In the meantime, I give you my word that your niece has forgiven you with all her heart.' She could say that with a clear conscience, just then, and gently disengaging herself, she succeeded without much difficulty in making the Princess lay her head on the pillow, for the words had produced a certain effect; then, leaving the bedside, she went back to the table.
But she did not sit down, and only remained standing about a minute before going back to the patient.
She went round by the opposite side of the screen, however, with the hope that the Princess, seeing her come from another direction, would take her for a different person.

Very small things sometimes affect people in delirium, and the little artifice was successful; she came forward, speaking cheerfully in her ordinary voice, and at once put her arm under the pillow, propping her aunt's head in order to make her drink comfortably.

There was no resistance now.
'You are much better already,' she said in an encouraging tone.

'Does your head ache much ?' 'It feels a little light,' the Princess said, quite naturally, 'but it does not hurt me now.

I think I have been asleep--and dreaming, too.' Perhaps some suspicion that she had been raving crossed her unsettled brain, for she glanced quickly at the nun and then shut her eyes.
'Yes,' she said, apparently satisfied; 'I have been dreaming.' Sister Giovanna only smiled, as sympathetically as she could, and sitting down by the head of the bed, she stroked the burning forehead with her cool hand, softly and steadily, for several minutes; and little by little the Princess sank into a quiet sleep, for she was exhausted by the effort she had unconsciously made.