For a long time he lay silently looking upon me, first with a vacant stare, then with a fixed gaze of strange growing intensity.

At last he startled me by suddenly raising himself on his elbow and demanding in a horrified whisper, with his eyes still fixed upon me, 'Who is it ?' 'It is Helen Huntingdon,' said I, quietly rising at the same time, and removing to a less conspicuous position.
'I must be going mad,' cried he, 'or something--delirious, perhaps; but leave me, whoever you are.

I can't bear that white face, and those eyes.
For God's sake go, and send me somebody else that doesn't look like that!' I went at once, and sent the hired nurse; but next morning I ventured to enter his chamber again, and, taking the nurse's place by his bedside, I watched him and waited on him for several hours, showing myself as little as possible, and only speaking when necessary, and then not above my breath.

At first he addressed me as the nurse, but, on my crossing the room to draw up the window-blinds, in obedience to his directions, he said, 'No, it isn't nurse; it's Alice.

Stay with me, do! That old hag will be the death of me.' 'I mean to stay with you,' said I.