'But you are joking, Mrs. Charteris,' said Molly, half alarmed.
'After that, he has the power, and you are queen no longer, but must follow him round the world if he beckons; and he knows it, and he lets you know it too.'
'That is a foolish way of talking, Josephine,' said her mother. 'Of course, there is a certain truth in it, and there ought to be. A man is the head of his house. The only thing to be desired is, that he should rule it well.'
'I don't care whether it is well or ill,' rejoined Josephine. 'What I object to is being ruled at all. It is horrid!Youcan't talk, mamma, because you know you always held the reins yourself. It's intolerable to have to ask a man for money, unless he is your own father; and to have him put his nose into your affairs and say this must be and that mustn't be. Women know just as well as men how things ought to be.'
'I think they do,' said Molly.
'And better,' added Josephine.
But at this point Hazel gave way and laughed. Such a ring of appreciation and merriment and gladness of heart, as was good to hear. The soft notes made Mrs. Powder smile; but poor Josephine, who could not laugh so, turned aside quick to hide the very different change which came over her face. Before anything further could be said, the door opened again and Rollo came in. He came in with a look upon his face which changed when he saw the three people he had not expected to see. It did not grow less bright, but it changed; the look that was for his wife was for no other upon earth; nor even for her in the presence of others. He went through the necessary greetings and congratulations with a manner of courtly carelessness, which involuntarily made Hazel think of those first days when she knew him at Catskill.
'Do you want to buy anything, ladies?' said he then, setting on the table a bronze standish which Hazel had just freed from its wrappings.
'Will you tell us what all this means, Dane?' said Mrs. Powder.
'Santa Claus's spillings out of his sleigh.'
'Spillings!' echoed the lady. 'What must the sleigh load have been!'
'O that's the way these people do things,' said Josephine. 'What I should like to know, is where the sleigh load went to.'
'Down various chimneys, of course,' said Dane.
'Do you know,' the lady went on, 'it is very mean of you, Dane Rollo, to have gone and married the only rich woman in our part of the country. You ought to have left her for somebody else.'
'If you would like a basket,' said Rollo coolly, pulling some of his wickerware into line, 'you may have one. I can afford it.'
'May I have one too?' queried Molly.
'Help yourself.Mrs. Powder, you are a housekeeperare there none among all these varieties that would serve a purpose for you? Mrs. Charteris, aren't you fond of flowers? I will bestow upon you this big flower-holder.'
It was one of the best specimens of the poor basket-maker's work, being a delicate wicker stand, pretty enough for the drawing-room or a boudoir. Josephine silently accepted the gift, looking at it with strange eyes; while Molly set about a search for what might serve her turn. Mrs. Powder sat as a spectator, curious, and at the same time amused.
'We have got more than baskets here,' Rollo went on, pulling off twine and paper. 'Here is a tea-kettle. Who wants this article? Here is an hour-glass.'
'O let me have that!' quoth Molly Seaton. 'I never saw an hour- glass before. What's this in it?'
'Minutes and seconds,' said Josephine.
'No, but really. It would be dreadful to see one's minutes and seconds running away in this manner. What is this in the glass?'
'Did you never hear of the sands of life, child?' said Mrs. Powder.
'They were brought from the shores of time, too,' added Josephine, 'by an adventurous traveller.'
'What is it?' cried a lively voice from the again opening door. 'A reception at the opening of spring goods? I come in, because I hear sounds' And Miss Kitty Fisher presented herself, stopping just inside the door. 'I do vow!' she said. 'Whatis it?"All for Love"? or "She stoops to Conquer"? Katharine and Petruchio seems to be played out. Well, if I were a turtledove in a big cage!'
'You would coo, I suppose,' said Josephine scornfully. 'Turtledoves always do, and they are a great humbug.'
'I should doubtless bob my head to the other turtledove,' said Kitty, making a profound reverence to the gentleman present.
Rollo came forward and offered the lady his arm; then gravely led her across the big room among baskets and packages to where Wych Hazel was seated on her low cushion.
'Duchess,' said he with stately form, 'Primrose's cousin Kitty desires to be recommended to your grace.'
'No, I don't,' said Kitty. 'That's a fib. The duchess and I were well "acquaint" when Duke did not stand quite so high in favour. But I am thankful for my part, you two people have given up mischief and settled down. Sit still among your baskets, child; they become you.'
'Perhaps you will sit down among the baskets too,' said Dane.'Don't you want one?'
'It's only to look and choose, Kitty,' said Molly Seaton. 'Such another chance you won't have again.'
'If you have one large enough to hold her valentines,' said Hazel with a glance at "Duke,"'that might do.'
'Valentines!' echoed Kitty Fisher,'you'd better! Richard is going into a decline, madam, I suppose you know. And the major is drowning careand himself with it. And Lancaster's pining for war and a stray bullet;and Stuart Nightingale Then in town here there's a list of killed, wounded and missing as long as my arm. O I must tell you the best joke. There was a parcel of men dining at the club the other day, and toasting Miss Kennedy, witch, sorceress, etc.till they couldn't see. Then in rushes Tom McIntyre, out of breath, and says, "Miss Kennedy is extinct!"I'd rather have seen their faces,' said Kitty, stopping to laugh, 'than get Stuart's best philopoena!'
'It really is unkind,' said Josephine, 'to take people so by surprise, without letting them get accustomed to the idea. Of course they are liable to fall into all sorts of ridiculous situations.'
'You have undertaken a great deal, Dane,' said Mrs. Powder, 'in venturing to marry a lady accustomed to so much admiration.'
'I like whatever I have to be admired,' said Rollo coolly.
'But how do you expect she will do without it in future?'
Dane lifted his eyes for a second to the lady with a certain hidden sparkle in their gravity, and asked her, so seriously that she was entrapped by it, 'If she thought admiration was bad for people in general?' Mrs. Powder fell into the snare, and before she knew it was involved in a deep philosophical and moral discussion, as far as heaven from earth removed from all personalities. The younger ladies however found this tiresome.
'Do leave that mamma!' said Josephine. 'The question is, whether he and Hazel are going to give us a grand reception, and challenge the admiration of the world by something the like of which was never seen before. A scene out of the Arabian Nights, with enchantment, flowers, fruits and singing birds. They ought, for they can. What's the use of having money?'
'I dare say they will do something of that sort,' said the elder lady smiling. 'It really is Society's due, I think; especially as they have cheated the world with a private wedding.'
