The local doctor, a very sagacious man, in whom Ralph had secretly more confidence than in his distinguished colleague, was constantly in attendance, and Sir Matthew Hope came back several times.

Mr.Touchett was much of the time unconscious; he slept a great deal; he rarely spoke.

Isabel had a great desire to be useful to him and was allowed to watch with him at hours when his other attendants (of whom Mrs.Touchett was not the least regular) went to take rest.

He never seemed to know her, and she always said to herself "Suppose he should die while I'm sitting here;" an idea which excited her and kept her awake.

Once he opened his eyes for a while and fixed them upon her intelligently, but when she went to him, hoping he would recognise her, he closed them and relapsed into stupor.
The day after this, however, he revived for a longer time; but on this occasion Ralph only was with him.