Hesper was human
after all, though her humanity was only molluscous as yet, and it
is not in the power of humanity in any stage of development to
hold itself indifferent to the pleasure of being loved. Also,
poor as is the feeling comparatively, it is yet a reflex of love
itself--the shine of the sun in a rain-pool.
She walked up to Mary, holding out her hand.
"O ma'am, I am so glad to see you!" exclaimed Mary, forgetting
her manners in her love.
"I, too, am glad," drawled Hesper, genuinely, though with
condescension. "I hope you are well. I can not say you look so."
"I am pretty well, thank you, ma'am," answered Mary, flushing
afresh: not much anxiety was anywhere expressed about her health
now, except by Beenie, who mourned over the loss of her
plumpness, and told her if she did not eat she would soon follow
her poor father.
"Come and have a drive with me," said Hesper, moved by a sudden
impulse: through some hidden motion of sympathy, she felt, as she
looked at her, that the place was stuffy. "It will do you good,"
she went on. "You are too much indoors.--And the ceiling is low,"
she added, looking up.
"It is very kind of you," replied Mary, "but--I don't think I
could quite manage it to-day."
She looked round as she spoke. There were not many customers; but
for conscience sake she was trying hard to give as little ground
for offense as possible.
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