"What makes your ma look so?" said Patty; "has she got the side-ache?"
"No, I guess not," replied little Linda; "but she says she feels bad round the heart."
"My ma don't," returned Patty, thoughtfully. "I never heard her say so."
That was the last Patty knew, till ever so long afterwards, right in the middle of a dream, she heard a great noise. It was a sound of scuffling, and something being dragged up stairs. She saw the glimmer of lights, and heard somebody's voice—she thought it was Mr. Chase's—say, "Look out for his head, George."
"What is it?" whispered Patty. "O, what is it?"
Linda covered her face with the sheet, and whispered, trembling all over,—
"I guess Freddy's sick."
"No, no, no," cried Patty; "hear how loud he talks!"
"O, but he's very sick," repeated Linda.
They heard him in the next chamber, kicking against the wall, and saying dreadful words, such as Patty had never heard before—words which made her shiver all over as if she was cold.