CHAPTER VIII.
"All your attempts Shall fall on me like brittle shafts on armor."
Lucy came into Elsie's room early the next morning to show herbirthday gifts, of which she had received one or more from everymember of her family. They consisted of articles of jewelry, toiletornaments, and handsomely-bound books.
They learned on meeting Herbert at breakfast that he had fared quiteas well as his sister. Elsie slipped a valuable ring on Lucy's fingerand laid a gold pencil-case beside Herbert's plate.
"Oh, charming! a thousand thanks, mon ami!" cried Lucy, her eyessparkling with pleasure.
"Thank you, I shall value it most highly; especially for the giver'ssake," said Herbert, examining his with a pleased look, then turningto her with a blush and joyous smile, "I am so much better thismorning that I am going out for a drive. Won't you and Lucy give methe added pleasure of your company?"
"Thank you, I can answer for myself that I'll be very happy to do so."
"I, too," said Lucy. "It's a lovely morning for a ride. We'll make upa party and go, but we must be home again in good season; for Carrieand Enna promised to come to dinner. So I'm glad we finished the bookyesterday, though we were all so sorry to part from little Ellen."
They turned out quite a strong party; Herbert and the ladies fillingup the family carriage, while Harry on horseback, and John and Archieeach mounted upon a pony, accompanied it, now riding alongside, nowspeeding on ahead, or perchance dropping behind for a time as suitedtheir fancy.
They travelled some miles, and alighting in a beautiful grove, partookof a delicate lunch they had brought with them. Then, while Herbertrested upon the grass the others wandered hither and thither until itwas time to return. They reached home just in season to receive theirexpected guests.
Carrie Howard was growing up very pretty and graceful; womanly in herways, yet quite unassuming in manner, frank and sweet in disposition,she was a general favorite with old and young, and could already boastof several suitors for her hand.
Enna Dinsmore, now in her fourteenth year, though by some consideredeven prettier, was far less pleasing--pert, forward, and conceited asshe had been in her early childhood; she was tall for her age, andwith her perfect self-possession and grown-up air and manner, mightbe easily mistaken for seventeen. She had already more worldly wisdomthan her sweet, fair niece would ever be able to attain, and was, inher own estimation at least, a very stylish and fashionable younglady. She assumed very superior airs toward Elsie when her brotherHorace was not by, reproving, exhorting, or directing her; and wasvery proud of being usually taken by strangers for the elder of thetwo. Some day she would not think that a feather in her cap.
Elsie had lost none of the childlike simplicity of five years ago;it still showed itself in the sweet, gentle countenance, the quietgraceful carriage, equally removed from forwardness on the one hand,and timid self-consciousness on the other. She did not considerherself a personage of importance, yet was not troubled by hersupposed insignificance; in fact seldom thought of self at all, soengaged was she in adding to the happiness of others.
The four girls were gathered in Lucy's room. She had been showing herbirthday presents to Carrie and Enna.
"How do you like this style of arranging the hair, girls?" asked thelatter, standing before a mirror, smoothing and patting, and pullingout her puffs and braids. "It's the newest thing out. Isabel Carletonjust brought it from New York. I saw her with hers dressed so, andsent Delia over to learn how."
Delia was Miss Enna's maid, and had been brought along to Ashlandsthat she might dress her young lady's hair in this new style for theparty.
"It's pretty," said Lucy. "I think I'll have Minerva dress mine so forto-night, and see how it becomes me."
"Delia can show her how," said Enna. "Don't you like it, Carrie?"
"Pretty well, but if you'll excuse me for saying so, it strikes me asrather grown up for a young lady of thirteen," answered Carrie in agood-naturedly bantering tone.
Enna colored and looked vexed. "I'm nearly fourteen," she replied witha slight toss of the head; "and I overheard Mrs. Carleton saying tomamma the other day, that with my height and finished manners I mightpass anywhere for seventeen."
"Perhaps so; of course, knowing your age, I can't judge so well how itwould strike a stranger."
"I see you have gone back to the old childish way of arranging yourhair. What's that for?" asked Enna, turning to Elsie; "I shouldthink it was about time you were beginning to be a little womanly insomething."
"Yes, but not in dress or the arrangement of my hair. So papa says,and of course I know he is right."
"He would not let you have it up in a comb?"
"No," Elsie answered with a quiet smile.
"Why do you smile? Did he say anything funny when you showed yourselfthat day?"
"Oh, Elsie, have you tried putting up your hair?" asked Carrie; whileLucy exclaimed, "Try it again to-night, Elsie, I should like to seehow you would look."
