“It is a parcel for Miss Trevennon.”
Margaret turned and held out her hand for it.
“Where from?” she said.
“From the Arlington, Miss,” replied the man, in evident trepidation. “I’m very sorry, Miss, but there’s been a mistake. It was to have been sent this morning, but it has been such a busy day that it has been forgotten. Mr. Decourcy left particular orders, and I hope you’ll be kind enough to excuse the delay, Miss.”
Margaret turned the parcel so as to get the light from the hall gas upon it. As she did so, her expression changed quickly. It was addressed to Mrs. Vere.
“There is some mistake,” she said, coldly, with a certain high turn of the head that Louis knew. “This is not for me.”
The poor negro, who was perhaps somewhat the worse for the wine remnants left by the Arlington’s Christmas guests, was overwhelmed with confusion, and, quickly extending the other package, explained that he had made a mistake between the two, and asked Miss Trevennon rather helplessly to see if this one was not addressed to herself.
It proved to be so; and though, under the circumstances, Margaret would have preferred not to touch it, she was compelled to take it and dismiss the man, which she did somewhat curtly.
She did not examine her parcel until she reached her own room, and even then she tossed it on the bed, and removed her wraps and hat and put them away before she untied the string which bound it. Once she thought she would put it out of sight until to-morrow, but, despite her disfavor toward the giver, she had a young lady’s natural curiosity as to the gift, and so she presently took it up and untied it. A little note fell out. It was dated Christmas morning at nine, and ran:
“I am just leaving for Baltimore, under a pledge to spend to-day with Amy and the children. I have been more than disappointed—hurt at missing you, both when I called and at the theatre last evening. I did not know you had been present, until I heard it by accident, after we had left. It had not at all entered into my calculations to forego the pleasure of taking leave of you in person, and I propose to get the better of fate by returning in a day or two for this purpose.