The house was silent and still. All had retired, and Dexie moved gently
about, placing the room in order, wishing that Traverse would make some
move to leave the house; but he seemed in no hurry to depart, as he stood
with his elbow on the low mantel, watching her.
At last Dexie broke the silence by asking anxiously:
"Do you think papa is any worse than usual to-night, Mr. Traverse?"
"Well, I hope not, Miss Dexie. Does he take those bad turns very often?"
and his eyes were full of pity as he spoke.
"Not often at this hour; the turn of the night is always his worst time.
Oh! I hope it will not be severe to-night. He seems so much weaker than
usual that I--I'm afraid for him," she said brokenly.
"Let me stay with you to-night, Dexie; I cannot go away and leave you with
such a dread on your heart," and he came near to her side. "I can help you
if he is worse," he added, gently, "so let me share your watch to-night;
indeed I will not leave you like this," for his tender, sympathetic words
brought the tears, and she hid her face in her handkerchief.
Presently she grew calmer, but her voice was very low as she answered:
"You are very kind, Mr. Traverse, but I shall not need your help. I can
call Mrs. Jarvis if he should be worse. I thank you for your kind offer,
but your assistance will not be necessary."
"That is not kind of you, Dexie," said Guy reproachfully. "Your father said
I was his best friend, and you ought not to send me away when I might be of
service to him; so let me stay, Dexie."
"Well, I suppose it looks rude to refuse your help; but I am sure mamma and
Gussie would think it improper, if I allowed you to remain," she answered,
with downcast eyes.
"Is that the reason you do not wish me to stay with you?" and he smiled
down at the bowed head. "Do you think conventionality should be considered
when your father's comfort is in question?" he asked. "You know your father
has often asked me to sit with him when he was restless and could not
sleep, but you did not seem willing," he added, seeing she had no reply,
"and I have been anxious to please you in all things, Dexie."
"There was no need to consult me about it," she replied, feeling vexed at
the tone that implied so much more than he had a right to express under the
circumstances, and taking her work-basket to the far side of the table she
sat down to work.
"Must I go or may I stay, Dexie? at least till the time of your father's
usual attack? Be kind this once and say I may stay."
"As you please. There is a new book of poems, and a late New York paper,"
said she presently, feeling that she must say something. "They will help to
pass away the time."
But Guy Traverse had no intention of passing his time over reading-matter,
something of a more personal nature was in hand. Dexie was determined she
would not be the first to break the silence, and the ticking of the clock
was the only sound heard for some time.
"And so my attentions are obnoxious, Miss Dexie? I was grieved to hear
that, when I wished them to be the opposite."
The words, low and tender, brought painful heart-throbs to Dexie's bosom,
but she hastily answered:
"You said they should not be so in the future; so please say no more on the
subject," and glad to escape from his earnest gaze, she rose and looked
into her father's room.
Finding him quietly sleeping, she soon returned, and folding up her
finished work, laid aside the basket, then brought from a drawer a frame
containing the delicate piece of needlework her father referred to, and
began to pass the needle back and forth. Presently Guy came over to her
side, and stood looking down at the work in her hands; then said with a
smile:
"Is this the fine wedding present you are going to give me, Dexie?"
"I was not in earnest when I spoke, but I will not go back from my word, if
you think it will be acceptable," was the low reply.
"If that is the only thing you will give me for a wedding present, I think
I won't accept it;" then bending over her, said tenderly, "My darling! I
want you to give me yourself!"
Dexie was on her feet in a moment, her embroidery forgotten.
"Mr. Traverse! do you wish to insult me? How little you must respect me, to
speak to me like that!"
"My little girl, why will you misunderstand me? Don't you know that I love
you with my whole heart--will you not let me tell you?" as she shrank away
from him.
"Those are strange words to say to me, Mr. Traverse, after telling us about
your approaching marriage; and papa thinks you are a gentleman."
"And you do not!" smiling at her indignant look. "Dearest, you must let me
explain," and he came nearer.
