"We shall see!" retorted Mrs. Gilmer. "Now let me choose a head-dress for the opera to-night; something original. What can you invent for me?"
"Really," answered Victorine, who was not a little irate at the suggestion that there _could_ be any appeal from her verdict; "I do not feel inspired at this moment; I am quite dull; nothing occurs to me out of the usual line."
"Oh! you _must_ think!" pleaded the volatile lady. "Invent me something never before seen; something with flowers will do; but let me have _impossible_ flowers,--flowers which have no existence, and which I shall not behold upon every one"s else head. Price is no object; my husband never refuses me anything! Especially," she added in a lower tone, to M. de Bois, "when he is _jealous_; and I find it very useful, absolutely _necessary_, to begin the season by exciting a series of Oth.e.l.lo pangs through which he becomes manageable. I feed the jealous flame all winter, and add fresh fuel in the spring, when I wish to indulge in various extravagances."
"A very diplomatic arrangement," remarked M. de Bois.
"What a bonnet! What a beauty of a bonnet! what deliciously adjusted lace! How was it ever made to fall in such folds, over that bunch of moss roses; peeping out of those quivering leaves, touched with dew-drops?"
"That bonnet belongs to _Madame de Fleury_," said Victorine, with a malicious emphasis.
"Ah, indeed!" returned Mrs. Gilmer, changing color. "I wonder what would become of Madame de Fleury were it not for her toilets! If she were despoiled of her gay plumage, a very insipid, commonplace looking personage would remain. I must say, it is rather singular," she continued, growing warm in spite of herself, "but if I ever happen to look at anything particularly worth noticing, I am _always told_ it is for _Madame de Fleury_! Is Mademoiselle Melanie in her drawing-room? Is she accessible at this moment?"
"She has just come in; Mademoiselle Ruth will conduct you to her,"
answered Victorine, with an offended air.
"M. de Bois, I will be back soon," said Mrs. Gilmer to her escort.
"There are books in abundance in yonder library,--rather an extraordinary piece of furniture for a dressmaker"s _salon_, but, Mademoiselle Melanie has so much tact, she foresaw that they might be useful on some occasions."
Mrs. Gilmer followed Ruth to Madeleine"s own apartments, which were on the first floor. Victorine returned to the room where the sewing-women were at work. Gaston selected a book and seated himself in a comfortable arm-chair.
He had hardly opened the volume when the Marchioness de Fleury entered, accompanied by Lord Linden.
As she descended from the carriage she had found his lordship promenading up and down before the house. He was overjoyed at this unlooked-for opportunity to obtain admission.
Madame de Fleury saluted Gaston with one of her most gracious smiles.
Victorine, catching sight of the marchioness, hurried forward, saying to Ruth,--
"Do not trouble yourself, Mademoiselle Ruth, I will have the honor of attending upon Madame de Fleury."
"That is right, Mademoiselle Victorine; but I am going to intrude into your _atelier_ of mysteries, and see what _chef d"oeuvres_ you have in progress."
Judging from Madame de Fleury"s tone, one might easily have supposed that she alluded to pictures or statues, and was about reverently to enter the studio of some mighty genius, and wonder over his achievements in marble or on canvas. The apartment she invaded was one which visitors were not usually invited, or expected, to enter.
The gentlemen were left together.
"I am in luck!" said Lord Linden in an unusually animated tone. "My dear M. de Bois, I am the happiest of men! I have encountered my unknown beauty at last! She pa.s.sed me in a private carriage, which stopped here and was dismissed. I saw her enter this house not a quarter of an hour ago. She did not perceive me, and had disappeared before I could accost her; but I determined to keep watch until she made her exit, and then either to renew my acquaintance or to follow her home and learn where she lived. She shall not give me the slip again."
"Are you sure you have not made some mistake? I do not think there is any lady here, at this moment, except Mrs. Gilmer, whom I accompanied."
"I am perfectly certain I could not be mistaken. I shall make some excuse for remaining here; I will select a shawl or mantle for my sister, who is one of this celebrated Mademoiselle Melanie"s customers, and who will not be displeased at such an unprecedented attention."
Before M. de Bois could reply, the marchioness returned with Victorine.
"And you say my dress for this evening will be done in an hour? That is delightful! I am impatient to test its effects. I am half inclined to wait until it is finished, and take it home with me."
