To bear up under the secret thought of her
crime and its consequences required in Ida Starr a courage different
alike in quality and degree from that of which children are
ordinarily capable. One compensation alone helped her; it was still
early in the evening, and she knew there were before her long hours
to be spent by her mother's side.
"Do you like me to be with you, mother?" she asked, when a timid
question had at length elicited assurance of this joy. "Does it make
you feel better?"
"Yes, yes. But it's my throat, and you can't make that better; I
only wish you could. But you are a comfort to me, for all that; I
don't know what I should do without you. Oh, I sha'n't be able to
speak a word soon, I sha'n't!"
"Don't, don't talk, dear. I'll talk instead, and you listen. Don't
you think, mother dear, I could--could always sleep with you? I
wouldn't disturb you; indeed, indeed I wouldn't! You don't know how
quiet I lie. If I'm wakeful ever I seem to have such a lot to think
about, and I lie so still and quiet, you can't think. I never wake
Mrs. Led ward, indeed. Do let me, mother; just try me!"
Lotty broke out into passionate weeping, wrung her hands, and hid
her face in the pillow.
Pages:
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
31
32
33
34
35
36
37
38
39
40
41
42
43