CHAPTER XVIII.
After some little time the doctor's genial voice, slightly tremulous from kindly emotion, roused me from my grief-stricken attitude.
"Monsieur, permit me to persuade you to come away.

Poor little child! she is free from pain now.

Her fancy that you were her father was a fortunate delusion for her.

It made her last moments happy.

Pray come with me--I can see this has been a shock to your feelings." Reverently I laid the fragile corpse back on the yet warm pillows.