We girls did not see any more of our cousin Kate that day; but our young interest was deeply excited, and somehow, perhaps, fostered by dark hints dropped by Sally--who was a blighted flower, having been crossed in a love affair with the horse-keeper at a neighbouring farm--we girls got to think of our cousin's illness as a kind of mystery connected in some way, how we did not know, with the heart. "Our awe of the sweet gentle cousin fell off the very next day, when we took possession of her, and led her round our dear old country home, with its wilderness of an orchard, great garden, shrubberies, and pleasant meadow. "Her coming seemed to mark an epoch in our young lives, for, seeing how weak and delicate she was, we used to vie one with the other in being quiet and gentle, waiting upon her in the most unnecessary way, like slaves, and always ready to rush off most willing messengers to forestall any little wants she expressed. "This came natural to us; but on my part it was increased by a few words which I heard pass between mamma and papa, mamma saying that she did not think poor Kate would ever grow strong again, but slowly wither away. I gave a great gulp as I heard those words, and then burst out sobbing violently. "`You here, Mary!' said mamma. `Well, my dear, as you have heard what we said, it must be your secret too. Never let your poor cousin know what we think, and never behave to her as if you thought she could not recover.' "I promised readily, and at fourteen the possession of that secret seemed to make me more womanly than my sisters, as I redoubled my tenderness to the suffering girl. "The invalid was twenty-one--a great age in our estimation--and I used to look up to her with veneration, gazing in her soft sweet face and wistful eyes, wondering why she was so ill, and what was the great sorrow that had come upon her like a blight upon one of the roses round our porch. "Cousin Kate came to us in the spring, and the months flew by till it was the height of summer; and many and many a night had I turned my face to the wall, so that Lil should not know, and cried silently till my pillow was wet. For I knew so well that Kate was weaker, much weaker than when she came, a walk across the lawn to the old garden-seat in the shade being as much now as she could bear. "`Cousin Kate,' I said, one day when we were alone, Lil and Cissy having rushed off to get some flowers, `couldn't any doctor make you well?' "She looked at me with a wild strange gaze which almost startled me, before she replied, and then in a way that made my heart beat she sobbed out-- "`Only one--only one!' and then as if to herself, in a low whisper, she added, `and before he can come I shall be dead--dead!'