CHAPTER XV
ANOTHER FLITTING
Mr. Carrick convoyed his guest around Pittsburg the next day, throughthe Fort and the historical point of Braddock's defeat, that stillrankled in men's minds. A survey of the three rivers that would alwaysmake it commercially attractive, and the land over opposite. Then theylooked up the parties who were quite impatient for the lease which wasto comprise a tract of the water front. And by that time it was toolate to go over.
"Well, you certainly have a fair prospect. And the iron mines areenough to make the fortune of a town. But the other is a finepatrimony for a girl."
"There was no boy then," said Bernard Carrick. "And she was the idolof great-grandfather. She does not come in possession of it until sheis twenty-five and that is quite a long while yet."
They discussed it during the evening and the next day went over theriver with a surveyor, and Bartram was astonished at itspossibilities. There were many points to be considered for a tenyears' lease, which was the utmost M. de Ronville would consent to.
Meanwhile Aldis Bartram became very much interested in the familylife, which was extremely simple without being coarse or common. Yetit had changed somewhat since M. de Ronville's visit.
"And enlarged its borders," explained Daffodil. "There are three morerooms. And now we have all windows of real glass. You see there wereboard shutters to fasten tight as soon as cold weather came, and thickblankets were hung on the inside. And now we have a chimney in thebest room and keep fire in the winter, and another small one in thekitchen."
"It is this room I know best. It seems as if I must have been here andseen your great-grandfather sitting here and you on the arm of hischair. I suppose it was because you talked about it so much."
"Oh, did I?" she interrupted, and her face was scarlet, herdown-dropped eyelids quivered.
"Please do not misunderstand me. M. de Ronville was very fond of yourhome descriptions and brought them out by his questions. And you weresuch an eager enthusiastic child when you chose, and at others primand stiff as a Quaker. Those moods amused me. I think I used to teaseyou."
"You did;" resentfully, then forgiving it.
"Well, I beg your pardon now for all my naughty ways;" smiling alittle. "What was I saying? Oh, you know he brought home so manyreminiscences. And he loves to talk them over."
"And bore you with them?"
"No; they gave me a feeling of going through a picture gallery andexamining interiors. When I see one with a delicate white-haired oldman, it suggests Mr. Felix Duvernay. I had a brief journey over toParis and found one of these that I brought home to my best friend andI can not tell you how delighted he was. And because we have talked itover so much, this room had no surprises for me. I am glad to find itso little changed."
"We are--what the papers call, primitive people. It seemed queer andfunny to me when I came back. But the ones I love were here."
She paused suddenly and blushed with what seemed to him uncalled forvividness. She thought how she had been offered to him and he haddeclined her. It was like a sharp, sudden sting.
"I'm glad you don't----" Then she stopped short again with droopingeyes. The brown lashes were like a fringe of finest silk. Howbeautiful the lids were!
"Don't what?" It was a curious tone, quite as if he meant to beanswered.
"Why--why--not despise us exactly, but think we are ignorant andunformed;" and she winked hard as if tears were not far off.
"My child--pardon me, you brought back the little girl that came tovisit us. I do not think anything derogatory. I admire your father andhe is a man that would be appreciated anywhere. And your grandparents.Your mother is a well-bred lady. I can find queer and _outre_ peoplenot far from us at home, all towns have them, but I should not classthe Carricks nor the Bradins with them."
"Grandad is queer," she admitted. "He is Scotch-Irish. And Norry isIrish altogether, but she's the dearest, kindliest, most generous andhelpful body I know. Oh, she made my childhood just one delightfulfairy story with her legends and her fun, and she taught me to dance,to sing. I should want to strike any one who laughed at her!"
"Do you remember Mistress Betty Wharton?" His tone was quite seriousnow. "She was one of the favorites of our town. And she was charmedwith you. If you hadn't been worthy of taking about, do you supposeshe would have presented you among her friends and paid you so muchattention? She considered you a very charming little girl. Oh, don'tthink any one could despise you or yours. And if you could understandhow M. de Ronville longs for you, and how much pleasure another visitfrom you would give him, I do not think you would be hard topersuade."
