“They are engaged,” Miss Hansford answered shortly, biting off rather viciously the end of the thread she was trying to put through the point instead of the eye of her needle.
“Engaged!” Elithe repeated, with a feeling for a moment as if the day were not quite as bright as it had been an hour ago.
“Yes,” Miss Hansford replied, “more’s the pity, but if he’s suited I ought to be. They are to be married the last of August, here in Oak City, with a great spread. You’ll be invited, of course, with me. Paul brought me a new grey silk from Paris as a present to wear. It is not made yet. I must get about it pretty soon. Time enough, though. I wonder what you’ve got to wear.”
Elithe had not quite heard all her aunt was saying. Paul’s engagement was a surprise to her and not altogether a satisfaction. She did not know that she had attached any importance to his attentions to herself. She only knew that they had been very pleasing, and could never be quite the same with her knowledge of his engagement to Clarice Percy. Remembering the young lady’s manner towards her, and, contrasting it with Paul’s affability, she felt how unlike they were to each other, and was disappointed that Paul should thus have chosen. For a moment there was a little pang in her heart, making her forget that her aunt was talking of the grand wedding in August and asking what she had that was suitable to wear. As yet, she knew nothing of the elegant toilets worn at watering places. Her changeable silk, made from her mothers gown, was quite equal to any emergency, and she assured her aunt that she was quite well equipped for the wedding, should she be fortunate enough to be invited.
The next time Paul came he staid longer than usual,—complimented Elithe on her rapid improvement, and said she would soon be able to drive with him behind his tandem.
“Thanks. I saw you go by yesterday with Miss Percy. She is very beautiful, and your horses, too,” Elithe replied, conscious at once that she had made an odd speech in associating Paul’s betrothed with his horses. He did not seem to mind it, but chatted on pleasantly, talking a great deal about his horses and a little about Clarice after Miss Hansford said to him, “I told Elithe you was going to be married in August.”
“Oh, yes; certainly, certainly; expect a great time. Glad you are here,” Paul rejoined, mopping his face with his handkerchief, as the morning was very warm.
Then he began to talk of the guests he expected and when they would arrive.
“Is Jack coming?” Miss Hansford asked, and Paul replied, “Doubtful. Clarice don’t know where he is, and don’t wish to know. She is afraid of the consequences. It takes so little to upset him. He generally carries a bottle in his pocket and is very noisy and quarrelsome when over the bay.”
Miss Hansford was a strong supporter of the W. C. T. U., and had less sympathy for a man easily affected than for one who could take quarts with no bad result. So far as Jack was concerned, whether he could take much or little, did not matter. He was better out of the way, and she said so, with sundry uncomplimentary remarks concerning him, while Paul defended him. The only subject on which he and Miss Hansford ever openly differed was the luckless Jack, whom Paul declared a pretty good fellow, but for one fault, while she denounced him as wholly bad. There was no reason why Elithe should be interested in him; and yet she was, and, after Paul had gone, she asked her aunt why Clarice did not try to reform him instead of turning against him.