The women, as they looked on Antonina
and looked on him, began to weep; the child resumed very softly its
morning song, now addressing it to the wounded girl and now to the dove.
At this moment Vetranio and the physician appeared on the scene. The
latter advanced to the couch, removed the child from it, and examined
Antonina intently. At length, partly addressing Numerian, partly
speaking to himself, he said: 'She has slept long, deeply, without
moving, almost without breathing--a sleep like death to all who looked
on it.'
The old man spoke not in reply, but the women answered eagerly in the
affirmative.
'She is saved,' pursued the physician, leisurely quitting the side of
the couch and smiling on Vetranio; 'be careful of her for days and days
to come.'
'Saved! saved!' echoed the child joyfully, setting the dove free in the
room, and running to Numerian to climb on his knees. The father glanced
down when the clear young voice sounded in his ear. The springs of joy,
so long dried up in his heart, welled forth again as he saw the little
hands raised towards him entreatingly; his grey head drooped--he wept.
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