Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/142

130 brother and sister. Herbert is a great engineer, and we are making this voyage to test the efficiency of a new combination of forces that he has discovered. We expect to be back at Neptune in about eight weeks.'

'How long is it since I was brought here?' asked Herbert.

'About a fortnight ago, and you have been unconscious nearly all the time. But come,' added Celia, as she assumed an appearance of mock solemnity: 'you must not talk any more now. You must try and go to sleep like a good boy, or you will never get well again.'

She bent over him as she spoke to arrange his pillows, and he was conscious of a strange thrill that swept through his body as a few stray tresses of her magnificent golden hair lightly touched his face. She bustled about the room for a moment, her fresh light figure brightening everything with its presence. Then she turned the light down a little and vanished alto-