The Heiress of Mcgregor by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

"I WILL help you with the work, Marion," said Mrs. Campbell, coming down after having put her hat away and changed her dress.

"Thank you, Aunt Christian; I can do it myself," answered Marion, proudly. "Since it is all I am considered fit for, I may as well give myself to it."

Mrs. Campbell took no notice of this remark; but going into the milk-room, she began putting away the milk which Alick and the hired man were bringing in.

"In Scotland, now, it would be you and I who would be milking," said she to Marion as she came out with a pile of pans in her hands. "Milking there is work for lassies, and not for men. Baby and I used always to milk in my mother's time; don't you remember, Alick?"

"Marion doesn't like to milk," said Alick. "Either she thinks it beneath her dignity, or else she is afraid of the cows, I don't know which."

Alick spoke playfully, but his words hurt still more Marion's already wounded vanity-her feelings, she would have said. She did not say a word, but went about her work in sulky silence, till Miss Baby came out of the sickroom with some dishes in her hands.

"Well, Marie dear, how are you getting on? " said she, pleasantly.

"Well enough," answered Marion, shortly, not to say rudely.

"You heard that Therese was better? Have you had a pleasant afternoon?"

"I don't know-yes, I suppose so. Everybody seemed to think it was very nice, so I suppose it was," said Marion.

"My dear child, what is the matter? " asked Christian, seeing that Marion was just ready to cry.

"Nothing, Aunt Christian," answered Marion, "only I am so tired I don't know what I am about. " Marion's voice failed.

"There! Never mind the work," said Aunt Baby. "Go and sit down with Therese. She is asleep now, and won't notice if you go in softly. The minute she wakes or shows signs of waking, come and call me."

"I don't know about that arrangement, Barbara," said the doctor, doubtfully. "Marion, be sure you call me the moment she stirs. Above all, don't let her say a word; watch her every minute, and the moment she shows signs of waking, call me."

"Uncle Duncan thinks I am a fool, as every one else does," said Marion to herself as she took her seat by the bedside. "Just as if I had never done anything for sick people!"

To do Marion justice, she was always ready to help in cases of sickness and was in general a very good nurse, but she did not quite appreciate the importance of the present occasion, and she was thinking more of herself than her patient. Therese slept very quietly for nearly an hour. Then she opened her eyes and fixed them on Marion with a wondering and puzzled expression. Marion did not observe her, being at that moment deeply engaged with the heiress of McGregor.

Presently Therese spoke.

"Why, Marion, is that you! " said she quite calmly. "How did you come here?"

Now was the time for Marion to have shown that calmness and presence of mind which the heiress of McGregor had just been exercising, under circumstances of the utmost danger. But somehow the calmness and presence of mind were not at hand just then, and she could not think of anything to say, except, in a scared tone,-

"Hush, Therese! you must not speak a word; go to sleep again."