He had laid the matter before her mother, who had said as before thatthe choice must be left with her.
He and Felix had become great friends. The boy's insatiable curiositywas devoted to really knowledgeable subjects, and was never pert orpretentious.
When he decided, since he was so near, to visit Cincinnati, Felixsaid--
"When I get to be a man like you, I mean to travel about and see whatpeople are doing and bring home new ideas if they are any better thanours."
"That is the way to do. And the best citizen is he who desires toimprove his own town, not he who believes it better than any other.Now, do you suppose your father would trust you with me for thejourney? I should like to have you for a companion."
"Would you, really?" and the boy's face flushed with delight. "Oh, Iam almost sure he would. That's awful good of you."
"We'll see, my boy."
"If you won't find him too troublesome. I meant to take him on thejourney some time when urgent business called me thither. You are verykind," said Bernard Carrick.
"You see you're not going to have it all," Felix said to Daffodil. "Ijust wish you had been a boy, we would have such fun. For another boyisn't quite like some one belonging to you."
The child was in such a fever of delight that he could hardly containhimself. His mother gave him many cautions about obeying Mr. Bartramand not making trouble.
"Oh, you will hear a good account of me;" with a resolute nod.
Meanwhile the business went on and papers were ready to sign when thetwo enthusiastic travellers returned. Mr. Carrick was to be jointtrustee with Mr. Bartram in Daffodil's affairs.
"It is a pity we cannot take in Felix as well," Mr. Bartram said. "Hewill make a very earnest business man, and I look to see him aninventor of some kind."
Felix had been wonderfully interested in the model of William Ramsey'sboat forty years before of a wheel enclosed in a box to be worked byone man sitting in the end, treading on treadles with his feet thatset the wheel going and worked two paddles, saving the labor of one ortwo men. It was to be brought to perfection later on.
Meanwhile Daffodil and her mother discussed the plan for her visit. Itwould last all winter. Could they spare her? Did she want to stay thatlong? Yet she felt she would like the change to her life.
There was another happening that disturbed her not a little. This wasLieutenant Langdale's visit. When he came in the evening the wholefamily were around and each one did a share of the entertaining. Andif she took a pleasure walk she always asked some friend to accompanyher. Mrs. Carrick was not averse to a serious ending. Daffodil hadreached a stage of content, was even happy, but the unfortunatecircumstance was rarely touched upon between them. It seemed as if shehad quite resolved to have no real lovers. What if an untoward fateshould send the man back again. The thought haunted the mother, thoughthere was no possible likelihood of it. And her sympathies went out tothe lieutenant.
If she went away, he would realize that there was no hope ofrekindling love out of an old friendship. It would pain her very muchto deny him.
They spoke of her going one evening, quite to his surprise.
"Oh," he said regretfully, "can you not be content here? I am surethey all need you, we all do. Mrs. Forbes will be lost without you.You are quite a star in the Fort society."
"In spite of my poor card-playing," she laughed.
"But you dance. That's more real pleasure than the cards. And we willtry to have a gay winter for you. But after all we cannot compete withPhiladelphia. I believe I shall try to get transferred from this dulllittle hole."
"I do not expect to be gay. The great friend I made before married andwent to Paris. And M. de Ronville is an invalid, confined mostly tothe house during the winter. I am going to be a sort of companion tohim. He begs so to have me come."
Archie would be there. A sudden unreasoning anger flamed up in hisheart and then dropped down to the white ashes of despair. Was thereany use caring for a woman who would not or could not care for you?There were other girls----
"You have really decided to go?" her mother said afterward.
"Oh, I hate to leave you." Her arms were about her mother's neck. "Yetfor some things it seems best. And the old story will be the moreeasily forgotten. I may make it appear of less importance to myself.It has grown quite dreamlike to me."
"Yes," answered the mother under her breath.
So the fact was accepted. "You will never regret giving a few monthsto an old man near his journey's end," said Mr. Bartram. "And I amvery glad for his sake."
Then preparations were made for the journey.
"You must not want for anything, nor be dependent on your goodfriend," said her father. "And have all the pleasures you can. Youthis the time to enjoy them."
