Page:Robert William Cole - The Struggle for Empire; A Story of the Year 2236 (1900).djvu/143

Rh gether. A faint sigh that he could not altogether suppress escaped from Alec's lips, and the sunshine of his life seemed to have gone in a moment.

Oh, faithless and perverse generation of men! Is this your love? Is this your constancy?

Alec Brandon's mind was troubled for some moments with various conflicting thoughts, and then he fell fast asleep. When he awoke again he felt stronger and better. After some days had passed he was able to get up and recline on a sofa, for he was too weak to walk about at all. Herbert Eastland came to see him sometimes, but he could not stay long, for his duties as captain of the ship took up nearly all his time. But Celia was almost always with him, flitting about in his room like a beam of sunshine, smoothing down his pillows and anticipating every wish before he uttered it. Sometimes she would turn round quickly and notice his eyes fixed on her longingly and lovingly, 9—2