Francis Barton Fox The  Heart Of   Arethusa (Fiscle Part-X) 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Note Pg 1 
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 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Transcriber's Note Pg 2 
   
       Minor Typographical Errors Have Been Corrected Without Note. 
   
   
   
       Dialect Spellings, Contractions, And Discrepancies Have Been 
       Retained. 
   
   
   
       The     Table Of     Contents Was Not Printed In The     Book And Has Been 
       Created For The     Convenience Of     The     Reader. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 3 
   
   
 At The     End Of     A Long, Straight Avenue Of     Symmetrically Developed Water 
 Maple Trees (The Trunks Of     All The     Trees Whitewashed To Precisely The 
   
 Same Height From The     Ground) The     House Gleamed Creamy-White, Directly 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 4 
 Facing The     Pike. Its Broad Front Door Came Exactly Within The     Middle 
 Distance Of     This Vista Of     Maples, As Though The     Long-Ago Builder Had 
 Known That Miss Eliza's Orderly Soul Would Have Suffered Much 
 Unhappiness Had It Swerved A Fraction From The     Centre And, Looking 
 Forward To The     Time When She Should Rule At The     Farm, Had Planned It 
 All To Save Her The     Trouble Of     A Change. Miss Eliza Would Have Been 
 Sorely Tempted To Move Either The     House Or The     Avenue, Had Not The 
 Front Door Been So Placed As To Be Viewed From The     Exact Middle Of     That 
 Avenue; Such Was Her Passion For Neatness And Precision. 
   
   
   
 And There Was Not A Weed Nor A Ragged-Looking Patch Of     Grass In The 
 Whole Length Of     The     Brown Dirt Road Between Those Evenly Grown Maples; 
 Nor A Weed Nor A Ragged-Looking Patch Of     Grass In The     Whole Of     The 
 Front Yard, Enclosed In Its White Board Fence With The     One Flat Board 
 Laid All Around The     Top. 
   
   
   
 This Was A Board Whose Position And Height From The     Ground Had Always 
 Made It Irresistible To Arethusa. It Had Been One Of     The     Chief Delights 
 Of An Active Childhood And Adolescence To Walk It As Far As Possible 
 Before Falling Off. The     Day She Had Negotiated The     Entire Fence Without 
 Once Losing Her Balance, To Return In Triumph To The     Stile Where 
 Timothy Awaited Her, Marked An Epoch In Her Development; For It Was The 
 Last Stronghold Of     Timothy's Achievements, As Should Properly 
 Distinguish The     Boy From The     Girl, Which Had Thus Far Held Out Against 
 Her. And It Was Quite A Long Way Around The     Top Of     That Fence; The     Yard 
 Was Large. 
   
   
   
 There Was No Gate Into The     Yard. Those Who Came To Call At The     Farm On 
 Wheels Stopped Their Vehicle At The     End Of     The     Avenue Outside, By The 
 Worn Hitching-Post With Its Iron Chain And Ring, And Climbed An 
 Old-Fashioned Stile Right From The     Carriage-Block To A Straight Walk Of 
 Bricks, Laid In A Queer Criss-Cross Pattern, That Led Up To The     House. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 5 
 It Was A Low-Built House, Wide-Flung, The     Eaves Coming Close Down Over 
 The Second-Story Windows: And One Might Almost Have Stepped From The 
 Windows Of     The     First Floor Directly Out On To The     Flagged Walk That Ran 
 Along The     Whole Front. It Had A Curious Appearance Of     Having Grown 
 Where It Was. One Could Imagine, Without Very Much Effort, That It Had 
 Not Been Built As Were Other Houses, But Had Grown Up Gradually Like 
 Some Queer Sort Of     Solid Plant. 
   
   
   
 The Pillars Of     The     Small Front Porch Were Covered Thick With A White 
 Clematis In Full Bloom, The     Pride Of     Miss Eliza's Heart; And Well Might 
 She Be Proud, For No Other Clematis For Miles Around Ever Bloomed So 
 Profusely Or So Largely. Flowers Nodded Gayly In The     Smallest Of     Formal 
 Gardens At One End Of     The     House And Honeysuckle Vines Clambered Over 
 Frames By The     Summer-House Sheltering The     Cistern At The     Other End; But 
 Both Vines And Flowers Climbed And Nodded In The     Most Orderly Manner, 
 For They Were All Miss Eliza's Plants. 
   
