“The doctor thinks,” I added, “that you ought to have a maid to sit up with you to-
night; one of ours is waiting, and you will find her a very useful and quiet
creature.”
“How kind of you, but I could not sleep, I never could with an attendant in the
room. I shan’t require any assistance— and, shall I confess my weakness, I am
haunted with a terror of robbers. Our house was robbed once, and two servants
murdered, so I always lock my door. It has become a habit—and you look so kind
I know you will forgive me. I see there is a key in the lock.”
She held me close in her pretty arms for a moment and whispered in my ear,
“Good night, darling, it is very hard to part with you, but good night; to-morrow,
but not early, I shall see you again.”
She sank back on the pillow with a sigh, and her fine eyes followed me with a
fond and melancholy gaze, and she murmured again “Good night, dear friend.”
Young people like, and even love, on impulse. I was flattered by the evident,
though as yet undeserved, fondness she showed me. I liked the confidence with
which she at once received me. She was determined that we should be very near
friends.
Next day came and we met again. I was delighted with my companion; that is to
say, in many respects.
Her looks lost nothing in daylight—she was certainly the most beautiful creature I
had ever seen, and the unpleasant remembrance of the face presented in my
early dream, had lost the effect of the first unexpected recognition.
She confessed that she had experienced a similar shock on seeing me, and
precisely the same faint antipathy that had mingled with my admiration of her.
We now laughed together over our momentary horrors.
