"Why not?"
"Because, in the first place, I do not think it is in good taste to receive such rich gifts from gentlemen; and then, again, if strangers notice it, you may be subjected to unpleasant, significant remarks."
"What would you do with it?" asked Kitty.
"I should give it back."
Kitty looked very undecided; but concluded to offer it to Mr. Bruce, and tell him what Gertrude said. She did so, and that gentleman, little appreciating Gertrude"s motives, and believing her only desirous of making difficulty between him and Kitty, jumped at the conclusion that her heart was won at last. He was disappointed, therefore, when, on his next meeting with her, she treated him as she had invariably done of late, with cool civility; indeed, it seemed to him that she was more insensible than ever to his attractions, and hastily quitted the house, much to the distress of Kitty.
"Shall I," thought he, "marry this poor girl? Shall I, who have a handsome fortune, and additional expectations to make a brilliant alliance, condescend to share my wealth with this adopted child of the Grahams? If she were one atom less charming, I would disappoint her, after all! I wonder how she"d feel if I should marry Kitty! I dare say that she would come to my wedding, bend her slender neck as gracefully as ever, and say, "_Good evening, Mr. Bruce_," as calmly as she does now, every time I go to the house! But, as _Mrs. Bruce_, I should be proud of that manner, certainly. I wonder how I ever got in love with her; I"m sure I don"t know. She isn"t handsome; mother thinks she isn"t, and so does Belle Clinton. But Lieutenant Osborne noticed her the minute she came into the room; and Fan raves about her beauty. I don"t know what I think myself; I believe she"s bewitched me, so that I"m not capable of judging; but, if it isn"t beauty, it"s something more than mere good looks."
About this time, Mrs. Graham and Mrs. Bruce, with their families, received cards for a _levee_ at the house of an acquaintance five miles distant. Mrs. Bruce, who had a close carriage, invited both the cousins to go; and, as Mr. Graham"s carriage, when closed, would only accommodate himself and lady, the proposal was acceded to.
The prospect of a gay a.s.sembly revived Isabel"s drooping spirits. Her rich evening dresses were brought out, and she stood before her mirror, and tied on first one wreath, and then another, and looked so beautiful in each that it was difficult to choose. Kitty, who stood by, went to consult Gertrude.
"Gertrude," said Kitty, "what shall I wear this evening? I"ve been trying to get Belle to tell me, but she never will hear what I ask her, when she"s thinking about her own dress! She"s dreadfully selfish."
"Who advises _her_?" asked Gertrude.
"Oh, n.o.body; she always decides for herself; but then she has so much taste, and I haven"t the least in the world! So do tell me, Gertrude, what had I better wear to-night?"
"I"m the last person you should ask, Kitty; I never went to a fashionable party in my life."
"That doesn"t make any difference. I"m sure if you did go, you"d look better than any of us; and I"m not afraid to trust to your opinion, for I never in my life saw you wear anything that didn"t look genteel--even your gingham morning-gown has a sort of stylish air."
"Stop, stop, Kitty; you are going too far; you must keep within bounds if you want me to believe you."
"Well then," said Kitty, "to say nothing of yourself (for you"re superior to flattery, Gertrude--_somebody_ told me so)--who furnishes Miss Emily"s wardrobe? Who selects her dresses?"
"I have done so lately, but----"
"I thought so!--I thought so!" interrupted Kitty. "I knew poor Miss Emily was indebted to you for always looking so nice and so beautiful."
"No, indeed, Kitty, you are mistaken; I have never seen Emily better dressed than she was the first time I met her; and her beauty is not borrowed from art--it is all her own."
"Oh, I know she is lovely, and everybody admires her; but no one can suppose she would take pains to wear such pretty things, and put them on so gracefully, just to please herself."
"It is not done merely to please herself; it was to please her father that Emily first made the exertion to dress with taste as well as neatness. I have heard that, for some time after she lost her eyesight, she was disposed to be very careless; but, having accidentally discovered that it was an additional cause of sorrow to him, she roused herself at once, and, with Mrs. Ellis"s a.s.sistance, contrived always afterwards to please him in that particular. But you observe, Kitty, she never wears anything showy or conspicuous."