'I like to pay my dues,' said Dane carelessly, turning over and unpacking things all the while. 'Mrs. Powder, there is a paper knife for you.'
'But you don't do it,' the lady went on, smiling at the same time over the paper knife, which was very pretty. 'Now will you and Hazel hold a reception, as you ought to do, and let people see her as your wife?'
'No fear they won't see her,' put in Kitty Fisher. 'I know some people who mean to have a good time when he's away at the mills. Where are your presents, child? I came to see you on purpose to see them. I suppose they are the ninth wonder. You have seen them, Mrs. Powder?'
'I have seen nothing,' said that lady blandly, for however she disapproved of Kitty's style of application, I have no doubt she would have liked it to be successful.'I have seen nothing, except baskets.'
'There is a good deal here besides,' said Rollo. 'Mrs. Charteris, don't you want a bread trencher? Or a rocking chair? And here are pens.'
'Thank you. Are you going to set up a shop?'
'That is what I was going to ask him,' said Molly Seaton.
'When I do, you will not be able to buy it,' said Rollo; 'so make the most of your advantage now.'
It was a very silent young duchess that sat there, all this while, amid the medley of people and things. The colour sometimes coming, and sometimes going; a smile ditto; the little fingers busy with packages, the head of brown curls bent over them. Well she knew how Rollo was shielding her by his play, amusing her inquisitive visiters, at the same time attending to her slightest movement; for his fingers came to help hers whenever a knot was too hard, or a paper wrap too obstinate, or an article too heavy for them.
'Well,' Kitty repeated, eyeing her, 'where are the presents?'
'Not on exhibition,' said Wych Hazel. 'Except in detail.'
'Don't see the details yet,' said Miss Fisher examining her. 'I have seen that opal pin beforebewildering thing! Josephine, haven't you seen them either?'
'Kitty, you are very impudent!' said Mrs. Powder laughing.
'Presents are good for nothing but to be shewn,' remarked Mrs.Charteris.
'My present is worth more than that,' said Rollo. 'It has "Waste not, want not," carved on it, if you will notice. That may be very useful to you and Mr. Charteris.'
'I wonder who is impudent now!' said Josephine.
'Well what did you wear, child?' pursued Miss Fisher. 'Stephen Kingsland fell back in a swoon when he found he had missed your wedding dress.'
'Well, I think people have duties to society,' uttered Molly Seaton.
'And society's bound to make 'em pay,' said Miss Fisher. 'I won't rest till I have seen those presents, you may be sure.'
'Use your eyes, then,' said Wych Hazel with a warning flush which Kitty remembered. 'Because they are not labelledand never will be.'
Kitty winked at Mrs. Powder.
'Stupid!' she cried,'use my eyes, to be sure! Why there's the big apron! Of course that's a present, only she don't like to say so. The child's turned economical. Nobody ever saw Miss Kennedy protect her dress, I'll warrant. Pretty pattern, isn't it? I wonder if I could get itagainst my moonso-calledof honey?'
'The apron would be no use without the economy,' said Rollo.
'What have people so rich as you to do with economy?'
'Nobody needs it more.'
'Hear him! Then I don't know what economy means,' cried Kitty.
'I doubt if you do, my dear,' said Mrs. Powder.
'What it means?' echoed Josephine. 'Economy is being mean and pinching.'
'Economy is saving,' added Molly.
'Looks awfully proper and matronly,' said Kitty, going back to the apron. 'When will you give your first ball, Hazel? It might be a calico ball, you know,and then all the dresses would help out with the mill hands.'
'The first ball I give,' said Hazel, gravely examining a pasteboard box filled with the article, 'will probably be one of soap,but just when it will be, I do not know.'
'And do you mean your first cards issued to be wool cards, my dear?' said Kitty with secret delight.
'Kitty,' said Rollo, 'suppose you take a sugarplumand behave yourself.'
'O I can't stay,' said Kitty giving way a little. 'I only came just to '
'That's what I came for too,' said Josephine; 'and now I am going.'
'We have all got more than we came for, then,' said Molly; 'but I have staid too long, too. Will you take me home Phinney.'
The ladies swept away; the room was full of rustling silks for a moment, and then was clear. Rollo came back from putting them into their respective carriages, and stood and smiled at Hazel.
'It has come at last!' he said.
'It was to be expected,' Dane went on resignedly. 'I told Arthur to send proper notices to the papers; and I suppose he had done it, and this is the consequence. Never mind; we will run away as soon as we can. Now, Hazel, what shall we do with all this lumber?'
'Lumber is something out of place, according to Byo,' said Hazel contemplatively. 'Now one of these two foot rests would beinplace in Dr. Maryland's study;is there another tired minister somewhere else?'
'Tired minister?' said Dane. I suppose there are hundreds of tired ministers scattered all over the land, out west, and on the frontiers.If one knew where!'
'Somebody must know.'
'I suppose somebody must.'
'Well cannot you find out?'
'I suppose I can!'
'They may want some of these books, too. Dr. Maryland always wants books, although he has so many. And if the ministers are tired, their wives must be,' said Hazel with a new fit of contemplation settling over her face. Rollo stood in the middle of the floor, looking at her, and at the same time considering the confusion.
'I will make a bargain with you.'
'Well?'
'These things must go somewhere, that is clear. I will find out the names and addresses of a hundred, say, who are in need of help. We will send off so many boxes; and you shall arrange what is to go in them.'
Wych Hazel folded her hands and looked up at him.
'OlafI never was tired in my life!At least, but once.'
'I thought I was tired five minutes ago,' said Rollo, 'but I have got over it.'
'I could think of pretty things enough to send,' Hazel went on. 'Do they want pretty things out there, I wonder? Good people here do not always like them, I think. But I never saw a missionaryor his wife.'
'Perhaps you did not look in the right place. You make your list, and I will get mine. We might send off a couple of hundred boxes, and put fifty dollars' worth of comfort in each. These things will all find a place somewhere.'
'Fifty dollars!' said Hazel opening her eyes. 'My dear friend, have you any idea how much one dress costs? Fifty dollars will not do much for two people.'
'I will shew you what can be done with fifty dollars. And give you your second lesson in economy. Where did you get that name for me?'
'Picked it up, one day when you ceased to be an enemy.'
'In some place where worn-out were lying about. Worn-out things are shabby.'
Hazel drew a protesting breath. 'There is nothing shabby or worn- out about it! It is entirely new,spick and span. Please, is my next lesson to go deeper than Prim's trunk, and take offallthe globe buttons?'
'For people who have no gloves, Hazel?'
