Part 20 (1/2)
”Because you are proud?”
”No; but because I would rather not. It would be too great an obligation.”
”You repay me by your voice a thousandfold, Anne. I have never had the right voice for mine until now; and therefore the obligation is on my side. I do not speak of the pleasure your visit will give me, because I hope to make that mutual. But say no more. I intend to have my way.”
And she had her way. ”I have always detested Miss Vanhorn, with her caraway seeds, and her malice,” she explained to Tante. ”Much as I like Anne for herself alone, it will be delicious also to annoy the old dragon by bringing into notice this unknown niece whom she is hiding here so carefully. Now confess, Tante, that it will be delicious.”
Tante shook her head reprovingly. But she herself was in her heart by no means fond of Miss Vanhorn; she had had more than one battle royal with that venerable Knickerbocker, which had tested even her celebrated suavity.
Helen's note was as follows:
”DEAR MISS VANHORN,--I very much wish to persuade your charming niece, Miss Douglas, to spend a portion of the holidays with me. Her voice is marvellously sweet, and Aunt Margaretta is most anxious to hear it; while _I_ am desirous to have her in my own home, even if but for a few days, in order that I may learn more of her truly admirable qualities, which she inherits, no doubt, from your family.
”I trust you will add your consent to Tante's, already willingly bestowed, and make me thereby still more your obliged friend,
”HELEN ROOSBROECK LORRINGTON.”
The obliged friend had the following answer:
”Miss Vanhorn presents her compliments to Mrs. Lorrington, with thanks for her note, which, however, was an unnecessary attention, Miss Vanhorn claiming no authority over the movements of Anne Douglas (whose relations.h.i.+p to her is remote), beyond a due respect for the rules of the inst.i.tution where she has been placed. Miss Vanhorn is gratified to learn that Miss Douglas's voice is already of practical use to her, and has the honor of remaining Mrs. Lorrington's obliged and humble servant.
”MADISON SQUARE, _Tuesday_.”
Tears sprang to Anne's eyes when Helen showed her this note.
”Why do you care? She was always a dragon; forget her. Now, Anne, remember that it is all understood, and the carriage will come for you on Monday.” Then, seeing the face before her still irresolute, she added: ”If you are to have pupils, some of them may be like me. You ought, therefore, to learn how to manage _me_, you know.”
”You are right,” said Anne, seriously. ”It is strange how little confidence I feel.”
Helen, looking at her as she stood there in her island gown, coa.r.s.e shoes, and old-fas.h.i.+oned collar, did not think it strange at all, but wondered, as she had wondered a hundred times before, why it was that this girl did not think of herself and her own appearance. ”And you must let me have my way, too, about something for you to wear,” she added.
”It shall be as you wish, Helen. It can not be otherwise, I suppose, if I go to you. But--I hope the time will come when I can do something for you.”
”Never fear; it will. I feel it instinctively. You will either save my life or take it--one or the other; but I am not sure which.”
Monday came; and after her lonely Christmas, Anne was glad to step into Miss Teller's carriage, and be taken to the home on the Avenue. The cordial welcome she received there was delightful to her, the luxury novel. She enjoyed everything simply and sincerely, from the late breakfast in the small warm breakfast-room, from which the raw light of the winter morning was carefully excluded, to the chat with Helen over the dressing-room fire late at night, when all the house was still.
Helen's aunt, Miss Teller, was a thin, light-eyed person of fifty-five years of age. Richly dressed, very tall, with a back as immovable and erect as though made of steel, and a tower of blonde lace on her head, she was a personage of imposing aspect, but in reality as mild as a sheep.
”Yes, my dear,” she said, when Anne noticed the tinted light in the breakfast-room; ”I take great care about light, which I consider an influence in our households too much neglected. The hideous white glare in most American breakfast-rooms on snowy winter mornings has often made me shudder when I have been visiting my friends; only the extremely vigorous can enjoy this sharp contact with the new day. Then the aesthetic effect: children are always homely when the teeth are changing and the shoulder-blades prominent; and who wishes to see, besides, each freckle and imperfection upon the countenances of those he loves? I have observed, too, that even morning prayer, as a family observance, fails to counter-act the influence of this painful light. For if as you kneel you cover your face with your hands, the glare will be doubly unbearable when you remove them; and if you do _not_ cover your brow, you will inevitably blink. Those who do not close their eyes at all are the most comfortable, but I trust we would all prefer to suffer rather than be guilty of such irreverence.”
”Now that is Aunt Gretta exactly,” said Helen, as Miss Teller left the room. ”When you are once accustomed to her height and blonde caps, you will find her soft as a down coverlet.”
Here Miss Teller returned. ”My dear,” she said, anxiously, addressing Anne, ”as to soap for the hands--what kind do you prefer?”
”Anne's hands are beautiful, and she will have the white soap in the second box on the first shelf of the store-room--the rose; _not_ the heliotrope, which is mine,” said Helen, taking one of the young girl's hands, and spreading out the firm taper fingers. ”See her wrists! Now my wrists are small too, but then there is nothing but wrist all the way up.”