ng slowly away amid all this
fragrance and beauty. I rang the bell, which was answered by the same
little maid who had received me before. I asked for Mrs. Le Grande.

"She's no better, ma'am, and Missus thinks she'll never be; but, my! we
dassent tell her; she's that 'fraid of death."

"Does she see strangers?"

"There's not many comes to see her, but I'll tell her you're here. Just
step in here, please, and sit down for a minute."

She opened a door near by; but I thanked her and said I would wait in the
garden among the roses for her answer.

She soon came for me with a smiling face, saying Mrs. Le Grande would be
glad to see me, and then led the way to her room.

Mrs. Le Grande was reclining in an invalid's chair, propped up with
pillows, a rich satin quilt thrown over her feet, and robed in a pink
silk wrapper that matched perfectly her exquisite complexion and the
roses fastened in her hair. She received me with a gaiety that, under the
circumstances, astonished me, saying: "Why, how well you look! Your
attack of fever could not have been so severe as mine."

"I was very ill indeed, I cannot imagine how one could be worse and
live," I said, gravely.

"But I shall not be so strong as you for some weeks. It has left me with
a troublesome cough, I shall be well when that leaves me."

I felt constrained; uncertain what to say. Since her recovery was
doubtful I shrank from encouraging her in a false hope, and I could not
tell her that we all thought she must soon die. She soon noticed my
constraint, and began to rally me.

"Is it on account of Mr. Winthrop's absence you are looking so
sorrowful?" she asked.

"I was not thinking of him, but of you alone."

"That is kind, but I am not flattered. I did not think I was such a
gloomy object for reflection."

"I was only sorry to see you looking so frail, and wishing I could help
you," I said, gently.

"If you only could, I would very soon discharge those useless doctors;
they are all alike, I believe; for I have tried each one of them in turn,
and they none of them have done much for me."

"I do not think there is so much difference in doctors as people imagine,
if they but learn the nature of the disease, they all know the proper
remedies to use."

"That is poor consolation for me, I know if I had a good physician I
would be well in a few days; but the trouble with those who have attended
me is, they do not understand my case and do not administer the p