At
intervals I was aware of what was going on around me, but for the
most part I was in a semi-comatose state. I realised at intervals
that a medical man was sitting by my side, as I lay in bed. Then I
had a sense of being moved from place to place; and then of being
rocked by the waves. Slowly the periods of consciousness became more
frequent and also more prolonged.
My first exclamation was--'Dead! Have I been ill?' and I tried to
raise myself in vain.
'Yes, very ill,' said a voice, my mother's.
'Dangerously?'
'For several days you were in danger. Your recovery now entirely
depends upon your keeping yourself calm.'
'I am out at sea?'
'Yes,' said my mother; 'in Lord Sleaford's yacht.'
'How did I come here?'
'Well, Henry, I was so anxious to wait for a day or two to learn the
sequel of the dreadful tragedy, that I persuaded Lord Sleaford to
delay sailing. Next day he called at Belgrave Square, and told us he
had heard that you had been taken suddenly ill and were lying
unconscious at the studio. I went at once and saw the medical man,
Mr.
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