CHAPTER x.x.xII.

ENVY, HATRED, AND MALICE.

Little did Gertrude imagine, while she was striving to promote the welfare of Kitty, who had thrown herself upon her love and care, the jealousy and ill-will she was exciting in others. Isabel, who had never liked one whose tone of action and life reproached her own vanity and selfishness, and who saw in her the additional crime of being the favoured friend of a youth of whose interesting boyhood she herself retained a sentimental recollection, was eager to render her odious to Mrs. Graham. She was not slow to observe the confidence that existed between Kitty and Gertrude; that her cousin had forsaken her own room for that of the latter the night after her probable quarrel and parting with Bruce; and her resentment, excited still further by the growing friendship which her own unkindness to Kitty served only to confirm, she communicated to Mrs. Graham her suspicion that Gertrude had selfishly made a difficulty between Bruce and Kitty, and fostered and widened the breach, and succeeded in breaking off the match. Mrs. Graham readily adopted Belle"s opinion. "Kitty," said she, "is weak-minded, and much under Miss Flint"s influence. I shouldn"t be surprised if you were right, Belle!"

Thus they tried to entrap Kitty into a confession that Gertrude had driven away her lover. But Kitty, while she indignantly denied Gertrude"s having injured her, refused to reveal the occurrences of the eventful evening. Mrs. Graham and Belle were angry, and many were their private discussions on the subject, and as they became more and more incensed against Gertrude, so they began to manifest it in their demeanour.

Gertrude soon perceived their incivility. With wonderful patience, however, did she preserve her equanimity. She had never looked for kindness and attention from Mrs. Graham and Isabel. They were irritated by her calmness and patience, now made their attack in another quarter; and Emily, the sweet, lovely, and unoffending Emily, became the object against which they aimed many of their shafts of ill-will.

Gertrude could bear injury, injustice, and even cruel language, towards herself only; but her blood boiled when she perceived that her cherished Emily was becoming the victim of neglect and ill-usage. To address the gentle Emily in other words than those of courtesy was next to impossible; it was equally hard to find fault with the actions of one whose life was so good and beautiful; and the isolated position which she occupied on account of her blindness seemed to render her free from interference. But Mrs. Graham was coa.r.s.e and blunt, Isabel selfish and unfeeling; and long before the blind girl was aware of any unkind intention on their part, Gertrude"s spirit had rebelled at the knowledge of many a word and act well calculated to distress a sensitive mind.

Many a stroke was warded off by Gertrude; many a nearly defeated plan, which Emily was known to have had at heart, carried through by Gertrude"s perseverance and energy; and for some weeks Emily was kept ignorant of the fact that many a little office formerly performed for her by a servant was now fulfilled by Gertrude, who would not let her know that Bridget had received from her mistress orders which were quite inconsistent with her usual attendance upon Miss Graham"s wants.

Mr. Graham was absent on business at New York. His presence would have been a great restraint upon his wife, who was well aware of his devoted affection for his daughter. His love for Emily, and the devotion manifested towards her by every member of the household, had rendered her an object of jealousy to Mrs. Graham.

Shortly before Mr. Graham"s return, Mrs. Graham and Isabel were indulging themselves in an unlimited abuse of the rest of the household, when a letter was brought to Mrs. Graham, which proved to be from her husband. After glancing over its contents, she remarked, with an air of satisfaction, "Here is good news for us, Isabel, and a prospect of some pleasure in the world." And she read aloud the following--"The troublesome affair which called me here is nearly settled, and the result is very favourable to my wishes and plans. I now see nothing to prevent our starting for Europe the latter part of next month, and the girls must make their arrangements accordingly. Tell Emily to spare nothing towards a full and complete equipment for herself and Gertrude."

"He speaks of Gertrude," said Isabel, sneeringly, "as if she were one of the family. I"m sure I don"t see any very great prospect of pleasure in travelling all through Europe with a blind woman, and her disagreeable appendages; I can"t think what Mr. Graham wants to take them for."

"I wish he would leave them at home," said Mrs. Graham; "it would be a good punishment for Gertrude. But, mercy! he would as soon think of going without his right hand as without Emily."

"I hope, if ever I"m married," exclaimed Isabel, "it won"t be to a man that"s got a blind daughter! Such a dreadful good person, too, whom everybody has got to worship, and admire, and wait upon!"

"I don"t have to wait upon her," said Mrs. Graham; "that"s Gertrude"s business--it"s what she"s going for."

"That"s the worst of it; a blind girl has to have a waiting-maid, and a waiting-maid is a great lady, who doesn"t mind cheating your nieces out of their lovers, and even robbing them of each other"s affection."

"Well, what can I do, Belle? I"m sure I don"t want Gertrude"s company any more than you do; but I don"t see how I can get rid of her."

"I should think you"d tell Mr. Graham some of the harm she"s done already. If you have any influence over him, you might prevent her going."

"It would be no more than she deserves," said Mrs. Graham; "and I may give him a hint of her behaviour; he"ll be surprised enough when he hears of Bruce"s sudden flight. I knew he thought it would be a match between him and Kitty."

