CHAPTER XV.
“SHE WILL NOT COME.”
Bessie did not enter the drawing-room that evening; she felt that her presence would be decidedly de trop under the circumstances. She made the pretext of fatigue the reason for retiring to her room early, and Richard accepted the excuse as though he believed in it.
“Well, I dare say you will be more comfortable,” he agreed. “My mother will be sure to come up and wish you good-night. Confess now, Miss Lambert, are you not wishing yourself at home this evening?”
“No; of course not,” replied Bessie briskly. “Have you not promised me another ride to-morrow?” But all the same, as she went upstairs, she thought a talk with her mother and Hatty would have been very soothing. She was sitting by her window, thinking over things in general, when there was a tap at her door, and Mrs. Sefton entered.
“Richard told me you were tired and had gone up to bed,” she said, more kindly than usual. “I am so sorry, my dear, that you have had such an uncomfortable afternoon. Edna has been very naughty—very naughty indeed; but Richard and I feel very grateful to you for accompanying her.”
“I thought it was the right thing to do, Mrs. Sefton.”
“Yes, of course; there was nothing else to be done; but it was a foolish freak on Edna’s part.” Mrs. Sefton spoke in a worried voice, and her face looked tired and harassed. Bessie said as much, and she replied:
“Oh, yes; I am worried enough. I have had a fatiguing day in town, and then when Neville and I entered the house, expecting a welcome, there was Richard’s moody face and your note to greet us. And now, to make things worse, Edna chooses to be offended at Neville’s coming down in this way, and declares he meant to be a spy on her. She won’t say a civil word to him, and yet it is for him to be displeased; but I think he would waive all that if she would only own that she has acted ungenerously to him. I must say Neville is behaving beautifully. He speaks as gently as possible; but Edna is in one of her tempers, and she will not listen to reason.”