“Bless you!” exclaimed Rube, “that’s nothing! She’s full of ’em!”
Full of them, yes; and feeding his honest soul upon them, in place of the real bread of affection.
The visit was long and pleasant, and at its close Mell accompanied her guests to the very door of their carriage. There Mrs. Rutland again touched the girl’s soft cheek with her high-bred lips. Her foot was upon the stepping-stone, when with a sudden thought, she turned once more.
“Mellville, we are to be very gay next week, a house full of company; but I suspect we shall be honored with very little of Rube’s society unless we first secure yours. Will you come, then, and make us a little visit?”
“You are kind,” answered she, coloring beautifully with intensity of gratification. “Most kind! I will come with exceeding pleasure.”
These were perhaps the first unstudied words she had uttered in Mrs. Rutland’s presence. There was no doubt about her wanting to go to the Bigge House. She had been wanting to go there a long time. A veritable flood-tide of joy filled her being at this speedy consummation of her dearest hopes, but it was not of this she thought at that moment, nor of Mrs. Rutland, nor of Rube. “I will see Jerome,” was what Mell thought.
“Sweetest of mothers!” said Rube inside the vehicle.
“Luckiest of men!” returned his mother. “I am returning home as did the Queen of Sheba; the half was not told!”
Rube now felt solid, unquestionably solid, in his own mind.
Mell, standing yet in the gateway, looked after them; gladly received they had been, like many another guest; gladly, too, dismissed.