Butinhispulsetherewasnothrob，Noronhislips。onedyingsob；Sigh，norword，norstrugglingbreathHeraldedhiswaytodeath。SiegeofCorinth。Mybrainrunsthiswayandthatway；’twillnotfixOnaughtbutvengeance。DukeofGuise。ImustnowgobacktoanhourortwobeforeMaryandherfriendspartedforthenight。Itmightbeabouteighto’clockthatevening，andthethreeMissCarsonsweresittingintheirfather’sdrawing-room。Hewasasleepinthedining-room，inhisowncomfortablechair。MrsCarsonwasaswasusualwithher，whennoparticularexcitementwasgoingonverypoorly，andsittingup-stairsinherdressing-room，indulgingintheluxuryofaheadache。Shewasnotwell，certainly。“Windinthehead，“theservantscalledit。Butitwasbutthenaturalconsequenceofthestateofmentalandbodilyidlenessinwhichshewasplaced。Withouteducationenoughtovaluetheresourcesofwealthandleisure，shewassocircumstancedastocommandboth。Itwouldhavedonehermoregoodthanalltheetherandsal-volatileshewasdailyinthehabitofswallowing，ifshemighthavetakentheworkofoneofherownhousemaidsforaweek；madebeds，rubbedtables，shakencarpets，andgoneoutintothefreshmorningair，withoutalltheparaphernaliaofshawl，cloak，boa，furboots，bonnet，andveil，inwhichshewasequippedbeforesettingoutforan“airing，“inthecloselyshut-upcarriage。Sothethreegirlswerebythemselvesinthecomfortable，elegant，well-lighteddrawing-room；and，likemanysimilarly-situatedyoungladies，theydidnotexactlyknowwhattodotowhileawaythetimeuntilthetea-hour。
Theeldertwohadbeenatadancing-partythenightbefore，andwerelistlessandsleepyinconsequence。Onetriedtoread“Emerson’sEssays，“andfellasleepintheattempt；theotherwasturningoveraparcelofnewsongs，inordertoselectwhatsheliked。Amy，theyoungest，wascopyingsomemanuscriptmusic。Theairwasheavywiththefragranceofstrongly-scentedflowers，whichsentouttheirnightodoursfromanadjoiningconservatory。Theclockonthechimney-piecechimedeight。Sophythesleepingsister
startedupatthesound。“Whato’clockisthat？“sheasked。“Eight，“saidAmy。“Oh，dear!howtiredIam!IsHarrycomein？Teawillrouseoneupalittle。
Areyounotwornout，Helen？““Yes；Iamtiredenough。Oneisgoodfornothingthedayafteradance。
YetIdon’tfeelwearyatthetime；Isupposeitisthelatenessofthehours。““Andyet，howcoulditbemanagedotherwise？Somanydon’tdinetillfiveorsix，thatonecannotbeginbeforeeightornine；andthenittakesalongtimetogetintothespiritoftheevening。Itisalwaysmorepleasantaftersupperthanbefore。““Well，I’mtootiredto-nighttoreformtheworldinthematterofdancesorballs。Whatareyoucopying，Amy？““OnlythatlittleSpanishairyousing，’Quienquiera。’““Whatareyoucopyingitfor？“askedHelen。“Harryaskedmetodoitforhimthismorningatbreakfast-time——forMissRichardson，hesaid。““ForJaneRichardson!“saidSophy，asifanewideawerereceivingstrengthinhermind。“DoyouthinkHarrymeansanythingbyhisattentiontoher？“askedHelen。“Nay，Idonotknowanythingmorethanyoudo；Icanonlyobserveandconjecture。