Part 14 (2/2)
”Now, tell me what has occurred to make you feel bad,” insisted her cousin, very kindly.
The poor girl required much urging, but at length she confessed.
”Josephine Smith called me stupid and sour, because I sat in the corner watching the rest.”
”Josephine Smith did?” cried Chester, indignantly. ”But never mind.
Don't cry about it. Do you know, you are as much better--brighter than she is, as light is brighter and better than darkness? You are ten times more agreeable. She has nothing to compare with your pure soul.”
”You are so kind to say so! But others do not think it, if you do,”
murmured Hepsy. ”Oh!” she exclaimed, with a burst of pa.s.sionate grief, ”it was cruel in her, to be Henry Wilbur's judge, and sentence him to kiss me!”
”Did she?”
”Yes; then they all laughed, and she ran out in the sitting-room after you; and the rest thought it such a joke, that anybody should have to kiss _me_!”
Hepsy spoke very bitterly, and Chester's blood boiled with indignation.
”I can't believe they were making fun at your expense,” said he, in a suppressed tone. ”If I thought they were so heartless----”
”Oh, they did not know how I would feel about it, I am sure,”
interrupted the girl.
”Did Henry laugh?”
”No,”--with a melancholy smile,--”it was no laughing matter with him!--No!--Henry was very gentlemanly about it. He did not hesitate, although I saw him turn all sorts of colors; but came right up to do penance, like a hero. I thanked him in my heart for the good will he showed; but I would not let him kiss me, for I knew it would be disagreeable to him.”
”That is all your imagination,” cried Chester, cheerily. ”So think no more about it. Remember that there is one who loves you, at any rate, let what will happen.”
”I know there is one very good to me,” replied Hepsy, with emotion. ”Oh, you don't know what a comfort your kindness is! I would not--I could not--live without it! I sometimes think everybody hates me but you.”
”You are too sensitive, Coz. But since you imagine such things, I'll tell you what: when I am married, you shall come and live with me. How would you like that?”
A quick pain shot through Hepsy's heart. A faintness came over her. Her cold hand dropped from Chester's, and fell by her side.
”I will tell my wife all about how good you are,” he continued, in a tone of encouragement; ”and she must love you too. She cannot help it.
And we will always be like brother and sister to you.”
He kissed her white cheek, and went on hopefully:
”I have a secret for you, which I have not even revealed to Sarah or James. I will tell it to you, because I know how it will please you.” He took her hand again. ”The truth is, I am--engaged.”
Hepsy did not breathe; her hand was like stone.
”To a glorious girl, Coz. Oh, you cannot help loving her. You can form no idea how sweet and beautiful she is. She's tall as Sarah, but more slender and graceful. You should see her curls! When she speaks, her soft eyes----But what is the matter?”
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