Page:The Bridge of San Luis Rey (Grossett & Dunlap).pdf/125

 moments of horror, in which his being a devout believer had its part, he would return to the room and go about his duties with bent head.

Towards dawn his brother became serener. (For what human ill does not dawn seem to be an alleviation?) It was in one of these intervals that Manuel said quite calmly:

“God’s son! I feel better, Esteban. Those cloths must be good after all. You’ll see. I’ll be up and around tomorrow. You haven’t slept for days. You’ll see I won’t cause you any more trouble, Esteban.”

“It’s no trouble, you fool.”

“You mustn’t take me seriously when I try and stop you putting on the old cloths, Esteban.”

A long pause. At last Esteban brought out, barely audible:

“I think don’t you think it would be fine if I sent for the Perichole? She could just come and see you for a few minutes, I mean”