Part 31 (1/2)

”Yes,” replied Mr. Green; ”only it was Aladdin's Cave undergoing a wondrous 'sea change.' A poetess, who writes for the papers under the name of Melissa Mayflower, had fastened herself upon our party in some way; and I suppose she felt bound to sustain the reputation of the quill. She said the Nereids must have built that marine palace, and decorated it for a visit from fairies of the rainbow.”

”That was a pretty thought,” said Flora. ”It sounds like 'Lalla Rookh.'”

”It was a pretty thought,” rejoined the gentleman, ”but can give you no idea of the unearthly splendor. I thought how you would have been delighted if you had been with our party. I regretted your absence almost as much as I did at the opera. But the Blue Grotto, wonderful as it was, didn't quite drive away Fitzgerald's blue devils, though it made him forget his vexations for the time. The fact is, just as we started he received a letter from his agent, informing him of the escape of a negro woman and her two children; and he spent most of the way back to Naples swearing at the Abolitionists.”

Flora, the side of whose face was toward him, gave Mrs. Delano a furtive glance full of fun; but he saw nothing of the mischief in her expressive face, except a little whirlpool of a dimple, which played about her mouth for an instant, and then subsided. A very broad smile was on Mr. Percival's face, as he sat examining some magnificent ill.u.s.trations of the Alhambra. Mr. Green, quite unconscious of the by-play in their thoughts, went on to say, ”It is really becoming a serious evil that Southern gentlemen have so little security for that species of property.”

”Then you consider women and children _property_?” inquired Mr.

Percival, looking up from his book.

Mr. Green bowed with a sort of mock deference, and replied: ”Pardon me, Mr. Percival, it is so unusual for gentlemen of your birth and position to belong to the Abolition troop of rough-riders, that I may be excused for not recollecting it.”

”I should consider my birth and position great misfortunes, if they blinded me to the plainest principles of truth and justice,” rejoined Mr. Percival.

The highly conservative gentleman made no reply, but rose to take leave.

”Did your friends the Fitzgeralds return with you?” inquired Mrs.

Delano.

”No,” replied he. ”They intend to remain until October, Good evening, ladies. I hope soon to have the pleasure of seeing you again.” And with an inclination of the head toward Mr. Percival, he departed.

”Why did you ask him that question?” said Flora. ”Are you afraid of anything?”

”Not in the slightest degree,” answered Mrs. Delano. ”If, without taking much trouble, we can avoid your being recognized by Mr.

Fitzgerald, I should prefer it, because I do not wish to have any conversation with him. But now that your sister's happiness is no longer implicated, there is no need of caution. If he happens to see you, I shall tell him you sought my protection, and that he has no legal power over you.”

The conversation diverged to the Alhambra and Was.h.i.+ngton Irving; and Flora ended the evening by singing the Moorish ballad of ”Xarifa,”

which she said always brought a picture of Rosabella before her eyes.

The next morning, Mr. Green called earlier than usual. He did not ask for Flora, whom he had in fact seen in the street a few minutes before. ”Excuse me, Mrs. Delano, for intruding upon you at such an unseasonable hour,” said he. ”I chose it because I wished to be sure of seeing you alone. You must have observed that I am greatly interested in your adopted daughter.”

”The thought has crossed my mind,” replied the lady; ”but I was by no means certain that she interested you more than a very pretty girl must necessarily interest a gentleman of taste.”

”Pretty!” repeated he. ”That is a very inadequate word to describe the most fascinating young lady I have ever met. She attracts me so strongly, that I have called to ask your permission to seek her for a wife.”

Mrs. Delano hesitated for a moment, and then answered, ”It is my duty to inform you that she is not of high family on the father's side; and on the mother's, she is scarcely what you would deem respectable.”

”Has she vulgar, disagreeable relations, who would be likely to be intrusive?” he asked.

”She has no relative, near or distant, that I know of,” replied the lady.

”Then her birth is of no consequence,” he answered. ”My family would be satisfied to receive her as your daughter. I am impatient to introduce her to my mother and sisters, who I am sure will be charmed with her.”

Mrs. Delano was embarra.s.sed, much to the surprise of her visitor, who was accustomed to consider his wealth and social position a prize that would be eagerly grasped at. After watching her countenance for an instant, he said, somewhat proudly: ”You do not seem to receive my proposal very cordially, Mrs. Delano. Have you anything to object to my character or family?”

”Certainly not,” replied the lady. ”My doubts are concerning my daughter.”

”Is she engaged, or partially engaged, to another?” he inquired.

”She is not,” rejoined Mrs. Delano; ”though I imagine she is not quite 'fancy free.'”