The girls in the dressing room hovered about Zay. Wasn"t it wonderful that her sister had been found and living here all these months? Why it was just like a story!
"A princess in disguise," laughed Zay. "That was what I called her."
"And is she--does she look like you?"
"No, although we are twins you can easily tell us apart. She is taller; I think she will be like mother. Her hair is--well a sort of bronzy light brown, and her eyes are such a dark blue that you might mistake them for black, and she"s rather grave; not such a fly-away as I am. Of course, you know, we have only had her one day though the others went over to Mrs. Barrington"s to see her."
"And wasn"t she something there," asked a girl.
"She was going to study for a teacher. Mrs. Barrington expected to keep her after her--well, I suppose we might call it a foster-mother, died.
You see Mrs. Boyd thought the nurse mamma had was her real mother and she felt so sorry for the baby believing the true mother had been killed."
"Why it is a real romance."
Zaidee meant to put it on a right foundation. At school once she had, in a way, stood up for her when Louie Howe tried to establish a distinction. So why shouldn"t she now, and always, even if she had not taken Marguerite cordially to her heart. No one outside should offer a slight.
"And you believe it is all true--"
"Well, I think Dr. Kendricks and Mr. Ledwith and Mrs. Barrington couldn"t all be deceived. You see, this Mrs. Boyd never knew she belonged to us, but she thought there might be a father somewhere; and the account of the accident tallied; there were only two babies on the train and one was killed. Mrs. Boyd knew the baby she took was not hers. So it is beyond any doubt."
Zaidee Crawford looked brave and beautiful and her voice would have carried conviction anywhere, as well as disarming criticism.
"Oh, you _are_ a darling!" and two or three of the girls kissed her rapturously.
"I wouldn"t be without a sister for all the world," declared Evelyn Van Orden, the middle one of the three girls.
The musicians were tuning up. Several of the young gentlemen stood in the hall waiting. Mrs. Van Orden summoned them down.
It was a gay young people"s party and numerous were the regrets that Willard Crawford was to be gone for so long.
"But you"ll have Vincent all next summer," he said. "And there is no scarcity of other young fellows."
"But they go away, as well. Unless they have a fortune they cannot afford to stay at home."
"And I have all mine to make," he returned, with mock seriousness.
It was true that at ten the music stopped, but there was some gay chatting over the refreshments and then the carriages began to come.
They all expressed their pleasure to their hostess. Willard insisted that they should take home two or three of the girls, and they were nothing loth.
"But, you see, Zay is quite certain she owns him, and she gave him about every other dance," said Sophie Lawrence, as she stood on the steps with her sister.
When they were alone Willard reached over and took his sister"s hand in a warm clasp.
"Zay, I heard your fine defense for Marguerite. I was waiting at the head of the stairs. I suppose for awhile there will be some gossip and wondering, but there never can be any doubt of the truth. I think she is going to make a fine and admirable woman, and I hope you two will love each other as Vin and I always have."
"You can"t love anyone offhand. Such a love would not be worth having, and if she wins you away from me--"
"Oh, Zay, silly child! No one can take your place in the heart of one of us."
"I"m not sure." Zay was crying then.
"You will be sure in the years to come. For mother"s sake let us be a united family. You can never be crowded out. And I think the more love one gives, the more one gets in return."
The Major was waiting for them and gave them a tender good-night.
They were all busy the next day in consultations. A package of clothing came over from Barrington house that Miss Arran had put in order for Marguerite, much of it being gifts from Mrs. Barrington, accompanied with the kindliest and most delicate note. Aunt Kate had fussed a little about the child not having anything fit to wear.
"Mrs. Barrington is right, it is best not to make too great a change, though I think Marguerite"s tastes are very simple. Zay, I fancy, has had rather too much, but she is not as vain of her clothes as of her beauty, and she is a dear, sweet child. Aunt Kate, we all owe you so much, and we will see how Marguerite develops."
Miss Crawford was somewhat mollified, but she returned--"Zay must not be crowded out of her mother"s heart."
"Oh, there is no fear of that. If we had the six we planned for I think none of them would complain. Mother love is elastic."
Willard and Zay were much engrossed making farewell calls. He was very bright and hopeful, picturing the points of interest he should see and the experience he should gain. And there would be letters. Three years would pa.s.s rapidly. He stipulated that the girls should not be married until his return.
"We have had such a nice long vacation with you," said his mother, "and we must comfort ourselves with that; and I may come over to some port with the girls if you are to stay long enough. I feel as if I was just beginning to live a new life. Think, there have been times when I hardly expected to see one of you again. Now I am full of hope."
"My blessed mother!"
He would write when he reached Washington and tell them what the plans were. If they were not quite ready Zay and his father might come on for a few days" visit.
Zay kissed her mother and went to her room where she gave way to a violent fit of weeping.
"I ought to go to your mother," said Aunt Kate. Major Crawford had gone to the station with his son.
"Oh, no, stay with me, she will have Marguerite. Oh, if Willard never never should come back! So many accidents happen," she sobbed.
"Don"t let us think of that; so many come home safely. Oh, my child, try to be a little tranquil. He is here in the country yet and will not go away for several days. Summon your fort.i.tude for the sake of the others."
"No one loves him as I do," she moaned.
"I love him dearly. You children have been like my own, I have had so much of the care of you."
"But I love him so dearly, and if he should get weaned away! Why, I should be heartbroken!"
"My dear!" Aunt Kate sat on the side of the bed, bathed her head with fragrant water and comforted her with endearing terms until she grew tranquil and finally fell asleep.
Mrs. Crawford had seated herself on the couch and motioned Marguerite beside her.
"My dear daughter," she said, steadying her voice, "heaven only knows how glad I am to have you and we must comfort one another. I had dreaded Willard going, but G.o.d has been good to me and sent you just when I needed you most. We shall be very happy in each other"s society, I foresee. You will be my girl as Zay is Aunt Kate"s. Willard is so interested in you, and when it is a little pleasanter we will go driving together. I like the byways and the nooks and the wild flowers. Oh, do you think you could learn to ride? You would not be afraid! Father is so fond of it. Oh, the rides we used to have in our early life!"
Marguerite"s eyes lighted with eager pleasure. "Oh, I should like it,"
she returned, earnestly.
"And he is so fond of it. It seems as if he had given up so many things for me. I used to go out to the Stations with him and live in the Forts.
What magnificent gallops we have had. I don"t wonder the boys were imbued with the love of military life, their father was such an ardent soldier. We were very happy with our boys but we _did_ want a daughter.
I was so proud of the twins, perhaps too proud. Yet I do not think we can love these choice gifts of G.o.d too much, so long as we are grateful to the giver. Then there came all the sorrowful years. For a long while they thought I never would walk again. The Major resigned from the army and I know it was a sore cross to him. But we took much pleasure in educating our boys, and Zay was such a bright, winsome little thing. Her pa.s.sion is dancing and being merry. She loves to go out driving but I think she is afraid of managing a horse. Her father tried to train her a little but she cried and begged off, and the boys have been away so much. Oh, it will give him the greatest pleasure."
"And I want to devote my life to your happiness to make up for the years when you did not have me. You must train me in your ways, you must tell me what he likes best."