Oh, do not be alone." A choking voice answered, "Give me a little while to draw my breath." Rose sank down at the door, and sat close to it, with her head against it, sobbing bitterly.

She was hurt at not being let in; such a friend as she had proved herself.

But this personal feeling was only a fraction of her grief and anxiety.
A good half hour elapsed ere Josephine, pale and stern as no one had ever seen her till that hour, suddenly opened the door.

She started at sight of Rose couched sorrowful on the threshold; her stern look relaxed into tender love and pity; she sank, blushing, on her knees, and took her sister's head quickly to her bosom.

"Oh, my little love, have you been here all this time ?"--"Oh! oh! oh!" was all the little love could reply.