CHAPTER XXI.
RACHEL'S UNCLE RETURNS.
"There, Rachel, I flatter myself that hangs just about right," saidMarion, walking across the room to display the train of her new blacksilk.
"And so it does," replied Rachel, turning away from the glass where shehad been putting on her fall hat; "the slope is quite perfect. Why, youlook positively queenly!"
"Don't I though?" laughed Marion, only glancing now and then with an airof great satisfaction at the folds of her train as it swept gracefullybeside her chair. "I've held out all summer, and would not put on a longdress until I could have a train, and now I've got one."
"I should certainly say you had," said her mother, entering at thatmoment with her bonnet and shawl on. "Come Rachel, are you ready? Thecarriage is at the door. I suppose Marion will spend her time, while weare out, walking up and down the room, learning how to manage her train,so as not to stumble over it the first time she goes downstairs."
"You horrible mamma!" laughed Marion; "as if I could be so clumsy!Besides, you know I am staying home on purpose to finish papa's slippersin time for his birthday."
"Oh, yes, we know," said Rachel, "I don't suppose there's any danger ofyour having a caller while we are out."
"No, I don't suppose there is," retorted Marion, knowing well themeaning of Rachel's mischievous glance, "unless your uncle shouldhappen to come; if he does, I'll entertain him until you get back."
"Oh, there's no danger of his interrupting the tete-a-tete," laughedRachel, as she ran downstairs; "your father said the steamer would notbe in until to-morrow morning."
"O mamma," called out Marion, "won't you please stop on your way back,and get me a cherry ribbon? I haven't a bright bow to my name, and papawill have a fit to see me all in black."
"I'll get you one," replied Mrs. Berkley, as she was closing the frontdoor; "but there's one in my upper drawer you can wear until I getback."
"It's not worth while," said Marion to herself, as she fastened hersleeve-buttons; "I'll just put in this jet pin, for I know there won'tbe any one here, and I haven't got time to prink."
She seated herself at her work, and sewed away very industriously, onlyglancing now and then at the folds of her alpaca, as they swept out sogracefully beside her chair, looking "almost like a black silk." Hermother and Rachel had not been gone very long, when Bridget, the cook,came up, and said there was a gentleman downstairs.
"Who is it, Biddy? didn't he send his name?"
"Indade an' he didn't, miss. Ellen is out, and Sarey's just aftherchangin' her dress, an' it's meself as had to go to the door, an' Ialways gits so flustered that I laves me wits in the kitchen."
"I should think you did," replied Marion, as she brushed the bits ofworsted off her dress. "Do you think it's Mr. Thornton?"
"Misther Thorington! An' haven't I sane the likes o' him too many timesnot to know him? Indade an' it aint, miss; it's a much oulder man thanhim."
"Oh, I know who it is!" exclaimed Marion. "I'll go right down;" and sheran downstairs, not stopping to give a glance at the glass as shecertainly would have done if it had been Mr. Thornton, and thinking toherself, "It must be Rachel's uncle. I am so glad the old gentleman hasgot here at last; I do hope he will be like her father."
She entered the parlor hastily, but before she had a chance to speak, oreven see who was there, she found herself encircled by a pair of strongarms; a bearded face bent over her, kissing her repeatedly, and a manlyvoice exclaimed: "My darling! have I got you at last?"
Marion disengaged herself as quickly as possible, and sprang back,looking at the stranger with an expression in which astonishment andindignation were equally blended.
He was a very handsome man, apparently about thirty-five; tall, and of acommanding figure. His features were fine, that is, his nose and eyes;the latter, when one could get a good look under the long black lasheswhich shaded them, showed themselves to be clear, blue-gray; but thelower part of his face was concealed by a soft, wavy beard and mustacheof rich, chestnut-brown. There was an air of dignity about him which didnot seem to be assumed for the occasion, and altogether he was the lastman to suspect as an impostor, although such Marion had mentally styledhim, deciding at the first glance that he could not be Rachel's uncle.Before she could collect her bewildered ideas sufficiently to speak, heagain stretched out his arms as if to embrace her, saying in areproachful tone:--
"What! your astonishment at seeing me is greater than your joy? I assureyou, my dear, that is not the case with me."
"Can you wonder at my astonishment, sir?" exclaimed Marion, retreatingas he came near her, and motioning him back with a haughty gesture;"explain your singular conduct."
"Have not I explained it sufficiently?" he asked. "You are a littleunreasonable, I think, although that queenly manner sets well upon you,I must confess."
"Sir!" exclaimed Marion, with flashing eyes, "if you do not instantlyleave this house, I will find means to compel you to do so."
"Come, come, my darling," he answered, stepping forward and takingpossession of her hand, "your joke has gone quite far enough. Iacknowledge you're as perfect a little actress as I ever saw; but I wantsomething more than acting;" and he attempted to kiss her.
