The lad looked up at her, struck with the change in her voice, and was silent for a moment or so. "Tell me, Bessie, what it is that makes Mrs. Waring so different to mother?" The sentence was quite shot out.
"How did you find out there was any difference?"
"Find out? It don't take long to find that out! Mrs. Waring don't worry and fluster like mother does, and yet I should think she's got more to worry about."
"You're right there."
"Well, what is the difference? I can hear you all laughing like anything sometimes."
Bessie knew well enough what the difference was, but did not like to put it into words.
"I wish I could come into Mrs. Waring's of an evening!" went on Phill.
"Well, do," assented Bessie eagerly, "and then you can find out for yourself what the difference is. I am sure Mrs. Waring will be pleased for you to come. I'll ask her." Bessie was quite relieved by this way of avoiding the explanation of "the difference."
Thus it came to pass that another member was added to "Love's Hospital." Many a bright, merry hour did the lad spend there.
"Have you found it out?" Bessie ventured to ask him after a while.