Part 30 (1/2)

She carefully concealed both notes about her person, and then sat down to await orders to go below.

A little later Mrs. G.o.ddard came to her and said they were about ready to leave for the city, and requested her to go down into the hall.

Edith arose with apparent alacrity, and madam noticed with an expression of satisfaction that her bearing was less aggressive than when they had last met.

She followed Mrs. G.o.ddard downstairs and seated herself in the hall to await the signal for departure.

Presently Mr. G.o.ddard came in from outdoors.

He started slightly upon seeing Edith, then paused and inquired kindly if she was feeling quite well again.

Edith thanked him, and briefly remarked that she was, when he startled her by stooping suddenly and whispering in her ear:

”Count upon me as your friend, my child; I promise you that I will do all in my power to help you thwart your enemies.”

He waited for no answer, but pa.s.sed quickly on and entered the library.

Edith was astonished, and while, for the moment, she was touched by his unexpected offer of a.s.sistance, she at the same time distrusted him.

”I will trust myself and my fate with no one but Royal Bryant,” she said to herself, a flush of excitement rising to her cheek.

A few minutes later the carriage was driven to the door--the snow having become so soft they were obliged to return to the city on wheels--when Mrs. G.o.ddard came hurrying from the dining-room, where she had been giving some last orders to the servants, and bidding Edith follow her, pa.s.sed out of the house and entered the carriage.

Edith was scarcely seated beside her when Emil Correlli made his appearance and settled himself opposite her.

The young girl flushed, but, schooling herself to carry out the part which she had determined to a.s.sume for the present, made no other sign to betray how distasteful his presence was to her.

She could not, however, bring herself to join in any conversation, except, once or twice, to respond to a direct question from madam, although the young man tried several times to draw her out, until, finally discouraged, he relapsed into a sullen and moody silence, greatly to the disgust of his sister, who seemed nervously inclined to talk.

Upon their arrival in town, Mrs. G.o.ddard remarked to Edith:

”I have been obliged to take, for a servant, the room you used to occupy, dear; consequently, you will have to go into the south chamber for the present. Thomas,” turning to a man and pointing to Edith's trunk, ”take this trunk directly up to the south chamber.”

Edith's heart gave a startled bound at this unexpected change.

The ”south chamber” was the handsomest sleeping apartment in the house--the guest chamber, in fact--and she understood at once why it had thus been a.s.signed to her.

It was intended that she should pose and be treated in every respect as became the wife of madam's brother, and thus the best room in the house had been set apart for her use.

She knew that it would be both useless and unwise to make any objections; the change had been determined upon, and doubtless her old room was already occupied by a servant, to prevent the possibility of her returning to it.

Thus, after the first glance of surprise at madam, she turned and quietly followed the man who was taking up her trunk.

But, on entering the ”south chamber,” another surprise awaited her, for the apartment had been fitted up with even greater luxury than previous to their leaving for the country.

The man unstrapped her trunk and departed, when Edith looked around her with a flushed and excited face.

A beautiful little rocker, of carved ivory, inlaid with gold, was standing in the bay-window overlooking the avenue, and beside it there was an exquisite work-stand to match.

An elegant writing-desk, of unique design, and furnished with everything a lady of the daintiest tastes could desire, stood near another sunny window. The inkstand, paper weight, and blotter were of silver; the pen of gold, with a costly pearl handle.