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'Thank you！ thank you！ and perhaps I may be of some use。 But is it
very infectious？'
'I hope not： caught at Colico； and imported to a fresh place。 I should
think there was little fear of its spreading。 However； we must soon be
off： I am afraid he is very ill； and almost deserted。 In the first
place； I had better send an express to the Consul at Venice； to ask him
to recommend us a doctor； for I have not much faith in this Italian。'
They were soon on the way to Recoara； a road bordered on one side by
high rocks； on the other by a little river flowing down a valley； shut
in by mountains。 The valley gradually contracted in the ascent； till
it became a ravine； and further on a mere crevice marked by the thick
growth of the chestnut…trees； but before this greater narrowing； they
saw the roofs of the houses in the little town。 The sun shone clear；
the air had grown fresh as they mounted higher； Amabel could hardly
imagine sickness and sorrow in so fair a spot； and turned to her
husband to say so； but he was deep in thought； and she would not
disturb him。
The town was built on the bank of the stream； and very much shut in by
the steep crags； which seemed almost to overhang the inn； to which they
drove； auguring favourably of the place from its fresh； clean aspect。
Guy hastened to the patient； while Amabel was conducted to a room with
a polished floor； and very little furniture； and there waited anxiously
until he returned。 There was a flush on his face； and almost before he
spoke； he leant far out of the window to try to catch a breath of air。
'We must find another room for him directly；' said he。 'He cannot
possibly exist where he isa little densuch an atmosphere of fever
enough to knock one down！ Will you have one got ready for him？'
'Directly；' said Amabel； ringing。 'How is he？'
'He is in a stupor； it is not sleep。 He is frightfully ill； I never
felt anything like the heat of his skin。 But that stifling hole would
account for much； very likely he may revive； when we get him into a
better atmosphere。 No one has attended to him properly。 It is a
terrible thing to be ill in a foreign country without a friend！'
Arnaud came； and Amabel sent for the hostess； while Guy returned to his
charge。 Little care had been taken for the solitary traveller on foot；
too ill to exact attention； and whose presence drove away custom； but
when his case was taken up by a Milord Inglese； the people of the inn
were ready to do their utmost to cause their neglect to be forgotten；
and everything was at the disposal of the Signora。 The rooms were
many； but very small； and the best she could contrive was to choose
three rooms on the lower floor； rather larger than the rest； and
opening into each other； as well as into the passage； so that it was
possible to produce a thorough draught。 Under her superintendence；
Anne made the apartment look comfortable； and almost English； and
sending word that all was ready； she proceeded to establish herself in
the corresponding rooms on the floor above。
Philip was perfectly unconscious when he was carried to his new room。
His illness had continued about a week； and had been aggravated first
by his incredulous and determined resistance of it； and then by the
neglect with which he had been treated。 It was fearful to see how his
great strength had been cut down； as there he lay with scarcely a sign
of life； except his gasping； labouring breath。 Guy stood over him； let
the air blow in from the open window； sprinkled his face with vinegar；
and moistened his lips； longing for the physician； for whom； however；
he knew he must wait many hours。 Perplexed； ignorant of the proper
treatment； fearing to do harm； and extremely anxious； he still was
almost rejoiced： for there was no one to whom he was so glad to do a
service； and a hope arose of full reconciliation。
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 c