'The resources of our art are exhausted,' continued the other; 'nothing
remains but to watch carefully and wait patiently. The chances of life
or death will be decided in a few hours; they are equally balanced now.'
'I shall lose all!--all!' repeated the senator mournfully, as if he
heeded not the last words.
'If she dies,' said the physician, speaking in warmer tones, for he was
struck with pity, in spite of himself, at the spectacle of Vetranio's
utter dejection, 'if she dies, you can at least remember that all that
could be done to secure her life has been done by you. Her father,
helpless in his lethargy and his age, was fitted only to sit and watch
her, as he has sat and watched her day after day; but you have spared
nothing, forgotten nothing. Whatever I have asked for, that you have
provided; the hangings round the room, and the couch that she lies on,
are yours; the first fresh supplies of nourishment from the newly-opened
markets were brought here from you; I told you that she was thinking
incessantly of what she had suffered, that it was necessary to preserve
her against her own recollections, that the presence of women about her
might do good, that a child appearing sometimes in the room might soothe
her fancy, might make her look at what was passing, instead of thinking
of what had passed--you found them, and sent them! I have seen parents
less anxious for their children, lovers for their mistresses, than you
for this girl.
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