"Be silent, nurse! do not terrify me with such strange words--see, he is asleep!"
Nurse's only reply was a burst of tears, as she laid her hand upon that of the Colonel, the fingers of which gently grasped the arm of the chair. Kate now bent down to kiss his cheek--but shrunk back from the icy touch.
"He has fainted," she exclaimed, looking wildly round at nurse. "Bring water, and wine--send for Doctor S----."
"I will, I will, my own child, only don't look at me that away."
Mrs. O'Toole's violent ringing, soon brought Mrs. Crooks, and the servant.
"Go," said Miss Vernon, who, though pale as death, was calm and stern, "send for Doctor S----, instantly, Colonel Vernon is taken very ill, he has fainted! see! Nurse thought he was dead, but I forbid any one uttering that word--until--until--go," she exclaimed, again with the same suppressed vehemence, with which she had before spoken, "Why do you stand gazing at me? life or death depends on your speed."
Both the frightened landlady and servant rushed from the room; and Kate never stirred from her rigid position beside her grandfather's chair, never moved a muscle of her face, until the Doctor, who was fortunately at home, entered, and found them apparently fixed in their several positions.
A hasty glance, showed the experienced physician, that it was indeed but the lifeless clay, round which poor Kate strove to preserve the quiet, prescribed for a suffering spirit, and turning to Mrs. O'Toole, he whispered--
"Try and get Miss Vernon out of the room."
"Why should I go? I can assist you to revive him."
"But--but--" stammered the doctor, fairly terror struck, at the thought of all the wild grief implied by her incredulity, "If I do not succeed?"
"Oh! hush, hush, it is not two hours since he blessed me, and said he was happy! Grandpapa, do not you hear? it is I--your own Kate! Why do you make no effort to recover him?" she exclaimed, turning almost fiercely to the doctor--"Where is your skill? Where is your science?"
"If you will leave the room," he returned, recovering himself. "I will do my best, but the consciousness that you, in your extreme anxiety, are watching me, will paralyse my best efforts."
"I will go then, and return in a few minutes," said Kate, retiring.