Part 53 (1/2)
”No.”
”Well, you will see him, for he is coming to see you, I know.”
”How do you know?”
”You see I know, because every day when the sun goes down, Ross would come out and sit on the steps, or the well-curb, or somewhere down by the old house.”
”Why, Bessie, how you talk!”
”Oh, it's as true as can be; as true as the stars.”
”How do you know that the stars are true?”
”Why, they are always there, looking down on us, ain't they? They never fail, unless there is a cloud comes between, and then their bright eyes are gone. Don't you know that is true?”
”Perhaps it is.”
”And what I tell you is true, and when Ross comes you will know it.”
”What do you mean, Bessie?”
”I mean that Ross will come some time after the sun has gone to bed, and he will tell you all about love.”
”Hush, Bessie.”
”No, I will not hush, for I know he will come. Oh, but he will,” she said, pointing her finger at Blanche. ”Now you are ashamed; you think it is foolish to love, but I can tell you it is beautiful; there is always a story goes with it, too, that you can't help believing, and you just let Ross tell it to you and see if I did not tell you true.”
”Bessie, why do you think this?”
”Why, I know he will; but don't you believe a word--not if you can help it. You see I believed so long, and then at last I found he lied; so don't you believe Ross, will you?”
”I guess not.”
”You must be sure. Now I'm going away because he wants you to be all alone when he tells you that story.”
”Bessie, you have a very foolish idea in your head,” Miss Elsworth said, as they entered the old house.
”But don't you call me crazy.”
”Bessie, your brother will not talk to me of love; he has never mentioned it to me.”
”Well, you see, he was afraid; he says you are a famous woman.”
”No, I am not famous, and if I were, what of it?”
”That's what I say. I ain't a bit afraid of you if you are crazy. Ross is a coward to be afraid of a robin,” Bessie said, as she sat down beside Blanche and looked into her face with a sweet smile. ”I'd let him tell, just to hear how lovely it sounds, because, you see, you don't know; you never loved anybody, did you?”
”Oh, yes, I have loved a great many people.”
”But you never loved only one so much that you could just die for him, did you?”