Page 35 of One London Eve
“Does your family know of a reputable doctor?”
“Are you ill?” he asked, his face immediately stricken.
“No, no. It is my mother,” she answered, almost in a whisper as she glanced up to ensure her father was not listening.
“I’m sorry to hear she is not well. I will find the name of the doctor my mother calls for Fanny,” he replied in a lower voice, detecting her want of secrecy.
“Thank you. I did not want to trouble you—“ she began, wringing her hands.
“Please,” he insisted with such deep imploring, she was forced to look up and was arrested by his expression of tender concern. “If I can be of any help, you must call on me.”
“Yes, thank you,” she muttered, nonplussed by this unexpected show of kindness after her condemning remarks.
“Good evening, Miss Hale,” he finished, setting his hat on his head and taking a last glance at her before heading out the door.
Chapter sixteen
The next day, Margaret went to the Princeton District to visit Bessy Higgins.
Bessy was groggy from napping when Mary let Margaret in. “Aye! I thought yo’d forgot me. Father said I’d not see yo’ again. That yo’d only come once to lighten your own conscience in giving the likes of us a little comfort,” she said. Her tone was laced with a touch of doubtful accusation, but her searching gaze on Margaret held to hope.
“I see your father has taken to doubt everyone who isn’t of his own class. But I’ll forgive him for it,” she said, giving Bessy a reassuring smile. “You can tell him I couldn’t come because my mother was ill. You see, we all have our sorrows and troubles to humble us,” the visitor explained, seating herself on the stool next to Bessy’s bed.
“I didna mean to doubt yo’, but father is—“
“I understand. Don’t fret about it. I’m here now. How are you feeling?” Margaret asked, taking Bessy’s hand and patting it.
“Some days are better than others, and yo’ve come on a better day. Your mother is better? There’s nothing terrible wrong, is there?”
The question disturbed Margaret more than she let show, for she herself was wondering the same thing. “She’s better. I believe she’s all right,” she answered with a forced smile.
“What I wouldn’t give to have my mother back again,” Bessy said with a sad sigh.
She twisted suddenly to look at Margaret, her eyes hardened. “Sometimes I could scream at yo’ and scratch your pretty skin for all that yo’ve been given such a pretty life and I’m set with naught but suffering!”
Margaret drew back a moment, but then eased and took the girl’s arm to her chest. “I am not God to know why our lives have been so different. But I am here to offer you kindness from my heart. I wish I could take all your suffering away—I truly do!” she pleaded.
Bessy’s features grew soft again. “Forgive me for my sin against yo’! Only, I don’t know how to go on but for faith that the next world will do me better than this one,” she cried.
“The Lord knows our hearts, and will reward us accordingly. Even through our darkest trials, He is there for us. And you will be comforted for all your pain. Revelation says ‘There will be no more tears, neither sorrow nor crying.’ Do you believe, Bessy?”
“I must believe, for I have naught else,” she answered. “Revelation is my favorite part o’ the Bible, for it gives me such hope.”
“Shall I read to you then?” Margaret asked, thinking this would calm her friend’s fevered unrest.
“I’d like that, thank ye,” was the reply.
When Margaret returned home, there was a letter from Edith waiting for her.
My dear Margaret,
We are now home in London again, and I believe I shall always miss the warm and breezy climate in Corfu. Oh, it was so very beautiful there! I wished you could have seen it.
But I am glad to be back so that our dear little one will be born a proper English boy (or girl). It was a tiresome ocean journey with me close to my confinement already!
Will you come and visit me if Auntie can spare you? I’m sure you would be glad to escape that awful northern town that Uncle moved you to. You could help me set up the nursery for baby.
I can’t help but feel worried about my sweet cousin, surrounded by all those noisy factories and swarms of mill workers. I know you love your father, but I shall never understand how he could move you to such a place!
