Goddess of the sea!
Immaculately white!”
She bent down and kissed him.
“A goddess!” he murmured.
“The golden red of your hair!
The blue of your eyes!”
And then, pressing her hand, he drew her closer to him.
“And now I have you with me.
I see you as you beckoned to me that day in Thessalonika by the blue Aegean!”
“Frank! Frank!
If only I were your goddess, forever and ever!”
She knew that he had become delirious, and tried to pacify him.
“That smile,” went on Cowperwood.
“Smile on me again.
It is like sunshine.
Hold my hands, my Aphrodite of the Sea!”
Berenice sat on the side of the bed and began to cry softly to herself.
“Aphrodite, don’t ever leave me!
I need you so!” and he clung to her.
At this point Dr. James walked into the room, and noting Cowperwood’s condition, went directly to him.
Turning and surveying Berenice, he said:
“Be proud, my dear!
A giant of the world salutes you.
But leave us along for a minute or two.
I need to restore him.
He is not going to die.”
She left the room while the doctor administered a restorative.
In a few moments, Cowperwood came out of his delirium, for he said:
“Where is Berenice?”
“She will be with you in a moment, Frank, only now rest and quiet will be best for you,” said James.
But Berenice heard him call her, and came in and sat on a little chair beside his bed, waiting.
In a few moments he opened his eyes, and began talking.
“You know, Berenice,” he said, as if they had been discussing the matter, “it is so important to keep the mansion intact as a home for my art objects.”
“Yes, I know, Frank,” replied Berenice, softly and sympathetically.
“You have always loved it so.”
“Yes, I have always loved it.
To leave the asphalt of Fifth Avenue and in ten seconds, after crossing the threshold, to be within a palm garden, walk through flowers and growing things, sit down among them, hear the plash of water, the tinkle of a rill dropping into the little pool, so that I heard notes of water music, like a brook in the cool greenness of the woods—”
“I know, darling,” whispered Berenice.
“But now you must rest.
I will be right near you even when you sleep.
I am your nurse.”
And as Berenice went about her duties that night, and on every other night, she was impressed by his unbroken interest in the many affairs which he could no longer possibly manage.
One day it was the art gallery, next day the underground, and next, the hospital.
Although she did not actually anticipate it, any more than did Dr. James, Cowperwood had only a very few more days to live.
And yet, during such hours as she spent with him, he seemed more cheerful, except that after talking for a moment or two, he now invariably manifested a great weariness and a desire to sleep.
“Let him sleep as much as possible,” counseled Dr. James. “He is merely conserving his strength.”
A statement which discouraged Berenice greatly.
So much so that she asked if something more could not be done for him.
“No,” replied James.
“Sleep is truly the best thing for him, and he may pull through.