"I"m sure I"ve sat up nights and nearly cried my eyes out over that beautiful poem "Regina," Did you ever see any one like the "Regina" you described so delightfully?"
"Yes," said Mr. Randall, a sort of shadow coming over his face, "once, in my childhood, I saw such a one--a "queen of n.o.ble nature"s crowning;"
one whose every motion seemed to say:
""_Incedo Regina_"-- "I move a queen.""
"Dear me," said Miss Felice, "how nice! I really should like to see her.
I suppose she will be Mrs. Randall some day," and Miss Felice, looking up between her ringlets, did the artless to perfection.
Mr. Randall smiled again; it was evident he read Miss Felice like a book.
"Hardly, I am afraid. I don"t approve of the Regina style of woman for wives myself. Something less imposing would suit me better--a nice little thing like----"
Miss Felice had cast down her long lashes, and stood looking as innocent and guileless as a stage angel; but here Mr. Randall most provokingly paused and began caressing a hideously ugly little Scotch terrier that had followed him into the room.
Georgia had to smile in spite of herself at the provoking nonchalance of the poet, more particularly as Miss Felice turned half pettishly away, and then, remembering that her _role_ was to be sweet and simple, she gave him a smiling glance and returned to the charge.
"And those verses on Niagara are so pretty! Papa took Maggie and me to the Falls last summer, and I did like them so much! Oh, dear me! they are so sweet!"
Mr. Randall laughed outright. Miss Felice looked up in astonishment, but just at that moment little Jennie came running in with something in her hand.
"Oh Licie! look what I have got--such a lovely picture of the most beautiful lady ever was! Just look."
"What an angelic face!" impulsively exclaimed Mr. Randall; "a perfect Madonna! And only a pencil drawing, too! Why, Miss Leonard, this is something exquisite--a perfect little gem! I never saw anything more lovely."
"Where did you get it, Jennie?" said Miss Felice.
"In the hall; it"s Miss Randall"s--she dropped it coming out of the school-room. I"m going to ask her to give it to me; she can make plenty more."
"Is it possible the artist resides here? You don"t mean to say that----"
"Oh, it"s only the governess," said Miss Felice; "she draws and paints very well indeed. By the way, she"s a namesake of yours, too, Mr.
Randall. Yes, I see now it is one of her drawings; I could tell them anywhere."
The poet was gazing in a sort of rapture at the picture. The soft eyes and sweet, beautiful lips seemed smiling upon him--the face seemed living and radiant before him.
"Why, one would think you were enchanted, Mr. Randall," said Miss Felice, half pouting. "It"s fortunate it"s only a picture and not a living face, or your doom would be sealed."
"Oh, it is perfect, it is exquisite!" said the poet, under his breath; "a Madonna, a Saint Cecilia, a seraph! Why, Miss Leonard, do you know you have a genius under the roof with you?"
"Yes, sir--Mr. Randall," said Miss Felice, courtesying.
"Pshaw! I mean the artist. Come, is she the mysterious painter of those delicious portraits in the drawing-room that have attracted such crowds of admirers already?"
"Well, since you have guessed it, yes. It was her own wish it should not be known."
"Why, she must be the eighth wonder of the world--this governess. Who is she? What is she? Where does she come from?" said Mr. Randall, impetuously.
"She is Miss Randall--a governess, as I before told you, from New York city, and that is her whole biography as far as I know it, except that she is very strange, and wild, and solemn-looking, with oh, such immense black, haunting eyes!"
"Oh, Felice, she"s really pretty!" said Jennie; "a great deal prettier than you or Mag. Now ain"t she, Royal?"
"Who?" said Royal, entering at this moment.
"Our Miss Randall."
"Yes, I reckon she is. Miss Randall"s a tip-top lady," said Royal, emphatically.
"I really should like to see her. Won"t you present me to this genius, Miss Leonard? It is not fair to hide so brilliant a light under a bushel," said Mr. Randall. "I shall probably claim kindred with her, as we both have the same name."
"Well, I will ask," said Miss Felice, biting her lip. "I am not so sure, though, that she will consent, she is so queer. Here"s "Undine,"
and now for the translation, Mr. Randall."
But Mr. Randall stood still, with his eyes riveted on the drawing.
"Dear me, Mr. Randall, hadn"t you better keep that altogether?" said Miss Felice, pettishly. "One would think you had fallen in love with it."
"So I have," said Mr. Randall. "Come here, Miss Jennie; I have a favor to ask of you."
"What is it?" said Jennie.
"That if Miss Randall gives you this drawing, you will give it to me, and I will bring you the prettiest book I can find in New York in exchange."
"Will you, though? Isn"t that nice, Royal? Oh, I"ll get it from Miss Randall--she"s real good--and I"ll give it to you. May I tell her it"s for you?"
"Just as you like; tell her anything you please, so as to get it for me.
Won"t you tell me how I can see this wonderful governess of yours, Miss Jennie?"
"Let"s see. Come up to the school-room with mamma."
"By Jove! I will. But perhaps she wouldn"t like me to intrude."
"Mr. Randall, they are waiting for us down stairs," said Miss Felice, stiffly. "Jennie--Royal--go out and go to bed."
Georgia caught a parting glimpse of the graceful, gallant form of the young poet as he held open the door for Miss Felice to go out, and drew a deep breath of relief when they were gone. Then, having a.s.sured herself that the coast was clear, she hurried out and sought her own room, and searched for Emily"s portrait, but it was missing.
Next morning, as Georgia was about to enter the school-room, Miss Felice fluttered up stairs, in a floating white cashmere morning-gown, and with the drawing in her hand.
"Good-morning, Miss Randall," she said, briefly; "is this yours?"
"Yes," said Georgia, quietly.
"Will you be kind enough to give it to me?"
"It is the portrait of a very dear friend. I should be happy to oblige you were it otherwise, Miss Leonard," said Georgia, coldly.
"A portrait! that heavenly face! is it possible?" exclaimed the astounded young lady.
Georgia bowed gravely.