Once I thought I loved her (how tightly Emma held me), but she has been sick a long time, and somehow I cannot marry an invalid.

Whether she ever gets well is doubtful, and even if she does, after having seen you, she can be nothing to me.

And yet I like her, and when I am alone with her I almost fancy I love her, but one look at your sparkling, healthy face drives her from my mind--" The rest of what he said I could not hear, neither did I understand Carrie's answer, but his next words were distinct, "My dear Carrie forever." I know the brook stopped running, or at least I did not hear it.

The sun went down; the birds went to rest; Mr.Ashmore and Carrie went home; and still I sat there by the side of Emma, who had lain her head in my lap, and was so still and motionless that the dread fear came over me that she might be dead.

I attempted to lift her up, saying, "Cousin Emma, speak to me, won't you ?" but she made me no answer, and another ten minutes went by.