"Father will persuade you."
"Where is your father, Jessie?"
"Oh! somewhere about. On the front balcony, I believe, with Mrs.
Dennison, who declares that she never will get tired of looking down the valley."
"Yes, it is a lovely view. We used to sit on the balcony for hours--your father and I--but now--" Mrs. Lee turned away her face and shaded her eyes with one pale hand.
I walked to the window and lifted the curtain; but there was a mist over my eyes, and I could not discern a feature of the landscape.
CHAPTER XIV.
INTRUSIVE KINDNESS.
Some one knocked at the door. I went to open it, and found Cora, Mrs.
Dennison"s maid, who had been brushing her mistress"s riding-habit on the back terrace, and flung it across her arm before coming up-stairs.
The girl was a pretty mulatto, with teeth that an empress might have coveted, and eyes like diamonds; but there was something in her face that I did not like--a way of looking at you from under her black eyelashes that was both searching and sinister.
"Mistress told me to run up, and inquire if it wasn"t time for Miss Lee to put on her habit," she said, shooting a quick glance into the room; "the horses are ordered round."
I felt the color burning in my face. The impertinence of this intrusion angered me greatly.
"Miss Lee is with her mother," I said, "and cannot be disturbed; when she is ready, I will let your mistress know. Until then the horses must wait."
The girl gave the habit on her arm a shake, and went away, casting one or two glances behind. What possible business could the creature have in that part of the house? Had the mistress really sent her? It was an hour before the time for riding, and it had not been our custom to hurry Jessie away from her mother"s room.
While I stood by the window, thinking angrily of this intrusion, another knock called me back to the door. It was the mulatto again, with her mistress"s compliments, and, if Mrs. Lee was well enough, she would pay her respects while the horses waited.
I went down myself at this, and meeting Mrs. Dennison on the terrace, informed her, very curtly, I fear, that Mrs. Lee was not out of her bedroom, having spent a restless night, and was quite incapable of seeing strangers.
I put a little malicious emphasis on the word _strangers_, which brought a deeper color into her cheeks; but she answered with elaborate expressions of sympathy, inquired so minutely into the symptoms and causes of Mrs. Lee"s prostration, that I felt at a loss how to answer.
"Dear lady!" she went on, "I"m afraid these severe attacks will exhaust the little strength she has left; they must make life a burden."
"On the contrary," I said, "there is not, I am sure, a person living who so keenly enjoys the highest and most lofty principles of existence.
With the love of G.o.d in her heart, and domestic love all around her, life can never be a burden."
"Indeed!" she answered, with something in her voice that approached a sneer; "I never was sick in my life, that is, perhaps, why it seems so terrible to me. Nothing could reconcile me, I am sure, to a life like Mrs. Lee"s. At her age, too, with disease helping time to chase away what beauty one has left, how she must feel it!"
"You quite mistake the case, madam," I answered; "Mrs. Lee never depended on her beauty, which, however, no one can dispute, as a means of winning love; her sincerity, intelligence, and gentle wisdom are enough to outlive the loveliness of a Venus."
"You are enthusiastic, Miss Hyde."
"I love Mrs. Lee, and speak as I feel."
"I am afraid," she said, in her blandest manner, "that my interest in the dear lady has led me into obtrusiveness, or, at least, that you think so. But she is so very superior--so perfect, in fact, that one cannot shake off the interest she inspires. It was this feeling which tempted me to ask for the privilege of paying my respects;--I see now that it was inopportune; but a warm heart is always getting one into sc.r.a.pes, Miss Hyde. I shall never learn how to tame mine down. It seemed to me that the sweet invalid yonder must feel lonely in her room, and this was why that importunate request was made."
"Mrs. Lee is a woman who would find something of paradise in any position. Her sitting-room, up in the tower yonder, has always been considered the pleasantest apartment in the house."
"No doubt; it was this conviction which made me anxious to be admitted.
