by Myrtle Reed
X
In the Garden
"To-night," said Aunt Peace, "we will sit in the garden."
It was Wednesday, and the rites in the house were somewhat relaxed,though Iris, from force of habit, polished the tall silver candlesticksuntil they shone like new. Miss Field herself made a pan of littlecakes, sprinkled them with powdered sugar, and put them away. She wasnever lovelier than when at her dainty tasks in her spotless kitchen. Bysome alchemy of the spirit, she made the homely duties of the day intopleasures--simple ones, perhaps, but none the less genuine.
No one alluded to the fact that Doctor Brinkerhoff was coming. "Ofcourse," as Iris said to Lynn, "we don't know that he is, but since he'smissed only one Wednesday in ten years, we may be pardoned for expectinghim."
"One might think so," agreed Lynn, laughing. He took keen delight in theregular Wednesday evening comedy.
"We make the little cakes for tea," continued Iris, her eyes dancing.
"But we never have 'em for tea," Lynn objected, "and I wish you'd quittalking about 'em. It disturbs my peace of mind."
"Pig!" exclaimed Iris. They were alone, and her face was dangerouslynear his. Her rosy lips were twitching in a most provoking way, and,immediately, there were Consequences.
She left the print of four firm fingers upon Lynn's cheek, and he rubbedthe injured place ruefully. "I don't see why I shouldn't kiss you," hesaid.
"If you haven't learned yet, I'll slap you again."
"No, you won't; I'll hold your hands next time."
"There isn't going to be any 'next time.' The idea!"
"Iris! Please don't go away! Wait a minute--I want to talk to you."
"It's too bad it's so one-sided," remarked Iris, with a sidelong glance.
"Look here!"
"Well, I'm looking, but so much green--the grass--and the shrubbery, youknow--and all--it's hard on my eyes."
"We're cousins, aren't we?"
Iris sat down on the bench beside him, evidently struck by a new idea."I hadn't thought of it," she said conversationally. "Are we?"
"I think we are. Mother is Aunt Peace's nephew, isn't she?"
"Not that anybody knows of. A lady nephew is called a niece in EastLancaster."
"Oh, well," replied Lynn, colouring, "you know what I mean. Mother isAunt Peace's niece, isn't she?"
"I hear so. A gentleman for whom I have much respect assures me of it."The wicked light in her eyes belied her words, and Lynn wished that hehad kissed her twice while he had the opportunity.
"It's the truth," he said. "And mother's my mother."
"Really?"
"So that makes me Aunt Peace's nephew."
"Grand-nephew," corrected Iris, with double meaning.
"Thank you for the compliment. Perhaps I'm a nephew-once-removed."
"I haven't seen any signs of removal," observed Iris, "but I'd love to."
"Don't be so frivolous! If I am Aunt Peace's nephew, what relation am Ito her daughter?"
"Legal daughter," Iris suggested.
"Legal daughter is just as good as any other kind of a daughter. Thatmakes me your cousin."
"Legal cousin," explained Iris, "but not moral."
"It's all the same, even in East Lancaster. I'm your legalcousin-once-removed."
"Grand-legal-cousin-once-removed," repeated Iris, parrot-like, with hereyes fixed upon a distant robin.
"That's just the same as a plain cousin."
"You're plain enough to be a plain cousin," she observed, and the colourdeepened upon Lynn's handsome face.
"So I'm going to kiss you again."
"You're not," she said, with an air of finality. She flew into the houseand took refuge beside Mrs. Irving.
"Mother," cried Lynn, closely following, "isn't Iris my cousin?"
"No, dear; she's no relation at all."
"So now!" exclaimed Iris, in triumph. "Grand-legal-cousin-once-removed,you will please make your escape immediately."
"Little witch!" thought Lynn, as he went upstairs; "I'll see that shedoesn't slap me next time."
"Iris," said Mrs. Irving, suddenly, "you are very beautiful."
"Am I, really?" For a moment the girl's deep eyes were filled withwonder, and then she smiled. "It is because you love me," she said,dropping a tiny kiss upon Margaret's white forehead; "and because I loveyou, I think you are beautiful, too."
Alone in her room, Iris studied herself in her small mirror. It was justlarge enough to see one's face in, for Aunt Peace did not believe incultivating vanity--in others. In her own room was a long pier-glass,where a certain young person stole brief glimpses of herself.
"I'll go in there," she thought. "Aunt Peace is in the kitchen, and noone will know."
She left the door open, that she might hear approaching footsteps, andwas presently lost in contemplation. She turned her head this way andthat, taking pleasure in the gleam of light upon the shining coils ofher hair, and in the rosy tint of her cheeks. Just above the corner ofher mouth, there was the merest dimple.
Iris smiled, and then poked an inquiring finger into it. "I didn't knowI had that," she said to herself, in surprise. "I wonder why I couldn'thave a glass like this in my room? There's one in the attic--I knowthere is,--and oh, how lovely it would be!"
"It's where I kissed you," said Lynn, from the doorway. "If you'll keepstill, I'll make another one for you on the other side. You didn't havethat dimple yesterday."
