e to
you. Must you go, Bessie, dear? mamma will not be a bit nice to you."

"I cannot help that; but I am as much to blame as your brother is, and I
shall not leave him to bear the brunt of it all." And though Bessie
looked a little pale as she said this, she carried out her resolve much
to Mrs. Sefton's astonishment.

Richard met her at once, and took her hand.

"I have told my mother, Bessie," he said, in a clear, high voice that
was a little defiant.

"Yes, I know now, when everything is arranged," returned Mrs. Sefton, in
an injured tone.

"Dear Mrs. Sefton," said Bessie gently, "nothing was settled until this
morning. Mr. Sefton took me by surprise yesterday, and I was hardly
prepared. Indeed, I had no answer to give him until this morning, so not
an hour has been lost."

"My mother knows all that," interrupted Richard, "but I cannot convince
her no offence is intended. Mother, I think you might give Bessie a
kinder reception; she has promised to marry me, and I think my future
wife should be treated with consideration and respect."

"No, no; how can you talk so?" interrupted Bessie, for the young man
spoke in a fiery manner. "Mrs. Sefton, please don't listen to him. You
shall treat me as you will; but I shall always remember how good you
have been to me. Of course you are not pleased with a poor girl like me;
but you will be kind to me all the same--will you not? and I will try to
follow all your wishes. It is not your son's fault either," very shyly,
but trying to speak out bravely, "for he could not help caring for me, I
suppose. Do, do try to forgive us both, and be kind to him." And here
Bessie faltered and broke down.

Nothing could have been better than Bessie's little impetuous speech.
Mrs. Sefton was a proud, ambitious woman, but she was not wholly without
feelings, and she had always been fond of Bessie. The girl's sweetness
and humility, her absence of all assumption, the childlike way in which
she threw herself upon her womanly kindness, touched Mrs. Sefton's cold
heart, and she kissed the wet, flushed cheek.

"Don't cry, Bessie. I suppose as things are settled we must just make
the best of them. Richard put me out, and I said more than I meant. I
was not pleased. I think I ought to have been consulted at least, not
left so wholly in the dark."

"I am very sorry, mother, but you have never invited my confidence,"
replied Richard; but his lips quivered as he spoke.

"Yes; but you will be ki