It gave them a heartache to let her go. Mrs. Craig wished she could beher companion again, but she was too old to take such a journey. Andnow travelling was a more usual occurrence, and she found two ladieswho were going to Harrisburg, and who had travelled a great deal, evenbeen to Paris. Aldis Bartram was much relieved, for he hardly knewhow to entertain a being who was one hour a child and the next aserious woman. The last two years he had sought mostly the society ofmen. There were many grave questions to discuss, for the affairs ofthe country were by no means settled.
It was a very pleasant journey in the early autumn. She enjoyedeverything with so much spirit and delight, but she was nevertiresomely effusive. The ladies had come from New Orleans and werefull of amazement at the rapid strides the country was making, and thetowns that were growing up along the route. Their stay in Pittsburghad been brief and they were much amused at some of the descriptionsof the earlier days the little girl could recall, the memories of theFrench great-grandfather, who had lived almost a hundred years, andgrandad, who in his earlier years had been what we should call anathlete and was a master hand at games of all sorts. They were much invogue yet, since there were no play-houses to draw people together forsocial enjoyment.
Mr. Bartram used to watch her with growing interest. Yes, she would beinvaluable to M. de Ronville, and a great relief to him this winter.How had she so easily overlived the great blow of her wedding day! Shewas a very child then, and truly knew nothing about love.
"We shall be in Philadelphia sometime before Christmas," explainedMrs. Danvers, who was a widow. "We are thinking of settling ourselvesthere, or in New York, and we shall be glad to take up theacquaintance again. We have enjoyed your society very much, and trulywe are indebted to Mr. Bartram for many favors that a maid is apt toblunder over. Women never get quite used to the rougher ways of theworld."
"And I shall be glad to see you again," the girl said with unaffectedpleasure. "I have enjoyed the journey with you very much."
How did she know just what to say without awkwardness, Mr. Bartramwondered.
The quiet street and the old house seemed to give her a cordial andfamiliar greeting. Mrs. Jarvis herself came to the door.
"Oh, my dear, we are so glad to have you back again," she cried withemotion. "But how tall you are! You are no longer a little girl."
"I have the same heart after all that has happened;" and though shesmiled there were tears in her eyes.
A slow step came through the hall, and then she was held close to theheart of her guardian, who had longed for her as one longs for achild.
Yes, he was quite an old man. Pale now, with snowy hair and beard, anda complexion full of fine wrinkles, but his eyes were soft and tender,and had the glow of life in them.
"Oh," he exclaimed, "you still have the golden hair, and the peachycheeks, and smiling mouth. I was almost afraid you had changed andgrown grave. And your voice has the same ring. I am so thankful toyour parents for sparing you again. And, Aldis, you must not mind me,for the business has fallen so behind that I shall not feel neglectedif you go to the office at once. We will devote the evening to talk.Are you very tired with your journey?" That to Daffodil.
"No, it was so pleasant and entertaining, and some of it beautiful.Then I do not tire easily."
M. de Ronville held her hand as if he was afraid she might escape, andhis longing eyes touched her very heart. But Mrs. Jarvis stepped up onthe stairs, and giving him a tender smile, she followed.
Nothing had been changed. Why, she might have left it only yesterday.
As if Mrs. Jarvis had a similar thought about her she said, "My dear,you are just the same, only grown up."
"And everything here is the same. I am very glad; it is like home."
There was the pretty dark blue-and-white toilette set, where the bluelooked as if somehow it had melted a little and run over the white.She smiled, thinking how she used to wonder about it.
"This is Susan, our new maid. Mr. Bartram may have told you that Janewas married. She has a good husband and a nice home. But Susan fillsthe place very well, and now she will wait upon you with pleasure,"announced Mrs. Jarvis.
Susan courtesied and smiled. She was younger than Jane, a fresh,fair-looking girl, who had the appearance of having been scrubbed fromtop to toe.
"And now, when you are ready, come down to the library and have a cupof tea. Oh, I remember, you didn't care for tea, that's an old ladies'comfort. Well, there are other refreshing things that will stay youuntil supper. We have our dinner now in the middle of the day. M. deRonville likes it better. Feel thoroughly at home, child."
