The medicine came quickly after that. Barnum was checked by a doctor - one of the finest in all of New York, courtesy of Mr. Hallett - and was prescribed medicine that would make his fever lower.

"Hopefully," the doctor said upon giving Barnum his first dosage, "it will stop the hallucinations too."

"And if it doesn't?" Charity fretted.

"Well," the doctor straightened, capped the medicine bottle, and wiped his coat, "I'm no psychological expert, but I believe it would be in your best interests to approach the asylum about that - should things become that drastic."

Charity cried, but she thanked the doctor and sent him on his way.

Meanwhile, Phillip was starting to feel sick himself, though not in the physical sense. Was he just an illusion? He didn't feel like an illusion, but... could it be possible?

His own worries were swept aside, though, as Barnum slowly gained his strength. The medicine worked and he was sitting up in bed, talking with Charity, promising to play with his girls as soon as he felt well enough.

Things carried on as normal. Phillip did not show himself again, but Barnum never once spoke of him - not even in his sleep. The ringmaster, of course, asked how Charity could afford the medicine she did, but she, of course, did not answer. He let the subject drop and, eventually, felt strong enough to get out of bed himself. He hugged his girls extra tightly that day.

All was well. Phillip observed from the shadows, but he was as content as he could be given the circumstances.

Then came the day that Charity left.