She spoke so sadly, he laughed. “It’s a lucky thing you sent for the bishop instead of the doctor, or I would have had no wife and would have starved to death. I couldn’t have survived another day.”

Again she laughed out, as she seemed so suddenly to have learned to do. “And I would have stayed away and let you starve to death? You must open your mouth, David, and not try to talk now.”

“Ah, no, that’s enough. We’ve a thousand things to say and plans to make. You eat while I talk. When I am up, we must find some one to stay with your mother. She should not be left alone.” Cassandra paled a little. He was watching her face. “You will be staying up here with me, you know, all the time.”