Susan unpacked her belongings and put them in drawers and the spaciouscloset, where Daffodil thought they must feel lonesome.
She went downstairs presently, fresh and bright, having chosen hersimplest frock, and tied her curls in a bunch behind, instead ofputting them high on her head with a comb. On her pretty neck she worethe chain and pendant M. de Ronville had given her. She looked verysweet and youthful.
He motioned her to the sofa beside him.
"I understand how it is, that children and grandchildren keep oneyoung," he began. "It is the new flow of life that vivifies the oldpulses. And I advise all young men to marry;" smiling a little."After awhile business loses its keen interest, and when you havemade enough, why should you go on toiling and moiling? Then comes thetime you want to take an interest in younger lives. And now tell meabout your mother and father, who is prospering greatly, Aldis haswritten. And the little brother."
She was in full flow of eager talk when Susan brought in the tray withsome tea and dainty biscuits, and golden-hearted cake, and Mrs. Jarvisfollowed her and drew up the little table.
"You see, I am quite pampered. I like a cup of tea at mid-afternoon,for the reason that it makes a break in a rather lonely time. I go outin the morning, when I can, but I take the garden and the porch in theafternoon, and in the evening friends drop in."
Daffodil had a glass of milk. There were some delightful sandwiches,and she was really hungry, as they had not stopped for much dinner atnoon. And as she glanced around she saw more cases had been added, andwere filled with books, and two or three paintings and beautifulvases. The room did have a cosy aspect, with some easy chairs thatwere just coming in for elderly people. Young people were expected tosit up straight.
Afterward they walked in the garden. There were choice late roses inbloom, and flowers she had never seen before. Smooth paths of sandbeaten hard, here a way of fine white gravel that looked like a snowyribbon between the green. How beautiful it was! This was what moneyand education and taste could d
o. Pittsburg was beginning to have themoney, to prosper and boast, but all things seemed in a muddle,compared to this.
She was merry and sweet, and yet it did not seem to her as if it camefrom a true heart. Was she sorry she had come. Was not her place backthere! Was it not her duty _not_ to outgrow Pittsburg, for there shemust live her life out. And when she was an old lady there would beFelix, who would marry and have children growing up, true Duvernays,for he would take the name, not her husband.
When they went in the paper had come, and she read that to him. Shehad stepped so naturally into the old place. Susan began to arrangethe table, Mr. Bartram came in looking really fagged out, butcordially attentive and chatty with the happenings.
It was a sort of high tea, and there was an air about everythingdifferent from their simplicity at home, but Mr. Bartram had adaptedhimself so readily to that. Was it out of kindly consideration?
"Now, I am going to dismiss you, my little dear," exclaimed the oldman gently, "for I want to hear what Aldis has to say. And you havebeen very sweet and patient. Promise that you will not disappear inthe night."
"Oh, I promise. I am not a bird that I could fly back in the night,and then I think only evil birds fly at that period."
He kissed her on the forehead. She sat on the porch awhile with Mrs.Jarvis, and then went to bed in the room that was sweet with rose andlavender. Well, so was her pillow at home. But it was so still here.Even the insects seemed to have modulated their shrillness. She buriedher face in the softness and cried. Was she regretting the change? Wassome gladness, some hope, lost out of her life, that could never comeagain?
It was bright morning when she woke. Even the very sun seemed to shinein gladness. Susan came, bringing her some water, and wished hergood-morning. Yes, it should be a good morning and a good day.
They went to drive when the mists of the night had blown away. Oh, howgay everything looked! Stores had increased, beautiful buildings hadgone up, and there was the President's residence. Lady Washington, asmany people still called her, came out with her maid and her blackservant, with a huge basket. There were others doing the same thing,for it was quite a fashion of the day, though some people werebeginning to be waited on by the market men. Ladies in carriages andmen walking or riding bowed to M. de Ronville, and wondered who thepretty girl beside him could be. He quite enjoyed the surprised lookthey gave her.
