'Perhaps he will by and by; but he said you must sleep first.'

'Sleep--I can't sleep. There's no one but me. I couldn't sleep.'

'Then at least let me try to freshen you up. There. You don't know
what good it used to do my sister Blanche, for me to brush her hair.
I like it.'

And Mary obtained a dreamy soothed submission, so that she almost
thought she was brushing her victim to sleep in her chair, before the
maid came up with the viands that Dr. May had ordered.

'I can't eat that,' said Averil, with almost disgust. 'Take it
away.'

'Please don't,' said Mary. 'Is that the way you use me, Miss Ward,
when I come to drink tea with you?'

'Oh, I beg your pardon,' was the mechanical answer.

Mary having made the long hair glossy once more, into a huge braid,
and knotted it up, came forth, and insisted that they were to be
comfortable over their grilled chickens' legs. She was obliged to
make her own welcome, and entertain her hostess; and strenuously she
worked, letting the dry lips imbibe a cup of tea, before she
attempted the solids; then coaxing and commanding, she gained her
point, and succeeded in causing a fair amount of provisions to be
swallowed; after which Averil seemed more inclined to linger in
enjoyment of the liquids, as though the feverish restlessness were
giving place to a sense of fatigue and need of repose.