Jane drew her breath with so much difficulty that a dreadful terror seized upon Lily, lest she should be suffocated.  She raised her head, and supported her till Esther could bring more pillows.  Esther brought a message from Emily to hasten her return; but Jane could not be left, and the grateful look she gave her as she arranged the pillows repaid her for all her toils.  After a little time Jane became more comfortable, and said in a whisper, ’Dear Lily, I wish I was not so troublesome.’

Back came Esther at this moment, saying, ’Miss Emily says she is worse, and wants you directly, Miss Lilias.’

Lily hurried away to Emily’s room, and found what might well have tried her temper.  Emily was flushed indeed, and feverish, but her breathing was smooth and even, and her hand and pulse cool and slow, compared with the parched burning hands, and throbbings, too quick to count, which Lily had just been watching.

’Well, my dear Emily, I am sorry you do not feel better; what can I do for you?’

’How can I be better while I am left so long, and Esther not coming when I ring?  What would happen if I were to faint away?’

‘Indeed, I am very sorry,’ said Lily; ’but when you rang, poor Jenny could spare neither of us.’

‘How is poor Jenny?’ said Emily.

’Her throat is very bad, but she is quite sensible now, and wishes to have me there.  What did you want, Emily?’

’Oh!  I wish you would draw the curtain, the light hurts me; that will do—­no—­now it is worse, pray put it as it was before.  Oh!  Lily, if you knew how ill I am you would not leave me.’

‘Can I do anything for you—­will you have some coffee?’

‘Oh! no, it has a bad taste, I am sure it is carelessly made.’

‘Shall I make you some fresh, with the spirit lamp?’

‘No, I am tired of it.  I wonder if I might have some tamarinds?’

‘I will ask as soon as papa comes from church.’

‘Is he gone to church? how could he go when we are all so ill?’

’Perhaps he was doing us more good at church than he could at home.  You will be glad to hear, Emily, that he has sent for Rachel to come and help us.’

’Oh! has he? but she lives so far off, and gets her letters so seldom, I don’t reckon at all upon her coming.  If she could come directly it would be a comfort.’

‘It would, indeed,’ said Lily; ‘she would know what to do for Jane.’

‘Lily, where is the ether?  You are always taking it away.’

‘In Jane’s room; I will fetch it.’

’No, no, if you once get into Jane’s room I shall never see you back again.’

Now Emily knew that Jane was very ill, and Lily’s pale cheeks, heavy eyes, and failing voice, might have reminded her that two sick persons were a heavy charge upon a girl of seventeen, without the addition of her caprices and fretfulness.  And how was it that the kind-hearted, affectionate Emily never thought of all this?  It was because she had been giving way to selfishness for nineteen years; and now the contemplation of her own sufferings was quite enough to hide from her that others had much to bear; and illness, instead of teaching her patience and consideration, only made her more exacting and querulous.