At first Agnes had cared but little about the party, affecting to
despise the people in their immediate neighborhood; but when Guy gave
her permission to invite from the adjoining towns, and even from
Worcester if she liked, her spirits arose; and when her toilet was
completed, she shone resplendent in lace and diamonds and curls,
managing to retain through all a certain simplicity of dress
appropriate to the hostess. But beautiful as Agnes was, she felt in
her jealous heart that there was about Maddy Clyde an attraction she
did not possess. Guy saw it, too, and while complimenting his pretty
mother-in-law, kept his eyes fixed admiringly on Maddy, who started
him into certain unpleasant remembrances by asking if the doctor had
come yet.
"No--yes--there he was now," and Guy looked into the hall, where the
doctor's voice was heard inquiring for him.
"I want to see him a minute, alone, please. There's something I want
to ask him." And, unmindful of Agnes' darkening frown, or Guy's look
of wonder, Maddy darted from the room, and ran hastily down the hall
to where the doctor stood, waiting for Guy, not for her.
He had not expected to meet her thus, or to see her thus, and the
sight of her, grown so tall, so womanly, so stylish and so beautiful,
almost took his breath away. And yet, as he stood with her soft hand
in his, and surveyed her from head to foot, he felt that he would
rather have had her as she was when a dainty frill shaded her pale,
wasted face, when the snowy ruffle was fastened high about her throat,
and the cotton bands were buttoned about her wrists, where gold ones
now were shining. The doctor had never forgotten Maddy as she was
then, the very embodiment, he thought, of helpless purity. The little
sick girl, so dear to him then, was growing away from him now; and
these adornings, which marked the budding woman, seemed to remove her
from him and place her nearer to Guy, whose bride should wear silk and
jewels, just as Maddy did.
She was very glad to see him, she said, asking in the same breath why
he had not been to the cottage, if she had not grown tall, and if he
thought her one bit improved with living in a city?
"One question at a time, if you please," he said, drawing her a little
more into the shadow of the door where they would be less observed by
any one passing through.
Maddy did not wait for him to answer, so eager was she to unburden her
mind and know if she ought to keep the costly presents, at which she
knew he was looking.