Elsie rushed up the stairs at once, eager to enjoy the delights that an English box always contained; but for once Dexie"s interest was centred in herself. Her nose could not be forgotten; in fact, she was trying to reduce its proportions by pressing it between her thumb and finger. She wondered if the rest of the family would notice it and make remarks thereon. Lancy would be sure to know at once that something was wrong; but she would keep out of sight, for she would _not_ whistle; no, indeed.
"Oh, Dexie, how you do poke along!" Elsie remarked from the top of the stairs. "I declare, you are enough to try the patience of a Job. Come along, or I"ll rush into the room first, manners or no manners; then mother will be displeased."
Dexie was up the few remaining steps before Elsie had finished speaking.
She was just as anxious to see the English presents as if half of them were meant for herself. Her swelled nose was instantly forgotten, and she pa.s.sed through the door that Elsie held open for her, and was soon bending over the treasures with the rest. The room was soon in confusion, as dress patterns, laces, ribbons, gloves and fans, and trinkets in endless variety were strewn over bed, table and chairs. The swelled nose could not hide the beautiful things laid out for her admiring eyes, and she watched with smiling face as Elsie adorned herself with finery without regard to number or suitability.
"Oh, what a fine Indian brave am I!" sang Elsie as she danced before the mirror, her arms adorned with three sets of bracelets, and her neck encircled with ribbons and lace, while several lockets and charms attached to velvet bands added to her glory. "Now, with a few of those ostrich tips in my hair, I shall be ready to start for the Governor"s ball," she added, dancing around the room, sending the ribbons and laces gaily fluttering behind her.
"You"ll bawl at home, my lady, if you spoil anything with your capers,"
said Cora. "Take off those things at once, Elsie; some of them are mine, I know. Oh! here is a note, mother. The coral set belongs to Elsie, and is presented by her G.o.dmother, and this bangled set is mine. Do you think they would be too showy to wear to-night, mother?"
"Oh! what is this beautiful thing?" Dexie exclaimed, as she lifted a handsome lace bertha. "My! isn"t it lovely? How do I look in borrowed feathers--or laces, to be more exact?"
"Oh, fine!" Elsie replied. "I wonder who it was sent to--not me, I hope; it would make me look like a fright, while it makes you look like a fairy,"
and Elsie turned to examine another parcel.
But Cora had decided in her own mind who it was that should be the first to wear the pretty lace affair, for as she looked at Dexie with the fluffy thing around her neck and throat, she seemed to suggest the very character she was to fill in the evening, and, as she removed it and laid it gently aside, Cora whispered to her mother:
"It will suit her nicely, don"t you think? What else would do to go with it?"
"Those ribbons and gloves match it perfectly; they were meant to go together, I expect, for an evening costume. Just see what she takes a fancy to, and lay it aside; then use your own judgment."
A little scream of delight from Elsie betokened another pleasant discovery.
"Gloves! boxes of gloves, and handkerchiefs by the set, and all hemmed, too! Oh! and marked; see, these are my initials. Blessings on the thoughtful person who sent me those, for my handkerchiefs disappear as mysteriously as ghosts. Now, if I only unearth a box of shoe-laces, I"ll think my cup of joy quite full."
"Shoe-laces! and they so cheap!" Dexie exclaimed in surprise.
"But I have to buy mine with my pocket-money. I break so many of the tiresome things, that mother thinks it will make me more careful if I have to replace them myself. But they are always in knots, and when I have to keep them neat and tidy at my own expense it leaves me little enough for chocolate creams. Dear me! I think they might have sent me a few dozen, so that I might get a chance to have one good "tuck in" for once, as the street arabs say."
"Why, Elsie, I am surprised at you," was the mother"s mild rebuke. "Surely you can feel grateful, without requiring shoe-laces to "fill up your cup with joy,"" and there was a faint smile around the mouth that reproved in such quiet tones.
"Ah! I know what ails me, mother dear. "From all selfishness, envy, uncharitableness,--and all the rest of it, good Lord, deliver me." I"ll say it next Sunday with a different meaning to it, particularly if I get the shoe-laces."
"Why, Elsie Gurney! how dare you speak those words so flippantly!" said Cora severely, looking at her sister in surprise and displeasure.
"I wasn"t _thinking_ flippantly, if I did speak so. I wasn"t, truly, mamma," said Elsie, in a contrite tone. "I never thought I was selfish and--and all the other things when I said it over in church, but I do believe I am--some--anyway. After this I will say "deliver me" instead of "us.""
