“Who was it?” she asked, below her breath.
“A Rose,” he answered, laughing.
Then, as if the danger was over, he said, “How
will you account to the major for the message you sent
him?”
“Easily, by fabricating some interesting perplexity
in which I want sage counsel. He will be flattered,
and by seeming to take him into my confidence, I can
hoodwink the excellent man to my heart’s content,
for he annoys me by his odd way of mounting guard
over me at all times. Now take me in to dinner,
and be your former delightful self.”
“That is impossible,” he said, yet proved
that it was not.
FEEDING THE PEACOCKS
It was indeed a charming sight, the twelve stately
birds perched on the broad stone balustrade, or prancing
slowly along the terrace, with the sun gleaming on
their green and golden necks and the glories of their
gorgeous plumes, widespread, or sweeping like rich
trains behind them. In pretty contrast to the
splendid creatures was their young mistress, in her
simple morning dress and fur-trimmed hood and mantle,
as she stood feeding the tame pets from her hand,
calling their fanciful names, laughing at their pranks,
and heartily enjoying the winter sunshine, the fresh
wind, and the girlish pastime. As Treherne slowly
approached, he watched her with lover’s eyes,
and found her very sweet and blithe, and dearer in
his sight than ever. She had shunned him carefully
all the day before, had parted at night with a hasty
handshake, and had not come as usual to bid him good-morning
in the library. He had taken no notice of the
change as yet, but now, remembering his promise to
his aunt, he resolved to let the girl know that he
fully understood the relation which henceforth was
to exist between them.
“Good-morning, cousin. Shall I drive you
away, if I take a turn or two here?” he said,
in a cheerful tone, but with a half-reproachful glance.
She looked at him an instant, then went to him with
extended hand and cheeks rosier than before, while
her frank eyes filled, and her voice had a traitorous
tremor in it, as she said, impetuously: “I
will be myself for a moment, in spite of everything.
Maurice, don’t think me unkind, don’t
reproach me, or ask my leave to come where I am.
There is a reason for the change you see in me; it’s
not caprice, it is obedience.”
“My dear girl, I know it. I meant to speak
of it, and show you that I understand. Annon
is a good fellow, as worthy of you as any man can be,
and I wish you all the happiness you deserve.”
“Do you?” And her eyes searched his face
keenly.
“Yes; do you doubt it?” And so well did
he conceal his love, that neither face, voice, nor
manner betrayed a hint of it.
Her eyes fell, a cloud passed over her clear countenance,
and she withdrew her hand, as if to caress the hungry
bird that gently pecked at the basket she held.
As if to change the conversation, she said playfully,
“Poor Argus, you have lost your fine feathers,
and so all desert you, except kind little Juno, who
never forgets her friends. There, take it all,
and share between you.”