"Yes," said Elsie, answering Carrie's query first. "Enna persuaded meone day to have mammy do it up in young-lady fashion. I liked it rightwell for a change, and that was just what mamma said when I went intothe drawing-room and showed myself to her. But when papa came in, helooked at me with a comical sort of surprise in his face, and said.'Come here; what have you been doing to yourself?' I went to him andhe pulled out my comb, and ordered me off to mammy to have my hairarranged again in the usual way, saying, 'I'm not going to have youaping the woman already; don't alter the style of wearing your hairagain, till I give you permission.'
"And you walked off as meek as Moses, and did his bidding," said Ennasarcastically. "No man shall ever rule me so. If papa should undertaketo give me such an order, I'd just inform him that my hair was my own,and I should arrange it as suited my own fancy."
"I think you are making yourself out worse than you really are,Enna," said Elsie gravely. "I am sure you could never say anything soextremely impertinent as that to grandpa."
"Impertinent! Well, if you believe it necessary to be so veryrespectful, consistency should lead you to refrain from reproving youraunt."
"I did not exactly mean to reprove you, Enna, and you are younger thanI."
"Nobody would think it," remarked Enna superciliously and with asecond toss of her head, as she turned from the glass; "you are soextremely childish in every way, while, as mamma says, I grow morewomanly in appearance and manner every day."
"Elsie's manners are quite perfect, I think," said Carrie; "and herhair is so beautiful, I don't believe any other style of arrangementcould improve its appearance in the least."
"But it's so childish, so absurdly childish! just that great mass ofringlets hanging about her neck and shoulders. Come, Elsie, I want youto have it dressed in this new style for to-night."
"No, Enna, I am perfectly satisfied to wear it in this childishfashion; and if I were not, still I could not disobey papa."
Enna turned away with a contemptuous sniff, and Lucy proposed thatthey should go down to the drawing-room, and try some new music shehad just received, until it should be time to dress for the evening.
Herbert lay on a sofa listening to their playing. "Lucy," he said inone of the pauses, "what amusements are we to have to-night?--anythingbeside the harp, piano, and conversation?"
"Dancing, of course. Cad's fiddle will provide as good music as anyone need care for, and this room is large enough for all who will behere. Our party is not to be very large, you know."
"And Elsie, for one, is too pious to dance," sneered Enna.
Elsie colored, but remained silent.
"Oh! I did not think of that!" cried Lucy. "Elsie, do you really thinkit is a sinful amusement?"
"I think it wrong to go to balls; at least that it would be wrong forme, a professed Christian, Lucy."
"But this will not be a ball, and we'll have nothing but quiet countrydances, or something of that sort, no waltzing or anything at allobjectionable. What harm can there be in ju
mping about in that waymore than in another?"
"None that I know of," answered Elsie, smiling. "And I certainly shallnot object to others doing as they like, provided I am not asked totake part in it."
"But why not take part, if it is not wrong?" asked Harry, coming infrom the veranda.
"Why, don't you know she never does anything without asking thepermission of papa?" queried Enna tauntingly. "But where's the use ofconsulting her wishes in the matter, or urging her to take part in thewicked amusement?--she'll have to go to bed at nine o'clock, like anyother well-trained child, and we'll have time enough for our dancingafter that."
"Oh, Elsie, must you?--must you really leave us at that early hour?Why, that's entirely too bad!" cried the others in excited chorus.
"I shall stay up till ten," answered Elsie quietly, while a deep flushsuffused her cheek.
"That is better, but we shall not know how to spare you even thatsoon," said Harry. "Couldn't you make it eleven?--that would not be sovery late just for once."
"No, for she can't break her rules, or disobey orders. If she did,papa would be sure to find it out and punish her when she gets home."
"For shame, Enna! that's quite too bad!" cried Carrie and Lucy in abreath.
Elsie's color deepened, and there was a flash of anger and scorn inher eyes as she turned for an instant upon Enna. Then she repliedfirmly, though with a slight tremble of indignation in her tones: "Iam not ashamed to own that I do find it both a duty and a pleasure toobey my father, whether he be present or absent. I have confidence,too, in both his wisdom and his love for me. He thinks early hours ofgreat importance, especially to those who are young and growing, andtherefore he made it a rule that I shall retire to my room and beginmy preparations for bed by nine o'clock. But he gave me leave to stayup an hour later to-night, and I intend to do so."
"I think you are a very good girl, and feel just right about it," saidCarrie.
"I wish he had said eleven, I think he might this once," remarkedLucy. "Why, don't you remember he let you stay up till ten ChristmasEve that time we all spent the holidays at Roselands, which was fiveyears ago?"
"Yes," said Elsie, "but this is Saturday night, and as to-morrow isthe Sabbath, I should not feel it to be right to stay up later, evenif I had permission."
