hile."

The girl sat down, and went on talking while the others were eating.
Pinky had emptied her glass of sangaree before she was half through with
her oysters, and kept urging Flora to drink.

"Don't be afraid of it, dear," she said, in a kind, persuasive way;
"there's hardly a thimbleful of wine in the whole glass. It will soothe
your nerves, and make you feel ever so much better."

There was something in the taste of the sangaree that Flora did not
like--a flavor that was not of wine. But urged repeatedly by her
companion, whose empty glass gave her encouragement and confidence, she
sipped and drank until she had taken the whole of it. By this time she
was beginning to have a sense of fullness and confusion in the head, and
to feel oppressed and uncomfortable. Her appetite suddenly left her, and
she laid down her knife and fork and leaned her head upon her hand.

"What's the matter?" asked Pinky.

"Nothing," answered the girl; "only my head feels a little strangely. It
will pass off in a moment."

"Riding in the cars, maybe," said Pinky. "I always feel bad after being
in the cars; it kind of stirs me up."

Flora sat very quietly at the table, still resting her head upon
her hands. Pinky and the girl who had joined them exchanged looks of
intelligence. The former had drawn her veil partly aside, yet concealing
as much as possible the bruises on her face.

"My! but you're battered!" exclaimed Miss Peter, in a whisper that was
unheard by Flora.

Pinky only answered by a grimace. Then she said to Flora, with
well-affected concern,

"I'm afraid you are ill, dear? How do you feel?"

"I don't know," answered the poor girl, in a voice that betrayed great
anxiety, if not alarm. "It came over me all at once. I'm afraid that
wine was too strong; I am not used to taking anything."

"Oh dear, no! it wasn't that. I drank a glass, and don't feel it any
more than if it had been water."

"Let's go," said Flora, starting up. "Mrs. Bray must be home by this
time."

"All right, if you feel well enough," returned Pinky, rising at the same
time.

"Oh dear! how my head swims!" exclaimed Flora, putting both hands to
her temples. She stood for a few moments in an uncertain attitude, then
reached out in a blind, eager way.

Pinky drew quickly to her side, and put one arm about her waist.

"Come," she said, "the air is too close for you here;" and with the
assistance of the girl who had joined them, she steadied Flora d