He obeyed her command, willing to gratify her least caprice. She gave him one of her pillows, threw a part of the counterpane over him, and made him lie there, holding fast to his hand, afraid to be alone, even in her dreams. "Do you feel sleepy, Grant?" she asked, after a pause. "Perhaps so; I am resting, at all events." "Don't you remember when I was sick once, years ago, I never would sleep unless I held your hand?" "Yes, dear." How far back the time looked--he had been a mere youth then--what a fearful waste lay between that season and the present! Suddenly Elsie started up again. "You sent the letter, Grant?" "Yes, yes; be content." She was so much afraid even to sleep, that it relieved her to turn her last waking thoughts upon some little good she was doing Elizabeth. "Good-night, now," she said; "I can go to sleep. Kiss my hand, Grant. You love me, don't you?" "Always, darling, always; nothing can part you and me." She fell away into a tranquil slumber, and Mellen lay for a long time watching her repose; it was a brief season of peace to her, for burning thoughts had not followed her into her dreams. The extreme quiet, the sight of her placid face soothed him imperceptibly. A dreary weakness began to make itself felt after that long continued excitement. At length the lids drooped over his eyes, and he slept almost as profoundly as Elsie herself. For a long time there was no sound in the chamber; the brother and sister lay slumbering while the day wore on and the twilight crept slowly around. When Elsie awoke it was to rouse him with the cry which had been so often on her lips during the previous day-- "Bessie, Bessie!" He started up, spoke to her, and his voice brought her back to the reality. "I was so happy," she moaned; "I dreamed that Bessie and I were gathering pond lilies--she was wreathing them about my head--then just as I woke I saw a snake sting her--before that it was all bright. Oh, dear, if I could only sleep forever!" CHAPTER LXXII. TOM FULLER RETURNS. The next day Elsie was still stronger and better. She consented to lie in bed all the morning, making it a condition that she might get up and be carried downstairs to pass the evening. "That is the dreariest time," she said; "it drags on so heavily." Mellen promised her, and she was childishly happy. "You shall have an early dinner, Grant, and then we'll take tea in the evening, and eat toast and jam just as we did when I was a child." "Yes, that will be very comfortable." He had tried to say pleasant, but he could not speak the word. The day was so warm and bright that a little after noon he took her out for a short drive, then she lay down to rest again, resolved to be strong and pass the evening below. The change was pleasant to her--she felt quite elated, as she always was in health, at the idea of amusement. They got through the day rather quietly, and Elsie did not have a single relapse of her nervous tremors.