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Stanford Eveleth - Miss Dexie

S >> Stanford Eveleth >> Miss Dexie




The minister's words of peace and comfort, spoken at this moment, were
sorely needed, for the prayer had scarcely ended when Mrs. Sherwood raised
her eyes to her husband's face and saw the change that passed over it. A
few murmured words fell from his lips as he looked into her face, then his
eyes closed and his spirit was gone to the God who gave it.

Guy laid the form gently back on the bed, and something in his face must
have told the stricken wife that all was over, for her piercing shriek
chilled everyone to the heart.

Guy was just in time to catch Dexie's fainting form and bear her from the
room, when the children round the bedside understood that they were
fatherless.




CHAPTER XLIII.


Many changes took place in the household during the weeks following Mr.
Sherwood's death. It was a sorrowful time to live through, and a most
unpleasant memory to look back upon.

These were days of trial to Dexie. There was no one in the house that she
could turn to for sympathy, for Louie had returned home the week after the
funeral, and the house seemed desolate.

Mrs. Jarvis was called away by a case of sickness in another household, and
Gussie, finding herself free from all restraint, made so many unreasonable
demands on the patient and willing domestic that she refused to submit to
it longer, and left the house; consequently, the actual work of the
household, as well as the care and responsibility, rested on Dexie's
shoulders.

Mrs. Sherwood had not left her room since the day her husband was buried,
and her frequent hysterical attacks were very alarming to the rest of the
family. She seemed as fretful and helpless as a child, and quite as
unreasonable, almost blaming her husband for dying and leaving her alone in
the world.

When Dexie tried to draw her thoughts away from their sad bereavement, she
charged her daughter with being hard-hearted and unsympathizing in the
extreme, and it seemed as if she did not wish to be comforted.

Lawyer Hackett attended the funeral, but as Mrs. Sherwood was not able to
discuss business matters at that unhappy time, he promised to return later
on and explain all things necessary.

Dexie awaited his return with much anxiety, for the expenses of the
funeral, together with their necessary mourning, left little ready money to
meet the daily expenses, and it was only by the strictest economy that she
managed at all. Her "scrimping," as Gussie called it, met with no favor
from anyone; and though Mrs. Sherwood talked of "ordering" this and that
from the store, Dexie positively refused to be the mouthpiece of the order.
They could do very well till Mr. Hackett arrived, she said.

Dexie missed her father sorely, and the one bright spot in the long,
toilsome day was when Guy came in the evening. Then they would walk out
together through the quiet streets to the country beyond, and she always
returned refreshed and strengthened to bear the burden of another day.

As yet they had made no definite plans for their future. Dexie wished to
see the household matters settled in a more satisfactory state before
attempting anything that would benefit her own condition.

When the lawyer had explained to her mother the business matters which she
had refused to discuss during her husband's lifetime, then it would be time
enough to lay her own plans before her.

The appearance of the couple whom Mr. Hackett had secured to assist in the
house and garden was daily expected, and Dexie looked forward to more
freedom on their arrival.

One day, as Gussie answered the summons to dinner, she surveyed the table
scornfully.

"Is this all that you have for dinner? This is the third day, Dexie, that
you have given us no meat. _You_ may like a vegetable diet, but I am sure
no one else in the house does. We might as well dine at the poorhouse."

"Well, Gussie, you know it is not my fault," Dexie said, sinking into a
chair with a tired sigh. "I cannot make things out of nothing, and my
housekeeping money has come to an end. If you had not insisted on those
extra dresses for yourself, the money would have lasted until Mr. Hackett
arrived. I am sure he was not aware how little ready money there was on
hand or he would have arranged for the expenses that were necessary. It is
no use to fret, Gussie; there is plenty in the house to keep us for weeks
yet, if we live plainly. It is a shame to worry and find fault because you
have not everything you want when we have such a comfortable home left to
us."

"But we can't eat the house or the furniture in it," Gussie snappishly
replied, "and I am just tired and sick of the things you have given us to
eat lately. I haven't the least appetite for your 'plain dishes' that you
spend so much time over."

"Very well, Gussie, if you can prepare something better out of what there
is to cook, I wish you would do it. I do not prepare your meals from
choice. I have work of my own to do, and would prefer to keep out of the
kitchen altogether, if it were possible."

"Well, I guess you'll be pretty hungry before _I'll_ go in the kitchen to
cook!" said Gussie, with uplifted nose. "I have no intention of messing
myself up for other people."

"You do not need to 'mess yourself up.' I don't; and you may have to do
more disagreeable things than that yet. I am going away for a rest as soon
as the woman comes and gets used to the house, and she will not be able to
see after everything without some help. Those starched clothes that you put
into the wash every week with so little thought of the extra work they
make--she will not be able to do them, if she has to see about everything
else. There is a whole basketful there now, waiting for you to iron."

"Waiting for _me_ to iron, indeed! Why didn't you do them when you ironed
the rest of the clothes?" her temper rising at the bare suggestion that she
should do them herself.

"I had too much else to do, Gussie, as you might know if you would give the
matter a thought. You must see after them yourself, Gussie--while we are
without a girl, anyway."

"We will just see about that! I never had to iron my clothes yet, and I am
not going to begin now. I want my tucked skirts to-morrow, so see that you
have them ready for me," and she rose to leave the room as if the matter
settled.

"You will find your clothes in the basket, Gussie, whenever you choose to
iron them," Dexie quietly replied, unmoved by Gussie's insolent manner,
"and remember, Gussie, I positively refuse to do them for you again--never
once again, remember!"

Glancing out the window she saw Guy Traverse approaching the house, and not
wishing him to see Gussie in her present humor she took her hat, intending
to meet him at the door and take him to the garden; but her mother called
her just then, and when she came downstairs Guy was standing in the hall.

"You are not going out, surely, Dexie?" said Gussie, coming out to see who
she was talking to. "Mamma would not let you go if she knew that you
refused to do what I told you. It would be better for you to go to the
kitchen and finish your work, instead of gadding about with the men."

"My work is done for the day, Gussie; it is your work that is waiting in
the kitchen," and she hurried down the steps, with Guy closely following,
his face dark with anger at the insulting words he had heard used to his
promised wife.

"And this is the way they treat you, my darling!" he said, as he reached
her side. "I understand why you never want me to come in and spend an hour
with you; you are afraid I shall hear how they talk to you. I have a good
mind to take you to the minister's this very afternoon, and make you my
wife, so I can look after you."

"Do not mind it, Guy," trying to keep back the tears. "Gussie was vexed
because she did not find her clothes done up for her as usual."

"And she is actually imposing on you to such an extent as that, is she?
That explains that pale, tired face! My dear little girl, I cannot allow
it! Do you love me well enough to come and live in a set of rooms until we
can get a decent house ready?" and he looked tenderly into her face.

"I could live happy with you in one room, Guy, if I could leave home, but I
cannot do that just yet. I must stay until Mr. Hackett comes back. I know
they cannot do without me just now, dear. I would go with you willingly if
I could, for I feel so tired and discouraged. Mamma thinks I neglect her if
I am not constantly waiting upon her; but there are the children to see to.
They are good little things, but they take up the time, you know, and the
hours seem to more than fly."

"But if you were not there, dear, perhaps your mother would rouse herself;
and I do think that would do her more good than all the doctoring she is
getting, and Gussie should be able to be of as much assistance as
yourself."

"Perhaps you are right, Guy, but it does not seem right for me to leave
them now, and so soon after papa's death, too," and her eyes filled again.

"But you know your father said we were not to let that delay our marriage,
dear. I feel quite sure he knew you would not have a happy life, so wished
you under my protection."

"Don't tempt me anymore, Guy," said the quivering lips. "You do not know
how my heart cries out for the comfort and relief that you offer me. I know
very well I am only tolerated at home on account of my usefulness, but they
do not understand what it would be like if I were not there. Gussie has not
the necessary practice to make her the help she might be, and mamma would
be sure to suffer if I left them before the new help arrives. Besides, Guy,
I have not had time to prepare a thing for myself yet," she added, in a
low, shy voice.

"You have not had time to get the rest you need, darling, and that is of
more account than anything else. You must not think I am going to let you
stay home and have Gussie abuse you while you make up a lot of finery. Be
my little wife in earnest, darling, and whatever you want you can get just
as easily after you are married as before. I never could see the sense in
women making up such a quantity of new clothes just before their marriage;
it always looks to me as if they were afraid their future husbands would
not give them what they required when they were married."

