“I never answered any questions or studied any lesson, you will not care for my empty place. Gerald is getting awfully good; he reads the Bible and Prayer-book every night; every morning when I go in to fix up his room, I find them on a little table by his bed; I suppose he reads in bed nights. He used to be bad and talk dreadful things when he first came; did you ever hear him, Tessa?”
“Yes.”
“But he’s awful good now; he thinks that people ought to go to church, and say their prayers; I hope he will keep it up; I will not hinder him. I want to be good, too.”
Tessa’s needle moved in and out; she did not hear Sue’s voice, or see the kneeling, green figure; her eyes were looking upon the face she had looked down into that evening in January, such a little time since; and she was hearing her voice as she heard it in the night. Had she forgotten so soon? Or was it the remembrance that gave her the unrest to-night? Was she conscious without understanding? And had her Ralph Towne done this? After having withdrawn himself from Sue, was he keeping her from seeing the good and the happiness of marriage with Dr. Lake? Would the thought of him come between her and the contentment that she might have had?
But no, she was putting herself into Sue’s position; that would not do; it was Sue’s self and not her own self that she must analyze! If she could tell Ralph Towne her fears to-night, his eyes would grow dark and grave, and then he would toss the feeling away with his amused laugh and say, “Sue is not deep enough for that! She did not care for me. Why must you think a romance about her?”
Was she not deep enough for that? Who could tell that?
She listened to Sue’s lively talk and tried to believe that his reply would be just; the one most bitter thought of all was, that if she were suffering it was through his selfishness or stupidity. Why must he be so stupid about such things? Had he no heart himself?
Sue was laughing again. “Oh, dear! I must be happy; if I am not I shall be unhappy! It would kill me to be unhappy! I never think of unpleasant things five minutes.”
The sound of wheels near the windows, and a call to “Jerry” in a loud, quick voice, brought them all to a startling sense of the present.
“There he is,” cried Sue, springing lightly to her feet.