CHAPTER FIFTEENTH
"Ask me not why I should love her;-- Look upon those soulful eyes! Look while mirth or feeling move her, And see there how sweetly rise Thoughts gay and gentle from a breast Which is of innocence the nest-- Which, though each joy were from it shred, By truth would still be tenanted!" --HOFFMAN'S _Poems_.
It was yet dark when Elsie awoke, but, hearing the clock strike five,she knew it was morning. She lay still a little while, and then,slipping softly out of bed, put her feet into her slippers, threw herwarm dressing-gown around her, and feeling for a little package she hadleft on her toilet-table, she secured it and stole noiselessly from theroom.
All was darkness and silence in the house, but she had no thought offear; and, gliding gently down the hall to her papa's door, she turnedthe handle very cautiously, when, to her great delight, she found ithad been left unfastened, and yielded readily to her touch.
She entered as quietly as a little mouse, listened a moment untilsatisfied from his breathing that her father was still sound asleep,then, stepping softly across the room, she laid her package down wherehe could not fail to see it as soon as daylight came and his eyes wereopened. This accomplished, she stole back again as noiselessly as shehad come.
"Who dat?" demanded Chloe, starting up in bed as Elsie reentered herown apartment.
"It is only I; did I frighten you, mammy?" answered the little girlwith a merry laugh.
"Ki? chile, dat _you?_ what you doin' runnin' 'bout de house all in dedark, cold night?"
"It isn't night, mammy; I heard it strike five some time ago."
"Well, den, dis chile gwine get right up an' make de fire. But jes youcreep back into de bed, darlin', 'fore you cotch your death ob cold."
"I will, mammy," Elsie said, doing as she was desired; "but pleasedress me as soon as the room is warm enough, won't you?"
"Yes, darlin', kase ob course I knows you want to be up early o'Christmas mornin'. Ki! Miss Elsie, dat's a beautiful shawl you gaveyour ole mammy. I sha'n't feel de cold at all dis winter."
"I hope not, mammy; and were Aunt Phillis, and Uncle Jack, and all therest pleased with their presents?"
"I reckon dey was, darlin', mos' ready to go off de handle, 'tirely."
Chloe had soon built up her fire and coaxed it into a bright blaze, andin a few moments more she pronounced the room sufficiently warm for hernursling to get up and be dressed.
Elsie was impatient to go to her father; but, even after she had beencarefully dressed and all her morning duties attended to, it was stillso early that Chloe advised her to wait a little longer, assuring herthat it was only a very short time since John had gone in to make hismaster's fire and supply him with hot water for shaving.
So the little girl sat down and tried to drown her impatience in thepages of a new book--one of her Christmas presents. But Chloe presentlystole softly behind her chair, and, holding up high above her head someglittering object attached to a pretty gold chain, let it graduallydescend until it rested upon the open book.
Elsie started and jumped up with an exclamation of surprise.
"Wonder if you knows dat gen'leman, darlin'?" laughed Chloe.
"Oh! it is papa," cried the little girl, catching it in her hand, "myown dear, darling papa! oh! how good of him to give it to me!" and shedanced about the room in her delight. "It is just himself, so exactlylike him! _Isn't_ it a good likeness, mammy?" she asked, drawing nearthe light to examine it more closely. "Dear, dear, _darling_ papa!" andshe kissed it again and again.
Then gently drawing her mother's miniature from her bosom, she laidthem side by side.
"My papa and mamma; are they not beautiful, mammy? both of them?" sheasked, raising her swimming eyes to the dusky face leaning over her,and gazing with such mournful fondness at the sweet girlishcountenance, so life-like and beautiful, yet calling up thoughts ofsorrow and bereavement.
"My darling young missus!" murmured the old nurse, "my own preciouschile dat dese arms hab carried so many years, dis ole heart like tobreak when-eber I tinks ob you, an' 'members how your bright young facedone gone away foreber."
The big tears were rolling fast down the sable cheeks, and droppinglike rain on Elsie's curls, while the broad bosom heaved with sobs."But your ole mammy's been good to your little chile dat you lef'behind, darlin','deed she has," she went on.
"Yes, mammy, indeed, indeed you have," Elsie said, twining her armslovingly around her. "But don't let us cry any more, for we know thatdear mamma is very happy in heaven, and does not wish us to grieve forher now. I shall not show you the picture any more if it makes you crylike that," she added half playfully.
