His Hearts Queen | Page 9

golden hair at this information.
"He told me to--to cling to him," she said, in a low tone.
"Of course; and it showed his good sense, too, for it was the only thing
that saved your life, dear child," replied the nurse; "and it seemed as if
he had not one thought for himself, then nor since, for his first question,
when the doctor goes to him, is about you."
"How good--how noble of him! and he is so badly hurt, too," Violet
said, tremulously.
"Oh, but he is coming out of it finely," the nurse said, reassuringly.
"There isn't a scratch on his face, and his broken bones are mending
nicely. He is already up and about, though he looks rather peaked, as if
he were still a good deal shaken up over the dreadful tragedy--for I
suppose you know that you and he are the only ones who came out of it
alive."
"Oh! was every one else killed?" said Violet, with a shiver of horror.
"How dreadful!"
She lay there, very quiet and thoughtful, for some time after that, but by
and by she asked:
"Nurse, when may I get up?"
"In a few days, dear, if you continue to improve as you have done
during the last week," the woman replied.
"Then may I see him--Mr. Richardson? I must see him and thank him
for what he has done. Just think--he saved me from getting even a
scratch or a bruise."
"Um!" returned the nurse, pursing up her lips; "your sister, Mrs.
Mencke, has given orders that you are not to receive any visitors while
you are here?"
"Well, of course, and I do not care to see company much until I go

home; but you must let me see Mr. Richardson," Violet said, with some
show of spirit.
"Well, maybe Mrs. Mencke wouldn't object; you can ask her when she
comes," said the nurse, doubtfully.
"I shall do no such thing, and I am going to see Mr. Richardson!"
retorted Violet, wilfully, and flushing hotly. "The idea of her objecting,
when he saved my life, and when dear Mrs. Richardson has been so
kind! They would think me very ungrateful not to tell them how very,
very thankful I am."
"But Mrs. Mencke said----" began the nurse, objectingly, for Violet's
sister had given very strict orders upon this very point.
"I don't care what Belle said--Belle is too fresh sometimes!" Violet
cried, spiritedly, and relapsing a trifle into slang, in her irritation over
her sister's interference.
The nurse changed the subject, and nothing more was said about the
matter.
Three days later Violet was allowed to get up for the first time, and
after that she sat up every day.
One morning she seemed to feel much stronger than usual, and the
nurse allowed her to be regularly dressed in a pretty pale-blue cashmere
wrapper, which Mrs. Mencke had sent the previous day; then she drew
her chair beside one of the windows, where she could look out upon the
street.
She seemed very bright, and told the woman that she began to feel
quite like herself again. She certainly looked very pretty, though
somewhat pale and thin, showing that she had lost a little flesh during
her illness.
"Now, nurse," Violet said, when the woman had tidied up the room,
and there seemed to be nothing more to be done just then, "don't you

want to go out and get the air for a little while? You have not been out
once since you came, and I am so well and comfortable to-day, you
might go just as well as not."
"Thank you, miss; it would be a pleasant change," the woman returned,
with a longing look out of the window.
"Then go, by all means, Mrs. Dean," Violet said, eagerly, "and stay an
hour if you like. I know Mrs. Richardson would wait upon me if I
should need anything, which I am sure I shall not," she concluded, with
a furtive glance toward the sitting-room, where, during the last
half-hour, she had heard, now and then, the rattle of a newspaper, and
surmised that her young hero was engaged in perusing the morning
news there.
The temptation proved too strong to be resisted, and Mrs. Dean, taking
Violet at her word, yielded, and soon after went forth into the glorious
sunshine, to enjoy the privilege so kindly given.
Violet sat and watched her until she was well down the street, a queer
little smile on her pretty lips; but her attention was presently attracted
by the entrance of Mrs. Richardson, who came to see if she wanted
anything, and to bring her a little silver bell, to ring in case she should
need her.
"How well you are looking to-day, dear," she said, as