Part 36 (2/2)
When I appeared she just nodded to me and said something to Vernon, and he said: ”Yes, certainly.” I ran upstairs. Presently I heard a tap at my door. I went to open it; Aunt Penelope stood outside.
”May I come in, Heather?”
”Of course, darling auntie.”
I took her hand; I drew her into the room.
”Heather, I know--it's too wonderful. What a splendid fellow! Heather, I am glad.”
”Oh, auntie, my heart is bursting with happiness!”
”Heather, child, I'm a woman of few words, but if your mother were alive she'd be proud of this day. He has the very soul of honesty in his face; he is better looking than your poor dear father ever was, but he has the same sort of nature, so boyish, so impulsive, so brave. He's a dear--that's all that I can say about him.”
”And if you weren't a dear for your own sake, you'd be one for calling him one,” was my somewhat incoherent answer.
”Well, now, that's enough sentiment, child; we must to business. How do you like my dress?”
”It's magnificent--and you have put it on in honour of me.”
”In honour of a captain in His Majesty's army. Child, I do so greatly respect army men.”
”Oh, yes, I see. Thank you, so do I. Indeed, it's a very handsome dress,” I continued.
”I think so,” she replied. ”It was made fifteen years ago, at least. I only wear it on the very best occasions, otherwise it would have got greasy ages and ages before now. It's amazing how difficult it is to keep these really good silks from turning greasy; the grease seems to cling to them in some sort of fas.h.i.+on, and you can never get it out, try as you will.”
”It looks awfully nice--it really does, auntie.”
”I am proud to be wearing it for your sake and for his to-night.”
”And you have asked him to dinner?”
”Yes. I have come to speak of that. It is a real dinner; Jonas and I have concocted it between us. You are to know nothing about it; you are just to eat it when it comes on the table, and to be right-down thankful. Now that you are happy you must eat well, for nothing in some ways takes it out of one more than happiness. You have been looking sadly worn out, child, and now you have got to eat and drink and get your pretty, youthful roses back again. Oh, Heather, Vernon agrees with me about the world; he hates fas.h.i.+onable people. He told me, dear boy, that for a short time he was engaged to one of them. I never met anybody so confiding.”
”I know all about his engagement,” I said. ”I saw her once, too; she was very handsome.”
”Ah, yes; I have no doubt--a society doll. Well, he hasn't chosen badly, when he's elected that your little face and your brown eyes and your warm heart shall accompany him through life. You'd best smarten yourself up a bit for dinner, Heather; I don't want your old aunt to take the s.h.i.+ne out of you, my love--and, remember, this dress is uncommonly handsome.”
”Yes, auntie, I know. I shouldn't be surprised if you did take the s.h.i.+ne out of me; but I don't think I shall greatly mind.”
So I put on a pretty white dress, for a few of my dresses had been sent from London, doubtless by my dear father's orders, and ran downstairs.
Bless that boy b.u.t.tons--he had effected marvels! The tiny dining room was gay with flowers, the very best old dinner service had been got out for the occasion, the best silver had been polished up, and I, who was accustomed to doing pretty nearly half the work of the house, wasn't allowed to put my hand to anything. I really felt annoyed. I did not like to be at Hill View without attending to its household economy.
Vernon came in from his rooms at the little hotel, looking spick and span, as he always did. We three sat down to dinner, and certainly that dinner was a triumph. I have often puzzled myself to wonder how Aunt Penelope contrived to manage it. First of all there was soup, the best soup I had ever tasted, and then there was fish, trout which had been alive a couple of hours before, and then there was pigeon pie and peas and potatoes, and afterwards strawberries and cream. There was also a bottle of very old port wine, which Aunt Penelope fingered with a trembling hand.
”I have had it in the house since long before your mother was married,”
she said to me. ”Vernon, my boy, you will find it worthy of even your refined tastes.”
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