Her dressing-room, though perhaps not improperly so called, was not an exclusive closet devoted to combs, petticoats, and soap and water.

It was a comfortable snug room, nicely furnished, with sofa and easy chairs, and often open to others besides her handmaidens.

Thither she betook herself, that she might weep unseen; but in about twenty minutes her tears were disturbed by a gentle knock at the door.
Very soon after she went, Gertrude also left the room, and then Katie crept off.
'I have got a headache to-night,' said Norman, after the remaining three had sat silent for a minute or two; 'I think I'll go across and go to bed.' 'A headache!' said Linda.

'Oh, I am so sorry that you have got to go to that horrid inn.' 'Oh! I shall do very well there,' said Norman, trying to smile.
'Will you have my room ?' said the captain good-naturedly; 'any sofa does for me.' Norman assured them as well as he could that his present headache was of such a nature that a bed at the inn would be the best thing for him; and then, shaking hands with them, he moved to the door.
'Stop a moment, Harry,' said Linda, 'and let me tell mamma.
She'll give you something for your head.' He made a sign to her, however, to let him pass, and then, creeping gently upstairs, he knocked at Mrs.Woodward's door.
'Come in,' said Mrs.Woodward, and Harry Norman, with all his sorrows still written on his face, stood before her.
'Oh! Harry,' said she, 'come in; I am so glad that you have come to me.

Oh! Harry, dear Harry, what shall I say to comfort you?
What can I say--what can I do ?' Norman, forgetting his manhood, burst into tears, and throwing himself on a sofa, buried his face on the arm and sobbed like a young girl.