“I thought it was in jealousy, and that you know is a sign of love.”
“Oh, if I thought so! if I thought so! how quickly I would set all that jealousy at rest. How soon I would convince my Alick that I care for but him in this whole world!” she exclaimed, fervently clasping her hands.
“Indeed, Drusilla, I hope you would do nothing of the sort. He richly deserves to suffer.”
“Oh, Anna! you don’t like Alick,” said Drusilla, reproachfully.
“Like him? No, that I don’t! That’s the gospel truth. But there is Dick, so good-night, or rather good-morning, my dear,” said Mrs. Hammond, kissing her cousin on the brow and then leaving the room.
“Oh, if I could believe as Anna suggests, how quickly, how gladly I would set all my Alick’s doubts at rest. But ah! it is not so. He has ceased to love me. I am sure of it now—sure of it!”
She struggled to keep back her tears, so as not to distress her child, who was still sitting on her lap and watching her countenance with eyes full of anxious sympathy.
As soon as Anna had left her, Drusilla rang for Pina, and with her maid’s assistance changed her splendid evening dress for a cool white wrapper. Then, before lying down, she superintended little Lenny’s morning bath and toilet, and saw him eat his simple breakfast and sent him out with his nurse for a walk.
Then at last she lay down to take an hour’s rest, if not sleep, before joining the family at the late breakfast.
Meanwhile Anna hurried off to her own room. Anna was weary and drowsy, and with no heavy cares on her mind, was only anxious to find her pillow and go to sleep. But to rest was not to be Anna’s good fortune that morning. She found Dick just come home, looking so haggard and harassed that his aspect terrified her into the suspicion that her “unlucky dog” had been so unfortunate as to meet with some of his friends.