   
   
 The House Was Painted Every Other Spring, Painted This Creamy-White, 
 And It Always Seemed A Cleaner White Than Any Other White House In The 
 Country, No Matter If Those Others Were Painted Just As Often. The 
 Outside Shutters To The     Twinkling Square-Paned Windows Were Green, A 
 Rich, Dark Green, That Had Not Been Changed Since Time Began For The 
 Farm. On The     Second Day Of     May Every Other Year (Unless That Day Fell 
 On Sunday) John Gibson Drove Out From Town And Began Painting At The 
 Farm. If It Rained, He Painted Inside The     Porches First; But He Put One 
 Coat Of     Paint All Over Everything Paintable Before He Was Through. He 
 Always Stayed Out At The     Farm Until His Work Was Done, And Then He 
 Drove Back To Town Again, To Wait Until The     Then Two-Years' Distant 
 Second Day Of     May Should Bring Him Back. 
   
   
   
 And Everything That Was Done On The     Farm Was Done In Just Such 
 Well-Grooved Ruts Of     Habit. 
   
   
   
                      *      *      *      *      * 
   
   
   
 It Had Been Unbearably Hot And Close All Day Long. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 6 
   
 The Brazen, Hard-Blue Sky Had Seemed To Be Pressing A Blanket Of     Thick, 
 Humid Air Closer And Closer To The     Earth As If Bent Upon The 
 Suffocation Of     Everything Living. Everybody At The     Farm Had Been Sure 
 It Was Brewing A Storm. They Had Hoped A Good Rainstorm; And Now ... It 
 Was Almost Come. 
   
   
   
 Down On The     Horizon The     Clouds Were Piling Up In Great Black And Dark 
 Grey Masses, With Here And There A Lighter Grey That Showed Ominously 
 Against Its Darker Background; Cloud Masses Shot Through Every Now And 
 Then With An Angry-Looking Red Or Orange Flash That Was Immediately 
 Answered By A Low Rumble Of     Ever Nearing Thunder. 
   
   
   
 The Wind Had Risen, After This Gasping Day Without A Breath Of     Air 
 Stirring Anywhere, And Now It Blew Refreshingly Cold And Clear Almost 
 Directly From The     North. 
   
   
   
 It Flattened The     Long Parched Grass In The     Yard. It Danced The     Leaves 
 On The     Trees About So Gayly And So Madly As They Turned Their More 
 Prominently Veined Sides To View (Which Arethusa Knew Was Almost A Sure 
 Indication Of     Rain), It Did Not Seem Possible Their Slender Stems Could 
 Hold Them To The     Bending And Twisting Branches. Indeed, Some Of     Them 
 Could Not Hold On And The     Wind Gathered These Up And Carried Them Along 
 With Bits Of     Twigs And Grass To Pile Up In The     Fence Corners And Wait 
 For That Sorely Needed Drink Of     Water There. A Garden Chair In Front Of 
 The House Rocked Violently As Though Some Restless Ghost Were Occupying 
 It And Then Overturned With A Crash. The     Dust Gathered Up In The     Brown 
 Dirt Road In Great Swirls And Whirled Away Like Miniature 
 Cyclone-Clouds In Their Funnel Shape Towards The     Pike To Meet Other 
 Swirls Of     A Lighter Dust And Go Whirling Still Farther Away, Until The 
 Wind Grew Tired Of     Such Sport And Dropped Them. The     Birds' Nest In The 
 North Cornice Which Miss Eliza Had Been After For Weeks Blew Down, And 
 The Straw And Bits Of     Feathers Were Scattered All Over The     Yard; But 
 Only To Be Caught Again By The     Wind And Carried On Somewhere Else. The 
 Green Shutters On The     House Swung Out On Their Fastenings As Far As 
 They Could And Then Banged Back Against The     House With A Tiny Crash Of 
   