"Mr. Irving," replied Iris, with icy calmness, "you will kindly let mepass."
He stepped aside, half afraid of her in this new mood, and she went downthe hall to her own room. She shut the door with unmistakable firmness,and Lynn sighed. "Happy mirror!" he thought. "She's the prettiest thingthat ever looked into it."
But was she, after all? Since the great mirror came over-seas, as partof the marriage portion of a bride, many young eyes had sought itsshining surface and lingered upon the vision of their own loveliness.Many a woman, day by day, had watched herself grow old, and the mirrorhad seen tears because of it. The portraits in the hall and the oldmirror had shared many a secret together. Happily, neither could betraythe other's confidence.
Iris, meanwhile, was finding such satisfaction as she might in thesmaller glass, and meditating upon the desirability of the one in theattic. "I'll ask Aunt Peace," she thought, and knew, instantly, that shewouldn't ask Aunt Peace for worlds.
"I'm vain," she said to herself, reprovingly; "I'm a vain little thing,and I won't look in the mirror any more, so there!"
She reviewed her humdrum round of daily duties with increasing pity forherself. Then, she had had only the books and the people who movedacross their eloquent pages, but now? Surely, Cupid had come to EastLancaster.
Just think! Two letters, not so very far apart, from someone whoworshipped her at a distance and was afraid to sign his name! And thisvery day, not more than an hour ago, she had been kissed. No man hadever kissed Iris before, not even a grand-legal-cousin-once-removed.Still, she rather wished it hadn't happened, for she felt different,someway. It would have been better if the writer of the letters had doneit. A romance like this set her far above the commonplace--she felt verymuch older than Lynn, and was inclined to patronise him. He was nothingbut a boy, who chased one around the garden with worms and putgrasshoppers in one's hat. Yet one could pardon those things, when onewas so undeniably popular.
* * * * *
After tea, they sat in the shadowy coolness of the parlour, waiting. Thevery air was expectant. Aunt Peace was beautiful in shimmering white,with the emerald gleaming at her throat. Mrs. Irving, as always, wore ablack gown, and Iris had donned her best lavender muslin, in honour ofthe occasion.
"Why can't we go outside?" asked Margaret.
"We can, my dear," returned Aunt Peace, "but I was taught that it wasbetter to wait in the house until after calling hours. Of course, thereare few visitors in East Lancaster, but even on a desert island one mustobserve the proprieties, and a lady will always recei
ve her guests inthe house."
While she was speaking, Doctor Brinkerhoff opened the gate. Miss Fieldaffected not to see him, and waited until the maid ushered him in. "Goodevening, Doctor," she said, "I assure you this is quite a pleasure."
His manner toward the others was gentle, and even courtly, but hedistinguished Miss Field by elaborate deference. If he disagreed withher, it was with evident respect for her opinion, and upon all disputedpoints he seemed eager to be convinced.
"Shall we not go into the garden?" asked Aunt Peace, addressing themall. "We were just upon the point of going, Doctor, when you came."
She led the way, with the Doctor beside her, attentive, gallant, andconsiderate. Margaret came next, with Miss Field's white shawl. Behindwere Lynn and Iris, laughing like children at some secret joke. By astrange coincidence, five chairs were arranged in a sociable groupunder the tall pine in a corner of the garden.
"Yes," Miss Field was saying, "I think East Lancaster is most beautifulat this time of year. I have not travelled much, but I have seenpictures, and I am content with my own little corner of the world."
"And yet, madam," returned the Doctor, "you would so much enjoytravelling. It is too bad that you cannot go abroad."
"Perhaps I may. I have not thought of it, but as you speak of it, itseems to me that it might be very pleasant to go."
"Aunt Peace!" exclaimed Mrs. Irving. "What are you thinking of!"
"Not of my seventy-five years, my dear; you may be sure of that."
"Why shouldn't she go?" asked Lynn. "Aunt Peace could go anywhere andcome back safely. Everybody she met would fall in love with her, and seethat she was comfortable."
"Quite right!" said the Doctor, with evident sincerity.
"Flatterers!" she laughed. "Fie upon you!" But there was a note of happyyouthfulness in the voice, and they knew that she was pleased.
"If you go, madam," the Doctor continued, "it will be my pleasure togive you letters to friends of mine in Germany."
"Thank you," she returned, with a stately inclination of her head. "Itwould be very kind."
"And," he went on, "I have many books which would be of service to you.Shall I bring some of them, the next time I come?"
"I would not trouble you, Doctor, but sometime, if you happened to bepassing."
"Yes," he answered, "when I happen to be passing. I shall not forget."
"They might be interesting, if not of actual service. I am familiar withmuch that has been written of foreign lands. We have _Marco Polo'sAdventures_ in our library."
The Doctor coughed into his handkerchief. "The world has changed, dearmadam, since Marco Polo travelled."
"Yes," she sighed, "it is always changing, and we older ones are leftfar behind."
"Oh, nonsense!" exclaimed Lynn. "I'll tell you what, Aunt Peace, you'rewell up at the head of the procession. You're no farther behind thanthe drum-major is."
