Page:Works of Jules Verne - Parke - Vol 7.djvu/117

Rh but I did not want to disturb Fabian. Ellen was as motionless as a statue. What impression was this scene making on her mind? Was reason gradually coming back to her under the influence of the grand spectacle? Suddenly I saw Fabian step towards her. Ellen had risen quickly, and was going near to the abyss, with her arms extended towards the gulf; but all at once she stopped, and passed her hand rapidly across her forehead, as if she would drive away some thought. Fabian, pale as death, but self-possessed, with one bound placed himself between Ellen and the chasm; the latter shook back her fair hair, and her graceful figure staggered. Did she see Fabian? No. One would have said it was a dead person coming back to being, and looking round for life!

Captain Corsican and I dared not move, although, being so near the abyss, we dreaded some catastrophe; but the Doctor kept us back.

"Let Fabian alone," said he.

I heard the sobs which escaped from the young woman's heaving breast, the inarticulate words from her lips; she seemed trying to speak, but could not. At last she uttered these words, "My God! my God! where am I, where am I?"

She was conscious that someone was near her, for she half turned round, her whole face seemed transfigured.

There was a new light in her eyes, as she saw Fabian, trembling and speechless, standing before her with outstretched arms. "Fabian! Fabian!" cried she, at last.

Fabian caught her in his arms, where she fell in an unconscious state. He uttered a piercing cry, thinking that Ellen was dead, but the Doctor interposed. "Don't be alarmed," said he; "this crisis will be the means of saving her!"

Ellen was carried to Clifton House and put to bed, where she recovered consciousness and slept peacefully. Fabian, encouraged by the Doctor, was full of hope. Ellen had recognized him! Coming back to us, he said to me. "We shall save her, we shall save her! Every day I watch her coming back to life. To-day, to-morrow, perhaps she will be restored to me. Ah! the just God be praised! We will stay here as long as it is necessary for her, shall we not, Archibald?"

The captain clasped Fabian in his arms; then the latter