She was standing in the middle of the floor with an air which gave
the effect of her standing upon an elevation. She turned when
Sophia and Flora, carrying the water-pitcher, entered.
"This is my sister Sophia," said Amanda tremulously.
Sophia advanced, shook hands with Miss Louisa Stark and bade her
welcome and hoped she would like her room. Then she moved toward
the closet. "There is a nice large closet in this room--the best
closet in the house. You might have your trunk--" she said, then
she stopped short.
The closet door was ajar, and a purple garment seemed suddenly to
swing into view as if impelled by some wind.
"Why, here is something left in this closet," Sophia said in a
mortified tone. "I thought all those things had been taken away."
She pulled down the garment with a jerk, and as she did so Amanda
passed her in a weak rush for the door.
"I am afraid your sister is not well," said the school-teacher from
Acton. "She looked very pale when you took that dress down. I
noticed it at once. Hadn't you better go and see what the matter
is? She may be going to faint."
"She is not subject to fainting spells," replied Sophia, but she
followed Amanda.
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