A DUKE IN THE HOUSE.
"Mrs. Harrington gathered up the cloud-like drapery of her white dress,
and glided out of the room. She was certainly a lovely woman, sweet and
gentle as a child, with nerve and energy, too, as I afterwards found
out; but that night she had wounded me terribly, and I was glad to see
her go.
"I sat down on the couch when quite alone, and covering my face with
both hands, struggled hard to free the tears that weighed down my heart.
It seemed that some wrong had been done me,--that the whole Harrington
family was in league to break up my life before it had really commenced.
But I could not shed a tear, a keen sense of shame kept me from the
relief of weeping. Shame that I, a young girl, should suffer thus from a
knowledge of another's happiness. Yes, I was bitterly ashamed, and shut
my face out from the mirror before me, afraid to look upon my own
humiliation. Did they know it? Had that aristocratic old man guessed at
my weakness, and sent his wife there to convince me how hopeless it was?
Not directly--not in any way that she could recognise as a mission; that
was impossible to a woman so sensitive, but was she not the unconscious
instrument of his keener penetration?
"While I was tormenting myself with these fears, Mrs. Eaton came in,
swinging her lilac parasol, and with her rich lace shawl trailing to the
ground.
"'Oh, I have come to tell you one must have confidence in some persons,
or the heart would give out, you know. Guess who it was that Lucy and I
met in the Court of Oranges, just now.'
"'I cannot tell. Mr. Harrington, perhaps!'
"'Mr. Harrington, no indeed. We can meet him at any time. It was his
Highness, the duke, walking quite alone, under the orange trees, with a
slender little cane in his hand, that he was beating the branches with,
all in a brown study, showering down the blossoms among his gold
buttons--so romantic--and in his glossy hair. Lucy gave a little scream
when she saw him, and clasped her hands so. The duke gave a start and
came toward us, then checked himself and begged pardon in such delicious
Spanish, only we couldn't quite understand it. He saw that, and broke a
twig of orange blossoms from one of the branches bending over him, and
gave it to Lucy with an air--I cannot describe it--but you never saw
anything so princely. Lucy blushed beautifully, and fastened the orange
blossoms in her bosom. He smiled then, and gave her _such_ a look. There
is no two ways about it, Miss Crawford, that girl of mine was born to
wear the purple. Her head is just the size for a coronet. Why not? The
empress Josephine was no handsomer than my Lucy. As for family, who has
got anything to say against any genteel American family being good
enough to marry dukes, and emperors too, providing they've got money
enough?'
"The woman tired me dreadfully. I was too wretched for any enjoyment of
her absurdities, or they might have amused me. I answered her with
civility, and tried my best to fasten some attention on the ridiculous
things she was saying, but an under current of painful thought disturbed
me all the while.
"'Now I tell you this in the strictest confidence, remember,' she went
on to say. 'I must have some one to rely upon; but not a word to the
Harringtons. You know the old adage, 'It's well to be off with an old
love, before you are on with a new.' Promise not to say a word about it,
Miss Crawford.'
"'I shall not speak--I shall not care to speak to any one about it,' I
answered almost impatiently, I fear, for the woman was tormenting me
beyond endurance.
"'But I did not tell you all. When we came home it happened, I really
can't tell how, that the duke moved along with us, and when we got to
the hotel I could not avoid asking him in. He understood my Spanish
splendidly, and when Lucy ventured on a few words, seemed perfectly
delighted. Miss Crawford, say nothing about it, but he's in there now.'
"'What, with Miss Eaton?'
"'Yes, he's there talking to her. I don't suppose she can make out all
he says, but some people talk with their eyes, you know. What
magnificent eyes he has. Did you notice, Miss Crawford?'
"'No, I did not observe.'
"'But he has. Well, good night. I mustn't stay out too long. Remember,
not a word to any human being.'
"With a sensation of relief I saw this silly woman leave the room. Why
should she come there to mingle so much of contempt with the pain I was
suffering! _Can_ this be true?
"How many times during the night I asked myself this question! Each time
my heart turned away humiliated and wounded. I did not sleep, I could
not. All the pride of my nature was up in arms. Why did she drag up this
question of money? Are such things to render every sentiment of the soul
coarse and earthy, by mingling with them as the better element? What
wild thoughts came over me as I lay awake that long night! How I
reasoned for and against the thing I dreaded. With what keen scrutiny I
criticised every word and look of his during our acquaintance!"