Kirke," interposed the
doctor; "and I forbid Mr. Kirke to say a word about it to _you._ You are
beginning a new life to-day, and the only recollections I sanction are
recollections five minutes old."
She looked at the doctor and smiled. "I must ask him one question," she
said, and turned back again to Kirke. "Is it true that you had only seen
me once before you came to this house?"
"Quite true!" He made the reply with a sudden change of color which she
instantly detected. Her brightening eyes looked at him more earnestly
than ever, as she put her next question.
"How came you to remember me after only seeing me once?"
His hand unconsciously closed on hers, and pressed it for the first
time. He attempted to answer, and hesitated at the first word. "I have a
good memory," he said at last; and suddenly looked away from her with
a confusion so strangely unlike his customary self-possession of manner
that the doctor and the nurse both noticed it.
Every nerve in her body felt that momentary pressure of his hand, with
the exquisite susceptibility which accompanies the first faltering
advance on the way to health. She looked at his changing color, she
listened to his hesitating words, with every sensitive perception of her
sex and age quickened to seize intuitively on the truth.
Pages:
1157
1158
1159
1160
1161
1162
1163
1164
1165
1166
1167
1168
1169
1170
1171
1172
1173
1174
1175
1176
1177
1178
1179
1180
1181