The Widowed Bride — page 97: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

88 THE WIDOWED BRIDE. summer sunset, while the furniture, of white, enameled - wood, was covered with pink brocatelle. ‘‘T shall feel as if f lived inside of a rose’s heart here,” Rena thought to herself, as she breathed in the delicious odor of flower-baskets on ivory brackets, and saw the green foliage of the many elms through the open window, with the river Medway shining far away like a sheet of molten silver. Marienne’s voice broke on the current of Rena’s thou shee: or rather impressions, as she stood surveying her new quar- ters. ‘“‘Will mademoiselle please to give me her keys,” she asked, ‘‘so that I can unpack a dinner dress?” A momentary flush of mortification rose to Rena Percival’s cheek. She had as much moral courage as most girls, but she did shrink from the idea of submitting her poor little trunk and bandbox to the inspection of Mademoiselle Mari- ennes eye. The words, ‘‘You may go—I would rather un- pack my things myself!” rose to her lips, but, ere they were spoken, she caught the curious, wondering expression of the girl’s eyes raised to hers. No—it would not do to risk comment and gossip among the servants; she must keep up her dignity at all hazards, and, drawing her two keys from her pocket, she handed them loftily to the maid, as if it were quite an every-day affair for her to accept the services of a French maid. : Marienne moved noiselessly to and fro, putting the things away in a wardrobe-bureau and dressing-closet, while Rena washed the dust of travel from her head and face, and wondered within herself what the next ceremonial would be. ‘‘T have laid out the blue silk dress for mademoiselle,” said Marienne’s soft voice close to her ear, ‘‘and if I may be al- lowed to arrange her hair 7 Rena sat down abruptly in the chair Marienne had drawn up in the mirror-walled dressing-room, and allowed the French girl’s skillful hands to take down, brush out, and rearrange her masses of dark hair. ‘‘Mademoiselle has splendid hair,” said Marienne, smooth- ing out the long tresses witha loving touch, as if she de- lighted in their luxuriance, ‘‘almost as much as my lady. | Mademoiselle will need no false braids.” And Rena scar cely knew herself in Manenne: s artistic *comicbooks.com