Page:Ethel Churchill 3.pdf/269

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ETHEL CHURCHILL.
267

mother's request, she never went near the spinnet; she nursed no flowers for her own room; and when she read, it was slowly; she could not keep her attention to the page. You gazed on her, and saw

"'Twas a pale face that seemed undoubtedly
As if a blooming face it ought to be!"

But the bloom and the gaiety had gone together: there was sweetness and endurance; but they are sad, when the only expression worn by youth.

She was just pausing for breath after a longer speech, even than usual, of the heroine's, when the door opened, and Madame Cecile, Lady Marchmont's maid, rushed into the room!

"Oh, my lady!" exclaimed she: "for pity's sake come to her, Miss Churchill!" and, sinking into a chair, gave way to a violent burst of hysterics.

It was long before Ethel's soothing or questions could extract any thing like an answer, till Mrs. Churchill took the matter into her