These were the thoughts passing through Janet’s mind as she hovered about her husband’s bed, and these were the hopes she poured out to Mr. Tryan when he called to see her.  It was so evident that they were strengthening her in her new struggle—­they shed such a glow of calm enthusiasm over her face as she spoke of them, that Mr. Tryan could not bear to throw on them the chill of premonitory doubts, though a previous conversation he had had with Mr. Pilgrim had convinced him that there was not the faintest probability of Dempster’s recovery.  Poor Janet did not know the significance of the changing symptoms, and when, after the lapse of a week, the delirium began to lose some of its violence, and to be interrupted by longer and longer intervals of stupor, she tried to think that these might be steps on the way to recovery, and she shrank from questioning Mr. Pilgrim lest he should confirm the fears that began to get predominance in her mind.  But before many days were past, he thought it right not to allow her to blind herself any longer.  One day—­it was just about noon, when bad news always seems most sickening—­he led her from her husband’s chamber into the opposite drawing-room, where Mrs. Raynor was sitting, and said to her, in that low tone of sympathetic feeling which sometimes gave a sudden air of gentleness to this rough man—­’My dear Mrs. Dempster, it is right in these cases, you know, to be prepared for the worst.  I think I shall be saving you pain by preventing you from entertaining any false hopes, and Mr. Dempster’s state is now such that I fear we must consider recovery impossible.  The affection of the brain might not have been hopeless, but, you see, there is a terrible complication; and, I am grieved to say, the broken limb is mortifying.’

Janet listened with a sinking heart.  That future of love and forgiveness would never come then:  he was going out of her sight for ever, where her pity could never reach him.  She turned cold, and trembled.

‘But do you think he will die,’ she said, ’without ever coming to himself? without ever knowing me?’

’One cannot say that with certainty.  It is not impossible that the cerebral oppression may subside, and that he may become conscious.  If there is anything you would wish to be said or done in that case, it would be well to be prepared.  I should think,’ Mr. Pilgrim continued. turning to Mrs. Raynor, ’Mr. Dempster’s affairs are likely to be in order—­his will is ...’

‘O, I wouldn’t have him troubled about those things,’ interrupted Janet, ’he has no relations but quite distant ones—­no one but me.  I wouldn’t take up the time with that.  I only want to ...’

She was unable to finish; she felt her sobs rising, and left the room.  ’O God!’ she said, inwardly, ’is not Thy love greater than mine?  Have mercy on him! have mercy on him!’