Miss Jewett was almost alone; there was no one with her but Sue Greyson tossing over neckties to find a white one with fringe.
Through the silks there shone on the first finger of Sue’s left hand the sparkle of a diamond; she colored and smiled, then laughed and held her finger up for Tessa’s inspection.
“Guess who gave it to me,” she said defiantly.
It could not be Dr. Lake—Tessa would not speak his name; it must be her father—but no, Sue would not blush as she was blushing now; it could not be Mr. Gesner! Tessa’s heart quickened, she was angry with herself for thinking of Mr. Gesner. Mr. Towne! But that was not possible.
“Can’t you guess?” Sue was enjoying her confusion.
“No. I can’t guess.”
“Say the Man in the Moon. I as much expected it. It’s from Stacey! I knew you would be confounded. Wasn’t I sly about it? We are to be married the first day of October. We settled on that because it is Stacey’s birthday! It is Dr. Lake’s too. Isn’t it comical. Stacey is twenty-three and the doctor is twenty-nine! Stacey is a year younger than I. I wish that he wasn’t. I think that I shall change my age in the Bible. When I told Dr. Lake, he said that I seemed inclined to change some other things in the Bible. Don’t you tell, either of you. It’s a profound secret. Wasn’t father hopping, though? But I told him that I would elope if he didn’t consent like a good papa; and now since Stacey’s salary is raised he hasn’t a bit of an excuse for being ugly about it. I am going to have all the new furniture, too; I bargained for that. Won’t it be queer for me to live so far away? Stacey is in a lace house in Philadelphia, don’t you remember? You ought to see the white lace sacque that he brought me for an engagement present; it’s too lovely for any thing. Why, Tessa, you look stunned, are you speechless? Don’t you relish the idea of my being married before you? You ought to have seen Dr. Lake when I showed my ring to him! He turned as white as a sheet and trembled so that he had to sit down; all he said was, ‘May God forgive you.’ Don’t you think that it was wicked in him to say that? I told him that it sounded like swearing. Yes, I’ll take this one, please. And, oh, Tessa, I want you to help me to buy things. I am to have a dozen of every thing. I shall be married in white silk; I told father that he would never have another daughter married so that he might as well open his long purse. We shall go to the White Mountains on our wedding tour. It’s late in the season, of course, but I always wanted to go to the White Mountains and I will if we are both frozen to death. I know that you are angry with me, but I can’t help it. You are just the one to believe in love. I have always liked Stacey; he has just beautiful hands, and his manners are really touching. You ought to see him lift his hat; Mr. Towne is nowhere.”
“What will your father do?” asked Miss Jewett.
“Oh, Aunt Jane must come back, she hasn’t captivated the widower yet; or he might get married himself. I think that I’ll suggest it. Wouldn’t it be fun to have a double wedding? I’ll let father be married first; Stacey and I will stand up with them.”
Sue went off into a long, loud peal of laughter; Miss Jewett smiled; Tessa spoke gravely: “Sue, your mother would not like to hear that.”