"Not always, chile," Chloe said, wiping away her tears, "but jes dishere mornin'--Christmas mornin', when she was always so bright andmerry. It seems only yesterday she went dancin' about jes like you."
"Yes, mammy dear, but she is with the angels now--my sweet, prettymamma!" Elsie whispered softly, with another tender, loving look at thepicture ere she returned it to its accustomed resting-place in herbosom.
"And now I must go to papa," she said more cheerfully, "for it isalmost breakfast time."
"Is my darling satisfied _now?_" he asked, as she ran into his arms andwas folded in a close embrace.
"Yes, papa, indeed I am; thank you a thousand times; it is all Iwanted."
"And you have given me the most acceptable present you could havefound. It is a most excellent likeness, and I am delighted with it."
"I am so glad, papa, but it was Aunt Adelaide who thought of it."
"Ah! that was very kind of her. But how does my little girl feel thismorning, after all her dissipation?"
"Oh! very well, thank you, papa."
"You will not want to say any lesson to-day, I suppose?"
"Oh! yes, if you please, papa, and it does not give you too muchtrouble," she said. "It is the very pleasantest hour in the day,except--"
"Well, except what? Ah, yes, I understand. Well, my pet, it shall be asyou wish; but come to me directly after breakfast, as I am going outearly."
Elsie had had her hour with her father, but, though he had left her andgone out, she still lingered in his dressing-room, looking over thenext day's lesson. At length, however, she closed the book and left theroom, intending to seek her young guests, who were in the lower part ofthe house.
Miss Stevens' door was open as she passed, and that lady called to her,"Elsie, dear, you sweet little creature, come here, and see what I havefor you."
Elsie obeyed, though rather reluctantly, and Miss Stevens bidding hersit down, went to a drawer, and took out a large paper of mixed candy,all of the best and most expensive kinds, which she put into the littlegirl's hands with one of her sweetest smiles.
It was a strong temptation to a child who had a great fondness for suchthings, but Elsie had prayed from her heart that morning for strengthto resist temptation, and it was given her.
"Thank you, ma'am, you are very kind," she said gratefully, "but Icannot take it, because papa does not approve of my eating such things.He gave me a little this morning, but said I must not have any more fora long time."
"Now, that is quite too bad," exclaimed Miss Stevens, "but at leasttake one or two, child; that much couldn't possibly hurt you, and yourpapa need never know."
Elsie gave her a look of grieved surprise.
"Oh! could you think I would do that?" she said. "But _God_ would know,Miss Stevens; and I should know it myself, and how could I ever look mypapa in the face again after deceiving him so?"
"Really, my dear, you are making a very serious matter of a meretrifle," laughed the lady; "why, I have deceived my father more thanfifty times, and never thought it any harm. But here is something I amsure you can take, and indeed you must, for I bought both it and thecandy expressly for you."
She replaced the candy in the drawer as she spoke, and took fromanother a splendidly-bound book which she laid in Elsie's lap, saying,with a triumphant air,
"There, my dear, what do you think of that? isit not handsome?"
Elsie's eyes sparkled; books were her greatest treasures; but feelingan instinctive repugnance to taking a gift from one whom she couldneither respect nor love, she made an effort to decline it, though atthe same time thanking the lady warmly for her kind intentions.
But Miss Stevens would hear of no refusal, and fairly forced it uponher acceptance, declaring that, as she had bought it expressly for her,she should feel extremely hurt if she did not take it.
"Then I will, Miss Stevens," said the little girl, "and I am sure youare very kind. I love books and pictures, too, and these are lovelyengravings," she added turning over the leaves with undisguisedpleasure.
"Yes, and the stories are right pretty, too," remarked Miss Stevens.
"Yes, ma'am, they look as if they were, and I should like dearly toread them."
"Well, dear, just sit down and read; there's nothing to hinder. I'msure your little friends can do without you for an hour or two. Or, ifyou prefer it, take the book and enjoy it with them; it is your own,you know, to use as you like."
"Thank you, ma'am; but, though I can look at the pictures, I must notread the stories until I have asked papa, because he does not allow meto read anything now without first showing it to him."
"Dear me! how very strict he is!" exclaimed Miss Stevens.
"I wonder," she thought to herself, "if he would expect to domineerover his wife in that style?"
