"You must call Mr. Axtell, Katie."
"For what? Is Miss Axtell worse?"
"I think so; she will not lie down."
"Do you think I might try to coax her?"—and Katie rubbed her heavy eyelids, open too soon.
"If you think you can."
Miss Axtell had ceased to talk; she had fallen back into the old absorbed state. Katie kneeled down beside her chair, and spoke.
"Miss Lettie!" she said.
Miss Lettie did not answer. Katie put out one finger only. I saw it shake a bit, as she laid it upon Miss Lettie's hand. As when the doctor touched her forehead, she came back to her proper self, and said,—
"What is it, Kate? Isn't it time you were asleep?"
"Don't you know that my mother is dead?" said poor motherless Katie.