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Another tear ran down Linnet’s cheek She nodded

"Well, you were like to die," Eliza said, co twice about touching Linnet "You easily could have died By all accounts, his lordship thought you would, at first"

Linnet wished she had, rather than face life with this skin

And Eliza guessed what she was thinking "It’ll get better," she said, rattling out the words "I’m sure of that We’ll--we’ll bathe you in mineral salts, every day Twice a day I’ve never seen anyone who looks like you, which et better Of course--" She stopped

"What?" Linnet croaked

"Oh, your poor throat," Eliza cried "Your voice is just gone"

"What?" Linnet repeated

"His lordship said as how you’re alet this sick and survive," Eliza said "Maybe that’s why I’ve never seen skin like that before"

Linnet closed her eyes, feeling utter despair She had lived, but she was left with this face This skin

"Would it hurt if I touched you?" Eliza was saying

She shook her head again, wearily

Eliza’s fingers were soft and cool "It’s like scabs," herstate of affairs"

"Hoo ho to break your father’s heart, that it will"

At the ht She just wanted to be back in her own room, away from anyone who--

Away froht her hair was like burnished gold

"I’ll ask," Eliza proo He tended you all by himself, you know Kept you alive when no one else could, spooning water into you every hour, covering you et cloths, and then war Piers had alarether She had no doubt he had done everything possible to make her live Piers couldn’t bear to lose, especially to Death

"Froht when they found you in that chicken coop"

Linnet remembered bits and pieces, and what she remembered wasn’t pretty The smellthe smell was foreet you back to the castle first," Eliza was saying "You should see the duke and the duchess now Like a pair of lovebirds, they are The duke wanted to get a special license, but Lady Bernaise ht in the little church in the village Second week now, so they’ll be tying the knot again next week Did you ever hear anything so romantic?"

Linnet shook her head

"I’h," Eliza said She ran her fingers over Linnet’s hand again

"Never," Linnet ain Not like this Notever

"Well, as to never," Eliza said, "it’ll get better There are salves that we can put on, and salt baths, and in a week, old There’s all those crea up red skin I know I’ve seen those We’ll buy some back in London Your father will buy all of thee, by the way, in case he orried at not hearing froine her father worrying about her long silence