_Tuesday, March 18th._
This morning Franky, who is full of mischief, put his hand slyly into Joseph"s pocket and pulled out a letter. Cousin was busily reading, and did not notice the theft until the young rogue put on his father"s gla.s.ses, and crossing the room to place himself in an elevated position, began to read aloud. Pauline, though trying to restrain her mirth, yet shook her head; but as I recognized the letter as the one from Monsieur Vinet, and Joseph had read it aloud, I thought I would not spoil Master Franky"s sport. The young gentleman is by no means an expert at deciphering a fine hand, and though the letter was written in English, failed to make sense. He therefore turned to the postscript, and elevating his voice to arrest attention, began, "Beloved friend,--The time seems very long since we parted, and I know you will be pleased to hear from your friend Adele"--
At the sound of that name, Joseph started, and with a quick glance around the room, s.n.a.t.c.hed the letter from Franky, saying, "didn"t you know it was very improper to read letters not directed to yourself?"
"I wouldn"t have read it, Joseph, if I had known "twas a love letter."
"Pshaw," said cousin, looking very much annoyed as he saw us laughing at his expense.
Nelly, who is a great favorite, went and put her arms around her cousin"s neck, saying, "They shan"t laugh, Joseph, you shall have just as many letters as you please, and n.o.body but you and I shall read them.
Dear Jo," she asked in a whisper, "Is she a darling? Shall I love her, when she is my cousin?"
Joseph started to his feet. "Who has put such nonsense into your head?
Coz," he continued, turning to me, "where did Frank get hold of that letter?"
"He must answer for himself," I replied. As I looked up from my sewing, I saw that Pauline had left the room. After due confession from the delinquent, and a suitable shaking from Joseph, by way of reproof, which made the house ring with his merry laughter, cousin continued his reading for half an hour, when he started up, saying he would go and meet the Doctor, who was at Mr. Percival"s.
At that instant Franky returned to the parlor, with a very dolorous expression upon his countenance. "Mamma," he exclaimed, "Pauline is crying as if her heart would break, and she won"t tell me what"s the matter with her, though I"ve asked her ever so many times."
This was so unusual an occurrence that I started to my feet to go to her, when Eugene threw down his pencil, (he was drawing a sketch of the house where his mother was born,) and said, "let me go, mamma. Please let me try my skill in soothing her grief."
I reluctantly resumed my seat. Joseph also replaced his hat in the hall, and stood looking from the window. "We must hasten our departure," said I. "Pauline is growing very nervous, which cannot be wondered at.
Joseph," said I, addressing him, "I almost regret having followed your advice, to tell her she was not my own child. She grows thinner and paler every day."
For a moment, Joseph remained silent, and I was almost vexed that he was not more interested for Pauline, when he replied, in an unnatural voice, "Cora, I hardly think you are aware what you say. Would you have had her marry her brother?"
His tone conveyed such bitter reproof that my eyes filled with tears.
For the first time, he turned from the window, and looked at me. I saw, with surprise, that he was very pale. He approached, holding out his hand, "forgive me, cousin; I spoke harshly; but wouldn"t it be better for you to go to Pauline? She may not like to have Eugene witness her grief."
"Why?" I asked. "She is very fond of her brother."
He walked quickly across the floor. "You forget," said he in a hoa.r.s.e voice, "how lately she loved him as her future husband. I have seen the struggle in her mind, to overcome such an affection, or rather to change it to the calm, though deep affection of a sister."
I looked at Joseph earnestly, as he walked back and forth across the room, with knitted brow and closely shut lips, and tried to discover the cause of his agitation. At length he stopped before me, and said, "will you go to her?"
"Yes," I replied, laying aside my work. As I went above, I heard him leave the house.
When I entered the school-room, I found Pauline sitting with her head resting on her brother"s shoulder, while his arm was around her. She had ceased weeping, but still looked very sad. "Mamma," said Eugene, "I"ve been telling her how very naughty it is for her to feel sorrow, and not allow me to share it with her. She won"t even tell me what makes her weep." Pauline put her handkerchief quickly to her face to hide the tears which were streaming unbidden down her cheeks. I motioned to him to leave her with me. He kissed her tenderly and went below. I then led the weeping girl into my own room, and having fastened the door, I sat by her side, and begged her to tell me what had afflicted her.
"There is a shadow far within your eye, Which hath of late been deepening. You were wont Upon the clearness of your open brow To wear a brighter spirit, shedding round Joy, like this southern sun. It is not well, If some dark thought be gathering o"er your soul, To hide it from affection. Why is this, My Pauline, why is this?"
But after talking with her for nearly half an hour, I was no wiser than at first. I could only get from her the confession that she was very unhappy, and wished she were safely at home in Crawford. I hinted to her what I suspected, that she found it difficult to change the nature of her affection for her brother so suddenly. She looked up quickly, as she replied, "Mamma, I was deceived as to the nature of my love for him. I never could have _married_ Eugene; but he is very dear to me as a brother."
Hearing the outer door open, she sprang upon her feet, painfully embarra.s.sed, and was going hastily from the room, but returned, and said in a low voice, "Please, mamma, say nothing of this to any one; I will endeavor to be cheerful."
