Crampton said no more, but he walked to the window with his face buried in his great yellow silk handkerchief, blowing his nose with a continuity and force which became at last so unbearable that Mrs Van Heldre went out into the hall. She went back soon into the dining-room, where Crampton was waiting anxiously. "He looked at me when I was in the room with my darling child, Mr Crampton, and his lips parted, and he spoke to me, and I was obliged to come away for fear I should do him harm." "Come away, ma'am! and at a time like that!" said Crampton, angrily. Mrs Van Heldre drew herself up with dignity. "My child signed to me to go," she said quietly; and then with her eyes brimming over with tears, "Do you think I would not have given the world to stay?" At that moment Madelaine came quickly and softly into the room. "He is sleeping," she whispered excitedly; "he looked at me and smiled, and then his eyes closed and he seemed to go into a calm sleep, not that terrible stupor, but sleep. Mother, come and see--it must be sleep." Old Crampton was left alone to begin pacing the room excitedly for a few minutes, when Madelaine came down once more. "Pray go for Dr Knatchbull!" she cried piteously. "But isn't he--" "We do not know--we are afraid to hope--pray, pray go." "She hasn't spoken so gently since that night," muttered Crampton, as he hurried down the street. "Poor girl! it is very hard; and this may be only the change before--No, I won't think that," cried the old clerk, and he broke into a run. Volume 2, Chapter XVII. CRAMPTON REPORTS PROGRESS. "Yes," said Dr Knatchbull, confidently; "he will get over it, now. Can't say," he said, rubbing his hands in his satisfaction, "whether it's the doctor's physic, or the patient's physique, but one of them has worked wonders. What do you say, Miss Van Heldre?" "That we can never be sufficiently grateful to you." "Never," cried Mrs Van Heldre, wringing his hand. "Bah!" exclaimed the doctor, "that's what you people say now that you have got to the turn; but by and by when I send in my bill--and I mean to make this a pretty stiff one, Mrs Van Heldre--you will all be as grumpy as possible, and think it a terrible overcharge." "Well, really, Dr Knatchbull," began Mrs Van Heldre, ruffling up like an aggravated hen, "I am quite sure my clear husband will pay any--" "Mamma, mamma, dear!" cried Madelaine, smiling through her tears; "can you not see that Dr Knatchbull is laughing at us?" "No, my dear," said the little lady angrily; "but if he is, I must say that it is too serious a matter for a joke." "So it is, my dear madam," said the doctor, taking her hand, "far too serious; but I felt in such high spirits to find that we have won the fight, that I was ready to talk any nonsense. All the same though, with some people it's as true as true." "Yes, but we are not some people," said Mrs Van Heldre. "But now tell us what we are to do."