Miss Levison drank the coffee, returned the cup, and then inquired:
"Where is Janet? I sent her with a message; she should have returned by this time."
"Ou, aye, sae she should. She"s clacking her clavvers wi" yon lad frae the "Hereward Arm." But here she is now, me young leddy," answered the housekeeper, as the maid entered the room and placed in her mistress"
hand a note and a small parcel, tied up in white paper with narrow white ribbon, and sealed with the Hereward crest.
Miss Levison opened the note and read:
"HEREWARD ARMS INN, Tuesday Morning.
"I greet you, my only beloved, on this our bridal morning--the commencement of a long and happy union for both of us! Yes, a long union, for it will stretch into eternity, and a happy one, for come what will, we shall be happy in each other. I send you the richest jewel that has ever been in our possession, the only one which has survived the wreck of our fortunes. It has been preserved more on account of its traditionary interest than for its intrinsic value. Tradition tells us that at the taking of Jerusalem, in the first crusade, this jewel was s.n.a.t.c.hed from the turban of Saladin, the Sultan, in single combat, by our wild crusading ancestor, Ranulph d" Arondelle. It adorned his own hemlet at the siege of St. Jean d" Acre, some years later. In short, it has been handed down from father to son through six centuries and sixteen generations. It has "in the thickest carnage blazed" on battle-fields, and in the maddest merriment flashed in festive scenes. Yet it is an offering all too poor for my great love to make, or your great worth to receive. But take it as the best I have to give.
"ARONDELLE."
She read this note with tearful eyes, roseate cheeks" and smiling lips.
And then she untied the white ribbon and opened the white paper. It first disclosed a golden casket about four inches square, richly chased and bearing the Hereward arms set in small precious stones. The tiny key was in the lock. She opened it and found, lying on a bed of rich white satin, a large, burning, blazing ruby heart--the famous ruby of the Hereward, said to be the largest in the world. Miss Levison had read of this jewel as one of the most valuable among precious stones. She had heard also, what evidently the young marquis did not think worth while to tell her in connection with its history, namely, that it had been held as an amulet of such power that it was believed the ducal house of Hereward would never be without a male heir as long as it possessed that priceless ruby heart. Miss Levison supposed this to be the reason why it had been preserved by the old duke from the total wreck of his fortune. And the marquis had given it to her! Well, that was not giving it out of the family, since she was to be his wife. While offering it he had undervalued the royal gift. But how highly she appreciated it, rating it far above all the other jewels that blazed upon her table.
"And to think I should have had such an evil dream about him, and even suffered myself to be troubled by it!" she said, pressing his note to her lips.
Then she shivered so hardly that her old housekeeper exclaimed:
"Me dear young leddy, ye hae surely taken cauld. Let me order a fire kindled here."
"Nonsense, Mrs. Ross--a fire on this warm summer morning? I could not bear it. Besides if I shiver with cold one moment, I glow with heat the next," said Miss Levison, smiling.
"Ay; I am sair afeard ye"s gaun to be ill, wi" all thae shivers and glows," replied the dame, shaking her head.
"Nonsense again, Mrs. Ross, dear woman. I am well enough. Now, Janet, did you tell his lordship"s messenger to wait?"
"Yes, Miss."
Miss Levison drew a little writing-stand to her side, opened the desk, took out materials and penned the following note:
"LONE CASTLE, Tuesday.
"MY MOST BELOVED AND HONORED: Your right royal gift is beyond all price for richness, beauty, traditional interest, and symbolism, and as such I shall hold it above all other gifts, and cherish it to the end of my life. But it is not only to speak of your invaluable gift I write; it is also to ask you to do a strange thing to please me this morning. It is now eight o"clock. We are appointed to meet at the church at eleven. Will you meet me _here_ first at half-past nine? I wish to tell you something before we go to the altar. It is nothing important that I have to tell you--you will probably only laugh at it; but I must get it off my mind; for it weighs there like a sin. Come and receive my little confession, and give absolution to YOUR OWN SALOME."
She enveloped and directed this note, and gave it to Janet, with orders to hand it to Lord Arondelle"s man.
