CHAPTER XXIII
MRS. EVRINGHAM'S CALLER
Mrs. Evringham was busily chewing the cud of sweet fancies only, thatafternoon. Following the equestrians in their leafy woodland path, shepictured them as talking of their future, and herself built manycastles in the air. "Ah," she thought sentimentally, leaning back in herreclining chair, "how charming is youth--with plenty of money!"
She was roused from these luxurious meditations by the appearance ofSarah, bearing a card on a salver.
"A man!" she exclaimed with annoyance. "I'm not dressed."
Lifting the card, she read it with a start.
"Mr. Nathan Wycliffe Bonnell."
"Tell him I'll be down soon," was all she said; but her thoughts ranswiftly as she hurriedly slipped into her gown. "How in the world comesthe boy out here? Just as well that Eloise is away. It would only bepainful to her, all the old associations." But old associations croppedup more and more enticingly for Mrs. Evringham as she made her swifttoilet, and by the time she reached the drawing-room her eagerness lenther cordiality a very genuine tone.
"Nat, dear boy, how are you?"
The young man who rose eagerly to meet her would have been noticeablein any crowd. She gazed up into his smooth-shaven, frank face, with itsalert eyes and strong chin, and felt a yearning affection for all whichhe represented to her. "What are you doing out here?"
"Visiting you and Eloise," he answered, with the hearty relish whichalways characterized his manner when circumstances were agreeable."Where is she?"
"Riding. I don't know when they will come home, either. It's such acharming day, isn't it? So good of you to hunt us up, Nat. We've beenout of the world so long. I can't tell you what a rush of memories comesover me at sight of you, you nice, big boy. I do believe you've beengrowing." She gave a glance of approval at the young man's stalwartproportions.
"Oh, don't humiliate me," he laughed, as she drew him to a divan, wherethey seated themselves.
"How could you get away at this hour?"
"I'm changing my business, and get a week's vacation thereby. Greatluck, isn't it?"
"I hope so. Are you going to do better?"
"Much better. It's only a little matter of time now, Mrs.Evringham--automobiles, steam yachts, and all the rest of it."
"Ah, the optimism of youth!" she sighed, gazing at the dancing lights inhis eyes. "It's very beautiful, and usually entirely unfounded. Youlook so radiant, my dear. Perhaps you have come out here to let uscongratulate you. Have you found that desirable girl? I certainly shouldbe the first to be told, for I always talked to you very plainly, didn'tI?"
"Indeed you did, Mrs. Evringham. You always kept my ineligibility beforeme strenuously."
"A certain _sort_ of ineligibility, dear boy," returned the lady witha flattering cadence. "Your capital did not happen to consist of money.Tell me all, Nat. Who is she?"
He shook his head. "She's still not impossible, but improbable," hereturned.
"Oh, you are too difficult, my dear. Really, I thought at the time ourmisfortunes fell upon us that it was going to be Miss Caton. She wouldhave been a great assistance to you, Nat. It isn't as if you could evenafford to be a bachelor. In these days so much is expected of them. Howis your mother?" Mrs. Evringham made the addition in that tone offixed sympathy which one employs when only a depressing answer can beexpected.
"Very well, thank you."
"You mean as well as usual, I suppose."
"No, I mean well. Wonderful, isn't it?"
"Really, Nat?" Mrs. Evringham straightened up in her interest. "Who didit?"
"She was healed by Christian Science."
"You don't mean it!"
"Indeed I do."
Mrs. Evringham thanked her holy stars that Eloise was absent.
"Well! I never for one moment classed your mother as a _maladeimaginaire_!" exclaimed the lady.
Her companion raised his eyebrows. "I fancy no one did who knew her."
"You believe it, then?"
"I should be an idiot if I didn't."
"Do you mean to say she is out of her wheeled chair?"
"No chairs for her now. When she wishes to walk she walks."
"Then she always could!" declared Mrs. Evringham.
"I think you know better than that," returned the other calmly.
"How long since?" asked Mrs. Evringham.
"Three months."
Silence.
"Aren't you glad for her?" asked Bonnell with a slight smile ofcuriosity into the disturbed face. "I ought to have told you at firstthat osteopathy did it; then after your joy had subsided, break thetruth gently."
"Of course I'm glad," returned the other stiffly, "but I'd rather Eloisedid not hear of it at once."
"May I know why?"
"Certainly. We have a very dear friend who is a physician. It looks verymuch as if he might be something nearer than a friend. It is he withwhom Eloise is riding this afternoon. It is very distasteful, naturally,to have these alleged cures discussed in our family. We have had someannoyance in that line already. You can understand how doctors mustfeel."
"Yes, so long as they believe a cure to be only alleged; but where oneis convinced that previously hopeless conditions have been healed, andit does happen once in a while, they are glad of it, I'm confident. Wehaven't a finer, broader minded class of men in our country than ourphysicians."
"I think so," agreed Mrs. Evringham, drawing herself up with a fleetingvision of the Ballard place on Mountain Avenue.
"But they are not the wealthiest at the start," said Nat. "Is itpossible that you are allowing Eloise to ride unchaperoned with a youngphysician?"
Mrs. Evringham did not remark the threatening curves at the corners ofthe speaker's lips.
"Oh, this one is different," she returned seriously; "very fineconnections, and substantial in _every_ way."
Her companion threw back his head and laughed frankly.
"We have to smile at each other once in a while, don't we, Mrs.Evringham?" he said, in the light, caressing manner which had for a fewyears been one of her chief worries; "but all the same, you're fond ofme just as long as I don't forget my place, eh? You're glad to see me?"
"You know I am." Mrs. Evringham pressed her hand against the laces overher heart. "Such a bittersweet feeling comes over me at the very tonesof your voice. Oh, the happy past, Nat! Gone forever!" She touched adainty handkerchief to her eyes. "I suppose your mother is still in herapartment?"
"She has taken a place at View Point for the summer, and has set herheart on a long visit from you."
"How very kind of her," responded Mrs. Evringham with genuine gratitude."I don't know what father means to do in the hot weather or whetherhe--or whether I should wish to go with him. Your mother and I alwaysenjoyed each other, when she was sufficiently free from suffering."
"That time is always now," returned Nat, a fullness of gratitude in hisvoice.
His companion looked at him curiously. "I can't realize it."
"Come and see," was his reply.
"I will, I certainly will. I shall anticipate it with great pleasure."
A very convenient place to prepare a part of Eloise's trousseau, Mrs.Evringham was considering, and the girl safely engaged, Nat's presencewould have no terrors. "You think you are really getting into a goodbusiness arrangement now?" she asked aloud.
"Very. I wake up in the morning wondering at my own good fortune."
"I am so glad, my dear boy," responded the other sympathetically."Perhaps, after all, you will be able to wait for a little more chinthan Miss Caton has. Of course she's a very _nice_ girl and all that."
Bonnell smiled at the carpet.
They talked on for half an hour of mutual friends over cups of tea, andthen he rose to go.
"Eloise will be sorry!" said Mrs. Evringham effusively. "It's such along way out here and so difficult for you to get the time. It isn't asif you could come easily."
"Oh, I have several days here. I'm staying at the Ree
ves's. Do you knowthem?"
"No," returned the lady, trying to conceal that this was a blow.
"It is Mr. Reeves with whom I am going into business, and we are doingsome preliminary work. I shall see Eloise soon. Remember me to her."
"Yes, certainly," replied Mrs. Evringham. She kept a stiff upper lipuntil she was alone, and then a troubled line grew in her forehead.
"It will be all right, of course, if things are settled," she thought."I can scarcely wait for Eloise to come home."