Page:The Way of a Virgin.djvu/208

Rh All was accomplished as arranged, for on the morrow, as soon as it was dawn, the girl, who was sleeping with her husband, fell to complaining and feigning sickness as though a strong fever racked her body.

Her foolish husband was much vexed and astonished, and knew not what to say or do. He sent forthwith for his mother-in-law, who was not long in coming. As soon as he saw her he said:

"Alas! mother! thy daughter is dying!"

"My daughter?" quoth she. "What doth she want?" And while she spoke, she walked to the patient's chamber.

As soon as the mother perceived her daughter, she inquired of her as to her trouble, and the girl, being well instructed in what she must do, answered not at first, but, after a while, said:

"Mother, I am dying."

"Please God, thou shalt not die! Take courage! But how cometh it that thou art fallen ill so suddenly?"

"I know not! I know not!" answered the girl. "Thou dost madden me by these questions."

The mother took the daughter's hand, and felt her pulse, her body and her head; then she said to her son-in-law:

"In sooth, she is sorely ill. She is on fire. We must find some remedy. Has aught of her water?"

"That which she made last night is there," said one of the attendants.

"Give it me," said the mother.

She took the urine, and put it in a proper vessel, and told her son-in-law that she would show it to a physician, that he might know what he might do to her daughter to cure her.