Wishing for a certain volume that had reference to the matter, Dexie rose to get it from the bookcase, but not finding it readily Traverse came over to a.s.sist her. The search went on in silence for some time, when Guy said in a low tone:
"Is there any quarrel between us, Miss Dexie, that we so seldom speak to each other?"
"Not that I know of, Mr. Traverse," Dexie replied, dropping her eyes to the lowest shelf.
"Then, why are you so silent when I am near? We used to be good friends, but now you cut me to the heart by your cold looks and cruel speeches. What has come between us?"
"Nothing that I know of, Mr. Traverse, and if my words and looks do not please you there is a way to keep out of the reach of both."
"You are an enigma hard to solve, Miss Dexie," was the smiling reply; "but I intend to find the solution, and until then you will not find it easy to drive me away."
"As you please," and catching sight of the book she was looking for, she turned hastily from him and seated herself by her father"s side.
Guy felt in little humor to continue the discussion. He felt that Dexie"s manner was but a cloak to hide her true feelings from him, and finding it impossible to draw her into further conversation he rose to leave the room.
"May I speak to you a few moments in the hall?" he quietly asked, as he bent over her chair.
But Dexie shrank from such an interview, and replied:
"Please excuse me; papa needs me just now."
"No, I don"t," came the unexpected reply from her father, who had heard the request as well as the refusal.
Dexie rose slowly to her feet, a look of indecision on her face.
"Go at once," said her father; "Mr. Traverse is waiting for you, Dexie,"
then she followed him out of the room.
Her cheeks were pink with embarra.s.sment as she waited in silence for Mr.
Traverse to speak, and her heart beat wildly as he regarded her with earnest eyes.
"Dexie, tell me honestly, do you wish me to cease visiting here?"
"No, Mr. Traverse;" then after a pause, "papa would miss you."
"But I do not come here on purpose to see your father; you know that very well, Dexie," and the tender, reproachful tone made Dexie droop her head still lower.
"Have I offended you, Dexie, that you are so cool and distant with me?"
"No, you have not."
"Then is it because you dislike me that you will not speak a word to me? Is that why you are so silent, Dexie?"
No answer came from Dexie"s lips, but she shook her head in reply. "What is it, Dexie that has come between us--there is something, is there not?"
"Did you ask me here on purpose to catechise me?" recovering her voice at last. "Then I wish you "good evening,"" and she turned to leave him.
But Guy stepped quickly before her and seized the hand that reached for the door.
"Do not dismiss me so curtly, Dexie, but shake hands when you bid me "good-bye" to-night."
Dexie laid her hand in his, and he held it close, while for one brief moment her eyes were raised to his, then as quickly averted; but that was all Guy needed--the secret was his at last.
CHAPTER x.x.xIX.
The next afternoon, while "the twins" were out with their mother on a shopping expedition, Mr. Traverse called at the house, and tapped lightly at the door of Mr. Sherwood"s room.
"Ah! Traverse, is that you? Glad to see you," said Mr. Sherwood. "I was just wishing that someone would come in. The girls are out, and Jarvis is outside rattling among the dishes, and there is not a soul to speak to.
Take a seat and be comfortable; the girls will soon be home, I expect."
"I did not come to see the girls this time, Mr. Sherwood," said Guy, smiling. "I knew they were out, met them in a store down town, so came upon purpose to catch you alone."
"Well, that is good of you, Traverse; it is intolerably slow to be cooped up here all day, not sick enough to stay in bed, and not well enough to be moved about. Any news?"
"I have not read the day"s papers yet," and he pulled them out of his pocket, and tossed them on a table near. "You can look up the news yourself by and by. I have come to have a talk with you this afternoon, Mr.
Sherwood, and to ask a favor. I hope you are sufficiently acquainted with me by this time to grant me this favor, without taking much time to consider the matter. I presume you have guessed that my frequent visits here are due to something more than the friendship I feel for yourself,"
and he smiled down at Mr. Sherwood, adding: "I have come to ask for the hand of your daughter."
"Oh! that is what you are after, is it?" and Mr. Sherwood leaned back in his couch and smiled. "I had not given the matter a thought, though I might have known there were other attractions than a sick man in the house. Well, Traverse, I am pleased to hear your request, for I have always had a personal liking for you, and I do not wonder that you have reached my daughter"s susceptible heart. My life is not going to last much longer; the doctor may bolster me up for a little while, but the end is coming fast. I feel my strength going daily, and I shall feel relieved to see her settled in a home of her own before I am gone. Gussie is young and inexperienced, but you will make her a good, kind husband, I feel sure."
"Oh! but you mistake me, Mr. Sherwood," said Guy, speaking quickly; "it is not Miss Gussie I am asking for. I admire her beauty and respect her highly, but it is Miss Dexie I want for a wife."
"Dexie! Man alive! what nonsense is this! You don"t mean to tell me that it is Dexie you have been making love to all this time?" said he, in surprise.
"Well, I haven"t made much love to her yet, I must confess," he replied, laughing at Mr. Sherwood"s astonished face; "but that is because she won"t let me. She will not give me the chance! indeed, I can hardly get a word from her at all lately. Does it look to you as if I should be asking for Miss Gussie, Mr. Sherwood? Believe me, I have never said a word to her more than has been said in your presence, that would lead to the inference that I had serious intentions in regard to her. I hope you will not refuse to give me the one I want."
"Well, well, I don"t know what to say, Traverse; it is so sudden. I never thought of you in connection with Dexie, and upon my word, Traverse, she doesn"t appear to be very much in love with you either, if I am any judge!" and Mr. Sherwood looked up at Traverse, who was standing by his couch, his hands clasped behind his back in a waiting att.i.tude. "Now, with Gussie it would be an easy matter."
"Mr. Sherwood, I am happy to know that you are not indifferent to me, apart from the fact that I aspire to be your son-in-law. I am sure you will understand that I mean no offence when I say that while I admire Miss Gussie I should not care to make her my wife; Miss Dexie is different."
"Well, it strikes me, Traverse, that the difference is not in your favor,"
and Mr. Sherwood smiled as he watched Guy"s restless movements, for he was now walking up and down the room.
"Love-making must be done in a different way than when I was a young man, I fancy."
"Give your consent to the wooing, Mr. Sherwood, and I"ll do the winning. I will frankly admit that at present she appears to dislike me heartily, but I have grounds to hope that there will be a change very soon. The signs may not be visible to others, but I am not in despair, by any means," and he stopped by the couch and smiled down at Mr. Sherwood"s face.
"Well, Traverse, though I ought not to say it, she will make you the better wife of the two. You are not blind, and if a daughter is loving, unselfish and sympathetic to her old father, she will make a good wife. Success to your wooing, though it looks to me as if it might be a tough job. If you win her, you shall have my blessing with her; but do not take her away from me, Traverse. You will not have long to wait, and I should miss her sadly."
"Well, there seems to be no sign of a speedy marriage at present," was the smiling reply, as he took a seat by the window, "but I hope your life will be spared for a long while yet. Do not say anything about my calling here this afternoon. Dexie does not seem in the humor to hear a proposal yet; but I am going to take advantage of the first chance, so you may expect news at any time."
"Well, Traverse, I shall watch the progress you make, _sub rosa_. It will add quite an interest to the monotonous life I spend here on my back."
"You may not have long to wait, for I am going to press the matter at the earliest opportunity, even though I may get a positive refusal for my answer," was the laughing reply. "I have bought the ring, so you see I have some hope."