cross-legged Campeachy chairs, a rebozo, the
palm-leaf petate. "Ha, Alp!"

The dog lay stretched along the mattress near my couch, and sleeping.

"Alp! Alp!"

"Oh, mamma! mamma! ecoutez! the stranger calls."

The dog sprang to his feet, and throwing his fore paws upon the bed,
stretched his nose towards me with a joyous whimpering. I reached out
my hand and patted him, at the same time giving utterance to some
expressions of endearment.

"Oh, mamma! mamma! he knows him. Voila."

The lady rose hastily, and approached the bed. The German seized me by
the wrist, pushing back the Saint Bernard, which was bounding to spring
upward.

"Mon Dieu! he is well. His eyes, doctor. How changed!"

"Ya, ya; moch better; ver moch better. Hush! away, tog! Keep away,
mine goot tog!"

"Who? where? Tell me, where am I? Who are you?"

"Do not fear! we are friends: you have been ill!"

"Yes, yes! we are friends: you have been ill, sir. Do not fear us; we
will watch you. This is the good doctor. This is mamma, and I am--"

"An angel from heaven, beautiful Zoe!"

The child looked at me with an expression of wonder, and blushed as she
said--

"Hear, mamma! He knows my name!"

It was the first compliment she had ever received from the lips of love.

"It is goot, madame! he is ver moch relieft; he ver soon get over now.
Keep away, mine goot Alp! Your master he get well: goot tog, down!"

"Perhaps, doctor, we should leave him. The noise--"

"No, no! if you please, stay with me. The music; will you play again?"

"Yes, the music is ver goot; ver goot for te pain."

"Oh, mamma! let us play, then."

Both mother and daughter took up their instruments, and again commenced
playing.

I listened to the sweet strains, watching the fair musicians a long
while. My eyes at length became heavy, and the realities before me
changed into the soft outlines of a dream.

------------------------------------------------------------------------

My dream was broken by the abrupt cessation of the music. I thought I
heard, through my sleep, the opening of a door. When I looked to the
spot lately occupied by the musicians, I saw that they were gone. The
bandolin had been thrown down upon the ottoman, where it lay, but "she"
was not there.

I could not, from my position, see the whole of the apartment; but I
knew that someone had entered at the outer door, I heard expressions of
welcome and endearment, a rustling of dre