grew fixed, her lip assumed a clayey whiteness, and she fell back
lifeless in her chair.

Harley started from his seat, and, catching her in his arms,
supported her from falling to the ground, looking wildly at the
door, as if he wanted to run for assistance, but durst not leave the
miserable creature. It was not till some minutes after that it
occurred to him to ring the bell, which at last, however, he thought
of, and rung with repeated violence even after the waiter appeared.
Luckily the waiter had his senses somewhat more about him; and
snatching up a bottle of water, which stood on a buffet at the end
of the room, he sprinkled it over the hands and face of the dying
figure before him. She began to revive, and, with the assistance of
some hartshorn drops, which Harley now for the first time drew from
his pocket, was able to desire the waiter to bring her a crust of
bread, of which she swallowed some mouthfuls with the appearance of
the keenest hunger. The waiter withdrew: when turning to Harley,
sobbing at the same time, and shedding tears, "I am sorry, sir,"
said she, "that I should have given you so much trouble; but you
will pity me when I tell you that till now I have not tasted a
morsel these two days past."--He fixed his eyes on hers--every
circumstance but the last was forgotten; and he took her hand with
as much respect as if she had been a duchess. It was ever the
privilege of misfortune to be revered by him.--"Two days!" said he;
"and I have fared sumptuously every day!"--He was reaching to the
bell; she understood his meaning, and prevented him. "I beg, sir,"
said she, "that you would give yourself no more trouble about a
wretch who does not wish to live; but, at present, I could not eat a
bit; my stomach even rose at the last mouthful of that crust."--He
offered to call a chair, saying that he hoped a little rest would