During the ten days allowed her for preparation Kitty continued charmed
with Hayden's idea of a butterfly dinner. It suited her volatile fancy.
Her enthusiasm remained at high pitch, and she exerted herself to the
utmost in behalf of her favorite cousin. As a consequence, although she
made a pretense of consulting Hayden about the various arrangements, the
final results were almost as much of a surprise to him as to the rest of
the guests, and as he walked through his rooms at the last moment he
admitted to himself that Kitty really had surpassed herself.
Yellow and violet orchids fluttered everywhere, carrying out the
butterfly effect; and while he stood admiring their airy and
unsubstantial grace, Kitty floated in followed by Hampton, thin and
kindly, with more of an expression of interest than he usually wore.
"Why, Kitty," cried Hayden, shaking hands with Hampton, "you look exactly
like a butterfly, a lovely little blue butterfly attracted here by the
flowers."
"But that is what I am," Kitty answered him triumphantly. "A blue
butterfly. Don't you see my long wing-sleeves? And look at the blue
butterflies in my hair! Oh," as Mrs. Habersham came in, "here is Bea.
Isn't she gorgeous?"
Bea herself was the affirmative answer to that question. She was indeed
gorgeous, a splendid brown butterfly with all kinds of iridescent effects
gleaming through her gauzes. Dark velvet outlined her skirt and floating
sleeves, and dark antennae stood upright from the coils of her hair.
Marcia, who was with her, to Hayden's infinite relief, was a white
butterfly, looking very lovely, but, as he noticed with concern, paler
than he had ever seen her, and with something like distress in her eyes,
quite perceptible to him if unnoticed by the rest. He could not keep his
solicitude out of his voice and glance, and this, he felt instinctively,
annoyed, instead of gratifying her; for almost immediately she assumed a
gaiety of manner foreign to her usual gentle and rather cool reserve.
His attention was distracted for the moment by the arrival of Edith
Symmes, and the little group paid her the momentary attention of an awed
silence, for she had perpetrated what was, perhaps, the greatest atrocity
of her life--a vivid scarlet gown which made her face look a livid wedge.
"Don't you like this frock?" she whispered complacently to Bea Habersham.
"No, you know it is a horror, Edith," that lady replied, with the
bluntness of intimacy. "I think," turning and surveying her friend calmly
from head to foot, "that it is the very worst I have ever seen you wear,
and that is saying a great deal. It makes you look like green cheese. For
Heaven's sake, put some other color on!"
"Not I." Edith was quite unruffled. "You know perfectly well, Bea, that
if I wore what you and Kitty and the rest of the world would call decent
clothes, that every one would say: 'How plain poor Edith Symmes is! She
dresses well, but that can not make up for her lack of beauty,' But when
I wear these perfectly dreadful, glaring things that I love, what is said
of me? 'What a stylish, even a pretty woman, Edith Symmes might be, if
she didn't wear such criminal clothes,' Don't you see, you handsome
idiot, that I please myself and score at the same time?"
Not being able to refute these plausible arguments, Bea contented herself
with stubbornly maintaining her point. "But red, Edith, why red? It is a
nightmare. Who ever heard of a scarlet butterfly?"
Edith laughed lightly. "I invented one just for this occasion. Such a
compliment to Mr. Hayden." Her serenity was not to be marred, and
fortunately, before the discussion could go further, dinner was
announced.
The dining-room Kitty had transformed into a tropical bower. From an
irregular lattice of boughs across the ceiling orchids fell as if they
had grown and bloomed there. These were interspersed with long trails of
Spanish moss in which the lights were cunningly disposed. Orchids swayed,
too, from the tops of the tall palms which lined the walls, and above the
bright mass of the same flowers on the table floated on invisible wires
the most vivid and beautiful tropical butterflies.
Hayden was an admirable host. Possessing the faculty of enjoyment
himself, he succeeded in communicating it to his guests; and the dinner,
as it progressed, was an undeniable success. Marcia, on his right hand,
had apparently thrown off the oppression or worry from which she had
suffered earlier in the evening, and, according to Mrs. Habersham all
through the afternoon; and her evident enjoyment was immensely reassuring
to Hayden, for it seemed to him both natural and spontaneous.
