All these appearances, as she rightly conjectured, betokened the arrival of Mrs. Graham, and possibly of other company. She might perhaps have regretted the ill-timed coming of this bustling lady at the moment when she was eager for a quiet opportunity to present Willie to Emily and her father, and communicate to them her own happiness; but if such a thought presented itself it vanished in a moment. Her joy was too complete to be marred by so trifling a disappointment. "Let us drive up the avenue, Willie," said she, "to the side-door, so that George may see us and take your horse to the stable."
"No," said Willie, as he stopped opposite the front gate; "I can"t come in now--there seems to be a house full of company, and besides I have an appointment in town at eight o"clock, and promised to be punctual;"--he glanced at his watch and added, "it is near that already. I did not think of its being so late; but I shall see you to-morrow morning, may I not?" She looked her a.s.sent, and, with a warm grasp of the hand as he helped her from the chaise, and a mutual smile of confidence and love, they separated.
He drove rapidly towards Boston, and she, opening the gate, found herself in the arms of f.a.n.n.y Bruce, who had been impatiently waiting the departure of Willie to seize her dear Miss Gertrude and, between tears and kisses, pour out her congratulations and thanks for her happy escape from that horrid steamboat--for this was the first time they had met since the accident.
"Has Mrs. Graham come, f.a.n.n.y?" asked Gertrude, as they walked up to the house together.
"Yes, indeed; Mrs. Graham, and Kitty, and Isabel, and a little girl, and a sick gentleman--Mr. Clinton, I believe; and another gentleman--but _he"s_ gone."
"Who has gone?"
"Oh, a tall, dignified-looking man, with black eyes, and a beautiful face, and hair as white as if he were old--and he isn"t old either."
"And do you say he has gone?"
"Yes; he didn"t come with the rest. He was here when I came, and he went away about an hour ago. I heard him tell Miss Emily that he had agreed to meet a friend in Boston, but perhaps he"d come back this evening. I hope he will, Miss Gertrude; you ought to see him."
They had now reached the house, and through the open door Gertrude could plainly distinguish the loud tones of Mrs. Graham"s voice proceeding from the parlour on the right. She was talking to her husband and Emily, and was just saying as Gertrude entered, "Oh, it was the most awful thing I ever heard of in my life! and to think, Emily, of your being on board, and our Isabel! Poor child! she hasn"t got her colour back yet after the fright. And Gertrude Flint, too! By the way, they say Gertrude behaved very well. Where is the child?"
Turning round, she now saw Gertrude, who was just entering the room, and, going towards her, she kissed her with considerable heartiness and sincerity; for Mrs. Graham, though somewhat coa.r.s.e and blunt, was not without good feelings when the occasion was such as to awaken them.
Gertrude"s entrance having served to interrupt the stream of exclamatory remarks in which the excitable lady had been indulging for ten minutes or more, she now bethought herself of the necessity of removing her bonnet and outside garments, a part of which, being loosed from their fastenings, she had been dragging after her about the floor.
"Well!" exclaimed she, "I suppose I had better follow the girls" example and get some of the dust off from me! I"m half buried, I believe! But there, that"s better than coming on in the horrid steamboat last night, as my brother Clinton was so crazy as to propose. Where"s Bridget? I want her to take up some of my things."
"I will a.s.sist you," said Gertrude, taking up a little carpet-bag, throwing a scarf, which had been stretching across the room, over her arm, and then following Mrs. Graham closely, in order to support the heavy travelling-shawl which was hanging half off that lady"s shoulders.
At the first landing-place, however, she found herself suddenly encircled in Kitty"s warm embrace, and, laying down her burdens, gave herself up for a few moments to the hugging and kissing that succeeded.
At the head of the staircase she met Isabel, wrapped in a dressing gown, with a large pitcher in her hand, and a most discontented expression of countenance. She set the pitcher on the floor, however, and saluted Gertrude with a good grace. "I"m glad to see you alive," said she, "though I cannot look at you without shuddering; it reminds me so of that dreadful day when we were in such frightful danger. How lucky we were to be saved, when there were so many drowned! I"ve wondered ever since, Gertrude, how you could be so calm; I"m sure I shouldn"t have known what to do if you hadn"t been there to suggest. But, oh dear!
don"t let us speak of it; it"s a thing I cant" bear to think of!" and with a shudder and shrug of the shoulders, Isabel dismissed the subject and called somewhat pettishly to Kitty--"Kitty, I thought you went to get our pitcher filled!"
