"Not much besides what I have contrived to give her myself in the three
years we have been together," he said. "But I have really succeeded in
giving her a good deal of general information orally, and have taught
her to read English, using my Bible as a text-book, and to write, using
a pointed stick and the sand.
"I had thought of placing her in a boarding-school for a time, but she
was so distressed at the very suggestion--declaring that it would break
her heart to be separated from me--that I have quite given up the idea.
"She is very bright, quick to catch an idea, and more than willing to
study under my tuition, to please me, if for no other reason.
"And she has great musical talent. I must get her to sing for you all
this evening. You will be delighted with her voice and her execution."
"Well, my boy, I am inclined to think she will make you happy, so far
as a wife can. She is very graceful and ladylike, and I think you
will succeed in educating her as far as necessary for her happiness
and yours. I suppose she knows little or nothing of housewifely
accomplishments; but those too she can learn, and you will live with us
for the present at least, I trust, if not permanently, and if she will
let me I shall gladly teach her all I know of such matters."
"Dear mother, thank you," he said, his eyes shining with pleasure; "she
could not have a more competent or kinder instructor, and I know she
will be glad to avail herself of your kind offer, if only for my sake.
"She tried to learn as much as possible from good Mrs. Baird while
we were there, and succeeded well too, I thought, in everything she
attempted."
On leaving his mother Rupert went in search of his wife. He found her
alone in the parlor, hovering over the open piano.
"O Rupert," she cried, looking up almost pleadingly into his face, "do
you think I may try it? would any one be displeased?"
"Certainly you may try it if you wish," he replied, half laughing at
the absurdity of her doubt; "there is no danger of any objection being
raised; but can you play on it?"
She answered only with a sportive, delighted arch smile, seated herself
at the instrument, and dashed off into a brilliant waltz.
Rupert was in raptures.
"Why, Juanita!" he exclaimed, as she struck the last notes, then turned
to look up in his face with dancing eyes, "you never told me you could
play the piano."
"No, señor; you never asked if I could."
The different members of the family had come flocking in, drawn by the
music, and wondering who the player was, for the tune was new to them
and the touch different from that of any of themselves.
"Give us a song, love," requested the delighted young husband.
She complied at once, and the effect upon the small audience was fully
up to Rupert's expectation. She had a magnificent voice, strong, full,
of great compass and flexibility, sweet and clear as the warble of a
bird; a voice that would have made her fortune as a prima donna; nor
was it entirely uncultivated.
How they crowded round her and poured out their thanks and praises,
begging for another and still another till the tea-bell summoned them
away to their evening meal!
Juanita's playing and singing were destined henceforth to form one of
the greatest enjoyments of the entire family.
Cyril came home for a short visit, and for several weeks they all
(except the doctor, whose patients had to be attended to) gave
themselves up, for the most of the time, to the enjoyment of each
other's society. It was so delightful to be together again after the
long separation of Rupert and Don from the others, that they seemed
unable to remain apart for any length of time.
They gathered now at one of the three houses, now at another. One day
the mother was the hostess, then Mildred, then Zillah; but at whichever
dwelling they congregated all were perfectly at home, Juanita very
soon as much so as the rest, for they all gave her a daughter's and
sister's place, calling her by those names, while the little ones were
taught to say, "Aunt Nita."
She was a trifle shy and reserved at first, but her timidity soon
melted away under the sunshine of love that constantly shone upon her.
She grew sweetly confiding and affectionate, not to her husband only,
but to all his relatives.
Influenced by an ardent desire to be and do all he could wish, she
silently took note of all the housewifely ways of his mother and
sisters, determined to copy them as nearly as possible when she also
should become a housekeeper; rather dreading, too, the coming of the
time when she must assume the duties of that position, because she felt
herself hardly equal to their full performance.
It was several weeks after their arrival in Pleasant Plains that one
day, finding himself alone with her, Rupert asked, "Juanita, my love,
which would you prefer, going to housekeeping, or just living on here
as we have been doing so far, with my father and mother?"
"Ah, Rupert, would they like to have us stay?" she asked, with an eager
look up into his face, for he was standing beside the low chair in
which she was seated.
"Yes," he said, smiling down on her; "and I see you would like it too."
"Oh no, not unless you please; I mean I should prefer whatever would be
most for the pleasure and happiness of my dear husband."
"Thank you, love," he said, bending down to caress her hair and cheek;
"then we will stay here at least for the present, for I perceive that
will be agreeable to all parties. But whenever you weary of it, and
think you would be happier in a home of your own, you must tell me so
without reserve. Promise me that you will."
"Yes, señor," she returned, gayly, "I promise; but the time will never
come till I have learned to do all housewifely duties just as your dear
mother does."
Her words gave him great pleasure, and she saw with delight that they
did. She sprang up in a pretty, impulsive way she had, threw her arms
round his neck, and gazing up into his face with eyes beaming with
light and love, "Oh, my dear husband," she cried, "how good, how kind
you are to me always, always!"
"I should be a brute if I were anything else to you, my precious little
darling!" he said, holding her close, with many a fond caress.
Rupert was again devoting himself to business with all the old energy
and faithfulness.
Don, unable to decide what was best suited to his capacity and
inclination, waited for some sort of opening, and in the mean time
resumed some of his former studies, and spent a good deal of his
leisure in the society of his sisters and Dr. Landreth's relative and
guest, Miss Flora Weston.
He was pleased with her, and the liking was mutual. Don was a handsome,
high-spirited fellow, and could be very entertaining in conversation.
And Flora, with improving health and spirits, had become quite an
attractive girl.
The friendship at length ripened into love. She remained in Pleasant
Plains through the winter, and before spring had fairly opened the two
were affianced, with the knowledge and consent of parents and relatives
on both sides. But as both were very young, the marriage would not take
place for a year or more.
In May Mr. Weston came for his daughter.
His home was in New Jersey, where he was largely engaged in
manufactures, and he had not been long in Pleasant Plains before he
proposed that Don should take a position in his business establishment,
with the prospect of becoming a partner at no very distant day.
Don thanked him heartily, took a few days to consider the matter and
consult with parents and friends, then accepted the offer, and again
bade farewell to home and kindred; but this time the parting was by no
means so sorrowful as on a former occasion.
He was not going so far away or into such dangers, difficulties, and
temptations, and might hope to return now and then for a visit to his
childhood's home. It was but such a separation as is common between
parents and their sons grown to man's estate.
Here we will leave our friends for the present, perhaps taking up the
thread of our narrative again at some future day, and telling what
befell them in after years.