of mischief in Norah's demureness.
Mrs. Millard bowed distantly.
"I am going to settle this here and now," Miss Sarah whispered to Mrs.
Russell as Norah crossed the room to the sofa where Alex sat. Leaning
forward she said in a tone quite audible to everybody, "Norah, excuse
me for asking a personal question, but did you say Miss
Carpenter--Marion--was related to the Philadelphia Carpenters?"
Norah was quick-witted. So this was what they had been talking about!
A glance at Mrs. Millard's haughty shoulders explained. "I think I did
say so," she replied frankly.
"But Miss Unadilla says she can't be," observed Wayland in an
undertone from behind her.
Norah made her decision promptly. "Miss Unadilla would not have said
so if she had understood. I am going to take the liberty of explaining
what has perhaps puzzled some of you. It was I who in the beginning
caused the mistake, and I think now the time has come to set it
right." In the faces of her friends she saw nothing but confidence.
"Some of you have perhaps already guessed that there is just one Miss
Carpenter. Marion is Miss Unadilla's niece."
"I knew it! I knew it!" Charlotte whispered in an ecstasy.
Norah continued: "We had no idea of making a mystery of it; that
simply happened. Marion was recovering from a long illness, which left
her with a nervous affection of the eyes, so serious she felt she
would lose her sight. She and I were school friends, and when she was
taken ill she sent for me, and I was with her through it all. When she
grew stronger, her physician felt she must have some radical
change--something which would take her thoughts from herself, but
nothing seemed the right thing. Then I thought of putting into
execution an old plan of mine to open a shop. I coaxed her into it,
and we set out to seek our fortune, just as if the rich Miss Carpenter
did not exist,--or, at least, was merely our patron. We came here
partly because the climate was mild, and also because I had been here
before and knew about the place; and it was far enough from Miss
Carpenter's home to make it unlikely she would be recognized. We took
no one into our confidence except Dr. Baird, and it was generally
understood that we were travelling somewhere for Marion's health. The
fiction about the rich Miss Carpenter has annoyed Marion all along;
but as it came about, I didn't see how to avoid it. It really seemed
better that it should not be known." Norah looked at Alex, as if
seeking her opinion.
"Of course, I understand," said Alex; "go on."
"There isn't anything more, except that at the outset we were
discovered by Mr. Landor, Charlotte's guardian, and an old friend of
Marion's. He promised to keep our secret, and also to speak a good
word for us to Miss Virginia."
"My dear, he did; and at the time I was a little surprised, but--"
Miss Virginia hesitated.
Norah interrupted her. "You have all been so good to us. If Marion
were here, she would join me in saying it. The best part of our
venture--and it has been a success in other ways--is the friends we
have made."
"You showed yourselves friendly and won us in spite of ourselves,"
said Miss Sarah.
"I always said there was a mystery," old Mrs. Leigh remarked. "And are
you, too, a millionnairess, Miss Norah?"
Norah spread out her hands in an odd little gesture: "I am sorry, but
I am just a plain poor person."
"Is this the end of the shop?" some one asked.
"I trust not. I have no idea of giving up, unless you drive me away,"
Norah answered.
Perhaps the only person present who was greatly surprised was Mrs.
Millard. She had planned her little scene with some care, anticipating
just such a gathering in honor of her return. To have the title
rôle--as it were--snatched from her in the moment of triumph was
annoying. But whatever her faults, Mrs. Millard was a lady, and as
such she accepted the situation. She said little, but what she said
was graceful and to the point. The eccentricity of the whole thing
was, it seemed to her, sufficient excuse for her attitude, which, now
she understood, she regretted.
"Did you want anything in particular of me, Norah?" Alex asked as they
were leaving.
"Yes," was the answer. "I want you to be my partner."
"Norah!" Alex cried. "You know I'll be glad, glad to be; but, oh, I am
sorry for you, if you must lose Marion."
CHAPTER THIRTIETH
CHANGES
"Was I not right to come? You said a year, and that is over."
"I did not expect you so soon." Marion smiled over the great bunch of
wild sunflowers she held. Coming in a few minutes earlier she had
found Francis Landor pacing impatiently back and forth. Something,
perhaps it was the unexpectedness of it, made her a trifle stately.
It seemed to Francis that those flaunting yellow flowers made a
barrier between them. "It was only by chance I found you. Charlotte
gave me a hint. How long did you intend to leave me in uncertainty?
Was it quite fair?"
"I have been in uncertainty myself; happily my fears have not been
realized. I did what seemed best at the time, and please remember the
year is only just over." Marion looked at him gravely from behind her
flowery screen.
"I did not mean to begin by reproaching you," he said, drawing
nearer. "But you cannot realize what it has meant to be left in
complete ignorance. Even now I don't understand why you are here." He
glanced about the room.
"Norah Pennington and I are living here, earning our daily
bread--really doing it,"--she laughed a little; "and, as you see, it
has made me over. It was Norah's plan, and you can see how we were
obliged to keep it to ourselves, if it was to be carried out. I had to
cut loose from everything,--the suspense about my eyes was killing me.
Of course, looking back, it seems needless; but one cannot argue with
nerves."
She paused a moment, then continued: "There is one thing I want to
explain at the beginning. This winter's experience has made a
different person of me. I can never go back to the old life of a
society woman, with perhaps a little charitable work thrown in. I want
to come in touch with people--all sorts of people. I want to try
experiments. I think I must have inherited some of my grandfather's
business instincts. I haven't made any very definite plans, but I
should like to start other shops such as this, where women who have
some ability and the gift for making useful and beautiful things can
find their opportunity. I shall make mistakes, and lose money perhaps,
but I want to experiment. I want you to understand how I feel,
before--before--" Marion's eyes shone, a lovely flush was on her face
as she hesitated.
