NAN'S SECRET
When Nan opened her eyes the next morning it was with a consciousness
that something pleasantly exciting was to happen, and she lost no time
in hurrying down-stairs and, after breakfast, in getting through her
prescribed duties with more than usual haste. Her mother smiled to see
that she was so eager and businesslike and that her moodiness of the
day before had departed, while Aunt Sarah said: "I hope your fancy will
not lead you to try the tune the old cow died of to-day, Nannie."
Nan smiled but made no reply. What matter if Aunt Sarah did cast slurs
upon her musical attempts? There were persons in the world who took
them seriously, and she felt a thrill of satisfaction as she thought of
the soft white hair and blue eyes of her fairy godmother.
It was with some difficulty that she was able to reach the sunset tree
without being seen. Jack, in penitential mood, and Jean looking for
sympathy, followed her everywhere, and it was not till she had robbed a
rose bush of its red berry-like seeds and had constructed a wonderful
set of dishes, a lamp, and a whole family of people from the berries,
that the reward of her ingenuity came to her in the delight of the
children over these novel toys and in their content with a corner of
the porch for a playroom. After seeing them well established, Nan set
off.
"I've dusted the living-room, made my bed, picked up after Jack, and
I believe that is all," she told herself. "There's Phil coming, I am
thankful to say, so Mary Lee will not tag me." She paid no heed to the
question, "Where are you going?" which Mary Lee called after her, but
kept on till the barn hid her from sight. She hoped she had not kept
her friend waiting and that she would not become impatient and leave,
for it was after ten. But as she came up to the tree she saw the sombre
little figure sitting quietly there. "I was so afraid you couldn't
wait," said Nan breathlessly. "The children were so tiresome and wanted
all sorts of things done for them so I couldn't get away before."
"There's plenty of time," replied her friend. "Sit down and cool off;
you've come too fast in the hot sun. Tell me about the children."
"Jean is a dear, and Jack can be perfectly fascinating when she
chooses. They are the twins, you know. Jack's name is Jacqueline. Aunt
Sarah says she was mixed together with more original sin than any of
us, and if there hadn't been a lot of angel used in her make up she
doesn't know what would become of her. She is simply dear this morning,
but yesterday afternoon!" And Nan gave an account of Jack's muddle with
the paint.
Her companion laughed. "She must keep you in hot water," she said.
"Tell me about Mary Lee."
"Oh, do you know there is a Mary Lee?" said Nan in surprise. "But
of course everybody knows us. She is named for our mother, and I am
named for papa's sister Nancy Weston who died. We called Jack and Jean
after papa. His name was John and Jean is the French for John, only we
give it the Scotch pronunciation. Papa was always called Jack and so
Jacqueline is called that."
"Yes, I know--I mean I see," returned her companion. "Come, now, shall
we go on? Are you ready to be conducted to the place of your desires?
You must go blindfolded."
"How lovely! That makes it so deliciously mysterious. I hope I shall
not fall and bump my nose."
"I'll take care that you do not. Let me tie this ever your eyes." She
drew a soft silken scarf from a bag she held, and made it fast over
Nan's eyes. "Can you see?" she asked.
"No, indeed, I can't. Not the leastest little bit."
"Now give me your hands. There, I'll put them around my waist and you
will walk just behind me."
Their way was made very cautiously and slowly and at last Nan set foot
upon a board floor. "Now I can lead you," said her guide. "One step up,
please."
Nan was led along the floor for some distance making one sharp turn,
and then was gently forced to a seat. "There," said her guide. "Sit
here perfectly still till you hear a bell ring; then you may untie your
scarf, but you must not leave the room till I come for you."
Nan sat very still. Presently she heard a light footstep cross the
floor, then a door closed and after a few minutes a bell in the
distance tinkled softly. Up went her hands and the scarf was withdrawn
in a jiffy. She found herself sitting before an open piano. On each
side of her were set lighted candles in tall brass candlesticks. Into
the room no gleam of daylight made its way. In the shadowy corners
were sheeted chairs and sofas and on the wall were covered pictures.
Nan recognized the place at once. It was the drawing-room of her
grandmother's house and over the mantel must be the very portrait she
had once gazed upon with such delight. Now it was screened from view.
"I just wonder who in the world she is," exclaimed Nan thinking of her
guide. "I'd like to know how she got in here and all about it. Perhaps
she is some of our kinsfolk who has come down here to look after
something for grandmother. I'm going to ask her."
