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The patient was somewhat revived by the fresh air； he breathed more
freely； moved； and made a murmuring sound； as if striving painfully for
a word。
'〃Da bere〃；' at last he said； and if Guy had not known its meaning； it
would have been plain from the gasping； parched manner in which it was
uttered。
'Some water？' said Guy； holding it to his lips； and on hearing the
English； Philip opened his eyes； and； as he drank； gazed with a heavy
sort of wonder。 'Is that enough？ Do you like some on your forehead？'
'Thank you。'
'Is that more comfortable？ We only heard to…day you were ill。'
He turned away restlessly； as if hardly glad to see Guy； and not awake
to the circumstances； in a dull； feverish oppression of the senses。
Delirium soon came on； or； more properly； delusion。 He was distressed
by thinking himself deserted； and struggling to speak Italian； and when
Guy replied in English； though the native tongue seemed to fall kindly
on his ear； yet； to Guy's great grief； the old dislike appeared to
prevent all comfort in his presence； though he could not repel his
attentions。 At night the wandering increased； till it became
unintelligible raving； and strength was required to keep him in bed。
Amabel seldom saw her husband this evening。 He once came up to see
her； when she made him drink some coffee； but he soon went； telling her
he should wait up； and begging her to go to rest quietly； as she looked
pale and tired。 The night was a terrible one； and morning only brought
insensibility。 The physician arrived； a sharp…looking Frenchman； who
pronounced it to be a very severe and dangerous case； more violent than
usual in malaria fever； and with more affection of the brain。 Guy was
glad to be set to do something； instead of standing by in inaction； but
ice and blisters were applied without effect； and they were told that
it was likely to be long before the fever abated。
Day after day passed without improvement； and with few gleams of
consciousness； and even these were not free from wandering； they were
only intervals in the violent ravings； or the incoherent murmurs； and
were never clear from some torturing fancy that he was alone and ill at
Broadstone； and neither the Edmonstones nor his brother…officers would
come to him； or else that he was detained from Stylehurst。 'Home' was
the word oftenest on his lips。 'I would not go home；' the only
expression that could sometimes be distinctly heard。 He was obliged to
depend on Guy as the only Englishman at hand； but whenever he
recognized him； the traces of repugnance were evident； and in his
clearer intervals； he always showed a preference for Arnaud's
attendance。 Still Guy persevered indefatigably； sitting up with him
every night； and showing himself an invaluable nurse； with his tender
hand； modulated voice； quick eye； and quiet activity。 His whole soul
was engrossed： he never appeared to think of himself； or to be sensible
of fatigue； but was only absorbed in the one thought of his patient's
comfort！ He seldom came to Amabel except at meals； and now and then
for a short visit to her sitting…room to report on Philip's condition。
If he could spare a little more time when Philip was in a state of
stupor； she used to try to persuade him to take some rest； and if it
was late； or in the heat of noon； she could sometimes get him； as a
favour to her； to lie down on the sofa； and let her read to him； but it
did not often end in sleep； and he usually preferred taking her out
into the fresh air； and wandering about among the chestnut…trees and
green hillocks higher up in the ravine。
Very precious were these walks； with the quiet grave talk that the
scene and the circumstances inspiredwhen he would tell the thoughts
that had occupied him in his night…watches； and they shared the subdued
and deep reflection suited to this period of apprehension。 These were
her happiest times； but they were few and uncertain。 She had in the
meantime to wait； to watch； and hope alone； though she had plenty of
employment； for besides writing constant bulletins； all preparations
for the sickroom fell to her share。 She had to send for or devise
substitutes for all the conveniences that were far from coming readily
to hand in a remote Italian innto give orders； send commissions to
Vicenza； or even to Venice； and to do a good deal； with Anne's'
assistance； by her own manual labour。 Guy said she did more for Philip
outside his room than he did inside； and often declared how entirely at
a loss he should have been if she had not been there； with her ready
resources； and； above all； with her sweet presence； making the short
intervals he spent out of the sick chamber so much more than repose；
such refreshment at the time； and in remembrance。
Thus it had continued for more than a fortnight； when one evening as
the French physician was departing； he told Guy that he would not fail
to come the next night； as he saw every reason to expect a crisis。 Guy
sat intently marking every alteration in the worn； flushed； suffering
face that rested helplessly on the pillows； and every unconscious
movement of the wasted； nerveless limbs stretched out in pain and
helplessness； contrasting his present state with what he was when last
they parted； in the full pride of health； vigour； and intellect。 He
dwelt on all that had passed between them from the first； the strange
ancestral enmity that nothing had as yet overcome； the
misunderstandings； the prejudices； the character whose faultlessness he
had always revered； and the repeated failure of all attempts to be
friends； as if his own impatience and passion had borne fruit in the
merited distrust of the man whom of all others he respected； and whom
he would fain love as a brother。 He earnestly hoped that so valuable a
life might be spared； but if that might not be； his fervent wish was；
that at least a few parting words of goodwill and reconciliation might
be granted to be his comfort in remembrance。
So mused Guy during the night； as he watched the heavy doze between
sleep and stupor； and tried to catch the low； indistinct mutterings
that now and then seemed to ask for something。 Towards morning Philip
awoke more fully； and as Guy was feeling his pulse； he faintly asked；
'How many？' while his eyes had more of their usual expression。
'I cannot count；' returned Guy； 'but it is less than in the evening。
Some drink？'
Philip took some； then making an effort to look round； said；'What day
is it？'
'Saturday morning； the 23rd of August。'
'I have been ill a long time！'
'You have indeed； full three weeks； but you are better to…night。'
He was silent for some moments； then； collecting himself； and looking
fixedly at Guy； he said； in his own steady voice； though very feeble；
'I suppose； humanly speaking； it is an even chance between life an