"Bobby," said Kitty, a few moments before they left the table, "I'm
really afraid after this that the rest of the evening will be a dreadful
let-down. I think if we showed the part of wisdom we'd all fly home as
soon as we get up and keep intact a bright memory."
"Ah," said Hayden mysteriously, "you don't know what you would miss. The
best of the evening is yet to come. I've got a whole bagful of tricks up
my sleeve."
"I'm sure it's going to be a magic-lantern, or perhaps stereopticon views
illustrating his thrilling adventures in darkest Africa, or New York,
with himself well toward the center of the picture," laughed Edith
Symmes.
"I wish it were," said Penfield. "By the way, Hayden, you're among
friends. We'll all promise to keep your guilty secrets; but do be frank
and open if you can, and tell us the romantic story of your discovery in
South America, and how you happened to find something a lot of people had
been searching for in vain."
Hayden looked at Horace in surprise. That he should have ventured on this
subject was odd, and Robert was for the moment inclined to resent it. For
the fraction of a second he hesitated; and then caught at the suggestion.
He had been wondering how he should tell Marcia that he was the
discoverer of the lost and traditional mine on the estate, of which, he
continued to believe intuitively and unreasonably, without a scintilla of
real evidence, she was one of the owners. Yes, he had been wondering how
he should tell her and here was the opportunity.
"Very well, I will," he said quickly. "It isn't stereopticon views, or a
magic-lantern, Mrs. Symmes. It's worse. It's photographs, and I'm very
well toward the center of the picture. With the best will in the world,
now that I've got you all here, I shan't let you escape. You must listen
to the story of my life."
He had sent for Tatsu, and, at the appearance of the Japanese servant,
Robert whispered a word or two to him and he left the room. Just as he
did so Hayden felt a slight pressure on his arm. Turning, he met Marcia's
eyes. Her gaze was fastened on him with a frightened, almost imploring
expression and he saw that she had again grown very pale.
"What is it?" he said to her in a low voice. "You are not well, or you
are unhappy about something. Do not feel it necessary to remain here if
you would rather go home."
"Oh, no, no!" she protested vehemently. "I am quite well, and I would
rather stay, only, I implore you, I beg of you, not to show any maps or
photographs of that mine. I beg it!" Her voice, her eyes besought him.
Tatsu returned at this moment with a package which he handed to Hayden,
and the latter, taking it from him, looked carefully over its contents,
allowing an expression of disappointment to over-cloud his face.
"The wrong bundle," he said mendaciously. "Too bad! And I might have to
search an hour before laying my hands on the right one. I evidently
wasn't intended to bore you with any of my ancient mariner tales this
evening. This is distinctly an omen." He lifted his brows slightly and
significantly to Kitty, and she who was playing hostess, immediately
rose.
Hayden carried the package into the drawing-room with him and laid it on
a small table. He felt puzzled and perplexed. What did Marcia know, and
what was worse, what did she fear? For there could be no doubt that she
was badly frightened. How flat had fallen his happy plan of letting her
know that he, by some joyous and romantic chance, was the discoverer of
the long-lost Veiled Mariposa! But the party was far too small for any
one member of it to engage in meditation, and Hayden as host found his
attention claimed every moment. For a calm review of this odd occurrence
and any attempt to arrive at a satisfactory explanation of Marcia's words
and actions he saw clearly he would have to wait until the departure of
his guests.
It was a real relief, a positive relaxation from strain, therefore, when
Tatsu threw open the door and unctuously announced Mademoiselle Mariposa.
There was the slightest rustle of skirts, the faint waft of an enchanting
fragrance, and Ydo came forward. As usual, her little mask concealed her
face, revealing only her sparkling eyes, and her mantilla of Spanish lace
covered her hair! but she had discarded her customary black gown. She,
too, was a butterfly, this evening, a glowing yellow one with deep lines
of black and touches of orange and scarlet, a gown as vivid and daring as
herself. As she advanced with her exquisite and undulating grace of
carriage, a little thrill ran through the group, for although they had
moved in an atmosphere of color all evening, she seemed in some subtle
and individual way to express deeper and more vital tints, and veiled, as
she was, to cause even the lights to flicker and grow dim.
