Part 16 (2/2)
In the meantime, Mr. Jarney had taken his seat at his desk in a highly fl.u.s.tered state of mind by reason of his daughter's sudden change of countenance over the unintentional reflect a.s.sertion of Star's. When John had closed the door of his office behind him, and the two ladies were alone with Mr. Jarney, the latter turned about in his chair, as if in a pa.s.sion of rage, and said:
”My dear Edith, what is the meaning of your actions?”
”Why, papa, dear,” she answered, ”it is only my way of showing my appreciation of his former kindness.”
”My little chit,” he returned, as she put one arm around his neck, ”you exhibited more than simple appreciation in your looks, when you greeted Mr. Winthrope.”
”Now, do not scold me, dear papa; if you do, I will cry,” said Edith, fumbling for a handkerchief somewhere about her garments, with which to stay the flow of tears already glistening in her eyes.
”Ha, ha, Edith,” replied her father; ”I am not chiding you; I know my little girl would do nothing unbecoming.”
”Papa, is it unbecoming to be civil to a young man like him?” she asked.
”Not in the least, my child; he is a fine young man--” and Edith hugged her father more closely--”and--ah, Edith, you make me wonder, sometimes, at your way of looking at other young men of our cla.s.s.”
”None of them is as good as he, I know,” she said, with such sincerity, and so pensively, that her father was really disturbed.
”I know he is a good young man; but, Edith, it would be very naughty for you to encourage him,” he said advisedly.
”Then, you do not like him, papa? I know you do not. Wish I had never requested you to advance him to this place, then--then--I would not have seen him again.”
”Why, Edith, my child! what are you saying? If you persist in your talking that way, it will be necessary for me to dismiss him at once, and have no more of this benefactor business on my hands,” replied her father, sternly; at the same time winking at Star, belying the asperity of his voice.
”Now, papa, you do not mean that,” she responded, patting him on the head. ”I know you too well, you bad dear papa. If I thought you did, it would make me feel very cross toward you. There--now--papa--do not--say--any more.” She concluded the last phrase with kisses between the words.
”My dear, we will drop the matter,” he said. ”I mean to keep him, Edith; for I like him; really I do. Miss Barton what is your opinion?”
”The same as Edith's,” she answered.
Edith turned quickly and looked at Star, a mobile stiffness clouding her face, not knowing how to take Star's words.
”Ha, ha, ha,” laughed her father; ”you are an extraordinary girl, Miss Barton--as extraordinary as Edith.”
”Thank you,” returned Star, bowing to him. ”I have reasons to feel extraordinary since two weeks ago.”
Father, daughter and ward whiled away the time for an hour in such kind of interchange of colloquy. Then John returned, with his tray full of letters, and set it down on Mr. Jarney's desk.
”Mr. Winthrope,” said Mr. Jarney, looking up, with a deceiving frown, which caused John to have queer sensations go through him at first; ”Mr.
Winthrope, I am going to--I am tired of signing letters, and shall delegate that power to you. So sit down here at my desk, and put your 'John Hanc.o.c.k' on these, using my name, of course, instead of your own.
You may do this while Miss Barton and I take a little turn down the street. Edith, I will leave you here to see that Mr. Winthrope does not s.h.i.+rk his work.”
John was amazed; Edith was astounded; Star was astonished. Mr. Jarney repaired to the cloak room, from whence he returned in a few minutes wearing a high silk hat and heavy overcoat, and carrying a gold-headed cane.
”Miss Barton, will you accompany me?” he said to Star, after his preparation, taking it for granted that she would not refuse.
When they went out, Edith seated herself in the chair where John sat when he took down her father's dictations. John sat in her father's chair at the desk, looking so near overwhelmed at the turn of things, since morning, that he felt like sinking through the floor, or going straight up to the ceiling and out through the roof to some other country. As Mr. Jarney and Miss Barton went out the door, John turned and looked at Edith. He blushed; she blushed.
”This is certainly an unusual situation,” said John.
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