Here ’Lena entered the parlor, very neatly dressed, and looking fresh and blooming as a rose. There was no vacant seat near except one between Durward and John Jr., which, at the invitation of the latter, she accepted. A peculiar smile flitted over Carrie’s face, which was noticed by Mrs. Graham, and attributed to the right cause. Ere long Durward, John Jr., ’Lena and Anna, who had joined them, left the house, and from the window Carrie saw that they were amusing themselves by playing “Graces.” Gradually the sound of their voices increased, and as ’Lena’s clear, musical laugh rang out above the rest, Mrs. Graham and Carrie looked out just in time to see Durward holding the struggling girl, while John Jr., claimed the reward of his having thrown the “grace hoop” upon her head.
Inexpressily shocked, the precise Mrs. Graham asked, “What kind of a girl is your cousin?” to which Carrie replied, “You have a fair sample of her,” at the same time nodding toward ’Lena, who was unmercifully pulling John Jr.’s ears as a reward for his presumption.
“Rather hoydenish, I should think,” returned Mrs. Graham, secretly hoping Durward would not become enamored of her.
At length the party left the yard, and repairing to the garden, sat down in one of the arbor bridges, where they were joined by Malcolm Everett, who naturally, and as a matter of course, appropriated Anna to himself, Durward observed this, and when he saw them walk away together, while ’Lena appeared wholly unconcerned, he began to think that possibly Mrs. Livingstone was mistaken when she hinted of an engagement between her niece and Mr. Everett. Knowing John Jr.’s straightforward way of speaking, he determined to sound him, so he said, “Your sister and Mr. Everett evidently prefer each other’s society to ours.”
“Oh, yes,” answered John. “I saw that years ago, when Anna wasn’t knee-high; and I’m glad of it, for Everett is a mighty fine fellow.”
’Lena, too, united in praising her teacher, until Durward felt certain that she had never entertained for him any feeling stronger than that of friendship; and as to her flirting seriously with Captain Atherton, the idea was too preposterous to be harbored for a single moment. Once exonerated from these charges, it was strange how fast ’Lena rose in his estimation, and when John Jr., with a loud yawn, asked if they did not wish he would leave them alone, more in earnest than in fun Durward replied, “Yes, yes, do.”
“I reckon I will,” said John, shaking down his tight pants, and pulling at his long coat sleeves. “I never want anybody round when I’m with Nellie Douglass.”
So saying, he walked off, leaving Durward and ’Lena alone. That neither of them felt at all sorry, was proved by the length of time which they remained together, for when more than an hour afterward Mrs. Graham proposed to Carrie to take a turn in the garden, she found the young couple still in the arbor, so wholly engrossed that they neither saw nor heard her until she stood before them.
’Lena was an excellent horsewoman, and Durward had just proposed a ride early the next morning, when his mother, forcing down her wrath, laid her hand on his shoulder, and as if the proposition had come from ’Lena instead of her son, she said, “No, no, Miss Rivers, Durward can’t go—he has got to drive me over to Woodlawn, together with Carrie and Anna, whom I have asked to accompany me; so you see ’twill be impossible for him to ride with you.”
“Unless she goes with us,” interrupted Durward. “You would like to visit Woodlawn, would you not, Miss Rivers?”