Never had scheme more signal failure than that of Lyttleton for
convincing pretty Nell Lamar of his dauntless bravery; he went away
from the major's that night crestfallen and angry, cursing his
ill-luck and her quickness of perception.
Nor was fair Nell herself in a much more enviable state of mind;
there was a sad, reproachful look in Kenneth's eyes as he bade her
a courteous good-night, which haunted her for days and weeks like a
nightmare.
She purposely avoided him when he called the next morning to enquire
about Bertie, and when the weather permitted her to resume her walks
and rides, was careful to select those in which she was least likely
to meet him.
He was not slow to perceive this and it wounded him deeply;
particularly as Lyttleton was very frequently her companion and his
society seemed not unpleasant to her, if one might judge from her
bright looks and smiles.
Yet Nell despised Lyttleton heartily, and at times herself scarcely
less.
"Nell Lamar, you are becoming an arrant and shameless coquette!" she
would exclaim almost fiercely to herself in the privacy of her own
room. "I'm ashamed of you! no wonder Dr. Clendenin looks at you as if
he despaired of you and pitied you for your depravity. Well, whose
fault is it but his; why do his lips refuse to speak what his eyes
have said over and over again? Oh, it is mean and shameful! I will
not care for him or his reproving looks! He is no better than I, and
yet--and yet--O Kenneth, Kenneth, you are good and noble and true,
though I cannot understand it!"
Thus she was by turns angry and repentant, now reproaching him, and
now herself.
She did not, however, give Lyttleton much encouragement. As she had
said to Dale, she could not forbid him the house, neither could she
avoid being in the same room with him when there, as no other, the
kitchen excepted, was warm enough for comfort at that inclement
season, nor could she prevent his joining her in the street.
She usually declined his attentions when it could be done without
positive rudeness, yet he persevered, the prize seeming to him all
the more valuable because of its difficulty of acquisition.
Dale looked on with vexation and a growing dislike to Lyttleton; but
Clare gave the latter her countenance, making him always welcome
to the house, saying little things that flattered his vanity, and
vaguely hinting that Nell was capricious and might be won in time by
clever courting.
The major was apparently oblivious of the whole matter, while
the gossips of the town compared notes and speculated as to the
probability that the Englishman's suit would eventually prosper.
These queries and conjectures now and then reached Kenneth's ears,
inflicting a sharp pang all unsuspected by the talkers; for it had
come to be the popular opinion that Dr. Clendenin was a confirmed
bachelor, utterly indifferent to the charms of the softer sex; and
not by word or tone, or so much as a change in the calm gravity of
his demeanor, did he let them into the secret of his silent suffering.
And it was not slight; many a night of sleepless anguish it cost him
to think how "his darling, his own precious little Nell," as he must
call her, was being wiled away from him by one who could never, he
was sure, half appreciate her worth, and was far from deserving so
rich a prize.
But could it be possible that she would throw herself away thus, that
she would give her hand without her heart? For was not that all his
own, had not those beautiful, eloquent eyes betrayed her secret to
him spite of herself? And yet, and yet--had he, beyond a doubt or
peradventure, read that look aright? Oh, if he might but go to her,
pour out the story of his love and sue for hers? But alas, alas, he
dare not, 'twould be a more grievous wrong than to keep silent and
let her think what she would of him.
And though he longed continually for her sweet society, though he
felt as if shut out of a heaven on earth while staying away from her
dear presence, he must constrain himself to do so, always have some
excuse ready when the major urged upon him the hospitalities of his
house.
And what right had he to accuse the dear girl in his heart of
fickleness and coquetry? He, and he alone, was to blame for her
conduct, because his looks had told the story of his love and his
lips failed to confirm it.
There was, perhaps, more than usual sociability among the young
people of Chillicothe that winter, and Lyttleton was invited
everywhere, generally accepting; always when he knew that Miss Lamar
would be one of the guests; and not unfrequently she was much vexed
by the marked attention he was pleased to bestow upon her.
Some of the other young ladies would have received them with far
more complacency, deeming the handsome, fascinating, and apparently
wealthy Englishman no mean prize in the matrimonial lottery.
Of course Nell was teased and jested with about her adorer, but
to the surprise of the well-meaning jokers, their witticisms were
received with hauteur, and sometimes positive anger, leaving no room
for doubt that the subject was an unpleasant one.
Still most of them made up their minds that it was only their remarks
that were so distasteful to her, and not the man himself, or his
evident predilection.
Nell usually enjoyed the sleigh rides, the quiltings, the social
tea-drinkings, and evening parties which constituted the winter
festivities of the town, and was the life of them all; but this
season she was glad to get away from them, or rather from Lyttleton's
society, to the quiet and seclusion of Mr. Nash's farm-house, to
which she was carried off by its mistress one bright December
morning, for a fortnight's visit.
Mrs. Nash had come into town to exchange butter and eggs for dry
goods and groceries. That done she called at the major's, proposed to
Nell to take a vacant seat in her sleigh, and return with her, and
was delighted by a prompt acceptance of the invitation.
"I don't know how Mr. Lyttleton will be able to endure so long a
separation," remarked Clare demurely.
"And I don't care!" returned Nell, with spirit. "I shall enjoy it
extremely, and selfish as it may seem, that is all I am concerned
about."
"How about Dr. Clendenin?" queried Mrs. Nash with a roguish smile.
The girl's face flushed, then paled.
"He is seldom here and will not miss me," she said in a quiet tone as
she left the room to make the necessary preparations for the trip.
