ay--dying."

"Magot, mine own, my sunbeam! Do not use such words!"

"It is better to see the truth, Lady. And that is true. But I do not
think it will be over in a month."

The Countess could not trust herself to speak. She went on stroking the
soft hair.

"Father Bruno says that love can kill weak people. I suppose I am weak.
I feel as if I should be glad when it is all done with."

"When what is done with?" asked the Countess, in a husky tone.

"Living," said the girl. "This weary round of dressing, eating,
working, talking, and sleeping. When it is all done, and one may lie
down to sleep and not wake to-morrow,--I feel as if that were the only
thing which would ever make me glad any more."

"My heart! Dost thou want to leave me?"

"I would have lived, Lady, for your sake, if I could have done. But I
cannot. The rosebud that you loved is faded: it cannot give out scent
any more. It is not me,--me, your Margaret--that works, and talks, and
does all these things. It is only my body, which cannot die quite so
fast as my soul. My heart is dead already."

"My treasure! I will have Master Aristoteles to see to thee. I really
hoped thou wert getting over it."

"It is of no use trying to keep me," she answered quietly. "You had
better let me go--Mother."

The Countess's reply was to clap her hands--at that time the usual
method of summoning a servant. When Levina tapped at the door, instead
of bidding her enter, her mistress spoke through it.

"Tell Master Aristoteles that I would speak with him in this chamber."

The mother and daughter were both very still until the shuffling of the
physician's slippered feet was heard in the passage. Then the Countess
roused herself and answered the appeal with "Come in."

"My Lady desired my attendance?"

"I did, Master. I would fain have you examine this child. She has a
strange fancy, which I should like to have uprooted from her mind. She
imagines that she is going to die."

"A strange fancy indeed, if it please my Lady. I see no sign of disease
at all about the damsel. A little weakness, and low spirits,--no real
complaint whatever. She might with some advantage wear the fleminum
[Note 1],--the blood seems a little too much in the head: and warm
fomentations would help to restore her strength. Almond blossoms,
pounded with pearl, might also do something. But, if it please my
Lady--let my Lady speak."

"I was only going to ask, Master, whe