee, to forgive all his sins, if any are yet unforgiven, and to render to him in heav

ed his head a little and kissed the hand t

he door with you and went out

ike to see h

end-better in every wa

ing in the passage. He came to the bedside and stood opposite to La

e-I am going. Take care of her-yo

ll do my best," answe

n with a last effort he drew Laura's

-love

as dead, dying as he had lived of late, and perhap

that seemed so unnaturally small as it lay there under the white coverlet. Ghisler

he sister softly. "If you

rried her swiftly from the room. He laid her upon the very sofa on which he had s

oice, as the Scotchman entered. "Her ladys

have remembered. Then he went back to the chamber of death. No strange, unloving hands should touch the frail body of the man he had known so well. Pietro Ghisleri, who, as the world said, "never cared," was oddly sensitive at times. On that

he stairs. A quiet-looking woman of middle age met them and crossed herself as she wai