Amelia Barr - The Man Between: An International Romance стр 3.

How beautiful you are to-day, Dora! Who has worked wonders on you?

Basil Stanhope. He loves me! He loves me! He told me so last nightin the sweetest words that were ever uttered. I shall never forget one of themnever, as long as I live! Let us sit down. I want to tell you everything.

I am astonished, Dora!

So was mother, and father, and Bryce. No one suspected our affection. Mother used to grumble about my going at all hours to St. Judes church; but that was because St. Judes is so very High Church, and mother is a Methodist Episcopal. It was the morning and evening prayers she objected to. No one had any suspicion of the clergyman. Oh, Ethel, he is so handsome! So good! So clever! I think every woman in the church is in love with him.

Then if he is a good man, he must be very unhappy.

Of course he is quite ignorant of their admiration, and therefore quite innocent. I am the only woman he loves, and he never even remembers me when he is in the sacred office. If you could see him come out of the vestry in his white surplice, with his rapt face and prophetic eyes. So mystical! So beautiful! You would not wonder that I worship him.

But I do not understandhow did you meet him socially?

I met him at Mrs. Taylors first. Then he spoke to me one morning as I came out of church, and the next morning he walked through the park with me. And after thatall was easy enough.

I see. What does your father and mother thinkor rather, what do they say?

Father always says what he thinks, and mother thinks and says what I do. This condition simplified matters very much. Basil wrote to father, and yesterday after dinner he had an interview with him. I expected it, and was quite prepared for any climax that might come. I wore my loveliest white frock, and had lilies of the valley in my hair and on my breast; and father called me his little angel and piously wondered how I could be his daughter. All dinner time I tried to be angelic, and after dinner I sang Little Boy Blue and some of the songs he loves; and I felt, when Basils card came in, that I had prepared the proper atmosphere for the interview.

You are really very clever, Dora.

I tried to continue singing and playing, but I could not; the notes all ran together, the words were lost. I went to mothers side and put my hand in hers, and she said softly: I can hear your father storming a little, but he will settle down the quicker for it. I dare say he will bring Mr. Stanhope in here before long.

Did he?

No. That was Bryces fault. How Bryce happened to be in the house at that hour, I cannot imagine; but it seems to be natural for him to drop into any interview where he can make trouble. However, it turned out all for the best, for when mother heard Bryces voice above all the other sounds, she said, Come Dora, we shall have to interfere now. Then I was delighted. I was angelically dressed, and I felt equal to the interview.

Do you really mean that you joined the three quarreling men?

Of course. Mother was quite calmcalm enough to freeze a tempestbut she gave father a look he comprehended. Then she shook hands with Basil, and would have made some remark to Bryce, but with his usual impertinence he took the initiative, and told he: very authoritatively to retire and take me with hercalling me that demure little flirt in a tone that was very offensive. You should have seen father blaze into anger at his words. He told Bryce to remember that Mr. Ben Denning owned the house, and that Bryce had four or five rooms in it by his courtesy. He said also that the ladies present were Mr. Ben Dennings wife and daughter, and that it was impertinent in him to order them out of his parlor, where they were always welcome. Bryce was white with passion, but he answered in his affected waySir, that sly girl with her pretended piety and her sneak of a lover is my sister, and I shall not permit her to disgrace my family without making a protest.

And then?

I began to cry, and I put my arms around fathers neck and said he must defend me; that I was not sly, and Basil was not a sneak, and father kissed me, and said he would settle with any man, and every man, who presumed to call me either sly or a flirt.

I think Mr. Denning acted beautifully. What did Bryce say?

He turned to Basil, and said: Mr. Stanhope, if you are not a cad, you will leave the house. You have no right to intrude yourself into family affairs and family quarrels. Basil had seated mother, and was standing with one hand on the back of her chair, and he did not answer Brycethere was no need, father answered quick enough. He said Mr. Stanhope had asked to become one of the family, and for his part he would welcome him freely; and then he asked mother if she was of his mind, and mother smiled and reached her hand backward to Basil. Then father kissed me again, and somehow Basils arm was round me, and I know I looked lovelyalmost like a bride! Oh, Ethel, it was just heavenly!

I am sure it was. Did Bryce leave the room then?

Yes; he went out in a passion, declaring he would never notice me again. This morning at breakfast I said I was sorry Bryce felt so hurt, but father was sure Bryce would find plenty of consolation in the fact that his disapproval of my choice would excuse him from giving me a wedding present. You know Bryce is a mean little miser!

On the contrary, I thought he was very; luxurious and extravagant.

Where Bryce is concerned, yes; toward everyone else his conduct is too mean to consider. Why, father makes him an allowance of $20,000 a year and he empties fathers cigar boxes whenever he can do so without

Let us talk about Mr. Stanhope he is far more interesting. When are you going to marry him?

In the Spring. Father is going to give me some money and I have the fortune Grandmother Cahill left me. It has been well invested, and father told me this morning I was a fairly rich little woman. Basil has some private fortune, also his stipendwe shall do very well. Basils family is one of the finest among the old Boston aristocrats, and he is closely connected with the English Stanhopes, who rank with the greatest of the nobility.

I wish Americans would learn to rely on their own nobility. I am tired of their everlasting attempts to graft on some English noble family. No matter how great or clever a man may be, you are sure to read of his descent from some Scottish chief or English earl.

They cant help their descent, Ethel.

They need not pin all they have done on to it. Often father frets me in the same way. If he wins a difficult case, he does it naturally, because he is a Rawdon. He is handsome, gentlemanly, honorable, even a perfect horseman, all because, being a Rawdon, he was by nature and inheritance compelled to such perfection. It is very provoking, Dora, and if I were you I would not allow Basil to begin a song about the English Stanhopes. Aunt Ruth and I get very tired often of the English Rawdons, and are really thankful for the separating Atlantic.

I dont think I shall feel in that way, Ethel. I like the nobility; so does father, he says the Dennings are a fine old family.

Why talk of genealogies when there is such a man as Basil Stanhope to consider? Let us grant him perfection and agree that he is to marry you in the Spring; well then, there is the ceremony, and the wedding garments! Of course it is to be a church wedding?

We shall be married in Basils own church. I can hardly eat or sleep for thinking of the joy and the triumph of it! There will be women there ready to eat their hearts with envyI believe indeed, Ethel, that every woman in the church is in love with Basil.