"No! I will hear no explanation! there can be none after what you have
said! Is it honorable to say such things to me while you are looking
forward to marriage with another?" and her eyes flashed angrily.
"Dexie, you are mistaken. Surely you do not think me such a villain!"
"What else do your words imply?"
"That I am looking forward to my marriage with you, dearest; that was what
I meant to-night," taking a step nearer, and looking at her tenderly.
"Do gentlemen usually announce their approaching marriage before saying a
word to the lady in question? I am not so easily deceived as you think, Mr.
Traverse."
"But, Dexie, you would not let me say the word, though I have sought an
opportunity for weeks past. Dearest, I have loved you since I first knew
you, even during the time I thought you were promised to another. I hid it
then in my own breast; but lately, since I heard you were free, you have
given me no chance to tell you of my love. Sometimes I have felt that you
knew it, Dexie, and that you were not indifferent. To-day I asked your
father's permission to win you, and he gave his consent."
"So I was bargained for and sold like a horse!" and her eyes flashed
indignantly, "and I have nothing to say in the matter whatever! How much
was I considered worth?" Then overcome by her feelings she sank down on the
sofa, and hiding her face in the cushion burst into tears.
Guy was kneeling beside her in a moment, and with one arm thrown around her
said tenderly,
"Dexie, you know better. You know your father loves you and would keep you
beside him always if he could. But he knows that I love you dearly, and he
would give me your hand if you gave me your heart. Do not try to hide it
from me any longer, love. Do you not love me already?" and he bent his head
beside her own. "Lift up your face and tell me, dearest."
But Dexie could not raise her eyes; she was afraid to believe the sweet
words she heard. Did he really love her, after all!
"Think how long I have loved you, Dexie," he added, tenderly, "and yet you
have never given me one word to encourage me, but have been so cruel--so
cruel! Dexie, have you nothing to say to me after all this waiting?" and he
lifted her head to his arm, saying softly, "If I wounded you to-night by my
abrupt announcement, it was unintentionally. I thought you would guess my
meaning; but you would not even look at me. You will believe me, Dexie, for
I did not mean to vex you," he pleaded earnestly.
Still no answer; but Guy seemed to know intuitively what was in her
thoughts, and she no longer shrank from him when he stroked her soft hair
and drew her closer to his breast.
"Uncover your face and look at me, dearest. Did you not know that I cared
for you? Tell me, Dexie."
"I did think so sometimes," was the low reply.
"Then what was the reason you were so cool with me?" smiling down into her
blushing face. "Tell me, or I shall believe I know the reason already."
"If you know, why do you ask?" was the shy reply.
"Because I would like to hear you say it yourself. Confess it, now, or must
I say it myself?"
She endeavored to release herself from his encircling arm, but he held her
close as he whispered:
"You love me already. You know you do; so own it now."
A pair of eyes, glorious with the love-light that shone in them, were
raised to his, and as he read his answer in their depths, the happy lover
whispered,
"Kiss me, Dexie."
A blushing face was lifted to his, and an arm was raised till it encircled
his neck, as Dexie gave her first kiss of love to the man who had won her
heart.
"How could you be so cool and short with me when you loved me all the
time?" he asked, as he held her in his arms.
"I was not quite sure you cared for me," was the low reply. "But I am
forgetting papa. I must go and see if he is all right, Guy."
It was the first time she had used his name, and he smiled fondly into the
dark eyes raised so shyly to meet his own.
"I do not want to let you go from my arms for a minute, darling. I have
been longing for this hour for so long that I am afraid I shall find it all
a dream if I once let you go. Will you come back to me if all is
right--back to my arms, I mean?"
"Perhaps--yes, then," and she stepped softly into her father's room.
But it needed only a few minutes to assure her that he was sleeping soundly
and peacefully, so she returned to her waiting lover.
"Not beside me, but here, where you promised!" and he held out his arms as
she endeavored to take a seat on the sofa beside him. "I wonder how long it
will be before you will make my heart glad by coming to my arms of your own
accord. It is hard to believe that this is the same little girl that used
to send me home with such an aching heart that I walked the floor for
hours, instead of going to bed."