Francis Landor took sudden possession of the yellow flowers, tossing
them with scant courtesy on the table, and leaning forward he grasped
her hands. "May, what has this to do with it? Does it crowd me out of
your life? Since you were a little girl, since the days when we played
together, you have been my help and inspiration. Do you mean this has
come between us, or do you still care?"
Tears shone in Marion's eyes; she bent her head till it touched his
shoulder. "Francis, I do care--I have always cared; I told Charlotte
to tell you."
"You will forgive me if I am only half glad to see you, Mr. Landor,"
was Norah's greeting a little later. "Susanna, now, is wholly
delighted. She sees the end of what has been to her a long exile, but
I must needs go in search of another partner."
"Why not take me in as a third, Miss Norah? I believe I should like
it."
"I shouldn't," she replied, laughing. "It would end in my playing
third fiddle, and you must know this place is _Norah's_ Ark; I am
chief manager." She went off gayly, pausing at the door to ask, "You
do not mind my speaking to Alex to-night, Marion?"
What happened in the course of her search for Alex, we have already
seen.
The two in the shop were left undisturbed. It must have been nearly
ten o'clock, which was considered late in the Terrace, when a voice
was heard insisting, "I must see Miss Marion, Susanna, just for a
minute. Is she here?" and Charlotte burst into the room.
"Oh, Miss Marion, I had half guessed,--I was not quite sure. Oh, I am
so glad!" Oblivious to the presence of any one else she threw her arms
about Miss Carpenter, who had risen hastily as she entered.
"What are you talking about, dearie?" she asked, returning the embrace
of the excited girl.
"Where is that message you were told to deliver to me, Charlotte?" Mr.
Landor demanded.
"Cousin Frank!" she cried, releasing Marion, "where did you come
from?" Then glancing from one to the other, she added, "But you didn't
wait for it. Oh, I am so glad!"
"You are a tremendous goose, Charlotte," said Marion, but she laughed.
In fact they all three laughed a great deal in the course of the next
few minutes.
"I have never exactly understood how you came to be so wise on this
subject, Charlotte," Mr. Landor said, making her sit beside him.
"You know you never could keep anything to yourself, Francis," Miss
Carpenter remarked reproachfully.
Charlotte looked mischievous. "The beginning of it was when I found
those verses about the rose that was out of reach, and you were so
provoked I thought they must mean something. Then Aunt Cora said--"
"Never mind Aunt Cora," Francis said, laughing; "this will do."
"I agree with you," remarked Marion.
"Charlotte, Miss Virginia is standing at the door. I know she is
distracted over your absence," said Norah, entering.
"She knows I am here, but I mustn't stay," she rose regretfully.
Francis accompanied her. "And so you think your Miss Carpenter is
lovelier than mine?" he remarked, as they crossed the street.
"Well, at least she is just as lovely," Charlotte answered blithely.
* * * * *
The news spread quickly. The Terrace was stirred to its depths. Life
within its quiet borders was becoming exciting. The announcement of
Madelaine's engagement with all the splendors in prospect would have
sufficed for one season, but even this was eclipsed by the romance of
the shop,--so named by Mrs. Leigh.
"Look like I already knowed Miss Marion was a rich lady," Aunt Belle
was heard to declare. "Yes'm, she done carry her haid so proud-like."
In the shop many a serious conference was held by Marion, Norah, and
Alexina, and at length Miss Sarah was called in. As a result, another
surprise was sprung upon the Terrace. The corner shop was to be given
up--Norah could not live there alone--and a new one opened in the
spacious drawing-rooms of the Leigh house. Here there would be room
to expand, Norah would have a home, and Miss Sarah would be freed from
the necessity of boarders. There were those who held moreover that by
this arrangement the enterprise acquired a new dignity. The idea
originated with Mrs. Millard, who, while she did not give the shop her
full approval, from henceforth withdrew all opposition.
Old Mrs. Leigh was heard to remark that she had in her life done many
things she had not expected to do, but living over a shop was about
the last.
"I suppose you'll agree it is better than the poorhouse, or even
boarders," said her niece.
"Better? I am as proud of it as I can be," the old lady replied, and
proud of it she seemed.
Norah called her their advertising agent. Her acquaintance was
extensive, and at church or on the street, wherever she happened to
be, she waylaid her friends and gave them a cordial invitation to
visit _our_ shop. On more than one occasion she constituted herself
hostess. Recognizing from her window a familiar carriage, she would
descend, dainty and bright-eyed, to enjoy a social chat, which would
sometimes result in her holding a reception, for everybody enjoyed
her merry talk, and she was quickly made the centre of an interested
group.
Miss Sarah was inclined to interfere, but Norah and Alex protested.
They liked to have her. She was an added attraction. But all this was
afterward.
It was on the last evening, as they walked arm in arm around the
dismantled shop, that Marion said: "I am selfish about it, but I could
not have endured to go away and have you go on without me in this dear
little place where we have been so happy. How wonderfully everything
has worked out! and it was all your doing."
"I don't know; I think we owe a great deal to our friend the rich Miss
Carpenter." There was a mist in Norah's eyes, but she smiled.
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes:
Obvious punctuation errors repaired.
Italic text is surround by _tags_ and bold is denoted by =tags=.
Page 9 and Illustration, "intrenched" changed to "entrenched" to
conform to text. (Securely entrenched behind)
Page 216, "who one" changed to "one who" (the only one who gave)
One instance each of type-writer and typewriter were retained.
End of Project Gutenberg's The Pleasant Street Partnership, by Mary F. Leonard