Then he took a rest on the sofa, and begged her to tell him of thechanges they had made in the house, and the boats her father wasbuilding, and what new industries had been started. And was grandad asbright and merry as ever? And the ignoble whiskey insurrection; thesoldiers at the Fort!
Everything had so much interest for him, and the time passed sorapidly, that Mr. Bartram came home before they hardly thought ofdinner. He asked with a smile if she was homesick yet, and althoughshe shook her head with vague amusement, she wondered why she hadcried last night? They had some bright talk and then M. de Ronvilleasked her if she did not want to go shopping with Mrs. Jarvis, whowould like very much to have her. Mr. Bartram had brought some papersthat must be looked over and signed. But she must not stay out toolate for his cup of afternoon tea.
The shopping was really a great diversion. They met several people,who remembered her. And how funny it seemed to pay away so much moneyfor an article, but then there seemed plenty of paper money.
Chestnut Street was gay with riders, both men and women, and some ofthe latter looked fine in their dark-green habits and gilt buttons.There were many promenading, dressed in the quaint style of the day,and not a few Friends in silvery-gray, with the close-fittingscuttle-shaped bonnets.
"I am so glad you have come," was Susan's greeting. "There are twoladies waiting to see you, Miss Daffodil, and M. de Ronville wouldmake me bring in the tea for them."
"Oh, what are their names?" cried the girl eagerly.
"I was not to tell you;" and a smile lurked behind Susan's lips.
She ran upstairs and took off her hat and mantle, and came into thelibrary wondering.
"Oh;" pausing to think for a moment. "It's Miss Pemberton, and--is itBelinda?"
"Oh, you haven't changed a bit, except to grow tall;" and Belindaalmost hugged her. "But Mary is Mrs. Hassel, and has the darlingestlittle boy you ever saw. Oh, do you remember our party out on thelawn, and our picnic? I'm so glad you have come again. I'm the onlygirl home now;" and then Belinda blushed deeply.
"And Mr. de Ronville would have us share his tea. I've heard it's akind of English fashion, which he ought not countenance, since he isFrench, I tell him," said Mrs. Hassel jestingly. "But it isdelightful. I think I'll start it. A cup of tea seems to loosen one'stongue."
"Do women really need the lubrication?" asked M. de Ronville with asmile.
"Yes, they do. Think of three or four different women hardly knowingwhat to say to each other, and after a few sips of tea they are aschatty as you please. But I must say I was so delighted with hischarming news that I would have waited until dark for the chance ofseeing you."
"Oh, thank you;" and Daffodil blushed prettily.
"And we know a friend of yours, at least Jack does, a young doctor,who is going to be great some day, and who is from Pittsburg, Dr.Langdale."
"Oh, yes, I knew he was studying here."
"And he has made one or two remarkable discoveries about something orother. Dr. Rush considers him one of the coming men."
"I am very glad to hear that. Oh, we all seemed children together. Andhis older brother is a lieutenant at Fort Pitt."
"Can't he get a furlough? I'd like to see him," said Belinda gayly.
"He's tired of dull Fort Pitt, and was talking of getting exchanged.That isn't quite right, I believe; it sounds as if he was a prisoner."
"We must go," insisted Mrs. Hassel. "We will hardly have time foranother call. M. de Ronville has been so fascinating."
"Oh, did I hold out a fascination?" mischievously.
"It was both," admitted Belinda. "And now we want to see ever so muchof you. Mary, give us a regular tea party; she only lives round inArch Street. And you will want to see the baby."
"Of course I will," said the young girl.
Then they made their adieus. Susan took away the tea-things.
"Was the shopping nice?" enquired her guardian.
"Oh, there are so many lovely things! I didn't mean to buy anything,you know, but we looked at such an elegant pelisse. Only everythingcosts so much!"
"Oh, economical little girl!"
"And the shopwoman would try on such a splendid white beaver that hadjust come in with a beautiful long plume and a white satin bow on top.Why, I felt as if I had just arrived from Paris!"
M. de Ronville leaned back and laughed. She looked so pretty andspirited, standing here. He could imagine her in the white beaver andhandsome pelisse.
