"Bessy," said
he, "sit down, my dear. You know why Godfrey has left us this
morning?"
Bessy walked round the room, so that in sitting she might be close
to her mother and take her mother's hand in her own. "I suppose I
do, papa," she said.
"He was with me late last night, Bessy; and when he told me what had
passed between you I agreed with him that he had better go."
"It was better that he should go, papa."
"But he has left a message for you."
"A message, papa?"
"Yes, Bessy. And your mother agrees with me that it had better be
given to you. It is this,--that if you will send him word to come
again, he will be here by Twelfth-night. He came before on my
invitation, but if he returns it must be on yours."
"Oh, papa, I cannot."
"I do not say that you can, but think of it calmly before you
altogether refuse. You shall give me your answer on New Year's
morning."
"Mamma knows that it would be impossible," said Bessy.
"Not impossible, dearest."
"In such a matter you should do what you believe to be right," said
her father.
"If I were to ask him here again, it would be telling him that I
would--"
"Exactly, Bessy. It would be telling him that you would be his
wife. He would understand it so, and so would your mother and I.
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