Arthur, set
out early the next morning on our homeward journey. But it was ordered
otherwise. The next morning Arthur was raving in delirium of brain
fever, brought, on doubtless, by the mental torture he had endured. Mr.
Sinclair dispatched a message, informing his wife of Arthur's illness,
and three days later she stood by the bed-side of her son. For several
days the fever raged. We allowed no stranger to watch by him, for in his
delirium his mind dwelt continually upon the past, and no one but
ourselves must listen to his words. Mr. Worthing was very kind, and
shared the care of the poor young man with his parents and myself. At
length came the crisis of his disorder. "Now," said the physician, "for
a few hours, his life will hang, as it were, upon a thread. If the
powers of life of are not too far exhausted by the disease he may rally
but I have many fears, for he is brought very low. All the encouragement
I dare offer that is, while there is life there is hope."

He sunk into a deep slumber, and I took my place to watch by him
during the night. Mr. Worthing persuaded his parents to seek a few hours
rest, as they were worn out with fatigue and anxiety; and exacting from
me a promise that I would summon them if the least change for the worse
should take place, they retired, and I was left to watch alone by my
friend. All I could do was to watch and wait, as the hours passed
wearily on. A little before midnight the physician softly entered, and
stood with me at his bed-side; soon after he languidly opened his eyes,
and in a whisper he pronounced my name. As I leaned over him, and
eagerly scanned his countenance, I perceived that the delirium of fever
was gone. The physician, fearing the effect upon him of the least
excitement, made a motion to me enjoining silence, and mixing a quieting
cordial, held to his lips. He eagerly quaffed the cooling draught, and
again fell into a quiet slumber. "Now," said the physician, "I have a
faint hope that he may recover, but he is so weak that any excitement
would prove fatal; all depends upon keeping him perfectly quiet for the
next few hours." The doctor departed, and again I was left alone to
watch over his slumber. Before morning, anxiety brought Mr. and Mrs.
Sinclair to the room, to learn if there had been any change. In a
whisper I informed them of the favorable symptoms he had evinced upon
waking, and persuaded them to retire from the apartment. When Arthur
again awoke, the