Ethel dried her eyes.
'It seems wrong to complain of one's father, but I have not deserved this loss of confidence; he is trying my dutifulness too much.'
'It will not fail you. "Let patience have her perfect work," Ethel.'
'No, you must only comfort me to-night; I am beyond even your wise maxims, Mildred. I wish I had not come, it makes me feel so sore, and yet I could not resist the longing to see you on your birthday. See, I have brought you a gift,' showing her a beautifully-chased cross in her hand.
'Dear Ethel, how wrong; I have asked you so often not to overwhelm me with your presents.'
'How selfish to deny me my one pleasure. I have thought about this all day. We have had visitors, a whole bevy from Carlisle, and I could not get away; and now I must go to that odious party at the Castle.'
'You must indeed not wait any longer, your friends will be wondering,' remonstrated Mildred.
'Oh no, Mrs. Sigourney is always late. You are very unsociable to-night, Mildred, just when I require so much.'
'I only wish I knew how to comfort you.'
'It comforts me to look into your face and hold your hand. Listen, Mildred—to-night I was so hungry and desolate for want of a kind word or look, that I grew desperate; it was foolish of me, but I could have begged for it as a hungry dog will beg for a crumb.'