In another month Hetta became Mrs.Beckard.Susan brisked up a little for the occasion, and looked very pretty as bridesmaid.She was serviceable too in arranging household matters, hemming linen and sewing table-cloths; though of course in these matters she did not do a tenth of what Hetta did.
Then the summer came, the Saratoga summer of July, August, and September, during which the widow's house was full; and Susan's hands saved the pain of her heart, for she was forced into occupation.Now that Hetta was gone to her own duties, it was necessary that Susan's part in the household should be more prominent.
Aaron did not come back to his work at Saratoga.Why he did not they could not then learn.During the whole long summer they heard not a word of him nor from him; and then when the cold winter months came and their boarders had left them, Mrs.Beckard congratulated her sister in that she had given no further encouragement to a lover who cared so little for her.This was very hard to bear.But Susan did bear it.
That winter was very sad.They learned nothing of Aaron Dunn till about January; and then they heard that he was doing very well.He was engaged on the Erie trunk line, was paid highly, and was much esteemed.And yet he neither came nor sent! "He has an excellent situation," their informant told them."And a permanent one?" asked the widow."Oh, yes, no doubt," said the gentleman, "for I happen to know that they count greatly on him." And yet he sent no word of love.
After that the winter became very sad indeed.Mrs.Bell thought it to be her duty now to teach her daughter that in all probability she would see Aaron Dunn no more.It was open to him to leave her without being absolutely a wolf.He had been driven from the house when he was poor, and they had no right to expect that he would return, now that he had made some rise in the world."Men do amuse themselves in that way," the widow tried to teach her.
"He is not like that, mother," she said again.
"But they do not think so much of these things as we do," urged the mother.
"Don't they?" said Susan, oh, so sorrowfully; and so through the whole long winter months she became paler and paler, and thinner and thinner.
And then Hetta tried to console her with religion, and that perhaps did not make things any better.Religious consolation is the best cure for all griefs; but it must not be looked for specially with regard to any individual sorrow.A religious man, should he become bankrupt through the misfortunes of the world, will find true consolation in his religion even for that sorrow.But a bankrupt, who has not thought much of such things, will hardly find solace by taking up religion for that special occasion.
And Hetta perhaps was hardly prudent in her attempts.She thought that it was wicked in Susan to grow thin and pale for love of Aaron Dunn, and she hardly hid her thoughts.Susan was not sure but that it might be wicked, but this doubt in no way tended to make her plump or rosy.So that in those days she found no comfort in her sister.
But her mother's pity and soft love did ease her sufferings, though it could not make them cease.Her mother did not tell her that she was wicked, or bid her read long sermons, or force her to go oftener to the meeting-house.
"He will never come again, I think," she said one day, as with a shawl wrapped around her shoulders, she leant with her head upon her mother's bosom.
"My own darling," said the mother, pressing her child closely to her side.
"You think he never will, eh, mother?" What could Mrs.Bell say?
In her heart of hearts she did not think he ever would come again.
"No, my child.I do not think he will." And then the hot tears ran down, and the sobs came thick and frequent.
"My darling, my darling!" exclaimed the mother; and they wept together.
"Was I wicked to love him at the first," she asked that night.
"No, my child; you were not wicked at all.At least I think not.""Then why--" Why was he sent away? It was on her tongue to ask that question; but she paused and spared her mother.This was as they were going to bed.The next morning Susan did not get up.She was not ill, she said; but weak and weary.Would her mother let her lie that day? And then Mrs.Bell went down alone to her room, and sorrowed with all her heart for the sorrow of her child.Why, oh why, had she driven away from her door-sill the love of an honest man?
On the next morning Susan again did not get up;--nor did she hear, or if she heard she did not recognise, the step of the postman who brought a letter to the door.Early, before the widow's breakfast, the postman came, and the letter which he brought was as follows:-"MY DEAR MRS.BELL, "I have now got a permanent situation on the Erie line, and the salary is enough for myself and a wife.At least I think so, and Ihope you will too.I shall be down at Saratoga to-morrow evening, and I hope neither Susan nor you will refuse to receive me.
"Yours affectionately, "AARON DUNN."
That was all.It was very short, and did not contain one word of love; but it made the widow's heart leap for joy.She was rather afraid that Aaron was angry, he wrote so curtly and with such a brusque business-like attention to mere facts; but surely he could have but one object in coming there.And then he alluded specially to a wife.So the widow's heart leapt with joy.