About ten o"clock Yanna arrived at Filmer Hall, and Rose, who had seen her approach, went to the door to meet her.
"Come upstairs, Yanna," she cried. "Come to my room, and I will show you something." She was all impatience and excitement, and Yanna"s white face and serious manner did not impress her. With a little flourish, she flung wide the door of her sitting-room, and pointing to a garment lying upon the couch, cried:
"Is not that a dress worth living for, Yanna? It quite expresses me!
Look at the opal tints in the silk, and the soft lace, and the pearl tr.i.m.m.i.n.g! And in the greenhouse, there is the one flower possible to wear with it--a large, soft, feathery, white chrysanthemum! I love chrysanthemums! they give you an impression of poetic melancholy; they have the sadness of an autumn sunset! What do you think of the dress, Yanna?"
"It is beautiful."
"I hope Antony will like me in it."
"He admires you in everything you wear."
"He was not near Filmer yesterday."
"He was in New York."
"Do you know that Harry has become quite ugly about the ball?--every one is talking about the depression in trade; I am sure there is more need to complain about the depression in pleasure--he was eager enough at first about it, but now he thinks the whole subject a bore. Last night he would not even speak to us about it; and this morning he had breakfast in his room, and poor mamma has everything to look after."
"Perhaps he is saving himself for to-night."
"But that is so mean. Men ought to have a few domestic amenities. Miss Polly Barnard says the reformation of men will be the mission of the coming woman. I wish some woman would begin her mission with Harry!"
"Did Miss Polly stay long with you?"
"Only three days. She talked to the servants about saving their money, and improving their minds, and they said she was "_a perfect lady_!" A perfect lady is the highest praise servants have for any one they approve. We did not find her perfect. She scolded me about my worldliness, and called me a thoughtless little sinneress." Then suddenly Rose"s face fell, and she covered it with her hands, and began to cry.
"Why, Rose, what is the matter?"
"I had such a sad dream last night. I cannot tell it; and I cannot forget it. I wish I could be good, and I cannot be good. We used to have such n.o.ble plans for our lives. We meant to be so useful and busy, and I have frittered this summer away in pure idleness. But after this ball is over, I am determined I will do something better with my life than dress and dance, and eat and sleep, and listen to lovers."
"I also have come far short of what I intended, Rose. The summer has gone like a dream, but I feel this morning as if I had awakened from it."
"Well, I have made some good resolutions; and when the time comes, I intend to keep them. To-day, however, is predestined to folly, and I may as well have my share in it. When my conscience p.r.i.c.ks me a little I always enjoy my pleasures the most. You know what is said about stolen fruit; it is that kind of a feeling. Why did Antony go to New York? Did he tell you that I had snubbed him the other day?"
"He never talks of you, Rose. Did you go to Mrs. Van Praagh"s tea?"
"Unfortunately, I did."
"Was it not pleasant?"
"Do you know the kind of tea, where everybody calls every one else "dear"?"
Yanna laughed.
"That explains the function. We were all women, and we were all "dear." No men were present but Grandfather Praagh and the young Adolphus."
She spoke scornfully, and Yanna said: "I thought you rather admired Adolphus Van Praagh."
"I did, until I met him at various tennis parties. Then I saw that he always wore dingy flannels. Is there anything more levelling in a man"s dress than dingy flannels? Now, Harry"s tennis suits are fresh, if he puts two suits on every day, to achieve the result. I think Harry is handsome in white flannels. Don"t you?"
"Very handsome. Were the Bleeker Van Praaghs there?"
"Of course they were. Van Praaghs always flock together, and have done so, generation after generation."
"I think that is a fine family trait."
"I think so, too--for the family. Personally, I could have wished more of the Milton and Kent and Bannerman element, and less of the Van Praaghs. But I did not remain long. Nelly Milton wore a fetching costume. She said it was a Redfern marvel. I noticed nothing else, but that every one had feather boas round their necks, and that in consequence the doorsteps were strewn with feathers. I hope Antony will come to the ball. Do you think he will dance with me?"
"No."
"But with me? And in that dress!"
"I am sure he will not dance. He would rather lead a "forlorn hope" or ride a hundred miles after hostile Indians, than go through a dance.
It seems, even to me, so absurd to think of _men_ mincing and capering about a room. I could sooner fancy Antony playing "How Far to Babylon?" with the little children in the street."
"Nevertheless, I shall make him dance."
"I am sure you will not, Rose. Do not try. You will only wound and pain him, and disappoint yourself."
"We shall see."
After some more conversation, they went downstairs to look at the decorations; and greatly to Yanna"s surprise, the lunch bell rang; and Mrs. Filmer came through the corridor towards the two girls. She kissed Yanna in her usual manner, and said: "We are going to have a very early lunch, Yanna; stay, and eat it with us."
"I promised father to be home at noon--I did not know it was so late--I must go home at once--I do hope you will have a lovely time to-night--I am sure you ought to have." She was talking with nervous haste, and only desirous to reach the door before any unpleasant remark could be made. Mrs. Filmer looked at her white face and embarra.s.sed manner curiously; and turning to Rose, she said:
"Rose, go to Harry"s room, and insist upon his seeing you. Tell him Yanna is here; and he must come down to lunch. He has just refused to do so," she added, "and I cannot imagine what is the matter." When Rose had disappeared, she turned to Yanna and said: "Perhaps you can tell me, Yanna?"
"Indeed, I cannot!" Yanna replied, making a motion as if to proceed to the door; which motion Mrs. Filmer prevented by placing her hand lightly upon the girl"s shoulder.
"Yanna, my dear, there is no need for deception. I know that Harry and you are engaged. Why, then, pretend that you do not wish to see each other? All I ask is, that you wait for a suitable time, and keep the engagement secret. Under the circ.u.mstances, _that_ is as little as you can do."
"Mrs. Filmer, there is no engagement between myself and Mr. Harry Filmer; and, under the circ.u.mstances, there never will be. As for "deception," I cannot conceive of any condition in which I should resort to it."
"No engagement!"
"None."
"Do you mean that you have refused to marry my son?"
"Under the circ.u.mstances, I felt obliged to do so."
"Well! I think it was very inconsiderate, I may say very impertinent in you, to refuse Mr. Filmer. You have caused me much annoyance, Miss Van Hoosen. I hope we shall be able to avoid each other in the future."
"It will not be my fault if we do not. I am sorry to have grieved you, for you have been kind to me, and I shall only remember your kindness."
Mrs. Filmer bowed haughtily, and said, "Good morning, Miss Van Hoosen," and Yanna felt almost as if she had been civilly told to leave the house.
When Rose returned to the dining-room, Yanna had disappeared, and Mrs.
Filmer was calmly sipping her bouillon. "Harry will not come down. He says he has a headache. Where is Yanna?" asked Rose.