all? Why may not a plain dress set off a fine figure, because the mode is to leave no unbroken line or sweeping draperyanywhere? And I might go on endlessly."
"I can't tell, I am sure," said Miss Julia; "but if one lives in theworld, it won't do to defy the world. And that you know as well as I."
"What would happen, I wonder?"
"The world would quietly drop you. Unless you are a person ofimportance enough to set a new fashion."
"Is there not some unworthy bondage about that?"
"You can't help it, Philip Dillwyn, if there is. We have got to take itas it is; and make the best of it."
"And this new Fate of Tom's – this new Fancy rather, – as I understand, she is quite out of the world?"
"Quite. Lives in a village in New England somewhere, and grows onions."
"For market?" said Philip, with a somewhat startled face.
"No, no!" said Julia, laughing – "how could you think I meant that? No;I don't know anything about the onions; but she has lived among farmersand sailors all her life, and that is all she knows. And it isperfectly ridiculous, but Tom is so smitten with her that all we can dois to get him away. Fancy, Tom!"
"He has got to come back," said Philip, rising. "You had better getsomebody to take the girl away."
"Perhaps you will do that?" said Miss Julia, laughing.
"I'll think of it," said Dillwyn as he took leave.
CHAPTER VI
HAPPINESS
Philip kept his promise. Thinking, however, he soon found, did notamount to much till he had seen more; and he went a few days after toMrs. Wishart's house.
It was afternoon. The sun was streaming in from the west, filling thesitting-room with its splendour; and in the radiance of it Lois wassitting with some work. She was as unadorned as when Philip had seenher the other day in the street; her gown was of some plain stuff, plainly made; she was a very unfashionable-looking person. But the goodfigure that Mr. Dillwyn liked to see was there; the fair outlines, simple and graceful, light and girlish; and the exquisite hair caughtthe light, and showed its varying, warm, bright tints. It was massed upsomehow, without the least artificiality, in order, and yet lying looseand wavy; a beautiful combination which only a few heads can attain to.
There was nobody else in the room; and as Lois rose to meet thevisitor, he was not flattered to see that she did not recognize him.Then the next minute a flash of light came into her face.
"I have had the pleasure," said Dillwyn. "I was afraid you were goingto ignore the fact."
"You gave us lunch the other day," said Lois, smiling. "Yes, Iremember. I shall always remember."
"You got home comfortably?"
"O yes, after we were so fortified. Mrs. Wishart was quite exhausted, before lunch, I mean."
"This is a pleasant situation," said Philip, going a step nearer thewindow.
"Yes, very! I enjoy those rocks very much."
"You have no rocks at home?"
"No rocks," said Lois; "plenty of rock, or stone; but it comes up outof the ground just enough to make trouble, not to give pleasure. Thecountry is all level."
"And you enjoy the variety?"
"O, not because it is variety. But I have been nowhere and have seennothing in my life."
"So the world is a great unopened book to you?" said Philip, with asmile regarding her.
"It will always be that, I think," Lois replied, shaking her head.
"Why should it?"
"I live at Shampuashuh."
"What then? Here you are in New York."
"Yes, wonderfully. But I am going home again."
"Not soon?"
"Very soon. It will be time to begin to make garden in a few days."
"Can the garden not be made without you?"
"Not very well; for nobody knows, except me, just where things wereplanted last year."
"And is that important?"
"Very important." Lois smiled at his simplicity. "Because many thingsmust be changed. They must not be planted where they were last year."
"Why not?"
"They would not do so well. They have all to shift about, likePuss-in-the-corner; and it is puzzling. The peas must go where the cornor the potatoes went; and the corn must find another place, and so on."
"And you are the only one who keeps a map of the garden in your head?"
"Not in my head," said Lois, smiling. "I keep it in my drawer."
"Ah! That is being more systematic than I gave you credit for."
"But you cannot do anything with a garden if you have not system."
"Nor with anything else! But where did you learn that?"
"In the garden, I suppose," said Lois simply.
She talked frankly and quietly. Mr. Dillwyn could see by her manner, hethought, that she would be glad if Mrs. Wishart would come in and takehim off her hands; but there was no awkwardness or ungracefulness orunreadiness. In fact, it was the grace of the girl that struck him, nother want of it. Then she was so very lovely. A quiet little figure, inher very plain dress; but the features were exceedingly fair, the clearskin was as pure as a pearl, the head with its crown of soft brighthair might have belonged to one of the Graces. More than all, was thevery rare expression and air of the face. That Philip could not read;he could not decide what gave the girl her special beauty. Something inthe mind or soul of her, he was sure; and he longed to get at it andfind out what it was.
She is not commonplace, he said to himself, while he was talkingsomething else to her; – but it is more than being not commonplace. Sheis very pure; but I have seen other pure faces. It is not that she is aMadonna; this is no creature
"… too bright and good For human nature's daily food."
But what "daily food" for human nature she would be! She is a loftycreature; yet she is a half-timid country girl; and I suppose she doesnot know much beyond her garden. Yes, probably Mrs. Caruthers wasright; she would not do for Tom. Tom is not a quarter good enough forher! She is a little country girl, and she does not know much; andyet – happy will be the man to whom she will give a free kiss of thosewise, sweet lips!
With these somewhat contradictory thoughts running through his mind,Mr. Dillwyn set himself seriously to entertain Lois. As she had nevertravelled, he told her of things he had seen – and things he had knownwithout seeing – in his own many journeyings about the world. PresentlyLois dropped her work out of her hands, forgot it, and turned upon Mr.Dillwyn a pair of eager, intelligent eyes, which it was a pleasure totalk to. He became absorbed in his turn, and equally; ministering tothe attention and curiosity and power of imagination he had aroused.What
