The eyes of Hudson again turned towards the maiden who had captivated his young affections. She was still looking at him, but beneath his earnest gaze her eyes drooped slowly, until their brightness was veiled by her long dark lashes. She did not lift them again for some moments; when she did so, Hudson withdrew his gaze, and forced himself to look at the performer, although he scarcely distinguished a note of his music for full five minutes at least. Then he could not refrain from a glance at Mary. She, too, was looking at the performer, but in a little while she turned her head, and their eyes again met. Hudson noticed what he thought a slight flush upon the maiden's face; but he was not sure. Many times during the evening their eyes met in the same way, although Hudson tried to prevent it, and she evidently did the same. But somehow or other they were not successful. How it was with Mary the young physician did not know, but to him the concert was an unintelligible jumble of musical sounds.
Doctor Hudson slept but little that night for thinking of Mary Lee. He recalled the fact of his having applied for her hand, and tried to remember her exact look, tone, and words, when she informed him that her affections were pledged, with her hand, to another. Nothing of personal dislike had been manifested, but rather kindness and respect. As for his own feelings, they had never changed. On the next evening, after having thought about little else during the day, Hudson determined upon a visit to Mary, and if his reception were such as to encourage him to do so, to renew the offer he had made her some two years before.
Slight embarrassment was exhibited at the meeting on both sides. But both soon recovered their self-possession, and entered into a pleasant conversation. More than ever was Hudson charmed with the sweet girl. He asked her to sing and play for him, and she played airs that she had often played for him, and sung favorite songs that she had sung for him in other but well-remembered days. All the warmth of the young man's old passion returned. Before he left the maiden that night he had, a second time, made the offer of his love, with a much more favorable result.
[CHAPTER XIV.]
RISING TO A TRUE LEVEL.
IN two years from the time Doctor Hudson was appointed to the demonstrator's chair his income from practice and the school had risen to twenty-five hundred dollars per annum. This was amply sufficient to make the step of marriage a prudent one. Already had his family received Mary Lee as his future bride, and already was she loved by his mother with a tenderness nearly equal to that felt for her own daughters. All were happy in anticipation of the joyous event, which was celebrated at the house of Mary's aunt, in the presence of a small company whose warm hearts were full of the sincerest wishes for the future happiness of Doctor Hudson and his lovely bride.
A few medical friends, for whom he entertained a high respect, were invited by Hudson to be present. Among these was Doctor Baldwin, who made it the occasion of getting better acquainted with Ella, to whom, a short time before, he had gained an introduction. He was charmed with her intelligence, good taste, good sense, and right modes of thinking and expression.
"With your permission, doctor," he said to Hudson a few days afterwards, "I must follow up my acquaintance with your sister. I was really charmed with her. Pardon me for making so free as to say so."
"Ella is a very good girl," replied Hudson; "but whether you would find her society as attractive as you suppose is more than I can tell. You are aware, I presume, or perhaps you are not, that she is engaged in teaching music, and has been for some years?"
"No, I was not aware of that," said Dr. Baldwin, evincing a slight degree of surprise.