OLD MRS. BOSWORTH'S VISIT.
Compacts made in a state of excitement are seldom lasting. If Jessie's
heart had softened toward Mrs. Dennison in the extremity of her grief,
it came back to the old standpoint as that grief took thought. Something
more subtile than her own will held her confidence back. But this was no
time for excitement of any kind; the depth of grief into which we had
fallen kept all worldly passions back. So, as I have said, we were more
tranquil than of old.
Poor, poor Lottie! she went about the house like a wounded bird that had
seen its nest destroyed. Without asking for leave, she had arranged Mrs.
Lee's room, in the tower-chamber, exactly as it had been during her
mistress's life, and guarded it from her own pretty den with all the
vigilance of old time. If any one entered the chamber and touched an
article that had been Mrs. Lee's, Lottie would cry out as if struck by a
sudden pang, and fall into a nervous tremor till the intruder had
departed. She never allowed any one, not even Jessie, to enter the room
without following her like a watch-dog.
No one was surprised at this. The devotion of that girl to her mistress
had been something wonderful. That she should feel great attachment to
anything belonging to her was beautifully natural. So it happened that
she fell into possession of the rooms in the tower, and secluded herself
there, taking little interest in anything else.
Some days after things had settled into this state, old Mrs. Bosworth
came over in her heavy family carriage. In our sadness, this became an
event, and both Jessie and I left our room to meet her, grateful for
anything that showed real sympathy for our bereavement.
The sorrows which this good old lady had passed through, placed her in
delicate sympathy with us. She met Jessie with such motherly gentleness,
that tears came into the young creature's eyes almost for the first time
since our loss. The old lady saw this, and, drawing the agitated face to
hers, kissed it.
"We have been very sorry for you, Miss Lee. Indeed, ours has been a
house of mourning also; for there are cases where the same grief touches
many hearts. I have wept for you, my child--prayed for you."
"I know it--I was sure of it," answered Jessie, resting her proud young
head on the old lady's shoulder, and weeping those soft, warm tears that
relieve the heart so much. "I have thought of you and of him. Tell me
that your grandson is no worse."
The old lady kissed her again, and tenderly smoothed the glossy hair
upon her temples.
"He is no worse, dear child--a little better, I think, since we have
been quite alone--the tranquillity has done him good."
"I should like to see him," said Jessie. "Miss Hyde and I have missed
him so much in our loneliness."
The old lady cast a grateful glance at me; then, turning to Jessie, she
said,--
"It would make him strong enough to come, if he knew that his sweet
friend desired it."
Jessie looked at that dear old face earnestly, and smiled through her
tears.
"You are very kind."
While we were sitting together, Mr. Lee came in. He had seen Mrs.
Bosworth's carriage at the door, and, knowing how seldom the old lady
went out, sought her to pay his respects.
It is seldom that two persons so thoroughly bred, and so singularly
intelligent as Mr. Lee and our visitor, ever meet. Notwithstanding the
sorrow that oppressed us, the conversation which sprang out of the first
greeting brought cheerfulness with it. They did not talk directly of our
loss, but every subject touched upon had a tinge of sadness in it, which
betrayed the buried feelings and sympathy which lay behind.
I had not believed that such power of pleasing could be carried into
extreme old age, as this old lady manifested.
While we were conversing, Mrs. Dennison came in, much to our
astonishment; for of late she had rather avoided both Jessie and myself.
Mr. Lee presented her to our visitor, who put on her stateliest manner,
and, after rising, stood as if ready to go; but her clear eyes were
fixed on Mrs. Dennison's face, and she seemed reading her to the soul.
I think that Mrs. Dennison was, for once, awed by the moral force
opposed to her; for such it really was. The graceful flippancy of
manner, which most people considered so captivating, refused to come
into action, and, for the moment, she really was awkward.
"I did not know that you had guests," said the old lady, with a stiff
bend of the head. "If I remember, Mr. Lawrence told me that this lady
would leave the neighborhood about the time he did."
The color flashed into Mrs. Dennison's face, and she replied, with
suppressed anger,--
"Mr. Lawrence presumed, madam, when he ventured to regulate my movements
by his own."
Again the old lady gave her a quiet, searching look, and, without
replying, moved toward the door.
Jessie and I went down to the terrace with Mrs. Bosworth, while Mr. Lee
took her to the carriage.