In the meantime, however, Mrs.Bellairs guessed nothing of the result of her kindness; for Lucia, feeling how short a time might separate her for ever from this dear friend, was more affectionate than usual in her manner, and had sometimes a wistful look in her beautiful eyes, which might mean sorrow, either past or future, but had no shadow of irritation.
Mr.Strafford came up to Cacouna twice during Christian's imprisonment.
The first time he found no particular change.

A low fever still seemed to hang about the prisoner, and his passionate longing for the free air to be his strongest feeling.

There was no improvement mentally.

His brain, once cultivated and active, far beyond the standard of his race, seemed quite dead; it was impossible to make him understand either the past or future, his crime (if he were guilty), or his probable punishment.

In spite of the feeling against him, there were charitable men in Cacouna who would gladly have done what they could to befriend him, but literally nothing could be done.