Page:Bianca, or, The Young Spanish Maiden (Toru Dutt).djvu/7

270 happy she is, with dear mother walking beside her. Is the garden very beautiful, Inez?" And again the bitter cry went forth, "Inez take me with you! I feel so very wretched! She knelt there sometime; gradually a sense of numbness came over her; her eyes became dry. She got up, dressed, and sat down before the open window. "Father must not see that I have cried." The cold morning air soon dissipated all the traces of tears and she went downstairs. "Is not father risen yet, Martha?" She asked surprised at finding the dining-room empty. "No Miss." She went upstairs and tapped at her father's door;—"Shall I come in, father?" "Yes." She entered. "Why! Still in bed father! Are you ill?" "Yes Bianca; feel my forehead and hands child." She did so. They were burning hot. "You have got the fever father; I must send for the doctor." Her father passed his hand over her head. "What would you do Bianca, if I were to leave you and die?" said he half jestingly. "You are not going to die father, I won’t lot you"—smiling, but she turned her face away to hide the rising tears. He sighed. "But to me it would be the best thing, I ask nothing but to be at rest." "I must get you something warm father" rising, "and write to the doctor." She went out and shut the door after her. On the staircase she stopped a few minutes, then entered her own bedroom and sat down in a chair. The tears fell fast. Will lie indeed die? "God," she thought, "give me a sign that he will live. Oh God! Think this not presumptuous but give faith to thy servant and strengthen her." She knelt down and opened the Bible. The words which struck her eye were: "Behold I will bring it health and cure, and I will cure them, and will reveal unto them the abundance of peace and truth." She read the passage again and again with a happy smile, while the tears were still bright her wet cheek; then she kissed the words and closed the book. Lord, I thank Thee," said she, with her forehead leaning on the "Gospel of peace." She was strengthened. She came down, wrote to the doctor, and then brought M. Garcia his tea.

Presently there was a tap at. the door, and Martha entered.