As Isabel descended the staircase, to meet with smiles and compliments the guests whom in her heart she wished a thousand miles away on this intensely hot afternoon, Gertrude came up from the kitchen, and pa.s.sed along a pa.s.sage to her own room. She carried, over one arm, a dress of white muslin, and a number of collars, sleeves, and ruffles, with other articles fresh from the ironing-board. Her face was heated; she looked tired, and, as she reached her room, and deposited her burden upon the bed, she drew a long breath, as if fatigued, seated herself by a window, brushed the hair back from her face, and threw open a blind.

Just then Mrs. Prime put her head in at the door; and, seeing Gertrude alone, entered the room, but stood in astonishment on observing the evidences of her recent laborious employment; then, glancing at the fruits of her diligence, she burst forth indignantly, "My sakes alive!

Miss Gertrude, I believe you"ve been doin" up them muslins yourself, after all!"

Gertrude smiled, but did not reply.

"Now, if that ain"t too bad!" said the kind-hearted woman; "to think you should ha" been at work down in that "ere hot kitchen, and all the rest on us takin" a spell o" rest in the heat of the day. I"ll warrant if Miss Emily knew it, she"d never put on that white gown!"

"It hardly looks _fit_ for her to wear," said Gertrude. "I"m not much used to ironing, and have had a great deal of trouble with it; one side got dry before I could smooth out the other."

"It looks elegant, Miss Gertrude; but what should you be doin" Bridget"s work for, I want to know?"

"Bridget always has enough to do," said Gertrude, evading a direct answer; "and it"s very well for me to have some practice; knowledge never comes amiss, you know, Mrs. Prime."

""Tant no kind of an afternoon for "speriment o" that sort; and you wouldn"t ha" done it, I"ll venture to say, if you hadn"t been afeard Miss Emily would want her things, and find out they wan"t done. Times is changed in this house, when Mr. Graham"s own daughter, that was once the head of everything, has to have her clothes laid by to make room for other folks. Bridget ought to know better than to mind these upstarters, when they tell her, as I heard Miss Graham yesterday, to let alone that heap o" muslins, and attend to something that was o" more consequence.

Our Katy would ha" known better; but Bridget"s a new-comer like all the rest. Thinks I to myself then, what would Miss Gertrude say, if she suspected how Miss Emily was bein" neglected! But I"ll _tell_ Miss Emily, as sure as my name"s Prime, just how things go--you shan"t get so red in the face with ironing agin, Miss Gertrude. If the kind o" frocks she likes to wear can"t be done up at home--and yourn too, what"s more--the washin" ought to be put out. There"s money enough, and some of it ought to be spent for the use o" the ladies as is ladies! I wish to heart _that_ Isabella would have to start round a little lively; "twould do her good; but, Lor", Miss Gertrude, it goes right to my heart to see all the vexatious things as is happenin" nowadays! I"ll go right to Miss Emily this minute, and tell how things go on."

"No, you won"t, Mrs. Prime," said Gertrude, persuasively; "when I ask you not. You forget how unhappy it would make her, if she knew that Mrs.

Graham was so wanting in consideration. I would rather iron dresses every day, or do anything else for our dear Miss Emily, than let her _suspect_ even that anybody could willingly be unkind to her."

Mrs. Prime hesitated. "Miss Gertrude, I thought I loved our dear young lady as well as anybody, but I believe you love her better still, to be so thoughtful all for her sake; and I wouldn"t say nothing about it, only I think a sight o" _you_, too; you"ve been here ever since you was a little gal, and we all set lots by you, and I can"t see them folks ride over your head, as I know they mean to."

"I know you love me, Mrs. Prime, and Emily too; so, for the sake of us both, you mustn"t say a word to anybody about the change in the family arrangements. We"ll all do what we can to keep Emily from pain; and, as to the rest, we won"t care for ourselves; if they don"t pet and indulge me as much as I have been accustomed to, the easiest way is not to notice it."

"Lord bless yer heart, Miss Gertrude, them folks is lucky to have you to deal with; it isn"t everybody as would put up with "em. They don"t come much in my way, thank fortin! I let Miss Graham see, right off, that I wouldn"t put up with interference; cooks is privileged to set up for their rights, and I scared her out o" my premises pretty quick, I tell yer! It"s mighty hard for me to see our own ladies imposed upon; but since you say "mum," Miss Gertrude, I"ll try and hold my tongue as long as I can. It"s a shame, though, I do declare."

An hour after, Gertrude was at the gla.s.s, braiding her long hair, when Mrs. Ellis, after a slight knock, entered. "Well, Gertrude," said she, "I didn"t think it would come to this!"

"Why, what is the matter?" inquired Gertrude, anxiously.

"It seems we are going to be turned out of our rooms!"

"Who?"

"You, and I next, for ought I know."

Gertrude coloured, but did not speak, and Mrs. Ellis related that she had received orders to fit up Gertrude"s room for some visitors who were expected. She was astonished to hear that Gertrude had not been consulted on the subject. Mrs. Graham had spoken so carelessly of her removal, and seemed to think it so agreeable for Emily to share her apartment with her young friend, that Mrs. Ellis concluded the matter had been pre-arranged.

