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66 long and soundly, and on waking, felt stronger. The young lady was sitting in the room, reading. However, when she saw that I was awake, she put down her book and inquired if I felt better. I answered in the affirmative. She then mixed up a drink, which I swallowed at one draught.

She now left the room, and returned almost immediately with some fruit and light food, whereupon I managed to sit up. However, I noticed that my hands and arms were considerably changed, and wondered what my face would be like. So I inquired for a looking-glass. This she brought, though somewhat reluctantly. It was fixed on a stand, and she assisted me to hold it in front of my face. Yes, indeed, it was myself, but only a shadow of the former Periwinkle. But my beard! Where was my beard? I must have been shaved. Passing my hand over my chin and upper lip in search of the stubble was the work of a moment. Bat, alas! there was none. My beard, that Louva prized so much, was gone. Then a horrible thought struck me. I saw no hairs projecting from beneath the bandage that covered my head, so I made an attempt to tear it off, but was prohibited by the young lady, who reminded me that serious consequences might follow my