It was well that soft touch came upon her neck, and that she
understood herself to be supposed to have fallen asleep. The
sympathetic hand did not claim her resentment. Let it lie there,
let it lie.
It lay there, warming into life a crowd of gentler thoughts; and
she rested. As she softened with the quiet, and the consciousness
of being so watched, some tears made their way into her eyes. The
face touched hers, and she knew that there were tears upon it too,
and she the cause of them.
As Louisa feigned to rouse herself, and sat up, Sissy retired, so
that she stood placidly near the bedside.
'I hope I have not disturbed you. I have come to ask if you would
let me stay with you?'
'Why should you stay with me? My sister will miss you. You are
everything to her.'
'Am I?' returned Sissy, shaking her head. 'I would be something to
you, if I might.'
'What?' said Louisa, almost sternly.
'Whatever you want most, if I could be that. At all events, I
would like to try to be as near it as I can.
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