She smiled at him mechanically, but her face relapsed at once into the apathetic expression which sat so ill upon it. Her lustreless eyes fixed themselves again on the fire.
"And what are you going to do this afternoon?" she said, politely. It was obvious she did not care what he did.
"I am going to Westhope on business," he said, looking narrowly at her. It was all very well for Dr. Brown to say she must be roused; but how were his instructions to be carried out?
"I am a great deal of trouble to you," said Hester. "Could not I be sent to a home, or a place where you go through a cure, where I should be out of the way till I'm well?"
"Have I deserved that, Hester?"
"No; but you know I always try to wound my best friends."
"You don't succeed, my child, because they know you are in heavy trouble."
"We will not speak of that," said Hester, quickly.
"Yes, the time has come to speak of it. Why do you shut us out of this sorrow? Don't you see that you make our burdens heavier by refusing to let us share yours?"
"You can't share it," said Hester; "no one can."