Part 23 (1/2)
”It is an outrage!” responded the black. ”Having stolen our ancestors and brought them here from their native country, the Americans hate us for the injury they have done. In France, they tell me, it is not so.
Oh, if I _could_ gain an education, and become what G.o.d meant to make me--a man!” He paused as if the thought was too great to be conceived in its fullness, and then said, abruptly: ”Where can you get this money?”
Roseleaf's suspicions were now keenly aroused and he dreaded lest she should bring his name into the conversation.
”Your father would not give it to you--without an explanation,” pursued the negro. ”And you have no fortune of your own.”
”I will get it--let that suffice,” interrupted the girl. ”I can give you $1000 a year for two years, at least, and I hope for two or three more, if you will go to Paris and put yourself under instruction. Can you hesitate to accept a proposal of that kind? I thought you would seize it with avidity.”
As Daisy said this she arose, and started slowly toward the house.
Hannibal walked by her side talking in a tone so low that nothing more was intelligible to the eavesdropper she little suspected was so near.
But suddenly the girl stopped, and Roseleaf heard her cry with startling distinctness:
”_How dare you!_”
The voice that uttered these words was filled with rage, and the girl's att.i.tude, as Roseleaf could see--for he had risen hastily to his feet--was one of intense excitement. Then she added:
”If you ever speak of that again, they will be the last words I will ever exchange with you. My offer is still open--you can have the money if you wish it--but never another syllable like this! Understand me, Hannibal, never!”
Miss Daisy pa.s.sed on toward the house, alone. The negro stood where she had left him, his head bowed on his breast, as if completely cowed by the rebuke. Roseleaf's heart beat rapidly. What gave this fellow such power over these people? How could he say things to call out such an exclamation as that of Daisy's, and yet hold her promise to pay him a large sum of money, instead of getting the prompt discharge he merited?
And this was what the girl wanted to do with the $1,000, she had asked him to lend her! Should he still give it to her? Yes, if it would rid the country of that insolent knave who, from whatever cause, occupied a position that must be growing unendurable to those who had to bear with him.
What had Hannibal said, that made her turn as if grossly insulted, and speak with a vehemence so foreign to her nature? Roseleaf would have enjoyed following the negro and giving him a severe trouncing. Though Hannibal was twenty pounds heavier and considerably taller than he, the novelist had not the least doubt of his ability to master him. He believed the courage of an African would give way when confronted by one of the superior race; and at any rate, righteous indignation would count for something in so just a contest.
There were no traces of excitement on Daisy's pretty face as she welcomed the guests of the family. Weil arrived at about the same time as Roseleaf, coming directly from the station, and Mr. Fern arrived a little later. Millicent looked her best, which is saying no less than that she was a beauty, and Archie told her politely that she ought to sit for a painting. When the dinner was served, Hannibal took charge as usual. s.h.i.+rley watched him with an interest he had never felt before, and nodded a.s.sent when Weil whispered behind his napkin, ”Good material for a novel in that fellow, eh?”
The opportunity for a word alone with Daisy came earlier than Roseleaf expected. In fact she herself proposed it, while pa.s.sing out of the dining room. She said she had something particular to tell him.
”It is about that money you were so kind as to say I could have,” she explained, when they were far down the lawn, and out of hearing of the others. ”I want it very much and very soon. It--it will be all right, I hope, and--and not cause you any inconvenience.”
”I will bring it, or send it to-morrow,” he replied, instantly. ”But I still wonder what you intend to do with it.”
She smiled archly.
”A good act, I a.s.sure you,” she replied. ”Something of which you would certainly approve, if you knew all the circ.u.mstances. You are very kind, and if it was darker here I should be--almost--tempted to kiss you.”
He replied that it was growing darker rapidly, and that the requisite shadow could be obtained if they stayed out long enough; but she said she could remain but a few moments, and turned in the direction of the house.
”But, Daisy!” he cried, and then paused. ”You--you know there is something of very great importance that I want to talk about. I get so little chance, and I want so much to tell you things. I have been trying to go to your father's office, and I can't find courage.”
”I didn't know you were thinking of buying wool,” she said, mischievously.
”I want one little lamb, to be my own,” he answered, ”to love and cherish all my life long. Am I never to have it?”
She sobered before the earnestness of his sad face.
”You are a dear boy,” she said, ”and I love you. There! Don't say anything more to me to-night. I have made a foolish confession, for which I may yet repent. We must go in. They will be looking for us.”
She looked at his countenance and saw that it was radiant.