Her face grew so painfully wan, and she gave evidence of so much inward anguish, that I was constrained to arouse her. My voice made no impression, and the clasp of my hand only threw her into a more deathly slumber. I began to comprehend her state. I had heard of deep trances, when the soul seems released from the body, or is gifted with something like prophecy. I knew, or believed, that this was an unhealthy state, the result of disease, or the offspring of a badly balanced organization; and this thought horrified me; there was something of the supernatural in it that filled my soul with awe. By the contraction of her pale forehead, I saw that there was some distress in the head; so lifting my hand, I passed it across her brow, hoping to soothe away the pain. Certainly, the face became calm, a smile stole across the lips, and after a moment her eyes opened, and looked vaguely around, as a child awakes from its sleep. CHAPTER XVI. AFTER DREAMING. "I have been asleep," said Mrs. Lee, pleasantly; "sound asleep. When did you come in?" "Only a short time since." "And you have been sitting here while I slept?" "Yes; after a restless night, I fancied a quiet sleep would do you no harm." "Harm? It has given me strength." "Do you think so?" She smiled. "Have you been dreaming again?" I inquired, a little anxiously. "Dreaming? No, my sleep was profound, perfect rest. But where is Jessie? She sat where you are when I fell off." "Indeed!" "Yes, I remember--her left hand held mine, with her right she was soothing the pain from my forehead." "That was some time ago; she has gone out to ride since, and I am quite sure Mr. Lee came up here after she left you," I said. "I am glad of it," she answered, gently. "He was rather late this morning, I remember thinking; but Jessie would not own it. So he came up, and I did not hear him. Miss Hyde, this is the first time in my whole life that his lightest footstep failed to awake me,--what can it mean?" "Yes," broke in Lottie, who had been hanging around the door, unnoticed; for we had all become so used to her presence in that room, that it was no more heeded than that of the canary-bird in its cage on the balcony,--"yes, ma'am, Mr. Lee came up with his spurs on, and his whip all ready, just like a trooper, clang, clang, clang. I thought the noise would make you jump out of the window in that white, loose gown, just like an angel with its wings spread; but law! there you were, ma'am, snoozing away right in his face, and he making up his mind, with the whip in his hand, whether to kiss you good-bye or not." "And did he?" inquired the lady, with a faint flush of the cheek. "No, ma'am; I suppose he was afraid of scaring you out of that nice sleep. He only looked at you sort of earnestly, and went off trying to walk on tiptoe; but mercy! didn't them boots creak?" "I thought not," murmured the lady, with infinite tenderness in her voice; "I must have been dead if that failed to arouse me."