uldn't you feel better if you were to go to your own room
and lie down?"

Karen made no answer for some time and then only was half
understood to say that "this was the best place." Elizabeth
did not move. Clam fetched a thick coarse coverlid and
wrapping herself in it, lay down at full length on the floor.

"Go to bed, Miss 'Lizabeth, -- I'm settled. I'll see to her. I
guess she ain't goin' afore mornin'."

"You will go to sleep, Clam, and then she will have nobody to
do anything for her."

"I'll wake up once in a while, Miss 'Lizabeth, to see she
don't do nothin' to me."

Elizabeth stood another minute, thinking bitterly how
invaluable Winthrop would be, in the very place where she knew
herself so valueless. Another sharp contrast of their two
selves; and then she drew up a chair to the fire and sat down
too; determined at least to do the little she could do, give
her eyes and her presence. Clam's entreaties and
representations were of no avail. Karen made none.

They watched by her, or at least Elizabeth did, through hour
after hour. She watched alone, for Clam slept and snored most
comfortably; and Karen's poor head much of the time rested in
her hands. Whether conscious or unconscious, she was very
quiet; and her watcher trimmed the fire and mused with no
interruption. At first with much fear and trembling; for she
did not know how soon Karen's prophecy might come true; but as
the night wore on and no change was to be seen or felt, this
feeling quieted down and changed into a very sober and sad
review of all the things of her own life, in the past and in
the future. The present was but a point, she did not dwell on
it; yet in that point was the sweetest and fairest thing her
mind had in possession; her beginning of a new life and her
hold of the promise which assured her that strength should not
be wanting to live it until the end. She did look over her
several present duties and made up her mind to the self-
denying and faithful performance of them; but then her longing
came back, for a human hand to hold her and help her on the
journey's way. And her head bowed to the chair-back; and it
was a good while before she recollected again to look at the
fire or at her charge in front of it.

Karen's attitude was more easy; and Elizabeth excessively
fatigued, with pain as well as weariness, felt inclined to
steal off to bed and leave her door open, that she might
readily hear if she was wanted. But it occurr