I--can't--" Suddenly Madelon hung heavy on her brother's arm.

"Madelon," he cried out loudly to her, as if she were deaf--"Madelon, don't! You needn't tell me.

Madelon!" Eugene almost lifted his sister into the rocking-chair on the hearth, and hastened to get her a cup of water; but when he returned with it she motioned it away, and was sitting up, stern and straight and white, but quite conscious.
"Hadn't you better drink it, Madelon ?" pleaded Eugene.
"No.

What do I want it for?
I am quite well," said she.
"You almost fainted away." "I don't want it." Eugene set the cup on the dresser; then he came back to Madelon, and stood over her, looking at her, his dark face as pitiful as a woman's.

"Madelon, why can't you tell me what new thing is making you act like this ?" he said.