REINE GAYTHORNE.
Mrs. Enderby, her visitor, and her two daughters were sitting together
one morning at needlework in the pretty morning-room looking out on an
old walled garden, at Wavertree Hall. The distant ends of this old
garden, draped with ivy and creepers, had been made into a tennis
ground, a smooth trim green chamber lying behind the brilliant beds of
flowers. Sitting near the window the figures of the girls looked
charming against so picturesque a background.
Miss Gaythorne's face, upraised to the light, was full of goodness,
sweetness, and intelligence. A low broad brow, soft bright dark eyes, a
rich brunette complexion, and red brown hair, so curly as to be gathered
with difficulty into a knot at the back of her neck, were some of this
girl's beauties which the eye could take in at a glance. A longer time
was necessary to discern all the fine traits of character that were so
artlessly expressed in turn by her speaking countenance.
She wore a pretty dress of maroon cashmere and velvet, with delicate
ruffles of rich old yellow lace. Her dainty little French shoes and fine
gold ornaments were immensely admired by the two young girls beside her,
who were not yet "out," and were accustomed to be clothed in the
simplest attire. Not only her dress, but her accent, which was slightly
foreign, her peculiarly winning smiles, her merry little laugh and
graceful movements all seemed to the Enderbys more charming than could
be described. Even Phyllis, usually so critical, was taken captive by
their new friend, Reine.
Miss Gaythorne was just finishing a piece of embroidery. She was very
skilful with her needle, and her work was pronounced perfection by
Phyllis and Nell. Mrs. Enderby joined her daughters in warm praise of
the delicate production to which their visitor was just now putting the
last touches.
"I could so easily work one like it for you while I am here," said
Reine, "if I had only a new design. I do not like repeating the same
design."
"I am sure Hetty could draw one for you," said Nell.
"But I mean something original."
"Oh! Hetty's drawings are original. She gathers a few flowers, and that
is all she wants to begin with."
"She must be very clever. Who is Hetty, if I may ask?"
"Oh! Hetty is--Hetty Gray. She lives in this house. She is an orphan
girl whom papa is educating to be a governess. She is always in the
school-room with Miss Davis."
"Can she draw so cleverly?"
"Yes; it comes to her naturally. I will get a bundle of her drawings
from papa to show you. He locked them up because she wanted to be an
artist and he did not approve of it."
"It is well she did not want to go on the stage," said Phyllis. "She
used to be an extraordinary actress. However, she gave that up and took
a dislike to it. Perhaps she has now taken a dislike to drawing, and
will not care to make a design for Reine."
"I am sure she will," said Nell. "Drawing is different from acting.
People don't feel shy about drawing. I will go directly and ask her."
"Perhaps you would let me see her drawings first," said Miss Gaythorne.
"Certainly," said Nell; "papa is in his study, and I will go and fetch
them."
Mr. Enderby willingly surrendered the drawings to amuse and oblige the
cherished guest, and Hetty's work was spread out on a table before
Reine.
"Why, these are beautiful," cried she; "and they are really done by a
girl of fourteen who never learned to draw!"
"Really," said Nell, enjoying Miss Gaythorne's surprise. "And now, may
I ask Hetty to make you a design?"
"If she would be so very good. If it would not give her too much
trouble--"
"Why, Hetty will be simply enchanted at the request. She is not allowed
to draw, and of course the permission to do so will be delightful."
"Not allowed to draw?" exclaimed Reine in astonishment.
"Nell, how strangely you put things!" said Phyllis. "Father warned her
not to squander her time in drawing, while she has so much need to
study."
Nell shrugged her shoulders. "Put it as you like, Phyllis," she said;
"Hetty is a born artist, and she is going to be thrust into the harness
of a governess."
"It is well neither father nor mother is in the room," said Phyllis.
"They would be much grieved to hear you make such a speech. I don't know
where you get such ideas."
"I don't know," said Nell; "they come to me sometimes."
Reine listened in silence while she studied the drawings more closely.
She was something of an artist herself, and had a cultivated taste; and
a keen interest in the orphan girl who had a talent like this, and could
not be allowed to draw, was springing up within her.
Nell soon danced off to tell Hetty what was required of her.
