dows watching the fading
light, in what used once to be the 'keeping-room' -- Mrs.
Haye's now. Elizabeth had been long looking out of the window,
with a fixed, thoughtful, sorrowful, gaze. Rose's look was
never fixed long upon anything and never betrayed her thoughts
to be so. It wavered now uneasily between her cousin and the
broad and bright hills and river -- which probably Mrs. Haye
did not see.

"How long are you going to stay here, Lizzie?"

"I don't know."

"How is that old woman?"

"I don't know. There don't seem to be much difference from one
day to another."

"What ails her?"

"I don't know. I suppose it is as the doctor says, -- that
there is a general breaking up of nature."

"Is she going to live long?"

"I don't know. He said probably not."

"Well, who's going to take care of her?"

"She is taken care of. There is a woman here from Mountain
Spring, to do all that is necessary."

"Why must we stay here, Lizzie? -- it's so dismal."

"_We_ mustn't -- _I_ must."

"Why?"

"I would rather -- and I think it is right."

"To take care of that old woman?"

"No -- I can't do much for her -- but I can see that she is
taken care of."

"But how would she have done if you had never come here?"

"I don't know. I don't know what that has to do with it,
seeing that I am here."

"You wouldn't stay for her now, if she wasn't somebody's old
nurse."

Elizabeth did not answer.

"But how long _do_ you mean to stay here, Lizzie? -- any how?"

"Till I must go -- till it is less pleasant here than somewhere
else."

"And when will you think that?"

"Not for a good while."

"But _when_, Lizzie?"

"I don't know. I suppose when the cold weather comes in
earnest."

"I'm sure it has come now!" said Rose shrugging her shoulders.
"I'm shivering every morning after the fire goes out. What
sort of cold weather do you mean?"

"I mean snow and ice."

"Snow and ice -- And then you will go -- where will you go?"
said Rose discontentedly.

"I suppose, to Mannahatta."

"Will you go the first snow?"

"I cannot tell yet, Rose."

There was a pause. Elizabeth had not stirred from her
position. Her head rested yet on her hand, her eyes looked
steadily out of the window.

"It will seem so lonely there!" said Rose whimpering.

"Yes! -- more lonely than here."

"I meant in the house. But there one can get out and see some
one."

"There isn't a soul in Mannahatta I care to see."

"Lizzie! --"

"N