"Let me speak to your mother to-day, Dexie, dear," he added, "and I will
tell her that it was your father's wish that we should not delay our
marriage; and I must insist that you be used with more consideration. I
really cannot let matters go on without some protest; it would not be right
for me to allow it, either."

"Very well, Guy, do as you think best; they cannot make it much more
uncomfortable than it is at present."

But in this Dexie found she was mistaken.

Mrs. Sherwood listened to Guy's manly and straightforward declaration in
silence, though her raised eyebrows showed something of her surprise as
well as displeasure. She admitted she had no right to refuse her permission
for their marriage if her father approved of it, but it was "quite like
Dexie to keep her in ignorance of the true state of affairs." Of course,
the marriage must not take place for some months yet. The impropriety of it
so soon after her father's death was quite shocking, even to hear it
suggested; besides, Dexie could not be spared from home. When Guy reminded
her that Dexie should have the rest she evidently needed, her manner became
icy at once, though she kept her indignation well in check until Guy had
left the house.

"So you have been complaining to Mr. Traverse, have you?" she said angrily
to Dexie. "We will see hereafter if you do not have something to complain
about! If you are thinking of getting married to Mr. Traverse on purpose to
shirk your duties at home, I will see to it that you _earn_ your wedding
while you _are_ home. As for being married in the near future, your
father's death will certainly forbid that, and I think Mr. Traverse will
find that you are still under my authority, and that I am not quite so fond
of him as your father was."

"Do not have any fear, mamma, that I will ever ask for a wedding that would
be so grudgingly given," said Dexie, with quiet dignity; "but I think I
have already fairly _earned_ my wedding, if that is the way you choose to
put it. I hardly think anyone will ever hear you suggest that Gussie must
_earn_ her wedding before her marriage can take place, and I think I have
been as good a daughter to you as Gussie has--I have tried to be, anyway,
mamma."

"Gussie will never have the low tastes and plebeian ways that have made you
such an eyesore to me. She is too much of a lady to delight in the domestic
economy that you always aspired to, and when her time comes I shall see
that she has a wedding that shall fill your heart with envy!" said the now
thoroughly angry woman.

"I think that will not be possible, mamma," said the low, quiet tones, so
unlike the Dexie of old. "It is not to the wedding I am looking forward
with so much happiness, but to the loving husband I shall gain thereby, and
the future happy life I shall spend with him. I am thankful to say that I
do not need a grand wedding to make me perfectly happy," and Dexie left the
room, her face white and sad as the result of the interview.

Gussie soon learned the true state of affairs, and Dexie had reason to be
thankful that Guy had not spoken at an earlier day.

To most mothers, the few months or weeks previous to a daughter's marriage,
the heart is full of loving consideration for her; the new position which
her daughter is soon to fill arouses all her tenderness, and she is full of
love that is not unmixed with pity. But mothers are not all cast in the
same mould, and Mrs. Sherwood thought of Dexie's marriage only in the light
in which it affected herself. Dexie was a necessity in the household, and
she would see that Dexie had no spare moments; she must make herself doubly
useful, and prepare for _their_ future comfort; and as Gussie held to the
same opinion, only declared it more frequently, Dexie had anything but an
easy time of it.

One day when Gussie was harping on the same string, yet found it impossible
to get Dexie to tell of her future plans, she retorted:

"Well, I think you have acted shamefully! I wonder what Hugh McNeil will
say when he hears you have thrown him over again!--but I warned him! I told
him just how you had been flirting with Traverse, and I am quite sure Hugh
spoke to him about it, too! But you have been like the dog in the
manger--you would neither take Hugh yourself nor give anyone else the
chance of getting him. I might have had the benefit of his money if it had
not been for you! I suppose you think you are smart to 'cut out' Guy
Traverse's city girl, but it just shows how mean you are, though I can't
see for the life of me what any man sees in _you_ to admire!"

Dexie looked at her sister with flashing eyes. She longed to tell her what
a ridiculous mess of mistakes she had got into. But what was the use! she
would not give way to her temper if she could help it, though it was a
temptation hard to resist.

"Sometime, Gussie, you shall know all about Guy's city girl, if for no
other reason than to make you thoroughly ashamed of yourself; and if you
only knew how far from the truth all your surmises are, you would not be so
free to talk. You make yourself ridiculous, if you only knew it!"

The next day, much to Dexie's delight, Mr. Hackett made his appearance, and
easily explained the cause of his delay; and as he wished to have a final
examination of all the papers in her father's desk, he asked Dexie's
assistance, giving as a reason that a certain Mr. Plaisted had put in his
claims for a large amount as soon as her father's death had been published.
After explaining the matter to Dexie, she knew at once where to look for
the proof needed to refute such claims, and placing the copy of the letter
she had brought home from Prince Edward Island into the hands of the
lawyer, she told him all the circumstances connected with it, and the break
in the business intercourse with her father in consequence of it.

"Well, that Plaisted is a regular scamp!" said the lawyer. "I will take
this letter with me, and with the knowledge I have now of him and his
doings I fancy he will not care to face a judge and jury to enforce his
claims, as he so boldly announces his intention. If I had known of this, or
had taken this bundle of papers with me before, it would have saved me much
time and annoyance. However, this time I will leave nothing but what you
can claim as your father's gift, Miss Sherwood. The desk and its contents
are now yours."

"Now, Miss Sherwood," said he, later, "I am ready to see your mother and
have a talk with her; and if you will bring along the bills, which I
daresay are rather heavy, I will see to their settlement."

"There are no bills to settle, Mr. Hackett--none, at least, that I know of;
everything was paid for as it was ordered. I must confess we are about
penniless, though," she smilingly said, "and if you had delayed coming for
many more days we would have been like Mother Hubbard, with a bare
cupboard."

"Why, you do not mean it, surely! Well, well! I never thought of such a
possibility! But, then, I never thought you would try to settle the bills
out of the money left for other purposes. Other things might have waited
till I came to look after them myself."

"It has not hurt us to practise economy, and I did not want people to think
that papa did not leave us enough to pay our expenses, so I paid the bills
as long as the money held out. I had a little saved up, and that came in
very handy, but I shall be glad to get something on the housekeeping
account. They have all been protesting against the lack of variety on the
table, till my sister thinks she is boarding at the poorhouse."

"Oh, not quite so bad as that! not quite so bad, I hope! But you should
have written to me, my dear Miss Sherwood, and told me about it. You have
managed wonderfully. I have come prepared to settle all accounts and
arrange about the future; but, by the way, I have something here for
yourself," taking a package from his breast-pocket, and handing it to her.
"Your father directed me to give you this. Oh, it is all right!" as Dexie
exposed a roll of bills. "Your father explained it to me the last time I
saw him, and I think myself it is only fair that the daughter who watched
over him and waited on him so faithfully should be especially remembered.
It is all right, and will come in very handy when the wedding comes off.
There! don't mind me! Your father told me all about it, and explained many
things which I need not have known if there had been any chance of his
recovery. But he knew someone must take an interest in you as a family, and
I am paid to do it, so it is all right, and the money is justly your own,
for you helped to earn it--yes, this was received from his publishers for
the work you helped him to do."

"But I have a twin sister, Mr. Hackett," Dexie began, as she counted the
bills in her hand, "and I ought to share this with her."

"Not at all! not at all, Miss Sherwood," was the decided answer. "Your
mother will supply your sister's wants willingly, which I fear would not be
the case with yourself, if you were left to her generosity. Pardon my
plain-speaking, Miss Sherwood; it is sometimes necessary, and I know what I
am talking about. It is your father's gift--a wedding present, if you like
to call it--and is intended for yourself alone, and in my opinion is not
half what you deserve, there! I am an old man, comparatively speaking, but
my eyes are young yet."

Dexie led the way to Mrs. Sherwood's room, where her mother was anxiously
awaiting the appearance of the lawyer. She had become quite alarmed at the
want of money, and insisted that Dexie must have been wilfully extravagant.
But as Dexie produced all the accounts, and went over them before Mr.
Hackett, Mrs. Sherwood was obliged to confess that the blame was not all on
Dexie's shoulders, though she thought some of the bills extremely
exorbitant, and could not be convinced that the extras which Gussie had
ordered made such a difference.

