SOWING SEED FOR ANOTHER DAY.
After our conversation on the ridge, Mrs. Dennison made the best of her
advantages, and, having ingratiated herself into the room of our
invalid, managed to pass a good deal of her time there. I think Mrs.
Lee, without knowing it herself, exercised a little selfishness in this;
for it happened--so naturally that I never should have observed it but
for Lottie--that Mr. Lee visited his wife more frequently when his guest
was there than at any other time. Indeed, it was not many days before
the invalid ceased almost entirely to see him alone.
After my attention was drawn to this by one of Lottie's curt sayings, I
noticed another thing that troubled me more than Mrs. Dennison's visits.
Cora, the mulatto girl, was constantly following her mistress to the
room, asking for orders, or reminding Mrs. Dennison of something that
she had been desired to remember. She made one or two efforts to fix
herself in Lottie's apartment, but that singular female rebuffed the
first attempt, by standing square in the door, and asking point-blank if
there were anything in that room which Cora wanted. The girl answered,
"No," and went away rather crestfallen.
It is very difficult to repress the aggressions of a guest under your
own roof, especially one who invariably disarms you with honeyed words
and apologies for anything that threatens to offend. It was not for me
to regulate a visitor's movements in Mr. Lee's house; and so adroitly
were they managed, that no power, however on the alert, could have
reached them.
To my surprise, Lottie, all of a sudden, not only seemed to lose her
animosity to the widow, but hung about her with assiduity almost equal
to that bestowed on her mistress. But one thing was remarkable: none of
her bright sayings, or exhibitions of sharp, good sense were manifested
in Mrs. Dennison's presence. With her she was dull and quiet, nay,
almost stolid. I have heard her ask questions with the most innocent
air, which a child of three years old could have answered. It was
surprising how anything so near a witch in her real nature could tame
herself into that lump of stupidity. She was a great deal in Mrs.
Dennison's room; and once I saw them seated together on the hill-side,
talking earnestly. Still, for several days nothing happened worthy of
remembrance.
Mr. Lee and the widow rode out once or twice without Jessie, who,
feeling a little hurt for her mother's sake, decided to remain at home
and sit with the gentle invalid. I do not know that she observed it, but
there certainly was very little entreaty used to induce her to join
them. Indeed, upon the third morning nothing was said on the subject;
Jessie was not even invited.
One day, just after Mr. Lee and his guest had ridden from the door, Mr.
Lawrence called. He had seen them from a distance, he said, and came to
inquire after Miss Lee's health. The flood of crimson that rushed over
Jessie's face, when I told her this, made my heart beat heavily. She
arose, and went down, avoiding my anxious glance as she passed me.
The doors were all open, but I heard no voices in the drawing-room; they
must have been talking very low: what did that portend between two
persons perfectly alone? So anxious had I become that it seemed to me as
if some harm were intended our Jessie among these strange people. She
had never seemed really happy since their advent among us. Indeed, there
had been little of comfort for any one.
What passed between Jessie and Lawrence I learned afterward. But only so
far as a young girl can force herself to speak of things pertaining to
her affections. One thing is certain: when she came up-stairs, after his
departure, a look of uncertain joy pervaded her face, and she breathed
quickly. I asked no questions, and was not surprised that she said
little about the interview. After that day Jessie's manner became more
elastic; and from some words that escaped, I am confident that, up to
this time, she had fancied Lawrence engaged to Mrs. Dennison; or, at
the least, ready at any moment to assume that position. Indeed, the
widow had told her as much.
The next day Jessie was invited to join Mr. Lee and his guest in their
ride; but she refused it coldly, nay, almost haughtily. Her father, for
the first time in his life, seemed really angry with her. He said
nothing, however, but rode forth with a flush on his brow.
Again Mr. Lawrence called, or would have called, but that he saw Jessie
wandering off toward the pine woods, and followed her. I saw them
sitting a long time on a garden-chair stationed on the skirts of the
grove, but said nothing to any one, not even to herself when she came
down the hill, alone, with a light in her eyes that I had never seen
there before.
I think Lawrence must have made five or six of these morning visits
before they were suspected by any one in the house. Cora was generally
busy in her mistress's room all the forenoon, and Lottie took the
occasion of Mrs. Dennison's absence to sit with loving watchfulness by
our invalid, only too happy if a low word or patient smile rewarded her
devotion. But it came out at last.
One day I went suddenly upon the terrace platform, and found Cora
standing close by one of the drawing-room windows, with her shoulder
against the framework. The blind swinging open concealed her from any
person within; and the position she maintained, while sorting the shades
from some skeins of worsted that she held, was that of careless rest.
She moved indolently, and sauntered away on seeing me; but it was with a
heavy, sullen manner, as if she had been unwarrantably disturbed. I
looked into the sitting-room in passing, and, as I expected, Lawrence
and Jessie were sitting on a sofa close to that window.
Mrs. Dennison was in splendid spirits when she came back from her ride
that day. There was something triumphant in her step which put one in
mind of some handsome Amazon returning from battle. She leaned heavily
on Mr. Lee, as he lifted her from the saddle; nay, I am certain that she
rested against him a moment longer than was necessary.
Jessie was standing near me, but noticed none of these things. Noble
girl, she was never on the lookout for evil. Her upright mind tinted
everything with its own pure hues.
Mr. Lee stayed a long time, giving orders about the horses. When he came
up the steps, I had an opportunity of observing him closely. He was
pale, and looked strange. I cannot describe what I wish to be
understood, but all the influences that had so long dwelt around that
man seemed swept away. The very dignity of his tread was gone. What had
occasioned this? I know now, and never doubted then. The woman sweeping
through our hall, at the moment, had produced this transformation; yet
no words had passed between them that his own daughter might not have
heard without reproof.
Mrs. Dennison gave us a triumphant glance, as she passed the balcony
where we were standing, and proclaimed that she had never enjoyed a ride
so much. It was a heavenly day, and the landscape transcendent.
Jessie smiled softly, and turned a bright glance on my face, which said,
more plainly than Mrs. Dennison's words, "I, too, have had a heavenly
day, which will go with my dreams into many another day, making an Eden
of them all."