Hazel looked startled for a minute, but then she looked incredulous.
'Go and find out all about it,' she said; 'and then we shall know what to do. I am talking ofclergymen's wives.'
Dane left that point uncombated. The next evening he came in with his hands full of pamphlets. And after dinner, when the room was clear, and the gas burners lighted up the warm, luxurious comfort and seclusion, glowing and rich, around them, Dane took his papers and sat down by Wych Hazel's side.
'I have found out several things about your clergymen's wives,' he began. 'Here, as you see, is a bundle of Reports. They concern certain funds of relief, established in various churches, for the help of disabled or superannuated ministers and their families. And, without going into details,there are hundreds of such cases. Some of them are sick and old ministers, worn out in the service; others are widows of such men; others again, orphan families, whose mother and father are both gone. I have been told of the sort of destitution that is found among them. What do you think of a delicate child, for whom a bit of flannel could not be afforded? What do you think of a family of women and girls getting their own firing out of the woods, cutting it and backing it home, and that by the year together? What do you think of an old minister supported by the handiwork of an infirm and herself not young daughter? And I could tell you of living without books, without paper for writing, in want of calico for dresses, and muslin for underclothing, without pocket-handkerchiefs, without yarn to knit stockings or a penny to buy any, living on the coarsest food And I am talking ofclergymen's wives, Hazel.'
Hazel looked up at him with wide-open eyes while he spoke, then down at herself, taking a sort of inventory of her own belongings. What stores of embroidery and lace were there, even hidden away and out of sight! And what sort of relation did these costly silken folds bear to those needed calicoes?Hernote-paper was monogrammed and edged to double its first cost;that shawl, tossed carelessly on a chair, would have clothed in flannel a whole hospital of sick children. Point by point she went over it all past the thirty dollar buckle at her belt down toI dare not say how many dollars' worth of shoes that covered the little feet.
And these people were life-long workers for goodor children of such men and women, who had hazarded their lives for the Lord Jesus,and she, an idler all her life! Hazel put her head down in her hands, and answered not a word.
Dane waited awhile; then he ventured a gentle query.
'I cannot bear myself!' Hazel broke out. 'I feel as if I had been stealing, and defrauding, and embezzling, and every other dishonest word in the dictionary! O do you think the cry ofsuchlabourers has been going up against me, all my life?'
'What shall we put in our boxes?' said Dane smiling.
Hazel caught up a bit of paper and ran off a list long enough to call for good packing,then she stopped suddenly.
'Olafwe cannot send in the dark. One man may have ten children, and another may have no wife. And people in Florida don't want thick shawls, and Oregon can do without thin muslins.'
'We will pack every box according to its destination. Let me hear your list.'
'Well,' said Hazel, folding her hands and gazing into the fire, 'let's begin with an imaginary family. People rather old, five children, and one of them delicate. And suppose they want a general outfit,a great piece of white cotton, and plenty of flannel; and I have seen Mrs. Bywank dispense ready-made felt shirts.'
'All right so far. Go on.'
'Then there must be dresses, of course; and one specially nice for the minister's wife. And a shawl. For her, I mean. The delicate child must have a soft quilted jacket, and bright-coloured warm wrapper, for days when she wants to lie on the sofa.'
But here Dane caught his wife in his arms and between laughing and kisses informed her that she was playing her "Rolle" of fairy again and getting impracticable.
'There is no sofa to lie on, in many of these houses, Hazel,' he went on more gravely. 'And it is better that we should send an essential supply to many, than to a few all they might want. Keep to essentials in the main. Now go on.'
'But Olaf!thosethings not essentials? Then you will rule out collars and cuffs and gloves and neck-ties? Whatareessentials? I do not believe I know.'
'All these, I should say. But even you and I cannot do everything.The quilted jacket and crimson wrapper, however desirable, mustyield in importance to some other things. Is your list done?Because I have some items to suggest.'
'I see,' Hazel answered gravely. 'Until everybody learns that the workman is worthy of his meat, they must live according to the old description"Be shod with sandals, and not put on two coats." But Olafhow can the missionary go all about in the snow if he has but one? And mayn't I send the sick child some delicate things to eat? And if they have no money, how can they get books?and papers?andeverything else!" she added, looking round the room in bewilderment.
'The coat by all means; and the delicacies for those who are feeble. Books can be sent by mail more conveniently, and more intelligently when we come to know what is most wanted. But a few might go in the boxes too; and some of them picture books. Go on. What next?'
'House linen wears out here,' said Wych Hazel. 'Towels and tablecloths and sheets. If we knew the names, we could have them all marked ready,and so with handkerchiefs.'
'If we try to furnish the people and the houses too, we shall have too much on our hands. These are not the only people in the world to be helped. Suppose we keep to personalities, for this set of boxes.'
'I think you must finish the list,' Hazel said after a pause. 'I believe I count everything "essential" that I have always had. I do not know how to choose, for people who always do without.'
'Your list is capital, so far. What do you think of a package of tea, for another item? Chocolate perhaps, and cocoa. Letter paper, and pens and pencils. A few pocket-knives, and fish hooks; perhaps some pairs of scissors would not come amiss. Also toilet articles, which on the frontiers and in the wilds are hard to get. Hey?'
'There is no end to the things,' said Hazel, facing round. 'But Olaf, in getting them, you would not strike offallgood books, to keep to mere good quality? I should think their eyes must ache to see pretty things!'
Rollo smiled, making notes on a sheet of paper. 'I believe in the uses of beauty,' he said. 'Let everything be as pretty as possible. I leave the charge of that to you. You must go to Stewart's and order muslin, calico, flannel, ribbands, and everything in that line. I will take care of the hardware and groceries. Order the things sent here. I will make arrangements for the reception of them, and Byrom shall get us a store of packing-boxes and marking ink.'
'And Olaf,' said Hazel eagerly, 'when you have filled the box with essentials, will you let me put "non"-s in all the vacant space?'
For the gratification of those of our readers who would like to know how these young people spent the evenings of the remainder of their honeymoon, a few words more may be added. Dane secured a small room which could be devoted to receiving stores. Here day by day Byrom piled stacks of drygoods as they came in; packages of tea and spices, corn starch and arrowroot, and the like; heaps of books and paper; and thither he carried all the heterogeneous articles which had been sent home during that eccentric New Year's expedition. Here also he provided a store of packing-boxes, of varying dimensions, with hammer and nails and marking-ink; much speculating to himself on the peculiarities of the service in which he found himself. It is true, Byrom had been now some time with Rollo, and had, as the latter said, got used to him. He was an English servant, trained and steady as a mill, eminently respectable, and head groom now at Chickaree.
