Rumor says Neil is engaged
to her."
"Neil engaged! No, he isn't. He would have told me; he tells me
everything; he is not engaged," Bessie said, quickly, while a keen sense
of pain thrilled every nerve as she thought what it would be to lose
Neil as he would be lost if he married the proud Blanche.
He was so much to her; something more than a brother, something less
than a lover, for she was too young to think of such an ending to her
friendship for him, and her heart beat rapidly and her lips quivered as
she arose on the instant to go.
"Come, father, I think we have staid long enough. You must be tired,"
she said to her father; then turning to Jack, who was thinking: "Is the
child in love with Neil? What a pity!" she said to him: "Thank you, Mr.
Trevellian, for telling me who the people were. It was very kind in you.
I will tell Neil I met you. Good-by," and she gave him her ungloved
hand, which, though small and plump and well formed, showed that it was
not a stranger to work.
Dishwashing, sweeping, dusting, bed making, and many other more menial
things it had done at intervals to save old Dorothy, the only female
domestic at Stoneleigh.
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