CHAPTER XV.
HELEN IS PUZZLED.
Miss Stuart's visit was drawing to a close, and Nan was giving aluncheon in her honor. The little parlor of the parsonage was redolentwith the fragrance of roses and mignonette, which were massed in everyvase and bowl, and the arrangement of the simple, old-fashionedfurniture bore evidence of Nan's artistic taste. A few good etchingsand a half-dozen rare old prints adorned the walls, and scatteredabout on the low mantel were several valuable bits of _vertu_.
Nan stood in the center of the room, and received her guests withoutstretched hand and beaming face.
"Now, I call this delightful," she said cheerily, as she shook handswith Miss Stuart. "Even father has gone away for the day, so we are atypical Hetherford party--all girls and no men. Em said you would bebored to death," she rattled on in a confidential undertone, "but foronce in a way I thought you might find it amusing to have plenty ofyour own sex. It is no novelty to us, as Em will tell you with a faceas long as the moral code."
"I think it is charming," Miss Stuart affirmed, with a greater regardfor amiability than for truth.
Nan smiled mischievously.
"Confess it is dull."
"Indeed it is not, Miss Nan. The imp of dullness would never dare toshow his surly face in your presence."
"Ah, you do not know," and Nan shook her head in laughing protest."Drop in here any Sunday between church-time and dinner, and you willfind us boon companions."
The door into the dining-room was opened, and a grim-visaged woman ina starched calico gown of uncompromising stiffness appeared on thethreshold. For a moment she eyed Nan threateningly, and thenannounced:
"Your lunch is on the table," and added, as she faced about andmarched back into the dining room, "and it's getting cold."
Nan, in no wise disconcerted, turned a wry face toward her guests:
"Biddy and I had one of our most deadly affrays just before youarrived, so don't be surprised at anything she may give us forluncheon. I tried, for your sakes, to keep my temper until later inthe day, but it wouldn't be kept."
"It never will," sighed Emily ruefully, in the midst of the generallaugh.
Nan ushered them into the dining room:
"Miss Stuart, will you sit here on my right? Girls, take any placesyou want."
"You needn't have worried about luncheon, Nan. These biscuits aresimply delicious," observed Helen, consolingly, as Bridget vanishedinto the kitchen. "Biddy is far too proud of her skill to disgraceyou."
"Oh, she would not mind me," laughed Nan airily. "Nothing wouldrestrain her but her sense of importance, and her undying jealousy ofyour cook."
"What a glorious time we had at the dance," Emily remarkedirrelevantly. "It was about the most successful thing we have donethis summer. It has made such a difference having the _Vortex_ here,hasn't it, Jean?"
Jean, thus addressed, changed color rapidly, and then was furious withherself, for she caught Miss Stuart's eyes fixed on her with insolentdirectness.
"Oh, bother the _Vortex_," cried Mollie petulantly. "Don't let us talkabout men. There are dozens of subjects more interesting."
"We will make it 'man,' and talk of Dick. Eh, Mollie?" and Nathalielaughed provokingly.
"We couldn't do better," responded Mollie imperturbably. "Dick islovely, is he not, Miss Stuart?"
Miss Stuart flung back her head with a merry laugh; no whitembarrassed by the naive question. Dick had been her shadow for thepast week, and was sighing and pining like the most approved oflovers, yet she answered with a nonchalance which Nathalie would havegiven worlds to acquire.
"He is truly charming, Miss Mollie. I quite share your enthusiasm."
Then she dropped out of the conversation, listening with languidinterest to the topics which the others fell to discussing with muchanimation. Their views of life differed materially from her own; theircomplete unworldliness called a half-contemptuous smile to her lips,and yet there was awakened within her a shadowy feeling of regret. Shehad lived a purely pleasure-loving life, without a thought beyond herown advancement along the line of her ambitions. To a certain extentshe had been eminently successful. Her marvelous beauty, supplementedby a decided mental ability, had strewn her path with the admirationand adulation which she craved, and faults and failings, which in aless beautiful woman would have received harsh censure, were in hercase overlooked and condoned. To-day, for the first time, the thoughtassailed her that perhaps she was the victim of an erroneous idea;that perhaps these young girls, living their lives so simply, actuatedby a desire to act uprightly and to be honest and affectionate inevery relationship in life, had found a happiness which had eluded hergrasp.
Nathalie, who vainly strove at times to be cynical, made some carelessremark, and Miss Stuart listened wonderingly to a gentle remonstrancewhich Eleanor administered in accents of earnestness.
"Ah! Nat, dear, don't say that, even in fun. Everything makes adifference."
"Indeed, yes," added Helen.
"No stream from its source flows seaward, How lonely soever its course, But what some land is gladdened. No star ever rose or set Without influence somewhere."
She quoted the lines charmingly, despite the little shyness which wasso characteristic of her.
"I suppose that is true," said Mollie thoughtfully; "and in the largethings in life we know that we can only be in harmony with God's planby acting absolutely in accordance with our consciences. But it ishard to realize the importance of our decision in regard to the smalldaily occurrences. They seem almost too insignificant to exert anyinfluence, either for good or evil."
