I knew he would come back!" And she turned her eyes upon me with a look of bright intelligence.
"Her brain wanders," said the doctor, in a low, pitying voice; "it will soon be over." Stella did not hear him; she turned and nestled in my arms, asking in a sort of babbling whisper: "You did not go away because I was naughty, did you, papa ?" "No darling!" I answered, hiding my face in her curls.
"Why do you have those ugly black things on ?" she asked, in the feeblest and most plaintive tone imaginable, so weak that I myself could scarcely hear it; "has somebody hurt your eyes?
Let me see your eyes!" I hesitated.

Dare I humor her in her fancy?
I glanced up.

The doctor's head again was turned away, Assunta was on her knees, her face buried in the bed-clothes, praying to her saints; quick as thought I slipped my spectacles slightly down, and looked over them full at my little one.

She uttered a soft cry of delight--"Papa! papa!" and stretched out her arms, then a strong and terrible shudder shook her little frame.

The doctor came closer--I replaced my glasses without my action being noticed, and we both bent anxiously over the suffering child.