CHAPTER I.

deranewcurrentoffeeling,assuddenasthegleam.“Itisstrangehowdeeplycolorsseemtopenetrateone,likescent.IsupposethatisthereasonwhygemsareusedasspiritualemblemsintheRevelationofSt.John.Theylooklikefragmentsofheaven.Ithinkthatemeraldismorebeautifulthananyofthem.” “Andthereisabracelettomatchit,”saidCelia.“Wedidnotnoticethisatfirst.” “Theyarelovely,”saidDorothea,slippingtheringandbraceletonherfinelyturnedfingerandwrist,andholdingthemtowardsthewindowonalevelwithhereyes.Allthewhileherthoughtwastryingtojustifyherdelightinthecolorsbymergingtheminhermysticreligiousjoy. “Youwouldlikethose,Dorothea,”saidCelia,ratherfalteringly,beginningtothinkwithwonderthathersistershowedsomeweakness,andalsothatemeraldswouldsuitherowncomplexionevenbetterthanpurpleamethysts.“Youmustkeepthatringandbracelet—ifnothingelse.Butsee,theseagatesareveryprettyandquiet.” “Yes!Iwillkeepthese—thisringandbracelet,”saidDorothea.Then,lettingherhandfallonthetable,shesaidinanothertone—“Yetwhatmiserablemenfindsuchthings,andworkatthem,andsellthem!”Shepausedagain,andCeliathoughtthathersisterwasgoingtorenouncetheornaments,asinconsistencysheoughttodo. “Yes,dear,Iwillkeepthese,”saidDorothea,decidedly.“Buttakealltherestaway,andthecasket.” Shetookupherpencilwithoutremovingthejewels,andstilllookingatthem.Shethoughtofoftenhavingthembyher,tofeedhereyeattheselittlefountainsofpurecolor. “Shallyouwearthemincompany?”saidCelia,whowaswatchingherwithrealcuriosityastowhatshewoulddo. Dorotheaglancedquicklyathersister.Acrossallherimaginativeadornmentofthosewhomsheloved,theredartednowandthenakeendiscernment,whichwasnotwithoutascorchingquality.IfMissBrookeeverattainedperfectmeekness,itwouldnotbeforlackofinwardfire. “Perhaps,”shesaid,ratherhaughtily.“IcannottelltowhatlevelImaysink.” Celiablushed,andwasunhappy:shesawthatshehadoffendedhersister,anddarednotsayevenanythingprettyaboutthegiftoftheornamentswhichsheputbackintotheboxandcarriedaway.Dorotheatoowasunhappy,asshewentonwithherplan-drawing,questioningthepurityofherownfeelingandspeechinthescenewhichhadendedwiththatlittleexplosion. Celia’sconsciousnesstoldherthatshehadnotbeenatallinthewrong:itwasquitenaturalandjustifiablethatsheshouldhaveaskedthatquestion,andsherepeatedtoherselfthatDorotheawasinconsistent:eithersheshouldhavetakenherfullshareofthejewels,or,afterwhatshehadsaid,sheshouldhaverenouncedthemaltogether. “Iamsure—atleast,Itrust,”thoughtCelia,“thatthewearingofanecklacewillnotinterferewithmyprayers.AndIdonotseethatIshouldbeboundbyDorothea’sopinionsnowwearegoingintosociety,thoughofcoursesheherselfoughttobeboundbythem.ButDorotheaisnotalwaysconsistent.” ThusCelia,mutelybendingoverhertapestry,untilsheheardhersistercallingher. “Here,Kitty,comeandlookatmyplanIshallthinkIamagreatarchitect,ifIhavenotgotincompatiblestairsandfireplaces.” AsCeliabentoverthepaper,Dorotheaputhercheekagainsthersister’sarmcaressingly.Celiaunderstoodtheaction.Dorotheasawthatshehadbeeninthewrong,andCeliapardonedher.Sincetheycouldremember,therehadbeenamixtureofcriticismandaweintheattitudeofCelia’smindtowardshereldersister.Theyoungerhadalwayswornayokebutisthereanyyokedcreaturewithoutitsprivateopinions?