’Going to die?  Olive, who ever heard of such a thing?  You really must not give way to such fancies.’

‘Well, tell me what he said.’

’He said that you had received a severe nervous shock, that you had been subjected to several hours’ exposure, that you must take great care of yourself, and, above all, have perfect rest and quiet, and not excite yourself, and not talk.’

’Is that all he said?  Then he cannot know how ill I feel; perhaps I ought to see another doctor.  But I don’t believe anyone could do me much good.  Oh, I feel wretchedly ill, and somehow I seem to know I am going to die!  It would be very horrible to die; but young girls no older than I have died—­have been cut off in the beginning of their life.  And we have seen nothing of life, only a few balls and parties.  It would be terrible to die so soon.  When Violet carried off the Marquis I felt so bitterly ashamed that I thought I would have liked to die; but not now—­now I know that Edward loves me I would not care to die; it would be terrible to die before I was married.  Wouldn’t it, Alice? . . .  But you don’t answer me; did you never think about death?’

Then, as the thin wailing voice sank into her ears, Alice started from her dreams, and she strove to submit her attention to her sister.

’Yes, dear, of course I have.  Death is, no doubt, a very terrible thing, but we can do no good by thinking of it.’

’Oh yes, we should, Alice, for this is not the only world—­there is another and a better one; and, as mamma says, and as religion says, we are only here to try and get a good place in it.  You are surprised to hear me speak like this; you think I never think of anything but the colour of a bonnet-string, but I do.’

’I am sure you do, Olive; I never doubted it; but I wish you would now do what the doctor orders, and refrain from talking and exciting yourself, and try and get well.  You may then think of death and other gloomy things as much as you like.’

’You don’t understand, Alice; one can’t think of death, then—­one has so much else to think of; one is so taken up with other ideas.  It is only when one is ill that one really begins to see what life is.  You have never been ill, and you don’t know how terribly near death seems to have come—­very near.  Perhaps I ought to see the priest; it would be just as well, just in case I should die.  Don’t you think so?’

’I don’t think there is any more danger of your dying now than there was a month ago, dear, and I am sure you can have nothing on your mind that demands immediate confession,’ she said, her voice trembling a little.

‘Oh yes, I have, Alice, and a very great deal; I have been very wicked.’

‘Very wicked!’

’Well, I know you aren’t pious, Alice, and perhaps you don’t believe there is harm in such things, but I do; and I know it was very wrong, and perhaps a mortal sin, to try to run away with Edward.  But I loved him so very dearly, and I was so tired of staying at home and being taken out to parties.  And when you are in love with a man you forget everything.  At least I did; and when he asked to kiss me I couldn’t refuse.  You won’t tell anyone, Alice dear, that I told you this.’  Alice shook her head, and Olive continued, in spite of all that the doctor had said: