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And she had lighted the fire in the living-room and all the wax candles, though it was still warm outdoors and they had to open the street windows and endure the thunder of the traffic. Milly, although she had received all Ernestine's efforts graciously, had been wearied by the noise, the fierce song of New York, and had been serious and non-communicative since her arrival.
Never did a May morning sun come up with a purer glitter of gold; never had the birds sang so sweetly; and never before, as any one remembered, had the rose-vines over the porch, blossomed before June, and yet this morning, there were three snowy half-blown buds peeping in at the window of Ernestine's room, and she picked them to put in the bride's brown hair.
At last Milly thought she had cornered Ernestine's favorite objection by a new scheme, which was nothing less than starting a model "Ideal Laundry" in some pretty country spot near the city, "where the water is clean and soft," and there were green lawns and hedges on which to spread the clothes, "as they do abroad."
Meantime there was much that was pleasant and comforting in her new life in pretty little "number 236," and Milly got what joy there was out of Virginia's delight in having a real home and Ernestine's beaming happiness all the time she was in the house. The little girl could return now to that "very nice school" where other nice little girls went.
Some day I'll do something desperate; you see if I don't." "Well, I do declare!" said Bea slowly, having never witnessed quite such an energetic ending to Ernestine's spells of restless dissatisfaction. "What talk! I think you'd better sit down and cool off now. Where are Olive and Jean?" "Olive is sketching out on the roof, and crosser than thirteen sticks.
Milly thought so, too, and was surprised at the amount of Ernestine's savings. She felt relieved not to have to go to the Kemps for money and genuinely delighted to have Ernestine a partner in her venture. "Now we must start at once!" she said gayly. "Mustn't lose a day, so that we can open before the fall season is over." She went to bed very happy and very confident.
Now I'll never be happy, Dave, and you'll never be happy. She won't make you happy. She'll make a fool of you and then . . ." Again she grew silent, her lids lowered. Drennen thought that she was sinking into a quiet sleep. He did not stir as the moments slipped by. A stick on the old hearth snapping and falling drew to it Ernestine's eyes. Then they came again to Drennen.
But she will see through it rightly I am sure and be willing to wait a little longer." "Mama," said Kat, reflectively, "don't you think Olive has changed very, very much?" "Yes, dear." "And especially since Ernestine went away. Why?" asked Kittie. Mrs. Dering sighed and looked sad; she always did when Ernestine's name was mentioned.
"That cushion for Aunt Ursula will take up such a deal of room. It might be put beside the coachman." "Poor aunt." "Papa, don't let us go to Aunt Ursula," said Baby; "she pricks so when she kisses you." "Naughty boy.... Think of all we have to get into the carriage. Leon's rocking-horse, Louise's muff, your father's slippers, Ernestine's quilt, the bonbons, the work-box.
He did not hear Ernestine's sobs; he knew nothing of her pleading cries. In a frenzy of grief she felt him going out to where she could not reach him. She called to him, and he did not answer. She pressed close to him, and he did not know that she was there. But the great idea was with him. It lighted his face to the last. It was as if that were what he was taking with him from life.
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