Exhausted by her days and nights of watching, the tired-out mother had slept all through the long hours of the day. She opened her eyes now with a start. Healing sleep had done wonders for her--the dewy look of youth had come back to her face; her beautiful blue eyes were fixed for a moment on Dorothy with a puzzled expression of non-recognition. "Where am I? What has happened?" she asked in a startled voice. "You have just had a lovely sleep," said Dorothy. "You'll be all the better for it." "And who are you? I cannot quite collect my thoughts--I know something has happened. Who are you? I cannot remember you." "I am the nurse who is taking care of your dear little girl. She is better." "Oh, yes, now I remember," said Mrs. Harvey. She sat up in bed and clasped her hands tightly. "It was wrong of me to sleep so long," she said, "but I won't be a moment getting dressed; I must go back to the child at once." "Will you come to your room?" said Dorothy. "You can change your dress there. I know Mr. Harvey is most anxious that you should dine with him this evening." "Dine with my husband!--have dinner? But Freda is ill; she is at death's door." "She is ill undoubtedly, but she is better; she is on the mend. I am taking good care of her. Don't you trust me?" "Oh, yes, I trust you; but I must go back to her. Don't talk to me of dinner; I could not eat. Is it really evening? Oh, now I remember everything--at last I remember! We have been in agony. We have lived through such a week. We have been down in the depths, truly. Yes, yes, I recollect it all--my little child, my only little child, my darling, my treasure! Oh, nurse, you should not have allowed me to sleep on all day, you should have called me; she may have been wanting me. But you say she is better--better; but perhaps Dr. Staunton--oh, I am frightened! Are you keeping anything from me? Oh, my head, my poor head! I shall go mad; I shall lose my senses." "No, dear Mrs. Harvey," said Dorothy; "I have good news for you, not bad. Freda is really better--she is less feverish, and her throat does not hurt her so badly. I don't pretend that she is yet out of danger, but if she continues to improve as she has done during the last seven or eight hours, she will be out of danger before long. Now I want you to take care of yourself and to trust your child to me." "Oh, I cannot give the child up to anyone. You must not keep me from her another moment. I am not a bit hungry, but I'll have something to eat in her room if you'll bring it to me. How awfully my darling must have missed me!--she is such a child for her mother. Let me go to her at once--my dear little treasure!" "Dr. Staunton is very anxious that you should not go to her to-night." "How can he dare to keep a mother from her child? Here, give me my dress, will you? I tell you that nothing will keep me from the room. I am sure you are deceiving me."