Poor Jessie could only reply with her tears.
“At least you must consider the matter,” proceeded Mrs. Tower, “and if I succeed in making your stay with me agreeable while you are my guest, I shall certainly hope to persuade you. But dry those tears, Jessie. I dare say I have opened the subject prematurely—if you are not too weary for company to-night, I must take you down stairs and introduce you to some ladies I see coming up the avenue, to sympathize in my gladness—Mrs. Jones and her Emilie. Mrs. Jones is one of my dearest friends, and Emilie is a wild, crazy-headed creature, but very sensible and affectionate, and I am sure you will love her.”
Jessie’s plain traveling-dress was exchanged for one of simple white muslin, and the bright mass of her beautiful black hair, released from its confinement, fell in smooth, heavy ringlets over her shoulders. Her whole air was a harmonious combination of ladylike reserve and a native born gentility, which education indeed may polish and improve, but can never implant. Mrs. Tower fondly kissed the cheek of the graceful girl, and then placing Jessie’s arm within her own, she led her with almost maternal pride to the drawing-room.
Mrs. Jones and her daughter welcomed the young stranger with the sincere cordiality of old friends, and Emilie, who became immediately fascinated with the simplicity and unassuming gentleness of her manner, expressed the earnest hope that Miss Lincoln would be happy enough to spend the whole summer.
“If you have a country-loving taste, I am sure you cannot find a lovelier spot than our own village, Miss Lincoln—or Jessie—as I mean to call you when we are no longer strangers,” said Emilie, her brilliant face sparkling with kindness, as she sat down on the sofa by Jessie’s side. “There is every thing beautiful at Mrs. Tower’s I know,” she continued, “but I am so wild, and so much of a rambler that I love the forests and glens and waterfalls, and above all horseback excursions! We have a pair of fine saddle-horses that papa has just brought home—high-spirited creatures they are—they make me think of Zenobia’s horses. Don’t you ride on horseback, Miss Jessie?”
Jessie had never practiced at all.
“O well! I can learn you in a very little time, and I’ll undertake to be your tutor in horsemanship, for I am far more notable in it, than in some more feminine accomplishments. Do you hear my boast Mrs. Tower? I have engaged to learn Miss Lincoln to ride on horseback, in which art I have informed her I excel!” and Emilie laughed heartily at her own nonsense.
“No very unreasonable boast, Miss Emilie,” said Mr. Style; “and I think Miss Lincoln would have no difficulty in believing every word, if she had seen you practicing your Arabs this morning. I was confident your neck would be broken! But have you found names for the horses yet? You were in a grave study about that last evening!”
“O yes, Mr. Style, I am happily relieved of that anxiety. I could not think of christening them with those Quixotic names which you suggested, for I knew I could never remember them—and I was so troubled to suit myself, that I referred the whole matter to papa and George, and after a protracted and laborious discussion, they declared for the illustrious names of Romulus and Remus! I hope they may not quarrel for precedence, as those old worthies did! Indeed I shall be wrathful enough if Romulus practices any imposition or violence on Remus, for he is decidedly my favorite, and not entirely a non resistant I discover. But I shall give Miss Lincoln her introductory lessons on my docile old Betty, who has run so many delightful races for my pleasure. After that I purpose to settle a pension on Betty, and leave her to enjoy a calm old age. O I long to be about it! Will you be too tired to take your first ride to-morrow morning, Miss Lincoln? Betty is quiet as a kitten, and will kneel to take you on her back. Mrs. Tower’s avenue behind the garden is just the place too. Mrs. Tower may we ride there?”
“Certainly you may, Emilie,” replied Mrs Tower. “I give you the range of my house and grounds, together with the command of my carriage and coachman, till you shall get Jessie acclimated!”