"You know that I have not a cent in the world except what Mrs.
Murray gives me. I shall have to make my bread by my own work just as soon as you think me competent to teach; and notwithstanding, she thinks I ought to visit and a.s.sociate as she does with these people, who tolerate me now, simply because they know that while I am under her roof she will exact it of them. To-night, during the dance, I heard two of her fashionable friends criticising and sneering at me; ridiculing her for "attempting to smuggle that spoiled creature of unknown parentage and doubtless low origin into really first circles." Other things were said which I can not repeat, that showed me plainly how I am regarded here, and I will not remain in a position which subjects me to such remarks. Mrs. Murray thought it best for me to come; but it was a mistaken kindness. I thought so before I came--now I have irrefragable proof that I was right in my forebodings."
"Can you not tell me all that was said?"
"I shrink, sir, from repeating it, even to you."
"Did Mr. Leigh hear it?"
"I hope not."
"My dear child, I am very much pained to learn that you have been so cruelly wounded; but do not let your mind dwell upon it; those weak, heartless, giddy people are to be pitied, are beneath your notice.
Try to fix your thoughts on n.o.bler themes, and waste no reflection on the idle words of those poor gilded moths of fashion and folly, who are incapable of realizing their own degraded and deplorable condition."
"I do not care particularly what they think of me, but I am anxious to avoid hearing their comments upon me, and therefore I am determined to keep as much out of sight as possible. I shall try to do my duty in all things, and poverty is no stigma, thank G.o.d! My grandfather was very poor, but he was n.o.ble and honest, and as courteous as a n.o.bleman; and I honor his dear, dear memory as tenderly as if he had been reared in a palace. I am not ashamed of my parentage, for my father was as honest and industrious as he was poor, and my mother was as gentle and good as she was beautiful."
There was no faltering in the sweet voice, and no bitterness poisoning it. Mr. Hammond could not see the face, but the tone indexed all, and he was satisfied.
"I am glad, my dear little Edna, that you look at the truth so bravely, and give no more importance to the gossip than your future peace of mind demands. If you have any difficulty in convincing Mrs.
Murray of the correctness of your views, let me know, and I will speak to her on the subject. Good-night! May G.o.d watch over and bless you!"
When the orphan reentered the parlor, Mrs. Inge presented her to several gentlemen who had requested an introduction; and though her heart was heavy, and her cheeks burned painfully, she exerted herself, and danced and talked constantly until Mrs. Murray announced herself ready to depart.
Joyfully Edna ran upstairs for her wrappings, bade adieu to her hostess, who complimented her on the sensation her beauty had created; and felt relieved and comparatively happy when the carriage-door closed and she found herself alone with her benefactress.
"Well, Edna, notwithstanding your repugnance to going, you acquitted yourself admirably, and seemed to have a delightful time."
"I thank you, ma"am, for doing all in your power to make the evening agreeable to me. I think your kind desire to see me enjoy the party made me happier than everything else."
Gratefully she drew Mrs. Murray"s hand to her lips, and the latter little dreamed that at that instant tears were rolling over the flushed face, while the words of the conversation which she had overheard rang mockingly in her ears:
"Mrs. Murray and even Mr. Hammond are scheming to make a match between her and Gordon Leigh. Studying Hebrew indeed! A likely story! She had better go back to her wash-tub and spinning-wheel!
Much Hebrew she will learn! Her eyes are set on Gordon"s fortune, and Mrs. Murray is silly enough to think he will step into the trap.
She will have to bait it with something better than Hebrew and black eyes, or she will miss her game. Gordon will make a fool of her, I dare say, for, like all other young men, he can be flattered into paying her some little attention at first. I am surprised at Mrs.
Inge to countenance the girl at all."
Such was the orphan"s initiation into the charmed circle of fashionable society; such her welcome to le beau monde.
As she laid her head on her pillow, she could not avoid exclaiming:
"Heaven save me from such aristocrats! and commit me rather to the h.o.r.n.y but outstretched hands, the brawny arms, the untutored minds, the simple but kindly-throbbing hearts of proletaire!"
CHAPTER X.
When Mr. Hammond mentioned Edna"s determination to discontinue Hebrew, Mr. Leigh expressed no surprise, asked no explanation, but the minister noticed that he bit his lip, and beat a hurried tattoo with the heel of his boot on the stony hearth; and as he studiously avoided all allusion to her, he felt a.s.sured that the conversation which she had overheard must have reached the ears of her partner also, and supplied him with a satisfactory solution of her change of purpose. For several weeks Edna saw nothing of her quondam schoolmate; and fixing her thoughts more firmly than ever on her studies, the painful recollection of the birthday fete was lowly fading from her mind, when one morning, as she was returning from the parsonage, Mr. Leigh joined her, and asked permission to attend her home. The sound of his voice, the touch of his hand, brought back all the embarra.s.sment and constraint, and called up the flush of confusion so often attributed to other sources than that from which it really springs.
After a few commonplace remarks, he asked:
"When is Mr. Murray coming home?"
"I have no idea. Even his mother is ignorant of his plans."
"How long has he been absent?"
"Four years to-day."
"Indeed! so long? Where is he?"
"I believe his last letter was written at Edfu, and he said nothing about returning."
"What do you think of his singular character?"
"I know almost nothing about him, as I was too young when I saw him to form an estimate of him."
"Do you not correspond?"
Edna looked up with unfeigned astonishment, and could not avoid smiling at the inquiry.
"Certainly not."
A short silence followed, and then Mr. Leigh said:
"Do you not frequently ride on horseback?"
"Yes, sir."
"Will you permit me to accompany you to-morrow afternoon?"
"I have promised to make a visit with Mr. Hammond."
"To-morrow morning then, before breakfast?"
She hesitated--the blush deepened, and after a brief struggle, she said hurriedly:
"Please excuse me, Mr. Leigh; I prefer to ride alone."
He bowed, and was silent for a minute, but she saw a smile lurking about the corners of his handsome mouth, threatening to run riot over his features.
"By the by, Miss Edna, I am coming to-night, to ask your a.s.sistance in a Chaldee quandary. For several days I have been engaged in a controversy with Mr. Hammond on the old battlefield of ethnology, and, in order to establish my position of diversity of origin, have been comparing the Septuagint with some pa.s.sages from the Talmud. I heard you say that there was a Rabbinical Targum in the library at Le Bocage, and I must beg you to examine it for me, and ascertain whether it contains any comments on the first chapter of Genesis.
Somewhere in my most desultory reading I have seen it stated that in some of those early Targums was the declaration, that "G.o.d originally created men red, white and black." Mr. Hammond is charitable enough to say that I must have smoked an extra cigar, and dreamed the predicate I am so anxious to authenticate. Will you oblige me by searching for the pa.s.sage?"
"Certainly, Mr. Leigh, with great pleasure; though perhaps you would prefer to take the book and look through it yourself? My knowledge of Chaldee is very limited."
"Pardon me! my mental vis inertiae vetoes the bare suggestion. I study by proxy whether an opportunity offers, for laziness is the only hereditary taint in the Leigh blood."
"As I am very much interested in this ethnological question, I shall enter into the search with great eagerness."