Still, I must think that a confinement, that only promises to be relieved by death, must be a painful thing."
Why did the woman always return to that point? In my whole life I had never heard the probable result of Mrs. Lee"s illness alluded to so often, as it had been hardly mentioned since Mrs. Dennison"s arrival. It shocked me, and became the more repulsive from the usual levity of her manner. She seemed to weave the idea of my dear friend"s death with every luxury that surrounded her dwelling; to my prejudiced fancy, she even exulted in it. I stood looking her in the face while these thoughts troubled my mind. What my eyes may have spoken I cannot tell, but hers fell beneath them, and, with an uneasy smile, she turned to walk away.
That moment Jessie came out to the terrace, looking a little anxious.
"Where is father?" she said; "mother is up and waiting for him."
I saw a faint smile quiver around the widow"s lips, but she busied herself with some branches of ivy that had broken loose from the terrace-wall, and did not seem to heed us. Just then the tramp of horses sounded from the front of the house, and Jessie exclaiming with a little impatience, "Dear me!" walked quickly to the square balcony. I followed her, and saw Mr. Lee standing at the foot of the steps ready to mount.
He was giving some orders to the groom, and seemed particularly anxious about the horse which Mrs. Dennison was to ride.
Jessie"s face flushed, and a look of proud surprise came across it. Mr.
Lee turned his head that way and called out,--
"Why, Jessie, where is your habit? I never found you late before."
Jessie did not answer, but pa.s.sed me, descending to the terrace and down the flight of steps. She spoke to her father, looking back anxiously.
After the first words, he started and seemed taken by surprise. Even from the distance I could see a flood of crimson rush to his forehead.
They both ascended the steps together. Mr. Lee went to the tower, and Jessie ran up-stairs to put on her riding-dress.
I went up to help her, but walked slowly; everything conspired to depress me that morning. One serpent was enough to destroy the perfect happiness of Eden. Our little paradise seemed changing after the same fashion, and yet no one could tell why.
Jessie was b.u.t.toning her habit as I went in. She looked restless and hurt.
"Aunt Matty," she said, "I have a great mind to give up this ride; the thought of meeting that gentleman troubles me. Look how my hands tremble."
Yes, the serpent was doing its work. Even our sweet, honest Jessie was beginning to cover up her true feelings under false issues. It was something nearer home than the dread of an unwelcome offer that made her so nervous. For the first time since her remembrance Mr. Lee had forgotten his wife. But for Jessie"s interposition, he would have ridden away without inquiring after her. I recollected how he had blushed when reminded of this.
Of course, I could not speak of the true cause of this discontent, the delicate reticence becoming to a daughter was too sacred for that; but I said quickly,--
"Yes, yes, darling, you must go. It is your duty."
She looked at me earnestly, then dropping her eyes, went on with her preparations.
A second time Mrs. Dennison came to her chamber. Our coldness the day before had left no impression on the materialism of her nature.
Sparkling with cheerfulness, and brilliant with smiles, she swept in, bending her flexible whip into a ring, with both hands, and letting it free again with a prolonged snap.
"All ready? That"s right, my Lady Jess! The day is heavenly, and our cavaliers are coming up the road!"
"Thank heaven!" I heard Jessie whisper, as she drew on her gantlets.
If she fancied that the coming of Mr. Bosworth and his friend would release Mr. Lee, and leave him at liberty to spend his morning with the invalid, she was disappointed in the result, though not in the fact.
Just as the party were mounting, he appeared on the terrace, and, descending the steps, joined them, whip in hand.
I watched all these movements keenly; why, it would have been impossible for me to explain even to my own judgment; but shadows tormented me at this time, and all my senses were on the alert. Mr. Lee rode by his daughter, leaving his guest to the other gentlemen, between whom she rode triumphantly, as Queen Elizabeth may have entered Kenilworth, flirting royally with her handsomest subjects. Jessie and her father seemed to be conversing quietly, as I had seen them a hundred times riding down that road.