It was inconceivable! She would surely fall from sheer exhaustion! But the next moment there was a knock at the door, and in came Emma with bright red cheeks, and in her hand a bunch of red and blue wild-flowers, which she held out to the pale little invalid, displaying by the gesture a brown, well-rounded arm.

Mrs.Stanhope greeted her kindly and gave her a seat near Nora, who took the flowers with grateful thanks.

No two girls could have offered a greater contrast to each other than these two, as they sat side by side.

Emma, glowing, active, hearty, her every movement speaking of healthy energy; and Nora, pale, languid, like a broken lily, that would be wafted away by the next passing breeze.

Mrs.Stanhope looked at them for a few moments, and then, as the tears rose to her eyes, she hastened away into the other room.
"Where did you find those beautiful flowers ?" asked Nora.
"In the meadow, as I came along; it is full of them; red and white marguerites and forget-me-nots, such a quantity! you ought to see them! As soon as you are well enough, we will go and pick forget-me-nots, and later will come strawberries and then bilberries." Nora shook her head.