The English Orphans; Or, A Home in the New WorldHolmes, Mary Jane
General
The English Orphans; Or, A Home in the New World
Holmes, Mary Jane
Orphans -- Fiction
"Saturate my handkerchief with cologne, and put the vinaigrette where
I can reach it while you arrange my hair," said she to Sarah, who at
the usual hour came up to dress her young mistress for the evening.
"There, be careful and not brush so hard, for that ugly pain isn't
quite gone--now bring me the glass and let me see if I do look like a
ghost."
"Pale, delicate folks is always more interesting than red, hearty
ones," said the flattering servant, as she obeyed.
"Mercy, how white I am!" exclaimed Rose, glancing at the ashen face
reflected by the mirror. "Rub my cheeks with cologne, Sarah, and see
if that won't bring some color into them. There, that'll do. Now hand
me my dress. Oh, isn't it beautiful?" she continued, as she threw
aside the thickly wadded double gown, and assumed a light, thin dress,
which fell in soft, fleecy folds around her slight figure.
"Faith, an ye looks sweet, God bless you," said Sarah as she clasped
the diamond bracelet around the snowy arms and fastened the costly
ornaments in the delicate ears.
When her toilet was completed, Rose stood up before the long mirror,
and a glow of pride came to her cheeks, as she saw how lovely she
really was.
"You's enough sight handsomer than Miss Jenny," whispered Sarah, as
the door opened and Jenny appeared, more simply arrayed than her
sister, but looking as fresh and blooming as a rose-bud.
"How beautiful you are, Rosa," said she, "only it makes me shiver to
look at your neck and arms. You'll wear your woollen sack, besides
your shawl and cloak, won't you?"
"Nonsense, I'm not going to be bundled up this way, for don't you see
it musses the lace," said Rose, refusing the warm sack which Jenny
brought her.
A rap at the door and a call from Henry that the carriage was waiting,
ended the conversation, and throwing on their cloaks and hoods, the
girls descended to the hall, where with unusual tenderness Henry
caught up his invalid sister, and drawing her veil closely over her
face, carried her to the covered sleigh, so that her feet might not
touch the _icy walk_.
"What! Rose Lincoln here!" exclaimed half a dozen voices as Rose
bounded into the dressing-room.
"Yes, Rose Lincoln _is_ here," she replied, gayly divesting herself of
her wrapping. "I'm not going to die just yet, I guess, neither am I
going to be housed up all winter. The fresh air has done me good
already,--see," and she pointed to a bright round spot which burnt
upon her cheeks.
A young girl, whose family had one by one fallen victims to the great
New England plague, consumption, shuddered and turned way, for to her
eye the glow which Rose called health was but the hectic bloom of
death.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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