Jerrie's talent for imitation and ventriloquism had not deserted her, although as she grew older, she did not so often practice it as when a child; but she brought it into full play now to amuse Maude, and imitated every individual of whom she spoke, except Arthur.

He was the one person whose peculiarities she could not take off.
'I have been to Mr.Arthur's room,' she said, 'but it seems so desolate without him.

Do you hear from him often ?' 'I have only had one letter, and then he was in Salt Lake City, at the Continental, in a room which he said was big enough for three rooms, and had not a single bad smell in it, except the curtains, which were new, and in which he did detect a little odor.' Here Maude laughed again, while there came into her face a faint color and a look which made Jerrie's breath come quickly as, for the first time, the thought flashed across her mind that if what she had been foolish enough to dream of were true Maude was her cousin--her own flesh and blood.
'Maude,' she said suddenly, with a strong desire to fold the frail little body in her arms and tell her what she had thought.
But when Maude looked up inquiringly at her she only put her head down upon the rose-colored shawl and began to cry.

Then, regardless of consequences, Maude raised herself upon her elbow, and laying her face on Jerrie's head began herself to cry piteously.
'Jerrie, Jerrie,' she sobbed, 'you think I am going to die, I know you do, and so does everybody, but I am not; I cannot die when there is so much to live for, and my home is so beautiful, and I love everybody so much, and--' Terrified beyond measure, Jerrie put her hand over Maude's mouth and said, almost sharply: 'If you want to live you must not talk.

Be careful and you will get well; the doctor says so.' But Jerrie's tears belied her words when she saw the palor in Maude's face as she sank back upon her pillow exhausted, while, with her handkerchief she wiped a faint coloring of blood from her lips.
'I have stayed too long,' Jerrie said, as she arose from her low seat by the couch.