He remained so for a long time without moving.
But in the room at the hospital Marcello lay in bed with his head bound up, his cheek on the pillow, and his eyes fixed on Regina's face, as she knelt beside him and fanned him slowly, for it was hot.
"Sleep, heart of my heart," she said softly.

"Sleep and rest!" There was a sort of peaceful wonder in his look now.

Nothing vacant, nothing that lacked meaning or understanding.

But he did not answer her, he only gazed into her face, and gazed and gazed till his eyelids drooped and he fell asleep with a smile on his lips..