 Sound. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 7 
   
   
 There Seemed Nothing That The     Wind Overlooked. Even The     Clouds, As They 
 Piled Higher And Higher And Blacker And Blacker, Had The     Appearance Of 
 Being Driven By The     Wind, Nearer And Nearer The     Farm. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Ran Out Of     The     Front Door And Down The     Long, Flagged Walk 
 Towards The     Quince Bushes, Far At The     Very End Of     The     Yard, To Meet 
 The Storm. She Held Out Her Arms To The     Wind And Drank In Great Deep 
 Breaths Of     Its Refreshing Coolness. It Tossed Her Skirts About Her And 
 Blew The     Great Rope Of     Coppery Red Hair Which Ordinarily Hung Loosely 
 Plaited Down Her Back So That It Streamed Straight Out Behind Her Just 
 Like A Candle Flame. 
   
   
   
 Of All The     Things That Happened With Which She Was Acquainted, Arethusa 
 Loved Best A Thunder-Storm. She Felt No Slightest Tinge Of     Fear; To Be 
 Out Of     Doors In The     Wind And Rain With Thunder Crashing And Rolling 
 And Great Flashes Of     Lightning Splitting Wide The     Heavens, Every Now 
 And Then, Left Nothing To Be Desired Towards The     Perfection Of     The 
 Situation. She Had Sometimes Fancied, After An Unusually Wide And 
 Vivid Flash, That She Had Really Been Able To See A Wee Bit Of     A Way 
 Into That Heavenly City Which She Had Been Taught Was High Above Her, 
 Behind All That Sky, In The     Blinding Brightness. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa's Aunts Had Altogether Different Ideas, Not One Of     Them 
 (Save Perhaps Miss Asenath, Somewhat) Understanding In The     Least This 
 Strange And Illogical Desire To Watch The     Play Of     The     Elements Out Of 
 Doors When She Could Be Safe Inside A House. It Was Always Their Very 
 First Move, When A Storm Was Threatened, To Bid Her Remain Indoors. 
   
   
   
 To-Day Though, So Far, The     Gods Had Seemed To Be With Her; She Had 
 Escaped Without Being Seen. And If Her Luck Continued To Hold, She 
 Might Get Clear Away To Miss Asenath's Woods Before Her Aunt 'Liza 
 Caught Her And Haled Her Back. For They Had Not Had Such A Glorious 
 Storm As This Would Be, If Its Promise Were Made Good, For Months And 
 Months. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 8 
   
   
 There Was A Flash Of     Lightning That Seemed To Play All About The     Girl 
 Running Swiftly Down The     Walk; A Crash Of     Thunder That Seemed To Make 
 Every Window Pane In The     House Rattle In Echo, And A Few, Big, 
 Splashing Drops Of     Rain Fell. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Stretched Her Arms High And Stood On Tiptoe To Meet Them. She 
 Shook Her Hair Loose From Its Plait And Threw Back Her Head, Loving It 
 All--The Wind And The     Dark Sky And The     Tense Feeling Of     Readiness For 
 The Storm With Which Everything Seemed Charged--With An Almost Pagan 
 Joy. She Even Began A Dance, A Fantastic Sort Of     Lonely Quadrille (If 
 It Could Be Given Any Special Name), There On The     Flagged Walk By The 
 End Of     The     House. 
   
   
   
 "'Thusa!" 
   
   
   
 The Call Came Very Faint And Far Away. 
   
   
   
 Then--"'Thusa!" 
   
   
   
 Louder This Time, And Much Nearer, But Arethusa Heeded It Not If She 
 Heard; Her Dance Continued Uninterrupted. She Swayed Like A Tall Lily 
 To The     Wind, With A Few Little Steps One Way And Then A Few Little 
 Steps The     Other; Holding Out Her Cotton Skirts; Her Hair Blown All 
 About Her Like A Great, Red Cloud. There Was Something Elfin, Something 
 Wild And Woodsy, In Her Manner Of     Dancing; The     Nymph Whose Name She 
 Bore Might So Have Welcomed A Storm In Her Woods Of     Ancient Greece. 
   
   
   
 Then--"A----R--E-Thusa!" 
   
