The family of Mrs. Reynolds, she liked much, though she could not see Anna, as she was adopted by her uncle Edward soon after his marriage, and lives in New York. My suspicions were very soon confirmed with regard to him, by an invitation to a wedding at his sister"s, where I was introduced to a Miss Grant, who in a few moments became Mrs. Edward Ryland.
Miss Grant had waited patiently for her lover all these years; with a woman"s true heart refusing to listen for a moment to other proposals of marriage. Even her own parents were not aware of the state of her affections, and had often urged her to give a reason for not wishing to settle in life. All the reason the poor girl could give, was that she did not love the suitor. But her faithfulness is now rewarded, and Mr.
Ryland hastened with his bride to New York to become a partner in the firm for which he went to India.
Mrs. Reynolds was very unwilling to part with Anna, more especially on account of her husband"s health, who would, she feared, miss the lovely child. At that time William was very feeble, and it was feared that his exposures in his wanderings from home in former years might bring on consumption. But for a year past he has enjoyed perfect health. I suppose, Nelly will tell you that a little miss has come to take Anna"s place, and that she is called Cora Lenox Reynolds. I never liked the name better than when I have seen the little creature come shyly up to me, turning her head one side and the other, and looking out from under her curls to take something I had carried; and heard her lisp out her name, "Cowa Lenox." The Doctor makes a great pet of her, and is so much delighted with her name that it would be no wonder to me, if by and by there should be quite a regiment of Cora Lenoxes among his patients. In that case I should find it cheaper to import a quant.i.ty of silver cups than to purchase them here.
I have no doubt much as Nelly desired to see the dear home friends, that long ere this she has wished herself back for one more frolic with her little namesake. When I say to the darling, "Baby want to see Aunt Nelly?" she crows and screams with delight. We all think her very like sister; the same deep blue eyes, and fair complexion, so different from her beautiful brother who looked far more like a Lenox. I sometimes smile as strangers notice the striking resemblance of Pauline to her father. I used to fancy the same thing myself when she was a baby.
I long for the return of our dear friends Allen and Lucy, who took sister in charge as far as New York, and saw her safely on board ship.
They enclosed me a short note from her, with her last farewell just before she sailed. Emily says, "it seems as if half Crawford were gone."
We are all lonely without the lively girl.
Miss Nelly calls and I must obey. Frank says, I am not half as strict with her as I was with Pauline or Walter; and it may be true; I feel so uncertain of her life, since our sweet boy was taken away so suddenly.
_Thursday, June 18th._
Allen and Lucy returned yesterday, and we all went in to spend the evening with them. Miss Emily Mansfield was allowed to sit up to welcome her mamma, and could not be persuaded to leave her for a moment. Sister is very proud of her little namesake.
We had been talking of sister Nelly and other topics in a lively manner, when Lucy suddenly started, saying, "Bye the bye, Emily, who do you think we saw on our way to Philadelphia?" and without waiting for a reply, "Mr. Benson, who used to be settled in Waverley. I thought at one time that he was a flame of yours; but he is married now; and to one of the most beautiful creatures I ever saw. She was leaning on his arm and looking up in his face with the most wife-like fondness."
Lucy talked so rapidly, and was so rejoiced to be the first to tell the news, that she did not appear to notice the effect it had on her hearers. If I had done _anything_, I should have burst out crying. I had woven so many pretty romances about his coming home faithful to sister, and all that, and finding out she did love him.
As no one spoke, Frank said with the utmost calmness, "he married Miss Karswell, I suppose, sister of the young man with whom he has been travelling."
"No, not sister," replied Lucy, "but a cousin, who accompanied his sisters. Our informant who knew the family well, told me that Charles was not altogether pleased, as he wished to marry his cousin himself.
She is a Southerner; and they were on their way to the south. He is so much altered that I should hardly have known him, if it were not for his mouth and voice. I stood near them in the boat, and heard him say, he wished her parents were to meet them in Philadelphia instead of Charleston, for it would be extremely warm there at this season. She replied, "it shall be my endeavor to make it so delightful to you, that you will forget the heat.""
"Didn"t you speak to them?" I asked, recovering my voice.
"Yes, but it was just as we were leaving. He seemed really annoyed that I had not made myself known at once. I told him I was not sure for some time whether it were really he."
""Am I then so much altered?" said he sadly; but at the same time a beautiful smile played for one instant around his mouth, and vanished."
"Then you were not introduced to his lady?"
"No, though she kept tight hold of his arm, and seemed almost impatient that he stopped even that short s.p.a.ce. Altogether he was the most distinguished gentleman on board the boat, always excepting my own husband," she added, with a merry glance at him.
