You will attend me to the door, my friend. Yes! it is
something in this life to have a friend.'
Lady Annabel took the arm of the good Masham. They stopped at her
daughter's door.
'Rest here a moment,' she said, as she entered the room without a
sound. In a moment she returned. 'She still sleeps,' said the mother;
'I shall remain with her, and you--?'
'I will not leave you,' said the Doctor, 'but think not of me. Nay! I
will not leave you. I will remain under this roof. I have shared its
serenity and joy; let me not avoid it in this time of trouble and
tribulation.'
CHAPTER IX.
Venetia still slept: her mother alone in the chamber watched by her
side. Some hours had elapsed since her interview with Dr. Masham; the
medical attendant had departed for a few hours.
Suddenly Venetia moved, opened her eyes, and said in a faint voice,
'Mamma!'
The blood rushed to Lady Annabel's heart. That single word afforded
her the most exquisite happiness.
'I am here, dearest,' she replied.
'Mamma, what is all this?' inquired Venetia.
'You have not been well, my own, but now you are much better.'
'I thought I had been dreaming,' replied Venetia, 'and that all was
not right; somebody, I thought, struck me on my head. But all is right
now, because you are here, my dear mamma.
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