Page:Salem - a tale of the seventeenth century (IA taleseventeenth00derbrich).pdf/278

 within her; but as the second day drew toward its close, her experienced eye detected a hopeful though very gradual change.

The burning fever was lessened; the torturing pain in the temples was subdued; the restlessly tossing limbs relaxed their painful tension, and sunk into easier attitudes of rest; the rapid pulse grew slower and more regular; the quick, gasping respiration became deeper and less rapid; a gentle moisture broke out on the parched skin, and Alice dozed off into a light and broken slumber beneath the glad eye of the watcher, who held her breath to listen with thankful heart, as the health-bringing sleep grew more and more profound, until, as the cooler shades of night came on, the young sufferer lay in calm and peaceful rest, beneath the glad eyes that ventured now to weep in very thankfulness.

Deeper and deeper grew that blessed, saving slumber as the night wore on, only broken when Alice was aroused to take the offered medicine or nourishment, which she received with grateful consciousness, and then sank back to quiet sleep again; and