Kitty, who, in obedience to a loud call and demand from her aunt, had hastily run to her room with the little travelling-bag which Gertrude had dropped on the staircase, now came back quite out of breath, saying, "I did ring the bell twice. Hasn"t anybody come?"
"No!" replied Belle! "and I should like to wash my face and curl my hair before tea, if I could."
"Let me take the pitcher," said Gertrude; "I am going downstairs, and will send Jane up with the water."
"Thank you," said Belle, rather feebly; while Kitty exclaimed, "No, no, Gertrude; I"ll go myself."
But it was too late; Gertrude had gone.
Gertrude found Mrs. Ellis full of troubles and perplexities. "Only think," said the astonished housekeeper, "of their coming, five of them, without the least warning in the world; and here I"ve nothing in the house fit for tea; not a bit of rich cake, not a sc.r.a.p of cold ham. And of course they"re hungry after their long journey, and will want something nice."
"Oh, if they are very hungry, Mrs. Ellis, they can eat dried beef and fresh biscuit and plain cake; and if you will give me the keys I will get out the preserves and the best silver, and see that the table is set properly."
Nothing was a trouble to Gertrude that night. Everything that she touched went right. Jane caught her spirit and became astonishingly active; and when the really bountiful table was spread, and Mrs. Ellis, after glancing around and seeing that all was as it should be, looked into the beaming eyes and observed the glowing cheek and sunny smile of the happy girl, she exclaimed, in her ignorance, "Good gracious, Gertrude, anybody would think you were over-joyed to see all these folks back again!"
It wanted but a few moments to tea-time, and Gertrude was selecting fresh napkins from a drawer in the china-closet, when Kitty Ray peeped in at the door and finally entered, leading by the hand a little girl neatly dressed in black. Her face was at first full of smiles; but the moment she attempted to speak she burst into tears, and throwing her arms round Gertrude"s neck, whispered in her ear, "Oh, Gertrude, I"m so happy! I came to tell you!"
"Happy?" replied Gertrude; "then you mustn"t cry."
Upon this Kitty laughed, and then cried again, and then laughed once more, and in the interval explained to Gertrude that she was engaged--had been engaged a week to the best man in the world--and that the child she held by the hand was his orphan niece, and just like a daughter to him. "And only think," continued she, "it"s all owing to you."
"To me?" said the astonished Gertrude.
"Yes; because I was so vain and silly, you know, and liked folks that were not worth liking, and didn"t care much for anybody"s comfort but my own; and, if you hadn"t taught me to be something better than that, and set me a good example, which I"ve tried to follow ever since, he never would have thought of looking at me, much less loving me, and believing I should be a fit mother for little Gracie here," and she looked down affectionately at the child, who was clinging fondly to her. "He is a minister, Gertrude, and very good. Only think of such a childish creature as I am being a minister"s wife!" The sympathy which Kitty came to claim was not denied her, and Gertrude, with her own eyes br.i.m.m.i.n.g with tears, a.s.sured her of her partic.i.p.ation in her joy.
In the meantime little Gracie, who still clung to Kitty with one hand, had gently inserted the other within that of Gertrude, who, looking down upon her for the first time, recognized the child whom she had rescued from persecution in the drawing-room at Saratoga.
Kitty was charmed with the coincidence, and Gertrude, as she remarked the happy transformation which had already been effected in the countenance and dress of the little girl, who had been so sadly in want of female superintendence, felt an added conviction of the wisdom of the young clergyman"s choice.
Mr. Graham"s cheerful parlour had never looked so cheerful as on that evening. The weather was mild, but a light fire, which had been kindled on Mr. Clinton"s account, did not render the room too warm. It had, however, driven the young people into a remote corner, leaving the neighbourhood of the fire-place to Mrs. Graham and Emily, who occupied the sofa, and Mr. Clinton and Mr. Graham, whose arm-chairs were placed on the opposite side.
This arrangement enabled Mr. Graham to converse freely and uninterruptedly with his guest upon some grave topic of interest, while his talkative wife entertained herself and Emily by a recapitulation of her travels and adventures. On a table, at the further extremity of the room, was placed a huge portfolio of beautiful engravings, recently purchased and brought home by Mr. Graham, and representing a series of European views. Gertrude and Kitty were turning them carefully over; and little Gracie, who was sitting in Kitty"s lap, and f.a.n.n.y, who was leaning over Gertrude"s shoulder, were listening eagerly to the young ladies" explanations and comments.
