'If you only knew what I suffered while you lay ill! "there is no improvement," they said, and Miss Garston looked at me so pityingly; and if you had died and never spoken to me again,--and I had refused to bid you good-night,--you remember, Susan! oh, I think my heart would have broken if you had gone away and left me like that.' 'Nay, I should have thought nothing about it, but that it was just Phoebe's way.

Do you mean that you fretted about that, lass?
Oh,' turning to me, for Phoebe was crying bitterly over the recollection, 'I would not believe you, Miss Garston, when you said Phoebe was changed, for I said to myself, "Surely she will be up to her old tricks again soon"; but now I see you are right.

Nay, never fret, my bonnie woman, for I loved you when you were as tiresome and cross-grained as possible.

I think I cannot help loving yon,' finished Susan simply, as she took her sister's hand.
That was a happy evening that we spent in Phoebe's room.

When tea was over we read a few chapters, Kitty and I, and then I sang some of Phoebe's favourite songs.