Page:Life's little ironies (1894).pdf/109

But a week later the girl came to her mistress’s room with another note, which on being read informed her that, after all, he could not find time for the journey. Anna was broken with grief; but by Mrs. Harnham’s counsel strictly refrained from hurling at him the reproaches and bitterness customary from young women go situated. One thing was imperative: to keep the young man’s romantic interest in her alive. Rather therefore did Edith, in the name of her protégée, request him on no account to be distressed about the looming event, and not te inconvenience himself to hasten down, She desired above everything to be no weight upon him in his career, no clog upon his high activities, She had wished him to know what had befallen; he was to dismiss it again from his mind, Only he must write tenderly as ever, and when he should come again on the spring circuit it would be time enough to discuss what had better be done.

It may well be supposed that Anna’s own feelings had not been quite in accord with these generous expressions; but the mistress’s judgment had ruled, and Auna had acquiesced. “All I want ie that niceness you can so well put into your letters, my dear, dear mistress, and that I can’t for the life o' me make up out of my own head; though I mean the same thing and feel it exactly when you've written it down !”

When the letter had been sent off, and Edith Harnham was left alone, she bowed herself on the back of her chair and wept.

“I wish it was mine—I wish it was!” she murmared,

“Yet how can I say such a wicked thing!”