“Not if I am faithful in my work, and that I mean to be.”
The evening was after all a great delight to Elsie, who never allowed any misgiving to long cloud her skies. The beautiful costumes, the light laughter, the gay banter, the strains of music that floated up-stairs from the mandolin orchestra stationed in the library behind banks of ferns and roses, all seemed a dream from the fairyland of the imagination. She hovered over the balusters in the hall, and watched the moving panorama below with all the intoxication of youth in bright and beautiful things. Later in the evening she crept down-stairs with the other maids, and hiding herself behind a screen of palms in the hall, could see in the drawing-room beyond the bevy of belles and beaux in the exercise of all the graces of refined intercourse. She could see that Herbert Lynn was everywhere welcomed by bright eyes and cordial words, and a little pang of regret shot through her heart at the injustice of fate. But it was only for a moment, and then, with an effort of will so strong that it sent the blood out of her face, she trampled the rising regret to death.
“I will not, I will not,” she said between set teeth, as she walked wearily along the hall to her room when the last guest had departed.
“You’ve dropped your roses,” said Herbert’s voice behind her just as she reached the foot of the stairs.
“No matter,” she said, half-turning. “A withered rose is valueless.”
“Not to me,” he replied emphatically, as he gathered them up and deliberately placed them inside his vest.
A look of innocent wonder swept over Elsie’s face, that was not altogether successful in its effort to appear natural. “A wilted rose, I suppose, will answer for a rose-jar! There are oceans in the parlors, and I can bring you a panful if you wish.”
Herbert took a quick step that brought him to Elsie’s side. “Elsie Murchison,” he exclaimed half-savagely, “do you know I never was baffled in my life?”
“First times have come to a good many of the world’s conquerors. Mr. Lynn would be a most notable exception if he continued an unbroken line of victories.”
“You may mock me as you choose. I have been candid to the verge of bluntness with you, and you know very well I am desirous of obtaining your friendship.”