CHAPTER LI.
The maiden said, I wis the londe Is very fair to see, But my true-love that is in bonde Is fairer still to me.
One April day, when the sun shone on the lingering raindrops, Lyddy wasgone out, and Esther chose to sit in the kitchen, in the wicker-chairagainst the white table, between the fire and the window. The kettle wassinging, and the clock was ticking steadily toward four o'clock.
She was not reading, but stitching; and as her fingers moved nimbly,something played about her parted lips like a ray. Suddenly she laiddown her work, pressed her hands together on her knees, and bent forwarda little. The next moment there came a loud rap at the door. She startedup and opened it, but kept herself hidden behind it.
"Mr. Lyon at home?" said Felix, in his firm tones.
"No, sir," said Esther from behind her screen; "but Miss Lyon is, ifyou'll please to walk in."
"Esther!" exclaimed Felix, amazed.
They held each other by both hands, and looked into each other's faceswith delight.
"You are out of prison?"
"Yes, till I do something bad again. But you?--how is it all?"
"Oh, it is," said Esther, smiling brightly as she moved toward thewicker chair, and seated herself again, "that everything is as usual: myfather is gone to see the sick; Lyddy is gone in deep despondency to buythe grocery; and I am sitting here, with some vanity in me, needing tobe scolded."
Felix had seated himself on a chair that happened to be near her, at thecorner of the table. He looked at her still with questioning eyes--hegrave, she mischievously smiling.
"Are you come back to live here then?"
"Yes."
"You are not going to be married to Harold Transome, or to be rich?"
"No." Something made Esther take up her work again, and begin to stitch.The smiles were dying into a tremor.
"Why?" said Felix, in rather a low tone, leaning his elbow on the table,and resting his head on his hand while he looked at her.
"I did not wish to marry him, or to be rich."
"You have given it all up?" said Felix, leaning forward a little, andspeaking in a still lower tone. Esther did not speak. They heard thekettle singing and the clock loudly ticking. There was no knowing how itwas: Esther's work fell, their eyes met; and the next instant their armswere round each other's necks, and once more they kissed each other.
When their hands fell again, their eyes were bright with tears. Felixlaid his hand on her shoulder.
"Could you share the life of a poor man, then, Esther?"
"If I thought well enough of him," she said, the smile coming again,with the pretty saucy movement of her head.
"Have you considered well what it would be?--that it would be a verybare and simple life?"
"Yes--without atta of rose."
Felix suddenly removed his hand from her shoulder, rose from his chair,and walked a step or two; then he turned round and said, with deepgravity--
"And the people I shall live among, Esther? They have not just the samefollies and vices as the rich, but they have their own forms of follyand vice; and they have not what are called the refinements of the richto make their faults more bearable. I don't say more bearable to me--I'mnot fond of those refinements; but you are."
Felix paused an instant, and then added--
"It is very serious, Esther."
"I know it is serious," said Esther, looking up at him. "Since I havebeen at Transome Court I have seen many things very seriously. If I hadnot, I should not have left what I did leave. I made a deliberatechoice."
Felix stood a moment or two, dwelling on her with a face where thegravity gathered tenderness.
"And these curls?" he said, with a sort of relenting, seating himselfagain, and putting his hand on them.
"They cost nothing--they are natural."
"You are such a delicate creature."
"I am very healthy. Poor women, I think, are healthier than the rich.Besides," Esther went on, with a mischievous meaning, "I think of havingsome wealth."
"How?" said Felix, with an anxious start. "What do you mean?"
"I think even of two pounds a week: one needn't live up to the splendorof all that, you know; we might live as simply as you liked: there wouldbe money to spare, and you could do wonders, and be obliged to work too,only not if sickness came. And then I think of a little income for yourmother, enough for her to live as she has been used to live; and alittle income for my father, to save him from being dependent when he isno longer able to preach."
Esther said all this in a playful tone, but she ended, with a grave lookof appealing submission----
"I mean--if you approve. I wish to do what you think it will be right todo."
Felix put his hand on her shoulder again and reflected a little while,looking on the hearth: then he said, lifting up his eyes, with a smileat her----
"Why, I shall be able to set up a great library, and lend the books tobe dog's-eared and marked with bread-crumbs."
Esther said, laughing, "You think you are to be everything. You don'tknow how clever I am. I mean to go on teaching a great many things."
"Teaching me?"
"Oh, yes," she said, with a little toss; "I shall improve your Frenchaccent."
"You won't want me to wear a stock," said Felix, with a defiant shake ofthe head.
"No; and you will not attribute stupid thoughts to me before I'veuttered them."
They laughed merrily, each holding the other's arms, like girl and boy.There was the ineffable sense of youth in common.
Then Felix leaned forward, that their lips might meet again, and afterthat his eyes roved tenderly over her face and curls.
"I'm a rough, severe fellow, Esther. Shall you never repent?--never beinwardly reproaching me that I was not a man who could have shared yourwealth? Are you quite sure?"
"Quite sure!" said Esther, shaking her head; "for then I should havehonored you less. I am weak--my husband must be greater and nobler thanI am."
"Oh, I tell you what, though!" said Felix, starting up, thrusting hishands into his pockets, and creasing his brow playfully, "if you take mein that way I shall be forced to be a much better fellow than I everthought of being."
"I call that retribution," said Esther, with a laugh as sweet as themorning thrush.