He did not answer.

I went on: "The Doctor forbade your coming out for several days yet--and the exertion and the night-air--oh, I beg you to go back." "Alone ?" he said in a low voice.
"No, oh no, I will go with you.

Anything, only do not stay here a moment longer; come." And taking his hand (and how burning hot it was!) and drawing it through my arm, I started toward the hall.

He had to lean on me, for the unusual exertion seemed to have annihilated all his strength.

When we reached the library, I led him to a chair--a large and low and easy one, and he sank down in it.
"You are not going away ?" he asked, as he gasped for breath, "For there is something that must be said to-night." "No, I will not go," I answered, frightened to see him so, and agitated by a thousand feelings.