Once, when the music had ceased for a time, Alice tiptoed into the room, and said in a quiet voice-- "How are you feeling, Will?
any better ?" "A little," he answered drowsily.

"Don't worry about me; I shall drop off to sleep presently, and shall be all right in the morning.

Good night." He still heard in a dreamy sort of way the music, the dancing, the laughter; and gradually there came oblivion, which finally merged into a dream, the most strange and vivid vision he had ever experienced.
It seemed to him that he sat again in the rocking chair near the bed.
Although he knew the room was dark, he had no difficulty in seeing everything perfectly.

He heard, now quite plainly, the music and dancing downstairs, but what gave a ghastly significance to his dream was the sight of his own person on the bed.

The eyes were half open, and the face was drawn and rigid.