Hattie lay on her little bed with her eyes closed. As she opened them a sudden sweet smile came over her face, and she held out her arms to Bessie. “My own Betty, is it really you?”
“Yes, it is really I,” returned Bessie, trying to speak brightly; but now her heart sunk as she looked at her sister. There was no need to tell her Hatty was very ill; the life was flickering in the feeble body, the mysterious wasting disease had made rapid strides, even in these few days. “Oh, Hatty darling, to find you like this! Why—why did you not let them send for me? You wanted me; I am sure you wanted me.”
“Why, of course I wanted you,” returned Hatty, in a weak, happy voice, “and that is just why I would not let them send. You know how unhappy I have always been because of my horrid selfishness, and I did want to be good for once, and I said to myself when Mrs. Sefton’s letter came, ‘Bessie shall not know how poorly I feel, nor what strange suffocating feelings I have sometimes. I won’t try to get my own way this time; she shall be happy a little longer.̻”
“Oh, Hatty! as though I cared for any happiness without you!”
“You must not say that, Bessie dear,” replied Hatty, stroking her sister’s hand; “and yet it seems nice to hear you say so. Do you recollect what I used to say—that it would take very little to kill me, because I was so weak? Well, I think it is coming true.”
“Don’t talk so, Hatty; I can’t bear it. I feel as if I want to lie there in your stead.”
But Hatty shook her head.
“No, darling, no; that would not do at all. You are so strong and full of life, and people could not spare you. It does not matter for a weakly little creature like myself. I have never been strong enough to enjoy anything. I have just been ‘Little Miss Much-Afraid,’ full of troublesome fears and fancies; but they seem gone somehow.”
“I am so glad, my Hatty; but ought you to talk?”
“Yes, when I feel like this. Oh, I am so comfortable, and it is so nice to have you with me again. What talks we will have! Yes, I don’t feel like dying yet. Oh, there’s mother, and she is going to send you away.”