Within an hour it was evident that a cloud had been lifted from the entire household. Everybody felt brighter and better. Roseleaf eyed Mr.
Fern with surprise, and had half a mind to go to his office the next day and tell him how dearly he loved his daughter. It was the first time anything like a smile had been upon that face since he had known its lineaments.
Archie Weil devoted his attention, as usual, to Millicent. He did not talk to her about Hannibal, knowing how distasteful was the subject. He discussed her novel, of which she never seemed to tire, and asked her about another, which she had begun to map out. She told him she was sure she could do better the next time, and spoke of the a.s.sistance Mr.
Roseleaf would furnish if needed, quite as if that was a matter already arranged between her and the young novelist.
Archie wondered if Millicent knew the extent of the attachment that had grown up between Shirley and her sister. She seemed to feel sure that he would be at hand when wanted. Could it be that she believed he would ultimately become her brother-in-law? The negro"s guess had almost been blotted out of his mind. There had been absolutely nothing in his observation to confirm it.
A day or two after the departure of Hannibal, Mr. Fern had a conversation with Daisy, in which he dwelt with more stress than she could account for on a special theme. He was talking of Walter Boggs and Archie Weil, and he cautioned her earnestly to treat both gentlemen with the greatest consideration. The girl detected something strange in his voice, and she stole apprehensive glances at him, hoping to read the cause in his eyes.
"Why, papa, I never see Mr. Boggs," she said. "It is weeks and weeks since he came here. As for Mr. Weil, we all treat him nicely, I am sure, and are glad to have him come."
"Yes," he admitted. "You use him quite right, my child. I am not complaining; only, if you could show him _particular_ attention, something more than the ordinary--" He paused, trying to finish what he wished to say. "There may be a time when he will be of great value to me--and--I want him to feel--you observe things so cleverly--do you think Millicent cares for him?"
Daisy looked up astonished.
"Cares--for--Mr. Weil?"
Her father nodded.
"He has been here several times a week for months, and most of his time here has been spent with her. I thought--I hoped that she cared for him."
He thought! He hoped! Daisy had never had such an idea in her head until that moment. She had a dim idea that her father would give up either of his daughters with great regret, although she could not help knowing that the relations between him and Millicent were not as cordial as those between him and herself. And he "hoped" that Millie would marry, and that she would marry Mr. Weil! Her mind dwelt upon this strange thought. She tried to find a reason for it. Was there any stronger incentive in her father"s mind than a desire to see Millie well settled in life, with a good husband?
Had he a fear that the time might soon come when he could not provide for her?
Or was there a worse fear--the kind of fear that had haunted him in relation to Hannibal?
Every time Mr. Weil came to the house after that the young girl watched him as closely as he had ever watched her. He did not exchange a word with her father that did not engage her attention. And the conclusion she came to was that, whatever the object of Mr. Fern in this matter, Mr. Weil was honor itself.
Daisy had never made much of a confidant of Millicent, and the latter had the habit of keeping her affairs pretty closely to herself. It was no easy task, then, that the young sister had in view when she came to a decision to talk with Millie about Mr. Weil.
Her father had expressed a hope that Millie and Weil would marry. Mr.
Fern had some strong reason for his wish. Whatever it was, Daisy, with her strong filial love, wanted it gratified.
"Millie, what do you think of marriage?" she asked, one day, when the opportunity presented itself.
"I suppose it"s the manifest destiny of a woman," replied her sister, quietly.
Much encouraged, Daisy proceeded to allude to Mr. Weil, praising him in the highest terms, and saying that any girl might be proud to be honored with his addresses. Millie answered with confirmatory nods of the head, as if she fully agreed with all she uttered. But when her sister spoke, the words struck Daisy like a blow.
"I am glad to hear this," she said, in a voice more tender than usual.
"I think Mr. Weil would have proposed to you long ago, but that he feared the result."
Daisy gasped for breath.
"Millie!" she cried. "Do you mean that Mr. Weil--that--why, I do not understand! He has hardly spoken to me, while he has spent nearly every minute he has been here, with you!"
"Of course he has," responded the other. "What could be more like a case of true love? If ever a man lost his head over a woman he has lost his over you, Daisy. And, at any rate, you must know that _I_ care nothing for him. You certainly could see where _my_ affections were engaged."
