"No; but you might have allowed him a chance to make them himself. However, all"s well that ends well, and I wish someone would ask to be Gussie"s protector before I am gone--someone as trustworthy as Traverse. You are of an age to find life rather hard without someone"s sheltering care, and it will not be long before you will both need it, for your mother is not able to see after you as you need."
The rattle of pans and dishes told that the kitchen had an occupant, and with a parting word to her father "not to tell on her," she left the room.
At this moment Jarvis appeared, looking positively frightened.
"Oh! why did you not wake me, Dexie?" she cried. "I cannot see how I slept so heavily. But I depended on you to rouse me, Dexie."
"It is all right, Mrs. Jarvis. Papa pa.s.sed a splendid night; so you were not needed. But wait a minute, I have something to tell you. I did not want you up, for I had company of my own, and I have news for you this morning."
Then with a blushing face she raised her hand to show her ring, adding, "I am engaged to be married."
"My dear, is it possible!" and the motherly creature took the fresh, happy face between her hands and kissed both cheeks. "Is it Mr. Traverse that is going to take you away from us?"
"He will not take me away while papa needs me; but it is to be a secret for the present, Mrs. Jarvis, for under the circ.u.mstances we can make no plans for the future."
"Yes, I understand you, dear. You can trust me; and I am well pleased to hear of your good fortune. Mr. Traverse is thoughtful and tender beyond his years, and I have learned to respect him highly. But you will go and lie down now, won"t you? I will see to everything, so go to your room and make your mind easy about the work this morning."
When Dexie appeared again in her father"s room some hours later, he looked at her with pleasure. Her face seemed to have grown beautiful; love had so glorified it that her happiness seemed to speak from every feature. He did not wonder that Guy Traverse had lost his heart to his little nurse.
"Do you feel well enough to-day, papa, to dictate those unfinished stories?" she asked, as she wheeled his couch over to the sunshine. "You have left those three fishermen quarrelling about who caught the largest fish, till by this time the fish must be spoiled, to say nothing of the temper of the fishermen. And there is that city belle, who wished to become a second Rosa Bonheur; you have left her in the pasture fleeing for her life, with the vicious bull in full pursuit, her sketch-book flying in the air. Now, surely by this time the brute has killed her, or she has died of fright. Then there are several other characters all left in some dilemma that must be settled by this time in some way or other," and gaily talking, she brought out her writing tablet and set it across her knee.
"Well, it seems to me, Dexie, that as soon as I get my characters into some trouble I lose all interest in them; I wonder what trait that represents in myself," he added, musingly. "Finish the stories yourself, Dexie. I am sick and tired of them, so get them out of the fix they are in the best way you can."
"Well, how would you like to begin something new, papa?" her only idea being to get his mind occupied, and this had been a wonderful means of diversion ever since he was hurt.
"Not to-day, Dexie. I think I am too full of your little romance to invent anything new. Finish up those old things and let me see how you get on.
Give the smallest chap the biggest fish; he told the biggest lies, and will claim it anyway. Let the girl jump the fence. If she can"t do that, let her crawl under it, or let the bull toss her over; no matter how she gets out of the field, so long as she gets out alive. She will never want to paint again, I feel sure; so let her escape with her life."
Dexie laughed and began to write, knowing she would get her father interested, and she soon found she had to move her fingers very nimbly in order to keep up with the flow of words that fell from his lips. Page after page fluttered to the floor till Dexie cried, "There, papa, that is enough for to-day. The house party are happily paired off and are on the way to the supper table; let us hope they will find enough to eat upon it, while we go and see about our own supper."
In the evening, much to Gussie"s surprise, Mr. Traverse made his appearance, and her smiles and good-humor rose to the surface at once; this was the more remarkable by reason of their non-appearance throughout the day.
Dexie answered his ring at the door, and if they remained in the hall just a little longer than usual, no one seemed to remark it; and if the blushes which mantled her cheeks were observed, no one guessed the cause.
During the evening Gussie noticed for the first time that Dexie wore a new ring, and the volley of questions she poured forth regarding it was quite astonishing.
"Why, where did you get it, Dexie? It is just a beauty; mine look quite common beside it! That is the second new ring you have worn lately, Dexie, but I hope there is not so much mystery about this one as there was about the other. Lend me your ring for this evening, will you, Dexie?" she added, coming over to her sister"s side.
"No, thank you," and Dexie turned away. "You have half-a-dozen rings of your own, and you know your own motto is "What"s mine is mine," so I"ll neither borrow nor lend," laughing good-naturedly.
"Keep your old ring, you stingy thing!" Then, fearing that Traverse might have heard her, she said sweetly:
"Have you noticed Dexie"s new ring, Mr. Traverse? It is a mystery to me where she gets them, for I am sure she would never buy them herself.
