More about Pixie | Page 6

any
better congratulation on your recovery than that smile!"
"Whitey, she is in black! Brides don't wear black."
"They are obliged to wear it sometimes, dear. You can't lay down a rule
about such things."
"She looks too young to be married. She ought to play about with me
for a year or two first. I hate that man for taking her from me! That's
the girl I should marry myself if I had a chance. Do find out what her
name is, Whitey. Mary is sure to know, for she gossips with the other
servants while she is cleaning the steps. Yes, I'll go back to bed now.
I'm tired, and I don't care to see anyone else. I'll go to sleep and dream
about that smile!"
CHAPTER TWO.
AN UNEXPECTED VISITOR.
"Aunt Margaret, can you tell me anything about the people who have
come to Number Three? I saw the lady coming in just now while I was
sitting up, and I do so want to know her. Have you been to call while I

was ill?"
Miss Munns crossed her hands on her lap, and looked the image of
dignified reproach.
"My dear, do you suppose I have had leisure for social engagements? I
know nothing about the people, except that their blinds are invariably
crooked, and every one drawn up to a different length. Most untidy the
house looks! A dear friend of mine used to say--Mary Appleford,
whose father was the clergyman in my old home in
Leicestershire--charming old man who married Lady Evelyn
Bruce--most aristocratic family!--Mary always declared that she could
judge a woman's character by the appearance of her windows. Judged
from that standpoint, I should not feel disposed to call on the mistress
of Number Three."
"But you haven't seen her, aunt; if you did, you could not help loving
her. She looked so delighted to see me sitting up, and gave me such a
delicious smile!"
"Smiled at you, do you say? A most unladylike thing to do! The first
advances should come from our side, as she would know if she had any
experience of society. I hope, my dear, that you were not so foolish as
to respond. One cannot be too careful about strangers in this big wicked
city. I shall never forget my poor dear cousin telling me how she called
on a most superior-looking lady who came to live in the same terrace,
and two months later the police raided the house, and it turned out that
the husband made false coins in the back kitchen, and the wife
circulated them among the tradesfolk. So awkward for Maria!"
Sylvia brought her eyebrows together in a frown, and tossed about on
her pillow. She felt irritated and disappointed, and that made her head
ache, and the headache sent down her spirits again, and eclipsed the
brightness of the morning. If Aunt Margaret refused to call, she could
not make the acquaintance of the fair unknown, and it would be a
tantalising experience to see her every day, and, yet be as far removed
from friendship as if they lived a dozen miles apart!

During the weeks which followed, nurse and patient kept a close watch
on the little house over the road, and were rewarded by witnessing
several interesting domestic scenes.
On Saturday afternoon, for instance, Edwin came home early to show
himself in his turn. He was tall, dark, and handsome; dressed in the
height of the fashion, and bore himself with such an air of complacency
and benign patronage towards his fellows, that he looked far more like
a prince of the blood than an ordinary city man. He carried a little
bunch of flowers in his hand, and whistled as he drew near the gate in
orthodox, newly-married fashion, and the pretty girl flew to the door,
and nodded her head at him in happy welcome. He bent down to kiss
her, and she took the flowers and sniffed at them lovingly; then they
walked together down the little path to examine the growth of some
sooty chrysanthemums and three struggling creepers placed against the
house.
Edwin shook his head after the inspection, as though it had been far
from promising, and then, instead of looking disappointed, they both
laughed, turned round and round to look over their twelve-yard domain,
and laughed again as if it were the best joke in the world. Then
Angelina said something in a low aside, whereupon Edwin strolled to
the gate, and in the most casual manner looked up the road and down
the road, and then straight across at the window where the invalid lay!
"She told him to look!" cried Sylvia breathlessly, and her pale cheeks
flushed until they were almost as red as the dressing-jacket itself. "He