Having made this decision, she turned her attention to the piano. In
spite of long disuse it gave forth mellow and delightful tones as she
touched it softly. It seemed very big and important after the little
melodeon, but soon the girl gained confidence and became absorbed in
writing down her little song which she did note by note, calling each
aloud. "I am not sure that it is just right," she said as she concluded
her task, "but it is as right as I can make it."
She arose from her seat and tiptoed around the room, lifting the
covers from the shrouded furniture and getting glimpses of dim brocade
and silky plush. Then she went back to the piano. All was so still
in the house that Nan felt the absolute freedom of one without an
audience. She touched the keys gently at first, but, gaining confidence
and inspiration, went on playing by ear snatches of this and that,
becoming perfectly absorbed in the happiness of making melody.
She was so carried away by her performance that she neither saw nor
heard the door open and was not aware of any one's presence till a soft
voice said: "I declare, the blessed child really has talent."
"Oh!" Nan sprang to her feet. "Were you listening?"
"I have been for a short time only. How did you get along with your
song?"
"Pretty well. I don't know whether it is exactly right. I don't know
much about time, and sharps and flats."
"May I see? Perhaps I can help you."
Nan timidly held out her little awkwardly written tune and the lady
scanned it carefully. "You haven't your sharps and naturals just
right," she remarked. "You see this is the sign of a natural," and
taking Nan's pencil she made the necessary corrections, then sitting
down to the piano she played the simple air through and afterward went
off into a dreamy waltz while Nan listened spellbound.
"Please tell me who you are," the child cried when the music ceased.
"I did tell you. I am your fairy godmother. You may leave out the
fairy if you like, for I am quite substantial."
"Are you kin to--to grandmother? Did she send you?"
"She did not send me and has no idea I am here."
Nan stared. "I know, of course, just where I am," she said. "This is
Grandmother Corner's house. I saw into this very room once and I saw
that," she indicated the portrait. "I just saw it for a minute and I do
so want to see it real good. Could I?" she asked, wistfully.
"Why do you want to see it?" asked her companion.
"Because I love it. Oh, I know, I know," she went on hastily. "Landy
has told me."
"Has told you what?"
"I can't tell you unless you are kinsfolk."
"You can tell me anything because there is nothing I don't know about
this house and those who used to live here."
"Oh, then, you know how cruel my grandmother was to papa, and how she
couldn't bear his marrying mother."
"It wasn't because it was herself," put in the other eagerly. "There
was no objection to Mary personally, but she hated to give him up to
any one. She would have felt the same way if he had wanted to marry a
princess. She never did get over the fact of sharing him with some one
else; she never will."
"I didn't know all that, but I knew about the bitter words and how
they have been haunting her, and I feel so very sorry for her. I know
it would break my mother's heart to lose one of us," said Nan, "and if
she had been cross to us and anything had happened that we were hurt
meantime she would never forgive herself. Why, when Jack has been her
naughtiest, mother never misses kissing her good-night. Last night Jack
had to be put right to bed for punishment and before I went to sleep I
heard mother in the nursery and Jack was crying, then when mother came
to kiss me good-night I saw she had been crying, too. She is such a dear
mother."
"She must be," said the little lady, her voice a-tremble, "and you are
right to feel sorry for your grandmother. She needs all your love and
sympathy."
"I wonder if I shall ever see her," said Nan wistfully.
"I hope so. I think so."
"And may I see the picture?"
"It is too high to reach, I am afraid."
"Oh, but I can get a pole or something and lift up the cover," said
Nan, quick to see a way.
"Run, then, and find one."
Nan disappeared and soon returned with an ancient broom, the handle of
which was used to lift the cover sufficiently so that by the dim light
of the candles, which her friend held high, Nan beheld the portrait
again.
"Thank you, so much," she said gratefully. "I am very glad you are kin
of ours, even if I don't know who you are. I love you and I am going to
try to love my grandmother."
The little lady suddenly put her arms around her and held her close.
"You are a dear, dear child, and I love you, too," she said. "Some day
you shall see me again. Kiss me, Nancy."
Nan held up her sweet red mouth to receive the warm kiss. "I shall be
seeing your grandmother before long," said her friend, holding the
girl's hands and looking tenderly at her.
"But she is in Europe."
"And are there no steamers that cross the ocean?"
"Are you going there, then?"
"That is my intention."
"Then, are you going to tell her about me? Will she care to know?" Nan
paused before she said hesitatingly, "Would it make her very mad if I
sent a kiss to her?"
