Part 34 (1/2)
The girls in the dressing room hovered about Zay. Wasn't it wonderful that her sister had been found and living here all these months? Why it was just like a story!
”A princess in disguise,” laughed Zay. ”That was what I called her.”
”And is she--does she look like you?”
”No, although we are twins you can easily tell us apart. She is taller; I think she will be like mother. Her hair is--well a sort of bronzy light brown, and her eyes are such a dark blue that you might mistake them for black, and she's rather grave; not such a fly-away as I am. Of course, you know, we have only had her one day though the others went over to Mrs. Barrington's to see her.”
”And wasn't she something there,” asked a girl.
”She was going to study for a teacher. Mrs. Barrington expected to keep her after her--well, I suppose we might call it a foster-mother, died.
You see Mrs. Boyd thought the nurse mamma had was her real mother and she felt so sorry for the baby believing the true mother had been killed.”
”Why it is a real romance.”
Zaidee meant to put it on a right foundation. At school once she had, in a way, stood up for her when Louie Howe tried to establish a distinction. So why shouldn't she now, and always, even if she had not taken Marguerite cordially to her heart. No one outside should offer a slight.
”And you believe it is all true--”
”Well, I think Dr. Kendricks and Mr. Ledwith and Mrs. Barrington couldn't all be deceived. You see, this Mrs. Boyd never knew she belonged to us, but she thought there might be a father somewhere; and the account of the accident tallied; there were only two babies on the train and one was killed. Mrs. Boyd knew the baby she took was not hers. So it is beyond any doubt.”
Zaidee Crawford looked brave and beautiful and her voice would have carried conviction anywhere, as well as disarming criticism.
”Oh, you _are_ a darling!” and two or three of the girls kissed her rapturously.
”I wouldn't be without a sister for all the world,” declared Evelyn Van Orden, the middle one of the three girls.
The musicians were tuning up. Several of the young gentlemen stood in the hall waiting. Mrs. Van Orden summoned them down.
It was a gay young people's party and numerous were the regrets that Willard Crawford was to be gone for so long.
”But you'll have Vincent all next summer,” he said. ”And there is no scarcity of other young fellows.”
”But they go away, as well. Unless they have a fortune they cannot afford to stay at home.”
”And I have all mine to make,” he returned, with mock seriousness.
It was true that at ten the music stopped, but there was some gay chatting over the refreshments and then the carriages began to come.
They all expressed their pleasure to their hostess. Willard insisted that they should take home two or three of the girls, and they were nothing loth.
”But, you see, Zay is quite certain she owns him, and she gave him about every other dance,” said Sophie Lawrence, as she stood on the steps with her sister.
When they were alone Willard reached over and took his sister's hand in a warm clasp.
”Zay, I heard your fine defense for Marguerite. I was waiting at the head of the stairs. I suppose for awhile there will be some gossip and wondering, but there never can be any doubt of the truth. I think she is going to make a fine and admirable woman, and I hope you two will love each other as Vin and I always have.”
”You can't love anyone offhand. Such a love would not be worth having, and if she wins you away from me--”
”Oh, Zay, silly child! No one can take your place in the heart of one of us.”
”I'm not sure.” Zay was crying then.