Part 15 (1/2)
”Try to imagine you're in church,” she suggested. ”You won't break down, my dear, I feel quite sure.”
”I--I--air goin' to try to be awful careful anyhow,” replied Tess, hopefully, but she heaved a deep sigh as Deforrest Young lifted her quite into his arms and placed her on the low, broad porch-stone.
Amid a crowd of laughing people, they pa.s.sed into the house, and while they were removing their wraps, Helen took the opportunity to give her little protege a few last admonitions.
”Don't forget to put the 'g's' on your 'ing's,' and remember always to say 'your' quite plainly,” she whispered.
”I will,” Tessibel promised.
By this time, they had entered the crowded reception hall, and the squatter girl's heart leapt into her throat when Ebenezer Waldstricker came forward to meet them. He welcomed Helen Young tenderly, taking her hands in his. Tess noticed both corners of his mouth were up.
”I'm so happy to have you here, Helen, my darling,” he murmured, bending over the hands he held.
A flushed face smiled into the speaker's.
”And I'm happy to be here, too, dear.” Then turning, Helen announced ”Here's Miss Skinner ... Tessibel, Mr. Waldstricker.”
Until then the Elder had not seemed to be aware of the girl's presence, but at the introduction he extended his hand, formally polite. When, in shy greeting, Tess lifted her eyes, one corner of his mouth drew down rigidly. She was more at ease when Deforrest Young joined them. Her welcoming smile caused that gentleman's heart to bound in delight. They made their way slowly and with difficulty down the long hall, Tessibel growing more and more conscious of the curious glances directed at them from all sides. When they reached the drawing room door, her agitation grew perceptibly, having noticed that Waldstricker was detaining Helen.
Deforrest held her arm with an encouraging pressure.
”Don't be afraid, dear,” he whispered in her ear. ”You'll stay near sister and me the entire evening. There!” They had crossed the room and neared a row of chairs arranged against the wall. ”Sit down by this open window. My sister will be here soon.... Why!--Why! childie, you mustn't tremble so!”
A mist gathered under Tessibel's lowered lids. Each moment she grew more frightened, and from the corner of her eye measured the distance between their place and the piano. Oh, how thankful she was when Miss Young took a seat beside her. Near the door she recognized Madelene Waldstricker.
Across the distance Tess studied the girl a moment. How pretty her gown was!
Tessibel glanced down at her own dress; at her rounded arms s.h.i.+ning white under the little ruffle of fine lace. Her dress was pretty, the prettiest she'd ever had, and grat.i.tude toward the woman at her side overcame for the moment her embarra.s.sment. Presently Waldstricker came to them with the request for a song, and Deforrest Young escorted Tess to the piano. He pitied her from the bottom of his heart, as she clutched frantically at his arm.
”You've only to be yourself and sing as you do for us, my dear,” he bent to whisper, ”everybody will love you then.”
That magic word ”Love!” It always thrilled Tess into doing her best, and she must do no less tonight for her friends' sake. She sank down quite helplessly into the chair to which Deforrest led her and watched Ebenezer escort Helen to the piano. Her muscles grew taut with fright.
How she wished to be back with Daddy Skinner and Andy! But she took the song Deforrest handed her, and through a veil of embarra.s.sment, saw his smiling face close to hers.
”Sit here,” he said, in low tones. ”I shall be near you.”
In one melodious touch of ivory keys, Helen started the prelude and every one in the room grew silent and attentive. Then from the side of the instrument there suddenly appeared before the quiet audience a radiant vision, a girl with tawny, glittering curls hanging in a golden fire-shower about her slender figure. The unfathomable brown eyes swept over the throng a quick glance, then dropped to the sheet of music in her hand.
A spontaneous murmur of admiration fell from many lips. For an instant Helen Young's hands poised above the keyboard, then descended; and as spontaneously as a bird begins its love song to the blue, so Tessibel Skinner began to sing.
The powerful voice rose up and up in seeming unending volume,--up and up until Deforrest Young sank against the wall and locked his fingers together. How had his sister dared to risk such a song with such a child!... Then he took a long satisfied breath, for he saw the little singer sang as a lark sings, without fear or self-consciousness, without knowledge of limitation to her thrilling harmony.
When Tess ceased on a high note, held until it drifted softly to the furthermost corner of the room, a round of applause went up to the high ceiling, and Miss Young, glancing around proudly at Tess, smiled and nodded. The girl felt another song thrust into her hands. This time she was less tremulous and sent back to Deforrest Young a charming, youthful smile. Helen's fingers rippled over the keys softly for a minute or two, and once more Tess began to sing.
”That I may know the largeness of G.o.d's love, teach me the fullness of thine own,” she thrilled forth.
A groan forced its way almost to Deforrest Young's lips. What a child she was! Yet she sang that song with the abandonment of pa.s.sion known only to a woman. How beautifully, lithely young she looked, standing there with those flowing, s.h.i.+mmering curls and the tender, throbbing voice pleading to be taught the fullness of human love, that she might find the largeness of the Infinite. Turning swiftly to the window, he pressed his lips together to stifle his emotion. He could no longer bear the stab at his heart, nor risk the mist rising in his eyes. Tessibel, wholly unconscious of the stir she was making, sang on and on, her gaze on the sheet in her hand. Suddenly she raised her eyes and there near the door was Frederick Graves, his face waxen white, his dark gaze bent upon her. Close beside him stood Madelene Waldstricker. But a single instant Tess faltered in her song. Then again, pa.s.sionately, insistently, and tempestuously she sang, ”That I may know the largeness of G.o.d's love, teach me the fullness of thine own!”
She saw his lids droop as she carefully p.r.o.nounced each beautiful word, and saw him, without a glimmer of recognition for her, turn to the girl at his side. He hadn't even welcomed her with his eyes. Never before had he failed to greet her smilingly. She chilled to the bone, nor dared look again. When the song was finished, she sat down limply. Deforrest Young, strangely stirred, took her hand.
”Sweet child,” he murmured, ”it was delightful! Lovely!”