They reached the house at last. Hannah remembered to go to the servants'
door.
"Ah, Hannah! they little think that when next I come to Brudenell it
will be in my own carriage, which will draw up at the main entrance,"
said Nora, with exultant pride, as she blew her cold fingers while they
waited to be admitted.
The door was opened by Jovial, who started back at the sight of the
sisters and exclaimed: "Hi, Miss Hannah, and Miss Nora, you here? Loramity sake come in and
lemme shet the door. Dere, go to de fire, chillern! Name o' de law what
fetch you out dis bitter night? Wind sharp nuff to peel de skin right
offen your faces!"
"Your mistress sent word that she wished to see Nora this evening,
Jovial. Will you please to let her know that we are here?" asked Hannah,
as she and her sister seated themselves beside the roaring hickory fire
in the ample kitchen fireplace.
"Sartain, Miss Hannah! Anything to obligate the ladies," said Jovial, as
he left the kitchen to do his errand.
Before the sisters had time to thaw, their messenger re-entered, saying: "Mistess will 'ceive Miss Nora into de drawing-room."
Nora arose in trepidation to obey the summons.
Jovial led her along a spacious, well-lighted passage, through an open
door, on the left side of which she saw the dining-room and the
dinner-table, at which Mr. Brudenell and his gentlemen guests still sat
lingering over their wine. His back was towards the door, so that he
could not see her, or know who was at that time passing. But as her eyes
fell upon him, a glow of love and pride warmed and strengthened her
heart, and she said: "After all, he is my husband and this is my house! Why should I be
afraid to meet the lady mother?"
And with a firm, elastic step Nora entered the drawing-room. At first
she was dazzled and bewildered by its splendor and luxury. It was fitted
up with almost Oriental magnificence. Her feet seemed to sink among
blooming flowers in the soft rich texture of the carpet. Her eyes fell
upon crimson velvet curtains that swept in massive folds from ceiling to
floor; upon rare full-length pictures that filled up the recesses
between the gorgeously draped windows; broad crystal mirrors above the
marble mantel-shelves; marble statuettes wherever there was a corner to
hold one; soft crimson velvet sofas, chairs, ottomans and stools; inlaid
tables; papier-mache stands; and all the thousand miscellaneous vanities
of a modern drawing-room.
"And to think that all this is mine! and how little she dreams of it!"
said Nora, in an awe-struck whisper to her own heart, as she gazed
around upon all this wealth until at last her eye fell upon the stately
form of the lady as she sat alone upon a sofa at the back of the room.