"Oh, no, indeed; I came on business, but I did not know what a hard time I was going to have of it. I heard Mr. Gurney talking about this sale last night, so I thought I might take advantage of it as well as the rest. I am Commissary-General now, you know, so I am on the lookout for bargains in my line," and she laughed softly.
"You want to bid for something, then; come and show me. Take my arm, so we will not get separated in the crowd," and for the first time in her life she placed her hand on Hugh"s arm and followed his leading, and this thought came to Dexie with added force as Hugh pressed the hand in token of the pleasure granted him.
More than one person noted the bright young face that eagerly watched the several a.s.sortments fall under the hammer, and the light that shone in Hugh"s dark eyes was not all caused by the excitement of the sale.
"I feel quite proud of my bargains," said Dexie, as they left the building and turned towards home. "I am ever so much obliged for your help; it will make such a difference in my accounts. Oh, you can"t think how economical I am getting to be," said she, with a rippling laugh.
Then Dexie found herself telling her companion how she had gone with the Fremont girls to purchase household supplies, how they all enjoyed the excitement of the sales, and how sometimes no one would bid against them, much to the auctioneer"s chagrin; how she was profiting by the Fremont girls" experience, and was acc.u.mulating such a nice little sum, to buy something very nice for her mother by and by.
Hugh listened with a beating heart. He had known for a long time what a busy life she led. It had formed the foundation of many excuses when he had asked her to accompany him to places of amus.e.m.e.nt; but just now all her former coolness was forgotten in her present kindness. She had never talked to him so freely before, and Hugh was lifted up with hope at this unexpected friendliness.
When they reached home, Hugh detained her at the door.
"Will you grant me a favor, Dexie?" he asked. "Do not go into an auction room alone again; without me, I mean. You know I am always at your service, and will only be too happy to help you at any time. You will grant me this, Dexie?" and he looked earnestly into her face for an answer.
A number of expressions pa.s.sed over Dexie"s face as he spoke. Had she done a bold, imprudent thing in attending the sale without an escort? She had not given it a thought. Surely one might go about a matter of business without a gentleman"s escort? The Fremont girls did so. That it might be improper had not occurred to her, and it vexed her to be reminded of it by Hugh, so his well-meant offer failed to soften her.
"Yes, and no," Dexie coldly replied. "I will promise not to go again alone, but I won"t promise to go in your company again," and she turned and entered the house.
Why had he spoken and lifted again the barrier of reserve that had broken down during their morning"s intercourse? was Hugh"s thought as he entered his own door. Might he not have brought about his wishes without exacting a promise?
The next evening, several young ladies, with their gentlemen friends, met in the Sherwood parlor to discuss a proposed family picnic, and Hugh came in during the discussion, and was pressed to join them.
"Where is the picnic to be?" he asked.
"Oh, down the coast towards Cow Bay; we"ll pick out a place when we come to it. The trouble is, to find out how many teams we can get up," said George Desbrasy.
"Well, the Gurneys are all going, but they cannot take any but their own crowd, and there are several ladies we must find room for amongst us somehow," said Fred Beverly.
"Well, I have to drive mother and sis, but I have one spare seat. Will you accept the seat beside me, Miss Gussie?" said young Desbrasy.
Gussie wished he had not made the offer, as she hoped Hugh would ask her to drive with him, for Hugh had a fine team of his own now.
But as Gussie hesitated about accepting, she saw Hugh turn to Dexie, and with the air of a Chesterfield ask, "May I have the pleasure of your company for the drive down, Miss Dexie?"
"Thank you, Mr. McNeil, but I daresay I am already engaged."
"No chance for you there, McNeil," said Fred Beverly, with a laugh; "Miss Dexie is spoken for already."
"Did I understand you to say that you were _already_ engaged for the drive, Miss Dexie?" said Hugh, persistently.
"Well, Lancy has not asked me yet, but since he has promised to go, my invitation will come all in good time."
"But his team will be full. You had better take your chance with Hugh,"
said Fred.
"There will be room enough for me, never fear," said Dexie, smiling, "so Mr. McNeil is free to offer his services to some other forlorn damsel."
"First come, first served, Miss Dexie," said Hugh. "I asked you first; come with me," he added, bending over her chair.
"Couldn"t think of it. We would be sure to quarrel all the way, and when I go to a picnic I want to enjoy every minute."
"It takes two to make a quarrel, and I"ll not be one of the pair,"
persisted Hugh. "Come with me, and let me prove to you how much I can add to your pleasure, when you will let me."
"Prove it now by asking f.a.n.n.y Beverly or Maud Seeton to drive with you, for I decline the honor."
"Are you so wrapped up, heart and soul, in Lancy Gurney, that you cannot spare a moment to anybody else?" said Hugh, angrily.
"Certainly!" Dexie replied, with flashing eyes, "and since you are going to be so disagreeable, Mr. McNeil, I guess I will leave you," and she joined a group near the table.
"Where is Lancy, that he is not here to arrange about this picnic, said Fred Beverly to Cora Gurney, who was sitting by the table.
"Couldn"t say. He promised to come in to-night."
"Listen! isn"t that Lancy at the piano?" said Maud Harrington, as a sound of music in staccato style reached their ears. "How plainly you can hear it through the walls!"
There was a hush for a minute, when Dexie said as naturally as if it were the most ordinary thing in the world,
"Yes, that is Lancy"s call; he wants me for something. Will you excuse me, friends, for a little while, till I see what is wanted?"
Looks were interchanged amongst some of the young people, and, hoping to make Dexie feel vexed, Gussie said, "Lancy Gurney has only to whistle, and Dexie will run like a dog at a call."
But Dexie took it all in good part, saying, with a smile: "Well, even a faithful dog is not a despised creature, you know, and it is something to know that Lancy will not whistle for anyone else while I am around," and turning at the door she added, "In case I do not come back, let me say you can count on me for anything I can do towards the success of the picnic.
Good evening, ladies and gentlemen," and, as Hugh lifted his eyes, she swept him an elaborate courtesy.
Hugh was too vexed to take any further part in the discussion, and he soon withdrew, intending to find out what it was that drew Dexie away from the pleasant gathering.
When Dexie entered the parlor next door, she found Lancy seated at the piano, looking quite unlike himself.
"What is it, Lancy?" going over to his side. "Why did you not come into our house to-night?"
"I have come across something unusual, Dexie, and I could not leave the piano until I mastered it. Sit here and listen."
Lancy"s hands moved across the keys, drawing forth such thrilling chords that her heart was stirred to its lowest depths.
"Stop, Lancy, I cannot bear it," said she at last, laying her hand on Lancy"s arm before he had finished a page.
Lancy looked up into the agitated face so near him, saying in a tremulous voice:
"Then I am not mistaken about it, since it affects you the same as myself.
What is there about those chords that thrills our hearts so painfully? It is the only piece of music that has ever so affected me. I have not been able to play it through yet without a break. Sit down and try how far you can play, Dexie."
Dexie took the offered seat, and her hands swept the keys; but her firm touch seemed wanting. Wherein was that peculiar power that thrilled her with such exquisite pain; her hands fluttered, tears rose unbidden to her eyes, then, with a sudden break in the chords, she bowed her face in her hands.
Lancy was bending over her in a moment, and drawing her hands gently down, held them in a firm clasp.
"What is the matter with that music?" she said, at last, in a low tone. "I do not think I am nervous, but it sets my heart throbbing so that I cannot bear it."