Ishmael | Page 7

my majority every few weeks, or else have some other good excuse for giving a great feast. I do so love to see people happy, Nora. It is the greatest pleasure I have in the world."
"Yet you must have a great many other pleasures, sir; all wealthy people must," said Nora, gaining courage to converse with one so amiable as she found her young landlord.
"Yes, I have many others; but the greatest of all is the happiness of making others happy. But why are you not among these dancers, Nora?"
"I was tired with my long walk up and down hill and dale. So I would not join them this set."
"Are you engaged for the next?"
"No, sir."
"Then be my partner for it, will you?"
"Oh, sir!" And the girl's truthful face flashed with surprise and delight.
"Will you dance with me, then, for the next set?"
"Yes, sir, please."
"Thank you, Nora. But now tell me, did you recollect me as well as I remembered you?"
"No, sir."
"But that is strange; for I knew you again the instant I saw you."
"But, sir, you know I was but a baby when you went away?"
"That is true."
"But how, then, did you know me again?" she wonderingly inquired.
"Easily enough. Though you have grown up into such a fine young woman, your face has not changed its character, Nora. You have the same broad, fair forehead and arched brows; the same dark gray eyes and long lashes; the same delicate nose and budding mouth; and the same peculiar way of smiling only with your eyes; in a word--but pardon me, Nora, I forgot myself in speaking to you so plainly. Here is a new set forming already. Your sister and her partner are going to dance together again; shall we join them?" he suddenly inquired, upon seeing that his direct praise, in which he had spoken in ingenuous frankness, had brought the blushes again to Nora's cheeks.
She arose and gave him her hand, and he led her forth to the head of the set that was now forming, where she stood with downcast and blushing face, admired by all the men, and envied by all the women that were present.
This was not the only time he danced with her. He was cordial to all his guests, but he devoted himself to Nora. This exclusive attention of the young heir to the poor maiden gave anxiety to her sister and offense to all the other women.
"No good will come of it," said one.
"No good ever does come of a rich young man paying attention to a poor girl," added another.
"He is making a perfect fool of himself," said a third indignantly.
"He is making a perfect fool of her, you had better say," amended a fourth, more malignant than the rest.
"Hannah, I don't like it! I'm a sort of elder brother-in-law to her, you know, and I don't like it. Just see how he looks at her, Hannah! Why, if I was to melt down my heart and pour it all into my face, I couldn't look at you that-a-way, Hannah, true as I love you. Why, he's just eating of her up with his eyes, and as for her, she looks as if it was pleasant to be swallowed by him!" said honest Reuben Gray, as he watched the ill-matched young pair as they sat absorbed in each other's society in a remote corner of the barn.
"Nor do I like it, Reuben," sighed Hannah.
"I've a great mind to interfere! I've a right to! I'm her brother-in-law to be."
"No, do not, Reuben; it would do more harm than good; it would make her and everybody else think more seriously of these attentions than they deserve. It is only for to-night, you know. After this, they will scarcely ever meet to speak to each other again."
"As you please, Hannah, you are wiser than I am; but still, dear, I must say that a great deal of harm may be done in a day. Remember, dear, that (though I don't call it harm, but the greatest blessing of my life) it was at a corn-shucking, where we met for the first time, that you and I fell in love long of each other, and have we ever fell out of it yet? No, Hannah, nor never will. But as you and I are both poor, and faithful, and patient, and broken in like to bear things cheerful, no harm has come of our falling in love at that corn-shucking. But now, s'pose them there children fall in love long of each other by looking into each other's pretty eyes--who's to hinder it? And that will be the end of it? He can't marry her; that's impossible; a man of his rank and a girl of hers! his mother and sisters would never let him!