“Oh, I nearly forgot, Mr. Gex, Pepsie wants a nickel of cabbage,” and Lady Jane suddenly returned to earth and earthly things did her errand, took her lagniappe, and went away.
CHAPTER XIV
LADY JANE VISITS THE D’HAUTREVES
One morning Lady Jane was rewarded for her patient waiting; as usual, she was lingering on the sidewalk near the green fence, when she heard the key turn in the lock, and suddenly the door opened, and an elderly lady, very tall and thin, with a mild, pale face, appeared and beckoned her to approach.
For a moment Lady Jane felt shy, and drew back, fearing that she had been a little rude in haunting the place so persistently; besides, to her knowledge, she had never before stood in the presence of “genuine French nobility,” and the pale, solemn looking woman, who, in spite of her rusty gown, had an air of distinction, rather awed her. However, her good breeding soon got the better of her timidity, and she went forward with a charming smile.
“Would you like to come in, my dear, and look at my flowers?” said the lady, opening the gate a little wider for Lady Jane to enter.
“Yes, thank you,” and Lady Jane smiled and flushed with pleasure when she caught a glimpse of the beautiful vista beyond the dark figure. “May I bring Tony in, too?”
“Certainly, I want to see him very much, but I want to see you more,” and she laid her hand caressingly on the beautiful head of the child. “I’ve been watching you for some time.”
“Have you? Why, how did you see me?” and Lady Jane dimpled with smiles.
“Oh, through a little chink in my fence; I see more than any one would think,” replied the lady smiling.
“And you saw me waiting and waiting; oh, why didn’t you ask me in before? I’ve wanted to come in so much, and did you know I’d been here singing with you?”