Armed with her card of introduction, the Baroness set forth on her
"errand of mercy." She had not mentioned Miss Irving's name to Mabel
or Alice. The secret of the rector's interest in the girl was locked
in her own breast. She knew that Mabel was wholly incapable of
coping with such a situation, and she dreaded the effect of the news
on Alice, who was absorbed in her love dream. The girl had never
been denied a wish in her life, and no thought came to her that she
could be thwarted in this, her most cherished hope of all.
The Baroness was determined to use every gun in her battery of
defence before she allowed Mabel or Alice to know that defence was
needed.
The rector's card admitted her to the parlour of a small flat. The
portieres of an adjoining room were thrown open presently, and a
vision of radiant beauty entered the room.
The Baroness could not explain it, but as the girl emerged from the
curtains, a strange, confused memory of something and somebody she
had known in the past came over her. But when the girl spoke, a more
inexplicable sensation took possession of the listener, for her voice
was the feminine of Preston Cheney's masculine tones, and then as she
looked at the girl again the haunting memories of the first glance
were explained, for she was very like Preston Cheney as the Baroness
remembered him when he came to the Palace to engage rooms more than a
score of years ago. "What a strange thing these resemblances are!"
she thought. "This girl is more like Senator Cheney, far more like
him, than Alice is. Ah, if Alice only had her face and form!"
Miss Irving gave a slight start, and took a step back as her eyes
fell upon the Baroness. The rector's card had read, "Introducing Mrs
Sylvester Lawrence." She had known this lad by sight ever since her
first Sunday as organist at St Blank's, and for some unaccountable
reason she had conceived a most intense dislike for her. Joy was
drawn toward humanity in general, as naturally as the sunlight falls
on the earth's foliage. Her heart radiated love and sympathy toward
the whole world. But when she did feel a sentiment of distrust or
repulsion she had learned to respect it.
Our guardian angels sometimes send these feelings as danger signals
to our souls.
It therefore required a strong effort of her will to go forward and
extend a hand in greeting to the lady whom her rector and friend had
introduced.