But Marion sprang from him, throwing her head up, and looking at himwith a face expressive of the utmost scorn, as she exclaimed, "Sir, youhave the appearance of a gentleman, and for such I first took you, but Ifind I was mistaken; if you do not instantly leave the house I will calla policeman to put you out!" and Marion pointed to the door with agesture that would have done honor to a queen, as she stood waiting tosee him obey her command.
But the stranger only looked at her a moment in silence, then said in aninjured, reproachful tone, "I expected to find you changed; a young ladyin fact; but that you should have chosen our first meeting for anexhibition of what seems to be your favorite accomplishment is more thanI expected. I entreat you to drop this haughty indifference, which Isincerely hope is assumed for this occasion only, and be once more thelittle Rachel I left ten years ago."
At the mention of the word Rachel, Marion's arm dropped to her side;her haughty bearing gave place to an air of confusion, and sheexclaimed:--
"Rachel! Can it be that you thought I was Rachel Drayton?"
For the first time it occurred to the stranger that he too might belaboring under a mistake, and he bowed slightly, as he said:--
"I certainly took you for my niece, Rachel Drayton; but I see by yourface I am wrong. I most sincerely beg your pardon for what must haveseemed an act of unparalleled impudence."
Marion bowed, flushing crimson at the recollection of the veryaffectionate greeting he had given her; but she said in a charminglyfrank way:--
"No apology is necessary, sir; it was a mistake all round,--you took mefor Rachel, and I took you for an impostor, which certainly was not socomplimentary; but now I know you must be Dr. Robert Drayton."
Dr. Drayton smiled, as he said, "And you are Miss Marion Berkley, Ipresume?"
"Yes," replied Marion, offering him a chair, and seating herself at thesame time. "Rachel is staying with me; she has gone out riding withmamma. She did not expect you until to-morrow morning; but when theservant told me a gentleman was down here, I thought it must be you, butwas sure I was mistaken when I saw you."
"And why, may I ask?" inquired Dr. Drayton.
"Oh!" laughed Marion, a trifle confused, "because I thought you werequite an old gentleman; at least old enough to be my father."
"And so I am, almost," replied Dr. Drayton, smiling; "but tell me, doesRachel want to see me?"
"Indeed she does; she has talked about you every day this summer, andhas hardly been able to wait for you to get here. But how did youmistake me for her? We are not in the least alike."
"You must remember it is ten years since I saw her; then she was alittle, dark-eyed thing with golden hair, something like yours; yourblack dress, too, misled me."
"Golden hair!" exclaimed Marion, wishing she had put o
n her mother'sbright bow, thus saving herself all her embarrassment,--"golden hair, Ican't imagine such a thing; she has jet-black now."
"I dare say I don't remember it very correctly; has she grown much?"
"She is very tall; much taller than I am."
"I thought you were very tall just now when you ordered me out of thehouse," said Dr. Drayton, with an amused smile.
"I beg you will never allude to the subject again," said Marion, raisingher head involuntarily, with a slightly haughty gesture, as sheinvariably did when she was annoyed, but did not wish to appear so; "itwas a mistake for which I sincerely beg your pardon."
"As you said to me," replied Dr. Drayton, "no apology is needed. Ipromise never to allude to the subject again without your permission."
"Which I certainly shall never grant," laughed Marion, ashamed of herunnecessary hauteur. "Now I shall be able to apply to you my one greattest of the worth of humanity, that is, try your powers of keeping asecret."
"I am willing to stand the test," laughed Dr. Drayton, "and feel surethat before morning I shall have no secret to keep, for by that time youwill have told Rachel all about it."
"I shall do no such thing," replied Marion, warmly; "but there is thecarriage. Excuse me, Dr. Drayton, and I will tell Rachel you are here."
The meeting between Dr. Drayton and Rachel was far different from hisinterview with Marion. Rachel had longed for his coming, for althoughshe could not remember him very distinctly, she could not feel him to bea stranger to her; her father was very fond of his younger brother, andhad always been in the habit of talking with his daughter a great dealabout her Uncle Robert, until he had become almost a hero in her eyes.She had been in the habit of associating him in her mind with herfather, so that she had quite forgotten he was many years his junior,and was not prepared to find so young a man; in fact, only thirty-two,although his beard gave him the appearance of being a few years older.There was a certain sense of strength and power about him, which led herto look upon him with the same feelings of deference and respect withwhich she would look upon an older man, while at the same time, the factof his being younger put her upon an easier, more familiar footing withhim; in short, Rachel was delighted with him, and felt she would receivefrom him all the affection and watchful care of a father, combined withthe more demonstrative attentions of an elder brother.
Marion Berkley: A Story for Girls Page 21