Part 2 (1/2)

”Harriet comes in and makes it for me,” replied Mrs. Levison; ”aye, and sits down and takes it with me when I am alone, which is pretty often.

What do you say to that, Madame Emma--you, with your fine notions?”

”Just as you please, of course, grandmamma.”

”And there's the tea-caddy at your elbow, and the urn's fizzing away, and if we are to have any tea to-night, it had better be made.”

”I don't know how much to put in,” grumbled Mrs. Vane, who had the greatest horror of soiling her hands or her gloves; who, in short, had a particular antipathy to doing anything useful.

”Shall I make it, dear Mrs. Levison?” said Isabel, rising with alacrity.

”I had used to make it quite as often as my governess at Mount Severn, and I make it for papa.”

”Do, child,” replied the old lady. ”You are worth ten of her.”

Isabel laughed merrily, drew off her gloves, and sat down to the table; and at that moment a young and elegant man lounged into the room. He was deemed handsome, with his clearly-cut features, his dark eyes, his raven hair, and his white teeth; but to a keen observer those features had not an attractive expression, and the dark eyes had a great knack of looking away while he spoke to you. It was Francis, Captain Levison.

He was grandson to the old lady, and first cousin to Mrs. Vane. Few men were so fascinating in manners, at times and seasons, in face and in form, few men won so completely upon their hearers' ears, and few were so heartless in their hearts of hearts. The world courted him, and society honored him; for, though he was a graceless spendthrift, and it was known that he was, he was the presumptive heir to the old and rich Sir Peter Levison.

The ancient lady spoke up, ”Captain Levison, Lady Isabel Vane.” They both acknowledged the introduction; and Isabel, a child yet in the ways of the world, flushed crimson at the admiring looks cast upon her by the young guardsman. Strange--strange that she should make the acquaintance of these two men in the same day, almost in the same hour; the two, of all the human race, who were to exercise so powerful an influence over her future life!

”That's a pretty cross, child,” cried Mrs. Levison as Isabel stood by her when tea was over, and she and Mrs. Vane were about to depart on their evening visit.

She alluded to a golden cross, set with seven emeralds, which Isabel wore on her neck. It was of light, delicate texture, and was suspended from a thin, short, gold chain.

”Is it not pretty?” answered Isabel. ”It was given me by my dear mamma just before she died. Stay, I will take it off for you. I only wear it upon great occasions.”

This, her first appearance at the grand duke's, seemed a very great occasion to the simply-reared and inexperienced girl. She unclasped the chain, and placed it with the cross in the hands of Mrs. Levison.

”Why, I declare you have nothing on but that cross and some rubbis.h.i.+ng pearl bracelets!” uttered Mrs. Vane to Isabel. ”I did not look at you before.”

”Mamma gave me both. The bracelets are those she used frequently to wear.”

”You old-fas.h.i.+oned child! Because your mamma wore those bracelets, years ago, is that a reason for your doing so?” retorted Mrs. Vane. ”Why did you not put on your diamonds?”

”I--did--put on my diamonds; but I--took them off again,” stammered Isabel.

”What on earth for?”

”I did not like to look too fine,” answered Isabel, with a laugh and a blush. ”They glittered so! I feared it might be thought I had put them on to look fine.”

”Ah! I see you mean to set up in that cla.s.s of people who pretend to despise ornaments,” scornfully remarked Mrs. Vane. ”It is the refinement of affectation, Lady Isabel.”

The sneer fell harmlessly on Lady Isabel's ear. She only believed something had put Mrs. Vane out of temper. It certainly had; and that something, though Isabel little suspected it, was the evident admiration Captain Levison evinced for her fresh, young beauty; it quite absorbed him, and rendered him neglectful even of Mrs. Vane.

”Here, child, take your cross,” said the old lady. ”It is very pretty; prettier on your neck than diamonds would be. You don't want embellis.h.i.+ng; never mind what Emma says.”

Francis Levison took the cross and chain from her hand to pa.s.s them to Lady Isabel. Whether he was awkward, or whether her hands were full, for she held her gloves, her handkerchief, and had just taken up her mantle, certain it is that it fell; and the gentleman, in his too quick effort to regain it, managed to set his foot upon it, and the cross was broken in two.

”There! Now whose fault was that?” cried Mrs. Levison.

Isabel did not answer; her heart was very full. She took the broken cross, and the tears dropped from her eyes; she could not help it.