The Maiden CHAPTER 3.
Back to Volume I. The Maiden
Anna remained sitting in a slightly pensive mood, in the parlor below, after her father left her. The manner of Gardiner had disturbed her feelings. It opened up to her eyes a new view of his character. It presented him to her from a new point of vision. She had denied herself a desired pleasure for the sake of a sick parent, and he had not approved the act — nay, had clearly disapproved it.
"Have I done right or wrong?" she asked herself.
Then reviewing her conduct, and weighing all the reasons that had decided her course of action, she murmured, "Right," and rose to her feet. The tea bell rang at the moment, and she ascended to the dining-room, to meet her father and mother, with a cheerful, happy face.
"I'll pour out the tea," she said, as her mother came in, leaning upon her father's arm. "You take my place."
"No, dear. I can wait on the table well enough," returned Mrs. Lee.
"But I can do it better. So sit down in my place."
"Yes, dear, you had better," said Mr. Lee. "Even the slight exertion of pouring out the tea may disturb your nervous system too much, and bring back that dreadful pain in your head. Let Anna wait on the table, this evening."
Mrs. Lee objected no farther, and Anna did the honors of the table.
John was very quiet, and had a thoughtful look. The fact was, remembering that Anna had urged him to eat his supper and go to bed when the other children did, because she wished to go out, and seeing that, although called for, she had yet remained at home — he felt that he had been unkind to one who was always kind to him, and who, on account of his perverseness and ill-nature, had been deprived of an expected enjoyment. Had Anna permitted herself to get angry with John, and been led to speak to him from that state, he would have remained indifferent. But the gentle forbearance and self-denial of his elder sister touched the boy, and awakened his better feelings. After tea he called her aside, and told her he wanted to go to bed, and that he was sorry he had not done as she wished him to do before. She forgave him with a kiss, when the boy threw his arms around her neck and burst into tears.
"You are so good — and I am so bad," he sobbed. "O sister, I wish I could be as good as you are."
With kind words Anna soothed her brother's mind, and urged him, in future, to try and love all around him, and to be obedient to the wishes of those who sought to do him good. He promised never to disregard what she should say to him, and to strive and conquer his bad temper.
She kissed the penitent boy again, and he went with subdued feelings, but strong resolutions to do right in future, up to his chamber.
"What a dear good girl our Anna is," said Mr. Lee, after Anna, on leaving the tea-table, had been drawn out of the room by John. •
"She is a blessing to our house," returned Mrs. Lee, earnestly. "What would I do without her? For my sake, she has denied herself the pleasure of going to Mrs. Leslie's tonight, although she had made every preparation, and had promised herself, I know, much enjoyment. I urged her not to think of me; but she was firm, and presented her reasons in such a way, that I could not strongly oppose her."
"She has acted from a sense of right, and I am glad that she has done so."
"I cannot but say the same, although my feelings have plead strongly for her; and I have felt sad to think that my illness was the cause of her disappointment."
"To me," returned the husband and father, "this little incident, as trifling as it may seem, has given a deeper satisfaction than anything that has occurred for a long time. I see in it the true safeguard for our child, in this, the most danger-fraught period of her whole life. She is beautiful, innocent, accomplished. To know her — is but to love her. Already we find that many young men are beginning to seek her acquaintance. That in company she is courted, and her hand sought in the dance by those who have strong powers to captivate a maiden's heart. If a love of doing right — if a spirit of self-denial for the good of others — are the principles that rule in her life, they will be as an armor of defense for her in the dangerous paths through which she will have to walk. We cannot keep our child out of the way of temptation. We can only give her true principles to sustain her in them."
"Yes, yes," returned the mother, in a half musing tone, replying only to a portion of her husband's remarks — "she is already awaking in the minds of those with whom she associates, something deeper than a passing regard. One young man, I have noticed of late, who is more than others attentive to her. He called, by appointment, to go with her to the party tonight."
"Who is it?"
"Young Gardiner."
"Indeed!" This was said with apparent pleasure. "I saw him dance with her through two sets at Mrs. Farnham's, and chat with her afterwards a good deal; but I supposed him nothing more than a dancing acquaintance. And he really called here?"
"Yes."
"Herbert Gardiner belongs to one of the best families in the city."
"Yes, and his father is said to be a man of immense wealth."
The father and mother ventured no more. The fact that young Gardiner seemed inclined to be pleased with their daughter, gratified them both more than they were willing to express to each other.
When Anna re-entered the room, and their eyes rested upon her face, it was with warmer affections, mingled with something of pride.
Back to Volume I. The Maiden