"Dear child, no. It would make her very glad, and would help to ease
her sad heart, I am sure."
"Then I'll do it. Take this, please." Nan pressed a hearty kiss on the
lady's lips. "Then," she added: "I must tell mother, you know."
"Of course. You may tell her day after to-morrow that you met your
godmother."
"My fairy godmother."
"As you like. Now you must run along. Good-bye till we meet again. One
more kiss, Nannie, for your Aunt Helen."
"Oh, yes, I always forget her. I was so little when I last saw her,
you know. But I'll send her a kiss if you want me to. Good-bye, dear
fairy godmother. Ask the queen of the fairies to send you this way soon
again."
The candle-lighted room, the little white-haired figure, the shrouded
portrait all seemed unreal as Nan stepped out again into the bright
sunlight. She longed to tell her mother all about it, but she reflected
that the secret was not all her own and determined to be silent till
the time was up. Only one question did she ask and the answer almost
made her betray herself. "Mother," she said when her mother came to
say good-night, "who was my godmother?"
"Your Aunt Helen," was the reply.
Nan sat straight up in bed her eyes wide with surprise. "Why, why," she
stammered, but she immediately nestled down again.
"Did you never know that?" asked her mother.
"If I did I forgot," replied Nan, and she lay awake for a long time
thinking of the strangeness of the morning's experience. She could
scarcely wait till the time rolled around and brought her to the day
when she could tell her mother the story of her secret meeting. It
seemed to her that since the day before yesterday her mental self had
grown prodigiously. Mary Lee, a year and a half younger seemed now such
a child, although heretofore she had been considered the more mature.
Once in a while the two had discussed their grandmother and the Corner
family, but Mary Lee was not greatly interested in the subject and had
concluded the conversation by saying: "I don't care a picayune where
she is or what she thinks. She has never done anything for me and she
might as well be out of the world as in it, as far as we are concerned.
I'm never going to bother my head about her, and I don't see why you
want to, Nan."
This crushing indifference satisfied Nan that Mary Lee was not to be
confided in when the silent house at Uplands, like a magnet, drew Nan
toward it, and she was rather glad that she did not want to tell any
one but her mother, for had a sympathetic spirit been ready to hear the
secret would have been hard to keep.
When the eventful day came she followed Mrs. Corner from dining-room
to pantry and from pantry to kitchen waiting for a chance to give her
confidence. "When shall you be through, mother?" she asked. "It seems
as if you had so much more than usual to do this morning."
"No more, than always," returned her mother. "Why are you so
impatiently following me up, Nan? What is it? Can't you tell me now?"
Nan glanced at Mitty and the washerwoman who were eating their
breakfast. "It's a secret," she said in a low tone, "a very important
secret."
Mrs. Corner smiled. Nan's secrets were not usually of great importance
except in her own estimation. "Well, I shall be in my room as soon as I
give out the meal and sugar; you can come to me then, if you can't tell
me here. Suppose you pass the time away in looking up Jack. It is about
time she was getting into mischief again. She always chooses Monday
morning for some sort of escapade; I suppose keeping bottled up over
Sunday is too much for her."
"I'll go see where she is," agreed Nan. "She won't be painting the
fence this time, I know."
Jack was discovered before a tub in the wash house. In the absence of
Ginny, the washerwoman, at breakfast, she had seized the opportunity
of taking her place and was about to plunge her best muslin frock into
the water with the stockings and underwear when Nan came upon her.
"Jacqueline Corner, what are you up to now?" cried Nan, snatching the
frock from her.
"I'm just helping Ginny to wash," replied Jack with her usual air of
injured innocence when discovered under such circumstances.
"You were just helping Landy when you wasted the paint and ruined
your blue frock," said Nan sarcastically. "Walk yourself right out of
here. Ginny is perfectly capable of doing the washing without your
assistance. Besides that lawn frock doesn't go in with black stockings;
a pretty mess you'd make of it. Ginny won't thank you for mixing up her
wash when she's sorted it all out. Try your energies upon something you
know about, young lady."
Jack flung herself away. "You're always saying I mustn't do this and I
mustn't do that," she complained. "You're a regular old cross-patch.
You're not my mother to order me around."
"Mother sent me to see after you, so there," returned Nan. "I'm next to
mother, too, for I'm next oldest. Where's Jean?"
"I don't know and I don't care," returned Jack, sullenly.
"Who's a cross-patch now? Here comes Ginny; you'd better make tracks
out of here."