"No, indeed, that is what I like; but, Gertrude, hasn"t she always been blind?"
"No; until she was sixteen she had beautiful eyes, and could see as well as you can."
"What happened to her? How did she lose them?"
"I don"t know."
"Didn"t you ever ask?"
"No."
"Why not?--how queer!"
"I heard that she didn"t like to speak of it."
"But she would have told you; she worships you."
"If she had wished me to know, she would have told without my asking."
Kitty stared at Gertrude, wondering much at such unusual delicacy and consideration, and instinctively admiring a forbearance of which she was conscious she should herself have been incapable.
"But your dress!" said Gertrude, smiling at Kitty"s abstraction.
"Oh, yes! I had almost forgotten what I came here for," said Kitty.
"What shall it be, then--thick or thin; pink, blue, or white?"
"What has Isabel decided upon?"
"Blue--a rich blue silk; that is her favourite colour, always; but it doesn"t become me."
"No, I should think not," said Gertrude; "but come, Kitty, we will go to your room and see the dresses, and I will give my opinion."
Kitty"s wardrobe having been inspected, a delicate white c.r.a.pe was fixed upon. And now her head-dresses did not prove satisfactory. "I cannot wear any of them," said Kitty; "they look so mean by the side of Isabel"s; but oh!" exclaimed she, glancing at a box which lay on the dressing-table, "these are just what I should like! Oh, Isabel, where did you get these beautiful carnations?" and she took up some flowers which were, indeed, a rare imitation of nature, and, displaying them to Gertrude, added that they were just what she wanted.
"Oh, Kitty," said Isabel, angrily, "don"t touch my flowers! you will spoil them!" and s.n.a.t.c.hing them from her, she replaced them in the box, and deposited them in the bureau, and locked them up--an action which Gertrude witnessed with astonishment, mingled with indignation.
"Kitty," said she, "I will arrange a wreath of natural flowers for you, if you wish."
"Will you, Gertrude?" said the disappointed and provoked Kitty. "Oh that will be delightful. I should like it of all things! And, Isabel, you cross old miser, you can keep all your wreaths to yourself!"
Gertrude prepared a head-dress for Kitty; and tastefully mingled the choicest productions of the garden, that, when Isabel saw her cousin look so beautiful with it, she felt a sharp pang of jealousy of Kitty and dislike to Gertrude.
CHAPTER x.x.xI.
THE REJECTED.
Emily was not well this evening. It was often the case, lately, that headache, weariness, or a nervous shrinking from noise and excitement sent her to her own room or to her couch at an early hour. After Mrs.
Graham and her nieces had gone downstairs to await Mr. Graham"s pleasure, and Mrs. Bruce"s arrival, Gertrude returned to Emily, and found her suffering more than usual from her head. She was easily induced to seek the only infallible cure--sleep; and Gertrude, seating herself on the bedside, as she was frequently in the habit of doing, bathed her temples until she fell into a quiet slumber. The noise of Mrs. Bruce"s carriage disturbed her a little; but she was soon in so sound a sleep that, when Mr. and Mrs. Graham departed, the loud voice of the latter did not startle her in the least. Gertrude sat some time longer without changing her position, then, quietly rising, and arranging everything for the night, according to Emily"s wishes, she closed the door, sought a book in her own room, and, entering the parlour, seated herself at a table to enjoy the rare opportunity for stillness and repose. But she soon left her seat, and going towards the gla.s.s doors and leaning her head upon her hands, was absorbed in meditation.
She had not long sat thus when she heard a footstep in the room, and, turning, saw Mr. Bruce beside her. She started, and exclaimed, "Mr.
Bruce! is it possible? I thought you had gone to the wedding."
"No, there were greater attractions for me at home. Could you believe, Miss Gertrude, I should find any pleasure in a party which did not include yourself?"
"I certainly should not have the vanity to suppose the reverse?" replied Gertrude.