She went about the house like a shadow, scarcely ever speaking or being spoken to.

She made no complaint, and seldom shed tears now; but seemed to have lost her interest in everything and to be sinking into a kind of apathy.
"I wish," said Mrs.Dinsmore one day, as Elsie passed out into the garden, "that Horace had sent that child to boarding-school, and stayed at home himself.

Your father says he needs him, and as to her--she has grown so melancholy of late, it is enough to give one the vapors just to look at her." "I am beginning to feel troubled about her," replied Adelaide, to whom the remark had been addressed; "she seems to be losing flesh, and strength, too, so fast.

The other day I went into her room, and found Fanny crying heartily over a dress of Elsie's which she was altering.
'Oh! Miss Adelaide,' she sobbed, 'the chile gwine die for sartain!' 'Why no, Fanny,' I said, 'what makes you think so?
she is not sick.' But she shook her head, saying, 'Just look a here, Miss Adelaide,' showing me how much she was obliged to take the dress in to make it fit, and then she told me Elsie had grown so weak that the least exertion overcame her.

I think I must write to Horace." "Oh, nonsense, Adelaide!" said her mother, "I wouldn't trouble him about it.