He stood close to her now, and his eyes did not leave her face for an instant while she repeated the particulars of her interview with the stranger.
"And this is all--you"ve told me all that pa.s.sed between you?" he asked, eagerly.
"Yes, all," she answered, pitying him, he looked so frightened, so disturbed.
Consulting his watch, he continued, "There"s time, I see, if I am expeditious, I must take the next train east though I would so much rather stay and talk with you. I shall see you again, Miss Hastings. You"ll come often to Gra.s.sy Spring, won"t you? I need the sight of a face like yours to keep me from going MAD."
He wrung her hand and stepped into the hall just as one of the black women he had brought from Florida appeared.
"Aunt Phillis," he said, "I wish to speak with you," and going with her to the extremity of the hall, they conversed together in low, earnest tones, as if talking of some great sorrow in which both were interested.
Once Edith heard Aunt Phillis say, "Blessed lamb, that I"ve done toted so many tunes in these old arms. Go, Ma.r.s.er Arthur; never you mind old Phillis, she"ll get on somehow. Mebby the young lady in thar kin show me the things and tell me the names of yer Yankee gimcracks."
"I have no doubt she will," returned Arthur, adding something in a whisper which Edith could not hear.
A moment more and Arthur pa.s.sed the door, equipped with overcoat and umbrella, and she heard his rapid steps upon the back piazza as he went towards the carriage house. Aunt Phillis now re-entered the library, curtesying low to Edith, who saw upon her old black face the trace of recent tears.
"Is Mr. St. Claire"s friend very sick?" Edith ventured to ask, and instantly the round bright eyes shot at her a glance of alarm, while the negress replied, "Dunno, misses. He keeps his "fars mostly to hisself, and Phillis has done larnt not to pry."
Thus rebuked, Edith arose and began to tie on her hat preparatory to leaving.
"Come in dis way a minute, Miss," said Phillis. "We"re from Floridy, and dunno more"n the dead what to do in such a shiny kitchen as Marster St. Claire done keeps."
Edith followed her to the kitchen, in which she found several dusky forms crouched before the fire, and gazing about them with a wondering look. To Edith they were exceedingly polite, and taking a seat in their midst she soon learned from a loquacious old lady, who seemed to be superannuated, that "they were all one family, she being the grandmother, Ike and Phillis the father and mother, and "tothers the children. We"re all Ber-NARDS," she said, "case that was ole marster"s name, but now I dunno who we does "long to.
Some says to Marster St. Claire and some says to Miss---"
"Mother!" and Phillis bustled up to the old lady, who, uttering a loud outcry, exclaimed,
"The Lord, Phillis; you needn"t done trod on my fetched corns. I warn"t a gwine to tell," and she loudly bewailed her aching foot, encased in a shoe of most wonderful make.
When the pain had partially subsided, the talkative Judy continued,
"There wasn"t no sense, so I tole "em, in "totin" us way off here in the dead o" winter. I"se kotched a misery in my back, and got the shivers all over me. I"se too old any way to leave my cabin thar in Floridy, and I"d a heap sight rather of stayed and died on de old plantation. We has good times thar, me and Uncle Abe-- that"s an old colored gentleman that lives jinin", and does nothin", just as I do. He lost his wife nex Christmas"ll be a year; and, bein" lonesome like, he used to come over o" nights to talk about her, and tell how mizzable it was to be alone."
"You are a widow, I presume," said Edith, her black eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with fun.
"Yes, chile, I"se been a widdy thirty year, an" Uncle Abe was such a well-to-do n.i.g.g.e.r, a trifle shaky in the legs, I know; but it don"t matter. Marster St. Claire wouldn"t part the family, he said, and nothin" to do but I must come. Uncle Abe"s cabin was comfable enough, and thar was a hull chest of Rhody"s things, a doin" n.o.body no good."
Aunt Judy paused, and looked into the fire as if seeing there images of the absent Abel, while Edith regarded her intently, pressing her hands twice upon her forehead, as if trying to retain a confused, blurred idea which flitted across her mind.
"Judy," she said, at last, "it seems to me I must have seen YOU somewhere before, though where, I don"t know."
"Like enough, honey," returned Judy. "Your voice sounds mighty nateral, and them black eyes shine an" glisten like some oder eyes I seen somewhar. Has you been in Floridy, chile?"
