'I will lie on the floor, and I won't speak a word; but don't send me away, please don't send me away,' she whispered.
I was obliged to make the faithful girl share my bed, for I could not prevail upon her to leave me. Probably her presence was some little help to me in the way of preventing any indulgence of sentiment, had I been inclined to yield to it again. When morning came, cool and fresh and sunny after the storm, I was myself again; not my looks--the effects of the storm which had passed over _me_ were not to be so easily effaced--but I was nerved in spirit for what was to come. In the early morning--so early that Becky had barely time to slip away--came Lilian in her white wrapper; and then I noticed how fragile she had become. My darling, had I been even for a moment so unjust as to doubt you, I could have doubted you no longer! She was full of loving sympathy about my hand.
'Dear Mary, I could not sleep for thinking of you. Even now you do not look quite yourself.'
She nestled closer to me, looking anxiously and doubtfully up into my face. How thankful I should have been just at that moment if love were as blind as it is sometimes depicted as being!
'No; not quite your old self. Say--do say that you love me, Mary.'
'And--and say that you believe my love for you is true--say it!'
'I _know_ that your love for me is true, my sister.'
Once more she clung to me trembling in her deep emotion; but silently this time, and believing that she was asking for strength to go on, I waited until she was able to do so. Although I knew now that she loved Philip--it was as plain to me as that he loved her--I thought it better to let her herself lead up to what she wanted to say. It would comfort her by-and-by to remember she had been able to say it. Presently she looked up into my face, a holy light in the sweet eyes as they steadily met mine.
'Mary, you have not told me when your wedding is to take place. Recollect, you must give me at least a week's notice for my dress. I do not choose you to have a shabby bride's-maid. No, indeed; I mean every one to see that--she loves you. Is the time fixed?'
'Philip wished me to decide last night, and--something was said about next week, dearie.'