"You are mistaken," said Dane, with a manner both amused and pleased.?"I should never be content with _my_ content."
"But I mean?" She was not very willing to tell her meaning, the words came slowly,?"I used to think, that being so much to him, she must needs be something in herself. That only one who was a glory in herself, _could_ be the glory of another. In my way"?Hazel added, dropping her voice, " "She will do him good and not evil all the days of her life." And he will be "known in the gates" by more than the robe of purple and silk which her hands have woven!?"
As far as the face could then, it went down, bending over the nuts.
Dane looked, and smiled, and took no advantage.
"I do not see the difference of your view from mine," he remarked quietly. "You credit me surely with so much discrimination as to perceive that some women are n.o.body"s glory,?even as some men are fit to be n.o.body"s head."
"But people do not think so," said Hazel. "People make it out to be just something supplemental,?a sort of convenient finishing up the few trifles of comfort or help wherein a man may be deficient.
That is what they all say.?It is a very queer thing to be a woman!"
"Is it?" said Dane gravely.
"Yes!" said Hazel with one of her outbursts.?"Prim tells me not to vex you, and Dr. Maryland wants to know if?if I shall be a help or a hindrance, in short; and he hopes you will not let me have my own way too much. n.o.body enquires if you are likely to vex me, or to try my temper, or to develope my character, or help on my work; n.o.body supposes that I _have_ any work, of my own. But if I have not, that is only the more queer."
Rollo left his seat, he had got enough of his nuts; and coming behind Wych Hazel gently laid hold of both her hands and freed them from what they held, then insinuated her chair backwards, and lifting her out of it led her away to the fire and wrapped her in his arms. What it was no use to say, he did not say, however; as he had once told her he never asked for a thing he could not have, so even now, he would not supplicate for confidence which must be the growth of time. She would find out for herself, by and by, what concerned him; and the rest he did not are about. So his answer now was a departure. He did not kiss her; he stood pushing back the brown curls from her brow, on one side and on the other, looking down into her face with eyes which Hazel instinctively knew were too mighty to meet just then. So standing he coolly asked her,
"Do you love me, d.u.c.h.ess?"
"I was talking of loving myself," said Hazel, touching up her flushed cheeks with vivid carnation.
"I can do that better than you can. How about your part?"
"Reasoning from facts?probably?I must!"
"You are afraid to confide that deep secret to me? Now I should have no sort of difficulty in proclaiming mine to anybody who had any business to ask it. It must be a queer thing to be a woman!"?
said Dane, with a dry, humourous, but at the same time wholly tender and sweet expression.
"Have I not confided it?" Hazel said under her breath. "Do you think I would be here? What makes you ask such things? Is it because?"
But there she stopped.
"Because is a woman"s reason. I never do things "because." What did you mean to ask?"
"I think I have been very unlike myself,?that is all."
"I never saw you unlike yourself," Dane said, in that gentle manner and tone of his which was more than epithets and endearments from other people. Much more; for those might be mere forms of expression, and these could not be. And she enquired no further, nor raised her eyes to search. Standing there with a host of other questions in her mind; questions she would like to have discussed and settled, but which never would be;?so she thought. Unless indeed in the slow, unsatisfactory way in which time settles all things.
CHAPTER XXV.
PRIM"S TRUNK.
We cannot go into the next day"s shopping, though it was a very enjoyable day for the two people engaged. Some things however must be mentioned, on account of words and thoughts to which they gave occasion.
The business on hand this day was the getting of New Year"s gifts for everybody in general. And as, with the exception of the Hollow people, it had also to be for everybody in particular, the work was slow.
Wych Hazel wanted a secretary for Primrose, in the first place. A very beautiful one was found, very perfect also, of some light- coloured ornamental wood, finely inlaid, price three hundred dollars. On the other hand, Rollo got one, a larger one, and equally good, for Arthur Maryland, for just half the money. One for Prim was to be had for a third of the money; but it was unadorned black walnut, and less elegant in form, and Wych Hazel recoiled. She would have got the first without hesitation, only she could not coax any encouragement out of Rollo.
"Do you think she would like this plain one better? Do _you?_"
"Suppose the difference, in the charge of a note, lay in one of the drawers, for Prim"s poor people? Which do you think would give her most pleasure?"
"O _that_,?if you put it so. But I wish I could suit myself too."
"You can suit yourself too," said Dane smiling.
"I"ll think about it as we go along. You see," she said meditatively, "I could put the cheque in, just the same."
The next place in order was Stewart"s.
"I have something to get for Prim, too," said Rollo as the carriage stopped. "I have provided a new patent upright trunk; and I propose to stock all its compartments. Will you help me? Else, I am afraid, I shall never know all that ought to go in."
"Well," said Wych Hazel,?"is it to be filled with Prim"s ideas, or mine?"
"Let us give her what she can use and enjoy; every comfort we can think of; and nothing that would not be a comfort. You wonder at my choice of a present, perhaps; but Dr. Maryland"s means are very limited, and I know Rosy often hesitates about a new pair of gloves."
"I can choose gloves," said Hazel confidently. "But then?Dane?"
"Well?" said he, smiling, as he pushed open the swinging door.
Hazel walked on in a brown study.
"Never mind,?let me see you begin, and maybe I shall learn how to go on," she said, as they paused before one of the dress goods counters.
It was no doubt new experience to her. For Rollo began with soft merino and warm plaid pieces, choosing colours and qualities indeed with care, yet refusing the more costly stuffs which were offered. Except that he indulged himself and Primrose with a delicate gray camel"s hair at last. At the silk counter he would not be tempted by the exquisite tender hues which the shopman suggested to his notice; no, he looked, and called for others, and finally bought a good dark green and a black, the mate to Mrs.
Coles" black silk. At the glove counter he handed the matter over to Wych Hazel. She had watched all his proceedings with observant eyes, saying hardly a word, unless upon some point of quality where she knew best. Now she faced him again.
"How much do you want to invest in gloves, please?"
"That is not the point. I want to stock her glove drawer. Warm gloves, cool gloves, dark gloves, light gloves; you have carte blanche. I will look on now."
Hazel laughed a little.
"There are more sorts of gloves than that. What about six b.u.t.tons?"
"Six b.u.t.tons!" repeated Rollo.
"Would you like more?"
"I do not understand the question. Excuse me."
Wych Hazel held out her dainty wrist, turning it slightly that he might see.
"I approve of that," said he, looking gravely down at it.
"But you cannot have that for nothing," said Hazel.
"What?" said Dane, his eyes coming now with a sparkle in them to her face.