"Her mother? Lawkamercy, no! I ain't worthy to be more than what I am."
"And what is that, my friend?"
"Her servant, poor angel! Her mother is, I am sure, in Heaven."
"Pardon me. I remember that she told me last night that she was an orphan."
"Ay, poor child, a orphan indeed—a orphan of the 'eart," she added, shaking her head, as she became unintentionally poetic.
"I fear my visit excites you," said I, moving towards the door, as the young girl reappeared, and seemed to have quite recovered her composure. "Your cough requires the greatest care, and those open windows——"
"Oh, I should die without air," she exclaimed, while her eyes sparkled; "for there are times when even my own thoughts seem to stifle me."
"La, miss!" said her attendant, warningly, and glancing impatiently at me.
"A strange girl," thought I; "but can she be subject to flights of fancy—insane?"
"If I can at any time be of service, pray command me, though we shall not be long in Britain now, as we soon start for the Crimea."