I had heard no sound, I had felt no touch, but all at once my eyes were open and I knew that I was awake.

The lamp was burning dimly on the table beside my bed.

How my heart was beating! And my arm--how it trembled when I tried to raise up on my elbow and look about the room! "Who's there ?" I whispered.

Was it Rayel standing near the bed, his body swaying backward and forward, or was I yet asleep?
Everything looked dim and weird.

I seemed to be in some silent ghostland between sleeping and waking.