Deeply wounded and vexed on her own and Emily"s account, Gertrude stood for a moment silent. She then asked if Mrs. Ellis had spoken to Emily on the subject. She had not. Gertrude begged her to say nothing about it.

"I cannot bear," said she, "to let her know that the little sanctum she fitted up so carefully has been unceremoniously taken from me. I sleep in her room more than half the time, as you know; but she always likes to have me call this chamber mine, that I may be sure of a place where I can read and study. If you will let me remove my bureau into your room, Mrs. Ellis, and sleep on a couch there occasionally, we need not say anything about it to Emily."

Mrs. Ellis a.s.sented. She had grown strangely humble and compliant within a few months, and Gertrude had won her good-will, first by forbearance, and latterly by the frequent a.s.sistance she had rendered to the overburdened housekeeper. But, though yielding and considerate towards Gertrude, whom, with Emily and Mrs. Prime, she now considered members of the injured party to which she herself belonged, no words could express her indignation with regard to the late conduct of Mrs. Graham and Isabel. "It is all of a piece," said she, "with the rest of their conduct! Sometimes I almost feel thankful that Emily is blind; it would grieve her to see the goings-on. I should have liked to box Isabella"s ears for taking your seat at the table so impudently as she did yesterday, and then neglecting to help Emily to anything at all; and there sat dear Emily, angel as she is! all unconscious of her shameful behaviour, and asking her for b.u.t.ter as sweetly as if it were by mere accident that you had been driven from the table, and she left to provide for herself. And all those strangers there, too! I saw it all from the china-closet! And then Emily"s dresses and muslins!--there they laid in the press-drawer, till I thought they would mildew. I"m glad to see Bridget has been allowed to do them at last, for I began to think Emily would, one of these warm days, be without a clean gown in the world. But all I wish is, that they"d all go off to Europe, and leave us here to ourselves. You don"t want to go, do you, Gertrude?"

"Yes, if Emily goes."

"Well, you"re better than I am; I couldn"t make such a martyr of myself even for her sake."

It is needless to detail the many petty annoyances to which Gertrude was daily subjected; nor with all the pains taken to prevent it, could Emily be long kept in ignorance of the light estimation in which both herself and Gertrude were regarded. Kitty, incensed at the incivility of her aunt and Isabel, and indifferent towards the visitors, hesitated not to express both to Emily and Gertrude her sense of the injuries they sustained. But Kitty was no formidable antagonist to Mrs. Graham and Belle, for her spirits were greatly subdued, and she no longer dared, as she would once have done, to stand between her friends and the indignities to which they were exposed.

But Mrs. Graham became at last entangled in difficulties of her own weaving. Her husband returned, and it now became necessary to set bounds to her own insolence, and, what was far more difficult, to that of Isabel. Mrs. Graham knew just how far her husband"s forbearance would extend--just the point to which his perceptions might be blinded. But in his absence she permitted Belle to fill the house with her lively young acquaintances, and winked at the many flagrant violations of politeness manifested by the young people towards the daughter of their absent host, and their youthful friend and attendant. But now a check must be put to all indecorous proceedings; and, unfortunately for the execution of the wife"s precautions, the head of the family returned unexpectedly, and under circ.u.mstances which forestalled any preparation. He arrived just at dusk, having come from town in an omnibus. It was a cool evening, the windows and doors were closed, and the drawing-room was so brilliantly lighted that he suspected that a large company was being entertained there. He felt vexed, for it was Sat.u.r.day night, and, in accordance with New England customs, Mr. Graham loved to see his household quiet on that evening. He was also suffering from a violent headache, and, avoiding the drawing-room, pa.s.sed on to the library, and then to the dining-room. He then went upstairs, walked through several rooms, glanced indignantly at their slovenly appearance, and finally gained Emily"s chamber.

A bright wood fire burned upon the hearth; a couch was drawn up beside it, on which Emily was sitting; and Gertrude"s little rocking-chair occupied the opposite corner. The peaceful face of Emily, and the radiant expression of Gertrude"s countenance, as she saw the father of her blind friend looking pleasantly in upon them, proved such a charming contrast to the scenes presented in other parts of the house, that the old gentleman, warmed to more than usual satisfaction with both of the inmates, greeted his surprised daughter with a hearty paternal embrace, and gave Gertrude an equally affectionate greeting, exclaiming, as he took the arm-chair, "Now, girls, this looks pleasant and home-like! What in the world is going on downstairs?" Emily explained that there was company staying in the house.

"Ugh! company!" grunted Mr. Graham, in a dissatisfied tone. "I think so!

Been emptying rag-bags about the chambers, I should say, from the looks."

Gertrude asked if he had been to tea. He had not, and should be thankful for some; he was tired.

"Don"t tell anybody that I"ve got home, Gerty," called he, as she left the room; "I want to be left in peace _to-night_, at least."

While Gertrude was gone, Mr. Graham questioned Emily as to her preparations for the European tour. To his surprise, he learned that she had never received his message communicated in the letter to Mrs.