Day after day when the postman rang the door-bell she looked for an answer to her letter, and day after day she was disappointed, until she grew thin and pale, and her aunts at length became alive to the fact that she was not well. Thoroughly alarmed, they sent for the family physician.
He knew something of the state of affairs in Fourth Street, and of the unnatural life which the little girl had thus far lived, and he determined to seize this opportunity for improving matters.
"The child should live in the country," he said, when Elizabeth had been sent from the room.
"Just what I thought," said Miss Herrick, in a relieved tone. "She will go out to our place next week. It is nearly April, so it will not be unbearable."
"But that won't do. Does she have any playmates there?"
"No, not many."
"I thought not. And does her governess go too?"
"Certainly. We could not get along without Miss Rice. My sister and I are away so much."
"Precisely. And now, my dear Miss Herrick, I am going to speak plainly to you. Unless you send that child away she will die before your very eyes. She should be in some happy home where she would have companions of her own age. Boarding-school would be better than nothing. Send her to boarding-school."