"Your English friend will be sure to follow you," said Clare as they
bade good-bye.
"He would not dare!" cried Nell. "But don't you let him know where I
am, for there is no saying how far his audacity may carry him."
"Quite as far as you travel to-day, I've no doubt," laughed Clare.
"Nell," said Mrs. Nash, as they glided swiftly over the snow, leaving
the town behind. "I hear that Englishman is very attentive to you;
but I can tell you Dr. Clendenin is worth a dozen of him."
"What has that to do with it?" asked Nell dryly, screening her face
from view in the folds of a thick veil. "They are not rivals."
"I don't know what you mean, my dear child. I do know that Dr.
Clendenin loves you."
"He has made you his confidante?"
Nell's tone was a mixture of inquiry, pain, incredulity, anger and
pique.
"Not intentionally; but words could not have told it more plainly
than his looks, tones and actions when he found you lying insensible
beside the carcass of that mad cat, and thought you had been bitten."
"All your imagination, _mon ami_, Dr. Clendenin and I are nothing to
each other."
Nell strove to speak lightly, but there was an undertone of
bitterness which did not escape her friend.
Mrs. Nash mused silently for a moment, saying to herself there had
probably been a lovers' quarrel, but she hoped it would all come
right in the end, and she would be on the lookout to do anything in
her power to bring about a reconciliation.
She was not one of the prying kind, however, and knew that Nell would
be quick to resent any attempt to worm her secrets from her, so when
she presently spoke again, it was upon a widely different topic.
They had a pleasant sociable time together for several days, Nell
finding positive pleasure in helping her friend to make up winter
garments for the children.
Then came a heavy snow storm followed by bright weather, clear and
cold, making excellent sleighing.
Mrs. Nash had carefully avoided broaching the subject of Nell's
love affairs, but they had, nevertheless, been seldom absent
from her thoughts, which had busied themselves with projects for
restoring harmony between the two, whom she supposed to have had a
misunderstanding.
She had cast about in her mind for an excuse for sending for
the doctor, that so they might be brought together and given an
opportunity for mutual explanation. So anxious for this was she that
it seemed hardly a matter for regret when she found she had taken
cold with the change of weather, and had a slight sore throat.
Mr. Nash was going into town and she requested him to call at the
doctor's office and ask him to come out and see her.
Nell heard, and it sent the blood to her cheek and made her heart
beat quickly. She had not exchanged a word with Dr. Clendenin since
that evening when she had read, or fancied she did, reproof in his
eye and voice because of her flirtation with Lyttleton; and she both
longed and dreaded to meet him.
The latter feeling increased as the time drew near when he might be
expected; the merry jingle of sleigh bells, and the sight of a cutter
with a gentleman in it wrapped in furs, dashing up to the gate, had
almost sent her flying from the room, so strong was the impulse at
that moment to avoid him.
But a second glance told her that was not Kenneth's noble figure
which sprang from the vehicle and came hurrying up the path to the
house.
She sat still and in another moment Lyttleton stood smiling and
bowing before her, hat in hand.
"Excuse this intrusion, fair lady," he said, "I have felt like a Peri
shut out of heaven since your withdrawal from the major's house, and
I come as bearer of a letter which I must even hope may secure me a
welcome."
He tendered it gracefully as he spoke.
"Ah, thank you!" she cried, her face flushing with pleasure, for
letters were a rare thing in those days.
He bade her read it while he sat by the fire and chatted with Mrs.
Nash, to whom, with his usual tact and skill, he soon managed to make
himself extremely entertaining.
"Now, fair lady," he said, turning to Nell as she refolded her
letter, "may I not claim a reward for the slight service I have had
the happiness to render you?"
"Of what kind, sir?" she answered with a saucy smile.
"The privilege of taking you out for a short drive. The sleighing is
superb."
Nell was in a most gracious mood, and then here was the wished
for chance to escape the dreaded meeting with Dr. Clendenin. She
consented at once and hastily donned cloak and hood.
"I'm afraid you will find it very cold," objected Mrs. Nash, more
anxious to detain the young girl for Kenneth's coming, and to prevent
any acceptance of attentions from his rival, than she would have
liked to acknowledge.
"Oh no, madame," hastily interposed Lyttleton, "I have a foot-stove
and plenty of robes, and there is no wind; indeed I assure you it is
quite delightful out to-day, the air is so pure and bracing."
"And I am warmly dressed, and have a thick veil," added Nell.
Lyttleton tucked the robes snugly about her, saying, "I trust you
will not suffer from cold, Miss Lamar."
"Oh, no!" she answered with a gay laugh.
"Now which way shall we travel?" he asked, gathering up the reins.
With the thought that Dr. Clendenin would be coming from the town,
and the desire to avoid a meeting, Nell named the opposite direction.
But they had not gone half a mile when that very thing occurred.
Dr. Clendenin had a patient some miles farther out from town, had
called there first, and was intending to take Mr. Nash's in his way
home.
He bowed with grave courtesy to Nell and her companion, in passing,
recognizing the latter with a jealous pang that was like the stab of
a sharp knife.
Nell's cheeks flushed and her eyes fell; she was thankful that her
veil hid her agitation from Dr. Clendenin; but then and many times
through the succeeding weeks and months, she would have given much to
deny to him the knowledge that she had accepted this attention from
Lyttleton.
In vain she asked herself what concern was it of his, what right he
had to object? She could not shake off the feeling that she was in
some way, to some extent, accountable to him.
From that day she was as ready with excuses as Kenneth himself when
the only alternative was to permit Lyttleton to be her escort.