Marielle had only time to cast a loving glance at her mother in answer, for the opening of the door and a slight rustle outside warned her that a visitor was approaching.
“Mrs. Duncan!” was announced by the little maid who, with faithful old Mysie the cook, constituted the whole of the domestic establishment at No. 27.
With stately courtesy Marielle’s mother rose to receive the doctor’s wife, her manner insensibly thawing however, under the influence of her visitor’s winning smile.
“I am so glad to find you at home,” began Mrs. Duncan as soon as she was seated. Then, noticing that Marielle dropped the rest of the flowers she was holding on to a newspaper which she had spread upon a chair near, “Please do not let me interrupt you, Miss Heritage. Will you not go on arranging your flowers?”
“I shall do so with pleasure if you do not mind,” replied Marielle brightly, “only I fear I shall have to turn my back upon you now and again during the performance.”
“Oh, never mind that, it will be reward enough to see the effects of your handiwork when finished. I am so fond of daffodils. They are my favourite flowers.”
“And mine also,” returned Marielle, pleased at the mutual taste. Then—smiling and holding a big bunch towards Mrs. Duncan—“Aren’t these beauties too? I saw them as I was coming back from Forman’s this morning, and I could not resist the temptation of bringing some home with me. They look so bright they are quite cheering. I always think yellow flowers are like sunlight in a room.”
“They are indeed,” assented Mrs. Duncan, lifting her gaze from the flowers in order to contemplate the face bending over her.
“How pure and true it looks!” she mused. Those large clear hazel eyes, with their black lashes, and delicately-pencilled dark eyebrows, the refined features, and rose-leaf skin, crowned by the rebellious fair hair which, in spite of all Marielle’s efforts, persisted in standing out round her shapely head, like a veritable golden halo—all these made up a picture which, once seen, was not likely to pass out of mind.