"Hasty speeches often lead to thoughtful acts. I will be very glad if the missing shoe-laces make my daughter a little more thoughtful about things of greater moment. Do not look so shocked, Cora; it did not _sound_ well, I know, but she did not mean it irreverently, I"m sure. I remember when I was a child at home we all had to learn the fifty-first Psalm as a Lenten lesson, and once my little brother came through the rooms, singing it to the most rollicking tune that was ever danced by; but the very contrast between words and tune made the words sink into my heart as nothing else could have done, for I did not learn very readily. Of course, dear, I do not approve of it; but children are children, and the longer they remain so the better, I think," and with a little sigh Mrs. Gurney left the room, laying her hand lovingly on Elsie"s head as she pa.s.sed her.
More than an hour pa.s.sed before the contents of the box had been examined, then with Dexie"s a.s.sistance the wrappings which covered the floor were picked up, tables were tidied, and the room put in order.
Mrs. Gurney drew Lancy aside as soon as he entered the house, to explain the difficulty about Dexie.
"What! Not whistle or go near us!" he cried. "Why, she"ll have to!
Everybody is talking about the concert, and inquiring about our "warbler."
Those handbills were the greatest success. Not whistle, indeed, when the crowd will be there on purpose to hear her. Why, mother, she is the chief attraction! Where is she? I"ll show her very soon that she _can"t_ back out. They would mob us if she failed to appear. Why, I couldn"t go either if she did not."
"Softly, softly, my son," laying her hand on his arm. "Wait a moment till I explain further. Dexie is not one to be forced into doing a thing she does not like, and if you talk to her in that strain you will only strengthen her determination to stay at home. She must be treated differently if we would gain her full consent, and nothing short of that will do. I have watched her face, and I know that unless quiet measures are used she will resist to the last. My boy, I am quite as anxious as you are about it, so do not look so wild. Listen to my plan."
Lancy"s excitement cooled down as he listened to his mother"s advice, and he promised to do his part if sufficient self-control were granted him.
CHAPTER XVI.
When they met around the dinner-table Lancy was strangely silent, though his eyes shone with suppressed feeling, and Dexie began to hope that the subject of the concert would not be broached; but her hopes were rudely shattered as Mr. Gurney turned his smiling face and said:
"So you have honored us with your company to-day, Miss Dexie. Are you aware, wife, that our young neighbor has found a place in the hearts of the public, though her ident.i.ty is hidden as yet under the sweet sounding t.i.tle of "American Warbler?" Every one is asking, "Who is it?""
Some commonplace remark from Mrs. Gurney, followed by a warning look, caused the subject to be suddenly changed, and in the conversation that followed, the angry flush faded from Dexie"s cheeks, the firm shut mouth relaxed; but the workings of her mind were not quite hidden from the motherly eyes that watched her so closely.
Dexie was fully determined not to go to the concert, yet she would not have cared to confess it to those around her, knowing how shocked they would be at such a resolution. Somehow the matter looked different while she was among them as one of the family. She was sure that the high sense of honor that prevailed among the Gurneys would be sufficient to make any of them fulfil a promise once made, even at a great sacrifice to themselves.
But she would not. No! not if they despised her for it! She would not put up with that impudent advertis.e.m.e.nt, and she laid down her knife and fork quite suddenly, and clasped her hands in her lap in that close grasp that always told when her feelings were stirred.
Mrs. Gurney watched the expressive face, and returned Lancy"s look with one of sympathy.
"Lancy is going to drive to the Four-Mile House this afternoon, Dexie,"
said Mrs. Gurney. "Would you like to go with him?"
"Oh, yes, indeed," was the quick reply, delighted to escape further questioning.
"Then he will have the sleigh ready as soon as you are. Be sure and wrap up your mouth and throat. It never do to catch cold, you know."
Dexie lifted her eyes for one brief moment to the smiling face of the little mother. The reference to her throat brought back the troublesome resolution that would not stay resolved, try as she would. She longed to throw herself at her feet and confess the whole hateful story, but she dared not. That resolution would fall to pieces like a house of cards, if once the story were told to Mrs. Gurney. But she hated herself for the deceit she was practising. How would it end?
As Lancy drove round to the front door Cora ran out and whispered:
"Don"t speak hastily to her, Lancy. Remember how much depends on the way you put it. But be sure and get her full consent."
"What time am I to bring her home?"
"As early as possible; if she has not consented by four o"clock, bring her home to mother. You know we have to dress and have tea."
"And what about Dexie"s fine feathers?"
"Only get her consent to go, and we will make a perfect fairy of her.
Grandma"s box just came in time."
Just then Dexie appeared, and was quickly tucked under the robes.
"Wish us good luck, or fling a slipper, do, Cora, for we are going to elope!" Dexie laughingly exclaimed.
"Good luck, then, and with all my heart I wish it; but slippers are costly, and mine are new," was the laughing reply.
"What happy fortune takes you out of town this afternoon, Lancy?" said Dexie, a few minutes later. "Make it forty miles, instead of four, if you wish to earn my everlasting grat.i.tude."