At last her agonies subsided into a listlessness and apathy
little less alarming. She seemed a creature descending inch by inch into
the tomb. Indeed, I fully believe she would have died of despair: but
one of nature's greatest forces stepped into the arena and fought on the
side of life. She was affected with certain bilious symptoms that added
to Rose's uneasiness, but Jacintha assured her it was nothing, and would
retire and leave the sufferer better. Jacintha, indeed, seemed now to
take a particular interest in Josephine, and was always about her with
looks of pity and interest.
"Good creature!" thought Rose, "she sees my sister is unhappy: and that
makes her more attentive and devoted to her than ever."
One day these three were together in Josephine's room. Josephine was
mechanically combing her long hair, when all of a sudden she stretched
out her hand and cried, "Rose!"
Rose ran to her, and coming behind her saw in the glass that her
lips were colorless. She screamed to Jacintha, and between them they
supported Josephine to the bed. She had hardly touched it when she
fainted dead away.
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