Jack fled and Nan returned to the house to find her mother ready to
sit down to her sewing. The girl carefully shut the door and then
established herself on an ottoman near her mother. "What does my Aunt
Helen look like?" she asked abruptly.
Her mother looked up in surprise. "That's the second time lately that
you have asked me about your Aunt Helen. Why this sudden interest,
Nannie?"
"I'll tell you presently. It's part of the secret."
"Oh, it is. Well then, Helen has dark hair and blue eyes, a fair skin
and little hands and feet. She is quite small, not much taller than
you."
"It all sounds right," said Nan reflectively, "except the hair. Is she
quite old, mother?"
"She is younger than I."
"Oh, then, of course, it is some one else, only my little lady has
a very young smile. Maybe she isn't so awfully old. Could any one
younger than you have real white hair, mother?"
"Why, yes, I have seen persons much younger whose hair had turned quite
gray. Sometimes hair turns gray quite suddenly from illness or grief or
trouble."
"Could Aunt Helen's hair be gray by this time?"
"It could be, though it was dark when I saw her last."
Nan pondered upon this and then said: "Well, anyhow, whoever it was,
she told me I was to tell you that she was my godmother. Did I have two
godmothers?"
"Yes, but I was one. What is all this about? Whom have you seen, and
where did you see her?"
Nan launched forth into her story, her mother listening so attentively
that her sewing lay untouched in her lap. When Nan had concluded, Mrs.
Corner picked up her work again, but she was so agitated that she was
unable to thread her needle.
"Who was she? Who was she?" queried Nan.
"Your Aunt Helen, without doubt."
"But I thought she was in Europe with my grandmother."
"So I thought. She evidently came over on some matter of business,
leaving your grandmother there."
"Are you sorry I saw her, mother?" asked Nan, leaning her elbows on her
mother's lap and looking up into her face. "I told her I ought not to
go to Uplands because you don't like us to. Are you sorry I went? Are
you angry, mother?"
"No, I think I am glad, Nannie."
"Then I am glad, but why didn't she come to see you when she was so
near? Did she say mean horrid things, too? I can't imagine her doing
anything hateful and mean."
A pained expression passed over Mrs. Corner's face. "What do you know
about that sad time, Nannie? I have never mentioned it to you children."
"No, but Unc' Landy told me grandmother said bitter things. I know you
didn't though."
Mrs. Corner sighed. "I said one thing, Nannie, that I have often
regretted since, and it is because of it that your Aunt Helen did not
let me know of her being here. It was in a moment of deep distress.
I was hurt, indignant. I felt that I had been left desolate with
insufficient means to support my children, and in the only interview I
had with your grandmother I said, 'I hope I shall never again behold
the face of one of the Corner family except the children of my beloved
husband who bear his name.'"
"I don't blame you," said Nan, taking her mother's hand between her
own. "They were horribly mean to go off with their money and not give
you a penny. They ought at least to have let you live in the big house
and use the piano."
Her mother smiled. "That is the way you look at it. Well, we get along
somehow without them, thanks to Aunt Sarah. I am sorry I did not try to
be more friendly to Helen. She was dominated by her mother and it was
no doubt a choice between her and you children. She was very fond of
you as a baby and she has not forgotten. Her mother's sadly jealous and
envious spirit is what has made all the trouble."
"I was four years old when they went away," said Nan. "I don't remember
them at all, though I remember dear daddy perfectly."
"Let's not talk of it any more," said Mrs. Corner.
"Aunt Helen said we might see each other again some day. Do you suppose
they will come back and will be nice to us and let us go up there
sometimes?"
"We cannot say. I do not look into the future to find such
possibilities, Nannie. You must not build too many air-castles."
"Oh, but I like to," replied Nan. "It's lots of fun to do it and if
they don't amount to anything I've had the fun of the building and
nobody's hurt when they tumble down."
"In that case I suppose it doesn't make much difference, and when one
is naturally a castle-builder it is hard to give up the habit."
"It isn't as bad as sucking one's fingers as Jean does, for it doesn't
put my mouth out of shape; it only amuses me and I often forget my
castles an hour after they are ten stories high. I suppose I am not to
tell the children about Aunt Helen."
"I think I wouldn't yet."
"No," said Nan with a mature air. "I think it's best not. They mightn't
understand. Besides, as she isn't a polywog nor a newly hatched bird,
Mary Lee wouldn't be very much interested in her."
[Illustration: CHAPTER IV
A MOTHER'S SECRET]