"How about the French?" he asked. "Have you forgotten it all?"
"Oh, no. Grandmere and I talk sometimes."
"We must have a little reading. Why, _we_ could talk as well. Isometimes get rusty."
"It was very nice of the Pembertons to remember me," she saidreflectively.
"I had said you were likely to come, and they heard Mr. Bartram hadreturned. So they came at once."
She could see he was proud of the compliment paid her.
"Now, you are tired," he said. "I'll read the paper for myself."
"No, no." She took it away playfully. "When my voice gets shaky, youmay ask me to stop;" and the mirth in her tone was good to hear.
How delightful it was to lean back comfortably and listen to thepleasant voice, with its subtle variations. Ah, if Aldis Bartram couldhave made sure of her in that other time, before she had learned tolove and had her sorrow. And now he seemed to be settled in bachelorways, and resolved to miss the sweetness of love and life.
"Aldis," he said, at the tea table, "do you know young Dr. Langdale?"
"In a way. He is not in my line, you know. A very promising youngfellow. Were you thinking of trying h
im?"
"Oh, no. But he is from Pittsburg. The Hassels and Miss Pemberton seemto know him quite well. And he is a friend of Daffodil's."
"Oh, and is that lieutenant his brother?"
Daffodil blushed, though why, she could not have told, and she merelynodded.
"Mrs. Hassel seems to think very highly of him."
"He's made some sort of discovery--they had him at Dr. Rush's, and heis in a fair way to success. Score one for Pittsburg."
"But he has been studying here," rejoined Daffodil frankly.
The next day it rained, and rainy days seemed to affect M. deRonville, but he hardly noted it. They read and talked French, and hada rather laughable time. And in the afternoon an old friend, ColonelPlumsted, came in to play chess, and Daffodil watched, muchinterested. Aldis was surprised to find his host in such good spiritswhen he returned.
Mrs. Hassel gave her tea party soon after. Daffodil met several oldfriends, who remembered the little girl. Belinda found time to impartthe secret that she and Jack Willing were engaged, though she meant tohave one good winter of fun before she was married. Jack seemed to bea nice, jolly fellow. And there was Anton Wetherell and ArthurPemberton, and Arthur was asked to take her out to the supper table.
"Why, it's quite like old times to have you here again! Truly, I neverthought of your growing up. You were always in my mind as a littlegolden-haired fairy that flashes about and then--do they return to the'little folk'?"
"I haven't, you see. But I was not quite a fairy. And one grandfatherused to call me Yellowtop." She laughed musically.
"One? How many grandfathers did you have?"
"I had three at one time, one in every generation. But the oldest onewent away, and now there are only two."
"And I danced with you, I remember. I hope you haven't forgotten how.We have dancing parties, as well as tea parties. We are consideredquite staid and sober-going people, but we young folks put in a gooddeal of fun. Bel's engaged, I dare say she told you, and I am the onlysolitary--shall I call myself a blossom? left on the parent stalk."
They both laughed at that. It takes so little to amuse young people.
"You'll have to go to one of Lady Washington's receptions, though inthe whisper of confidence be it said they are rather stiff. There'sthe Norris house, that's the place for fun. The Norris girls find somany bright people, and they're not the jealous kind, but they makeeverybody shine."
Then Bel took her off to meet Miss Plumsted.
"I'm very glad to see you;" and Miss Plumsted's voice was honestlysweet. "Grandfather goes to play chess with M. de Ronville. He is yourguardian, I believe. And now, are you going to live here?"
"Oh, no. I am here only on a visit. My parents and all my folks liveat Pittsburg."
"Oh, that seems way out West. The Ohio River is there, and they go outto St. Louis and down to New Orleans. Is it a real city?"
"Not yet, but they are talking about it."
Then some one else came. Two or three of the young men dropped induring the evening, and there was some music on a flute and a violin.Altogether it was a very pleasant time, and Arthur Pemberton took herhome and asked if he might not have the pleasure of callingoccasionally.
She hardly knew what was proper. It seemed ungracious to say "no," soshe answered that he might.