Alcott, Louisa May - SSC 14 (6 page)

 
          
           
"By no means.
Come and have some tea," said
Bella, full of pity and remorse.

 
          
           
"Scene first, very well done," whispered Gerald to his cousin.

 
          
           
Miss Muir was just before them, apparently listening to Mrs. Coventry's remarks
upon fainting fits; but she heard, and looked over her shoulders with a gesture
like Rachel. Her eyes were gray, but at that instant they seemed black with
some strong emotion of anger, pride, or defiance. A curious smile passed over
her face as she bowed, and said in her penetrating voice, "Thanks. The
last scene shall be still better."

 
          
           
Young Coventry was a cool, indolent man, seldom conscious of any emotion, any
passion, pleasurable or otherwise; but at the look, the tone of the governess,
he experienced a new sensation, indefinable, yet strong. He colored and, for
the first time in his life, looked abashed. Lucia saw it, and hated Miss Muir
with a sudden hatred; for, in all the years she had passed with her cousin, no
look or word of hers had possessed such power.
Coventry
was himself again in an instant, with no
trace of that passing change, but a look of interest in his usually dreamy
eyes, and a touch of anger in his sarcastic voice.

 
          
           
"What a melodramatic young lady! I shall go tomorrow."

 
          
           
Lucia laughed, and was well pleased when he sauntered away to bring her a cup
of tea from the table where a little scene was just taking place. Mrs. Coventry
had sunk into her chair again, exhausted by the flurry of the fainting fit.
Bella was busied about her; and Edward, eager to feed the pale governess, was
awkwardly trying to make the tea, after a beseeching glance at his cousin which
she did not choose to answer. As he upset the caddy and uttered a despairing exclamation,
Miss Muir quietly took her place behind the urn, saying with a smile, and a shy
glance at the young man, "Allow me to assume my duty at once, and serve
you all. I understand the art of making people comfortable in this way.
The scoop, please.
I can gather this up quite well alone, if
you will tell me how your mother likes her tea."

 
          
           
Edward pulled a chair to the table and made merry over his mishaps, while Miss
Muir performed her little task with a skill and grace that made it pleasant to
watch her.
Coventry
lingered a moment after she had given him a
steaming cup, to observe her more nearly, while he asked a question or two of
his brother. She took no more notice of him than if he had been a statue, and
in the middle of the one remark he addressed to her, she rose to take the sugar
basin to Mrs. Coventry, who was quite won by the modest, domestic graces of the
new governess.

 
          
           
"Really, my dear, you are a treasure; I haven't tasted such tea since my
poor maid Ellis died. Bella never makes it good, and Miss Lucia always forgets
the cream. Whatever you do you seem to do well, and that is
such
a comfort."

 
          
           
"Let me always do this for you, then. It will be a pleasure, madam."
And Miss Muir came back to her seat with a faint color in her cheek which
improved her much.

 
          
           
"My brother asked if young
Sydney
was at home when you left," said
 
 Edward, for Gerald would not take
the trouble to repeat the question.
 
 

 
          
           
Miss Muir fixed her eyes on
Coventry
, and answered with a slight tremor of the lips, "No, he left home
some weeks ago."

 
          
           
The young man went back to his cousin, saying, as he threw himself down beside
her, "I shall not go tomorrow, but wait till the three days are out."

 
          
           
"Why?" demanded Lucia.

 
          
           
Lowering his voice he said, with a significant nod toward the governess,
"Because I have a fancy that she is at the bottom of
Sydney
's mystery. He's not been himself lately,
and now he is gone without a word. I rather like romances in real life, if they
are not too long, or difficult to read."

 
          
           
"Do you think her pretty?"

 
          
           
"Far from it, a most uncanny little specimen."

 
          
           
"Then why fancy
Sydney
loves her?"

 
          
           
"He is an oddity, and likes sensations and things of that sort."

 
          
           
"What do you mean, Gerald?"

 
          
           
"Get the Muir to look at you, as she did at me, and you will understand.
 
 Will you have another cup,
Juno?"
 
 

 
          
           
"Yes, please." She liked to have him wait upon her, for he did it to
no other woman
except
his mother.

 
          
           
Before he could slowly rise, Miss Muir glided to them with another cup on the
salver; and, as Lucia took it with a cold nod, the girl said under her breath,
"I think it honest to tell you that I possess a quick ear, and cannot help
hearing what is said anywhere in the room. What you say of me is of no
consequence, but you may speak of things which you prefer I should not hear;
therefore, allow me to warn you." And she was gone again as noiselessly as
she came.

 
          
           
"How do you like that?" whispered
Coventry
, as his cousin sat looking after the girl,
with a disturbed expression.

 
          
           
"What an uncomfortable creature to have in the house! I am very sorry I
urged her coming, for your mother has taken a fancy to her, and it will be hard
to get rid of her," said Lucia, half angry, half amused.

