HUMAN NATURE.
The sun had set on Ceder Grove, and together on the broad, airy
piazza sat Mrs. Lansing and Ada, rather impatiently waiting for
Richard, whom they had not seen since he left them so abruptly in the
morning. Greatly relieved at the absence of one whom she had in a
measure dreaded as a rival, Ada began to hope that the conquest of
her guardian would now be a comparatively easy matter, and as she
knew the effect which a pretty face and a becoming dress had upon
him, she had spent a great deal of time upon this evening's toilet,
and looked unusually young and handsome in her pale blue tissue, with
her soft curls falling over her white uncovered neck.
That day she had talked a long time with Mrs. Lansing, who had not
only expressed her willingness to receive her as a sister, but had
also promised to do whatever she could to forward the matter.
Believing Mrs. Lansing to have far more influence over her brother
than she really had, Ada began to entertain hopes of soon becoming a
bride, and when she thought no one could see her, actually wrote upon
a card, "Mr. and Mrs. E. Delafield," just to see how it would look!
It looked well, she thought, and smoothing from her brow a frown
which had been caused by her finding among her waving tresses a long
white hair, she went down to the piazza to await Richard's coming.
"He has not been here since morning, and I am sure he'll come
to-night. You know he has latterly been a most constant visitor,"
remarked Mrs. Lansing.
"Yes, but possibly the attraction which kept him so much here is
gone," faintly suggested Ada.
"Fie!" returned Mrs. Lansing, with a toss of her head. "I know
Richard better than that, and though he may at one time have felt a
slight interest in Miss Lee, I am positive 'tis nothing serious, or
lasting. Only think of it, Richard Delafield marry my _governess_, a
poor _schoolmistress_! What would his fashionable acquaintance in
Augusta and Charleston say, setting aside our friends in New Orleans!"
And on the proud woman's face there was a sneer at the very idea of
her brother's thus disgracing himself.
"Hark! I do believe he's coming," said Ada, as she heard approaching
footsteps, and she had just time to adjust her skirts gracefully when
there stood before her, not Mr. Delafield, but the servant to whom
had been intrusted the note for Mrs. Lansing.
This the negro had entirely forgotten until it was recalled to his
mind by the continued absence of his master, whose return they had
confidently expected before night. Taking the note from his hand,
Mrs. Lansing hastily glanced at its contents, and then, with an
exclamation of surprise, handed it to Ada, who turned deathly pale as
she saw her new-born hopes crushed at once and forever; and if now
she clasped her hand upon her side, the action, was not feigned, for
a pain, which blistering could not heal, was indeed there--the pain
of wounded pride at seeing a humble, obscure girl preferred to
herself. For several minutes not a word was spoken, and then Mrs.
Lansing, who knew it would not be politic to quarrel with her
brother, said, "I am astonished at Richard's proceedings, but I
suppose there is no help for it, and we may as well make the best of
it. Miss Lee ain't the worst girl in the world. She had many
friends in the village--was well educated, and with a few lessons
from us on some points of etiquette she may do very well."
"_Us_," angrily retorted Ada. "When _I_ teach Dick Delafield's wife
etiquette I shall be older than I am now."
"And _that_ you would not care to be;" said Mrs. Lansing, a little
sarcastically.
She was a woman, who, if essential to her own interest, could turn
with every breeze, and though she was not pleased with her brother's
choice, she did not deem it advisable to provoke his anger by
quarreling about it, for when once roused, but few could cope with
his resolute, determined spirit. Then too, Rosa Lee was yielding and
generous, and would not object even if her husband should bestow half
his fortune upon his sister; so after all it might be better to have
her the mistress of Sunny Bank than one like Ada, who was more
selfish and wanted everything for herself. Thus Mrs. Lansing
reasoned, coming at last to feel quite amiably disposed towards Rosa
Lee, whom she fully intended to manage in her own way, and she was
about making up her mind to write a kind, sisterly letter to said
Rosa, when her attention was attracted by a loud sobbing, and looking
round she saw Ada weeping violently.
As well as she could love any one, Ada had loved her guardian, and
the knowledge that he was now lost to her, overcame her for a time,
and covering her face with her hands, she cried aloud. Mrs. Lansing
had never really loved in her life, so she could not appreciate the
feeling, and she made no effort to soothe the weeping girl who that
night wet her pillow with bitter tears, and who next morning looked
weary, pale and old, as she languidly took her seat at the breakfast
table. Still Ada was not one to love very deeply, and as on this
occasion her pride was touched rather than her heart, she ere long
grew calm, and with Mrs. Lansing wisely resolved to make the best of
it. Then, too, there arose the very natural desire to conceal from
Richard that she had ever cared for him, and to do this she thought
she must _pretend_ to be pleased with his choice. Accordingly when
Mrs. Lansing wrote to her brother, Ada inclosed a gilt-edged note, in
which she congratulated him upon his intended marriage, telling him
she had foreseen it from the first and ended by sending her love to
"_Rose_." Thus, because she thought it would be for her interest,
did Mrs. Lansing deem it best to change her tactics, while Ada was
too proud to evince any open hostility, though in her heart she hated
the future bride and lamented the fatality which had decreed that she
should be rivaled by "both of those Lee girls."