'Except Mr. Rollo,' said the old housekeeper quietly; smiling softly then at the success of her spell, for Hazel was silent. 'But that is the great point. And as I was saying, Miss Wych, I am sure I am glad; for I have been worried to death about you.'
'You ought to be worried to death about me now,' said Wych
Hazel. 'I am worried to death about myself.'
'Yes?' said the old housekeeper fondly, curling the dark hair round her fingers. 'Are you my dear? What about, Miss Wych?'
'How can it go right, or be right, when it is all disagreeable?' said the girl. 'It ought to be pleasantand it all isn't!'
'It's all new, just now, my dear.'
'Never to be free again!' said Hazel. 'Never to have my own way or do as I please!'
'Ah,' said Mrs. Bywank, 'that was Eve's fault! But with a man like Mr. Rollo, Miss Wych, it will be your own if it gives you much trouble.'
'Things generally are, that do,' said Hazel. But she sighed a little, putting her face closer down in her hands. 'Byo,' she said after a pause, getting hold of the old housekeeper's hand now and laying her face there, 'it is very, very hard to have it so soon! I have not thought,I am not ready,I feel just as if I should fly!'
There was no gainsaying part of this, and Mrs. Bywank tried petting and coaxing instead of reason, for awhile.
'But think how lonely Mr. Rollo is, Miss Wych,' she said, trying a diversion. 'Think what a two months he has had just now!'