'But you have seen a little of the world since then,' drily commented
the lady. 'The same kind of fear should never recur. Good-night, my
dear. Sleep well.'
But darkness brought no relief to Marion. With morning she was
feverish, wild-eyed, more awake than ever. A new horror seized Simone
when, in response to her mistress's call, she sprang up from a troubled
sleep and drew the curtains wide. If the girl could not sleep, she
would soon be really ill. And what then?
Presently Simone took her courage in both hands and, saying nothing to
Marion, sought Mistress Keziah. The gaunt face in its frilled nightcap,
and the many wrappings by which the lady imagined she warded off
rheumatism, made in their way the most awe-inspiring sight Simone had
yet encountered. But, as Marion said, Simone never made a mistake.
After a few minutes' conversation, Mistress Keziah pulled the bell-rope
at the head of her bed. 'I must get up,' she said.
'If Madame will pardon me,' ventured Simone, 'Mademoiselle is a little
strained. This is to my knowledge two full nights that she has not
slept. Since we left London, in fact, she has slept very little.
And--Mademoiselle is accustomed to my nearness.'
'And you think I should frighten her?' grimly demanded the old woman.
'Well, well. The point is, she must sleep. And sleep well; whatever
her trouble may be--'twill not be eased by a fever! You say she lies
and stares and plucks at the sheets? I will cure her.'
Here the servant entered, and Mistress Keziah gave minute directions
concerning a particular bundle of herbs in the still room. 'Brew it
thrice the strength, Alison,' she concluded.
Presently Simone came to Marion's side with a steaming cup.
'If you care at all for the success of your journey, Mademoiselle, you
will drink this.'
'I must get up,' said Marion wildly. 'Do you know yonder courier is now
within a day of London? Another day, and he will be thinking of return;
three more, and he will be here, in Exeter. Have you thought of it?'
'I have thought of everything, Mademoiselle. But you will be tossing in
a fever, soon, and the week will go by none the less. Drink this.'
With her distracted gaze on Simone, Marion took the cup and drained it.
Anxiously the French girl sat by the bed, watching and soothing the
restless hands. She dared not think of the result should the potion
prove to be ineffectual. But presently the weary, purple eyelids
drooped, the strained lines on the pallid face relaxed. Marion sank into
a heavy, motionless sleep.
*CHAPTER XVII*
*AN EAST WINDOW*
As the day wore on, Mistress Keziah came several times into the room,
nodding with grim satisfaction as she noted the steady breathing, and
the natural look on the sleeper's face. The afternoon sunlight was
sloping through the trees when, after the hour's rest she always took in
her chamber at this time, she again opened her niece's door. Simone
rose quickly from her seat by the bed, and joined the lady where she
stood.
'Is it well that my mistress should sleep on thus, Madame? She has
scarcely stirred since you were here before!' Simone spoke in
undisguised anxiety.
'Excellent! Excellent!' said Mistress Keziah. 'The potion was a secret
of my grandmother's. I have never known it fail. The brew your
mistress drank would make a strong man sleep for twelve hours. In her
case, youth will assist in the fight. Once the clock turns, mark my
words, she will sleep for another twelve hours, and will wake like a
little child.'