The Awakening and Selected Short Stories - Page 101/161

"Well?" questioned Arobin, who had remained with Edna after the others

had departed.

"Well," she reiterated, and stood up, stretching her arms, and feeling

the need to relax her muscles after having been so long seated.

"What next?" he asked.

"The servants are all gone. They left when the musicians did. I have

dismissed them. The house has to be closed and locked, and I shall trot

around to the pigeon house, and shall send Celestine over in the morning

to straighten things up."

He looked around, and began to turn out some of the lights.

"What about upstairs?" he inquired.

"I think it is all right; but there may be a window or two unlatched. We

had better look; you might take a candle and see. And bring me my wrap

and hat on the foot of the bed in the middle room."

He went up with the light, and Edna began closing doors and windows. She

hated to shut in the smoke and the fumes of the wine. Arobin found her

cape and hat, which he brought down and helped her to put on.

When everything was secured and the lights put out, they left through

the front door, Arobin locking it and taking the key, which he carried

for Edna. He helped her down the steps.

"Will you have a spray of jessamine?" he asked, breaking off a few

blossoms as he passed.

"No; I don't want anything."

She seemed disheartened, and had nothing to say. She took his arm, which

he offered her, holding up the weight of her satin train with the other

hand. She looked down, noticing the black line of his leg moving in and

out so close to her against the yellow shimmer of her gown. There

was the whistle of a railway train somewhere in the distance, and the

midnight bells were ringing. They met no one in their short walk.

The "pigeon house" stood behind a locked gate, and a shallow parterre

that had been somewhat neglected. There was a small front porch, upon

which a long window and the front door opened. The door opened directly

into the parlor; there was no side entry. Back in the yard was a room

for servants, in which old Celestine had been ensconced.

Edna had left a lamp burning low upon the table. She had succeeded in

making the room look habitable and homelike. There were some books on

the table and a lounge near at hand. On the floor was a fresh matting,

covered with a rug or two; and on the walls hung a few tasteful

pictures. But the room was filled with flowers. These were a surprise to

her. Arobin had sent them, and had had Celestine distribute them during

Edna's absence. Her bedroom was adjoining, and across a small passage

were the dining-room and kitchen.