“Oh, mother, you are such a comfort; but I must not trouble you like this, and I am keeping you from Hatty.”
“Hattie is asleep,” replied her mother quietly. “Christine is with her; you must come into the dining-room with me, and have something to eat and drink before you go upstairs;” but Bessie detained her “Wait a moment, mother, darling; Tom is there, and I want to speak to you alone. What does father really think of Hatty?”
“He thinks her very ill,” was the sorrowful answer; “it seems a sudden failure. She was much as usual until the warm weather came, and then one evening she complained of palpitation and faintness, and the next day she seemed very weak, and so it has gone on. Your father says he was always afraid there was latent mischief, but I think he hardly expected it would be like this. There was a consultation this morning, but they say there is no rallying power, and another attack may carry her off.”
“Oh, mother, if I had only stayed at home!”
“Don’t say that, Bessie; you must not even think of it; no care on your part could have prevented this. Hatty seemed as well as usual for a week or two after you left, and none of us suspected anything. You are very good not to reproach us for not sending for you before, but Hatty prevented us; she would not have your pleasure spoiled, and it was only last night that your father looked so grave, and said Tom had better fetch you.”
“But is there no hope—no hope at all, mother?”
“I dare not ask the question,” and here Mrs. Lambert’s eyes filled with tears. “Your father looks so harassed. Dr. Morton said she might go on like this for a long time, getting weaker and weaker, or it might be sudden. Dear little Hatty is so good and patient, and gives us no trouble. Now you must not talk any more, and you must be a good child and take your supper; we all need to keep up our strength. I will leave Tom to take care of you while I go up to Hatty.”
Bessie did as she was told, and Ella and Katie waited on her, and then she went up to her own room, and stayed there until Christine came to fetch her.
“Hattie is awake now, Bessie, and she is asking for you, and mother has gone downstairs to speak to father.”
“Thank you, Chrissy dear. I will go to her at once;” and Bessie went hurriedly across the passage.