"No," returned Edith; "I was born in New York City, I believe."
"Then "taint likely we"s met afore," said Judy, "though you do grow on me "mazin"ly. You"re the very sp.a.w.n o" somebody. Phillis, who does the young lady look like?"
Phillis, who had been rummaging the closets and cupboards, now came forward, and scrutinizing Edith"s features, said, "She favors Master Ber-nard"s last wife, only she"s taller and plumper."
But with the querulousness of old age Judy scouted the idea.
"Reckoned she knowed how Marster Bernard"s last wife looked.
"Twan"t no more like the young lady than "twas like Uncle Abe,"
and with her mind thus brought back to Abel, she commenced an eulogy upon him, to which Edith did not care to listen, and she gladly followed Phillis into the pantry, explaining to her the use of such conveniences as she did not fully understand.
"Two o"clock!" she exclaimed, as she heard the silver bell from the library clock. "Richard"ll think I"m lost," and bidding her new acquaintances good bye, she hurried to the gate, having first given orders for Bedouin to be brought from the stable.
"Shan"t I go home wid you, Miss?" asked the negro, who held the pony; "it"s hardly fittin" for you to go alone."
But Edith a.s.sured him she was not afraid, and galloped swiftly down the road, while the negro John looked admiringly after, declaring to his father, who joined him, that "she rode mighty well for a Yankee girl."
CHAPTER XII.
LESSONS.
Arthur St. Claire had returned from Worcester, but it was several days ere he presented himself at Collingwood; and Edith was beginning to think he had forgotten her and the promised drawing lessons, when he one evening was ushered by Victor into the parlor, where she was singing to Richard his favorite songs. He was paler than when she saw him before, and she fancied that he seemed weary and worn, as if sleep and himself had been for a long time strangers.
"Did you leave your friend better?" she asked.
"Yes, better," he answered hurriedly, changing the conversation to topics evidently more agreeable.
One could not be very unhappy in Edith"s presence. She possessed so much life, vivacity and vigor, that her companions were sure to become more or less imbued with her cheerful spirit; and as the evening advanced, Arthur became much like the Arthur of Brier Hill memory, and even laughed aloud on several occasions.
"I wish I was sure of finding at Gra.s.sy Spring somebody just like you," he said to Edith when at last he arose to go. "Yon have driven away a whole army of blues. I almost believe I"d be willing to be blind, if, by that means, I could be cared for as Mr.
Harrington is."
"And crazy, too?" slily interrupted Edith, who was standing near him as he leaned against the marble mantel.
"No, no--oh, heavens, no! anything but that," and the hand he placed in Edith"s shook nervously, but soon grew still between her soft, warm palms.
There was something life-giving in Edith"s touch, as well as soul- giving in her presence, and standing there with his cold, nervous hand in hers, the young man felt himself grow strong again, and full of courage to hope for a happier future than the past had been. He knew SHE could not share the future with him--but he would have as much of her as possible, and just as she was wondering if he would remember the lessons, he spoke of them and asked when she could come.
"Just when Mr. Harrington thinks best," she replied, and thus appealed to, Richard, guided by Edith"s voice, came forward and joined them.
"Any time," he said. "To-morrow, if you like," adding that he believed he, too, was to be always present.
Edith"s eyes sought those of Arthur, reading there a reflection of her own secret thoughts, to wit, that THREE would he one too many, but they could not tell him so and Arthur responded at once, "Certainly, I shall expect you both, say to-morrow at ten o"clock; I am most at leisure then."
The next morning, at the appointed time, Richard and Edith appeared at Gra.s.sy Spring, where they found Arthur waiting for them, his portfolio upon the table, and his pencils lying near, ready to be used.
"I am afraid you"ll find it tiresome, Mr. Harrington," he said, as he a.s.signed his visitor a chair, and then went back to Edith.
"I shall do very well," answered Richard, and so he did for that lesson, and the next, and the next, but at last, in spite of his a.s.sertion to the contrary, he found it dull business going to Gra.s.sy Spring twice each week, and sitting alone with nothing to occupy his mind, except, indeed, to wonder how NEAR Arthur was to Edith, and if he bent over her as he remembered seeing drawing teachers do at school.