"I met the doctor just now and he said Phebe was to be kept perfectly quiet.
Don't let's have any weeping over her.

She wants cheering up, and she isn't quite dead yet, you know, though really the evening before last, Phebe, I heard that you weren't expected to live the night through." "How ridiculous!" said Gerald, impatiently.

"Miss Delano, will you have a chair ?" "Thank you, no, dear.

I'll just sit here on the bed," said the little old dame, humbly, anxious not to make any one any trouble.

"O Phebe, my dear!" Phebe smiled at her affectionately, and Mrs.Hardcastle, who was on the point of leaving when Mrs.Upjohn came in, sat down again to ask that lady about the character of a servant whom she had just engaged.
"I thought I should have died when I heard it," said Miss Delano, patting Phebe's cheek.