For forty-eight hours he must remain in that little room, for any movement would only delay his recovery." "Then I shall stay here to nurse him," cried Melissa, eagerly.

But Galenus replied, decisively: "That must not be if he is to get well.

The presence of a woman for whom the sufferer's heart is on fire is as certain to aggravate the fever as the scent of incense.

Besides, child, this is no place for such as you." Her head drooped sadly, but he nodded to her cheeringly as he added: "Ptolemaeus, who is worthy of your entire confidence, speaks of you as a girl of much sense, and you will surely not do anything to spoil my work, which was not easy.

However, I must say farewell; other sick require my care." He held out his hand, but, seeing her eyes fixed on his and glittering through tears, he asked her name and family.