CHAPTER XXII.
THE BIRTHDAY.
Mrs. Gordon’s breakfast bell rang several times next morning ere the young men made their appearance, for, as a natural consequence, the late hours of the previous night had been followed by protracted slumbers. As they were making their hasty toilet, Frederic said to Will:
“This is Marian’s twentieth birthday.”
“Is it possible?” returned Will. “It seems but yesterday since I saw her, a little girl in pantalets, with long curls streaming down her back. I liked her very much, she seemed so kind, so considerate of every one’s comfort; and I remember telling you once that she would be a handsome woman, while you said—‘Never, with that hair!’”
“Neither can she,” rejoined Frederic. “She may be rather pretty. Yes, I am sure she is pretty, for the face which bent over my pillow was not an ugly one; but I still insist that a woman with red hair cannot be handsome.”
“Tastes differ,” returned Will. “Now, I’ll venture to say Miss Grey’s hair was red when she was a child. It is not very far from it now, in the sunlight; and everybody speaks of her hair as her crowning beauty.”
“I wish I could see her,” said Frederic; “for, as she will not be your wife, I suppose she will be Alice’s governess. And it is quite proper that I should have an interview with her, and talk the matter over. Will you call with me this evening?”
“Certainly,” returned Will; “for, though it will afford me more pain than pleasure to meet her, I will not be so foolish as to avoid her.”
Breakfast being over, the young men started for a walk down town, going by Mrs. Sheldon’s house, of course, although it was entirely out of their way. But neither thought of this, and they passed it on the opposite side of the street; so that Will could, unobserved, point out Marian’s room to Frederic.
“That’s it,” he said—“the one with the blinds thrown open. There she has often sat, I suppose, thinking of the villain who stands between me and happiness. The rascal! I tell you, Fred, I wish I had him as near to me as you are!” and Will Gordon fancied how, in such a case, he would treat a man who did not love Marian Grey!