CHAPTER LXXXVIII.
WAITING.
The woman Abel had left sat quivering and appalled.

Every sound started her; every moment she heard him coming.

Rocking to and fro in the lonely room, she dropped into sudden sleep--saw him--started up--cried, "How could you stay so ?" then sat broad awake, and knew that she had dozed but for a moment, and that she was alone.
"Abel, Abel!" she moaned, in yearning agony.

"But he kissed me before he went," she thought, wildly--"he kissed me--he kissed me!" Lulled for a moment by the remembrance, she sank into another brief nap--saw him as she had seen him in his gallant days, and heard him say, I love you.

"How could you stay so ?" she cried, dreaming--started--sprang up erect, with her head turned in intense listening.