I tell you it was your doing; but I must reap what you have sowed.

I wish I was dead!" She flung her book from her as she spoke, turned and paced the room, her hands clenched, her eyes flashing, her teeth set hard.
She had not drawn near her mother, or given her one word of welcome or thanks for having turned aside from her journey to inquire into her welfare.
"'Oh, sharper than a serpent's tooth it is to have a thankless child!'" exclaimed Mrs.Conly in anguished accents, rising as if to go, but instantly falling heavily to the floor.
Virginia rushed to her side, half frantic with terror.
"Oh, mother, mother, what is it?
What have I done! what have I done! I know you're the best friend I have in the world!" she cried, stooping over her, loosening her bonnet-strings and dress, and trying vainly to lift her to the lounge, for she was a large, heavy woman and now in a state of utter insensibility, her face purple, her breathing stertorous.
The sound of her fall and Virginia's terrified shriek had brought the neighbors flocking upon the scene; some of the boldest opening the door and ushering themselves in without the ceremony of knocking.
"The lady's in a fit!" cried a woman, hurrying to Virginia's assistance; "you've druv her to distraction; you shouldn't a ben so abusive; I could hear ye clear into my room a scoldin' and accusin' of her of makin' your match fer ye." "Run for a doctor, some of you!" cried Virginia, standing by the couch where, with the woman's help, she had laid her mother, and wringing her hands in helpless distress.

"Oh, she'll die! she'll die! Mother, mother! I'm sorry I was so cruel! Oh, I take it all back.

Oh, mother, speak to me!" "'Tain't no use," said the woman, "she don't hear ye.

An' if she did she couldn't speak.