her
brain; all the stories of martyrs and captive nuns which she had ever
read--all the descriptions of the horrible tortures inflicted by Rome
upon her wretched victims, came vividly to her recollection, and when at
length she fell asleep, it was but to wake again, trembling with fright
from a dream that she was in the dungeons of the Inquisition.

Then again she slept, but only to dream of new horrors which seemed
terribly real even when she awoke; and thus, between sleeping and waking,
the hours dragged slowly along, until at last the day dawned, after what
had seemed to the little girl the longest night she had ever known.

Her maid came in at the usual hour, and was surprised and alarmed to find
her young mistress still in bed, with cheeks burning and eyes sparkling
with fever, and talking in a wild, incoherent manner.

Rushing out of the room, Fanny hastened in search of Miss Adelaide, who,
she had long since discovered, was the only one of the family that cared
for Elsie; and in a few moments the young aunt was standing at the
bedside, looking with tearful eyes at the little sufferer.

"Oh, Miss Adelaide!" whispered the girl, "I tink she's _berry_ sick;
shan't we send for de doctah?"

"Yes, tell Jim to go for him _immediately_, and to stop on his way back
and tell Aunt Chloe that she is wanted here just as soon as she can
possibly come," replied Adelaide quickly, and then she set herself to
work to make the child as comfortable as possible, remaining beside her
until Chloe came to take her place, which was in less than an hour after
she had received the summons, and just as the breakfast-bell rang at
Roselands.

"So Elsie has taken a fever, and there is no knowing what it is, or
whether it is contagious or not," remarked Mrs. Dinsmore. "It is really
fortunate that we were just going away for our summer trip. I shall take
all the children now, and we will start this very day; what a good thing
it is that Elsie has kept her room so constantly of late! Can you pack
in time for the afternoon train, Adelaide?"

"I shall not go now, mamma," replied Adelaide quietly.

"Why not?" asked her mother in a tone of surprise.

"Because I prefer to stay with Elsie."

"What absurd folly!" exclaimed Mrs. Dinsmore. "Aunt Chloe will do
everything that is necessary, and you don't know to what infection you
may be exposing yourself."

"I don't think there is any danger, mamma; and if Elsie should be very
ill Aunt Chloe w