"I believe I once met Mrs. Millard in the shop." There was a twinkle of mischief in Norah"s demureness.
Mrs. Millard bowed distantly.
"I am going to settle this here and now," Miss Sarah whispered to Mrs.
Russell as Norah crossed the room to the sofa where Alex sat. Leaning forward she said in a tone quite audible to everybody, "Norah, excuse me for asking a personal question, but did you say Miss Carpenter--Marion--was related to the Philadelphia Carpenters?"
Norah was quick-witted. So this was what they had been talking about!
A glance at Mrs. Millard"s haughty shoulders explained. "I think I did say so," she replied frankly.
"But Miss Unadilla says she can"t be," observed Wayland in an undertone from behind her.
Norah made her decision promptly. "Miss Unadilla would not have said so if she had understood. I am going to take the liberty of explaining what has perhaps puzzled some of you. It was I who in the beginning caused the mistake, and I think now the time has come to set it right." In the faces of her friends she saw nothing but confidence.
"Some of you have perhaps already guessed that there is just one Miss Carpenter. Marion is Miss Unadilla"s niece."
"I knew it! I knew it!" Charlotte whispered in an ecstasy.
Norah continued: "We had no idea of making a mystery of it; that simply happened. Marion was recovering from a long illness, which left her with a nervous affection of the eyes, so serious she felt she would lose her sight. She and I were school friends, and when she was taken ill she sent for me, and I was with her through it all. When she grew stronger, her physician felt she must have some radical change--something which would take her thoughts from herself, but nothing seemed the right thing. Then I thought of putting into execution an old plan of mine to open a shop. I coaxed her into it, and we set out to seek our fortune, just as if the rich Miss Carpenter did not exist,--or, at least, was merely our patron. We came here partly because the climate was mild, and also because I had been here before and knew about the place; and it was far enough from Miss Carpenter"s home to make it unlikely she would be recognized. We took no one into our confidence except Dr. Baird, and it was generally understood that we were travelling somewhere for Marion"s health. The fiction about the rich Miss Carpenter has annoyed Marion all along; but as it came about, I didn"t see how to avoid it. It really seemed better that it should not be known." Norah looked at Alex, as if seeking her opinion.
"Of course, I understand," said Alex; "go on."
"There isn"t anything more, except that at the outset we were discovered by Mr. Landor, Charlotte"s guardian, and an old friend of Marion"s. He promised to keep our secret, and also to speak a good word for us to Miss Virginia."
"My dear, he did; and at the time I was a little surprised, but--"
Miss Virginia hesitated.
Norah interrupted her. "You have all been so good to us. If Marion were here, she would join me in saying it. The best part of our venture--and it has been a success in other ways--is the friends we have made."
"You showed yourselves friendly and won us in spite of ourselves,"
said Miss Sarah.
"I always said there was a mystery," old Mrs. Leigh remarked. "And are you, too, a millionnairess, Miss Norah?"
Norah spread out her hands in an odd little gesture: "I am sorry, but I am just a plain poor person."
"Is this the end of the shop?" some one asked.
"I trust not. I have no idea of giving up, unless you drive me away,"
Norah answered.
Perhaps the only person present who was greatly surprised was Mrs.
Millard. She had planned her little scene with some care, antic.i.p.ating just such a gathering in honor of her return. To have the t.i.tle role--as it were--s.n.a.t.c.hed from her in the moment of triumph was annoying. But whatever her faults, Mrs. Millard was a lady, and as such she accepted the situation. She said little, but what she said was graceful and to the point. The eccentricity of the whole thing was, it seemed to her, sufficient excuse for her att.i.tude, which, now she understood, she regretted.
"Did you want anything in particular of me, Norah?" Alex asked as they were leaving.
"Yes," was the answer. "I want you to be my partner."
"Norah!" Alex cried. "You know I"ll be glad, glad to be; but, oh, I am sorry for you, if you must lose Marion."
CHAPTER THIRTIETH
CHANGES
"Was I not right to come? You said a year, and that is over."
"I did not expect you so soon." Marion smiled over the great bunch of wild sunflowers she held. Coming in a few minutes earlier she had found Francis Landor pacing impatiently back and forth. Something, perhaps it was the unexpectedness of it, made her a trifle stately.
It seemed to Francis that those flaunting yellow flowers made a barrier between them. "It was only by chance I found you. Charlotte gave me a hint. How long did you intend to leave me in uncertainty?
Was it quite fair?"
"I have been in uncertainty myself; happily my fears have not been realized. I did what seemed best at the time, and please remember the year is only just over." Marion looked at him gravely from behind her flowery screen.
"I did not mean to begin by reproaching you," he said, drawing nearer. "But you cannot realize what it has meant to be left in complete ignorance. Even now I don"t understand why you are here." He glanced about the room.
"Norah Pennington and I are living here, earning our daily bread--really doing it,"--she laughed a little; "and, as you see, it has made me over. It was Norah"s plan, and you can see how we were obliged to keep it to ourselves, if it was to be carried out. I had to cut loose from everything,--the suspense about my eyes was killing me.
Of course, looking back, it seems needless; but one cannot argue with nerves."
She paused a moment, then continued: "There is one thing I want to explain at the beginning. This winter"s experience has made a different person of me. I can never go back to the old life of a society woman, with perhaps a little charitable work thrown in. I want to come in touch with people--all sorts of people. I want to try experiments. I think I must have inherited some of my grandfather"s business instincts. I haven"t made any very definite plans, but I should like to start other shops such as this, where women who have some ability and the gift for making useful and beautiful things can find their opportunity. I shall make mistakes, and lose money perhaps, but I want to experiment. I want you to understand how I feel, before--before--" Marion"s eyes shone, a lovely flush was on her face as she hesitated.
Francis Landor took sudden possession of the yellow flowers, tossing them with scant courtesy on the table, and leaning forward he grasped her hands. "May, what has this to do with it? Does it crowd me out of your life? Since you were a little girl, since the days when we played together, you have been my help and inspiration. Do you mean this has come between us, or do you still care?"
Tears shone in Marion"s eyes; she bent her head till it touched his shoulder. "Francis, I do care--I have always cared; I told Charlotte to tell you."
"You will forgive me if I am only half glad to see you, Mr. Landor,"
was Norah"s greeting a little later. "Susanna, now, is wholly delighted. She sees the end of what has been to her a long exile, but I must needs go in search of another partner."
"Why not take me in as a third, Miss Norah? I believe I should like it."
"I shouldn"t," she replied, laughing. "It would end in my playing third fiddle, and you must know this place is _Norah"s_ Ark; I am chief manager." She went off gayly, pausing at the door to ask, "You do not mind my speaking to Alex to-night, Marion?"
What happened in the course of her search for Alex, we have already seen.
The two in the shop were left undisturbed. It must have been nearly ten o"clock, which was considered late in the Terrace, when a voice was heard insisting, "I must see Miss Marion, Susanna, just for a minute. Is she here?" and Charlotte burst into the room.
"Oh, Miss Marion, I had half guessed,--I was not quite sure. Oh, I am so glad!" Oblivious to the presence of any one else she threw her arms about Miss Carpenter, who had risen hastily as she entered.
"What are you talking about, dearie?" she asked, returning the embrace of the excited girl.
"Where is that message you were told to deliver to me, Charlotte?" Mr.
Landor demanded.
"Cousin Frank!" she cried, releasing Marion, "where did you come from?" Then glancing from one to the other, she added, "But you didn"t wait for it. Oh, I am so glad!"
"You are a tremendous goose, Charlotte," said Marion, but she laughed.
In fact they all three laughed a great deal in the course of the next few minutes.