"Thank you. Is that rich old curmudgeon, your uncle, alive yet?"
"Yes, sir."
"And your brother? In Germany still, I suppose."
"No, sir; my brother is in Canada--in St. Croix. He was here this evening."
"Indeed! Where is he stopping? We must get him to come here."
"He is on a visit to M. le Cure, and I do not think means to stay long."
The door opened as she said it, and Kate and Eeny came in. The sisters had their arms around each other"s waist, and Eeny seemed entranced.
Kate went over and stood beside her father, looking up fondly in his face.
"How pretty the rooms are, papa! My boudoir and bedroom are charming.
Eeny is going to chaperone me all over to-morrow--such a dear, romantic old house."
Grace sat and looked at her. How beautiful she was! She still wore slight mourning, and her dress was black silk, that fell in full rich folds behind her, high to the round white throat, where it was clasped with a flashing diamond. A solitaire diamond blazed on her left hand--those slender, delicate little hands--her engagement ring, no doubt. They were all the jewels she wore. The tr.i.m.m.i.n.g of her dress was of filmy black lace, and all her ma.s.ses of bright golden hair were twisted coronet-wise round her n.o.ble and lovely head. She was very tall, very slender; and the exquisite face just tinted with only the faintest shadow of rose. "Beautiful, and stately, and proud as a queen!" Yes, she looked all that, and Grace wondered what manner of man had won that high-beating heart. There was a witchery in her glance, in her radiant smile, in every graceful movement, that fascinated even her father"s sedate housekeeper, and that seemed to have completely captivated little Eeny. In her beauty and her pride, as she stood there so graceful and elegant, Grace thought her father was right when he said a prince was not too good for his peerless daughter.
He smiled down on her now as men do smile down on what is the apple of their eye and the pride of their heart, and then turned to Eeny, clinging to her stately sister.
"Take care, Eeny! Don"t let Kate bewitch you. Don"t you know that she is a sorceress, and throws a glamour over all she meets? She"s uncanny, I give you warning--a witch; that"s the word for it!"
Eeny"s reply was to lift Kate"s hand and kiss it.
"Do witches ever eat, papa?" laughed Miss Danton; "because I am very hungry. What time do we dine?"
"What time, Miss Grace?" asked the Captain.
"Immediately, if you wish, sir."
"Immediately let it be, then."
Grace rang and ordered dinner to be served. Thomas, the old butler, and a boy in b.u.t.tons made their appearance with the first course. Grace had always presided, but this evening she sat beside Eeny, and Miss Kate took the head of the table.
"The first time, papa," she said. "If I make any blunders, tell me."
"Oh, papa!" exclaimed Eeny, "I thought some one else was coming. A sick gentleman--Mr. what?--oh, Richards?"
The face of Captain Danton and his eldest daughter darkened suddenly at the question. Grace saw it in surprise.
"He will be here presently," he said, but he said it with an air of restraint; and Kate, leaning forward with that radiant smile of hers, began telling Eeny some story of their life at sea that made her forget Mr. Richards.
They adjourned to the drawing-room after dinner. A long, low, sumptuous apartment, very stately and very grand, and decorated with exquisite taste.
"What a beautiful room!" Kate said. "We had nothing half so quaint and old as this at home, papa?"
There was a grand piano near one of the tall windows, with a music-rack beside it, and the young lady went over and opened it, and ran her fingers with a masterly touch over the keys.
"That"s right, Kate," said her father; "give us some music. How do you like your piano?"
"Like is not the word, papa. It is superb!"
The white hands sparkled over the polished ivory keys, and the room was filled with melody. Eeny stood by the piano with a rapt face. Captain Danton sat in an arm-chair and listened with half-closed eyes, and Grace sat down in a corner, and drew from her pocket her crochet.
"Oh, Kate, how beautifully you play?" Eeny cried ecstatically, when the flying hands paused, "I never heard anything like that. What was it?"
"Only a German waltz, you little enthusiast! Don"t you play?"
"A little. Rose plays too, polkas and waltzes; but bah! not like that."
"Who is your teacher?"
"Monsieur De Lancey. He comes from Montreal twice a week to give us lessons. But you play better than he does."
"Little flatterer!" kissing her and laughing, and the white hands busy again. "Papa, what will you have?"
"A song, my dear."
"Well, what do you like? Casta Diva?"
"I"d be sorry to like it! can you sing the La.s.s o" Gowrie?"
"I shall try, if you wish."
She broke into singing as she spoke, and Grace"s work dropped in her lap as she listened. What an exquisite voice it was! So clear, so sweet, so powerful. The mute-wrapped stillness that followed the song was the best applause. Miss Danton rose up, laughing at her sister"s entranced face.
"Oh, don"t stop!" Eeny cried, imploringly. "Sing again, Kate."
There was a loud ring at the doorbell before Kate could answer. Captain Danton and Grace had been listening an instant before to a carriage rolling up the drive. The former started up now and hurried out of the room; and Kate stood still, intently looking at the door.
"Who is that?" said Eeny. "Mr. Richards?"
Kate laid her hand on the girl"s shoulder, and still stood silent and intent. They could hear the door open, hear the voices of the Captain and his man Ogden; and then there was a shuffling of feet in the hall and up the stairs.
"They are helping him upstairs," said Kate, drawing a long breath. "Yes, it is Mr. Richards."
Eeny looked as if she would like to ask some questions, but her sister sat down again at the piano, and drowned her words in a storm of music.
Half an hour pa.s.sed, nearly an hour, Miss Danton played on and on without ceasing, and then her father came back. The girl looked at him quickly and questioningly, but his high coloured face was as good-humoured as ever.
"Playing away still," he said, "and Eeny"s eyes are like two midnight moons. Do you know it is half-past ten, Miss Eeny, and time little girls were in bed?"
Grace rose up, and put her work in her pocket. Eeny came over, kissed her father and sister good-night, and retired. Grace, with a simple good-night, was following her example, but the cordial Captain held out his hand.
"Good-night, my little housekeeper," he said; "and pleasant dreams."
Miss Danton held out her taper fingers, but her good-night was quiet and cool.