"Oh, Guy! I am so sorry. I never thought you cared for me like that," she
whispered, as she laid her head on his shoulder.
"I wish I could tell you how much I _do_ care, my own darling! but words
give so little expression to one's feelings; yet I am longing to hear just
three little words from you. Don't you think it would be fair to take away
the memory of your unkind words by telling me that you love me?"
"Dear Guy, you know I love you, or I would not be here! I have loved you
ever since papa was hurt, but I did not want you to know it. Will that
confession do?"
"I knew you cared for me, my darling! yet it is sweet to hear the admission
from your own lips. And to think how long we have misunderstood each other!
If I had only taken you in my arms that first night I was present when your
father was so ill, and made you own to what I felt was true, these unhappy
weeks might have been spared us; but it is something to have this joy in
the end, my own little wife."
Dexie gave a little start of surprise at this sweet epithet, and a rosy
blush spread over her face, at which Guy repeated lovingly:
"My own little wife! Is it not so, Dexie?"
"I had not thought of the future, so much has happened in such a short
time," she answered, in a low voice; "but I love you, Guy, and the future
shall be as you wish."
"I am glad you have no rings on to-night, Dexie," said Guy, as he took a
little parcel from his pocket. "You have one that has troubled my peace of
mind for some time, but I have something to take its place," and as he took
her hand in his the flash of a ring told Dexie his intention.
"Oh, Guy! wait! I cannot let you put that on yet. I am afraid to trust
myself that much to-night; it is all so sudden, Guy!"
"My darling! what do you fear? You are not afraid to trust yourself to my
keeping when you know I love you?" and he drew her closer, as he looked
down into her eyes.
"No, Guy, but it is all so new and strange that I hardly know myself. You
know I accepted a ring once before when I ought not to have done so, but I
wore it honestly lately, Guy; I did, truly."
"Tell me about it, Dexie, and clear up the mystery. The ring has a story,
one that has given me much trouble of mind."
"I think your trouble was imaginary, Guy," smiling. "The ring, in the first
place, did not signify an engagement, though it was the sign of a promise
which Lancy Gurney and I made to each other. He was to ask me again to
marry him at the end of a year, unless during that time we found there was
someone else we liked better. As you know, I did not wait for the year to
be up before I asked to be released. Oh, yes, I confessed that I had met
someone that had the first place in my heart," she blushingly admitted.
"And you told him what you would not tell me! Oh, Dexie!"
"Yes, for I promised him I would be honest with him. This led to
explanations on both sides, and to assure him I still felt kindly towards
him I agreed to keep and wear his ring. I wore it gladly, because it
reminded me I was free to love where I chose; besides it helped to keep you
from guessing that I had given my love without the asking. That is all,
Guy, so you see the words engraved inside are honest and true."
"My dear little wife! but how could I guess that the ring meant so much
happiness to me. It did indeed deceive me, but this shall tell the truth
from the start."
"I do wish you had not bought it--just yet. Everyone will make remarks
about it. Something plainer would not proclaim our secret to the world as
this will surely do."
"Yet I thought it not good enough for the dear hand that was to wear it.
Let me put it on, Dexie. Think how many times I shall see you when there
will be no chance to say a word to you, but when I see the ring I can say,
'She is mine! mine!' How sweet to know that it is so!" and he kissed her
hand as he slipped the ring on her finger.
"Mine now, dearest; yet you seemed so far away from me only a few hours
ago. How surprised your father will be! I wish he could see you here in my
arms."
"Oh, hush! that would be dreadful! Was he surprised this afternoon at your
errand? I thought it was you who left those papers; but when you announced
your coming marriage this evening, then I began to doubt," and she laughed
softly.
"It was a surprise at first, but he consented at last to give me his
treasure--if I could get her."
"Poor papa, I will never leave him. No one else seems to have time to be
with him or amuse him as I can, and it is hard for him to feel so helpless
when he has such a restless and energetic disposition."
