wever, I became more
thoughtful and steady. Even in that short drive, the idea of riding in
a coach-and-four was losing some of its freshness, and deeper thoughts
had come. I was a little put out, too, at the sight of the fine
man-servant who opened the doors for me and led me upstairs. The
moment I entered Miss Evelyn's sitting-room, she ran up to me, and put
her arms around my neck, kissing me several times.

"'Dear, dear Mary,' she said, 'how very glad I am to see you! I shall
be so happy! I have got a cough; I am not to go out till warm weather
comes; and it is so sad to be shut up and see nothing but the trees
waving, and hear nothing but the wind whistling and humming. But now
you are come I shall be so happy!'

"'I hope you will, Miss Vaughan,' said Mrs. Harris; 'and that your head
will not always be running, as it has been lately, upon all manner of
dismal things. Miss Reynolds, you must do your best to amuse Miss
Evelyn; you must tell her all the news of the school, and the little
misses; I dare say you can tell her many pretty stories.'

"Evelyn did not answer Harris, though she gave her a look with more
scorn in it than I had ever seen her give before.

"Miss Vaughan had shown symptoms of great weakness in the chest--that
is, Henry, in the part where people breathe. She had been directed by
the physician to be kept, for some weeks to come, in her own rooms; and
when this order was given, she had begged to have me with her.

"I believe that I was a comfort to her, and a relief to Harris; and
Fanny, also, rejoiced to see me. I was with Evelyn several weeks, and
the days passed pleasantly. I had every indulgence, and the use of all
sorts of toys; dolls I had partly put aside; but there were books, and
pictures, and puzzles; and when I went back to school I was loaded with
them; not only for myself, but for my schoolfellows.

"Evelyn seemed to be pleased to see me delighted with them, but she had
no pleasure in them herself, any more than I have now; and once, when
Harris said: 'Come, Miss Vaughan, why can't you play with these things
as Miss Reynolds does?' she answered: 'Ah, Harris! what have I to do
with these? I know what is coming.'

"'What is it?' I inquired.

"'Don't ask her, Miss Reynolds,' said Harris hastily; 'Miss Vaughan
knows that she should not talk of these things.'

"'Oh, let me talk of them, and then I shall be more easy!' Evelyn
answered. 'It is because I must not that I am so unhappy.