'I thought to myself, "Better Sally cry than Helena freeze." Well, is the dress of great consequence?
'Twas nothing very ornamental, as far as I could see.' 'No--no; not of consequence,' returned Sally sadly, adding in a gentle voice, 'You will not mind if I lend her another instead of that one, will you ?' Philip's agitation at the confession had brought on another attack of the cough, which seemed to shake him to pieces.

He was so obviously unfit to sit in a chair that they helped him upstairs at once; and having hastily given him a cordial and kindled the bedroom fire, they descended to fetch their unhappy new relations..