"GOOD-NIGHT, DAVID"
When Diana had finished reading David's letter, she folded it, replaced
it in the envelope; rose, laid aside her uniform, slipping on a grey
cashmere wrapper, with soft white silk frills at neck and wrists.
Then she passed down the stone corridor, and quietly entered the
darkened room where David was lying.
A screen was drawn partly round the bed.
A nurse sat, silent and watchful, her eyes upon the pillow.
She rose, as Diana entered, and came forward quickly.
"I am left in charge, Mrs. Rivers," she whispered. "I was to call you at
once when I saw the change. The doctors have been gone ten minutes. Sir
Deryck expects to return in an hour. He is fetching an antitoxin which
he proposes trying, if the patient lives until his return. Dr. Walters
thinks it useless to attempt anything further. No more strychnine is to
be used."
"Thank you," said Diana, gently. "Now you can go into the ward, nurse. I
will take charge here. If I want help, I will call. Close the door
softly behind you. I wish to be alone."
She stood quite still, while the nurse, after a moment's hesitation,
left the room.
Then she came round to the right side of the bed, knelt down, and drew
David into her arms, pillowing his head against her breast. She held him
close, resting her cheek upon his tumbled hair, and waited.
At length David sighed, and stirred feebly. Then he opened his eyes.
"Where--am I?" he asked, in a bewildered voice.
"In your wife's arms," said Diana, slowly and clearly.
"In--my wife's--arms?" The weak voice, incredulous in its amazed wonder,
tore her heart; but she answered, unfaltering:
"Yes, David. In your wife's arms. Don't you feel them round you? Don't
you feel her heart beating beneath your cheek? You were found
unconscious in the train, and they brought you to the Hospital of the
Holy Star, where, thank God, I chanced to be. My darling, can you
understand what I am saying? Oh, David, try to listen! Don't go, until I
have told you. David--I have read your letter; the letter you carried in
your breast-pocket. But, oh darling, it has been the same with me as
with you! I have loved you and longed for you all the time. Ever since
you called me your wife on the boat, ever since our wedding-evening, I
have loved you, my Boy, my darling--loved you, and wanted you. David,
can you understand?"
"Loved--loved _me_?" he said. Then he lay quite still, as if striving to
take in so unbelievable a thing. Then he laughed--a little low laugh,
half laugh, half sob--a sound unutterably happy, yet piteously weak.
And, lifting his wasted hand, he touched her lips; then, for very
weakness, let it fall upon her breast.
"Tell me--again," whispered David.
She told him again; low and tenderly, as a mother might croon to her
sick child, Diana told again the story of her love; and, bending over,
she saw the radiance of the smile upon that dying face. She knew he
understood.
"Darling, it was love for you which brought the look you saw in the
photograph. There was no other man. There never will be, David."
"I want you--to have--the best," whispered David, with effort.
"This _is_ the best, my dearest, my own," she answered, firmly. "To hold
you in my arms, at last--at last. David, David; they would have been
hungry always, if you had not come back. Now they will try to be
content."
"I wish--" gasped the weak voice, "I wish--I need not----"
"Thine eyes shall see the King in His beauty," said Diana, bravely.
She felt the responsive thrill in him. She knew he was smiling again.
"Ah yes," he said. "Yes. In the Land that is very far off. Not so far
as--as----"
"No, darling. Not so far as Central Africa."
"But--no--return," whispered David.
"Yet always near, my own, if I keep close to Him. You will be in His
presence; and He will keep me close to Him. So we cannot be far apart."
He put up his hand again, and touched her lips. She kissed the cold
fingers before they dropped, once more, to her breast.
"Has our love--helped?" asked David.
"Yes," she said. "It brought me to the King. It was the guiding Star."
"The King of Love," murmured David. "The King of Love--my Shepherd is.
Can you--say it?"
Then, controlling her voice for David's sake, Diana repeated, softly:
"The King of Love, my Shepherd is,
Whose goodness faileth never,
I nothing lack, if I am His,
And He is mine forever.
"In death's dark vale I fear no ill,
With Thee, dear Lord, beside me;
Thy rod and staff, my comfort still,
Thy Cross before, to guide me.
"And so, through all the length of days,
Thy goodness faileth never;
Good Shepherd, may I sing Thy praise,
Within Thy house forever."
"Forever!" said David. "Forever! It is not death, but life--everlasting
life! This is life eternal--to know Him."
After that he lay very still. He seemed sinking gently into
unconsciousness. She could hardly hear him breathing.
Suddenly he said: "I don't know what it is! It seems to come from your
arms, and the pillow--you did put your hand on the pillow, didn't you,
Diana?--I feel so rested; and I feel a thing I haven't felt for months.
I feel sleepy. Am I going to sleep?"
"Yes, darling," she answered, bravely. "You are going to sleep."
"Don't let's say 'Good-bye,'" whispered David. "Let's say 'Good-night.'"
For a moment Diana could not speak. Her tears fell silently. She prayed
he might not feel the heaving of her breast.
Then the utter tenderness of her love for him came to the rescue of her
breaking heart.
"Good-night, David," said Diana, calmly.
He did not answer. She feared her response had been made too late.
Her arms tightened around him.
"Good-night--good-night, my Boy, my own!"
"Oh--good-night, my wife," said David. "I thought I was slipping down
into the long grasses in the jungle. They ought to cut them. I wish you
could see my oleanders."
Then he turned in her arms, moving his head restlessly to and fro
against her breast, like a very tired little child seeking the softest
place on its pillow; then settled down, with a sigh of complete content.
Thus David fell asleep.