“Yes, sir, and got a certificate, too,” I said eagerly.
“I presume you did,” he continued, “and if necessary I can give you another, for I have been doing nothing more or less than trying to find out how much you know. As I have before hinted, I am perfectly satisfied, and unless you leave from choice, you will remain at Cedar Grove.”
He spoke as one having full authority to do as he pleased, and I instinctively felt that though nominally Mrs. Lansing was mistress there, he, in reality, was the leader, the head, whose bidding every one obeyed. The change from utter despondency to almost perfect happiness, was too great, and withdrawing my hand from his arm, I sat down upon the stairs and cried like a child, while he stood, looking down upon me and thinking, I dare say, that I was a very foolish girl. At last, when I thought his patience was nearly exhausted, I wiped my eyes, and starting up, said, “You have made me very happy, Mr. Delafield, for I could not have borne the disgrace as being sent home as incompetent. I can play for you now, or for Mrs. Lansing either.”
And the result proved that I was right, for I exceeded my own expectations, and was astonished at myself.
“Angeline,” said he, in a slightly commanding voice, as that lady looked curiously in at the door, “Angeline, come here;” and she crossed over to his side, where he detained her by placing his arm around her waist.
For a moment then I wavered, for though I could not see, I could feel the haughty gaze of the large black eyes, which I knew were bent upon me.
“You have done well, Miss Lee,” he said, when at last I arose from the instrument, at the same time playfully touching my cheeks, which were burning with feverish excitement.
That night, after I had retired to my room, Halbert and Jessie came to the door, requesting permission to come in. I admitted them, when Jessie, jumping into my lap, said, “Oh, I’m so glad you are going to stay. Hal says so.”
“Yes,” put in Hal, “Uncle Dick told me that you mustn’t be sent away, for you were a heap better scholar than she had represented you to be.”
“Perhaps it will not be as Mr. Delafield says,” I remarked; and Hal quickly rejoined, “Yes it will; ma does just what he tells her to do; and then, too, he pays the governess, for I heard him say so, and he told her if you were dismissed ’twas the last one he’d hire. And he said she must treat you better than she did Miss Rawson, for you were very young, and little things hurt your feelings, and when Ada came home, she mustn’t domineer over you, for he wouldn’t allow it. Oh, I like Uncle Dick. Don’t you?”