Kate Danton | Page 8

a loud ring at the doorbell before Kate could answer.
Captain Danton and Grace had been listening an instant before to a
carriage rolling up the drive. The former started up now and hurried out
of the room; and Kate stood still, intently looking at the door.
"Who is that?" said Eeny. "Mr. Richards?"
Kate laid her hand on the girl's shoulder, and still stood silent and intent.
They could hear the door open, hear the voices of the Captain and his
man Ogden; and then there was a shuffling of feet in the hall and up the
stairs.
"They are helping him upstairs," said Kate, drawing a long breath. "Yes,
it is Mr. Richards."
Eeny looked as if she would like to ask some questions, but her sister
sat down again at the piano, and drowned her words in a storm of
music. Half an hour passed, nearly an hour, Miss Danton played on and
on without ceasing, and then her father came back. The girl looked at
him quickly and questioningly, but his high coloured face was as

good-humoured as ever.
"Playing away still," he said, "and Eeny's eyes are like two midnight
moons. Do you know it is half-past ten, Miss Eeny, and time little girls
were in bed?"
Grace rose up, and put her work in her pocket. Eeny came over, kissed
her father and sister good-night, and retired. Grace, with a simple
good-night, was following her example, but the cordial Captain held
out his hand.
"Good-night, my little housekeeper," he said; "and pleasant dreams."
Miss Danton held out her taper fingers, but her good-night was quiet
and cool.
Her father's housekeeper, it would seem, did not impress her very
favourably, or she was too proud to be cordial with dependants.
Up in her own room, Grace turned her lamp low, and sitting down by
the window, drew back the curtains. The rain still fell, the November
wind surged through the trees, and the blackness was impenetrable.
Was this wintry tempest, as her brother had said, ominous of coming
trouble and storms in their peaceful Canadian home?
"I wonder how she and Rose will get on," thought Grace. "Rose's
temper is as gusty as this November night, and I should judge those
purple eyes can flash with the Danton fire, too. When two
thunder-clouds meet, there is apt to be an uproar. I shall not be
surprised if there is war in the camp before long."
Her door opened softly. Grace turned round, and saw Eeny in a long
night-dress, looking like a spirit.
"May I come in, Grace?"
"It is time you were in bed," said Grace, turning up the lamp, and
beginning to unbraid her hair.

Eeny came in and sat down on a low stool at Grace's feet.
"Oh, Grace, isn't she splendid?"
"Who?"
"You know whom I mean--Kate."
"She is very handsome," Grace said quietly, going on with her work.
"Handsome! She is lovely? She is glorious! Grace, people talk about
Rose being pretty; but she is no more to Kate than--than just nothing at
all."
"Did you come in merely to say that? If so, Miss Eveleen, I must
request you to depart, as I am going to say my prayers."
"Directly," said Eeny, nestling more comfortably on her stool. "Did you
ever hear any one play and sing as she does?"
"She plays and sings remarkably well."
"Grace, what would you give to be as beautiful as she is?"
"Nothing! And now go."
"Yes. Isn't it odd that papa did not bring Mr. Richards into the
drawing-room. Ogden and papa helped him up stairs, and Ogden
brought him his supper."
"Who told you that?"
"Babette. Babette saw him, but he was so muffled up she could not
make him out. He is very tall and slim, she says, and looks like a young
man."
"Eeny, how soon are you going?"
"Oh, Grace," she said, coaxingly, "let me stay all night with you."

"And keep me awake until morning, talking? Not I," said Grace. "Go!"
"Please let me stay?"
"No! Be off!"
She lifted her up, led her to the door, and put her out, and Eeny ran off
to her own chamber.
As Grace closed her door, she heard Kate Danton's silk dress rustle
upstairs.
"Good-night, papa," she heard her say in that soft, clear voice that made
her think of silver bells.
"Good-night, my dear," the Captain replied. And then the silk dress
rustled past, a door opened and shut, and Miss Danton had retired.
CHAPTER III.
A CHANGE OF DYNASTY.
With the cold November sunlight flooding her room, Grace rose next
morning, dressed and went down stairs. Very neat and lady-like she
looked, in her spotted gingham wrapper, her snowy collar and cuffs,
and her dark hair freshly braided.
A loud-voiced