"Well! go bring me some."
The girl went and brought more hot tea and toast, and waited until her mother had drunk the former and partaken of a morsel of the latter. When, in answer to the eager, inquiring look, she said:
"Mother, if I alone were concerned, I would leave this house this moment, though I should never have another roof over my head. But for your sake, mother, I will still fight the battle. I will try to turn uncle from his purpose. I will try to awaken Grim's generosity, if he has any, and get him to withdraw his suit. I will get aunty to use her influence with both of them, and see what can be done. But as for marrying Dr. Grimshaw, mother—I know what I am saying—I would rather die!"
"And see me die, my child?"
"Oh, mother! it will not be so bad as that."
"Jacquelina, it will. Do you know what is the meaning of these afternoon fevers and night sweats and this cough?"
"I know it means that you are very much out of health, Mimmy, but I hope you will be well in the spring."
"Jacquelina, it means death."
"Oh, no! No, no! No, no! Not so! There's Miss Nancy Skamp has had a cough every winter ever since I knew her, and she's not dead nor likely to die, and you will be well in the spring," said the girl, changing color; and faltering in spite of herself.
"I shall never see another spring, my child—"