Mrs. Sherwood found the interview with the lawyer very satisfactory, and
she viewed with pleasure the roll of bills he left for their immediate use;
and, at the sight of it, Gussie made a mental list of various luxurious
articles she had long desired to possess.

Dexie was putting the desk in order when Mr. Hackett returned through the
room, and he stopped for a few minutes' conversation with her while he drew
on his gloves.

"I omitted to tell your mother, Miss Sherwood, that the woman to whom I
referred when I was here before, will be ready to engage with you in about
two weeks. Both she and her husband have excellent references, and I think
they will suit very well. I believe you will find them both very
trustworthy and worth waiting for. Do not hesitate to write to me if any
difficulty should arise," and bidding her a cordial "Good-bye" he left the
house.

Gussie was not pleased over the fact that Dexie had to "waste all the
morning over those old papers," though she had not dared to remonstrate in
Mr. Hackett's hearing, for she stood very much in awe of the lynx-eyed
lawyer, who seemed to read her through and through with his keen grey eyes.

"How much longer are you going to be over those papers, I'd like to know?"
she said, as she heard the front door close behind him. "The idea of you
sitting there, and the dishes not washed yet!"

"Well, Gussie, you might have washed them before this; you have had plenty
of time. I must put away these papers while I have them sorted out; then I
will do what I can in the kitchen. Try to manage till I am done, Gussie; I
won't be long now," and she looked up with a smile, as she tied a package
of MSS. together and laid it away snugly in the drawer.

"You can finish those papers after you see to your work," said Gussie
authoritatively. "You need not think you are going to be allowed to sit
here all the afternoon, for Mr. Hackett left mamma a lot of money, and I
guess we'll see who is going to run the house after this."

"Well, Gussie, that last remark of yours suggests good news," said Dexie,
with a good-humored smile. "I will be delighted, indeed, if someone will
take my place, for I feel sadly in need of a rest."

"Oh! I did not say you were to give up any part of the work! I guess you'll
have to do that, whether you want to or not; but mamma says that I am to be
the housekeeper and do the ordering after this," and there was a triumphant
ring in her tone.

"Well, I was afraid that you would never care to do that, Gussie, and I am
glad to see you are willing to undertake the difficult task; but the woman
that Mr. Hackett is sending us cannot come for two weeks, so we must look
up someone to do the work until she comes. Janet Robinson goes out by the
day; I think we had better send for her."

"Well, the idea! Hire a girl so you can sit in the parlor with Traverse, I
suppose! You managed well enough since Eliza left, and I guess you will get
no chance to play the lady in this house! The kitchen is your place, and
that is all you are fit for!"

"Then I throw up the situation from this moment!" said Dexie, hotly,
thoroughly aroused at last. "It is quite time I turned my attention to
something higher--to the making of blue or green dogs on canvas, for
instance! Hire a servant to wait on you before night, for I will not step
my foot into the kitchen again! I'll find something to do in a more
congenial latitude," and Dexie thrust the remaining papers into the desk in
startling confusion, locking the several drawers with a snap.

As Gussie left the room she rose to her feet, intending to send word to Guy
to come and take her away, but, as she turned about, he caught her in his
strong arms and held her close to him.

"Oh, Guy! how long have you been here?" and she burst into tears.

"Long enough to make up my mind that Gussie shall never get the chance to
insult you again as she has done in my hearing. Dexie! it makes my blood
boil to know that you are treated in this manner! You must come away with
me! I cannot leave you in the house after hearing those words said to you.
You must not refuse, darling!" and he wiped away her tears and kissed the
white face in his arms.

"Oh, Guy! if you only _would_ take me," she sobbed. "I was just going to
send for you, and beg of you to take me at once."

"I ran in to tell you that I am called to the city on business, and must go
on the 5.30 train, so come with me, darling. I have a married sister living
in Boston, who will make you right welcome, and we will be married as soon
as the ceremony can be performed. Will you agree to this plan, my darling?"

"Yes, and bless you for the chance of getting away so quickly; but oh, Guy!
I seem to be all alone since papa died!" and the tears fell afresh.

"You will not be able to say that in a few hours' time, dear; but I must
hasten--I have an appointment at my office this minute. I will be back for
you in less than an hour, and will see your mother then. Now, go and get
ready for your journey, my little wifie," and with a tender embrace he
hurried away, and Dexie flew upstairs to her room.

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