These things being provided, as soon as dinner was done every day, Mr. and Mrs. Rollo repaired to this room of supplies. Here they amused themselves with packing the boxes. It is quick work, reader, if you have plenty of materials to choose from. To help in the selection and secure the better fitness of assortment, Rollo had had a sort of circular letter copied and sent to several hundred of the addresses with which he had been furnished. This circular requested details as to the circumstances and special wants of the family. The answers were directed to be sent to Hazel; to whom, by the way, the reading and arranging of such answers when they began to come in, furnished occupation for not a small part of her mornings.
With half a dozen of the most pressing of these in hand, Rollo and Hazel went to the packing room; and taking one for their guide in each instance, threw into the box one after another the articles that seemed specially called for. Ah, how pleasant it was! It was like personal contact with the weak and the weary, giving a touch of comfort and help each time. Hazel had learned the use of the cheap calico counter, which once had excited her wonder and incredulity; she chose the prettiest patterns she could, but even she was fain to see that it was better to give prints or mohairs to a great many who wanted them, than a silk gown to one here and there who perhaps could rarely wear it if she had it. In like manner, flannel was to be preferred to lace; also it became evident that at the rate they were filling and sending boxes, economy was a very necessary thing; meaning by economy, the most useful expenditure of money. Let nobody think, however, that there went nothing but bare necessaries into those boxes. Ribbands and collars and cuffs and ruffles and shawls were scattered in with a free hand. Choice books went into corners. Sometimes slates and maps. Pictures and pencils, pens and writing paper; magazines and illustrated new prints. And sugarplums stole in here and there, and even dolls and tops and pocket knives and balls and jackstraws. Fishing lines and hooks also. Sometimes an engraving, not costly, but lovely where there is an utter dearth of all objects of art whatever. The entertainment and delight of filling those boxes is something quite beyond my pen to tell. Hazel and Rollo often worked the whole evening at it; for the list of names was long. Not two hundred, but four hundred boxes that month were filled and sent; and there went more than fifty dollars' worth into every one; oftener it was eighty.
Solitude and seclusion were at an end. The world had found out where Hazel was and what she had been doing. So many millions were out of the market certainly, but still they might be useful in various ways; and the world came to put in its claim to be remembered. And invitations began to pour in; and the baskets which held cards and the like on Hazel's table flowed over and threatened an inundation. Rollo, every day very busy and still held fast in the city by business, had so far escaped much personal contact with the aforesaid world, and only received reports upon it from Hazel.
'Wych,' he said as he came in one evening just ready for dinner,'I have found an old friend to-day.'
'O, are they beginning upon you?' said Wych Hazel. 'I hope it is not a new one for me?'
'I hope it is a new one for you,' said he, looking somewhat wonderingly at her. 'Or rather, I hope you will be a new friend for him. What's the matter?'
'Some day when you come home,' said Hazel, 'you will find this room tenanted solely by a heap of cards, invitations, enquiries and congratulations. Exploring therein cautiously, you may perhaps discover the top of my head!'
'Oh!'said Dane. 'I will carry you away before it gets to be so bad as that. This is an old fellow-student of mine, Hazel; an odd, clever, careless, unselfish fellow, who has never got along in the world. He took to art, came to America, on account of some family troubles at home; and here he was a good deal petted in society. Now he is ill, and alone, and I fear very poor. He is at a boarding house, where I suspect he cannot pay his bills; quite alone. He had not a friend. Nor, I am afraid, a sou.'
'And you are going off to take care of him?' said Hazel, facing round with sudden interest.
'Off, where?'
'Why, wherever he is. To his hotel, or his room.'
'I have just come from him. He is not suffering from acute illness now; but he is pining away, I think, for want of good food and fresh air, and home. You see, we were comrades together in Göttingen; and he comes from over there. He was very glad to see me.'
'Art?' said Hazel. 'Is he a painter?'
'He was a painter.'
'Do send him off to paint Dr. Maryland's portrait! There is nothingPrim wants so much; Consign him to Mrs. Bywank.'
Rollo's eye brightened and warmed; but he went on. 'He may never paint again, Hazel. If we receive him, itmaybe that it will only be to see him fade away in the midst of us.'
'Well What then?' she added softly after a minute.
'It may be a matter of months, Hazel.'
She looked gravely up and down. 'But nothing elsethat I can think ofwould be so much like home.'
The kisses which answered her were energetic enough to speak without words; and when a few minutes later dinner was served, Rollo came to the table with the air of a satisfied man. And then he told Hazel stories about Göttingen.
'Prim writes that Mrs. Coles is coming to town,' said Hazel, later in the meal, when roast venison had superseded student life.
'Prudentia!When?'
'Next week. Shall we be away?'
'No,' said Dane smiling. 'I wish we could.' And then he was silent, and the dessert was on the table before he alluded to the subject again.
'Hazel,' he said suddenly, 'write and ask Prim to come with Mrs. Coles and stay a few days. It will be a great delight to both of them.'
'No, indeed,' said Hazel promptly.
'No? why?' said Dane with a laugh in his eyes which he let come no further.
'I never ask people that I hope will refuse.'
'Ask and hope they will come! Don't you think you and I could stand Prudentia for a week?'
Wych Hazel glanced at him from under her eyelashes. 'I can stand most things,' she said, 'that you can. But you must write the letter.'
'Must I? Would you like to state the reason?'
'Hard to state euphoniously. BecauseIdo not mean to do it!'
Dane laughed. 'It will not save you from the consequences,' he said; 'however'
Hazel raised her brows a little. 'You are forewarned,' she said.'Then probably you will wish to accept all these invitations?'
'I do not precisely catch the connection of the argument.'
'I thought you seemed to be pining for variety,' she said with a laugh. 'So I propose, for to-morrow and next day and the day after,a breakfast, a wedding, three kettledrums, a dinner, two receptions, and a ball.'
'Abgeschlagen' responded Dane, going on with his dinner.
'Which?'
'It would not do to be particular.'
'But you must choose,' said Hazel. 'Or I must.'
'Are you pining for variety?'
'No, I have got it.' This with a half laugh and a pretty flush.
'I am content,' said Dane. 'Then, if you are content, I do not see what we want further.'
'But it is other people who want us just now.' And Hazel looked over to her pile of invitations.
'Unfortunate for them.'