Behind her followed her private secretary, more demure and colorless than
ever, bearing the various objects Mademoiselle Mariposa would need in the
exercise of her profession.
All of the women, in fact the whole party, greeted her with warm
expressions of pleasure with the exception of Marcia who, Hayden thought,
looked more distressed, even more alarmed than ever.
Ydo returned their pleasant speech with her accustomed ease, and then
turning to Hayden, as if consulting him about the arrangements for her
fortune-telling, said in a low tone:
"The man you wish to see has returned and I have arranged a meeting in my
library to-morrow afternoon between you and the owners of the property.
You will be there, of course."
"Naturally." He smiled. Ah, the thing was really to be settled at last.
He drew a long sigh of relief as the burden of this waiting and suspense
fell from his shoulders. Hayden's experience since the discovery of The
Veiled Mariposa had convinced him that anything, anything was better than
uncertainty.
Meantime, Ydo, her Spanish accent more marked than usual, if anything,
had asked: "Which is it first? The palms, or the crystal, or what,
senor?" addressing Hayden.
"Do not leave it to me," he answered. "Ask the ladies."
The Mariposa turned inquiringly to the group of butterflies.
"Oh, the crystal," said Bea Habersham. "I'm sure mademoiselle couldn't
find a new line on any of our hands."
"The crystal, Eunice."
Ydo spoke to the secretary over her shoulder, and that young woman
silently and very deftly set to work. She cleared a small table, placed
it in front of the Mariposa, and deposited upon it the cushion and the
crystal, and finally, she threw some powder into a quaint bronze
incense-brazier, and then seated herself at the piano.
"I will ask the rest of you to remain absolutely quiet," said Ydo. "Now,
Eunice, begin."
Eunice obediently struck a few strange chords, and then fell into a
monotonous melody with a recurring refrain repeated again and again. The
blue smoke from the incense-brazier curled lazily upward in long spirals
and floated through the room, filling it with a pungent and heavy
sweetness; the monotonous music went on, the strange rhythm recurring in
an ever stronger beat. The Mariposa who had sat motionless gazing at the
crystal began to speak.
"Ah, the vision is not clear to-night. I see nothing but clouds. Your
figures appear for a moment and then disappear. Ah, here is Mr. Hayden
standing on a mountain top with his hands full of gold."
There was an explosion of laughter at this, and the Mariposa paused as if
innocently surprised. "Clouds!" she gazed into the crystal again. "Ah,
here is Mrs. Symmes. I see you in an immense studio, painting, painting
all the time, canvas after canvas. You will in the future devote your
life to art, madame. You will give up the world for it."
She paused and Edith, casting a triumphant glance at Mrs. Habersham,
admitted that she had been cherishing just such an ambition, looking only
the more pleased at the unrestrained horror and surprise manifested by
her friends.
"Miss Oldham, I see Miss Oldham, now," continued Ydo. "She weeps. She is
not happy. Idle tears."
Hayden did not hear the rest, he looked about for Marcia, but she had
vanished, slipped from the room. Strange, he had not seen her go, but
then she had that peculiarly noiseless way of moving. While he pondered
over it she slipped in again without sound, the faintest of rustles,
nothing to attract the attention of the others. She was still as white as
a snowdrop, but he thought her expression far calmer and less agitated.
But before any one else had time to notice her reappearance, attention
was concentrated on Wilfred Ames. He had scarcely spoken during dinner,
and since they had returned to the drawing-room, he had kept in the
background, giving every one rather plainly to understand that he did not
care for conversation. Now, he came forward, his face, which had been set
and grim and moody all evening, was white and his eyes were burning.
Never for one moment, did those eyes waver from the Mariposa. He seemed
Entirely oblivious to the rest of the group, and it was obvious that for
him they simply did not exist.
