Chapter Fourth.
"Wear this for me."--Shakespeare.
"Your traveling suit is very neat and becoming--very ladylike," MissStanhope remarked, with an approving glance at Mildred's trim figure,"I don't think your Uncle Dinsmore can have felt that he had any reasonto be ashamed of you."
"I hope not," was the smiling rejoinder, "and I did not see anyindications of it."
"But how about the rest of your wardrobe, child? I fear you had smallchoice of material in Pleasant Plains, and very little time for makingup your purchases. We might do rather better here, if we could persuadeyour uncle to lengthen his intended stay."
"Thank you, auntie dear, you are always so kind and thoughtful,"Mildred said, "but I don't think he could be persuaded, and indeed Ishould not like to have him delay for my sake, because I know he andhis wife are anxious to get home before the cold weather sets in."
She went on to explain her plans, and to tell of her Cousin Horace'sgenerous gift.
"That was just like him, he's an open-handed, noble fellow," was AuntWealthy's comment, "you need never hesitate to take a kindness fromhim, because he enjoys it, and is abundantly able. But I must not beoutdone by him," she continued with a smile, rising and going to herbureau--for they were in her bedroom now--"or rather, I wish to do myshare in proportion to my ability."
Mildred protested that her wants were already well supplied; butplayfully bidding her be quiet and let older and wiser heads judge ofthat, Miss Stanhope proceeded to take a key from her pocket, unlock thedrawers of her bureau, and bring forth her treasures:--a quantity ofrich old lace, that the finest lady in the land might have been proudto wear, several handsome rings, a diamond pin, and a beautiful goldchain for the neck.
"They are old fashioned, dearie," she said, "but no one will mistakethem for pinchbeck and colored glass," she added, with her low musicallaugh, as she threw the chain about Mildred's neck, and slipped therings upon her fingers.
The girl's cheeks flushed, and her eyes sparkled.
"O, Aunt Wealthy," she cried, "how can you trust such treasures to mykeeping? Old fashioned indeed! They are all the more delightful forthat, as showing that one does not belong to the mushroom gentry, butto a good, substantial old family. But you must not let me use them,lest they should be lost or stolen. I should be frightened out of mywits in either case."
"Nonsense, child! You would have no need; for the loss would be moreyours than mine; I shall never wear them again, and they will allbelong, some day, to you or your sisters," Miss Stanhope said, turningto her bureau once more.
Lifting out something carefully wrapped in a towel, she laid it inMildred's lap, saying, "This, too, you must take with you. You willwant a handsome wrap in Philadelphia, before you can go out to buy, andthis will answer the purpose even better than anything you would feelable to purchase. Won't it?" she queried with another of her sweet,silvery laughs.
Mildred fairly caught her breath in delighted surprise.
"O, Aunt Wealthy! your beautiful India shawl! you can't mean to lend_that_ to me!"
"That is just what I mean, Milly; stand up a minute, dear," sheanswered gayly, taking it from its wrappings and draping it about theslender girlish figure. "There! nothing could be more becoming. I canonly lend, not give it, because it is already willed to your mother.But it is to descend always to the eldest daughter."
"Aunt Wealthy, I'm afraid to borrow it; afraid something might happento it. So please put it away again."
"Tut, child! something might happen to it at home. Suppose the houseshould burn down with everything in it; wouldn't I be glad the shawlwas saved by being far away in your keeping?"
It was very rich and costly, and highly prized by Miss Stanhope as thegift of a favorite brother, long since dead. He had been a wanderer,lived many years in China and India, whence he had sent her, from timeto time, rare and beautiful things, of which this was one, then atlength he came home to die in her arms, leaving her the bulk of hisfortune, enough to make her very comfortable.
Her means were ample for her own needs, but not for her abundantcharities; for she spent little on herself, but gave with a liberalhand.
"Yes, I know you would, auntie," Mildred said, passing her handcaressingly over the soft, rich folds; "but in my wildest dreams Inever supposed you would lend this to me. And if I were in your place Idon't think I'd do it," she concluded with an arch look and smile.
"You are a careful little body and I'm not afraid to trust you. Youmust carry it with you, my child, and wear it too; as a favor tome; for you can't suppose I feel willing to have Mrs. Dinsmore'saristocratic nose turn up at niece of mine for lack of a little finerythat lies idle in my bureau drawer?"
"Ah, if you put it on that score I can't refuse," laughed Mildred, herface sparkling with pleasure, "and oh, but you're good to let me haveit! It is so handsome, auntie! it seems like a whole outfit in itself,"she went on, dancing about the room in almost wild delight.
