CHAPTER V.FORTUNE.
Fortune is merry,And in this mood will give us anything—Shakespeare.
Fortune is merry,And in this mood will give us anything—Shakespeare.
Fortune is merry,And in this mood will give us anything—Shakespeare.
Fortune is merry,
And in this mood will give us anything—Shakespeare.
So General Lyon answered the lawyers’ letters, and in a more satisfactory manner, it is to be presumed, than Drusilla had ever done. His illustrious name and exalted position were in themselves enough to dispel any doubts that the mysterious reticence of the heiress might have raised in the minds of her solicitors.
Having sent his letter off to the post-office, and knowing that several days must elapse before he could hear from the solicitors again, the old gentleman dismissed thematter from his mind, and addressed himself to the enjoyment of the Christmas festival now at hand.
Dick arrived from Richmond on Christmas Eve, having in charge several large boxes containing the Christmas presents.
Among them were the crib, the perambulator and the hobby horse, which were all deposited for the present in the room selected and fitted up by Anna, as the future play-room of little Master Leonard Lyon.
Anna’s and Drusilla’s presents consisted of rich and costly furs and shawls, from the General; and splendid jewels and delicate laces from Dick.
The veteran’s gifts were a pair of soft, embroidered velvet slippers and smoking-cap, from Anna; a warm quilted dressing-gown from Drusilla; and a new patent reading-chair of unequalled ingenuity, comfort and convenience, from Dick.
Dick’s presents were a fowling-piece of the most superior workmanship, from his uncle; an embroidered cigar case from his betrothed; and a smoking-cap from Drusilla.
Besides these, each male and female servant in the house was made happy in the possession of a new and complete Sunday suit.
After the distribution of the presents on Christmas morning the family went to church.
At the end of the service they returned to an early dinner, and spent the afternoon and evening in social enjoyment.
As usual in the Christmas holidays, General Lyon gave one large party, to which he invited all his friends and acquaintances for thirty miles around.
And at this party he formally introduced Drusilla as:
“My niece, Mrs. Alexander Lyon.”
And this he did with so much quiet dignity, as in most cases to repress all expression of surprise from those who could not fail to wonder at such an introduction. And if any had the temerity to utter their astonishment, they were courteously silenced by the answer of the stately old gentleman.
“Old people cannot and ought not to choose for their sons in affairs of the heart. I had hoped that my nephew and my granddaughter would have married each other,for my sake; but I was wrong. They have each chosen partners for their own sakes; and they were right. Come here, Dick: Sir and madam, let me present to you Mr. Richard Hammond as my future and well-beloved grandson-in-law.”
After that what could the gossips say or do? Of course nothing but bow, courtesy and congratulate; though some among them, being maliciously inclined, and envying the young heiress of Old Lyon Hall her beauty and her wealth, did shrug their shoulders and raise their eyebrows as they whispered together: That it was very strange Miss Lyon’s marriage being put off so frequently and she herself at last passed so carelessly from one bridegroom to another; and that it looked but too likely she would be an old maid after all; for she was getting on well in years now!
A very false and spiteful conclusion this, as the beautiful Anna was not yet twenty-three years old.
Some even had the ill-luck to inquire of the General, or of Anna, or Dick:
“Where is Mr. Alexander Lyon now?”
But the quiet answer was always the same:
“In Washington, attending to the sale of some real estate there.”
And the conversation would be quickly turned.
With the exception of these annoying questions, implied or directly asked, and which General Lyon knew must be sooner or later met and answered, and which he felt had best be settled at once, the party passed off as pleasantly as any of its predecessors had done.
On this occasion at least there was no failure upon account of the weather. There never was a finer starlight winter night to invite peopleout.
Nor was there any tampering with the lamps of the long drawing-room; there never was seen a more brilliantly lighted and warmed saloon to entice peoplein.
The music was inspiring; the dancing was animated, the supper excellent. The festivities were kept up all night.
And did Drusilla enjoy the party?
Of course she did. Why not? She couldloveforever, but she could notgrieveforever. She was experiencinga delightful reaction from her long depression of spirits. She was young and beautiful, and formed to give and receive pleasure amid these Christmas festivities. In a rich white moire antique dress, delicately trimmed with black lace and black jet, she looked exquisitely pretty. To please her friends and also a little to please herself she danced—first with General Lyon, who led her to the head of a set to open the ball; then with Dick, and afterwards with any others whom her uncle introduced to her. And all who made her acquaintance were charmed with the beauty and sweetness of the lovely, childlike creature.
A refreshing breakfast was served at seven o’clock; after which, the guests, well pleased, took leave and departed by the light of the rising sun.