When the girl had left the room, Miss Levison turned to the housekeeper and inquired:
"Has my father"s bell rung yet, do you know?"
"Na, me young leddy, it has na rung yet. Sir Lemuel"s man, Mr. Peter, is down-stairs, waiting for the summons."
"Perhaps he had better call his master," suggested Miss Levison.
"Na, Miss, sae I tauld him; but he said his orders were no to call his master the morn", but to wait till he heard his bell ring. He"s waiting for that e"en noo."
"Very well, Mrs. Ross. Papa was up late last night, I know, and is probably tired this morning. So we must let him sleep as long as possible. But as soon as his bell rings, be sure to take him up a cup of coffee."
"Verra weel, Miss."
"And, Mrs. Ross, I hope that all our guests are cared for, and served in their own rooms with tea and toast, or coffee and m.u.f.fins, as they choose?"
"Ou, ay, me dear young leddy, I hae ta"en care of a" that. And what will I bring yersel", Miss, before ye begin to dress?"
"Nothing; I have had a cup of coffee. That is sufficient for the present."
"Neathing but ae wee bit cup o" coffee, my dear young leddy?"
"No; I have no appet.i.te. I suppose no girl ever did have on her wedding morning," said Miss Levison, shivering and then flushing.
The housekeeper contemplated her young mistress with growing anxiety.
"I am sure ye are no weel," she ventured again to suggest.
"I am quite well, my dear Mrs. Ross. Do not disturb yourself. But go now and send Janet and Kitty to me. I must begin to dress."
The housekeeper left the room, and was soon replaced by the lady"s maid and the upper house-maid.
"Is my bath ready, Kitty?"
"Yes, Miss; and I have poured six bottles of ody collone intil it," said the girl, with a very self-approving air.
"You needn"t have done that," said Miss Levison, with an amused smile, "but you meant well, and I thank you."
She took her customary morning bath, and slipping on a soft, white, cashmere wrapper, placed herself in the hands of her maidens to be dressed for the altar.
Janet combed, and brushed and arranged the shining dark brown hair. Kitty laced the dainty white velvet boots. Janet arrayed her in her bridal robes, and Kitty clasped the costly jewels around her neck and arms. One placed the bridal vail and wreath upon her head, while the other drew the pretty pearl-embroidered gloves upon her hands.
At length her toilet was complete, and she stood up, beautiful in her youth, love, and joy, and imperial in her array.
She wore a long trained dress of the richest white satin, trimmed with deep point lace flounces, headed with trails of orange flower buds; an over-dress of fine cardinal point lace, looped up with festoons of orange buds; a point lace berthe and short sleeve ruffles; a necklace, pendant, and bracelets of pearls set in diamonds, white kid gloves, embroidered with fine white silk; white satin boots worked with pearls. On her head the rich, full orange flower wreath. And over all, like mist over frost and snow, fell the long bridal vail of finest point lace, softening the whole effect.
"The young ladies, your bridesmaids, bid me tell you, Miss, that they are quite ready to come to you, when you are so to receive them," said Kitty, as she placed the bouquet of orange flowers in its jewelled holder, and handed it to her mistress.
"Very well. I will send for them in good time," answered Miss Levison, glancing at the little golden clock upon the mantel-piece, and noticing that it was nearly half-past nine, the hour at which she expected Lord Arondelle. "But now, Kitty, my good girl, go and inquire if my father is up, and return and let me know. I would like to see him in his room."
The house-maid courtesied and went out, and after a few minutes" absence returned running.
"If you please, Miss, Sir Lemuel hasn"t rung his bell yet, and Mr. Peters says, with his duty to you, Miss, as it is so late, hadn"t he better call his master?"
"By no means! Let Mr. Peters obey his master"s orders not to disturb him until his bell rings," answered the young lady.
"Yes, Miss; and if you please, Miss, here is a card, and his lordship, Lord Arondelle, is down stairs asking for you, Miss," said the girl, laying the pasteboard in question before her young mistress.
"Lord Arondelle! Yes, I expected his lordship. Where is he?"