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BeforeFalconer became delirious He did not rave nor shout, but

he talked incessantly, with his eyes wide open and fixed vacantly, and

his long hand plucking at the bedclothes Nell stole in froh she had proe

nurse, and, sitting beside hiers he beca like a sain Sos, and he huers played on the counterpane as if it

were a piano Once or twice he ht

the color to Nell's face and made her heart ache But it did not need

the whisper of her name to tell her Falconer's secret She knew that he

loved her, for he had told her so at the arden

And as she sat and held his hand, she tried to force heron Drake, and to reh he had confessed his love, he had asked for nothing in return He

had said that he knew that his passion was hopeless, but that he could

not help loving her, that he must continue to do so while life lasted

"I will never speak of it again," he had said "You need not be afraid