Page:Carroll - Sylvie and Bruno Concluded.djvu/440

402 "No, no!" she eagerly replied. "At least——Eric is here. But——," her voice quivered, "but there is another!"

No need for further question. I eagerly followed her in. There on the bed, he lay——pale and worn——the mere shadow of his old self——my old friend come back again from the dead!

"Arthur!" I exclaimed. I could not say another word.

"Yes, back again, old boy!" he murmured, smiling as I grasped his hand. "He," indicating Eric, who stood near, "saved my life——He brought me back. Next to God, we must thank him, Muriel, my wife!"

Silently I shook hands with Eric and with the Earl: and with one consent we moved into the shaded side of the room, where we could talk without disturbing the invalid, who lay, silent and happy, holding his wife's hand in his, and watching her with eyes that shone with the deep steady light of Love.

"He has been delirious till to-day," Eric explained in a low voice: "and even to-day he has been wandering more than once. But the