"Miss Gaythorne wants you to make a design for her, of the size and
style of this, and you can use any flowers or foliage you please. Mother
hopes Miss Davis will allow you time to do it."
Hetty felt a rush of delight, which made the colour mount to her
forehead.
"Thank you, dear Nell," she said; "I know it is you who have got me this
piece of good fortune. I shall have some delicious hours over the work."
"Now, mind you make it beautiful," cried Nell; "for I have staked my
reputation on you!"
Hetty thought she had never been so happy in her life before, as she
went out to pick and choose among the flowers, looking for a theme for
her composition. At last she satisfied herself, and came back to the
school-room, and went to work.
Miss Davis, who had been much pleased with her of late, looked on with
approval. She thought the girl had fairly earned a holiday and a treat.
Hetty was more nervous over this drawing than she had been over any of
the others. With them she had been only working to please herself, and
of her own free will; but now it seemed as if the eyes of the world were
upon every line she drew. She spoiled several beginnings; and at last,
flushed and feverish, had to put away the work till to-morrow.
"Drawing seems to be not all unmixed happiness any more than dates,"
said Miss Davis, smiling at her anxious face. "Come now and have some
tea, or you will get a headache."
The next day Hetty went to work again, and succeeded at last in
producing a striking and beautiful design. She was far from satisfied
with it herself, and said to Nell, "I fear your friend will not think it
good enough, but it is the best I can do."
"I think it is lovely," said Nell; "and what trouble you have taken with
it! She will be hard to please if she does not like it."
And then Nell fled away with it, and Hetty turned to her books again
with a happy feeling at her heart. It seemed to her that she had never
before had an opportunity of performing any voluntary service for those
who had been so generous towards her, but now she had been able to do
something which would really give pleasure to the guest in their house.
And then she wished she could see that charming Miss Gaythorne, who was
said to be fond of drawing, and to know a great deal about it. She
dreamed that night that she was walking through a picture-gallery with
the girl called Reine, who was pointing out all the beauties to her as
they went.
In the meantime Reine was greatly delighted with the drawing.
"The girl is really a little genius," she said; "will you not allow me
to make her acquaintance?"
"I will ask mamma to invite her to the drawing-room some evening," said
Nell. "Mother does not like her to come often, for fear of spoiling her.
Phyllis has an idea that Hetty needs a great deal of keeping down; but I
think it is only because Phyllis is so good herself that she thinks so
badly of Hetty."
Reine laughed, and a look of fun remained in her eyes a few moments
after this naive speech of Nell's. The peculiarities of Phyllis's style
of goodness had not escaped Miss Gaythorne's quick intelligence.
"And mother minds what Phyllis thinks a great deal more than she minds
me; because Phyllis is so wise, and never gives her any trouble."
The next morning at breakfast Reine said:
"Do you know, Mr. Enderby, little Miss Gray has made me such a beautiful
drawing. She has a great talent. I can't help wishing you would let her
be an artist."
"Has she been enlisting you against me?" said Mr. Enderby, with half a
smile and half a frown.
"I have never even seen her," said Reine; "but I am greatly struck with
her work."
"It is clever," assented the master of Wavertree; "but pray do not
arouse foolish ideas in the child's head--ideas which have been
fortunately laid to rest. I have great faith in the old warning, 'Beware
of the man of one book'; and I think Hetty will do better to stick to
what she has begun with. Under Miss Davis she has excellent
opportunities of becoming fitted to be a governess, which, after all, is
the safest career for a friendless woman. She lives in a respectable
home and is saved from many dangers. I do not hold with the new-fangled
notion of letting girls run about the world picking up professions."
And then Mr. Enderby deliberately changed the conversation.
However, Reine could not forget the little artist; and that evening,
being dressed for dinner rather early, she suddenly bethought her of
making her way uninvited to the school-room.
"I really must see her and thank her," she reflected; "and I will ask
pardon of Mrs. Enderby afterwards for the liberty." And then she set out
to look for the school-room.
It happened that Hetty was sitting all alone at the school-room table;
her chin in her hand, her eyes fixed on the pages of a book. A window
behind her, framing golden sky and deep-coloured foliage, made her the
foreground figure of a striking picture. Her dark head and flowing hair,
her pale but richly-tinted face with its thoughtful brow and intelligent
mouth, her little warm brown hand and wrist were all softly and
distinctly defined against the glories of the distance. As Reine opened
the door and came in, Hetty looked up as much startled as if an angel
had come to visit her.
