who knew but too well
the length of Henrietta's moments, and who had just, by means of a great
effort, succeeded in making herself take interest in the book.

Henrietta gave it to her, and darted off. The door of Fred's room was
ajar, and she entered. Aunt Geoffrey, Bennet, and Judith were standing
round the bed, her aunt sponging away the blood that was flowing from
Frederick's temples. His eyes were closed, and he now and then gave long
gasping sighs of oppression and faintness. "Leeches!" thought Henrietta,
as she started with consternation and displeasure. "This is pretty
strong! Without telling me or mamma! Well, this is what I call doing
something with him indeed."

She advanced to the table, but no one saw her for more than a minute,
till at last Aunt Geoffrey stepped quickly up to it in search of some
bottle.

"Let me do something," said Henrietta, catching up the bottle that she
thought likely to be the right one.

Her aunt looked vexed, and answered in a low quick tone, "You had better
stay with your mamma."

"But why are you doing this? Is he worse? Is Mr. Philip Carey here? Has
he ordered it?"

"He is not come yet. My dear, I cannot talk to you: I should be much
obliged if you would go back to your mamma."

Aunt Geoffrey went back to Fred, but a few minutes after she looked
up and still saw Henrietta standing by the table. She came up to her,
"Henrietta, you are of no use here; every additional person oppresses
him; your mamma must be kept tranquil. Why will you stay?"

"I was just going," said Henrietta, taking this hurrying as an
additional offence, and walking off in a dignified way.

It was hard to say what had affronted her most, the proceeding itself,
the neglect, or the commands which Aunt Geoffrey had presumed to
lay upon her, and away she went to her mamma, a great deal too much
displeased, and too distrustful to pay the smallest attention to any
precautions which her aunt might have tried to impress upon her.

"Well!" asked her mother anxiously.

"She would not let me stay," answered Henrietta. "She has been putting
on leeches."

"Leeches!" exclaimed her mother. "He must be much worse. Poor fellow! Is
Mr. Carey here?"

"No, that is the odd thing."

"Has he not been sent for?"

"I am sure I don't know. Aunt Geoffrey seems to like to do things in her
own way."

"It must be very bad indeed if she cannot venture to wait for him!" said
Mrs. Frederick Langford, much alarmed.

"And