"Why not? it isn't Sunday till twelve," said Herbert.
"No, but I should be apt to oversleep myself, and be dull and drowsyin church next morning."
"Quite a saint!" muttered Enna, shrugging her shoulders and marchingoff to the other side of the room.
"Suppose we go and select some flowers for our hair," said Lucy,looking at her watch. "'Twill be tea-time presently, and we'll want todress directly after."
"You always were such a dear good girl," whispered Carrie Howard,putting her arm about Elsie's waist as they left the room.
Enna was quite gorgeous that evening, in a bright-colored silk,trimmed with multitudinous flounces and many yards of ribbon and gimp.The young damsel had a decidedly gay taste, and glanced somewhatcontemptuously at Elsie's dress of simple white, albeit 'twas of thefinest India muslin and trimmed with costly lace. She wore her pearlnecklace and bracelets, a broad sash of rich white ribbon; no otherornaments save a half-blown moss rosebud at her bosom, and anotheramid the glossy ringlets of her hair, their green leaves the only bitof color about her.
"You look like a bride," said Herbert, gazing admiringly upon her.
"Do I?" she answered smiling, as she turned and tripped lightly away;for Lucy was calling to her from the next room.
Herbert's eyes followed her with a wistful, longing look in them, andhe sighed sadly to himself as she disappeared from his view.
Most of the guests came early; among them, Walter and Arthur Dinsmore;Elsie had not seen the latter since his encounter with Mr. Travilla.He gave her a sullen nod on entering the room, but took no furthernotice of her.
Chit-chat, promenading and the music of the piano and harp werethe order of the evening for a time; then games were proposed, and"Consequences," "How do you like it?" and "Genteel lady, alwaysgenteel," afforded much amusement. Herbert could join in these, anddid with much spirit. But dancing was a favorite pastime with theyoung people of the neighborhood, and the clock had hardly struck ninewhen Cadmus and his fiddle were summoned to their aid, chairs andtables were put out of the way, and sets began to form.
Elsie was in great request; the young gentlemen flocked about her,with urgent entreaties that she would join in the amusement, eachclaiming the honor of her hand in one or more sets, but she steadilydeclined.
A glad smile lighted up Herbert's countenance, as he saw one andanother turn and walk away with a look of chagrin and disappointment.
"Since my misfortune compels me to act the part of a wallflower, I amselfish enough, I own, to rejoice in your decision to be one also," hesaid gleefully. "Will you take a seat with me on this sofa? I presumeyour conscience does not forbid you to watch the dancers?"
"No, not at all," she answered, accepting his invitation.
Elsie's eyes followed with eager interest the swiftly moving forms,but Herbert's were often turned admiringly upon her. At length heasked if she did not find the room rather warm and close, and proposedthat they should go out upon the veranda. She gave a willing assentand they passed quietly out and sat down side by side on a rusticseat.
The full moon shone upon them from a beautiful blue sky, while arefreshing breeze, fragrant with the odor of flowers and pines, gentlyfanned their cheeks and played among the rich masses of Elsie's hair.
They found a good deal to talk about; they always did, for they werekindred spirits. Their chat was now grave, now gay--generally thelatter; for Cad's music was inspiriting; but whatever the theme oftheir discourse, Herbert's eyes were constantly seeking the face ofhis companion.
"How beautiful you are, Elsie!" he exclaimed at length, in a tone ofsuch earnest sincerity that it made her laugh, the words seemed torush spontaneously from his lips. "You are always lovely, but to-nightespecially so."
"It's the moonlight, Herbert; there's a sort of witchery about it,that lends beauty to many an object which can boast none of itself."
"Ah, but broad daylight never robs you of yours; you always wear itwherever you are, and however dressed. You look like a bride to-night;I wish you were, and that I were the groom."
Elsie laughed again, this time more merrily than before. "Ah, whatnonsense we are talking--we two children," she said. Then starting toher feet as the clock struck ten--"There, it is my bed-time, and Imust bid you good-night, pleasant dreams, and a happy awaking."
"Oh, don't go yet!" he cried, but she was already gone, the skirt ofher white dress just disappearing through the open hall door.
She encountered Mrs. Carrington at the foot of the stairs. "My dearchild, you are not leaving us already?" she cried.
"Yes, madam; the clock has struck ten."
"Why, you are a second Cinderella."
"I hope not," replied Elsie, laughing. "See, my dress has not changedin the least, but is quite as fresh and nice as ever."
"Ah, true enough! there the resemblance fails entirely. But, my dearchild, the refreshments are just coming in, and you must have yourshare. I had ordered them an hour earlier, but the servants were slowand dilatory, and then the dancing began. Come, can you not wait longenough to partake with us? Surely, ten o'clock is not late."
