I caught her up in my arms and carried her back to the sofa, and I whispered in her ear: "I'll stay, Zillah; I'll do anything for you." The child clapped her hands gleefully as she exclaimed: "Now I've got thee. He's promised me to stay, mother." "Yes," said the physician, after feeling my pulse, "you certainly must, and you ought to be in bed this moment. Your pulse indicates a very high fever. What's more, you seem badly run down. I shall put you under active treatment at once; that is, if you'll trust me." "Go ahead, doctor," I said, "and get me through one way or the other before very long. Because these friends are so good and kind is no reason why I should become a burden to them," and I sank down on the sofa in the hall. "Thee'll do us a great wrong if thee ever thinks that, Richard Morton," said Mrs. Yocomb earnestly. "Adah, thee see that his room is ready. I'm going to take thee in hand myself;" and she bustled off to the kitchen. "You couldn't be in better hands, Mr. Morton," said the physician; "and Mrs. Yocomb can do more for you than I can. I'll try and help a little, however, and will prescribe for you after I've seen Zillah;" and he and Mr. Yocomb went into the parlor, while Reuben, with a triumphant chuckle, started for the barn. Now that I was alone for a moment, Miss Warren, who had been standing in the doorway, and a little aloof, came to me, and her face was full of trouble as she said hurriedly, in a low tone: "I fear I'm to blame for this. You'll never know how sorry I am. I _do_ owe you so much! Please get well quickly or I'll--" and she hesitated. "You are the only one who did not ask me to stay," I said reproachfully. "I know it; I know, too, that I'd be ill in your place if I could." "How could I help loving you!" I said impetuously. "There, forgive me," I added hastily as I saw her look of pain and almost fright. "Remember I'm ill, delirious it may be; but whatever happens, also remember that I said I wouldn't change anything. Were it all to do over again I'd do the same. It was inevitable: I'm sane enough to know that. You are not in the least to blame." She hung on my last words as if I were giving her absolution from a mortal sin. "It's all a mistake. Oh, if you but knew how I regret--" Steps were approaching. I shook my head, with a dreary glimmer of a smile. "Good-by," I said in a whisper, and wearily closed my eyes. Everything soon became very confused. I remembered Mr. Yocomb's helping me to my room. I saw Adah's intent, wistful look as I tried to thank her. Mrs. Yocomb's kind, motherly face changed into the features of my own mother, and then came a long blank. CHAPTER III RETURNING CONSCIOUSNESS