"
"Is she as pretty as she used to be?"
"Oh yes--prettier, I think. She is a lovely little creature: having her
so much with me is one of my greatest treats. Alex tries to think that
she looks a little as I used to. But that is a compliment so great, that
I dare not appropriate it."
Dr. Carr stooped and kissed Cousin Helen as if he could not help it. "My
_dear_ child," he said. That was all; but something in the tone made
Katy curious.
"Papa," she said, after dinner, "who is Alex, that you and Cousin Helen
were talking about?"
"Why, Katy? What makes you want to know?"
"I can't exactly tell--only Cousin Helen looked so;--and you kissed
her;--and I thought perhaps it was something interesting."
"So it is," said Dr. Carr, drawing her on to his knee. "I've a mind to
tell you about it, Katy, because you're old enough to see how beautiful
it is, and wise enough (I hope) not to chatter or ask questions. Alex is
the name of somebody who, long ago, when Cousin Helen was well and
strong, she loved, and expected to marry."
"Oh! why didn't she?" cried Katy.
"She met with a dreadful accident," continued Dr. Carr. "For a long time
they thought she would die.
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