As I opened my eyes he leaned over and kissed my hands.
"They thought you were dead once," he said; "but I knew you were not dead--I knew you were not dead." I lay for a moment trying to collect my thoughts.

My head was in tight bandages and something was binding my chest.
"Where is Hester ?" I asked.

Rayel did not answer.

He was not there, but somebody was holding one of my hands.

It was a lady kneeling beside me, her face leaning forward upon the bed.