d round her with something
like melancholy impatience. Her complexion was high and flushed, and her
eyes sparkled with unaccustomed brilliancy.

"It's not right two people should run sich risk on our account," said
Con, looking towards Sarah; "here's a young woman who has come to nurse,
tend and take care of us, for which, may God bless her, and protect
her!--it's Sarah M'Gowan, Donnel Dhu's daughter."

"Think of Mave Sullivan," said Sarah--"think only' of Mave
Sullivan--she's in danger--ha--but as for me--suppose I should take the
faver and die?"

"May God forbid, poor girl," exclaimed Con; "it would lave us all a sad
heart. Dear Mave don't stop here--every minute is dangerous."

Sarah went over to the bedside, and putting her hand gently upon his
forehead, said--

"Don't spake to pity me--I can't bear pity; anything at all but pity
from you. Say you don't care what becomes of me, or whether I die or
not--but don't pity me."

It is extremely difficult to describe Sarah's appearance and state
of mind as she spoke this. Her manner towards Con was replete with
tenderness, and the most earnest and anxious interest, while at the same
time there ran through her voice a tone of bitter feeling, an evident
consciousness of something that pressed strongly on her heart, which
gave a marked and startling character to her language.

Mave for a moment forgot everything but the interest which Sarah, and
the mention of her, excited. She turned gently round from Mary, who had
been speaking to her, and fixing her eyes on Sarah, examined her with
pardonable curiosity, from head to foot; nor will she be blamed, we
trust, if, even then and there, the scrutiny was not less close, in
consequence of it having been I known to her that in point of beauty,
and symmetry of figure, they had stood towards each other, for some time
past, in the character of rivals. Sarah who had on, without stockings,
a pair of small slippers, a good deal the worse for wear, had risen from
the bed side, and now stood near the fire, directly opposite the only
little window in the house, and, consequently, in the best light it
afforded. Mave's glance, though rapid, was comprehensive; but she felt
it was sufficient: the generous girl, on contemplating the wild grace
and natural elegance of Sarah's figure, and the singular beauty and
wonderful animation of her features, instantly, in her own mind,
surrendered all claim to competition, and admitted to herself tha