   
   
 And Miss Eliza Redfield's Own Energetic Little Person, As Trig And Trim 
 As A Tiny Ship With All Sails Closely Reefed, Even In This Boisterous 
 Wind, Bore Down Upon Her Niece. Miss Eliza's Grey Crown Of     Glory, 
 Parted In The     Middle With Precision And To The     Exactitude Of     A Hair, 
 Was Totally Unruffled And Remained Drawn Down Across Her Forehead In 
 Smooth, Satiny Bands Of     An Evenness And Rigidity Which No Other Hair, 
 Save Miss Eliza's, Could Possibly Have. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 9 
   
   
 She Pushed Her Shiny Glasses To The     End Of     Her Sharp, Little Nose And 
 Over Them Surveyed The     Disheveled Maiden Before Her. 
   
   
   
 "What Are You Doing?" She Asked Crisply. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Turned Her Glowing Face To Her Aunt, But Without Pausing In 
 Her Dance. "Oh, This Glorious Storm, Aunt 'Liza! I ..." 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Waved Her Hand. "You Need Not Answer. I Can See Quite 
 Plainly, For Myself, It Is Something Foolish. You Should Not Be Out 
 Here. Come On Into The     House, Arethusa. Your Aunt 'Titia And I And Your 
 Aunt 'Senath Wish To Talk To You. In The     Sitting-Room." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Not Right Now, Aunt 'Liza, Please! Can't I ..." 
   
   
   
 "No, You Can't. Come On Into The     House. How Many Times Do You Have To 
 Be Told A Thing, Arethusa? You Know Very Well How Much Your Aunt 'Titia 
 Objects To Your Running Around In A Storm In This Outlandish Way!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, But Aunt 'Liza, It's Not Storming Yet. Just Thundering A Little," 
 Pleaded Arethusa. "Please Let Me Stay Out Until It Really Begins. 
 Please! I'll Come Right In Then. I Promise. Please!" 
   
   
   
 "_Arethusa!_" 
   
   
   
 And This Effectually Nipped In The     Bud Arethusa's Faint Little Effort 
 To Have Her Own Way. 
   
   
   
 But It Would Have Been Nipped Effectually Sooner Or Later, For No One 
 Ever Dreamed Of     Standing Up For Long Against Miss Eliza, Or Of     Being So 
 Rash As To Contemplate Such As Actual Disobedience. Although Her 
 Stature Was That Of     A Child And Her Figure Slight In Proportion, She 
 Concentrated As Much Energy And Leadership In Those Four Feet Eleven 
 Inches, As If The     Figures Had Been Reversed. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 10 
   
 Blish, The     Negro Boy Who Did All The     Hardest And Heaviest Work Around 
 The House, Inside And Out, And Who Stood Six Feet Three In His 
 Stockings, Hung His Head Abjectly As Before An Offended Goliath When 
 His Diminutive Mistress Scolded Him For A Task She Considered 
 Slightingly Performed. Blish Had An Honest And Ingrained Terror Of     Miss 
 Eliza's Wrath And The     Lashings She Could Give With Her Tongue: And He 
 Was Not Alone Among Those On The     Farm In This Terror. 
   
   
   
 So Arethusa Abandoned Her Dance And, With Her Hair Still Hanging, 
 Meekly Followed Miss Eliza Towards The     Front Door. 
   
   
   
 "We Have Had A Letter From Your Father," Began Miss Eliza, As This 
 Strange Indian-File Procession Of     Very Tiny Old Lady And Very Tall 
 Young Girl Proceeded Back Along The     Flagged Walk On Which It Had Issued 
 Forth In Distinct Sections Such A Short While Before. 
   
   
   
 "_Oh!_" Arethusa Lunged Forward And Grabbed Miss Eliza Around Her 
 Neck. "When, Aunt 'Liza? When? This Morning? What Did He Say? Why 
 Didn't You Tell Me? Did He Say Anything For Me? Oh, Aunt 'Liza, What 
 Did He Say?" 
   
   
   
 These Staccato Questions Were Poured Forth As Fast As It Is Possible 
 For Human Lips To Utter Words. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Extricated Herself From The     Embrace Without Interrupting Her 
 Progress. 
   