When the conversation turned to another theme, I ventured to look at Emily. To my astonishment, she appeared to be wholly engrossed in a new book, she had taken from the table; but on looking a moment I perceived a deadly pallor about her mouth; and suddenly remembered that we were making a very long call upon persons just returned.
When we were at home, I merely ran to take a peep into the nursery, and finding all quiet, I begged Frank to excuse me for a few moments.
"Where is Emily?" I asked of mother.
"She went to her room to lay aside her bonnet."
I followed, and found the poor girl in the very abandonment of grief.
She had tossed her bonnet into a chair, and was kneeling by the bed, with her arms thrown over her head, which was buried in the pillow.
I knelt by her side, putting my arms around her. "Dear sister," I said, "don"t weep so. Do let me comfort you." But I stopped; what could I say?
After a few moments, she arose and sat by me. "Oh, Emily!" I said, "if you look so, you will break my heart."
"I believe," she replied in a mournful tone, putting her hand to her side, "that mine is broken. I thought I had schooled myself to hear this. I ought to have expected it; but oh! I have deceived myself."
I was never more embarra.s.sed for words to express sympathy, and was awkwardly silent.
"Cora," said she, looking at me, "there is no human being but yourself whom I would allow to witness my"--she hesitated, "my grief at this intelligence. My poor mother would be so pained, if she knew her daughter loved another woman"s husband." This last sentence was spoken in her old bitter tone, and carried me back to past years. "And it shall not be. To-morrow you will see me the same as ever. Please, dear sister," she added, in a softened tone, "never allude to my grief. It will soon be over."
It was only when she spoke of herself that her voice was harsh and severe. I looked with admiration at her as she drew up her form, and revealed the Lenox will, Frank sometimes refers to.
Mother looked very happy as her daughter came in smiling and talking of Lucy"s improved appearance since her return. My face was by far the sadder of the two. I have never been able to conceal my feelings. "Dear mother," I thought as I bid her good night, "you would not sleep much if you knew what an aching heart lay beneath that smiling face."
_Sat.u.r.day, June 20th._
Caesar carried me and my smaller treasures this afternoon to see Aunt Susy, who has been rather failing in health this summer. Pauline has been with me several times, and is always delighted to accompany me there. But now I was going to introduce my little Nelly, though not without some fears that the squeezing she would get, would frighten the timid little thing. Aunt Susy is no longer able to watch at the door to see who goes by; but her heart has not grown cold while sitting in her easy chair. I stepped into the entry and knocked at the inner door.
"Walk right in!" In obedience to this invitation, I opened the door, and with Nelly in my arms, went up to the old lady. She looked over her gla.s.ses for a moment as if she did not recognize me with my baby, and before she could say anything, I laid the little miss in her lap.
"Bless its little soul," said Aunt Susy, carefully laying aside her knitting where the needles couldn"t hurt the child. "Well Miss Lenox, if that don"t beat all. I never know"d you"d got another;" and to pay for being kept in ignorance, she began in good earnest to squeeze it to her large warm heart. The baby crowed with delight, and as oft as she had a kiss, would give a s.n.a.t.c.h for the gla.s.ses. All this time Pauline and her mother stood by unnoticed, while the dear child had her little red lips made up for a kiss.
"Here, Aunt Susy," I said, "give me the baby, this young lady is waiting her turn."
The good woman went into the business fundamentally, and now that she undertook with Pauline, she was in no haste to get through. When they stopped to take breath she looked in Pauline"s face. "La! it beats all natur how she grows like her pa."
The dear soul had forgotten the fact which interested her so much years ago, and really supposed the child to be our own.
"There"s--what do you call her?"
"Ellen," I answered.
"There"s Ellen now, looks more like you, while Pauline is clear father.
I"ll venture he sets a sight by her."
Pauline laughed, though she didn"t know exactly the meaning of the latter phrase.
"Blessed little soul," she resumed with another squeeze, "what made you think o" that?"
"Because," said Pauline, "you are so kind."
I looked inquiringly at the whisperer.
"La!" said Aunt Susy wiping her eyes, "the dear little cretur says she loves me, and I don"t know what it"s for, if "taint that I loved your pa long enough afore you was born; and I used to hold him on my lap, and sing "Ride a jack horse to Banbury cross," and he"d laugh as hearty as the baby did just now."
At this very moment Mrs. Wilson returned from the garden, when her mother called out, "Darter, did you ever hear tell that Doctor Frank had had another baby?"
"Oh, yes, mother!" she answered, shaking hands with me, "and you knew it too at the time, but you"ve forgotten."