'Is it? You will refuse them all? Do you mean that you would never go anywhere?'
'I do not mean that at all. I am longing to take you to Europe.'
'Yes, but keep to the point.'
'Wait till after dinner, then,' said he laughing.
So they waited; and when the servant had ended his ministrations and gone, Dane took a position of ease beside Wych Hazel on the sofa, and gathered up the notes in his hand.
'Now, Wych, what is the question here?'
'Why, as of courseof course I should not go anywhere now without you, I must know first where you will go,' said Hazel with one of her pretty shy looks. 'And as some occasions demand But I am in inextricable confusion about my dress!'she said, breaking off with a laugh. 'I may as well confess it at once.'
'Does my bird of paradise want room to spread her wings?' said he, looking in her face.
'And shew herself? No, I have done enough of that.'
'If we keep the key-note of life's music clear and true, we shall find the chords, Wych. How are you in confusion?'
' "If thine eye be single, thy whole body shall be full of light," ' she answered thoughtfully. 'But do you know, light is very confusing sometimes?'
'No.'
'Yes, it is. When I did not care what I did, I knew exactly what to do.'
'What is it you are in doubt about now?'
'Everything. Ought I to refuse all invitations, and wear grey serge?But the reverse of wrong is not right.'
Rollo laughed, while yet he looked serious. 'The question is, Wych, what we will do with our life? There is not time enough, nor strength, nor even in our case money enough, to meet the demands of the gay world and of the other part of the world too. Do what we will with our millions, there will be poor and suffering and ignorant people that we cannot reach; and how can we take hundreds and thousands for dresses and entertainments, when the work of our Master wants it all? I propose that we be neither hermits nor wear serge; but go wherever we can get goodor give it; and dress for the utmost efficiency in both departments. What do you think of that for a general principle?'
' "Good" 'Hazel repeated. 'I suppose pleasure might sometimes come under that head.'
'Let us see how much of that article we are refusing just now,' said Dane drily, taking a still more easy position and turning over the notes in his hand. 'No. 1, Mrs. Schornstein's reception. I can see that from here. Crowds, gaslights, twelve inches standing room for one's body, one's mind in the condition of Noah's dove when the waters were upon the earth!Mrs. Lefevre"German." As I do not dance, and as you do not, what should we do, duchess?Mrs. Post; that will be a repetition of Mrs. Lefevre's, only the rooms will be dressed with flowers; but we can see flowers any day in a greenhouse and by daylight, and without the necessity of waltzing up to them.Bampton Foulard. Ah, that is a variety! Science and Literature trying to play puss in the corner, while Fashion sweeps over the floor and catches their feet in her train. I know Mrs. Bampton's receptions; they are such a thorough "Durcheinander" that if you by chance see anything there you want, you can't get it; nor get at it.Southgate; the point there is supper; but it is a point you cannot reach without ardent exertion. I never liked that sort of exertion.Barsch; music. And the music will be fearful. I would rather drive round Central Park till it is over.Wallings; cards and supper and dancing.What do you say, Hazel? It is all one story. The pleasure is to seek.'
'I was not thinking of my own pleasure. I am not in a going-out mood. But suppose, pleasure to other people?'
'We will give them all we can, consistently with higher interests. But our directions are,"When thou makest a feast, call not thyrichneighbours."You see, it is bad economy to take what would give a year's pleasure to a hundred people, and use it to give merely a languid moment's satisfaction to a dozen or two.'
'You mean,' said Hazel studying the point,'at leastIshould mean,that the care and the cost should be kept for people whose lives are hard and empty.'
Dane was silent a minute. 'Hazel,' said he gently, 'do you dislike to have Prim come for a few days?'
Hazel paused.
'Don't be curious,' she said. 'Once when a little mouse jumped out of a dish, nobody could ever get it back again!'
'It would be a great pleasure, to Prim. I think we could bear it for a week, even with Mrs. Coles? Hey?'
'I dare say you can.And if I cannot, you will never know,' saidWych Hazel with a laugh. 'So the way is clear.'
'I know Prudentia wants to consult a physician here. So I will write at once to Primand you will give Mrs. Bywank her orders about the care of Heinert? And tell her, Wych, that Arthur will be at Chickaree a good deal also, till we come home.'
Hazel wrought her fingers into a knot of peculiar ingenuity, at thought of Mrs. Coles, but other remark made none.
A few days more brought the dreaded invasion. The ladies came of course; and as it fell out, Hazel had to receive them alone, Dane being down town at his business; for Prim and her sister arrived at midday, having found it good to spend a night on the road. The state of jocund delight in which they were, might go far to justify Rollo in having given the invitation; Prim was beaming, and Mrs. Coles proudly exultant. To be received into such an establishment; to be at home there; and without a cent of expense! Visions of pleasure filled the mind of both sisters; but very unlike; for while Prudentia dreamed of visits and shops, Prim thought of sitting beside Dane again, and at his own fireside.
The luncheon which Hazel dispensed to them, could not fail in such a mood to be greatly enjoyed; and talk flowed freely. Prudentia, being a guest, felt herself on vantage ground and a good deal more unrestrained than usual. She was in a patronising mood generally. But Prim was grateful.
'It seems almost like Chickaree, Hazel,' said the latter, 'to see you sitting there. And have you all these rooms to yourself? How delightful! What beautiful rooms!'
'But so high up!' her sister remarked. 'I am surprised that Dane did not get you rooms on the first floor, Hazel?'
The young mistress of the 'rooms,' it may be noted, was a trifle grand and stately to-day, and in a particularly unapproachable dress.
'Yes?' she said calmly. 'I think one's friends very often surprise one.'
'I know they do,' said Primrose. 'I wonder why they do. Other people never surprise one so much.'
'And how does Dane behave, in his new character?' Mrs. Coles went on, sipping her cup of tea with great satisfaction.
'Mr. Rollo is quite well, thank you.'
'To be quite wellwith himused to mean, that he had his own way,' said the lady blandly, but with a peculiar look over the table. 'Dear me! how delicious this tea is. You don't get such at our little country shops.Does it mean the same thing still? Do you let him have his way as much as he likes?'
'Did you never dare cross him in the old time?' said Wych Hazel with one of her mild looks of astonishment.
'Idared,' said Mrs. Coles with a smile. 'O yes,Idared, but I was the only one. I always wondered how it would be with his wife.'
