A MINISTERING ANGEL. 
67 
sorrow came over me like one tremendous wave^ sweeping away the 
bitterness which had filled my heart against him. Petherick;, utterly 
subdued^ spoke tenderly of the man he had once deemed a friend. 
The subsequent morning I was unable to rise ; fever held me 
fast : they say I was delirious^ but ever and again I recognized the 
gentle nursing and tending of a woman^s delicate hands^, cool lips 
oft impressed upon my burning forehead^ wet clothing deftly 
removed, to be replaced by fresh garments, and all to the tuneful, 
cheering babble in our own tongue, such as a nurse utters when 
soothing an ailing child ; a whispered hope of better health, a word 
or two of prayer, a verse of thanksgiving, and an encouragement 
to try to rouse myself for the dear husband’s sake. 
Who was my ministering angel ? you will say. Gratefully I 
record it is to Mrs. Ewing, the American lady, I owe so much. 
I think we must have remained some time at Luxor, but it was 
pleasant to feel that once more the ^ Kathleen ’ was on her way, 
A brother-in-law of Captain Grant’s, who is connected with a 
missionary society, about this time solicited a passage down stream 
in our dahabyeh : he had intended proceeding to the first cataract, 
but illness attacking him, as it does many in these parts, he was 
anxious to return to Cairo. Petherick could not accede to his 
request, in consequence of my illness ; and we fear that this refusal 
will be deemed discourteous and inhospitable.” 
“THE ^KATHLEEN,’ 
‘ Off the Island op Roda, opposite Old Gaiko, 
“ Noveiiiber 2<ot1i, 1864. 
Sister darling, 
^‘1 hardly know how to write to you— -I cannot nerve 
myself to it. We arrived here yesterday afternoon, and in the 
5—2 
