These thoughts had just come and gone; but now,
as she recalled them, and was forced to acknowledge the
justness of them, and her review of Alice's face pressed them
home anew— hope for a moment faded. She grew white, even to
her lips.
"My poor Ellie! my poor Ellie!" said Alice, pressing her
little sister to her bosom — "it must be! We _must_ say 'the
Lord's will be done;' — we must not forget he does all things
well."
But Ellen rallied; she raised her head again: she could not
believe what Alice had told her. To her mind, it seemed an
evil _too great to happen;_ it could not be! Alice saw this in
her look, and again sadly stroked her hair from her brow. "It
must be, Ellie," she repeated.
"But have you seen somebody? — have you asked somebody?" said
Ellen — "some doctor?"
"I have seen, and I have asked," said Alice; — "it was not
necessary, but I have done both. They think as I do."
"But these Thirlwall doctors —"
"Not them; I did not apply to them. I saw an excellent
physician at Randolph, the last time I went to Ventnor."
"And he said —"
"As I have told you."
Ellen's countenance fell — fell.
"It is easier for me to leave you than for you to be left — I
know that, my dear little Ellie! You have no reason to be
sorry for me — I _am_ sorry for you; but the hand that is taking
me away is one that will touch neither of us but to do us
good; — I know that, too.
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