Nobody enlightened her, and the talk passed on to other subjects. The truce held till the ladies left the table. Then began an examination in detail of the various articles in the room which did not come strictly under the head of furniture; and indeed they were somewhat tempting. For the walls were hung with engravings, there were one or two nice bits of marble and bronze, and a number of small useful things which were at the same time made to be beautiful as well. Primrose sat down to study a fine copy of the "Shadow of the Cross."
'Do these pictures all belong to the house?' Mrs. Coles asked.
'None of them,' Wych Hazel answered, standing behind Prim's chair.
'But what a quantity! Have Dane and you been picking all these up?'
'Picking upchoosingwhat you will.'
'My dear!'
There was a good deal of unspoken thoughts half uttered in the exclamation, and Mrs. Coles then went on.'But why don't he have them in better frames? These are very common, it seems to me.'
'You think they do not suit the pictures?'
'The pictures are valuable, are they not?Dane would not have them, I know, if they were not worth a lot of money; and the framesmy dear, just look at the frames; little slips of wood frames, or passepartouts; nothing better. There is not a gilt one here.'
'No,' said Wych Hazel. 'Look, Prim, how well the plain dark wood sets off this old cathedral.'
'My dear! don't you think gold would set if off better?' But then she changed the subject. 'Have you been very gay lately, Hazel?'
Hazel's thoughts were fast getting into a fight. She answered rather absently,'I? No.'
'Did you go to Mrs. Schornstein's reception?'
'No, Mrs. Coles.'
'Weren't you invited?'
'O yes,' said Wych Hazel, facing round now. 'I was invited. And I have been invited everywhere else. And I have staid at home. NowIshall have the honour of surprising you.'
'My dear!'said Mrs. Coles, thinking it was not the first time. 'Prim had a letter from Kitty that told us about the Schornstein's reception, and we thought to be sure you would be there. Why didn't you go? there, and everywhere else?'
Wych Hazel knit her brows, but then she laughed. 'Prim is so glad, that she forgets to be curious,' she said. "And Mrs. Coles is so curious that she forgets to be glad. Why should I have gone? there, or anywhereif you please?'
'My dear!Society.'
'Yes, ma'am,' said Wych Hazel, meekly waiting for particulars.
'You will offend Society.'
'Shall I? But suppose I have no time to keep Society in good humour?'
'My dear, that won't do. A honeymoon is all very well; but at this rate you will lose all your friends.'
'That would seem to indicate that my friends can do without me.Very mortifying, if true.'
'But Hazel, every one knows it is true in Society. If you do not let yourself be seen, people will not keep you in mind.'
Wych Hazel stood thinking. Not in the least of Mrs. Coles, but of what her words called up. So thoughtfully deep in some questions of her own, that for a minute she forgot to answer her questioner.
'Maybe Dane is willing people should forget you,' the lady went on chuckling. 'He has got what he wantsthat is enough.'
But here Hazel made a vigorous diversion, and insisted that her guests should go and lie down until it was near time for dinner. Then she herself stepped into her carriage and went out to think.
'How shall I stand it?' she was saying to herself, as the wheels rolled smoothly on. 'How shall ever bear six more such days! Oh how could he ask them!how could he, how could he!They come right in between and put him ten miles away. My pleasure should have come first.It is not fair.'
But here a troublesome question presented itself: what is "fair" from people who have everything, to those who have not? And then one of the new maxims which Hazel had but lately learned to love came softly in.
"Use hospitality one to another"so it ran. But how? "Without grudging."
'And I have grudged every minute since she came!' thought Hazel, her hands folded over her eyes. 'Well, I did not want her.No, but Dane did. Of course,yes,I must "use hospitality" for him. But I do think, just now, he might have been content with me!But by and by he could not give them this pleasure.Well, they needn't have it!'
"Without grudging""without grudging"either time or trouble or one's own pleasure. Wych Hazel drew a long sigh. Then the words began again.
"Charity seeketh not her own.""Beareth all things.""Endureth all things."
Wych Hazel pulled the check string and turned towards home. 'Resolved,' she said to herself; 'first, that Dane was extremely unreasonable to ask them. Second, that that is none of my business. Third, that I will do everything for them I can. If I keep them on the go, they won't know how I feel.' But there came in another message.
"Every man as he purposeth in his heart, so let him give; not grudgingly, or of necessity, for God loveth a cheerful giver." So it must be heart work, after all!Wych Hazel sighed a little as she went off to dress; and Rollo saw a thoughtful face opposite him at table, and got none of the shy dainty looks to which he was accustomed. Under the commenting eyes of Mrs. Coles, Hazel felt as if she could not look at him at all!
Nevertheless that was not a bad evening. For when two people are beaming with pleasure and through your means, a little reflection of the pleasure, at least, falls upon you. And Mrs. Coles and Prim were in a state of ecstasy; a fulness of satisfaction which at the moment left nothing to be wished for. It was not the same in the two. Mrs. Coles feeling herself for the timebien placéeand foreseeing varieties of social and other delights attainable in such circumstances; but Prim was happy in being with Dane again. They had plenty to talk about all the evening; for there was much to tell about things in the Hollow, and Arthur's reports, and Prim's use of the money she had found in her new secretary; and Dr. Maryland's delight in his new books, and how the new carpet on the library made the old place look a different thing; also there was some laughing pleasant chatter about Prim's trunk. It was funny to see how both the ladies sat with their faces turned towards Dane three-quarters of the time; Prudentia possibly with a desire to propitiate, Primrose forgetting everything else in the moment's pleasure of seeing him; and both of them being a little unconsciously shy towards Hazel. However, that evening rolled off well; and also the next day was filled with business which left no leisure for spare.
The evening brought leisure. But Dane was a shield for Hazel whenever he was present. Nothing of Mrs. Coles' could touch her; it was sure to be caught midway, shuttle-wise, and turned back, before even Hazel's battledore could have a chance at it. He was gay and hospitable all the while; making Prim very happy, and even Mrs. Coles too. The latter lady was on her good behaviour. Nevertheless, she could not quite lose her opportunity. Nature is stronger than policy.
'Hazel tells us you have been very selfish, and not taken her anywhere all these weeks, Dane,' she remarked bridling, with her peculiar smooth manner of insinuating a charge or a criticism.
'Yes,' said Dane carelessly. 'You see, we have really had so many people to attend to.'
'But Hazel did not speak of your going anywhere?'
'Take my report of the matter, and let Hazel's alone.'
'Well, she certainly is right in one thing; you did not go to Mrs.Schornstein's reception?'
'She is right; we did not.'
'Nor to the ball at Mrs. Powder's?'
'True; we did not.'
