re, Rosa," said she, "only it makes me shiver to
look at your neck and arms. You'll wear your woollen sack, besides
your shawl and cloak, won't you?"

"Nonsense, I'm not going to be bundled up this way, for don't you see
it musses the lace," said Rose, refusing the warm sack which Jenny
brought her.

A rap at the door and a call from Henry that the carriage was waiting,
ended the conversation, and throwing on their cloaks and hoods, the
girls descended to the hall, where with unusual tenderness Henry
caught up his invalid sister, and drawing her veil closely over her
face, carried her to the covered sleigh, so that her feet might not
touch the _icy walk_.

"What! Rose Lincoln here!" exclaimed half a dozen voices as Rose
bounded into the dressing-room.

"Yes, Rose Lincoln _is_ here," she replied, gayly divesting herself of
her wrapping. "I'm not going to die just yet, I guess, neither am I
going to be housed up all winter. The fresh air has done me good
already,--see," and she pointed to a bright round spot which burnt
upon her cheeks.

A young girl, whose family had one by one fallen victims to the great
New England plague, consumption, shuddered and turned way, for to her
eye the glow which Rose called health was but the hectic bloom of
death.

"How beautiful she is!" said more than one, as with her accustomed
grace Rose entered the brilliant drawing-room. And truly Rose was
beautiful that night, but like the gorgeous foliage of the fading
autumn 'twas the beauty of decay, for death was written on her
blue-veined brow, and lurked amid the roses on her cheek. But little
thought she of that, as with smiling lip and beaming eye she received
the homage of the admiring throng.

"Upon my word, you do look very well," said Henry, coming for a moment
to his sister's side. "Why, you'd be the star of the evening, were it
not for _ma belle_ Ella. See, there she comes," and he pointed to a
group just entering the room.

An expression of contempt curled Rose's lip, as she glanced at Ella,
and thought of being outshone by her dollish figure and face. "I'm in
no danger, unless a more formidable rival than that silly thing
appears," thought she; and she drew up her slender form with a more
queenly grace, and bowed somewhat haughtily to Ella, who came up to
greet her. There was a world of affection in Ella's soft hazel ayes,
as they looked eagerly up to Henry, who for the sake of torturing the
young girl feigned not to see