Page:The Fruit of the Tree (Wharton 1907).djvu/417

Rh She held out a cup to Wyant, but he drew back with a gesture of aversion.

“Thanks; I’m not hungry.”

“You ought to eat more.”

“No, no. I’m very well.”

She lifted her head, revived by the warm draught. The mechanical act of nourishment performed, her mind leapt back to the prospect of Amherst’s return. A whole month before he reached Lynbrook! He had instructed her where news might ﬁnd him on the way … but a whole month to wait!

She looked at Wyant, and they read each other’s thoughts.

“It’s a long time,” he said.

“Yes.”

“But Garford can do wonders—and she’s very strong.”

Justine shuddered. Just so a skilled agent of the Inquisition might have spoken, calculating how much longer the power of suffering might be artiﬁcially preserved in a body broken on the wheel.…

“How does she seem to you today?”

“The general conditions are about the same. The heart keeps up wonderfully, but there is a little more oppression of the diaphragm.”

“Yes—her breathing is harder. Last night she suffered horribly at times.” [ 401 ]