"Influence does not lie only in deeds, Mollie," Eleanor replied,"either small or great. It seems to me that it is what we are, notwhat we do, that is the essential thing. If one's heart is pure andtrue, purity and truth will be manifested in one's actions, howevertrivial. And remember, dear, for I am going to quote now:
"No life can be strong in its purpose and pure in its strife, And all life not be stronger and purer thereby."
Jean gave her friend's hand an affectionate squeeze.
"I do believe you are the best girl living," she whispered softly,with an air of profound conviction.
"You see, girls, what it is to have a friend like Jean."
"You mean like Eleanor," Jean promptly retorted.
"I suppose that is true friendship," mused Mollie.
"Must friendship necessarily be as blind as love?" queried Nan, with asmile at the two girls which robbed the words of any sting.
"Jean knows nothing of love," declared Emily, with an air ofsuperiority which was eminently amusing. It was common parlance thatEmily never saw the general aspect of things quite as clearly as mostpeople.
Jean joined somewhat constrainedly in the laugh that greeted thesewords, and wondered if it could be her imagination that Miss Stuart'ssmile held a covert sneer.
It was late in the afternoon when Helen reached the manor and made herway up to the nursery. The room was dim, for heavy clouds shortenedthe summer day. A sharp east wind moaned through the trees outside,and nurse had wisely lighted a wood fire in the wide chimneyplace. Itsfitful flickering light fell full on little Gladys kneeling before thehearth, her eyes big with excitement as her chubby hands shaped awonderful house of blocks; while near her Larry, lying flat on hisback, threw out occasional hints and suggestions as to itsconstruction. Willie, curled up in one of the deep window-seats, wasmaking the best of the fast-fading daylight to finish a story which,to judge from his absorbed expression, must have been of thrillinginterest. As Helen pushed open the door and advanced toward thecheerful fire, three pairs of eyes looked up to greet her.
"Well, chicks, you all look very happy and comfie."
Gladys thrust out her hands in quick alarm to save her block housefrom dangerous contact with the skirt of Helen's gown.
"P'ease take care, sister," she lisped. "Don't step on our b'ocks,'cause Larry an' me is buildin' a big castle."
"Baby, b
aby, 'Larry an' me is buildin'?'"
Gladys shook her fluffy head impatiently.
"I haven't got any time to bovver. I'm velly busy."
Helen laughed, and dropping down upon the floor, began to lend ahelping hand. Gladys sank back on her heels with a complacent sigh.
"Build a booful one, sister, big as this," raising her arms high overher head.
Helen nodded, but paused from her task, block in hand, to give aglance at Willie.
"Put down your book, dearie," she said to him. "This is the worstpossible light to read in. You will ruin your eyes."
Willie heaved a sigh as he closed the precious book and, stretchinghimself after his cramped position, rose slowly to his feet, andjoined the group before the fire. Flinging himself down near Helen, helaid his head in her lap. She patted his little round faceaffectionately, and went on with her castle-building.
The setting sun had broken through the clouds, and a flood of yellowlight streamed through the western windows. From the huge logs in thefireplace an increasing volume of flames roared up the chimney, itsruddy glow illuminating the eager faces of the children, intent onevery movement of their sister's deft hands. The truly wonderful houseof blocks was nearing completion when Jean came quietly into the room.For a moment she stood silent in the shadowy doorway contemplating thepretty scene with wistful eyes. As she approached more nearly sheunconsciously echoed Helen's words of a few moments past.
"Well, you look very happy, all of you."
Helen laughed softly.
"This is an exciting moment, Jeanie, so you must not marvel if we arenot very talkative."
Jean leaned against one side of the old-fashioned chimneyplace, andabsently watched the placing of the last few blocks.
"Gladys," she whispered, after a moment, "what do you think I saw justnow?"
"What, Jeanie?" lifting her flushed face to her sister's.
"Mary on her way upstairs with your supper, and oh, what cookies!"
"Goody!" cried Larry, springing to his feet with a bound which broughtthe beautiful castle tumbling to the ground.
"You naughty boy!" scolded Gladys crossly. "See what you done!"
Jean took the angry, pouting little face between her hands, and smiledtenderly down into the tearful eyes:
"It is hard luck, baby, but you might as well get used to having yourcastles demolished."
"It's a shame," grumbled Willie, who was almost as disappointed as hislittle sister. "Larry's always rough."
"Never mind, dear," interrupted Helen, rising from the floor. "I amsure Larry didn't mean to upset the house, and in any case we couldnot leave it in Mary's way."
"Bother Mary."
"Hush, Willie, you must not speak so. Now run away and dress fordinner. Larry and Gladys must have their supper."
Jean followed her sister out into the hall, and laid a detaining handon her arm.
"Helen," she said, very low, "are you ever really unhappy?"
"Why yes, Jean, sometimes. But why do you ask? Surely you are alwaysin good spirits."
Jean smiled a little bitterly:
"Oh, of course I am, and I suppose I must go on fulfilling my destinyuntil the end of the chapter. But even if one has a reputation forunending hilarity, there are times----" She broke off abruptly with alaugh which suggested tears, and rushed away in the direction of herroom, leaving Helen sorely puzzled.