'Don't you think you ought?'
'If we had thought we ought, I suppose we should have gone,' said Dane, with a manner of lazy indifference which sometimes came over him.
'But my dear! There are things one owes to Society.'
'I believe I never understood what is meant by my obligations to Society,' said Dane. 'What has Society done, that we should be in debt to it?'
'Why!'said Mrs. Coles with a burdened breath, 'you should remember what is due to your position.'
'What is my position?'
'Do, Prue, let him alone!' said Primrose. 'Do you think he doesn't know what he is about?'
'He does not seem to know his position,' said her sister. 'Why you and your wife ought to be leaders of Society, Dane.'
'I have no objection,' said Rollo imperturbably. 'I will leadSocietyif Society will follow me.'
'But if you want to lead Society, you must please Society,' saidMrs. Coles.
'That is assuming that you know which way I want Society to go.'
'Prue, you can't lead Duke,' said Primrose laughing. 'Don't you know that?'
Mrs. Coles looked puzzled and stayed her questions. Rollo was putting some engravings into their frames, and in the intervals of the work displaying them to the admiration of herself and Prim. Prim's enjoyment of them was very hearty; Mrs. Coles looked on with a divided and impatient, as well as curious mind. By and by she broke forth again.
'Have you taken Hazel to hear Sacchi-süssi, the new prima donna?'
'No.'
'I can't find out that you have done anything! Well, tell me one thing, and I'll forgive you; are you and your wife going to give a grand entertainment by and by, and ask all these people you have been slighting? Of course, I do not meanhere;you could not do it here; but at home; by and by, at Chickaree. Will you do that?'
'I see one difficulty in the way,' said Dane, adjusting and arranging a lovely photograph of Ischl, and speaking with a negligent regard of the other subject in hand which greatly provoked his mentor.
'What can that difficulty be? You have everything'
'One thing more than you have reckoned. I have the poor, and the maim, and the halt and the blind to look after.'
'What has that to do with the point?'
'Prior claim,that is all.'
'But you have rich neighbours too.'
'Yes. But they are not in so much need of me.'
'My dear Dane! you are absurd.'
'Prove it'said Dane quietly, laying Ischl out of his hands and taking up another photograph, beautifully executed, of Monteverde's marble "Genius of Franklin." This so excited Primrose's interest and curiosity, that Mrs. Coles for a little while could not get in a word. She sat, no doubt mentally cursing the fine arts, and photography which had come to multiply the fruits of them.
'Dane,' she began with restrained impatience as soon as she saw a chance, 'why cannot you attend to the rich, as well as to the poor?'
'For the way you want me to attend to the rich, time fails. And money. And I may add, strength.'
'You and Hazel have no end of money,' said Mrs. Coles impatiently.
'It will not do all we want it to do, with the best economy.'
Mrs. Coles was silent a minute, remembering her two silks, one of which she had on at this very time, and how handsome they were; and her thought glanced to Prim's trunk, and the new secretaries, and the library carpet. She spoke with a somewhat lowered tone.
'Won't you ask anybody to your house, Dane, if he happens to be rich?'
'Not unless I have some other reason for asking him.Heinert went off to-day, Hazel,'Dane added with a change of tone.
'But Dane,' Mrs. Coles said despairingly, 'you are flying in the face of Society.'
'Mistaken, Prue;myface is turned in quite another direction,' said Dane with a slight glance at his wife which conveyed very merry and sweet private intelligence. He had just received a small parcel from Byrom, and was unrolling it in his hands; which also drew Mrs. Coles' attention and stopped the flow of her arguments. When the last fold of soft paper came off, there appeared a tiny clock; so tiny that at first nobody understood what it was; but as Dane set it upon the mantelpiece it struck the hour. The notes were like silver bells, so liquid, clear and musical, that there was a general exclamation of delight.
'My dear Dane? what is that?' exclaimed his interlocutor.
'Hazel's travelling clock.'
"Hazel's travelling clock!Where is she going?'
'Wherever I go,' said Dane coolly.
'But where areyougoing? I thought your hands were full with your mills.'
'Just now they are rather full.'
'Won't they be full a long time, Duke?' said Primrose.
'Perhaps. But when I get things in order, then I shall go, if I can.'
'Where?' asked Mrs. Coles.
'In generalto see the midnight sun, and the moonlight on Milan.'
'You have been there before.'
'Just why I want to go there again,' said Rollo, while his eye came furtively over to Wych Hazel with a sparkle in it. And he went on.'I know a little lake in the Bavarian mountains. It lies in the midst of the tall stems of ancient forest trees. The water is so clear that you can see the small stones at the bottom, sixty feet down. Above the lake and above the tops of the trees, you eye can reach the mountain walls of rock towering thousands of feet up, bearing their everlasting snow fields. Then if you look down, you see in the water the reflection of a cross that stands on the summit of one of the mountains; the Zug-spitze. And the whole little lake, to use the expression of an enthusiastic German , is "as green as the dewdrop on a lettuce leaf." '
'My dear Dane!' said Mrs. Coles in bewilderment. 'Whereis it?'
'In Bavaria.'
'That's in Germany, isn't it? Have you ever been there?'
'How else should I know how green it is?' said Dane, who had now got into his manner of lazy apathy.
'And why do you want to take Hazel there?' Mrs. Coles went on.
'I would like her to see how green it is. I shall not take her to the place where the cross stands on the Zug-spitzethough I have been there too; for her head might turn. But I will take her a half- day's walk from Windisch-matrei to G' schlöss, instead.'
'What is there, Duke?' asked Primrose, for Hazel did not speak.
'That is called the German Chamounix. The fields of blue ice come down almost to the bottom of the valley.'
'And is it pretty?'
'Chamounix is reckoned so.'
'I should think you would go to the real Chamounix, while you are about it,' remarked Mrs. Coles.
'Common,'said Dane. 'Never be common, if you can help it. Then from G' schlöss we will mount the Grossen Venediger. It is eleven thousand feet high, to be sure, but uncommonly easy to go up; and from the top we shall have a good wilderness view of rocks and ice and snowand little else, beside sky.'
'I do not see the pleasure in that,' said Mrs. Coles.
'O I do,' said Primrose. 'But Duke, Hazel could not walk half a day, like you.'
'Yes, she could, in the high Alps.'
'It must be delightful!' Primrose said musingly.
'Another time I will take her over the Dobratsch. She can ride up there.'
'Duke, you do use very odd words. What is the Dobratsch?'
