When she went to her room and it was quite late the gas was lighted, her bed been put in the most inviting order and there lay a pretty nightdress with its garniture. She colored with a thrill of pleasure. Then she turned and surveyed herself in the glass. Her eyes had a luminous softness, there was a faint pink in her cheeks and her lips had lost their compression, were absolutely shaped into a smile. If she could grow prettier! But her parents loved her. She knew that and it filled her with joy.
Zaidee was bright as usual the next morning and hovered about her father in a tender manner. “By this time Willard was in Washington. When would he know his time of sailing?”
“I believe the vessel is at Fortress Monroe; we will hear soon.”
“Aunt Kate we ought to make some calls today and Margie Putnam has a tea this afternoon, just an informal little affair. Her cousin has come from Providence, I believe, and will try to get in at Mrs. Barrington’s. I should think there would be lovely schools in Providence.”
“I want to go over to Mrs. Barrington’s this morning,” said Mrs. Crawford, “about ten; will you order the carriage?” to her husband.
Then she asked the maid to unpack a box that they had brought home on their last journey. There were many beautiful materials. They did seem extravagant at the time, but she was rather glad now.
“Marguerite, I wonder if you could wear these things. This green is lovely.” It was a cloth that had the sheen of satin. She held it up to the young girl. Why, yes—it would make a handsome winter suit trimmed with fur. And this sort of lavender gray—it is a favorite color of mine. “We will see the dressmaker this morning.”
Marguerite flushed and glancing up smiled gratefully, though she could not trust her voice to speak.
“Oh, it will be delightful for me to have a young girl to dress—a daughter. Perhaps, I shall be a foolish mother, but Aunt Kate has always looked after Zay’s attire. I believe I was not much interested in clothes, but now I shall be and I have so many pretty things I shall never wear again. Zay is overburdened now,” laughing softly, “and Aunt Kate will dower her. Oh, Marguerite, I am so glad to have you! It has given a new impetus to my life,” and she held the girl to her heart.
It was a bright morning, cold, but with no perceptible wind. The trees were outlined against the blue sky, where there was scarcely a drift of white floating about. The evergreen about the lawns made it look less like winter and here and there a conservatory showed brilliant bloom. How beautiful the town was even in the winter.