Then sobering down a little and standing before the glass to notethe effect, "I don't think," she said, "that I had seen it over halfa dozen times before--when worn on some grand occasion by you ormother--and it has always inspired me with a kind of awe, as somethingto be looked at from a respectful distance and by no means handled. Soit seems almost beyond belief that I am actually to wear it."
The few days Mr. Dinsmore had apportioned to their visit to Lansdaleflew rapidly by; all too rapidly for Miss Stanhope, who was loathto part with them, Mildred especially; but the young girl, full ofyouthful eagerness to see the world, was hardly sorry to go, spite ofher sincere affection for her aunt.
They returned to the Ohio River as they had come, striking it at thenearest point, where they once more embarked in a steamboat; takingpassage for Pittsburgh.
They were again favored with pleasant weather, for the most of thetime, and Mildred enjoyed the trip. Mr. Dinsmore was very kind andattentive to her comfort, and she made some agreeable acquaintancesamong her fellow passengers.
They dined and spent some hours at a hotel in Pittsburgh, then took thecars for Philadelphia.
It was a new mode of travel to Mildred, and not what she would havechosen; she had read newspaper accounts of railroad accidents and feltin going upon the train, that she was risking life and limb.
But she kept her fears to herself, determined not to be an annoyance toher uncle, and he never suspected how her heart was quaking as she tookquiet possession of the seat he selected for her.
"We are early," he remarked with a glance about the almost empty car,as he sat down beside her; then looking at his watch, "Yes, fullyfifteen minutes to wait before the train starts. Well, that's a gooddeal better than being too late.
"Mildred, there's something I want to say to you before we join youraunt, and perhaps this is as good a time for it as any. There! don't bealarmed," as she gave him a startled look, "it's nothing unpleasant;only that I would rather you would not say anything to Mrs. Dinsmoreabout your father's circumstances. My dear, I am not meaning to woundyour feelings," he added hastily, for she was blushing painfully andher eyes had filled.
"I think quite as much of him, and of you all as if you were rollingin wealth. But my wife is--well, does not always see things preciselyas I do, and it will make us more comfortable all round if she is leftto suppose that your mother is still in possession of the fortune sheonce had."
He paused and Mildred, understanding that some answer was expected fromher, said, a little tremulously, for she was hurt, "I cannot act a lie,Uncle Dinsmore, and poverty ought not to be considered a disgrace."
"Of course it shouldn't and I am not asking you to practice deceit anymore than just to keep things to yourself which others have no rightto pry into. It need not be difficult; for Mrs. Dinsmore is not one ofthe prying kind; and Horace and I will regard it as a favor to us, ifyou will simply leave it to me to take care of your expenses withoutquestion or remark."
This last was spoken with such winning kindness of tone and manner thateven Mi
ldred's pride was disarmed: grateful tears shone in her eyes asshe turned them upon him.
"My dear good uncle," she whispered, laying her hand upon his with agesture of confiding affection, "I don't know how to thank you andCousin Horace, and I cannot refuse to do as you wish, but indeed youmust not let me be any more expense to you than if I were but anordinary guest; instead of the extraordinary one I am," she added,laughing to hide her emotion.
"I shall have my own way about it, you may depend, whatever that maychance to be," he answered with mock severity of tone.
Mildred laughed again, this time a really mirthful, happy laugh;feeling her heart grow strangely light.
After all she could not help being glad that Mrs. Dinsmore was not toknow their comparative poverty; that she herself was not to be lookedupon as a poor relation who might be snubbed at pleasure and perhapstwitted with her lack of means: or worse still, treated with lofty, orwith pitying condescension.
"Yes," Mr. Dinsmore went on, half to himself, half to her, "wealth isbut a secondary matter after all; family is the main thing. I believein blood, and want nothing to do with your parvenu aristocracy, be theynever so rich. Well what say you, my dear?" for Mildred's face hadgrown very thoughtful.
"I'm afraid I am naturally inclined to think just so, but--"
"Well, are not my views correct and proper?" he asked good humoredly,as she paused with a look of some confusion.
"Is not character what we should look at, rather than anything else?"she modestly inquired, "is not true nobility that of the heart andlife? It is what father and mother have taught me, and I think, too, ismost consistent with the teachings of God's word."
At that moment there was a sudden and large influx of passengers, someof them talking noisily, and her query remained unanswered.
Mildred at Roselands Page 4
