Page:Advice to young ladies on their duties and conduct in life - Arthur - 1849.djvu/129

Rh ball. William is to call for me at eight, and he would be as much disappointed as myself if I were not to go. As to taking more cold, what of that? I would willingly pay the penalty of a pretty severe cold rather than miss the ball.”

Against all her mother’s earnestly urged objections, Mary went with her lover to the ball. She came home, at one o’clock, with a sharp pain through her breast, red spots on her cheeks, oppression of the chest, and considerable fever. On the next morning she was unable to rise from her bed. When the doctor, who was sent for, came in, he looked grave, and asked if there had been any exposure by which a fresh cold could be taken.

“She was at the ball last night,” replied the mother.

“Not with your approval, madam?” he said quickly, looking with a stern expression into the mother’s face.

“No, doctor. I urged her not to go; but Mary thought she knew best. She did not believe there was any danger.”

A strong expression rose to the doctor’s lips, but he repressed it, lest he should needlessly alarm the patient. On retiring from her chamber, he declared the case to be a very critical one; and so it proved to be. Mary did not