'A mountain in Illyriaalmost as good as the Rigi.'
'Why not go to the Rigi?' said Mrs. Coles.
'Crowds. But I will go to the Rigi too, if Hazel makes a point of it. The Dobratsch has more variety of scenery than the Rigi. Both give you lakes and glaciers; but from the Dobratsch you have a view of tremendous weatherworn limestone peaks, and riven Dolomites. Then we will visit the Warmbad-Villach.'
'What is that, Duke?'
'A little watering place. You would like it. A warm clear spring breaks forth just at the borders of the forest. It is a nice place to be late in the season. Then there is another walk I want to shew her, in the Rainthal, going from Taufers.'
'It sounds like a guide-book,' said Mrs. Coles chuckling. 'Where isTaufers?'
'That is in the Austrian Tyrol. You go for a couple of hours beside a glacier stream which is almost all the way a broad ribband of white foam. The bed of the brook is so steep and rocky that the water is dashed and shivered into spray, glittering in the sunshine, and wetting you all the same. What do you say to that, Hazel? You like brooks.'
Hazel had been deep in the intricacies of a bit of netting; the little foot with the netting-stirrup perched up on a foot cushion, the long needle flying swiftly to and fro. A stir of colour now and then, a curl of the lips, were the only tokens that she heard what went on. She answered sedately.
'They are good society, to follow.'
'And the lakes are not bad,' Dane went on. 'We should go to München of course, to study art; and from there we will take flying runs to the lakes; Ammersee, and Walchensee, and Königsee, and the rest of them.'
'But won't you take her to Mont Blanc and Chamounix, and to see the Matterhorn, where those people were lost?' said Mrs. Coles, whose breath seemed to be taken away.
'Of course. But the mountains are just as good where people have not been lost.'
'Have you been to all these other places already, Duke?' Primrose asked.
'More than once, some of them. I have walked there for weeks with Heinert,' he added, turning to Hazel with again the change of tone.
'And that is your wife's travelling clock!' said Mrs. Coles. 'It seems to me you are betimes about your preparations.'
'Always a good way,' said Dane coolly.
'It is a fine thing to be rich!' the lady went on, gazing at the clock.
'You are just about as rich as I am,' said Dane in the same tone.
'I! As you!!'
'Practically.'
'I don't know what you mean by practically. You have millions, and I have a few hundred or so.'
'I mean only, that neither of us has anything that he can call his own.'
Mrs. Coles stared, but her interlocutor seemed to be looking at things in a very matter-of-fact way. He was now busy fitting another engraving into its fame; a plain black walnut frame, without carving or gilding, like the rest.
'I cannot conceive what you mean, Dane,' Mrs. Coles broke forth.
'It is perfectly simple. Surely the fact that we are only stewards of what we hold, is not strange to you?'
It seemed to be strange however, for Mrs. Coles weighed the statement.
'ButDane,people do not take that so closely.'
'What then? There is the fact.'
'Prudentia, you have heard papa say the same thing, at least a hundred times,' Primrose reminded her.
'He hadn't much to talk about,' said the doctor's eldest daughter. 'And Dane,youdo not take it so closely, either. What do you mean by your fine proposal to go travelling? How will you do it, if you have not the money?'
'I hold the money, to be used for the very best ends and interests I know. If when the time comes, I see any way that I can spend the money better, I'll not go.'
'But it would be spending the money on yourselfyourself and your wifeif you went, at any rate,' persisted Mrs. Coles. 'And you say, it is not yours.'
'Mine to spend.'
'On what you please.'
'No; in such ways as will best do the work the Owner of the money wants done.'
'And what has your travelling to do with that? I don't see.'
'IfIdon't see, as I said, I'll not go.'
'But how could it, you contradictory man?'
'Human nature often needs relaxation and recreation,' said Dane.'Mine might.'
'Relaxation!' said Mrs. Coles. 'When you know as well as I do, that you are a pine knot for endurance, and a very burr for persistence.'
'Don't take her statements, Hazel,' said Dane. 'She does not know much about the vegetable creation, if she does about me.'
'But answer me, if you can.'
'Human nature also needs cultivation, I was going to add. A servant must make himself the best servant he can. A man is bound to give himself and his family the utmost of every kind of cultivation that is possible to him without neglecting higher ends.'
'H'm. And is Mrs. Rollo's travelling clock Which class does that come under?'
'Pleasure.'
'O you hold pleasure lawful then?'
'Certainly. Within the above limits.'
'Prue, Prue,' said Prim uneasily. 'Stop. You have gone far enough; and too far.'
'I was seeking knowledge, Prim; and that, Dane says, is commendable. May I ask one other question, Dane? What head do these mean little picture frames come under?'
'You do not like them?' said Dane, surveying the one in hand with its enclosed photograph of Dannecker's Ariadne.
'Why don't you have handsomer ones?'
'Economy.'
'You cannot mean it.'
'Neverthelessit is true.'
'You, who have such loads of money? '
'To use, as I told you,' said Dane, smiling now. 'The engravings and photographs are both pleasure and education. I do not find either the one or the other in gilded stucco.'
'Well, have them carved, then.'
'Can't afford it, as I said.'
'But my dear Dane! are you going to regulate your whole household on such principles?'
Dane answered with the most matter-of-fact manner, that it was his intention.
'But I should think elegant frames would come under the head of pleasure.'
'They would not, to me, when I thought of the money they cost.'
'But Dane! with your means! Do you know what people will say of you?'
'I know,' he answered. 'The world will always find a nice name for a fellow that does not go by its rules.'
'You are so obstinate!' said the lady. 'You always were. NothingIcould say would ever move you. I shall get Arthur to talk to you. But what does your wife think of your doings?'
Dane was silent, only the corner of his mouth began to play.
'She has stockings on this minute that cost five dollars a pair, if they cost a penny. How does that fit with your wooden picture frames?'
Dane rose and rang the bell. 'You must be tired, Prudentia,' he said without the change of a muscle. 'And Prim is, I know. I shall send you to bed to get a good night's sleep, for you have a great deal to do to-morrow.'
Mrs. Coles did not know how to answer. And the servant appearing, Rollo ordered candles, and himself went with the ladies to the door of their room. There he took leave of Prim, whose face had clouded painfully, with a whispered word which brought a flush of pleasure back to it. It was not yet late. The little travelling clock was only ringing its ten musical silver peals, as Dane came back into the room. Wych Hazel was still standing as the ladies had left her, looking absently down at the picture frame. Dane came silently up and stood beside her.