Part 31 (2/2)
When they were entering the house she turned round, and, in her charming, imperious way, said:
”None of you must tell papa about my fright. I should not like him to think that an Earle could be either fanciful or a coward. I am brave enough on land.”
The heat had tried both girls, and Lady Helena said they must rest before dinner. She made Beatrice lie down upon the cosy little couch in her dressing room. She watched the dark eyes close, and thought how beautiful the young face looked in repose.
But the girl's sleep was troubled. Lady Earle, bending over her, heard her sigh deeply and murmur something about the ”deep water.” She awoke, crying out that she saw her own face, and Lady Earle saw great drops of perspiration standing in beads upon her brow.
”What have you been dreaming of, child?” she asked. ”Young girls like you ought to sleep like flowers.”
”Flowers never quite close their eyes,” said Beatrice, with a smile.
”I shut mine, but my brain is active, it seems, even in sleep. I was dreaming of the lake, Lady Helena. Dreams are very wonderful; do they ever come true?”
”I knew one that did,” replied Lady Earle. ”When I was young, I had a friend whom I loved very dearly--Laura Reardon. A gentleman, a Captain Lemuel, paid great attention to her. She loved him--my poor Laura--as I hope few people love. For many months he did everything but make an offer--saw her ever day, sent her flowers, books, and music, won her heart by a thousand sweet words and gentle deeds. She believed he was in earnest, and never suspected him of being a male flirt. He left London, suddenly, saying goodbye to her in the ordinary way, and speaking of his return in a few weeks.
”She came to me one morning and told me a strange dream. She dreamed she was dead, and lay buried in the center aisle of an old country church. At the same time, and in the usual vague manner of dreams, she was conscious of an unusual stir. She heard carriages drive up to the church door; she heard the rustling of dresses, the sound of footsteps above her head, the confused murmur of a crowd of people; then she became aware that a marriage was going on. She heard the minister ask:
”'George Victor Lemuel, will you have this woman for your lawful wedded wife?'
”The voice she knew and loved best in the world replied:
”'I will.'
”'Alice Ferrars, will you take this man for your lawful wedded husband?”
”'I will,' replied the clear, low voice.
”She heard the service finished, the wedding bells peal, the carriages drive away. I laughed at her, Beatrice; but the strange thing is, Captain George Lemuel was married on the very day Laura dreamed the dream. He married a young lady, Alice Ferrars, and Laura had never heard of the name before she dreamed it. The marriage took place in an old country church. That dream came true, Beatrice; I never heard of another dream like it.”
”Did your friend die?” she asked.
”No,” replied Lady Helena; ”she did not die, but her life was spoiled by her unhappy love.”
”I should have died had it been my disappointment,” said Beatrice; ”the loss of what one loves must be more bitter than death.”
Far and near nothing was spoken of but the ball at Earlescourt.
Anything so brilliant or on so grand a scale had not been given in the county for many years.
Lord Earle felt proud of the arrangements as he looked through the ball room and saw the gorgeous array of flowers, tier upon tier of magnificent bloom, a sight well worth coming many miles to see. Here and there a marble statue stood amid the flowers. Little fountains of scented water rippled musically. He stopped for a few moments looking at the blossoms and thinking of his beautiful child.
”How she loves everything bright and gay!” he said to himself. ”She will be queen of the ball tonight.”
As Lord Earle stood alone in his library that evening, where he had been reading, stealing a quiet half hour, there came a gentle knock at the door.
”Come in,” he said, and there stood before him something that he thought must be a vision.
”Grandmamma sent me,” said Beatrice, blus.h.i.+ng, ”to see if I should do.
You are to notice my diamonds, papa, and tell me if you approve of the setting.”
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