"Perhaps not, auntie; and he bade me obey you in his absence; so if you bid me, I will go," Elsie answered, returning the smile, and touching her ruby lips to the faded cheek.
"That"s a dear," cried Lottie. "Hold her to her word, Aunt Wealthy.
And now I must run home, and see if Nettie"s had an invite, and what she"s going to wear."
The ladies were just leaving the dinner-table, when Mrs. Schilling came rushing in. "Oh, excuse my informality in not waiting to ring, Miss Stanhope; but I"m in the biggest kind of a hurry. I"ve just put up my mind to make some sponge-cake for to-night, and I thought I"d best run over and get your prescription; you always have so much better luck than me. I don"t know whether it"s all in the luck though, or whether it"s partly the difference in prescriptions--I know some follows one, and some another--and so, if you"ll let me have yours, I"ll be a thousand times obliged."
"Certainly, Mrs. Sixpence, you"ll be as many times welcome," returned Aunt Wealthy, going for her receipt-book. "It"s not to be a large party, is it?" she asked, coming back.
"No, ma"am, just a dozen or so of the young folks; such ladies and gentlemen which I thought would be agreeable to meet Miss Dinsmore. I hope you"ll both be over and bright and early too; for I"ve heard say you don"t never keep very late hours, Miss Dinsmore."
"No, papa does not approve of them; not for me at least. He is so careful of me, so anxious that I should keep my health."
"Well, I"m sure that"s all right and kind. But you"ll come, both of you, won"t you?" And receiving an a.s.surance that such was their intention, she hurried away as fast as she had come.
"I wonder she cares to make a party when she must do all the work of preparing for it herself," said Elsie, looking after her as she sped across the lawn.
"She is strong and healthy, and used to work; and doubtless feels that it will be some honor and glory to be able to boast of having entertained the Southern heiress who is visiting Lansdale," Miss Stanhope answered in a half-jesting tone.
Elsie looked amused, then grave, as she replied: "It is rather humbling to one"s pride to be valued merely or princ.i.p.ally on account of one"s wealth."
"Yes; but, dearie, those who know you don"t value you for that, but for your own dear, lovable self. My darling, your old aunt is growing very fond of you, and can hardly bear to think how soon your father will be coming to carry you away again," she added, twinkling away a tear, as she took the soft, white hand, and pressed it affectionately in both her own.
"And I shall be so sorry to leave you, auntie. I wish we could carry you away with us. I have so often thought how happy my friend Lucy Carrington ought to be in having such a nice grandma. I have never had one, you know; for papa"s stepmother would never own me for her grandchild; but you seem to be the very one I have always longed for."
"Thank you, dear," and Miss Stanhope sighed, slightly. "Had your own grandmother, my sweet and dear sister Eva, been spared to this time, you would have had one to love and be proud of. Now, do you want to take a siesta? you must feel tired after this morning"s long tramp, I should think, and I want you to be very bright and fresh to-night, that it may not harm you if you should happen to be kept up a little later than usual. You see I want to take such care of you, that when your father comes he can see only improvement in you, and feel willing to let me have you again some day."
"Thank you, you dear old auntie!" Elsie answered, giving her a hug.
"I"m sure even he could hardly be more kindly careful of me than you are. But I am not very tired, and sitting in an easy-chair will give me all the rest I need. Haven"t you some work for me? I"ve done nothing but enjoy myself in the most idle fashion all day."
"No, my sewing"s all done now that the shirts are finished. But I must lie down whether you will or not. I can"t do without my afternoon nap."
"Yes, do, auntie; and I shall begin to-morrow"s letter to papa; finishing it in the morning with an account of the party."
She was busy with her writing when Lottie burst in upon her.
"I ran in," she said, "to propose that we all go over there together, and to ask you to come into our house when you"re dressed. Nettie and I are going to try a new style of doing up our hair, and we want your opinion about its becomingness."
"I"ll be happy to give it for what it is worth."
"By the way, I admire your style extremely; but of course no one could imitate it who was not blessed with a heavy suit of natural curls. You always wear it one way, don"t you?"
"Yes, papa likes it so, but until within the last year, he would not let me have it in a comb at all."
She wore it now gathered into a loose knot behind, and falling over a comb, in a rich ma.s.s of shining curls, while in front it waved and rippled above her white forehead, or fell over it, in soft, tiny, golden brown rings.
"It is so beautiful!" continued Lottie, pa.s.sing her hand caressingly over it; "and so is its wearer. Oh, if I were only a gentleman!"
"You don"t wish it," said Elsie, laughing. "I don"t believe a real, womanly woman ever does."
"You don"t, hey? Well, I must go; for I"ve a lot to do to Lot King"s wearing apparel. Adieu, mon cher. Nay, don"t disturb yourself to come to the door."
Elsie came down to tea ready dressed for the evening, in simple white, with a white rose in her hair.
"I like your taste in dress, child," said Aunt Wealthy, regarding her with affectionate admiration. "The rose in your hair is lovely, and you seem to me like a fresh, fair, sweet flower, yourself."
"Ah, how pleasant it is to be loved, auntie, for love always sees through rose-colored spectacles," answered the young girl gayly.
"I promised Lottie to run in there for a moment to give my opinion about their appearance," she said, as they rose from the table. "I"ll not be gone long; and they"re to come in and go with us."
She found her friends in the midst of their hair-dressing.
"Isn"t it a bore?" cried Lottie. "How fortunate you are in never having to do this for yourself."
"Why," said Elsie, "I was just admiring your independence, and feeling ashamed of my own helplessness."
"Did you ever try it," asked Nettie; "doing your own hair, I mean?"
"No, never."
"Did you ever dress yourself?"
"No, I own that I have never so much as put on my own shoes and stockings," Elsie answered with a blush, really mortified at the thought.
"Well, it is rather nice to be able to help yourself," remarked Lottie complacently. "There! mine"s done; what do you think of it, Miss Dinsmore?"
"That it is very pretty and extremely becoming. Girls, mammy will dress your hair for you at any time, if you wish."
"Oh, a thousand thanks!" exclaimed Nettie. "Do you think she would be willing to come over and do mine now? I really can"t get it to suit me, and I know Lot wants to put on her dress."
"Yes, I"ll go back and send her."
"Oh, no; don"t go yet; can"t we send for her?"
"That would do; but I told Aunt Wealthy I wouldn"t stay long; so I think I"d better go. Perhaps I can be of use to her."
"I don"t believe she"ll need any help with her toilet," said Lottie, "she does it all her own way; but I daresay she grudges every minute of your company. I know I should. Isn"t she sweet and lovely, and good as she can be?" she added to her sister as Elsie left the room.
"Yes, and how tastefully she dresses; everything is rich and beautiful, yet so simply elegant; what magnificent lace she wears, and what jewelry; yet not a bit too much of either."
"And she knows all about harmony of colors, and what suits her style; though I believe she would look well in anything."
There was a communicating gate between Dr. King"s grounds and Miss Stanhope"s, and Elsie gained her aunt"s house by crossing the two gardens. As she stepped upon the porch, she saw Mr. Egerton standing before the door.
"Good-evening, Miss Dinsmore," he said, bowing and smiling. "I was just about to ring; but I presume that is not necessary now."
"No, not at all. Walk into the parlor, and help yourself to a seat.
And if you will please excuse me I shall be there in a moment."