CHAPTER X. THE PREPARATION.

but'pearslikeIcouldn't!Laws,she'ssobeautiful!Don't,to-day!don't!" "Indeed,Uncle,"saidNina,tenderly,"I'msorryIgrievedyoubutyouknow,poorfellow,thatmustcome." "I'sknownhereversinceshe'sdathigh!"saidTiff."Herharwascurly,andsheusedtowarsuchprettyredshoes,andcomerunningaftermeindegarden.'Tiff,Tiff,'sheusedtosay—anddarsheisnow,andtroublesbroughtherdar!Lord,whataprettygalshewas!Prettyasyoube,MissNina.Butsinceshemarrieddatar,"pointingwithhisthumboverhisshoulder,andspeakingconfidentially,"everythingwentwrong.I'sheldherup—didallIcouldandnowheresheis!" "Perhaps,"saidNina,layingherhandonhis,"perhapsshe'sinabetterplacethanthis." "Oh,Lord,datsheis!Shetoldmedatwhenshedied.ShesawdeLordatlast,—shedidso!Dem'sherlastwords.'Tiff,'shesays,'IseeHim,andHewillgivemerest.Tiff,'shesays,—I'dbeenasleep,youknow,andIkinderfeltsomethingcoldonmyhand,andIwokeuprightsudden,anddarshewas,hereyessobright,lookingatmeandbreathingsohardandallshesayswas,'Tiff,I'veseenHim,andIknownowwhyI'vesufferedsoHe'sgwinetotakeme,andgivemerest!'" "Then,mypoorfellow,yououghttorejoicethatsheissafe." "'DeedIdoes,"saidTiff"yetI'sselfish.Iwantstobederetoo,Idoes—onlyIhasdechil'entocarefor." "Well,mygoodfellow,"saidNina,"wemustleaveyounow.Harrywillseeaboutacoffinforyourpoormistressandwheneverthefuneralistobe,ourcarriagewillcomeover,andwewillallattend." "Lordblessyou,MissGordon!Datartoogoodonye!Myheart'sbeenmostbroke,tinkingnobodycaredformypooryoungmistress!you'stoogood,datyouis!" Then,drawingneartoher,andsinkinghisvoice,hesaid:"'Boutdemourning,MissNina.Hean'tno'count,youknow—bodycanseehow'tiswithhimveryplain.ButmissiswasaPeyton,youknowandI'saPeyton,too.Inaturallyfeelsa'sponsibilityhecouldn'tbe'spectedfurto.I'stookderibbonsoffofMissFanny'sbonnet,anddonedebestIcouldtrimmingitupwithblackcrapewhatMillygavemeandI'sgotabandofblackcrapeonMasterTeddy'shatandI'lowedtoputoneonmine,buttherewasn'tquiteenough.Youknow,missis,oldfamilyservantsalwayswarsmourning.Ifmissisjustbepleasedtolookovermywork!Now,disyerisMissFanny'sbonnet.YouknowIcan'tbe'spectedfortomakeitlikeamilliner." "Theyareverywellindeed,UncleTiff." "Perhaps,MissNina,youcankindoftouchitover." "Oh,ifyoulike,UncleTiff,I'lltakethemallhome,anddothemforyou." "TheLordblessyou,MissGordon!DatarwasjustwhatIwanted,butwasmost'fraidtoaskyou.Somegayyoungladiesdoesn'tliketohandleblack." "Ah!UncleTiff,I'venofearsofthatsortsoputitinthewagon,andletMillytakeithome." Sosaying,sheturnedandpassedoutofthedoorwhereHarrywasstandingholdingthehorses.Athirdpartymighthaveseen,bythekeen,rapidglancewithwhichhiseyeresteduponClayton,thathewasmeasuringthefutureprobabilitywhichmightmakehimthearbiterofhisowndestiny—thedisposerofallthatwasdeartohiminlife.AsforNina,althoughthedaybeforeathousandfanciesandcoquetrieswouldhavecoloredthemannerofhermeetingClayton,yetnowshewassoimpressedbywhatshehadwitnessed,thatshescarcelyappearedtoknowthatshehadmethim.Sheplacedherprettyfootonhishand,andlethimliftherontothesaddle,scarcelynoticingtheact,exceptbyaserious,gracefulinclinationofherhead. OnegreatreasonoftheascendencywhichClaytonhadthusfargainedoverher,wasthathisnature,soquiet,speculative,andundemonstrative,alwayslefthersuchperfectlibertytofollowthemorevaryingmoodsofherown.Amanofadifferentmouldwouldhavesoughttoawakeheroutofthetrance—wouldhaveremarkedonherabstractedmanner,orralliedheronhersilence.Claytonmerelymountedhishorseandrodequietlybyherside,whileHarry,passingonbeforethem,wassoonoutofsight.