MARTHA FINLEY Ultimate Collection – Timeless Children Classics & Other Novels. Finley Martha

      Chapter XX

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      She is not sad, yet in her gaze appears

       Something that makes the gazer think of tears.

      —MRS. EMBURY.

      The family at Roselands were gathered about the breakfast-table. A much smaller party than of yore, since Horace had taken Elsie and set up an establishment of his own, and the other sons were away at college and two daughters married; leaving only Mr. and Mrs. Dinsmore, Adelaide and Enna to occupy the old home.

      "I presume you have the lion's share as usual, papa," observed the last named, as her father opened the letter-bag which Pomp had just brought in.

      "And who has a better right, Miss Malapert?" retorted the old gentleman. "Yes, here are several letters for me; but as there is one apiece for the rest of you, nobody need complain. Here, Pomp, hand this to your mistress. From Walter, I see."

      "Yes," she answered, opening it, "and a few lines from Arthur too. I'm glad he's able to write again, poor fellow!"

      "Yes," said Adelaide. "Rose says Horace has been up there and found him nearly recovered. She writes that they are coming home."

      "When?" asked Enna.

      "Why, to-day! the letter has been delayed," said her sister, looking at the date. "I shall ride over directly, to see that all is in order for them at the Oaks."

      "There is no need," remarked her mother. "Rose will have written to Mrs. Murray."

      "I presume so, still I shall go; it will be pleasant to be there to welcome them when they arrive."

      "How fond you are of Rose," said Mrs. Dinsmore in a piqued tone; "you wouldn't do more for one of your own sisters, I believe, than for her."

      "I wouldn't do less, mamma, and I am very fond of her; we are so perfectly congenial."

      "And Elsie's a great pet of yours, too," said Enna sneeringly. "Well, I shall put off my call till to-morrow, when the trunks will have been unpacked, and I shall have a chance to see the fashions. Elsie will have loads of new things; it's perfectly absurd the way Horace heaps presents upon her, and pocket-money too. Such loads of jewelry as she has,—two or three gold watches, and everything else in proportion."

      "He may as well; she can never spend the half of her income," remarked Mr. Dinsmore. "Unless she takes to gambling," he added, in a tone that seemed to say that his purse had suffered severely from some one's indulgence in that vice.

      Mrs. Dinsmore winced, Enna looked vexed and annoyed, and Adelaide sad and troubled; but when she spoke it was in answer to Enna.

      "Yes, Elsie will have a great many beautiful things to show us, of course; but, though she wears nothing outré, she has never been, and I think never will be a mirror of fashion. It would suit neither her own taste nor Horace's; and you know, fond of her as he is, he will never allow her to have a will of her own in dress or anything else. So it is well their tastes harmonize."

      "I wouldn't be his child for all her money," said Enna.

      "There would be some fighting if you were," said her father, laughing.

      "I never could tell whether he tyrannized over Rose in the same style or not," observed Mrs. Dinsmore interrogatively.

      "All I know about it is that they seem perfectly happy in each other," answered Adelaide; "but I don't suppose Horace considers a husband's authority by any means equal to a father's."

      Something delayed Adelaide, and it was nearly two hours after they rose from the table ere she was fairly on her way to the Oaks.

      "Why, they are here before me!" she exclaimed half aloud as she came in sight of the house.

      There were piles of luggage upon the veranda, and the whole family, including all the house servants, were gathered round a large open trunk from which Mrs. Dinsmore and Elsie were dealing out gifts—dresses, aprons, bonnets, hats, gay handkerchiefs, etc., etc.; the darkies receiving them with a delight that was pleasant to see.

      Mr. Dinsmore too was taking his part in the distribution, and as Adelaide rode up little Horace was in the act of throwing a gay shawl about the shoulders of his nurse, who caught him in her arms and hugged and kissed him over and over, calling him "honey," and "pet," and "you ole mammy's darlin' ole chil'!"

      So much engaged were they all that no one perceived Adelaide's approach till she had reined in her horse close to the veranda, and throwing her bridle to her attendant, sprung lightly to the ground.

      But then there was a shout of welcome from little Horace, followed instantly by joyous exclamations and embraces from the others.

      "Dear me, what a long stay you made of it!" said Adelaide. "You can have no idea how I missed you all; even down to this little man," patting Horace's rosy cheek. "You look remarkably well, Rose; and the two Horaces also; but Elsie, I think, has grown a little pale, thin, and heavy-eyed. What ails you, child? Pining for your native air—no, home air—I presume. Is that it?"

      "Hardly pining for it, auntie, but very glad to get back, nevertheless," Elsie answered, with a blush and a smile.

      "And you are not pale now. But don't let me interrupt your pleasant employment. I wish I had been in time to see the whole of it."

      "You are in season for your own gifts. Will you accept a trifle from me?" said her brother, putting a jewel-case into her hand.

      "Coral! and what a beautiful shade!" she cried. "Thank you; they are just what I wanted."

      "I thought they would contrast prettily with this, auntie," said Elsie, laying a dress-pattern of black silk upon her lap.

      "And these are to be worn at the same time, if it so pleases you," added Rose, presenting her with collar and undersleeves of point lace.

      "Oh, Rose, how lovely! and even little Horace bringing auntie a gift!" as the child slipped something into her hand.

      "It's only a card-case; but mamma said you'd like it, Aunt Adie."

      "And I do; it's very pretty. And here's a hug and a kiss for the pet boy that remembered his old-maid auntie."

      "Old maid, indeed! Adelaide, I'll not have you talking so," said Rose. "There's nothing old-maidish about you; not even age yet; a girl of twenty-six to be calling herself that! it's perfectly absurd. Isn't it, my dear?"

      "I think so, indeed," replied Mr. Dinsmore. "Here, Jim, Cato, and the rest of you carry in these trunks and boxes, and let us have them unpacked and put out of sight."

      "Oh, yes!" said Adelaide, "I want to see all the fine things you have brought, Rose. Mamma, Enna, and I are depending upon you and Elsie for the fashions."

      "Yes, we had all our fall and winter dresses made up in Philadelphia; we prefer their styles to the New York; they don't go to such extremes, you know; and besides—hailing from the Quaker city as I do, it's natural I should be partial to her plainer ways—but we brought quantities of patterns from both places; knowing that nothing was likely to be too gay for Enna. We will let Elsie display hers first. I feel in a special hurry, dear, to show your aunt those elegant silks your papa and I helped you to select. I hope you will see them all on her, one of these days, Adelaide.

      "That child's complexion is so perfect, that she can wear anything," she added in an aside, as they followed Elsie to her apartments; "there's a pale blue that she looks perfectly lovely in; a pearl-color too, and a delicate pink, and I don't know how many more. One might think we expected her to do nothing but attend parties the coming season."

      Elsie