"The drum-major, my dear? I do not understand. Is he a militarygentleman?"
"He's the boss of the whole shooting match," explained Lynn,inelegantly. "He wears a bear-skin bonnet and tickles the music out ofthe band. If it weren't for him, the whole show would go up in smoke."
"Lynn!" said Margaret, reprovingly. "What language! Aunt Peace cannotunderstand you!"
"I'll bet on Aunt Peace," remarked Lynn, sagely.
"I fear I am not quite abreast of the times," said the old lady. "Do youthink, Doctor, that the world grows better, or worse?"
"Better, madam, steadily better. I can see it every day."
"It is well for one to think so," observed Margaret, "whatever the factsmay be."
Midsummer and moonlight made enchantment in the garden. Merlin himselfcould have done no more. The house, half hidden in the shadow, stoodwaiting, as it had done for two centuries, while those who belongedunder its roof made holiday outside. Most of them had gone forever, andonly their portraits were left, but, replete with memories both happyand sad, the house could not be said to be alone.
The tall pine threw its gloom far beyond them, and the moonlight touchedAunt Peace caressingly. Her silvered hair gleamed with unearthly beautyand her serene eyes gave sweet significance to her name. All those shecared for were about her--daughter and friends.
"Nights like this," said the Doctor, dreamily, "make one think of theold fairy tales. Elves and witches are not impossible, when the moonshines like this."
Lynn looked across the garden to the rose-bush, where a cobweb,dew-impearled, had captured a bit of wandering rainbow. "They are farfrom impossible," he answered. "I think they were here only the othernight, for in the morning, when I went out to look at my vegetables, Ifound something queer among the leaves."
"Something queer, my dear?" asked Aunt Peace, with interest. "What wasit?"
"A leaf of rosemary and a sprig of mignonette, tied round with a bladeof grass and wet with dew."
"How strange," said Margaret. "How could it have happened?"
"Rosemary," said Aunt Peace, "that means remembrance, and the mignonettemeans the hope of love. A very pretty message for a fairy to leave amongyour vegetables."
"Very pretty," repeated the Doctor, nodding appreciation.
Iris feared they heard the loud beating of her heart. "What do youthink?" asked Lynn, turning to her. "Was it a fairy?"
"Of course," she returned, with assumed indifference. "Who else?"
There was silence then, and in the house the clock struck ten. Theyheard it plainly, and the Doctor, with a start of recollection, took outhis huge silver watch.
"I had no idea it was so late," he said. "I must go."
"One moment, Doctor," began Miss Field, putting out a restraining hand."Let me offer you some refreshment before you start upon that long walk.Iris?"
"Yes, Aunt Peace."
"Those little cakes that we had for tea--there may be one or twoleft--and is there not a little wine?"
"I'll see."
Lynn followed her, and presently they came back, with the RoyalWorcester plate piled generously with cakes, and a decanter of the portthat was famous throughout East Lancaster.
With a smile upon her lips, the old lady leaned forward, into themoonlight, glass in hand. The brim of another touched it and the clearring of crystal seemed carried afar into the night.
"To your good health, madam."
"And to your prosperity."
"This has been very charming," said the Doctor, as he brushed away thecrumbs, "and now, my dear Miss Iris, may we not hope for a song?"
"Which one?"
"'Annie Laurie,' if you please."
Iris went in, and Margaret made a move to follow her. "Don't go,mother," said Lynn, "let's stay here."
"I'm afraid Aunt Peace will take cold."
"No, dearie, I have my shawl. Let me be young again, just for to-night,with no fear of draughts or colds. Midsummer has never hurt anyone,and, as Doctor Brinkerhoff says, the good fairies are abroad to-night."
The old-fashioned ballad took on new beauty and meaning. Mellowed by thedistance, the girl's deep contralto was surpassingly tender and sweet.When she came out, the others were silent, with the spell of her songstill upon them.
"A good voice," said Lynn, half to himself. "She should study."
"Iris has had lessons," returned Aunt Peace, with gentle dignity, "andher voice pleases her friends. What is there beyond that?"
"Fame," said Lynn.
"Fame is the love of the many," Aunt Peace rejoined, "and counts for nomore than the love of the few. The great ones have said it was barren,and my little girl will be better off here."
As she spoke, she put her arm around Iris, and they went to the housetogether. At the steps, there was a pause, and Doctor Brinkerhoff saidgood night.
"It has been perfect," said Miss Field, as she gave him her hand. "Ifthis were to be my last night on earth, I could not ask for more--mybeautiful garden, with the moonlight shining upon it, music, and my bestfriends."
The Doctor was touched, and bent low over her hand
, pressing it ever solightly with his lips. "I thank you, dear madam," he answered, gently,"for the happiest evening I have ever spent."
"Come again, then," she said, graciously, with a happy little laugh."The years stretch fair before us, when one is but seventy-five!"
* * * * *
That night, just at the turn of dawn, Margaret was awakened by a hothand upon her face. "Dearie," said Aunt Peace, weakly, "will you come?I'm almost burning up with fever."
