Eight cousins : or, The aunt-hill

;A SCARE. 251was, and no one knows it but Steve," he said with sucha troubled face and voice that the Doctor had not theheart to blame him.Before he could say any thing more a feeble voice" and with a hasty " Stay a minute justcalled " Mac !to please her, and then slip away, for I want her tosleep," the Doctor led him into the room.The face on the pillow looked very pale andchildish, and the smile that welcomed Mac was veryfaint, for Rose was spent with pain, yet could notrest till she had said a word of comfort to her cousin." I knew your funny sneeze, and I guessed thatyou came to see how I did, though it is very late.Don't be worried. I'm better now, and it is myfault I was ill, not yours ; for I need n't have beenso silly as to wait in the cold just because I said Iwould."Mac hastened to explain, to load himself withreproaches, and to beg her not to die on any account,for Charlie's lecture had made a deep impressionon the poor boy's mind."I didn't know there was any danger of mydying," and Rose looked up at him with a solemnexpression inher great eyes." Oh, I hope not ; but people do sometimes gosuddenly, you know, and I couldn't rest till I'dasked you to forgive me," faltered Mac, thinkingthat Rose looked very like an angel already, withthe golden hair loose on the pillow, and the meeknessof suffering on her little white face." I don't think I shall die ; uncle won't let mebut if I do, remember^I forgave you."