She would be so disappointed
if I did not come, and my dress is quite _lovely_. Had your mysterious
business anything to do with _Bryngelly_?--
"Yours, Honoria."
"She would go on to a ball from her mother's funeral," said Geoffrey to
himself, as he walked up to Effie's room; "well, it is her nature and
there's an end of it."
He knocked at the door of Effie's room. There was no answer, so he
walked in. The room was lit but empty--no, not quite! On the floor,
clothed only in her white night-shirt, lay his little daughter, to all
appearance dead.
With something like an oath he sprang to her and lifted her. The face
was pale and the small hands were cold, but the breast was still hot and
fevered, and the heart beat. A glance showed him what had happened. The
child being left alone, and feeling thirsty, had got out of bed and gone
to the water bottle--there was the tumbler on the floor. Then weakness
had overcome her and she had fainted--fainted upon the cold floor with
the inflammation still on her.
At that moment Anne entered the room sweetly murmuring, "Ca va bien,
cherie?"
"Help me to put the child into bed," said Geoffrey sternly.
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