When she had come down the staircase from her chamber, Anne, who had been
standing at the foot, had indeed started somewhat at the sight of her
rich dress and brilliant hues.

"Why do you jump as if I were a ghost, Anne?" she asked. "Do I look like
one? My looking-glass did not tell me so."

"No," said Anne; "you--are so--so crimson and splendid--and I--"

Her ladyship came swiftly down the stairs to her.

"You are not crimson and splendid," she said. "'Tis you who are a ghost.
What is it?"

Anne let her soft, dull eyes rest upon her for a moment helplessly, and
when she replied her voice sounded weak.

"I think--I am ill, sister," she said. "I seem to tremble and feel
faint."

"Go then to bed and see the physician. You must be cared for," said her
ladyship. "In sooth, you look ill indeed."

"Nay," said Anne; "I beg you, sister, this afternoon let me be with you;
it will sustain me. You are so strong--let me--"

She put out her hand as if to touch her, but it dropped at her side as
though its strength was gone.

"But there will be many babbling people," said her sister, with a curious
look. "You do not like company, and these days my rooms are full. 'Twill
irk and tire you."

"I care not for the people--I would be with you," Anne said, in strange
imploring. "I have a sick fancy that I am afraid to sit alone in my
chamber. 'Tis but weakness. Let me this afternoon be with you."

"Go then and change your robe," said Clorinda, "and put some red upon
your cheeks. You may come if you will. You are a strange creature
Anne."

And thus saying, she passed into her apartment. As there are blows and
pain which end in insensibility or delirium, so there are catastrophes
and perils which are so great as to produce something near akin to these.
As she had stood before her mirror in her chamber watching her
reflection, while her woman attired her in her crimson flowered satin and
builded up her stately head-dress, this other woman had felt that the
hour when she could have shrieked and raved and betrayed herself had
passed by, and left a deadness like a calm behind, as though horror had
stunned all pain and yet left her senses clear. She forgot not the thing
which lay staring upward blankly at the under part of the couch which hid
it--the look of its fixed eyes, its outspread locks, and the purple
indentation on the temple she saw as clearly as she had seen them in that
first mad moment when she had s