Erminie’s silvery laugh rang out clearly and joyously, and almost startlingly, from her who was always so quiet.
“My dear Mrs. Billingcoo, I never felt so well in my life! Like Wordsworth’s little maid, I feel my ‘life in every limb’!” she said. And she immediately left the room to order ice cream and strawberries, for the refreshment of her guests.
A little later in the evening, when the company was thinking of breaking up, Miss Suzy Mim, watching Erminie, said:
“I am sure Miss Rosenthal is keeping up by great effort! I wonder if she hasn’t been taking ammonia or something!”
“Ammonia!” indignantly exclaimed Elfie. “Erminie never takes anything of that sort!”
“Then what makes her looks so? And what makes her act so? Her cheeks are blooming like roses, and her eyes are sparkling like gems! And her spirits are running away with her! It ain’t natural, say what you will! And if she hasn’t been taking ammonia, or if she isn’t putting all this on, she’s in danger.”
“In danger!” echoed Elfie, in alarm.
“Yes, child!”
“Of what?”
“Fever!”