Clementina and an old maid-servant took it in turns to watch by her bedside.

It was strictly forbidden to leave Henrietta alone for an instant, and Mr.Demetrius gave special orders that her brother Koloman was not to be allowed to approach within six paces of her bed because he was sure to bring cold air into the room, or convey to her surreptitiously something which she ought not to have and behave like a blockhead generally.

So he was obliged to keep his distance.
At last when weeks and weeks had flown by, God and blessed nature helped the doctor to triumph over the effects of the poison.

Henrietta slowly began to mend.

She was still very weak, but the doctor assured them that she was quite out of danger and that the little capricious fancies of convalescence might now be safely humoured.
Madame Langai, in the doctor's presence, asked the sick girl whether there was anything in particular she would like, any food she fancied, any pastime she preferred.
The pale, delicate-looking child languidly cast down her eyes as if she would say: "I should like to lie in the grave--deep, deep, down." But what she really did say was: "I should like to read something.