Daisy pressed her hand dreamily to her forehead. She had never known her sister to show the least partiality to any other man.
"I understand you less than ever," she faltered.
"Are you so blind?" exclaimed Millicent, with superior wisdom. "Did you think Mr. Roseleaf had been so closely engaged all this time in my literary work without learning to care for me? I presume you will think I ought to blush, but that is not my way. The strangest thing is that I should have to explain what I thought every one knew."
Poor little Daisy! She was so crushed by these statements that she did not know what reply to make, which way to turn for consolation.
"He has told you that he loves you?" she managed to articulate.
"He has shown it, at least," was the answer. "He had not been here a week before he tried to put his arms around me. I had to let him hold my hand to avoid an absolute quarrel. He is not an ordinary man, Daisy, and does not act like others, but we understand each other. He is waiting for something better in his business prospects, and as I am so busy on my new book I am glad to be left to myself for the present."
It was the old story. Daisy could not doubt her sister"s version of her relations with Mr. Roseleaf. When he called the next time there was a red spot in both her cheeks. He told her with happy eyes that he had at last secured something which made it possible to speak to her father.
He had been offered a position on the Pacific Quarterly, at a good salary, and another periodical had engaged him to write a series of articles.
"They tell me I have no imagination," he explained, "but that I do very good work on anything that contains matters of fact. I have some money of my own, but I did not want to tell your father I was an idle fellow, without brains enough to make myself useful in the world. The novel on which I base such great hopes might not seem to him worth considering seriously, you know. So I can go with a better account of myself, and I am going this very week."
The bright light that shone from the face at which she looked made her waver for a moment, but she found strength to answer that he must not speak to Mr. Fern about her--now, or at any other time. She did not want to marry, or to be engaged. She wanted to live with her father, and take care of him, and she wanted nothing else.
"Millie will marry," she added, as a parting thrust, meant to be very direct and bitter. "One of us ought to stay with papa."
For a while he was too overwhelmed by her changed att.i.tude to make a sensible reply. When it dawned on him that she meant what she said, he appealed to her to take it back. He could not bear the thought of giving her up, or even of waiting much longer for the fulfillment of his hopes.
He spoke in the most pa.s.sionate tone, and his whole being seemed wrought up by his earnestness. The girl was constantly thinking, however, that this was the same way he had addressed Millicent, and that there was no trust to be placed in him.
"Calm yourself," she said, when he grew violent. "I have tried to be honest with you. I have thought of this matter a great deal. You will admit that it is of some importance to me."
"To you!" he echoed. "Yes, and to me! I do not care whether I live or die, if I am to lose you!"
She wanted to ask him if he had told Millie the same thing, but she could not without making an explanation she did not like to give.
"There are others," was all she said. "Others, who will make you happier, and be better fitted for you--in your career as a writer."
He never thought her allusion had reference to any particular person, and he answered that there was no one, there never could be any one, for him, but her. He had never loved before, he never should love again. And she listened, thinking what a capacity for falsehood and tragic acting he had developed.
After two hours of this most disagreeable scene, Roseleaf left the house, moody and despondent. It would have taken little at that moment to make him throw himself into the bosom of the Hudson, or send a bullet through his brain.
On the way to the station he met Mr. Weil, who could not help asking what was the matter.
"Oh, it"s all up!" he answered. "She has refused me, and I am going to the devil as quick as I can."
"What are you talking about?" exclaimed the other, staring at him. "You don"t mean--Daisy!"
"That"s just what I mean. I went there to tell her of my good luck, and to say I was going to ask her father"s consent; and she met me as cold as an iceberg, and said she had decided not to marry. So I"m going back to town without a single reason left for living."
Mr. Weil stood silent and nonplussed for a few seconds. Then a bright idea came into his head.
"Look here, Mr. Impetuousness," said he. "I know this can be arranged, and I"m going to see that it"s done. My G.o.d, the same thing happens in half the love affairs the universe over! Give me a few days to straighten it out. Go home and go to work, and I"ll fix this, I promise you."
It took some time to persuade Roseleaf to follow this advice, but he yielded at last. Weil pleaded his warm friendship, begged the young man to do what he asked if only to please him, and finally succeeded. A few minutes later Archie had secured an audience with Daisy.