“This is the young lady,” said Mrs. Carter, going up to Eva with a cordial welcome in her face. “Miss Laurence, you have never seen my husband, but he has come to make your acquaintance.”
Eva turned and saw a rather stout and well-formed man coming toward her, with his hand extended.
“Delighted to see you, Miss—make yourself at home, and welcome.” Eva, grateful for the warmth of his greeting, laid her hand in his.
“You are very kind,” she said, modestly; “but Mr. Ross told me I could expect nothing that was not pleasant here.”
“Mr. Ross shall promise nothing for us that we will not perform,” answered the host, blandly.
“My dear, that is a carriage—give me your arm. Ross, take care of Miss Eva. Dear me, there is a party going up to the dressing-room. What if we meet them!—oh, the back stairs. They are a little dark, but I’ll go first. Carter, take care of my train. Ah, this is something like!”
CHAPTER XXXVII.
A GLIMPSE OF FAIRY LAND.
No wonder Mrs. Carter gave voice to her admiration. While she was in her dressing-room, chandeliers and wax-lights enough to turn night into noonday, had been kindled down the vista of three splendid rooms, separated from each other only by rich, flowing draperies of silk and lace, varying and yet harmonious in their colors, as tints melt into each other on a sunset cloud.
In the far distance came the soft glow of milky amber, stealing through transparent under-draperies, and throwing a warm tinge over the pale sea-green of the middle room. Here all the frescoes were delicate and subdued. Flowers seemed to have cast their shadows on the ceilings; the carpets were like snow, in which blossoms, in rich combinations, were sinking. There all was delicate, artistic and suggestive. Marble Floras, half the size of life, with one arm full of roses, held back the draperies which fell tentlike between the rooms. Adown the inner lace-folds, flowers were so arranged that they seemed floating in frosty air.
At each window the same effect was produced. At one a crouching Venus half hid herself in the snow-fall of the curtains; at another, some dancing-girl peeped roguishly out, as if looking for a partner.