He made an impetuous dash forward, caught her in his arms, strained her to his heart, and covered her face with kisses, before he perceived her condition.
Then he lifted the lifeless form, hurried with it across the room and laid it on the bed, crushing the orange blossoms on the beautiful bridal dress, in careless disregard of everything but his sweetheart, and crying out in dismay:
"Oh, auntie! she has fainted! I took her too suddenly by surprise! And oh! my darling has fainted for joy!"
"Dear Leonidas, leave her to me. You know your room, dear boy! Go to it and call for whatever you want. Jake will wait on you as before you went away," said Mrs. Force, gently putting the young officer aside and taking his place next her daughter.
"But Odalite? I--I feel so worried about Odalite!" urged Le.
"Oh, she will rally soon! But you see, dear, we must remove her tight clothing, and you must leave the room."
"Oh, I see," assented the youth, and he went out.
Wynnette and Elva were waiting for him in the upper hall. They had held council together and decided not to tell him anything about Col. Anglesea's and Odalite's engagement.
"For," said canny Wynnette, "perhaps now that Le has come back Odalite may return to her first love."
Now as soon as Le appeared in the hall the two children fell upon him with the most extravagant welcomes and caresses, and, refusing to be shaken off, went up with him to his room.
In the meanwhile, in her bedchamber, Mrs. Force was doing all that she could to restore her daughter.
In a little while Odalite opened her eyes and fixed them full of unutterable anguish and reproach upon her mother's bending face.
She did not mean to do so. It was the first involuntary expression of her waking consciousness.
"Oh, do not look at me so, my child! You will break my heart!" moaned Elfrida Force.
Odalite took her mother's hand and kissed it tenderly; then closed her eyes and turned away her head.
"Let no one tell him, mother, until I see him again. I must be the one to tell him."
"Oh, Odalite! Oh, my child! Would you--would you----" began the lady, in alarm; but her daughter hastened to allay her fears.
"No, mother, I would not! But send every one from the room so that we may talk together," she whispered.