"No, madam; not for another night of the week, but to-morrow's theSabbath, you know, and if I should stay up late to-night I would belikely to find myself unfitted for its duties. Besides, papa bade meretire at this hour; and he does not approve of my eating at night; hethinks it is apt to cause dyspepsia."
"Ah, that is too bad! Well, I shall see that something is set away foryou, and hope you will enjoy it to-morrow. Good-night, dear; I musthurry away now to see the rest of my guests, and will not detain youlonger," she added, drawing the fair girl toward her and kissing heraffectionately, then hastening away to the supper-room.
Elsie tripped up the stairs and entered her room. A lamp burned low onthe toilet table, she went to it, turned up the wick, and as she didso a slight noise on the veranda without startled her. The windowsreached to the floor and were wide open.
"Who's there?" she asked.
"I," was answered, in a rough, surly tone, and Arthur stepped in.
"Is it you?" she asked in surprise and indignation. "Why do you comehere? it is not fit you should, especially at this hour."
"It is not fit you should set yourself up to reprove and instruct youruncle, I've come for that money you are going to lend me."
"I am not going to lend you any money."
"Give it then; that will be all the better for my pocket.
"I have none to give you either, Arthur; papa has positively forbiddenme to supply you with money."
"How much have you here?"
"That is a question you have no right to ask."
"Well, I know you are never without a pretty good supply of theneedful, and I'm needy. So hand it over without any more ado;otherwise I shall be very apt to help myself."
"No, you will not," she said, with dignity. "If you attempt to rob me,I shall call for assistance."
"And disgrace the family by giving the tattlers a precious bit ofscandal to retail in regard to us."
"If you care for the family credit you will go away at once and leaveme in peace."
"I will, eh? I'll go when I get what I came for, and not before."
Elsie moved toward the bell rope, but anticipating her intention, hestepped before it, saying with a jeering laugh, "No, you don't!"
"Arthur," she said, drawing herself up, and speaking with greatfirmness and dignity, "leave this room; I wish to be alone."
"Hoity-toity, Miss Dinsmore! do you suppose I'm to be ordered about byyou? No, indeed! And I've an old score to pay off. One of these daysI'll be revenged on you and old Travilla, too; nobody shall insult andabuse me with impunity. Now hand over that cash!"
"Leave this room!" she repeated.
"None of your ---- impudence!" he cried fiercely, catching her by thearm with a grasp that wrung from her a low, half-smothered cry ofpain.
But footsteps and voices were heard on the stairs, and he hastilywithdrew by the window through which he had entered.
Elsie pulled up her sleeve and looked at her arm. Each finger ofArthur's hand had left its mark. "Oh, how angry papa would be!" shemurmured to herself, hastily drawing down her sleeve again as the dooropened and Chloe came in, followed by another servant bearing a smallsilver waiter loaded with dainties.
"Missus tole me fetch 'em up with her compliments, an' hopes de younglady'll try to eat some," she said, setting it down on a table.
"Mrs. Carrington is very kind. Please return her my thanks, Minerva,"said Elsie, making a strong effort to steady her voice.
The girl, taken up with the excitement of what was going ondownstairs, failed to notice the slight tremble in its tones. Butnot so with Chloe. As the other hurried from the room, she took hernursling in her arms, and gazing into the sweet face with earnest,loving scrutiny; asked, "What de matter, darlin'? what hab resturbedyou so, honey?"
"You mustn't leave me alone, to-night, mammy," Elsie whispered,clinging to her, and half hiding her face on her breast. "Don't go outof the room at all, unless it is to step on the veranda."
Chloe was much surprised, for Elsie had never been cowardly.
"'Deed I won't, darling" she answered, caressing the shining hair, andsoftly rounded cheek. "But what my bressed chile 'fraid of?"
"Mr. Arthur, mammy," Elsie answered scarcely above her breath. "He wasin here a moment since, and if I were alone again he might come back."
"An' what Marse Arthur doin' yer dis time ob night, I like terknow?--what he want frightenin' my chile like dis?"
"Money, mammy, and papa has forbidden me to let him have any, becausehe makes a bad use of it." Elsie knew to whom she spoke. Chloe was noordinary servant, and could be trusted.
"Dear, dear, it's drefful that Marse Arthur takes to dem bad ways! Butdon't go for to fret, honey; we'll 'gree together to ask de Lord toturn him to de right."
"Yes, mammy, you must help me to pray for him. But now I must getready for bed; I have stayed up longer than papa said I might."
"Won't you take some of de 'freshments fust, honey?"
Elsie shook her head. "Eat what you want of them, mammy. I know I ambetter without."