'She is not like the same woman, Susan.

She thinks of other people now.' Miss Locke heard me silently, but I saw that she was still incredulous.

She was not sanguine enough to hope for a miracle; and surely only a miracle could change Phoebe's sullen and morbid nature.
The sisters were longing to meet, but the helplessness of the one and the long-protracted weakness of the other kept them long apart, though only a short flight of stairs divided them.
At last I thought we might venture to bring Susan into Phoebe's room.
The weather was less severe, and Susan seemed a little stronger, so Kitty and I hurried ourselves in preparation for a festive tea in Phoebe's room.
She watched us with unconcealed interest as we spread the tea-cloth, and arranged the best china, and then placed an easy-chair by her bedside.
The room really looked very bright and cosy.

A little gray kitten that I had brought Kitty was asleep on the quilt; Phoebe had taken a great fancy to the pretty, playful little creature, and it was always with her; Kitty's large wax doll was lying with its curly head on her pillow.
Susan trembled very much as she entered the room, leaning heavily on my arm.

Phoebe lay quite motionless, watching her as she walked slowly towards the bed, then her face suddenly grew pitiful, and she held out her arms.
'Oh, how ill you look, my poor Susan, and so old and gray! but what does it matter, so that I have got my Susan back?
If you had died, I should have died too; God never meant to punish me like that.' And she stroked and kissed her face as though she were a child, and for a little while the two sisters mingled their tears together.
Susan was too weak for much emotion, so I placed her comfortably in her easy-chair, and bade her look at Phoebe without troubling to talk; but her heart was too full for silence.
'Why, my woman,' she burst out, 'you look real bonnie! I do believe your face has got a bit of colour in it, and you remind me of the old Phoebe; nay,' as Phoebe laughed at this, 'I never thought to hear you laugh again, my dearie.' 'It is with the pleasure of seeing you,' returned Phoebe.