I must do
something."
She threw herself on the couch with a groan.
"It's horrid!" she cried, and buried her face in the pillow.
All this time Letty had been so bewildered by Mary's agitation,
and the cause of it was to her so vague, that apprehension for
her cousin did not wake. But when Mary was silent, then came the
thought that, if she had not so repulsed him--but she could not
help it, and would not think in that direction.
Mary started from the couch, and began again to pace the room,
wringing her hands, and walking up and down like a wild beast in
its cage. It was so unlike her to be thus seriously discomposed,
that Letty began to be frightened. She sat silent and looked at
her. Then spoke the spirit of truth in the scholar, for the
teacher was too troubled to hear. She rose, and going up to Mary
from behind, put her arm round her, and whispered in her ear:
"Mary, why don't you ask Jesus?"
Mary stopped short, and looked at Letty. But she was not thinking
about her; she was questioning herself: why had she not done as
Letty said? Something was wrong with her: that was clear, if
nothing else was! She threw herself again on the couch, and Letty
saw her body heaving with her sobs. Then Letty was more
frightened, and feared she had done wrong. Was it her part to
remind Mary of what she knew so much better than she?
"But, then, I was only referring her to herself!" she thought.
Pages:
541
542
543
544
545
546
547
548
549
550
551
552
553
554
555
556
557
558
559
560
561
562
563
564
565