“What will Sue do without you, Tessa?” asked Mrs. Towne.
“I have been with her five days; she cried and clung to me. I do not want to leave her, there are so many reasons for me to stay and so few for me to go. Miss Gesner came this afternoon and promised to stay all night with her. She is a little afraid of Miss Gesner; with Miss Jewett and me, she cried and talked about him continually; the poor girl is overwhelmed.”
“She will be overwhelmed again by and by,” said Dr. Towne.
“Ralph! I never heard you say any thing so harsh of any one before.”
“Is truth harsh?” he asked.
“If it be mild to-morrow, I will go to Sue; I will take her down to Old Place for a month; she always throve there.”
“She will be dancing and singing in a month,” returned Dr. Towne.
“Well, let her!”
“But you must not be troubled, mother. I shall make her promise not to talk to you and go into hysterics.”
“My son, she is a widow.”