"I promised not to take you away while he needed you; but, dearest--I do
not want to alarm you--I do not think he will have to bear his pain many
weeks longer. He is failing, I can see, and he told me to-day that he felt
his strength going fast."
"I know it is so, though I have tried to put the thought aside. Dear papa,
how good he has been to me! What news this will be to him! But I hope no
one else will find it out--just yet. Everything must go on much as usual,
before others anyway," smiling into his happy face.
"That will be very hard, don't you think, little wife? How shall I be able
to hide my love from Gussie?"
"Oh! you will be coming here after this just to see papa, you know,"
looking at him archly, "and I fancy she will find little to interest her in
the man that has so openly announced his approaching marriage to a lady who
is unknown. I'll not object, perhaps, to let you stay--with papa, you
know--on the nights that I take my turn to sit up with him. But there is
his bell, and oh! Guy, look at the clock!"
Dexie's heart beat fast as she hurried to her father's room, but she was
needlessly alarmed. His unusual sleep had renewed his strength, but Dexie,
fearing the worst, asked anxiously:
"Are you in much pain, dear papa?"
"Oh! no, child; I feel first-rate. I guess that bad spell I had at bedtime
is going to do me for to-night; but I am thirsty, so when you get me fixed
up you can go to bed. You must be tired to death, my dear girl," he added,
as Dexie busied herself about him. "What time is it? Not past two, surely?
Why, I must be turning over a new leaf, eh, Dexie?"
Guy Traverse stepped to the door as Dexie entered the room, fearing also
that Mr. Sherwood was worse, but hearing his cheerful voice he thought he
would surprise him by showing himself, and he stepped to the bedside, his
hands clasped behind him, and a curious smile played over his face as he
waited.
"Bless my soul! Traverse, what are you doing here at this time of night?"
was the astonished remark as Mr. Sherwood turned and saw who was beside
him.
Traverse laughed pleasantly and drew a chair to the bedside.
"I have been waiting in the next room, fearing you might be ill again at
your usual hour and would need my services."
"And a sorry night you have had of it, I expect. Well, you don't seem much
the worse of it, after all," and he turned and looked curiously towards
Dexie.
"What mischief have you been up to now, Dexie, that you look so guilty?
Come here to me directly!"
"Are you going to scold me, papa?" and she stooped over and kissed him.
"I would like to find out first if you deserve it. I hope you have not been
quarrelling with Traverse, after what I said to you?"
"Well, not all the time," she blushingly answered. "He would not go home at
the proper time, though I tried to turn him out of the house."
"I see! Then it was the first part of the night you did not agree. And
what, may I ask, have you been doing since the row was settled? Out with it
now," holding her face between his two hands and looking into her eyes.
"Dear papa, that is not fair," as she tried to hide her face in his arms.
Mr. Sherwood felt sure that Guy had come to some understanding with her,
and wanted to make her own it, but Guy knew she would not care to be the
first to speak of it, so said in a happy voice:
"Give me a chance to tell a part of the story, Mr. Sherwood. Dexie has made
me a happy man at last. You will not care to hear all the particulars just
now, but she has promised to be my wife."
"Is this really true, Dexie?" looking with loving eyes at his daughter.
Dexie raised her hand, saying softly:
"See, papa," and the flashing ring answered the question.
"Well, well; I can hardly believe it yet. Go and kiss him, Dexie, right
before me, if it is really true; seeing is believing, you know."
Guy looked at her smilingly, saying, as he held out his hands, "Come,
Dexie."
Dexie put one hand in his, and laying the other across his shoulder bent
over and kissed him; and she made no resistance when he put one arm around
her and drew her down on his knee.
"Well, this is a pleasant surprise, I'm sure. You have made good use of the
time, Traverse," and Mr. Sherwood laughed softly. "You have been rather a
perverse young lady, Dexie, but you have fallen into good hands at last.
