"You poor darling: did you think that we were never going to meet?" said Margaret. "I have been so sorry, dear——"
"I knew that you would come to see me, or send for me as soon as you could," said Janetta quickly. "I trusted you, Margaret."
"I have had such a bad cold," Margaret went on, still excusing herself a little, as it seemed to Janetta. "I have had to stay in two rooms for nearly a fortnight, and I went down to the drawing-room only last night."
"I wish I could have nursed you! Don't you remember how I nursed you through one of your bad colds at school?"
"Yes, indeed. I wish you could have nursed me now; but mamma was afraid that I had caught measles or scarlet fever or something, and she said it would not be right to send for you."
Janetta was almost pained by the accent of continued excuse.
"Of course, dear, I understand," she said, pressing her friend's arm caressingly. "I am so sorry you have been ill. You look quite pale, Margaret."
The two girls were standing in Margaret's sitting-room, adjoining her bedroom. Margaret was dressed completely in white, with long white ribbons floating amongst the dainty folds of her attire; but the white dress, exquisitely as it was fashioned, was less becoming to her than usual, for her face had lost a little of its shell-like bloom. She turned at Janetta's words and surveyed herself a little anxiously in a long glass at her side.
"I do look pale in this dress," she said. "Shall I change it, Janetta?"
"Oh, no, dear," Janetta answered, in some surprise. "It is a charming dress."