There was silence in the room for a moment, during which Bonny’s dark eyes filled with an unwonted moisture; and rather than “sprinkle down the occasion” she stole quietly away and to her own duty in that big study, where natural history and she had such a tussle daily to understand each other, but where a growing friendship had been established between them under the wise instruction of Philipse Chidly Brook, Esquire.
Beatrice’s departure broke the spell, and Miss Joanna moved swiftly forward and clasped the trembling, success-humbled Isabelle in her kindly arms. “Ah! my dear, if you can take your good fortune in such guise, all things will be possible to you. I envy you; yes, even if it is wicked! The feeling in your heart at this moment must be so exquisite! To be conscious of one’s own power to transcribe a little of this wonderful beauty all about us so that other eyes may read its secret too, and to be assured that the dear God is approving by helping one as He has helped you now, must be happiness indeed! My darling, I congratulate you with all my heart!”
Belle looked up with glistening eyes. Where was now the envy that had tormented her soul as she had approached that house but a few moments before? Gone utterly. For ten times the wealth and pride of all the Brooks who ever lived in those stately old rooms she would not have given up one iota of the pure joy which now thrilled her heart.
“Dear lady, a bit of a while ago it was I who was envious. Now I wouldn’t change places with you for the world! But, dear me! how horrid that sounds!”
“No, no, no. Let it stand! You are like a young queen who has known all along that her blood was royal, but whom the world has not acknowledged. Now you are free to enter into your kingdom. In the name of the people, welcome! See to it, crowned one, that you always, as now, reverence your high estate!”
Miss Joanna kissed the girl gently on her white brow, then moved quietly away; and Isabelle looked after her wonderingly. “I did not dream that she had all that romance and fine feeling in her alert, practical nature! Well, I shall know a new Miss Joanna now, and love her dearly, dearly! But I came over here to work, not to dream; and though I am so glad I can hardly keep still, I will do, exactly as Motherkin would bid me, ‘the task that lies nearest the best that I can.’”
Certainly no rooms were ever arranged with more loving delicacy of touch and judgment than were these old parlors for Miss Brook’s dinner-party; and when all was finished and Isabelle free at length to go home, she approached her old friend with something of timidity in her air.
“Miss Joanna, may I speak with you a moment?”
“An hour, if you will. It would take all that to express my pleasure in everything, yourself included, if I were to try to put it into words.”
“Then will you understand me exactly, when I say, something, maybe queer—”