How many scores of devices for securing a conversation with Phillida,
Millard hit upon during the night that followed Gouverneur's visit, he
could not have told. He planned letters to her in a dozen different
veins, and rejected them all. He thought of appealing to Mrs. Callender
once more, but could not conceive of Mrs. Callender's overruling
Phillida. His mind perpetually reverted to Agatha. If only he might gain
her co-operation! And yet this notion of securing the assistance of a
younger sister had an air of intrigue that he did not like.
About nine o'clock the next morning there was handed to Mrs. Callender a
note from Millard inclosing an unsealed note which Mr. Millard desired
Mrs. Callender if she saw fit to hand to Miss Agatha. Mrs. Callender
gave it to Agatha without opening it.
AGATHA: I wrote to your mother the other day begging permission
to call on your sister, and received a reply expressing Miss
Callender's desire to avoid an interview. That ought to have put
an end to my hope of securing your sister's forgiveness, and for
a while it did. But on reflection I am led to believe that her
decision was based, not on a lack of affection for me, but on a
wrong notion of my feeling toward her. She probably believes
that I am actuated by gratitude for her attention to my
relatives, or by pity for her sufferings as an invalid. She
holds certain other erroneous notions on the subject, I think. I
give you the assurance with all the solemnity possible that my
devotion to her is greater to-day than ever. Her affection is
absolutely indispensable to my happiness. I will undertake to
convince her of this if I am once permitted to speak to her. Now
if you think that she would be the better for a renewal of our
old relations will you not contrive in some way that I may see
her this afternoon at three o'clock, at which hour I shall
present myself at your door?
I hope your mother will pardon my writing to you; persuasion
exerted by a sister has less the air of authority than that of a
parent. I leave you to show this letter or not at your own
discretion, and I put into your hands my whole future welfare,
and what is of a thousand times greater importance in your eyes
and in mine, Phillida's happiness. Whatever may be your feelings
toward me I know that Phillida can count on your entire devotion
to her interests.
CHARLEY.
The only thing that seemed to Millard a little insincere about this
rather stiff note was the reason assigned for writing to Agatha. Her
persuasions, as Millard well knew, did not have less of authority about
them than her mother's. But this polite insincerity on a minor point he
had not seen how to avoid in a letter that ought to be shown to Mrs.
Callender.
Agatha gave her mother the note to read, telling her, however, in
advance that she proposed to manage the case herself. Mrs. Callender was
full of all manner of anxieties at having so difficult a matter left to
one so impetuous as Agatha. For herself she could not see just what was
to be done, and two or three times she endeavored to persuade Agatha to
let her consult Phillida about it. A consultation with Phillida had been
her resort in difficulties ever since the death of her husband. But
Agatha reminded her that Mr. Millard had intrusted the matter to her own
keeping, and expressed her determination not to have any more of
Phillida's nonsense.
Phillida observed that Agatha was not giving as much attention to
preparations for the journey as she expected her to. Nor could Phillida
understand why the parlor must be swept again before their departure,
seeing it would be snowed under with dust when they got back. But Agatha
put everything in perfect order, and then insisted on dressing her
sister with a little more pains than usual.
"I wouldn't wonder if Mrs. Hilbrough calls this afternoon," said the
young hypocrite. "Besides I think it is good for an invalid to be
dressed up a little--just a little fixed up. It makes a person think of
getting well and that does good, you know."
Agatha refrained from an allusion to faith-cure that rose to her lips,
and finding that Phillida was growing curious she turned to a new
subject.
"Did mama tell you what Miss Bowyer says about your case, Philly?"
"No."
"Mrs. Beswick told mama that she had it from Mr. Martin. Miss Bowyer
told Mr. Martin the other day that she knew you would get well because
she had been giving you absent treatment without your knowledge or
consent. Didn't you feel her pulling you into harmony with the odylic
emanations of the universe?"
Phillida smiled a little and Agatha insisted on helping her to creep
into the parlor. She said she could not pack the trunk with Philly
looking on. But when she got her sister into the parlor she did not seem
to care to go back to the trunks.
The door-bell rang at three and Agatha met Charley in the hall.
"She doesn't know a word of your coming," said Agatha in a low voice. "I
will go and tell her, to break the shock, and then bring you right in."
She left Millard standing by the hat table while she went in.
"Phillida, who do you think has come to see you? It's Charley Millard. I
took the liberty of telling him you'd see him for a short time."