"She is ill," say I, lamentably, drawing a portrait in lamp-black and Indian-ink of the whole family; "we are all ill—Barbara is ill!"
"Poor Barbara!"
"She has got a headache."
"Poor Barbara!"
"And I have got a heartache," say I, more for the sake of preserving the harmony of my sketch, and for making a pendant to Barbara, than because the phrase accurately describes my state.
"Poor you!"
"Poor me, indeed!" cry I, with emphasis, and to this day I cannot make up my mind whether the ejaculation were good grammar or no.
"I have had such bad news," I continue, feeling, as usual, a sensible relief from the communication of my grief. "Roger is not coming back!"
"Not at all?"
The words are the same as those employed by Mrs. Huntley; but there is much more alacrity and liveliness in the tone.