Occasionally Isabel, the only restless or unoccupied person present, would lean over the table to glance at the likeness of some familiar spot, and exclaim, "Kitty, there"s the shop where I bought my blue silk!" or, "Kitty, there"s the waterfall that we visited in company with the Russian officers." And now the door opened, and, without any announcement, Mr. Amory and William Sullivan entered.
Had either made his appearance singly, he would have been looked upon with astonishment by the majority of the company; but coming together, and with an apparently good understanding existing between them, there was no countenance present which expressed any emotion but that of surprise.
Mr. and Mrs. Graham, however, were too much accustomed to society to betray any further evidence of that sentiment than was contained in a momentary glance, and, rising, received their visitors with due politeness and propriety. The former nodded carelessly to Mr. Amory, whom he had seen in the morning, presented him to Mr. Clinton (without, however, mentioning the existing connection with himself), and was preparing to go through the same ceremony to Mrs. Graham, but was saved the trouble as she had not forgotten the acquaintance formed at Baden-Baden.
Willie"s knowledge of the company also spared the necessity of introduction to all but Emily; and that being accidentally omitted, he gave an arch glance at Gertrude, and, taking an offered seat near Isabel, entered into conversation with her, Mr. Amory being in like manner engrossed by Mrs. Graham.
"Miss Gertrude," whispered f.a.n.n.y, as soon as the interrupted composure of the party was once more restored, and glancing at Willie as she spoke, "that"s the gentleman you were out driving with this afternoon. I know it is," continued she, as she observed Gertrude change colour and endeavour to hush her, while she looked anxiously round as if the remark had been overheard; "is it Willie, Gertrude? is it Mr. Sullivan?"
Gertrude became more and more embarra.s.sed, while the mischievous f.a.n.n.y continued to ply her with such questions; and Isabel, who had jealously noticed that Willie"s eyes wandered more than once to the table, turned on her such a scrutinizing look as rendered her confusion distressing.
Accident came to her relief, however. The housemaid, with the evening paper, endeavoured to open the door, against which her chair was placed, thus giving her an opportunity to rise, receive the paper, and at the same time an unimportant message. While she was thus engaged, Mr.
Clinton left his chair with the feeble step of an invalid, crossed the room, addressed a question in a low voice to Willie, and receiving an affirmatory reply, took Isabel by the hand, and approaching Mr. Amory, exclaimed, with deep emotion, "Sir, Mr. Sullivan tells me you are the person who saved the life of my daughter; and here she is to thank you."
Mr. Amory rose and flung his arm over the shoulder and around the waist of Gertrude, who was pa.s.sing on her way to hand the newspaper to Mr.
Graham, and who, not having heard the remark of Mr. Clinton, received the caress with a sweet smile and an upturned face. "Here," said he, "Mr. Clinton, is the person who saved the life of your daughter. It is true that I swam with her to the sh.o.r.e; but it was under the mistaken impression that I was bearing to a place of safety my own darling child, whom I little suspected then of having voluntarily relinquished to another her only apparent chance of rescue."
"Just like you, Gertrude! Just like you!" shouted Kitty and f.a.n.n.y in a breath, each struggling to obtain a foremost place in the little circle that had gathered round her.
"My own n.o.ble Gertrude!" whispered Emily, as, leaning on Mr. Amory"s arm, she pressed Gertrude"s hand to her lips.
"Oh, Gertrude!" exclaimed Isabel, with tears in her eyes, "I didn"t know. I never thought----"
"Your child?" cried Mrs. Graham"s loud voice, interrupting Isabel"s unfinished exclamation.
"Yes, my child, thank G.o.d!" said Mr. Amory, reverently; "restored at last to her unworthy father, and--you have no secrets here, my darling?"--Gertrude shook her head, and glanced at Willie, who now stood at her side "and gladly bestowed by him upon her faithful and far more deserving lover." And he placed her hand in Willie"s.
There was a moment"s pause. All were impressed with the solemnity of the action. Then Mr. Graham came forward, shook each of the young couple heartily by the hand, and, pa.s.sing his sleeve hastily across his eyes, sought his customary refuge in the library.
"Gertrude," said f.a.n.n.y, pulling Gertrude"s dress to attract her attention, and speaking in a loud whisper, "are you engaged?--are you engaged to him?"
"Yes," whispered Gertrude, anxious, if possible, to gratify f.a.n.n.y"s curiosity and silence her questioning.