"It shall be completed _within_ the hour; I am occupied upon it _myself_," answered Victorine, with a fawning manner, very different from that by which the banker"s wife had been kept in subjection.
"What an original idea!" cried Madame de Fleury, pausing before the uncompleted dress which had attracted the admiration of Mrs. Gilmer.
"What an exquisite conception! Those blades of golden wheat and those scarlet poppies make the most perfect tr.i.m.m.i.n.g for these ravishing shades of green; just the colors that become me most. That dress is a triumph, Mademoiselle Victorine!"
"The design is Mademoiselle Melanie"s, but the _cut_, the _execution_, they are _mine_," said the forewoman, complacently.
"And for whom is the dress intended? But I need hardly ask,--I am determined that it shall be _mine_."
"It was to be sent to New Orleans to Madame la Motte, wife of the distinguished senator. But, I beg to a.s.sure madame that she cannot judge of this attire; it is nothing now. In a few days, when it is completed, then madame will be able to see that we have surpa.s.sed ourselves in that dress."
"You have, indeed!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Madame de Fleury, with fervor. "But I claim it. You must invent something else for Madame la Motte.
Mademoiselle Melanie surely will not refuse me."
"If the decision depended upon _me_, the dress would a.s.suredly become Madame de Fleury"s; although the design has been sent to Madame la Motte, and has met with her approbation; but Mademoiselle Melanie is so frightfully conscientious, she would not disappoint a customer, or break her word, or give a design promised one person to another for a kingdom.
She is quite immovable, obstinately unreasonable on these points."
"But I _must_ have that dress," persisted the marchioness. "I cannot be happy without it! I will implore Mademoiselle Melanie; she will drive me to despair should she refuse."
"Mrs. Gilmer saw it a few moments ago, and was so enchanted that she did her utmost to make me promise that the dress should be hers."
"_Hers_, indeed! That impertinent little _parvenue_!" replied Madame de Fleury. "I would never forgive Mademoiselle Melanie if she consented to anything of the kind. I suppose the banker"s wife imagines this delicate green would tone down her milk-maid complexion. But she shall not try the experiment."
At this moment Mrs. Gilmer herself reentered. The marchioness pretended not to be aware of her presence, and, turning to the dress in question, remarked,--
"Yes, this dress _must_ be one of the twelve that I shall order to take with me to Maryland. Twelve will suffice for one week. I hear Mr.
Meredith"s estate could bear comparison with our European country residences; the toilets of his guests should do honor to their host."
She went on, addressing herself to Gaston. "There are but thirty guests invited, and I hear that great indignation is felt by _certain persons_ who are not included in the number."
Madame de Fleury"s shaft was directed towards Mrs. Gilmer, who was writhing with vexation, at not forming one of the select party.
Mrs. Gilmer heard, and bit her lips with suppressed rage.
"Twelve dresses!" cried Lord Linden. "Twelve new dresses for seven days?"
"Quite a moderate supply; but I could not possibly get through the week with less," answered Madame de Fleury, serenely. "You are invited of course?"
Lord Linden replied in the affirmative.
"And you, M. de Bois?" inquired the marchioness innocently, though she was quite aware that he would repeat his lordship"s answer, for she had been consulted in regard to the guests whom it would gratify her to meet.
Mrs. Gilmer, who was choking with vexation, sought revenge in one of those petty manoeuvres which women of the world thoroughly understand.
She paused, in the most natural manner, before the hat which she had just extolled, and which she had been informed was designed for Madame de Fleury, and said aloud,--
"What a pretty bonnet! Admirably suited to hide the defects of an uncertain complexion, and hair of no color, neither light nor dark. It is not too gay or coquettish either; just the thing for a woman of thirty, who has begun to fade."
"I beg pardon, madame, it is intended for Madame de Fleury," answered Victorine, reprovingly, and not immediately comprehending the intentional spite of Mrs. Gilmer"s remark.
"Indeed!" returned the latter, still speaking as though she had no suspicion of the presence of the marchioness; "will it not be rather _young_ for her? It seems to me that these colors are a _little too bright_ for a person of _her age_."
"Madame de Fleury is present, and may overhear you," whispered Victorine, warningly.