Such high matters are not, however, to be lightly settled; and they were still engaged in deciding who was to have the odd sweetmeat, when, looking up from her lap where the treasures were laid in two heaps, Bessie saw Mrs. Dudley standing beside her.
“Come in, dear,” said Heather, “the dew is beginning to fall, you will catch cold;” and as she spoke she laid her hand gently on Bessie’s shoulder.
Bessie turned and pressed her lips to the white soft fingers; then she tossed the two heaps into one, and saying to Lally, “You shall have them all,” rose and faced Mrs. Dudley.
“I saw Gilbert yesterday,” observed the latter.
“Yes?”
The monosyllable Mrs. Dudley understood to be interrogative.
“And I asked him to come down here.”
“Thank you very much; he will be glad to do so.”
“I like him greatly.”
“He is greatly to be liked?” and Bessie, as she said this, slipped her hand, which was cold as ice, into Mrs. Dudley’s.