"What do you see here for me?" he tapped the crystal with his forefinger.
His voice was low and yet so vibrating with strong and uncontrolled
emotion, that it reached the ears of all.
There was storm in the air, the whole atmosphere of the room seemed
suddenly charged as if with electricity, and there was no one present who
did not feel through all the color and gaiety, the pulse and stir of
potent and irresistible forces.
But the Mariposa, after her first involuntary start of surprise and
apprehension, had recovered her poise and now strove to control the
situation. "One moment, give me but a second to gaze deeply into the
crystal and I will tell you, that is if the pictures will form
themselves."
"Oh, I beg you to drop that nonsense," Wilfred's voice rang wearily.
"It's only a pose. You believe in it no more than any one else. Aren't
you tired of that sort of game? Of playing with us all as if we were so
many children? Well, if you're not, I am. I tell you, Ydo, I've had
enough of it. You threw me over yesterday, for no reason under the sun.
Just caprice, whim--you can't whistle me back and throw me over
to-morrow. This question's going to be decided here and now for ever.
Will you marry me or not?"
"Senor!" Ydo's voice was low, surprised, remonstrating, indignant. "You
forget yourself. This is no place to make a scene or to spread before the
world our private affairs. I must beg you--"
Wilfred waved his hands impatiently, as if brushing away her objections.
"My answer, Ydo. Here and now."
[Illustration]
She seemed completely nonplussed, and Hayden divined that this proud and
resourceful Ydo felt herself overmatched and outwitted for the first
time. She stood perfectly still, but gazing through her mask at Ames.
"I--I think that you will get your heart's desire, senor," she murmured
at last, her voice broken, inaudible.
Ames stepped forward, still oblivious to the fact that there were other
people present. His face had grown still whiter but upon it there was
already an irradiation of joy. "Do you mean it?" he said in a low voice
vibrating with some strong feeling. "Do you mean it?"
The little group looked at him in amazement. Was this eager man with the
burning, intense eyes, the unruffled and imperturbable Wilfred, to whose
placid silence they were so accustomed?
"Why, Wilfred!" exclaimed Edith Symmes. "What on earth has come over
you?"
But Ames paid not the least attention to her. It was as if he had not
heard her voice. "Is it true?" he said again, his eyes fixed unwaveringly
on the black mask of the Mariposa.
"Yes, senor," she almost whispered. "Yes, it is true. But in the future,
mind you. I see only the future."
"Then tell your maid to throw all this stuff out of the window," Wilfred
again rapped the crystal. "You've done with it for ever."
The spell was broken. Hayden and his temporarily stupefied guests roused
themselves, and crowded about Ydo and Wilfred in a chorus of questions
and congratulations; but every one felt that the moment for departure had
come, and in the babble of adieus Hayden made an effort to get a moment's
speech with Marcia alone, but in some feminine and elusive way she
divined his intention and frustrated it, and in spite of the
congratulations of his guests he was left standing upon his lonely hearth
with a desolate feeling of failure.
He could hardly say what was the matter. Everything had gone without a
hitch; that is, until staid old Ames had so hopelessly forgotten himself.
The dinner was perfect, the decorations were beautiful, the small group
of congenial people had seemed to enjoy themselves immensely, and best of
all, Ydo had brought him the wonderful news that his period of suspense
and waiting was practically over. By this time to-morrow night he would
know where he stood; and yet, reason about it as he would, the sense of
elation and buoyant hope was gone, and in its stead was some dull,
unhappy sense of foreboding, a premonition of impending disaster.
For him, at least, there had been some ghastly blight over the whole
affair. Why, why had Marcia appeared pale and distressed? And what was
far more puzzling, why had she begged him not to show the photographs of
the mine upon Penfield's request? Was it that she did not wish one of his
guests to know too much about the matter? If so, which one? And how did
she know anything about his connection with the mine, anyway?
He tossed and turned for hours trying to arrive at some half-way
plausible or satisfactory solution; but none occurred to him, and he
finally fell into troubled sleep.