Elsie was slowly turning over the leaves of the book, enjoying thepictures very much, studying them intently, but resolutely refrainingfrom even glancing over the printed pages. But at length she closed it,and, looking out of the window, said, with a slight sigh, "Oh! I wishpapa would come; but I'm afraid he won't for a long while, and I do sowant to read these stories."
"Suppose you let me read one to you," suggested Miss Stevens; "thatwould not be _your_ reading it, you know."
Elsie looked shocked at the proposal. "Oh! no, ma'am, thank you, I knowyou mean to be kind; but I could not do it; it would be so very wrong;quite the same, I am sure, as if I read it with my own eyes," sheanswered hurriedly; and then, fearing to be tempted further, sheexcused herself and went in search of her young companions.
She found them in the drawing-room.
"Wasn't it too provoking, Elsie, that those people didn't send home mybracelet last night?" exclaimed Caroline Howard. "I have just beentelling Lucy about it. I think that it was such a shame for them todisappoint me, for I wanted to have it on the tree."
"I am sorry you were disappointed, Carry, but perhaps it will cometo-day," Elsie answered in a sympathizing tone. And then she showed thenew book, which she still held in her hand.
They spent some time in examining it, talking about and admiring thepictures, and then went out for a walk.
"Has papa come in yet, mammy?" was Elsie's first question on returning.
"Yes, darlin', I tink he's in the drawin'-room dis berry minute," Chloeanswered, as she took off the little girl's hat, and carefully smoothedher hair.
"There, there! mammy, won't that do now? I'm in a little bit of ahurry," Elsie said with a merry little laugh, as she slipped playfullyfrom under her nurse's hand, and ran down-stairs.
But she was doomed to disappointment for the present, for her papa wasseated on the sofa, beside Miss Stevens, talking to her; and so shemust wait a little longer. At last, however, he rose, went to the otherside of the room, and stood a moment looking out of the window.
Then Elsie hastened to take her book from a table, where she had laidit, and going up to him, said, "Papa!"
He turned round instantly, asking in a pleasant tone, "Well, daughter,what is it?"
She put the book into his hand, saying eagerly, "It is a Christmas giftfrom Miss Stevens, papa; will you let me read it?"
He did not answer immediately, but turned over the leaves, glancingrapidly over page after page, but not too rapidly to be able to form apretty correct idea of the contents.
"No, daughter," he said, handing it back to her, "you must contentyourself with looking at the pictures; they are by far the best part;the stories are very unsuitable for a little girl of your age, andwould, indeed, be unprofitable reading for any one."
She looked a little disappointed.
"I am glad I can _trust_ my little daughter, and feel certain that shewill not disobey me," he said, smiling kindly on her, and patting hercheek.
She answered him with a bright, happy look, full of confidingaffection, laid the book away without a murmur, and left the room--herfather's eyes following her with a fond, loving glance.
Miss Stevens, who had watched them both closely during this littlescene, bit her lips with vexation at the result of her manoeuvre.
She had come to Roselands with the fixed determination to lay siege toMr. Horace Dinsmore's heart, and flattering and petting his littledaughter was one of her modes of attack; but his decided disapproval ofher present, she perceived, did not augur well for the success of herschemes. She was by no means in despair, however, for she had greatconfidence in the power of her own personal attractions, being reallytolerably pretty, and considering herself a great beauty, as well asvery highly accomplished.
As Elsie ran out into the hall, she found herself suddenly caught inMr. Travilla's arms.
"'A merry Christmas and a happy New Year!' little Elsie," he said,kissing her on both cheeks. "Now I have caught you figuratively andliterally, my little lady, so what are you going to give me, eh?"
"Indeed, sir, I think you've helped yourself to the only thing I haveto give at present," she answered with a merry silvery laugh.
"Nay, _give_ me one, little lady," said he, "one such hug and kiss as Idare say your father gets half-a-dozen times in a day."
She gave it very heartily.
"Ah! I wish you were ten years older," he said as he set her down.
"If I had been, you wouldn't have got the kiss," she replied, smilingarchly.
"Now, it's my turn," he said, taking something from his pocket.
"I expected you'd catch _me_, and so thought it best to come prepared."
He took her hand, as he spoke, and placed a beautiful little goldthimble on her finger. "There, that's to encourage you in industry."
