One day I shall find something to worship, and then I shall
be--"
"Nurse," she said; "take my desk away; I am suddenly so sleepy; I will
write more tomorrow." She turned her face to the pillow; it was the sudden
drowsiness of great weakness. She had dropped asleep in a moment, and
Gregory moved the desk softly, and then sat in the chair watching. Hour
after hour passed, but he had no wish for rest, and sat on, hearing the
rain cease, and the still night settle down everywhere. At a quarter-past
twelve he rose, and took a last look at the bed where she lay sleeping so
peacefully; then he turned to go to his couch. Before he had reached the
door she had started up and was calling him back.
"You are sure you have put it up?" she said, with a look of blank terror at
the window. "It will not fall open in the night, the shutter--you are
sure?"
He comforted her. Yes, it was tightly fastened.
"Even if it is shut," she said, in a whisper, "you cannot keep it out! You
feel it coming in at four o'clock, creeping, creeping, up, up; deadly
cold!" She shuddered.
He thought she was wandering, and laid her little trembling body down among
the blankets.
"I dreamed just now that it was not put up," she said, looking into his
eyes; "and it crept right in and I was alone with it."
"What do you fear?" he asked, tenderly.
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