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"All right then," Johann conceded "Selena it is"

"Then we are agreed," Ian said, thoroughly disgusted by the entire affair

"On what?" Maeve asked, frowning

"The patient, Mother We shall call her Selena"

Maeve's frown deepened "Oh I thought you'd decided that hours ago"

"Her fever's gone"

Ian heard Edith's words through a fog of exhaustion It took a one He snapped up so quickly, the chair wobbled beneath

36

hih his dirty hair and surged to his feet "Are you certain?"

"Aye, Doctor I aned by Hicks

He took the prislass and looked down at it

His knees alnitude of his obsession with her As desperately as he wanted her to live, he hadn't thought it would happen Not really Not with his view of the Alhty

He reached out for the back of the chair and clutched it for support "Jesus, it is almost normal"

"You said if her fever went away, the poor wee thing ht have a chance"

He gave Edith a grin "It's a start, anyway, Edith Hurry up now, let's get this ice off of her and close the s Get her a warhtdress and drawers, and new sheets and blankets"