CHAPTER XLVII.
BREASTING THE TORRENT.
To make up for the sudden loss of society occasioned by the simultaneous departure of Mollie and the unusual engrossment of Hesden in business matters of pressing moment, as he had informed her, Mrs. Le Moyne had sent for one of the sisters of her son"s deceased wife, Miss Hetty Lomax, to come and visit her. It was to this young lady that Hesden had appealed when the young teacher was suddenly stricken down in his house, and who had so rudely refused.
Learning that the object of her antipathy was no longer there, Miss Hetty came and made herself very entertaining to the invalid by detailing to her all the horrors, real and imagined, of the past few days. Day by day she was in the invalid"s room, and it was from her that Mrs. Le Moyne had learned all that was contained in her letter to Mollie concerning the public feeling and excitement.
A week had elapsed, when Miss Hetty one day appeared with a most interesting budget of news, the recital of which seemed greatly to excite Mrs. Le Moyne. At first she listened with incredulity and resentment; then conviction seemed to force itself upon her mind, and anger succeeded to astonishment. Calling her serving woman, she asked impetuously:
"Maggie, is your Master Hesden about the house?"
"Really now mistis," said the girl in some confusion, "I can"t edsackly tell. He war, de las" time I seed him; but then he mout hev gone out sence dat, yer know."
"Where was he then?"
"He war in his room, ma"am, wid a strange gemmen."
"Yes," added the mistress, in a significant tone, "he seems to have a great deal of strange company lately."
The girl glanced at her quickly as she arranged the bed-clothing, and the young lady who sat in the easy chair chuckled knowingly.
So the woman answered artfully, but with seeming innocence:
"La, mistis, it certain am quare how you finds out t"ings. "Pears like a mouse can"t stir "bout de house, but you hears it quicker nor de cat."
It was deft flattery, and the pleased mistress swallowed the bait with a smile.
"I always try to know what is going on in my own house," she responded, complacently.
"Should t"ink yer did," said the colored woman, gazing at her in admiring wonder. "I don"t "llow dar"s ennybody come inter dis yer house in one while, dat yer didn"t know all "bout "em widout settin"
eyes on "em. I wouldn"t be at all s"prised, dat I wouldn"t," said she to the young lady, "ter find dat she knows whose h"yer now, an" whose been h"yer ebbery day sence Ma.r.s.e Hesden"s been so busy.
La! she"s a woman--she"s got a headpiece, she hab!"
"Yes," said the invalid; "I know that that odious scallawag, Jordan Jackson, has been here and has been shut up with my son, consulting and planning the Lord knows what, here in this very house of mine.
Pretty business for a Le Moyne and a Richards to be in! You all thought you"d keep it from me; but you couldn"t."
"La, sakes!" said the girl, with a look of relief, "yer mustn"t say _me_. _I_ didn"t never try ter keep it. I know"d yer"d find it out."
"When do you say you saw him?"
"I jes disremembers now what time it war. Some time dis mornin"
though. It mout hev been some two--free hours ago."
"Who was the gentleman with him--I hope he was a _gentleman?_"
"Oh la, ma"am, dat he war--right smart ob one, I should jedge, though I nebber seen his face afo" in my born days."
"And don"t know his name?"
"Not de fust letter ob it, mistis."
Maggie might well say that, since none of the letters of the alphabet were known to her; but when she conveyed the idea that she did not know the name of the visitor, it was certainly a stretch of the truth; but then she did not know as "Ma.r.s.e Hesden" would care about his mother knowing the name of his visitor, and she had no idea of betraying anything which concerned him against his wish. So in order to be perfectly safe, she deemed it best to deceive her mistress.
"Tell your Master Hesden I wish to see him immediately, Maggie,"
said Mrs. Le Moyne, imperiously.
"Yes"m," said the girl, as she left the room to perform her errand.
There was a broad grin upon her face as she crossed the pa.s.sage and knocked at the door of Hesden"s room, thinking how she had flattered her mistress into a revelation of her own ignorance. She was demure enough, however, when Hesden himself opened the door and inquired what she wished.
"Please, sah, de mistis tole me ter ax yer ter come inter her room, right away."
"Anything the matter, Maggie?"
"Nuffin", only jes she wants ter talk wid yer "bout sunthin", I reckon."
"Who is with her?"
"Miss Hetty."
"Yes"--musingly.
"An" de mistis "pears powerfully put out "bout sunthin" or udder,"
volunteered the girl.
"Yes," repeated Hesden, absently. "Well. Maggie, say to my mother that I am very closely engaged, and I hope she will please excuse me for a few hours."
The girl returned and delivered her message.
"What!" exclaimed the sick woman, in amazement. "He must have turned Radical sure enough, to send me such an answer as that! Maggie,"
she continued, with severe dignity, "you must be mistaken. Return and tell my son that I am sure you are mistaken."
"Oh, dar ain"t no mistake "bout it, mistis. Dem"s de berry words Ma.r.s.e Hesden said, sh.o.r.e."
"Do as I bade you, Maggie," said the mistress, quietly.
"Oh, certain, mistis, certain--only dar ain"t no mistake," said the woman, as she returned with the message she was charged to deliver.
"Did you ever see such a change?" asked Mrs. Le Moyne of her companion as soon as the door was closed upon the servant. "There never was a time before when Hesden did not come the instant I called, no matter upon what he might be engaged."
"Yes," said the other, laughingly, "I used to tell Julia that it would make me awfully jealous to have a husband jump up and leave me to go and pet his mother before the honeymoon was over."
"Poor Julia!" sighed the invalid. "Hesden never appreciated her--never. He didn"t feel her loss as I did."
"I should think not," replied the sister-in-law, sharply. "But he might at least have had regard enough for her memory not to have flirted so outrageously with that Yankee school-marm."
"What do you mean, Hetty!" said Mrs. Le Moyne, severely. "Please remember that it is my son of whom you are speaking."