“I will never call him back, if I wanted him ever so; but I am not likely to want him, he has made me too miserable. No one shall speak to him; it is my affair, and no one has any right to meddle. Mamma takes his part, and Richard, too. Every one is against me, but they cannot influence me,” finished Edna proudly.
“Mrs. Sefton was right; I can do no good,” thought Bessie sorrowfully; “it seems as though some demon of pride has taken possession of the girl. Mr. Sinclair is nothing to her to-night; she is only conscious of her own proud, injured feelings.” And Bessie showed her wisdom by ceasing to argue the point; she let Edna talk on without checking her, until she had exhausted herself, and then she rose and bade her good night.
Edna seemed taken aback.
“You are going to leave me, Bessie?”
“Yes, it is very late; and your mother will be coming up directly. I can do you no good; no one could to-night. I shall go and pray for you instead.”
“You will pray for me! May I ask why?”
“I will not even tell you that to-night; it would be no use, the evil spirits will not let you listen, Edna; they have stopped your ears too; to-night you are in their power, you have placed yourself at their mercy; no one can help you except One, and you will not even ask Him.”
“You are very incomprehensible, Bessie.”
“Yes, I dare say I seem so, but perhaps one day you may understand better. You want us not to think you unhappy, and you are utterly miserable. I never could pretend things, even when I was a child. I must say everything out. I think you are unhappy now, and that you will be more unhappy to-morrow; and when you begin to realize your unhappiness, you will begin to look for a remedy. Good-night, dear Edna. Don’t be angry at my plain speaking, for I really want to do you good.”
Edna made no answer, and yielded her cheek coldly to Bessie’s kiss. If something wet touched her face she took no apparent notice, but Bessie could not restrain her tears as she left the room.