"I guess the little girl will say a good many prayers to God to-night," exclaimed Lily, looking up with a brightening face.
[CHAPTER V.]
LILY'S COUSIN STUART.
A FEW DAYS after this, dear little Lily came to dinner with two bright red spots on her cheeks. She did not seem inclined to talk as usual; but sat very quiet, waiting for Maria to pass her plate. With the dessert there was some pineapple, and this Lily thought very nice. I suppose she must have eaten too much, for in an hour or two she grew quite sick, and lay on the sofa, her poor head being very hot and throbbing with pain.
Mamma had gone out to see a sick friend, and Sarah was herself ill in bed; but Aunt Hatty took the dear child in her arms, and tried to soothe her to sleep. She lay very quiet for a time, listening to the lullaby, and Aunt Hatty thought her asleep; but presently she opened her eyes with a pleasant smile, saying,—
"Don't go away! I want you to stay here two-free weeks."
This was the commencement of a long sickness. When the doctor came the next morning, he said Lily had the scarlet fever.
During all the days and nights the little sufferer was in bed, she was very patient; but her feeble moans, as she lay half unconscious, made mamma's heart ache sadly.
When Lily was better, Helen was taken down with a similar attack.
On the whole, it was a trying winter for the family, though from the parish they received a vast amount of sympathy and kindness.