Early in the new year, “mammy,” well paid for her faithful services and loaded with tokens of her patient’s good-will, took leave of the family and of her fellow servants and left Old Lyon Hall to return to her own home in Alexandria.
She was attended by Leo, who was commissioned to bring down Pina and the birds, the dog, the cat, and the kittens; for to mammy’s perfect content, the brother and sister were again to enter together the service of Mrs. Lyon.
“I have brought up my chillum respectable which it is allus my pride and ambition so to do, and likewise to have them engaged in service long o’ the old respectable, rustycratic families, which none can be more so than the Lyonses of Old Lyon Hall, and that tomysartain knowledge, which has heard of them ever since I was born,” said mammy, on parting with her gossip, Marcy. “And I hopes, ma’am,” she added, “if you sees my young people agoing wrong, you’ll make so free for my sake as to correct them; which their missus, the young madam, is much too gentle-hearted for to do; but gives them their own head far too much.”
Marcy gave a promise to have an eye upon the boy and girl—a promise she was but too likely to keep.
And so mammy departed, well pleased.
The very day she left, the wagons from Washington City, containing Drusilla’s personal effects from Cedarwood,which had been delayed by the bad condition of the roads, arrived at Saulsburg.
General Lyon, being duly apprised of the circumstance by a messenger from the “Foaming Tankard,” sent carts to meet them.
But more than one day was occupied with the removal.
For Alexander Lyon, either from pride, compunction, or a faint revival of the old love, or from all these motives combined, had sent down not only Drusilla’s wardrobe and books, but every article of furniture that particularly appertained to her use. And all these were very carefully packed, so as to sustain no injury from the roughness of the roads over which they were brought.
There was first a whole wagon load of boxes filled with the rich and costly wearing apparel with which he had overwhelmed her in the days of his devotion.
Then there was another load composed of her mosaic work-table, sewing chair, and footstool; her enameled writing-desk, work-box and dressing-case; her favorite sleepy hollow of a resting-chair; and other items too numerous to mention.
The third load comprised her sweet-toned cottage piano, her harp, and her guitar.
It took two days to transport these things from Saulsburg to Old Lyon Hall, and it took two more days to unpack and arrange them all in Drusilla’s apartments.
The fond and faithful young wife contemplated these dear familiar objects with a strange blending of tenderness, regret and hope. Each item was associated with some sweet memory of her lost home and lost love. But even now she did not weep; she smiled as she whispered to her heart:
“He does not know it, but he loves me still; and some day he will come and tell me so. I can wait for that bright day, Alick, my Alick, when I shall place my boy in your arms and tell you how in the darkest hours I never ceased to love you and never doubted your love!”
She was absorbed for a little while, and then once more she murmured to herself in her beautiful reverie:
“For what would love be if darkness could obscure its light, or wrong destroy its life?”
Ah! if this devoted young wife ever does succeed inWINNING HER WAYto the heart and conscience of her husband, she will do it through the power of her love and faith alone.
Before the week was out Drusilla had another pleasure, in the arrival of Leo and Pina with her pets.
She received them all with gladness.
“Oh, ma’am,” exclaimed Pina, “but it does my very heart good to see you looking so rosy and bright-eyed! And I’m just dying to see young Master Leonard! And I am to be his nurse, ain’t I, ma’am? And how is the dear little darling pet? And, oh, I am so glad to see you looking so well and so happy!”
“I am very happy to see you also, Pina,” said Drusilla, when the girl had stopped for want of breath. “I hope you left your mammy well.”
“Oh, as well as possible, ma’am; but withbaby on the brainas sure as she lives, in regard to talking about little Master Leonard, which she stands to it is the finest baby as ever she saw among the hundreds and hundreds as she has had the honor of—of—of——”
Pina paused for want of words or breath.
“Of first introducing to their friends and relations,” added Drusilla, laughingly coming to the girl’s relief.
“Yes, ma’am, that is the way to put it,” said Pina, approvingly. “But please, ma’am, may I see little Master Leonard?” she pleaded, eagerly.
“Go with Matty first, Pina. She will show you the room where you are to sleep, and which joins the nursery. Wash your face and hands, and change your traveling dress for a clean one, and then come to my chamber, which is on the other side of the nursery, and I will show you our baby.”
“Thank you, ma’am. Yes, ma’am. I am a perfect show for dust and dirt, I know, and in no state to go nigh a dainty little baby,” said Pina, courtesying, and then following Matty from the sitting parlor where this interview had taken place.
And thus Drusilla’s surroundings at Old Lyon Hall were soon arranged to her perfect satisfaction.