and I had a long talk about you the other
day."

"Murray always talks--long." Anne was yawning.

"Please be serious, Anne. He wants to marry you."

"Marry me!" incredulously. "I thought it was you; or Ethel."

"Well, it isn't," wearily. "And it's a great opportunity--for you,
Anne."

"Opportunity for what?"

Amy had a sense of the futility of trying to explain.

"There aren't many men like him."

"Fortunately."

"Anne, how can you? He's really paying you a great compliment."

"Why didn't he ask me himself?"

"He didn't want to startle you. You're so young. Murray has extreme
fineness of feeling."

Anne tilted her chin. "I don't see what he finds in me."

"You're young"--with a tinge of bitterness--"and he says you are
beautiful."

Anne threw off the covers and set her bare feet on the floor.
"Beautiful!" she scoffed, but went to the mirror. "I'm thin," she
meditated, "but I've got nice hair."

"We all have nice hair," said Amy; "but you've got Ethel's complexion
and my figure."

"I don't think I want to be loved for my complexion." Anne turned
suddenly and faced her sister. "Or my figure. I'd rather be loved for my
mind."

"Men don't love women for their minds," said Amy wearily. "You'll learn
that when you have lived as long as I have. Get back into bed, Anne.
You'll freeze."

But Anne, shivering in the cotton kimono, argued the question hotly: "I
should think Murray would want to marry someone with congenial tastes.
He hates everything that I like."

"He'll make an excellent husband. You ought to be happy to know that
he--cares."

She began to cough--a racking cough that left her exhausted.

Anne, bending over her, said, "Why, Amy, are you sick?"

"I'm--I'm rather wretched, Anne."

"Are you taking anything for your cough?"

"Yes."

"You ought to have a doctor."

"I have had one."

"What did he say?"

Amy put her off. "I'll feel better in the morning, Anne. Don't worry."
Again the cough tore her. Anne flew to Ethel.

"See what you can do for her. There is blood on her handkerchief! I am
going to call a doctor."

The doctor, arriving, checked the cough. Later he told Anne that Amy
must have a change and strengthening food.

"At once. She's in a very serious state. I've told her, but she won't
listen."

In the days that followed Anne arraigned herself hotly. "I've been a
selfish pig--eating up everything--and Amy needed it."

In this state of mind she fasted--and was famish