She nursed her with a passion of faithfulness that made
the other sisters remonstrate.

"You'll wear yourself out, Athalia; you haven't had your clothes
off for three days and nights!"

"The Lord has upheld me, and His right hand has sustained me,"
Athalia quoted, with an uplifted look.

"Yee," old Jane assented, "but He likes sense, Athalia, and there
ain't any reason why two of us shouldn't take turns settin'
up with her tonight."

"This is my service," Athalia said, smiling joyously.

Eldress Hannah, lying with closed eyes, said, suddenly:
"Athalia, don't be foolish and conceited. You go right along
to your bed; Jane and Mary'll look after me."

It took Athalia a perceptible minute to get herself in hand
sufficiently to say, meekly, "Yee, Eldress." When she had shut
the door behind her with perhaps something more than Shaker
emphasis, the Eldress opened her eyes and smiled at old Jane.
"She's smart," she said.

"Yee," said Sister Jane; and there was a little chuckle.

The sick woman closed her eyes again and sighed.
"What a nurse Lydia was!" she said; and added, suddenly:
"How is Nathan getting along with Lewis? There isn't much