You must not leave me yet, dear child, for what should I do without my
little nurse? But, bless my heart! there's three o'clock. You will not get
into your hotel at this hour, Traverse, but I expect you would not sleep
much if you did, so go back into the sitting-room, the both of you, and
finish the night!"
"Thank you, Mr. Sherwood; your liberty adds much to the pleasure. I hope we
have not tired you," he added, as he rose from his seat.
"Not at all! Another drink, Dexie, and be off with you!"
"Don't tell on us, papa," she whispered, as she prepared his drink. "Jarvis
is sure to sleep till I awaken her, and this is not likely to happen
again," laughing.
"Well, better make the most of it, then; so be off with your lover," and he
waved her away from his side.
"It was not so dreadful, after all, to come to my arms before your father,
was it?" Guy asked, a few minutes later. "I am sure it pleased him to see
it, and it was good of him to allow me a little longer bliss."
But time passed swiftly, as it always does with happy lovers, and the grey
dawn of early morning warned them that they must separate. As they stood by
the window, watching the first rays of light in the east, Dexie said:
"I will have to send you away soon, Guy, or you will be discovered; but I
am going to invite you to an early breakfast here with me before you go."
"Never mind breakfast, dearest; I would rather have you here by my side
until the last minute. I expect some machinery by the early train, so I
think I will go down and see if it has arrived; that will give us forty
minutes more together," taking out his watch.
"Then a part of the time will be well spent in preparing you a slight
refreshment--nothing elaborate, you know, or Eliza would pounce down on me
at the first sound," and she left him at the window, and hurried to the
kitchen.
A few minutes later she appeared again, looking as fresh as the morning,
with a white ruffled apron clasped round her waist and a dainty muslin cap
perched on her head, from beneath which stray curls peeped bewitchingly
out, and passing her hand through Guy's arm, said laughingly:
"Will you mind coming to the kitchen, Guy? I am afraid someone will hear us
if I take you anywhere else, and I don't want the rattle of dishes to
betray us."
"Well, this is enough to make any fellow selfish," as he followed Dexie out
to the kitchen, and closed the door softly behind him. "You must be a
fairy, to conjure such a dainty breakfast in this short time. No one will
hear us here."
The appetizing odor of coffee filled the air, and the most fastidious
person could have found no fault with the dainty little table and its
appointments, with plates laid for two.
"Now, you really must be quiet, Guy," trying to escape from his arms. "Just
see how you have mussed my hair!"
"And you haven't mussed mine at all, I suppose! I say, Dexie, what if
Gussie should catch us here?" "Which, fortunately, is not likely; but what
_would_ she say? The impropriety of our conduct would be shocking," and a
musical laugh sounded through the room.
"I should plead extenuating circumstances, dearest. One does not have the
delightful experience of last night but once in a lifetime, and why should
we not make the most of our pleasures? However, I can thank your father for
this extended bliss."
"The extended bliss of eating in the kitchen!" and she smiled
mischievously, as she handed him a cup of coffee. "Is this your first peep
into my domain?"
"Yes, and I think it the pleasantest room in the house. Who planned it, and
invented such contrivances?" glancing approvingly at the adjustable shelves
which Dexie disclosed by shoving aside what appeared to be a panel in the
wall. "We must have our kitchen just like this."
Ignoring his last remark, except by a blush, Dexie answered:
"I have to thank papa for the liberty I enjoy in this room; but for him I
should have had the usual bare walls and no conveniences whatever. If you
had seen all the newspaper articles I read up, giving the experience of
practical housekeepers, you would not wonder at the change which, with the
help of a carpenter, I made in this room. I am monarch of all I survey in
this part of the house, as mamma does not care how many experiments go on
here as long as everything is satisfactory that comes out of it."
All pleasant things come to an end, and the early breakfast in the kitchen
was no exception to the rule; but it remained a bright spot in the memory
of both, and in after-years was often referred to.
A few minutes later Guy left the house, and, for the first time, he left it
contented and happy, the sweet "Good-bye" in the hall being in strong
contrast to the usual curt dismissal that had fallen to his lot hitherto
when Dexie showed him out.