“No, Bessie, she is not; and she is very hard upon poor Richard, as usual, and I had to take his part. Mamma is very proud, and that is why she approved so much of Neville, because he belongs to county people and is his uncle’s heir. Neville will be terribly rich one day.”
“And I am poor!” in a troubled voice.
“Yes, but Richard has plenty of money, and, as I tell mamma, I cannot see what that matters. You are a lady, Bessie; your mother is a perfect gentlewoman; and as for Dr. Lambert, mamma knows what he is—she cannot say a word against him. She says she is very fond of you personally, but all the same she does not want Richard to marry you. You see,” hesitating a little, “mamma will have to leave The Grange when Ritchie marries, and she does not like the idea of that; but, as Richard justly said, his father hoped he would marry early, and he had a right, like any other man, to take a wife when he wishes. Of course, mamma has not a grain of right on her side, but she chooses to be angry with Richard because he has been down to Cliffe and settled everything without reference to her; she says it is the way he always treats her.”
“I think I will go to your mother, Edna. Is—is your brother with her?”
“Yes, I believe so; but they are not talking now. Ritchie sent me to you. Must you go, Bessie, dear? mamma will not be a bit nice to you.”
“I cannot help that; but I am as much to blame as your brother is, and I shall not leave him to bear the brunt of it all.” And though Bessie looked a little pale as she said this, she carried out her resolve much to Mrs. Sefton’s astonishment.
Richard met her at once, and took her hand.
“I have told my mother, Bessie,” he said, in a clear, high voice that was a little defiant.
“Yes, I know now, when everything is arranged,” returned Mrs. Sefton, in an injured tone.
“Dear Mrs. Sefton,” said Bessie gently, “nothing was settled until this morning. Mr. Sefton took me by surprise yesterday, and I was hardly prepared. Indeed, I had no answer to give him until this morning, so not an hour has been lost.”