“Yes, I know, and I will try to prove worthy of what I shall be to you when I wear that ring for good.”
Katy was very quiet for a moment as she sat with her head nestled against Wilford’s bosom, but when he observed that she was looking tired, and asked if she had been working hard, the quiet fit was broken, and she told him of the dress “we had made,” the we referring solely to Helen and Marian, for Katy had hardly done a thing. But it did not matter; she fancied she had, and she asked if he did not wish to see her dresses. Wilford knew it would please Katy, and so he followed her into the adjoining room, where they were spread out upon tables and chairs, with Helen in their midst, ready to pack them away. Wilford thought of Mrs. Ryan and the check, but he shook hands with Helen very civilly, saying to her playfully,
“I suppose you are willing I should take your sister with me this time.”
Helen could not answer, but turned away to hide her face, while Katy showed one dress after another, until she came to the silk, which, with a bright blush, she told him “was the very thing itself—the one intended for to-morrow,” and asked if he did not like it.
Wilford could not help telling her yes, for he knew she wished him to do so, but in his heart he was thinking bad thoughts against the wardrobe of his bride elect—thoughts which would have won for him the title of hen-huzzy from Helen, could she have known them. And yet Wilford did not deserve that name. He had been accustomed all his life to hearing dress discussed in his mother’s parlor, and in his sister’s boudoir, while for the last five weeks he had heard at home of little else than the probable tout ensemble of Katy’s wardrobe, bought and made in the country, his mother deciding finally to write to her cousin, Mrs. Harvey, who boarded at the Revere, and have her see to it before Katy left the city. Under these circumstances, it was not strange that Wilford did not enter into Katy’s delight, even after she told him how Helen had made every stitch of the dress herself, and that it would on that account be very dear to her. This was a favorable time for getting the poplin off his mind, and with a premonitory ahem he said, “Yes, it is very nice, no doubt; but,” and here he turned to Helen, “after Mrs. Ryan’s services were declined, my mother determined to have two dresses fitted to sister Bell, who I think is just Katy’s size and figure. I need not say,” and his eyes still rested on Helen, who gave him back an unflinching glance, “I need not say that no pains have been spared to make these garments everything they should be in point of quality and style. I have them in my trunk, and,” turning now to Katy, “it is my mother’s special request that one of them be worn to-morrow. You could take your choice, she said—either was suitable. I will bring them for your inspection.”
He left the room, while Helen’s face resembled a dark thunder-cloud, whose lightnings shone in her flashing eyes as she looked after him and then back to where Katy stood, bewildered and wondering what was wrong.
“Who is Mrs. Ryan?” she asked. “What does he mean?” but before Helen could command her voice to explain, Wilford was with them again, bringing the dresses, over which Katy nearly went wild.
She had never seen anything as elegant as the rich heavy poplin or the soft lustrous silk, while even Helen acknowledged that there was about them a finish which threw Miss Hazelton’s quite in the shade.
“Beautiful!” Katy exclaimed; “and trimmed so exquisitely! I do so hope they will fit!”
“I dare say they will,” Wilford replied, enjoying her appreciation of his mother’s gift. “At all events they will answer for to-morrow, and any needful alterations can be made in Boston. Which will you wear?”