Part 20 (2/2)
”My dear Alec, give me your hand!” cried Harry. And the two brothers clasped hands warmly, while Joel nodded approvingly. Flora, who sat next to Lottie, slipped her arm around her waist and gave her a sisterly embrace; and Mrs. Hazeley exclaimed, wiping the tears away: ”If ever a woman was blessed in her children, I am that one. Truly, G.o.d is good.”
”That he is,” rejoined Mrs. Benson. ”My husband and I can testify to that.” And her eyes rested lovingly upon Ruth and little Jem.
”Well,” put in Mrs. Durand, Lottie's aunt. ”_You_ are all rejoicing; but I am not so sure that I can join you. I lose my housekeeper and the only companion I have when I lose Lottie. One doesn't mind living alone so much when one is used to it; but when you have had company for so long, it comes awkward to go back to the old habits.”
”Remember the old proverb, Aunt Emmeline, 'Never cross the bridge until you come to it,'” laughed Lottie. Then, turning to Alec, who sat quietly smiling, she said: ”Tell her, Alec, do.”
”Aunt Emmeline, come with me a moment; I have something to show you,”
and offering her his arm they left the room. Crossing the wide hall, they ascended the stairs, and stopping at a closed door, Alec said, as he pushed it open:
”This room is for Aunt Emmeline, as long as she will occupy it. We could not do without her.”
Mrs. Durand's fears were thrown to the wind when she heard this, and saw the dainty room. Turning to Alec, with her eyes bright with tears, she said, as she threw her arms around his neck:
”Oh, Alec, I do not deserve this. But it makes me very happy to know you think enough of me to do this for me.”
As they entered the room, where all was gayety, her face wreathed in smiles, Mrs. Durand said:
”Now I can join in the general rejoicing. I have a new home--this one--with Lottie and Alec.”
Everybody was pleased, and Lottie looked her happiness; for her face was ever very expressive of her feelings.
For a long time Jem, who was as quiet and quaint in her ways as ever, had been occupied in the effort to make peace between Dolby and Pokey, who were now old and feeble, but very dear to the heart of their mistress, who had insisted that they must come to the wedding.
During Alec's story, Flora had caught a look of decided disapproval on Jem's face, and determining to ascertain the cause, she asked:
”Jem, dear, does anything trouble you? What do you think of this?”
”Do you mean the wedding?” Jem questioned.
”Yes.”
”Well, then,”--and the words came slowly, distinctly, and decisively,--”I think it was a very disinteresting one.”
”How would you have had things, if you could have had your way?” asked Flora, much amused at Jem's positive tone.
”Oh, _I'd_ have had white satin, and orange blossoms, and lots of presents, and a great big wedding cake, with a beautiful ornament on top, and all such, you know.” In her earnestness she had forgotten that Pokey was on her lap, hidden under the table-cloth, for fear her indulgent grandma would see her and be disgusted, and banish her from the room. Pokey, feeling that the little hands were no longer pressing her down and reminding her that she must lie still, quietly dropped to the floor, and began cautiously to explore.
”Now, Jem,” went on Flora, argumentatively, ”suppose we did have all the fine things you named, how much happier would that make us all?”
”Oh, I don't know anything about that. I only know it would have been prettier, and more to my taste as a guest, you see,” returned Jem with dignity, much to the amus.e.m.e.nt of her listeners.
”Ah, Jem,” said Harry, shaking his head at her, and pretending to be very serious: ”Ah, Jem, you little know how much unhappiness often follows the orange blossoms and satin.”
”I don't know anything about that, either,” was the cool rejoinder. ”I only know they are prettier to look at.”
”Everybody to his taste, say I, Jem,” remarked Alec, solemnly; which bit of philosophy was promptly put into practice by Dolby, who evidently found it to his taste just then to spring upon Pokey while her young mistress was busy talking, and who received a sharp box on the ear for his pains. Of course such behavior necessitated the removal of poor Pokey in disgrace by Jem.
Before anybody was ready for it, the hour of separation had come. After a great deal of talking and a good many ”good-byes,” the Hazeleys were on the cars, being carried back to Brinton, and the unique reunion was over.
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