"It was all ma's folly from first to last." "First to last," echoed Alice.
"And you're not really ill," pursued Sophy.

"You slept very sound all last night." "And snored," continued Alice.
"Only ma will make a fuss, one way or other," proceeded Sophy.

"Now you're to be the forsaken one, and what ma would like would be for your funeral bell to toll the day Bee has her wedding chimes." "And we all love Bee," said Alice.
"And we'd like to go to her wedding," said Sophy.

"Wouldn't you, Matty?
Say, now, if you were going to have a new white muslin for it ?" It was at this juncture that the doctor and Mrs.Bell entered the room.
For a blighted invalid Matty did not look pale, and the doctor, who quickly discovered that there was no broken heart in the case, ordered his _regime_ with a certain dry sense of humor, anything but comforting to the poor little victim.
"Miss Matty requires rest," he said.

"Absolute rest.