Perhaps Hugh McNeil sent it, eh, Dexie? It looks just like one he would send," and she regarded her sister closely.
Dexie colored painfully at this interrogation, and Guy, who was amused at Gussie"s inquisitiveness, said in feigned surprise:
"Are you really guilty of wearing a new ring, Dexie?" the corners of his mouth twitching suspiciously. "I hope you are as happy in possessing it as the donor was in bestowing it."
"Thank you, Mr. Traverse, I think I can truthfully say that I am."
"Oh, Dexie! was it really given to you by a gentleman? Was it Lancy Gurney who sent it?"
"Hardly, Gussie, or some other young lady would have a right to complain,"
smiling at Gussie"s look of surprise.
"Then it was Hugh McNeil, as I thought. I always said you would repent your behavior to him. Then I suppose the affair is settled. Where _is_ Hugh, Dexie?"
Dexie did not answer at once, but clasped her hands, palms downward, in that convulsive grasp that always told of some mental struggle. Something of the old terror filled her heart at the very mention of Hugh"s name, and her answer was evidently uttered with much reluctance, not unmixed with fear:
"He is probably on his way to New York, Gussie. Is there anything else you would like to know?" forcing a smile to her lips.
Guy felt that something unusual had brought that look of alarm to Dexie"s face; he would ask the cause at the first opportunity.
Gussie felt sure that she knew all about it now, so began to twit her sister about "giving in at last." She had been in a bad humor all day, and was glad of the chance to get rid of her ill-feelings by teasing Dexie in the presence of Traverse.
"So Hugh"s money has bought you, after all! and your high and mighty airs were just put on! I am glad you have come to your senses, for I suppose that ring means a marriage in the future."
"If the latter admission will keep you quiet and make your mind easy, then you shall hear it. I did accept the ring with the understanding that it meant marriage in the future, but Hugh McNeil is no more to me now than he ever was. Now, if you are satisfied, Gussie, will you be kind enough to leave my affairs alone for the rest of the evening?"
"Hum--m, yes; I"m satisfied, since I know the whole of it! An invisible lover! a ring! a promise of marriage! and Hugh coming back! Oh, yes, I"ll leave you alone for the rest of the evening, never fear!" and taking a book from the table she drew an easy chair to the light, then turned her back to the rest in the room. If Guy Traverse was soon to be married to his "city girl," and Dexie was going to be Hugh"s wife, they could entertain each other, for she would have nothing to say to either of them!
Queer, wasn"t it, that neither of them resented this rudeness, but kept up a low conversation at the farthest side of the room!
When Guy was about to leave the house, and the "few" last words were being said in the hall, he asked what had caused her alarm at the mention of her supposed lover"s name.
"I forgot until that very minute that Elsie Gurney told me in her last letter that this McNeil would leave England for New York on the coming steamer, and for the moment my heart stopped beating from sheer fright."
"But, dearest, he cannot harm you now. Do you think he is coming here?"
"Indeed, I cannot tell, but I fear that is his intention; and if he should, oh, Guy, I believe I should hide! I own to being rather afraid of him, though, luckily for me, he never found it out."
"But if he knows you are mine, surely, Dexie, he is enough of a gentleman to leave you alone in the future."
"Well, I may be needlessly alarmed, but I feel a presentiment of evil, and should an ill wind blow him this way, you must be extra good to me while he is here--come oftener--and I will feel safe, at least, while you are with me."
About two weeks later, when all thought of Hugh McNeil had been dispelled, Dexie"s presentiment of evil took shape. He arrived in Lennoxville on the afternoon train, and a few inquiries soon brought him to Mr. Sherwood"s residence.
Mrs. Sherwood and Gussie were out making calls that afternoon, and Dexie was busy in the kitchen making some new dainty, and was much interested in watching the result of her work, when Mrs. Jarvis came in search of her.
"Dexie, there is a gentleman in the parlor asking to see you."
"What a nuisance, when I want to see how this turns out! It is not Mr.
Traverse at this hour, of course," she added, carelessly.
"No; it is a stranger. He is a large, dark-complexioned man, with a heavy black moustache and beautiful black eyes--a perfect gentleman, Dexie!"
The dish fell from Dexie"s hand with a crash to the floor.
"Heaven preserve me! what shall I do?" and she turned pale to her lips. "I cannot see him, Jarvis; I really cannot! Here, I"ll write a line to papa, and you can take the gentleman to his room," and with trembling fingers she wrote a few words and gave them to the nurse; then, throwing off her big ap.r.o.n, she seized a hat, sayings to Eliza, who looked on in astonishment: