Page:Conflict (1927).pdf/95

 sleeping-tablets an hour ago. She had consented to lie down. He hoped that she had fallen asleep.

How big Sheilah was! Why, a woman now almost. He hadn't realized it. Curves he hadn't been aware of had formed, it seemed, overnight. Only yesterday she had been a little girl. But now—was this great, long, lovely creature his daughter—his own daughter indeed? How heavy she was—how satisfyingly heavy. He had become aware now of her weight. But he liked it. He liked his arm aching a little where her body pressed it against the chair-arm. He drew the comforter, which he had dragged off the bed when he first carried her to the chair, closer about her. Funny how just trying to protect her from the cold woke up long-sleeping emotions in him!

It was when the hall-clock struck two that Sheilah stirred and began moaning. She must be dreaming, Sidney thought, and he spoke her name gently. She opened her eyes, struggled to a sitting position, and spoke. But she didn't wake up.

'They won't come off,' she said, in a voice full of despair. 'Oh! Oh!—They won't come off.' And she began rubbing one of her wrists in a strange, sort of Lady Macbeth fashion, as if there was something on it. Suddenly her body became taut and rigid, and she cried out, 'There's one ''here. ' '' And she began rubbing her lips!