Page:The Father Confessor, Stories of Danger and Death.djvu/296

286 was announced by the smiling servant Her face sobered us, so doleful was it.

"I don't think I can come to your dance, Mrs. Bryson," she said at once, ignoring me.

"Oh, you must not disappoint us," I answered, holding out my hand. She shook it languidly, and continued to my wife,—

"It's father," she said, on the verge of tears. "He has another attack, and I am afraid we can't leave."

"Poor dear!" My wife took her hands and stroked them. "It's really hard," she said, turning to me. "Just imagine, this poor child and her brother are the responsible people at home, like father and mother; are you not, dear?"

"Of course," the girl said, "when father is ill there's no one but us to look after things; and, then, Herbert is very selfish—all men are!" She looked at me defiantly, as my wife shook her head. "He goes off to clubs and places, leaving everything to me." She burst into tears. "I want to enjoy myself when I am young like other girls, and travel about and see things; but I have to sit at home and nurse and look after the young ones."