Miss Merivale got up from her seat in the porch. “It is getting chilly, my dear,” she said to Pauline. “Shall we go into the dining-room? Tea will be ready in a few moments.”
But Pauline lingered in the hall. Though the twilight had begun to gather, enough light streamed through the great west window to make the portraits on the wainscoted walls clearly visible. Pauline went from one to the other, asking Miss Merivale a question now and then, but really far more intent on studying the group at the fireplace than the pictures she appeared to be interested in.
Over the fireplace hung the portrait of Miss Merivale’s mother, a sweet, gentle-eyed woman, very much like Miss Merivale, except that her eyes were a soft brown instead of a soft blue.
Pauline remarked on the likeness at once. “Except for the dark eyes, it might be your portrait, Miss Merivale.”
Rose had been glancing from the portrait to Rhoda. “Aunt Lucy, your mother’s eyes are exactly the same colour as Miss Sampson’s.”
Pauline, who was standing by Miss Merivale, felt her start violently. “I had not noticed, dear,” she said, without looking at Rhoda.
“Oh, but they are,” Rose went on. “Only Miss Sampson’s are shaped a little differently. And she was named Rhoda, wasn’t she, Aunt Lucy? Tom, don’t you see the likeness?”
“I can’t say I do, Rosie,” said Tom, who considered in his heart of hearts that Rhoda’s long-lashed, sparkling dark eyes were far more beautiful than the mild brown ones in the portrait. As he spoke he moved quickly towards his aunt. “Aunt Lucy, it is too cold for you here. Come in by the dining-room fire. Why, you are trembling with the cold. The evening is very chilly for April.”
Pauline stood still for a moment gazing intently up at the picture, and then followed the others into the dining-room. Before Tom had spoken to his aunt she had seen how white and strange her face was—as white as if she was about to faint. And a sudden idea had flashed upon Pauline, making her heart beat fast.
That night, when Rhoda was brushing her hair, she heard a soft tap at the door. To her surprise, it was Pauline who entered.