Bright Arrows (29 page)

"Why not?" said Janet with satisfaction, hurrying to finish the silver and get it away so she could go and tell Tabor that there was coming a tiny ray of sunshine into the house after the storms of the winter.

But this is ridiculous!
said Eden to herself, as the afternoon waned. The house had been put in spic-and-span order, and she had got dressed in the soft blue frock her father had loved, with the line of white fur in the round of the neck and finish of fur on the comely little sleeves against the white rounded arm.
This is just ridiculous! What a fool he will think I am, if he notices at all. To dress up this way, just for a bit of religious conversation and maybe a spot or two of business. Just plain ridiculous! But I like it, and I'm going to get fun out of it. And I think Daddy would like me to be a little happy, too, for a while. This is someone Daddy surely would like, and I'll sort of feel that Daddy is here with us tonight.

Eden had elected to bring her guest to the library, because that was the room where she and her father used to sit so much and because strangers did not often come there.

So, though Eden had not said anything about it, the servants had an uncanny way of figuring out her wishes, and a little before five o'clock there was a fire laid in the library, and the curtains were drawn closed in the living room opening from it. There was a dim light in the hall, as if the family were all out. Tabor knew his business, and he and Janet were often in league to run the house in the most acceptable manner possible, according to their lights. And their lights were lit from the taper that their Lady Eden carried as she walked her pretty ways.

And when it's over
, thought Eden, looking wistfully into her mirror because there was no one else to whom she cared to confide these thoughts, not even Janet,
I'll be most terribly lonesome, I just know I will. Because the other people I know are so silly and uninteresting to me. But maybe I can get acquainted with some of those nice young people we met at the first meeting I attended and be a 'regular guy' myself. I mean a really happy,
un
lonely Christian. Well, here goes. There is the doorbell. I'll run downstairs and meet my guest.

And so she dawned upon him, running down the stairs in her pretty soft blue dress, with a wreath of sparkle in her hair like little bright leaves from a fair tree and her small feet twinkling in her slim silver shoes.

A perfect setting for the diamond! But the thought did not come to Lance at first, only the wonder of her beauty and the amazing fact that he was daring to come and seek her as his own. And there he stood looking as if she had been some angel suddenly dawning upon him. Of course, he hadn't before been seeing her in gala clothing; she had worn just plain go-to-meeting suits.

Tabor had opened the door before Eden was down the stairs, and she could see by the way Tabor stood and the look he gave that he was giving her guest all honor, as if he were one he greatly admired.

But suddenly Eden felt shy, as if this were at once some august presence and she had been too forward to be asking him to dinner, when he had only asked to call. Had she been too eager in her approach?

And then she saw that look in his eyes, and it warmed her frightened heart and brought the bright color to her cheeks, giving her courage to go forward with her pretty program.

So Tabor took his coat and hat and the box of flowers that Lance had brought.

"They say those are Christmas roses," he said, smiling at Eden, as she reached eagerly over to take them. "They wouldn't be my idea of Christmas, but somehow they reminded me of you."

"Oh, how lovely!" she exclaimed delightedly. "How exquisite! They're just the shade of pink I love. Will you put them on the table, Tabor? And here, I'll keep this precious bud to smell. What delicate perfume! It seems as if it were specially made for just this color of rose."

She took one lovely bud and held it in her hands, bending her head to get the fragrance as she led the way into the living room where she meant to stay till dinner was announced. And as she went a great shyness came upon her, so that she was almost afraid of the evening that she had allowed to mean so much to her lonely young self.

Tabor took the roses ceremoniously and carried the box away gently to Janet as if it had been a baby. And Janet quickly spirited away some flowers she had bought to decorate the table. So Lance's roses shone in all their delicate beauty and filled the good old nurse's heart with comfort. She took an instant out of her ceremonies by which she was conducting the preparations for the meal, just to stand with folded arms and gaze at them, as if they had been dropped down from some heavenly sphere.

"He's all richt," she murmured to herself with shining eyes. "He's a bonny-heirted mon."

"What's that, Janet? Did you say something?" asked Marnie, who had come in to bring the celery.

"Oh, it's juist thae roses," she explained embarrassedly. "He broucht thim."

"Oh, did he? Aren't they lovely," exclaimed Marnie. And then she went and told the cook, and the cook came to see them. Then came Tabor and beamed above them all. His household was pleasing him tonight.

Over in the living room the two young people sat politely as if they were almost strangers again, Eden tapping one silver shoe and smiling into the delicate rosebud. And Lance watched her silently, thinking that she did not need a diamond to set her off. She was jewel enough without it. She and the rosebud at her sweet lips. It had been the flower after all, the living flower, that had provided the finish to her dress. The
flower
, not the jewel.

