It was an illusion, no doubt, a false dawn such as men see in the tropics, only to be followed by a darker night; but while it lasted it was the dawn for all that.

It was a faint, sweet breath of happiness, and every instinct of her heart told her that it was innocent.

She would have, been contented to watch over him thus, in his sleep, for ever, seeing that he too was momentarily beyond suffering.
It seemed, indeed, as if it might be long before any change came; his breathing was a little heavy, but was regular as that of a sleeping animal; his colour was even and not very pale; his eyes were quite shut and the eyelids did not quiver nor twitch.

The tremendous drug had brought perfect calm and rest after a shock that would have temporarily shattered the nerves of the strongest man.

Then, too, there was nothing to be seen and there was nothing in the room to suggest the terrible injury that was hidden under the white coverlet--nothing but the lingering odour of iodoform, to which the nun was so well used that she never noticed it.
Hour after hour she sat motionless on the chair, her eyes scarcely ever turning from his face.