 
          
           
"Hush, she hears every word you say. I know it by the expression of her
face, for Ned is talking about horses, and she looks as haughty as ever you
did, and that is saying much. Faith, this is getting interesting."

 
          
           
"Hark, she is speaking; I want to hear," and Lucia laid her hand on
her cousin's lips. He kissed it, and then idly amused himself with turning the
rings to and fro on the slender fingers.

 
          
           
"I have been in France several years, madam, but my friend died and I came
back to be with Lady Sydney, till—" Muir paused an instant,
then
added, slowly, "till I fell ill. It was a
contagious fever, so I went of my own accord to the hospital, not wishing to
endanger her."

 
          
           
"Very right, but are you sure there is no danger of infection now?"
asked Mrs. Coventry anxiously.

 
          
           
"None, I assure you. I have been well for some time, but did not leave
because I preferred to stay there, than to return to Lady Sydney."

 
          
           
"No quarrel, I hope? No trouble of any kind?"

 
          
           
"No quarrel, but—well, why not? You have a right to know, and I will not make
a foolish mystery out of a very simple thing. As your family, only, is present,
I may tell the truth. I did not go back on the young gentleman's account.
Please ask no more."

 
          
           
"Ah, I see.
Quite prudent and proper, Miss Muir.
I shall never allude to it again. Thank you for your frankness. Bella, you will
be careful not to mention this to young friends; girls gossip sadly, and it
would annoy Lady Sydney beyond everything to have this talked of."

 
          
           
"Very neighborly of Lady S. to send the dangerous young lady here, where
there are
two
young gentlemen to be
captivated. I wonder why she didn't keep
Sydney
after she had caught him," murmured
Coventry
to his cousin.

 
          
           
"Because she had the utmost contempt for a titled
fool."
Miss Muir dropped the words almost into his ear, as she bent
to take her shawl from the sofa corner.

 
          
           
"How the deuce did she
get
there?"
ejaculated
Coventry
, looking as if he had received another
sensation. "She has spirit, though, and upon my word I pity
Sydney
, if he did try to dazzle her, for he must
have got a splendid dismissal."

 
          
           
"Come and play billiards. You promised, and I hold you to your word,"
said Lucia, rising with decision, for Gerald was showing too much interest in another
to suit Miss Beaufort.

 
          
           
"I am, as ever,
your
most devoted. My mother is a
charming woman, but I find our evening parties slightly dull, when only my own
family are
present. Good night, Mamma." He shook hands
with his mother, whose pride and idol he was, and, with a comprehensive nod to
the others, strolled after his cousin.

 
          
           
"Now they are gone we can be quite cozy, and talk over things, for I don't
mind Ned any more than I do his dogs," said Bella, settling herself on her
mother's footstool.

 
          
           
"I merely wish to say, Miss
Muir, that
my
daughter has never had a governess and is sadly backward for a girl of sixteen.
I want you to pass the mornings with her, and get her on as rapidly as
possible. In the afternoon you will walk or drive with
her,
and in the evening sit with us here, if you like, or amuse yourself as you
please. While in the country we are very quiet, for I cannot bear much company,
and when my sons want gaiety, they go away for it. Miss Beaufort oversees the
servants, and takes my place as far as possible. I am very delicate and keep my
room till evening, except for an airing at
noon
. We will try each other for a month, and I
hope we shall get on quite comfortably together."

 
          
           
"I shall do my best, madam."

 
          
           
One would not have believed that the meek, spiritless voice which uttered these
words was the same that had startled Coventry a few minutes before, nor that
the pale, patient face could ever have kindled with such sudden fire as that
which looked over Miss Muir's shoulder when she answered her young host's
speech.

 
          
           
Edward thought within himself, Poor little woman! She has had a hard life. We
will try and make it easier while she is here; and began his charitable work by
suggesting that she might be tired. She acknowledged she was, and Bella led her
away to a bright, cozy room, where with a pretty little speech and a good-night
kiss she left her.

 
          
           
When alone Miss Muir's conduct was decidedly peculiar.
Her first act was to clench her hands and mutter between her teeth, with
passionate force, "I'll not fail again if there is power in a woman's wit
and will!" She stood a moment motionless, with an expression of almost
fierce disdain on her face,
then
shook her clenched
hand as if menacing some unseen enemy. Next she laughed, and shrugged her
shoulders with a true French shrug, saying low to
herself
,
"Yes, the last scene
shall
be
better than the first.
Mon
dieu
, how tired and hungry I am!"

 
          
           
Kneeling before the one small trunk which held her worldly possessions, she
opened it, drew out a flask, and mixed a glass of some ardent cordial, which
she seemed to enjoy extremely as she sat on the carpet, musing, while her quick
eyes examined every corner of the room.