ittle dreaming of the bitter tears and
sleepless nights which had early blanched her cousin's hair to its
present whiteness.

For several winters Lucy had been in the habit of giving a large
party, and as she had heard that St. Leon was soon going South, she
felt anxious to have it take place ere he left town. But what should
she do with Berintha, who showed no indications of leaving, though
Lizzie was much better?

"I declare," said she to herself, "that woman is enough to worry the
life out of me. I'll speak to Liz about it this very day."

Accordingly, that afternoon, when alone with her sister, she said,
"Lizzie, is it absolutely necessary that Berintha should stay here any
longer, to tuck you up, and feed you sage tea through a straw?"

Lizzie looked inquiringly at her sister, who continued: "To tell you
the truth, I'm tired of having her around, and must manage some way to
get rid of her before next week, for I mean to have a party Thursday
night."

Lizzie's eyes now opened in astonishment, as she exclaimed, "A party!
oh, Lucy, wait until I get well."

"You'll be able by that time to come down-stairs in your crimson
morning-gown, which becomes you so well," answered Lucy.

"But father's away," rejoined Lizzie; to which Lucy replied:

"So much the better, for now I shan't be obliged to ask any old
things. I told him I meant to have it while he was gone, for you know
he hates parties. But what shall I do with Berintha?"

"Why, what possible harm can she do?" asked Lizzie. "She would enjoy
it very much, I know; for in spite of her oddities, she likes
society."

"Well, suppose she does; nobody wants her round, prating about white
hairs and mercy knows what. Come, you tell her you don't need her
services any longer--that's a good girl."

There was a look of mischief in Lizzie's eye, and a merry smile on her
lip, as she said, "Why, don't you know that father has invited her to
spend the winter, and she has accepted the invitation?"

"Invited her to spend the winter!" repeated Lucy, while the tears
glittered in her bright eyes. "What does he mean?"

"Why," answered Lizzie, "it is very lonely at Cousin John's, and his
wife makes more of a servant of Berintha than she does a companion, so
father, out of pity, asked her to stay with us, and she showed her
good taste by accepting."

"I'll hang myself in the woodshed before spring--see if I don't!" and
burying her face in her hands, Lucy wept aloud, while Li