Reine was dressed all in white shimmering silk, which enhanced the
beauty of her bright brunette face. Her soft luminous eyes beamed on
Hetty as she advanced to her with outstretched hands.
"I came to see you and thank you," she began; "I am Reine Gaythorne
and--"
Suddenly, as Hetty sprang to her feet and came forward smiling and
facing the light, Reine's little speech died on her tongue, and a sharp
cry broke from her.
"My mother!" she exclaimed in a tone of deep feeling, and stood gazing
at Hetty as if a ghost had risen up before her.
Hetty retreated a step, and the two girls stood gazing at each other.
Miss Gaythorne recovered herself quickly, but her hands and voice were
trembling as she took Hetty's fingers in her own.
"Have I frightened you, dear?" she said; "but oh, if you knew how
strangely, how wonderfully like you are to my darling mother."
"Your mother?" stammered Hetty.
"Such a sweet beauty of a young mother she was as I remember her--and I
have a likeness of her at your age;--it seems to me that you are the
living image of it."
"How very strange!" said Hetty, with a thrill of delight at the thought
that she was like anybody belonging to this charming girl, especially
her mother. Hetty had fascinating fancies of her own about an ideal
mother; no real mother she had known had ever reached her standard. But
Reine's mother must surely have been up to the mark. And to be told that
she, Hetty, was like her! She drew nearer to Reine, who put her arms
round her neck and kissed her.
"I can't tell you how I feel," said Reine, holding her off and looking
at her. "I feel as if you belonged to me someway."
"Don't turn my head," pleaded Hetty wistfully. "Please remember I have
no relations and must not expect to be loved. I have had great trouble
about that; and it has been very hard for them to manage me."
"Has it?" said Reine doubtfully.
"As I'm now nearly grown up," said Hetty, "of course I have had to learn
to behave myself; so don't spoil me."
"I wish I could," said Reine. "I mean I wish I could get the chance. Oh,
don't look at me like that. But yes, do. Oh, Hetty, my mother, my
mother!"
And Reine leaned her arms on the table, and laid her head on them, and
wept.
Hetty stood by wondering, and stroked her head timidly for sympathy.
"Don't think me a great goose," said Reine, looking up. And then
suddenly silent again she sat staring at Hetty. After a few moments she
sprang up and folded her arms round her and held her close.
"You strange darling, where have you come from; and how am I ever to let
you go again?"
A step was heard at the door, and Reine and Hetty instinctively withdrew
from each other's embrace. There was something sacred about the feeling
which had so suddenly and unexpectedly overpowered them both.
Nell came in.
"Reine, I have been looking for you everywhere."
"I came here to thank Miss Gray for her design," said Reine, "and I
don't think I have even mentioned it yet."
"You are as pale as death," said Nell. "What has Hetty been saying to
you?"
"Nothing," said Reine absently, her eyes going back to Hetty's face and
fixing themselves there.
"How you stare at each other!" said Nell, "and I declare your two faces
are almost the same this moment."
"Nell!"
"I always said you were like each other, though Phyllis could not see
it. Now I am sure of it."
A wild look came into Reine's face.
"That would be too strange," she said; "for she is so like--so
like--some one--Oh, Nell, she is the very image of my mother!"
"Your mother!" echoed Nell, gazing at Hetty and thinking she did not
look like anybody's mother, with her short frock and flowing hair.
"But there is the dinner-bell!" she cried, glad of the interruption; for
Nell had a great dislike of anything like a sentimental scene. "You must
talk about all this afterwards, for we must not be late."
"I will come," said Reine, passing her handkerchief over her face. "Do I
look as if I had been crying."
"Your nose is a little red," said Nell; "but they will think it is the
cold."
"Then don't say anything about this," said Reine; "but I must come and
see Hetty again. Goodnight, darling little mother!"
"Reine, all my respect for you is gone," said Nell as they hastened
toward the dining-room. "I thought you were as wise as Phyllis. And to
think of you crying and kissing like that because Hetty reminds you
of--"
"Don't, Nell," said Reine. "I can't bear any more just now."