"Thank you, sir; oh! it's a little beauty! I must run and show it topapa. But I must not forget my politeness," she added, hastily throwingopen the drawing-room door. "Come in, Mr. Travilla."
She waited quietly until the usual greetings were exchanged, then wentup to her father and showed her new gift.
He quite entered into her pleasure, and remarked, with a glance at MissStevens, "that her friends were very kind."
The lady's hopes rose. He was then pleased with her attention to hischild, even though he did not altogether approve her choice of a gift.
There was a large party to dinner that day, and the children came downto the dessert. Miss Stevens, who had contrived to be seated next toMr. Dinsmore, made an effort, on the entrance of the juveniles, to haveElsie placed on her other side; but Mr. Travilla was too quick for her,and had his young favorite on his knee before she could gain herattention.
The lady was disappointed, and Elsie herself only half satisfied; butthe two gentlemen, who thoroughly understood Miss Stevens and sawthrough all her manoeuvres, exchanged glances of amusement andsatisfaction.
After dinner Mr. Travilla invited Elsie, Carry, Lucy, and Mary, to takea ride in his carriage, which invitation was joyfully accepted byall--Mr. Dinsmore giving a ready consent to Elsie's request to bepermitted to go.
They had a very merry time, for Mr. Travilla quite laid himself out fortheir entertainment, and no one knew better than he how to amuse ladiesof their age.
It was nearly dark when they returned, and Elsie went at once to herroom to be dressed for the evening. But she found it unoccupied--AuntChloe, as it afterward appeared, having gone down to the quarter tocarry some of the little girl's gifts to one or two who were too oldand feeble to come up
to the house to receive them.
Elsie rang the bell, waited a little, and then, feeling impatient to bedressed, ran down to the kitchen to see what had become of her nurse.
A very animated discussion was going on there, just at that moment,between the cook and two or three of her sable companions, and thefirst words that reached the child's ears, as she stood on thethreshold, were, "I tell you, you ole darkie, you dunno nuffin' 'boutit! Massa Horace gwine marry _dat_ bit ob paint an' finery! no suchting! Massa's got more sense."
The words were spoken in a most scornful tone, and Elsie, into whosechildish mind the possibility of her father's marrying again had neverentered, stood spellbound with astonishment.
But the conversation went on, the speakers quite unconscious of hervicinity.
It was Pompey's voice that replied.
"Ef Marse Horace don't like her, what for they been gwine ridin' eberyafternoon? will you tell me dat, darkies? an' don't dis niggah see himsit beside her mornin', noon, an' night, laughin' an' talkin' at detable an' in de parlor? an' don't she keep a kissin' little Miss Elsie,an' callin' her pretty critter, sweet critter, an' de like?"
"_She_ ma to our sweet little Miss Elsie! Bah! I tell you, Pomp, MarseHorace got more sense," returned the cook, indignantly.
"Aunt Chloe don't b'lieve no such stuff," put in another voice; "shesays Marse Horace _couldn't_ put such trash in her sweet young mistis'splace."
"Aunt Chloe's a berry fine woman, no doubt," observed Pompdisdainfully, "but I reckon Marse Horace ain't gwine to infide hismatermonical intentions to her; and I consider it quite consequentialon Marster's being young and handsome that he will take another wife."
The next speaker said something about his having lived a good whilewithout, and though Miss Stevens _was_ setting her cap, maybe hewouldn't be caught. But Elsie only gathered the sense of it, hardlyheard the words, and, bounding away like a frightened deer to her ownroom, her little heart beating wildly with a confused sense ofsuffering, she threw herself on the bed. She shed no tears, but therewas, oh! such a weight on her heart, such a terrible though vague senseof the instability of all earthly happiness.
There Chloe found her, and wondered much what ailed her darling, whatmade her so silent, and yet so restless, and caused such a deep flushon her cheek. She feared she was feverish, her little hand was so hotand dry; but Elsie insisted that she was quite well, and so Chloe triedto think it was only fatigue.
She would fain have persuaded the little girl to lie still upon her bedand rest, and let her tea be brought to her there; but Elsie answeredthat she would much rather be dressed, and join her young companions inthe nursery. They, too, wondered what ailed her, she was so very quietand ate almost nothing at all. They asked if she was sick. She onlyshook her head. "Was she tired, then?" "Yes, she believed she was," andshe leaned her head wearily on her hand.
