Helen glided behind my chair, and laid her hand on my shoulder; I shook it off.
"What is the matter, Cass ?" "I am going away from Char--school." "We are all going; but not to-night." "I am going to-night." "So you shall, dear; but wait till after supper." "Do you think, Helen, that I shall ever have consumption ?" fumbling for my handkerchief, forgetting in whose possession it was.

Charles came in at that instant, and I remembered that he had it.
"What on earth has happened to you?
Oh!" she exclaimed, as I looked at her.

"You were out there with Morgeson and Ben Somers," she whispered; "something has occurred; what is it ?" "You shall never know; never--never--never." "Cassandra, that man is a devil." "I like devils." "The same blood rages in both of you." "It's mulled wine,--thick and stupid." "Nonsense." "Will there be tea, at supper ?" "You shall have some." "Ask Ben to order it." "Heaven forgive us all, Cassandra!" "Remember the tea." Charles stood near his wife; wherever she moved afterwards he moved.
I saw it, and felt that it was the shadow of something which would follow.
At last the time came for us to return.

Helen had plied me with tea, and was otherwise watchful, but scarcely spoke.
"It is an age," I said, "since I left Rosville." She raised her eyebrows merely, and asked me if I would have more tea.
"In my room," I thought, "I shall find myself again." And as I opened my door, it welcomed me with so friendly and silent an aspect, that I betrayed my grief, and it covered my misery as with a cloak..