Hatty would have made herself wretched under the circumstances; would have accused herself of boldness, and love of display, and a want of consideration for Edna; for Hatty, who was a self-tormentor by nature, could spin a whole web of worries out of a single thread; but Bessie never troubled herself with morbid after-thoughts. “Edna will be all right with me to-morrow,” she said to herself; and she was right in her prognostication.
Edna came downstairs the next morning radiant with good humor, and was even civil to Richard. It was a brilliant day; her friends had all accepted her invitation, and she was looking forward to a most enjoyable afternoon.
It was impossible for Bessie to resist the influence of her friend’s gayety and flow of spirits. Edna’s example was infectious, and Bessie was soon laughing heartily at her nonsensical speeches. There was no quiet for reading that morning. She had to practice tennis with Edna, and help her arrange the flowers; and finally she was carried off to be made smart.
“I wish you had a white dress, too,” observed Edna regretfully; for in her heart she thought Bessie’s favorite gray gown very dowdy and Quakerish. “But we must try to enliven you with a few flowers. You are going to wear a gray hat. Wait a moment.” And Edna darted out of the room, and returned a moment afterward with a dainty cream lace fichu. “Look, this lace is lovely! Mamma gave it to me, but I never wear it now, and it will just suit you. Now let me fasten in a few of those creamy roses. Well, you do look nice after all, Daisy dear.”
“Yes; but not half so nice as you,” replied Bessie, looking with honest admiration at the pretty young creature. Edna’s soft white dress just suited her fair hair and delicate complexion, and she looked so slim and graceful, as she stood before the glass fastening a rosebud at her throat, that Bessie said, involuntarily, “How nice it must be to be so pretty!” but there was no trace of envy in her tone.
Edna blushed a little over the compliment.
“Do I look pretty? Thank you, Bessie. Isn’t it a pity Neville cannot see me?” and she laughed mischievously over her vain speech. “Now, come along, there’s a dear, or the people will arrive before we are ready for them. There, I declare I hear Florence’s voice!” And the two girls ran down and joined Mrs. Sefton in the drawing-room.
Well, it was a very pleasant garden party, and Bessie thoroughly enjoyed herself, though it was the grandest affair she had ever seen—so many people driving up in their carriages, and such smart footmen lingering in the hall, and a bevy of officers who were quartered in the neighborhood. But Bessie was not left out in the cold. Florence Atherton took her under her wing, and introduced some nice people to her. She even took part in one game when there was a vacancy, and her partner, a young lieutenant, was very good-natured, and only laughed when she missed the ball.
“We have won, after all, you see,” he observed, when the match was over.
“Yes, thanks to you,” replied Bessie honestly.