“Mamma thinks a new dress or ornament can make any girl happy,” she said one day, with a curl of her lip; “but she is mistaken; I don’t care about them now.”
One afternoon Mrs. Sefton had been lunching with a friend, and when she returned she brought Edna a present; it was a pin brooch set with brilliants, a most costly toy, and Edna had admired it in an idle moment; but as she opened the little case there was no pleased expression on her face.
“Oh, mamma, why have you bought this?” she asked, in a dissatisfied voice.
“You admired it so much, my darling, and so I thought I would please myself by giving you this surprise.”
“It is very pretty,” holding it out for Bessie’s inspection; “but I have more ornaments than I know how to use now. I am sorry you bought it, mamma; it must have cost so much money.”
“Do you think I begrudge you anything?” replied Mrs. Sefton, who was much chagrined by this reception of her gift.
Edna looked up at this moment, and saw the disappointed look on her mother’s face. Her better feelings were touched, and she threw her arms round her neck.
“Mother dear, why will you load me so with things?” she remonstrated. “You give me everything, and I do nothing for you in return; please don’t give me anything more for a long time. I am horribly discontented, nothing seems to give me pleasure; even this beautiful pin is wasted on me.”
“Don’t talk so, Edna,” returned her mother, with the tears in her eyes; “if you knew how it troubled me to hear you. There is nothing that I would not do to make you happy, but if you talk in that way you take all the spirit out of me.”
“Then I won’t talk so any more,” replied Edna, repentantly; and she fastened the brilliant pin in some lace she wore, and begged them both to admire it; and she was very affectionate to her mother all that evening, and seemed bent on making her smile.