Then tossing back her head and shooting a half appealing, half defiant look at him, to cover her confusion, she said, with a bewitching little pout:
"But now that I have come to call upon you, Mr. Richardson, aren"t you going to entertain me?"
The change from embarra.s.sment to this pretty piquancy was so instantaneous and so charming that Wallace"s face grew luminous with admiration and delight. A smile wreathed his lips, and there came a look into his eyes that made her flush consciously again.
"Certainly; I shall only be too happy. What can I do to amuse you? Shall I read to you?"
Violet shrugged her shoulders.
"No, talk to me," she said, with pretty imperiousness. "I have been shut up so long that I am pining for entertaining society."
Wallace flushed at this. He was not used to talking to fine young ladies; he had been very little in society, and had met but very few people in fashionable life. His days were occupied by work, for he had to support himself and his mother, while his evenings were devoted to study.
But he really desired to amuse his lovely visitor, and so, going to a book-case, he took down a large, square book and brought it to her.
"Have you ever seen any agricultural drawings, Miss Huntington?" he inquired.
"No," Violet said.
"Do you think it would interest you to examine some?"
"Oh, yes," she answered, eagerly.
She would have been interested in anything which he chose to talk about.
"I am glad of that," he returned, "for architecture is to be the business of my life, and I can talk more fluently upon that subject that upon any other."
Then he opened the book and began to show her his drawings.
"Since a little boy I have desired to be an architect," he told her, "and while my father lived I had every advantage which I chose to improve; but after his death misfortune obliged me to give up school and to go to work. I chose the carpenter"s trade--my father was a contractor and builder--for I reasoned that a practical knowledge of the construction of buildings would help me in the profession which I hope, even yet, to perfect myself in. All my evenings during the past four years have been spent in the drawing-school, and where, during the last two years I have, a portion of each night, served as a teacher."
He pointed out to Violet several of his own designs, all of which, she could readily see, were very fine, and some exceedingly beautiful.
While discussing some point, Violet casually compared it with something that she had seen in ancient structures abroad, and this led them to enlarge upon the architecture of the old country, until they grew very free and friendly in their conversation.
Neither was aware how rapidly time was pa.s.sing, until the clock struck the hour of eleven; then, with a sudden start, the young girl exclaimed that she must get back to her own room at once, or run the risk of being scolded should the nurse find her there.
"I can get back to my chair much more quickly, Mr. Richardson, if you will help me," she said, with an arch look, as she arose from her seat by the window; and Wallace, with another thrill of delight, gave her his well arm and a.s.sisted her to cross the room, a feat which she accomplished much more easily than before.
When he had seated her comfortably, she gave him a roughish glance, and remarked, playfully:
"I suppose it is polite for people to return calls, isn"t it, Mr.
Richardson?"
He laughed out heartily, and thought her the most bewitching little piece of humanity he had ever seen.
"I suppose it is," he answered; then growing grave, he added, "but I understand that your sister does not think it advisable for you to have visitors."
"Nonsense!" began Violet, impatiently, then espying the nurse just mounting the steps, she continued, "but there is Mrs. Dean. I will discuss the calling question with you some other time. Good-by."
Wallace took the hint implied in this farewell, returned to the sitting-room, where he was apparently deeply absorbed in the contents of his paper when the refreshed and smiling nurse entered.
CHAPTER IV.
A PARTING SOUVENIR.
A week went by, and both patients continued to improve, but the weather being unfavorable--a cold wind prevailing--the physician would not consent to have Violet removed to Auburn avenue until it was milder.
Every pleasant morning, however, Violet insisted upon having the nurse go out for an airing, telling her to remain as long as she liked, and just as often the young girl succeeded in securing an interview with Wallace.
She saw that both he and Mrs. Richardson were averse to his returning her call, and she did not urge it; but in her pretty, imperious way she insisted that he must help her out into the sitting-room or she should get "awfully homesick" staying in the parlor all the time.
They could not well refuse her request, and every morning as soon as the nurse disappeared she went out to them.
Sometimes Mrs. Richardson would remain and join in their conversation, but this could not always be, for her household duties must be attended to, and so they were often left by themselves.
Occasionally Wallace read to her from the daily paper, or from some interesting book; but more frequently they spent the time conversing, growing every day more friendly, and falling more and more under the spell of each other"s society.
Wallace realized his danger--knew that every hour spent in the fair girl"s presence was serving to make him more wholly her slave.
That first meeting, when she had come upon him so unexpectedly, had a.s.sured him that he could not see her often without riveting the chains of his love more hopelessly about him. Her exquisite beauty, her artless, impulsive manner, the glance of her beautiful eyes, all moved him as he had never been moved before, and warned him that danger to both lay in indulging himself in the delight of her society.
Danger! Yes, for he well knew that he--a poor carpenter who had to toil with his hands for his daily bread--ought never to speak words of love to the delicate girl who had been reared amid the luxuries of wealth; knew that her haughty relatives would scorn such an alliance with one in his humble circ.u.mstances.
But he seemed powerless to prevent it--powerless to save either himself or her; for Violet, all unconscious of the precipice toward which they were drifting, thinking only of the enjoyment of the moment, persisted in seeing him, day after day, and thus, before she was aware of the fact, becoming entangled in coils from which she was never to escape.
Mrs. Mencke came every afternoon, but never remained long, for she was a woman of many social obligations, and thought if she simply came to inquire regarding Violet"s welfare, she was doing her whole duty by her.
She always found her alone with the nurse, or with Mrs. Richardson, if the former was busy, and fondly imagined that everything was all right; never suspecting the mischief--as she would be likely to regard it--that was being brewed by that artful little G.o.d of love--Cupid.
Doctor Norton finally gave his consent to having Violet removed, and on the same day, when Mrs. Mencke paid her usual visit, she was told that to-morrow she would be taken home.
The young girl received this unwelcome news in silence, but a great darkness seemed suddenly to have fallen around her.
After her sister"s departure she turned to Mrs. Richardson, and the woman saw that her eyes were full of tears.
"Dear Mrs. Richardson," she said, "I am so sorry to leave you! I have been so happy here--it is such a quiet, peaceful place, and you have been so kind to me, I really feel homesick at the thought of going home--and that sounds like a paradox, doesn"t it?"
Mrs. Richardson smiled fondly into the fair face lifted to hers, though an expression of pain flitted over her brow at the same time.
"I shall be just as sorry to give you up as you can be to go," she replied. "You have been a very patient invalid, and it has been simply a pleasure to have you here. Still, your home is so delightful, and you have so many kind friends, you will soon forget your quiet sojourn on Hughes street."
"No, indeed--never!" Violet returned, flushing. Then she added, impulsively, while a great longing seemed to sweep over her: "I know that my home is beautiful with everything that money can buy, but--there is no soul in it."
"My dear child! I am sure you do not mean that," said Mrs. Richardson, reprovingly. "That is a very sad thing to say about one"s own home."