The talk they made was not much, just pleasant little fragments of speech, meant to tide them to the great business of the evening, and Eden began to feel her heart fail again lest they were dropping back to be strangers. Only their eyes were not strangers. They looked deep into each other's soul now and again, and their smiles were there, expressing pleasant flattery. Yet somehow they were content to let the time drift slowly by, coming as it would, as God sent it in His beautiful deliberate way.

Then Tabor came in and dinner was announced.

Lance arose and bowing low offered his arm to the lady, showing that in spite of all his forebodings he was highborn. And all these little things were noted down in his favor by the two servants whose loving, critical eyes were not missing a thing that went on.

It was early when they sat down, but the dinner was served deliberately, and rather formally, in spite of the scones that were on hand as promised. Both servants were pleased that the meal opened with a reverent grace spoken by the guest, with Janet and Tabor standing, and Marnie and the cook standing at the crack of the butler's pantry listening delightedly. Old times were coming back again, and the old master, if he were able to look back to the world he had left, would be well pleased.

It was as if those four servants had an uncanny insight into the little white box that was reposed in Lance Lorrimer's pocket.

When dinner was over, the two young people were more at their ease, for they would soon be out of sight of those adoring servants and by themselves.

They went straight to the library now, followed solemnly by Tabor carrying the crystal dish of roses. He set them down on the old master's desk, as if to represent his presence in the room and grant a blessing on the evening.

Tabor had seen that the fire was lit and burning brightly before they came in. Eden stood a moment warming her hands, and her guest stood cozily near on the hearth.

"Now," she said, "you said you had a question to ask, and I have a lot of them. Suppose you begin, will you? Since there is only one of yours, I'm sure we'll soon get to my questions."

Lance gave her a twinkling smile.

"I'm not so sure, little lady," he said. "At least, I hope not." He hesitated an instant. The words he wanted to say seemed to come in a rush and then suddenly catch on something in his throat. "But my question involved a statement first. It is short, but it means a lot to me." Then he turned and looked deep into her eyes. "I came over tonight to tell you that--I love you! And my question is 'Will you marry me, dear?' "

Eden was looking up into his eyes with almost a glory look in her own that gave her assent wordlessly.

The love in the young man's eyes almost overwhelmed her; it was so strong and tender. Suddenly his arms went out and drew her to him. For a long moment they stood so, her face against his shoulder, his arms folding her close. Then Lance stooped and laid his lips softly on her hair, eyes, and forehead, and finally she raised her head and their lips met.

"Oh, this is
home
," she whispered.

"Darling!" he said and kissed her again.

Then he drew her down on the seat beside the fire.

"Wait," he said. "I am putting my seal on this contract," he said quaintly. He brought out the little white velvet box from his pocket, took out the ring, and slipped it on her finger.

The firelight caught the heart of the jewel, flung out of its many colored facets, and blazed on her pretty finger as if it, too, had found itself at home.

A long time they sat there in the firelight, and not even Tabor came to interrupt. And Eden never did get to the beginning of her own questions, because they had so much to say about themselves and how and when they first came to care for each other. Then when they had finished, they had to begin all over again and tell some things that had been left out.

It was Janet who finally came to the door and interrupted them at last with her inevitable tray. "A wee drap o' tay, t' hearten ye," she said with a knowing smile.

"But this time we don't need heartening, Janet," said Lance with his twinkling smile.

"Oh, see, Janet. Look at my wonderful ring!" said Eden and held out her hand with the sparkling gem.

"Oh, my bairnie,
dear
!" said Janet and took the little hand in both of hers, laying her face against it for an instant. Then hurriedly she turned, brushing away glad tears, and made for the door.

"Don't--stay oop too late!" she adjured them.

"Oh, but we haven't planned about the wedding yet," said Eden.

"It's to be right away," called Lance joyously.

But Janet hastened out to tell Tabor and the rest.

Afterward, when Lance finally did tear himself away, Eden found her retainers all trooped together to see the wonderful ring and watch her happy face.

"Wull, ye've hed a mony chances," said Janet comically, "boot ye've waited wisely, an' we all approve."

Eden laughed her little trilly ripple.

"Yes, Janet," she said joyously. "I'm sure he's the right man God meant for me."

"Bless ye, my bairnie lamb!"

They all trooped up as if it were a wedding reception, and bowed, and wished her well, then went to their rest.

And Eden, kneeling at her window, looked up to the many stars above and thanked God for answering her mother's prayer.

GRACE LIVINGSTON HILL (1865–1947) is known as the pioneer of Christian romance. Grace wrote over one hundred faith-inspired books during her lifetime. When her first husband died, leaving her with two daughters to raise, writing became a way to make a living, but she always recognized storytelling as a way to share her faith in God. She has touched countless lives through the years and continues to touch lives today. Her books feature moving stories, delightful characters, and love in its purest form.