I don't mean really die, but go into a trance like death; she looked as if she was in one when I first saw her; I would not leave her, but I would sit by her, and watch her, and watch her." "Her lips would be always fresh and red," interrupted Nancy.
"Yes, I know you've told me before how they keep red--I should look at them quite steadily; I would try never to go to sleep." "The great thing would be to have air-holes left in the coffin." But Nancy felt the little girl creep close to her at the grim suggestion, and, with the tact of love, she changed the subject.
"Or supposing we could hear of a doctor who could charm away illness.

There were such in my young days; but I don't think people are so knowledgeable now.

Peggy Jackson, that lived near us when I was a girl, was cured of a waste by a charm." "What is a waste, Nancy ?" "It is just a pining away.

Food does not nourish nor drink strengthen them, but they just fade off, and grow thinner and thinner, till their shadow looks gray instead of black at noonday; but he cured her in no time by a charm." "Oh, if we could find him." "Lass, he's dead, and she's dead, too, long ago!" While Maggie was in imagination going over moor and fell, into the hollows of the distant mysterious hills, where she imagined all strange beasts and weird people to haunt, she fell asleep.
Such were the fanciful thoughts which were engendered in the little girl's mind by her secluded and solitary life.

It was more solitary than ever, now that Edward was gone to school.