Part 39 (1/2)
Tears sprang to the eyes of the homeless girl at this cordial reception, and her lips quivered with repressed emotion as she thanked the gentle lady for it.
”What was that Roy was saying--that you have come from Boston this afternoon?” queried Mrs. Morrell, hastening to cover her embarra.s.sment by changing the subject. ”Then you must be nearly famished, and you must have a lunch before you go to rest.”
”Pray, do not trouble yourself--” Edith began.
”Please let me--I like such 'trouble,' as you are pleased to term it,”
smilingly interposed the pretty hostess; and with a bright nod and a hurried ”excuse me,” she was gone before Edith could make further objections.
”Nellie is the most hospitable little woman in the universe,” Mr.
Bryant remarked, as the door closed after her; ”she is never so happy as when she is feeding the hungry or making somebody comfortable.”
Fifteen minutes later she reappeared, a lovely flush on her round cheeks, her eyes bright with the pleasure she experienced in doing a kind act for the young stranger, toward whom she had been instantly attracted.
”Come, now,” she said, holding out a hand to her, ”and I know Roy will join us--he never yet refused a cup of tea of my own brewing.”
”You are right, Nellie,” smilingly replied that gentleman; ”and I believe I am hungry, in spite of my hearty dinner at six o'clock. A ride over the pavements of New York will prepare almost any one for an extra meal. I only hope you have a slice of Aunt Janes's old-fas.h.i.+oned gingerbread for me.”
Mrs. Morrell laughed out musically at this last remark.
”I never dare to be without it,” she retorted, ”for you never fail to ask for it. This cousin of mine, Miss Allandale, is always hungry when he comes to see me, and is never satisfied to go away without his slice of gingerbread. Perhaps,” she added, shooting a roguish glance from one face to the other, for she had been quick to fathom their relations, ”you will some time like to have mamma's recipe for it.”
A conscious flush mantled Edith's cheek at this playful thrust, while the young lawyer gave vent to a hearty laugh of amus.e.m.e.nt in which a certain joyous ring betrayed to the shrewd little woman that she had not fired her shot amiss.
Then she led them into her home-like dining-room, where a table was laid for three, and where, over a generous supply of cold chicken, delicious bread and b.u.t.ter, home-made preserves, and the much lauded gingerbread, the trio spent a social half-hour, and Edith felt a sense of rest and content such as she had not experienced since leaving her Fifth avenue home, more than two years previous.
As soon as the meal was finished, Mrs. Morrell, who saw how weary and heavy-eyed the fair girl appeared, remarked to her cousin, with a pretty air of authority, that she was ”going to carry her guest off upstairs to bed immediately.”
”You stay here until I come back, Roy,” she added. ”Charlie was obliged to go out upon important business, and I shall be glad of your company for a while.”
”Very well, Nellie! I will stay for a little chat, for I have something important which I wish to say to you.”
As he concluded he darted a smiling glance at Edith, which again brought the lovely color to her cheeks and revealed to her the nature of the important communication that he intended to make to his cousin.
She bade him a smiling good-night, and then gladly accompanied her hostess above, for she was really more weary than she had acknowledged.
When Mrs. Morrell returned to the parlor, Roy related to her something of Edith's history, and also confessed his own relations.h.i.+p toward her, while the little woman listened with an absorbed attention which betrayed how thoroughly she enjoyed the romance of the affair.
”She is lovely!” she remarked, ”and”--with a thoughtful air--”it seems to me as if I have heard the name before. Edith Allandale!--it sounds very familiar to me. Why, Roy! she was one of Sister Blanche's cla.s.smates at Va.s.sar, and she has her picture in her cla.s.s alb.u.m!”
”That is a singular coincidence!” the young man observed, no less surprised at this revelation, ”and it makes matters all the more pleasant for me to learn that she is not wholly unknown to the family.”
”And you mean to marry her very soon?” inquired his cousin.
”Just as soon as I can settle matters with that rascal in Boston to her satisfaction,” responded the young man, with a gleam of fire in his eyes. ”I do not apprehend any serious trouble about the affair; still, it may take longer than I wish.”
”And may I keep her until then?” eagerly inquired Mrs. Morrell.