When I went below, Frank had returned, and soon Joseph came in, and seating himself near the window, commenced reading in the book which had so much interested him when Franky stole his letter. I drew my husband to a retired part of the room, and told him I wished to leave Nice as soon as possible for the sake of Pauline.
After many questions on his part, and many replies on mine, I told him what she said with regard to Eugene. "I think she speaks truly there,"
exclaimed Frank eagerly. "I am convinced she never loved him. I mean as a suitor. I was almost sure of it at the time. She ought to be very thankful it has turned out so well for her."
"She is so," I replied. "She says, he is a very dear brother."
Here Joseph threw down his book, and taking his hat walked away from the house as if his very life depended upon his speed. The Doctor laughed heartily, as he exclaimed, "what an odd fellow Joseph is! I wonder what started him off on such a race. See there," he continued, approaching the window, "he is almost out of sight."
Pauline begged to be excused from coming down to tea; but stole quietly in as we were sitting talking in the moonlight. I hope she will feel better in the morning.
_Wednesday, March 19th._
We were seated at the breakfast table this morning, when Ruth entered, bringing an exquisite bouquet, and saying with an expressive grin, "Here, Misse Pauline, dis bunch posies for you."
"Who brought them?" was eagerly asked by several voices. Franky took a French leave of the company and rushed down the street after the boy who had left them at the door. But he could not overtake him, and returned to join in the curiosity expressed on all sides, to know the donor of so tasteful a gift.
Ruth was questioned again and again, and asked to recollect if there was no message. But she kept firmly to her original story; "He laugh and say, he told, bring dat Misse Pauline; "pears like he mighty pleased heself."
The bouquet was pa.s.sed from one to another and was much admired. Joseph said, "whoever sent it might think himself well paid if he knew what a sensation it has caused."
When Pauline came to dinner she had selected a bright scarlet verbina with a few queen leaves and twined them around her dark tresses, which gave quite a glow to her pale countenance. I saw cousin look very earnestly at her as she was seated opposite him at table. The color deepened as she met his gaze, and this greatly added to her beauty.
Nelly has just run up from the parlor for me to go below. Monsieur Vinet has come with Adele. Now we shall leave Nice in a very few days.
_Thursday, March 20th._
We are all of us charmed with Adele. She said she had heard Monsieur Morgan speak of us so often, she felt as if she were acquainted with us.
When her countenance is in repose, which to be sure is very seldom, there is nothing about it to attract attention. But the moment she speaks, her whole face lights up, and there is a wonderful play of the features, which are ever changing their expression. She has handsome hair and eyes. She wears her hair in quite a unique style, being parted smoothly off her brow, and after being gathered, into a knot behind is worn like a coronet around her head. She is very graceful and fascinating; and we consider her an agreeable addition to our party.
When we came down to breakfast this morning, a vase was standing by Pauline"s plate filled with flowers still fresh with the dew. As I stooped over them to inhale their fragrance, I saw a card among the leaves with the words "For the lovely Pauline, with the best wishes of a friend." The penmanship was delicate, like that of a lady; but we did not recognize it.
When Nelly explained the mystery connected with the flowers to Adele, she was quite enthusiastic upon the subject, and said gayly: "Oh! I do so love a mystery. It is so romantic. It is charming!" But she was unwearied in her efforts to unravel it. She first charged Eugene with being the donor, which charge he stoutly denied. Then she shook her finger at Joseph. "Ah, monsieur, you are the one. Now I"ll call you to account for this piece of coquetry."
But Joseph only looked annoyed and said, "I have not left the house this morning."
After all had expressed an opinion, Pauline exclaimed, "I know who sent it."
"Who? _who?_" questioned Adele and Nelly, both at once.
"Mr. Percival, dear Mr. Percival," she answered with enthusiasm. I happened to meet Joseph"s eye, which very much resembled the Joseph I knew in B----; but he instantly looked down and bit his lip to keep from laughing.
_Sat.u.r.day, March 22d._
The last two days have been spent by the young people in visiting for the last time all the favorite haunts and places of interest. Pauline"s conduct is an enigma to me. Sometimes she appears very cheerful, and often when with Adele, I have heard her musical laugh ring through the house like a sweet toned bell; but it is a forced laugh, and is almost always followed by great sadness. To-day her appearance pleased me better than it had for a long time. I thought her more natural. But this evening she is worse than ever. From what Nelly told me to-night, I fear this state of her spirits is somewhat connected with Joseph. During their frequent rambles, Pauline has always clung closely to her brother"s arm before they left the house, to prevent the possibility of walking with her cousin. But to-night I noticed that when they returned, Adele accompanied Eugene, and his sister had taken Joseph"s arm, while Franky held his cousin by the hand. They were talking quite cheerfully as they approached the house. I thought Joseph gazed down upon his companion with something of the reverence with which he regarded her in former years.
But after tea, Pauline happened to go with Nelly into the school-room, and found Joseph sitting by the window with Adele. To use Nelly"s words, "Cousin Joe was holding her hand in his, and she was crying. She said, "oh! Monsieur, I can"t indeed! I can"t bear such treatment." I was just going," Nelly continued, "to ask her what was the matter, but Pauline pulled me away."