She was rather above the medium height, and in her whole bearing there was a quiet dignity, which many mistook for hauteur.
Naturally frank, affectionate, and kind-hearted, she was, perhaps, a little strong in her prejudices, which, when once satisfactorily formed, could not easily be shaken.
For Mrs.Carter she had conceived a strong dislike, for she believed her to be an artful, hypocritical woman, and now, as she sat by the window in her room, her heart swelled with indignation toward one who had thus usurped her place by her mother's bedside, whom Carrie was learning to confide in, and of whom even the father said, "she is a most excellent woman." "I will write to Walter," said she, "and tell him to come immediately." Suiting the action to the word, she drew up her writing desk, and soon a finished letter was lying before her.

Ere she had time to fold and direct it, a loud cry from her young brother Willie summoned her for a few moments from the room, and on her return she met in the doorway the black bombazine and linen collar.
"Madam," said she, "did you wish for anything ?" "Yes, dear," was the soft answer, which, however, in this case failed to turn, away wrath.

"Yes, dear, your mother said you knew where there were some fine bits of linen." "And could not Carrie come for them ?" asked Mag.
"Yes, dear, but she looks so delicate that I do not like to send her up these long stairs oftener than is necessary.

Haven't you noticed how pale she is getting of late?
I shouldn't be at all surprised--" but before the sentence was finished the linen was found, and the door closed upon Mrs.Carter.
A new idea had been awakened in Margaret's mind, and for the first time she thought how much her sister really had changed.

Carrie, who was four years younger than Margaret, had ever been delicate, and her parents had always feared that not long could they keep her; but though each winter her cough had returned with increased severity, though the veins on her white brow grew more distinct, and her large, blue eyes glowed with unwonted luster, still Margaret had never before dreamed of danger, never thought that soon her sister's voice would be missed, and that Carrie would be gone.