But, indeed, most of the party seemed dull; they had gone through sucha round of pleasure and excitement, for the last two or three days,that now a reaction was beginning, and they wanted rest, especially thevery little ones, who all retired quite early, when Elsie and her matesjoined their parents in the drawing-room.
Elsie looked eagerly around for her father, the moment she entered theroom. He was beside Miss Stevens, who was at the piano, performing avery difficult piece of music. He was leaning over her, turning theleaves, and apparently listening with a great deal of pleasure, for shewas really a fine musician.
Elsie felt sick at heart at the sight--although a few hours before itwould have given her no concern--and found it very difficult to listento and answer the remarks Mrs. Carrington was making to her about herChristmas presents, and the nice ride they had had that afternoon.
Mr. Travilla was watching her; he had noticed, as soon as she came in,the sad and troubled look which had come over her face, and, followingthe glance of her eyes, he guessed at the cause.
He knew there was no danger of the trial that she feared, and wouldhave been glad to tell her so; but he felt that it was too delicate asubject for him to venture on; it might seem too much like meddling inMr. Dinsmore's affairs. But he did the next best thing--got the fourlittle girls into a corner, and tried to entertain them with storiesand charades.
Elsie seemed interested for a time, but every now and then her eyeswould wander to the other side of the room, where her father stillstood listening to Miss Stevens' music.
At length Mr. Travilla was called away to give his opinion about sometableaux the young ladies were arranging; and Elsie, knowing it was herusual time for retiring, and not caring to avail herself of herfather's permission to stay up until nine o'clock, stole quietly awayto her room unobserved by any one, and feeling as if Miss Stevens hadalready robbed her of her father.
She wiped away a few quiet tears, as she went, and was very silent andsad, while her mammy was preparing her for bed. She hardly knew how todo without her good-night kiss, but feeling as she did, it had seemedquite impossible to ask for it while Miss Stevens was so near him.
When she knelt down to pray, she became painfully conscious that afeeling of positive dislike to that lady had been creeping into herheart, and she asked earnestly to be enabled to put it away. But sheprayed, also, that she might be spared the trial that she feared, ifGod's will were so; and she thought surely it was because she had foundout that Miss Stevens was not good, not truthful, or sincere.
"Perhaps dear papa will come to say good-night before I am asleep," shemurmured to herself as, calmed and soothed by thus casting her burdenon the Lord, she laid her head upon her pillow.
He, however, had become interested in the subject of the tableaux, anddid not miss his little girl until the sound of the clock striking tenreminded him of her, and he looked around expecting to see her still inthe room; but, not seeing her, he asked Lucy Carrington where she was.
"Oh!" said Lucy, "she's been gone these two hours, I should think! Iguess she must have gone to bed."
"Strange that she did not come to bid me goodnight," he exclaimed in alow tone, more as if thinking aloud than speaking to Lucy.
He hastily left the room.
Mr. Travilla followed.
"Dinsmore," said he.
Mr. Dinsmore stopped, and Travilla, drawing him to one side, said in anundertone, "I think my little friend is in trouble to-night."
"Ah!" he exclaimed, with a startled look, "what can it be? I did nothear of any accident--she has not been hurt? is not sick? tell me,Travilla, quickly, if anything ails my child."
"Nothing, nothing, Dinsmore, only you know servants will talk, andchildren have ears, and eyes, too, sometimes, and I saw her watchingyou to-night with a very sad expression."
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Mr. Dinsmore, growing very red and lookingextremely vexed; "I wouldn't have had such thoughts put into thechild's head for any money. Are you sure of it, Travilla?"
"I am sure she was watching you very closely tonight, and looking verymiserable."
"Poor darling!" murmured the father. "Thank you, Travilla," shaking hisfriend heartily by the hand. "Good-night; I shall not be down again ifyou will be so good as to excuse me to the others."
And he went up the stairs almost at a bound, and the next moment wasstanding beside his sleeping child, looking anxiously down at thelittle flushed cheeks and tear-swollen eyes, for, disappointed that hedid not come to bid her good-night, she had cried herself to sleep.
"Poor darling!" he murmured again, as he stooped over her and kissedaway a tear that still trembled on her eyelash.
He longed to tell her that all her fears were groundless, that noneother could ever fill her place in his heart, but he did not like towake her, and so, pressing another light kiss on her cheek, he left herto dream on unconscious of his visit.
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Elsie Dinsmore Page 15