dead--there!"

"My poor Minnie! what _is_ the matter? You're _so_ incoherent."

"Well, Kitty, it's all my accident."

"Your accident!"

"Yes; on the Alps, you know."

"What! You haven't received any serious injury, have you?" asked Mrs.
Willoughby, with some alarm.

"Oh! I don't mean that, but I'll tell you what I mean;" and here
Minnie got up from her reclining position, and allowed her little feet
to touch the carpet, while she fastened her great, fond, pleading,
piteous eyes upon her sister.

"It's the Count, you know," said she.

"The Count!" repeated Mrs. Willoughby, somewhat dryly. "Well?"

"Well--don't you know what I mean? Oh, how stupid you are!"

"I really can not imagine."

"Well--he--he--he pro--proposed, you know."

"Proposed!" cried the other, in a voice of dismay.