True to his word, Laurie Meredith called at the home of Flower next day
to ask her mother's consent to his betrothal to the lovely girl who had
won his heart.
"My darling, what is it?" he cried, eagerly, as he drew her to his
breast. "You have not repented your promise to be mine?"
"No, no," she whispered; and he soon learned the story of Maria's
death, Mrs. Fielding's terrible excitement, and her refusal to see any
one--even her daughters.
"It is very strange. One would not have supposed she would be so fond
of her old servant as to turn gray with grief," he said, feeling that
there was something mysterious about Mrs. Fielding's case, yet not
dreaming of the terrible influence that mystery was fated to bear upon
his own future.
Flower was so frightened at her mother's condition that she dared not
go to her and tell her that Laurie Meredith wished to see her. She
persuaded her lover to wait until her mother should be herself again.
"Or until poor Maria's funeral is over, at least. Then she will be
calmer and more composed, Laurie, dear."
He promised most unwillingly. He was eager to have it all settled
at once--to make sure that there would be no opposition offered by
Flower's mother. A dim fear that Jewel would influence Mrs. Fielding
to reject his suit had haunted him since last night, although not for
worlds would he have hinted it to Flower, who was so sensitive about
accepting his love, on account of her sister.
"You know, sweet one, I must go away soon," he said. "I had a letter
from my father this morning, and he wishes me to go abroad to finish my
education in a German university."
"Oh, Laurie--so far away!" she cried, and clung to him, pale and
trembling, a mist of tears rising to her lovely blue eyes.
"Only for one little year, darling," he said, tenderly. "Then I shall
return to claim my little bride; for my father is rich, and we need not
wait as if I had to make my own way in the world."
"A year of absence!" Flower went on, with wild dismay, tears
overflowing her beautiful cheeks.
She laid her golden head upon her lover's breast and sobbed bitterly,
as if with a prescience of the cruel fate that overshadowed her fair
young life.
He was quite as sorry to go as she was over his going, and when he saw
her grief a wild idea came to him. Why not marry Flower before he went
away, and take her with him to Germany?
He whispered his thought to her, and at first she was quite startled.
Her beautiful face was crimson with blushes.
"Oh, I could not do that! Besides, mamma would never consent!" she
exclaimed.
But the idea had taken strong hold of Laurie Meredith's fancy. He loved
his blue-eyed little Flower so ardently that he could not bear the
thought of leaving her while he went abroad. Something might happen.
She might forget him, might be won from him by another. She was so
young and lovely, who could tell what would happen?
He painted to her in low, sweet, eloquent murmurs, his love, his doubts
and fears, while she protested her fidelity with girlish vehemence.
At last he dropped the subject, but only to renew it at their next
meeting, and in the end he won her consent that if her mother were
willing she would marry him before he went away.
The day after the colored Methodist church had buried old Maria, after
a stirring funeral sermon, Laurie walked home with the two girls
from the little burying-ground, where they had witnessed the funeral
obsequies of the departed, and he was touched by the honest grief of
the twin sisters over the death of their good old nurse.
Jewel seemed to have forgotten the episode of two days ago, she was so
pale and sad, and her manner toward Laurie Meredith was so calm and
unembarrassed. Both Flower and her lover were reassured by it, and
believed that she was sorry for her passionate outburst, and anxious to
have them forget it.
Alas, neither one dreamed of the tornado of passion that was heaving
the breast of the beautiful brunette.
When they reached the house, and Laurie Meredith asked eagerly to
see Mrs. Fielding alone, she guessed instantly at his desire, and
determined to hear all that passed between her mother and her sister's
lover.