Part 15 (1/2)
”Yes.”
Was Mrs. Belmont thinking of the time when, years ago, beautiful children nestled into the inner chamber of _her_ soul, which had been desolated by the hand of death? Or did her memory go no farther back than the last parting scene with her only daughter? There were many dark pictures that might have been brought up, but the volubility of Mrs. St.
Clair drove them from her sight. She continued:
”I dare say I shall shock your sensibilities very much, but Ellen has declared her intention of bringing the governess out to-night as one of her honored guests.” And the lady laughed heartily as she looked into the face of her visitor.
”But _you_ are not going to permit it, certainly. The affair would be decidedly absurd. You ought most positively to interfere.”
”But you know, my dear, that I was never emphatic about anything. I have not the needed strength for a battle. And then, on this occasion, I am left perfectly powerless, as her father declares that for this once she shall have her own way in everything, just as if she did not always have it”; added Mrs. St. Clair with much merriment.
”But does she not know that she may offend many of her dear friends by such folly?” interposed the lady of Rosedale.
”I imagine she cares but little as to that; she is so much like her father--and mother, too, it may be”; and the thick folds of her rich brocade rustled with the contagion of her mirth. ”The fact is, cousin, she is such a fine musician that I have no doubt you will be charmed with her yourself. To be sure she holds a menial position in our home, but I cannot help admiring and loving her too. There is something so mild and una.s.suming about her. I often tell Ellen that I wish she would imitate her manners.”
”No doubt she is well enough in her place; but the drawing-room, which is to be filled with the elegant and affluent who are to come from aristocratic homes, bringing with them refinement and culture, must overshadow her. She ought certainly to have sufficient sense to understand this, and refuse such publicity. Why not as hostess appeal to her yourself? If she is as amiable as you have represented, she would not act in a way contrary to your wishes.”
All this was spoken hurriedly and with much feeling.
”I presume she would; but the trouble is that I _have_ no objections.
Under these circ.u.mstances you will discover that I would make a poor deputy to do the business”; and the merry peals startled the demure maid who was putting the finis.h.i.+ng touches to her lady's toilet. Then turning to the mirror she continued, without giving her visitor time to reply:
”There--how do I look? Not much like Venus, as I can readily perceive.
Is not that trail too long? and these hoops too large? But it will have to do, I suppose. Now I will go and see what the girls are doing, while Pauline's skillful fingers put you in order. I had your dressing case brought here so as to be ready”; and the good lady bustled out of the room, leaving her cousin in no very amiable mood.
At an early hour the sound of mirth and gayety was heard everywhere in the elegant home of the St. Clair's. The drawing-rooms were filled with gay, flitting forms which kept humming and buzzing like a swarm of busy bees, mingling and changing their bright colors until with kaleidoscopic distinctness the last brooch was fastened and each delicate toilet had received its finis.h.i.+ng touch from skillful hands, and on the broad stairway the tripping of feet and the rustling of silks mingled with joyous laughter as the chorus of many voices were heard coming up from the hall below. It was a brilliant sight! So many happy faces gleaming with the excitement of the hour as they gathered together in little circling eddies in the drawing-rooms, radiant with gems which flashed and sparkled in the full glare of the overhanging gas-lights that glowed in subdued brilliancy upon them.
”How very strange!” was heard from many a rosy lip that night as familiar friends met in sly nooks where confidential words could be interchanged. It was true that Ellen St. Clair had never appeared at such an entertainment so plainly dressed; what could it mean? A rumor had been floating about purporting to have originated with her sister Bertha ”that it was to please some one,” but who was the honored one?
Then there came the response. ”A governess who had declared her dislike to appear in so large a company because of her unfitting toilet!” But why this should so strangely influence the ”pretty heiress” was still a mystery. ”And where was the governess?” No one was more eager to be satisfied on this point than was Mrs. Belmont; and no one was more anxious to hide that desire which so fretted her.
”I never saw Miss Ellen look prettier or fresher than she does to-night,” remarked a gentleman to the captivating young Mrs. Mason.
”That spotless dress of white becomes her airy figure and combines with her purity of look and manner. Her appearance is truly ethereal--and that one diamond star at the throat reminds me of something in the good book my mother used to read! In fact I like it.” A toss of the regal head beside him was the only answer. ”I am sorry, however, that her motive for throwing aside her little feminine adornings is so much beneath her,” continued the young man with some volubility. ”But where is the governess? I beg pardon!” and the head of the speaker bowed low with mock seriousness.
”I do not know, sir; I have not troubled myself about her!” was the haughty reply. ”Exquisite! Pray tell me who is that at the piano? A wonderful voice! So sweet and flexible!” exclaimed a lady near where the two were standing. ”Listen! I wish I could get a peep at her!”
”I do not know,” interrupted Mrs. Belmont who had been addressed. ”I will inquire,” and she pressed her way through the crowd and was lost from sight by the enraptured listeners. The melodious voice soared aloft in little rippling eddies to die away in the distance, then fell like liquid drops of silvery cadence upon the ear, while it hushed into silence the sound of mingling voices until the s.p.a.cious apartments were filled with naught but the wonderful music of the unknown singer. Mrs.
Belmont had made her way to a group of grave gentlemen and ladies in the parlor opposite, where they had been discussing the great topic of the day.
”I cannot see well,” replied Mrs. St. Clair with a merry twinkle in her gray eyes as she returned to the sofa she had just left to look about her for a moment. ”But it is some one Professor Edwards seems to honor, for he is beside her turning the music. Ah, there is 'Cathesdra'--listen,” and the same voice came floating and circling about their heads in the very ecstacy of delight.
”You never heard that _sung_ before”; interposed Mr. St. Clair laughingly. ”I mean as now!”
”You know who it is, cousin; tell us, will you?” But Mr. St. Clair was wholly intent upon the music and only shook his finger menacingly at Mrs. Belmont for interrupting it.
”There! That is over! Now who says he _ever_ heard anything better than that?” and the kind-hearted old gentleman gazed appealingly about him.
”Let me see, cousin. What was it you were saying about the 'uncultured females' of the north? Well, I remember but will not repeat, so you may save your blushes,” and his plump hand came down with emphasis upon his well-developed knee. ”Yes--they do soil their fingers with toil it is a fact. Ellen has often spoken of her visit to the home of a schoolmate who lives on the banks of the old historic Hudson, and she declares that the home into which she was ushered on her arrival was superior to almost anything she had seen in our sunny clime; but the mistress many times during her stay of two weeks actually made tea with her own hands and served it at her own table! And what was even worse, there was not a day that she did not visit her kitchen--order her own dinner--and, it may be, stuffed her own turkeys--made her own jellies, puddings, etc.! I should not be at all surprised!” Here the speaker burst forth into a merry peal of laughter, which did not seem at all contagious as no one but the wife joined in his glee. ”Ah, there is the singer. I know her by the blue silk,” interposed one of the ladies who had striven to get a look at her while she was at the piano. ”Prof. Edwards seems to monopolize her entirely.” ”She is _very_ pretty,” remarked another. ”All but those blue eyes,” chimed in Mr. St. Clair; ”those tell the tale of frosts and snows--do you not think so, cousin?”