370
WYLDER'S HAND
"No, Dorcas, no; I will not drink tea nor go in; bnt
I am tired, and as you are so kind, I will accept your offer
of the carriage."
Larcom had, that moment, appeared in the vestibule,
and received the order.
-' I'll sit in the porch, if you will allow me, Dorcas:
you must not lose your walk."
"Then you won't come into the house, you won't drink
tea with me, and you won't join me in my little walk! and
why not any of these?"
Dorca3 smiled coldly, and continued,
"Well, I shall hear the carriage coming to the door,
and I'll return and bid you good night. It is plain, Ra-
chel, you do not like my company."
"True, Dorcas, I do not like your company. You are
unjust; you have no confidence in me; you prejudge me
without proof; and you have quite ceased to love me.
Why should I like your company?"
Dorcas smiled a proud and rather sad smile at this
sudden change from the conventional to the passionate
and the direct and fiery charge of her kinswoman was
unanswered.
"You think I no longer love you, Rachel, as I did.
Perhaps young ladies' friendships are never very endur-
ing; but, if it be so, the fault is not mine."
"No, Dorcas, the fault is not yours, nor mine. The
fault is in circumstances. The time is coming, Dorcas, when
you will know all, and, may be, judge memercifully. In
the meantime, Dorcas you cannot like my company, because
ycu do not like me; and I do not like ycirs, just because,
in spite of all, I do love you still; and in yours I only see
the image of a lost friend. You may be restored to me
soon —maybe never — but till then, I have lost you."
"Well," said Dorcas, "it may be there is a wild kind