   
   
 "We Considered It Best, Your Aunt 'Titia And I And Your Aunt 'Senath," 
 (She Never Spoke Of     Herself And Arethusa's Other Great-Aunts In Any 
 Different Way Or Order, And Why, No One Could Tell) "To Discuss It 
 Thoroughly Among Ourselves Before We Said Anything To You About It. It 
 Was A Very Unexpected Letter; Almost A Shock, I Might Say, The 
 Contents. It Came Yesterday Afternoon. I Wish, Arethusa, That You Would 
 Learn Not To Be So Violent. You Could Have Asked Me About It Without 
 Nearly Strangling Me." 
   
   
   
 Every Fibre Of     Arethusa's Body Quivered With Impatience. What Little 
   
 Self-Control She Had, And Miss Eliza Would Have Named It None At All, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 1 Pg 11 
 Was Only Managed With The     Greatest Difficulty. Behind Her Aunt's 
 Leadership She Proceeded With Little Hops And Skips. Her Tongue Burned 
 With All The     Rest Of     Those Questions She Was So Longing To Ask. 
   
   
   
 A Letter From Father In The     House Ever Since Yesterday Afternoon, And 
 She Had Not Even Seen It! It Was The     One Time In Weeks That She Had Not 
 Gone Down To The     Mail-Box For The     Mail! So It Always Happened! 
   
   
   
 Suddenly Miss Eliza Turned. 
   
   
   
 "You Make Me So Nervous, Arethusa, Jumping Up And Down That Way Behind 
 Me, I Could Scream! Can't You _Walk_!" Then She Added, Half To Herself 
 And Rather Irrelevantly Too, Considering The     Gist Of     The     Foregoing 
 Conversation. "I Must Say That I Question Very Strongly The     Wisdom Of 
 Sister 'Titia's Decision." 
   
   
   
 All Decisions Were, Nine Cases Out Of     Ten, Wholly Miss Eliza's; But In 
 Conversation Responsibility For Them Was Generally Shifted To Miss 
 Letitia. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Made A Noble Effort To Compose Herself And Did Her Very Utmost 
 To Walk As She Had Been Requested. 
   
   
   
 From Long Experience Of     Her Aunt, She Knew It Would Do No Earthly Good 
 To Ask A Single One Of     Those Questions She So Desired To Have Answered. 
 Miss Eliza Told A Person All That Was Necessary When She Was Quite 
 Ready For It, Herself, And Without The     Least Regard As To The     State Of 
 Feverish Impatience To Which Such A Proceeding Might Bring A 
 Petitioner. And Very Often, Arethusa Had Also Discovered, Questioning 
 Delayed The     Wished-For Loosening Of     Miss Eliza's Tongue. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 12 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Paused To Shut The     Front Door Carefully Behind Them, 
 Latching It Against The     Storm; And Arethusa Ran On Ahead Into The 
 Sitting-Room At One End Of     The     Big, Square Hall, A "Dog-Trot" Hall 
 Which Went Straight Through The     Centre Of     The     House From Front Porch To 
 Back Porch. 
   
   
   
 This Place Known As The     "Sitting-Room" Was A Nondescript Apartment 
 Crowded With Furniture Of     Varied Sorts, Till Every Available Space Was 
 Occupied By Something. It Was Too Crowded To Be Really Pleasing When 
 One Entered It For The     First Time And Yet It Possessed Certain And 
 Unmistakable Charm; Which Was A Charm Miss Asenath May Have Given. Her 
 Couch Dominated Everything, Drawn Across Between The     Two South Windows. 
 But Whatever It Was, One Undoubtedly Had A Feeling Of     Something About 
 The Sitting-Room Which Made It Lovable After Being In It The     Shortest 
 Possible Time. 
   
   
   
 The Furniture Which Made It Seem Crowded Ran From A New And Shiny 
 Sewing-Machine Of     Very Recent Purchase, Through Some Pieces Belonging 
 Unmistakably To The     Period Of     Temperamentally Carved Walnut Of     A 
 Generation Or So Ago, Back To The     Plain Wood And Simple Lines Of 
 Colonial Days. Miss Eliza's High Old Secretary, Placed To Get The     Best 
 Possible Light For Her Slightly Near-Sighted Eyes Which She Obstinately 
 Refused To Admit Were Anything But Perfect In Their Vision, Was Of     The 
 Last Description. The     Secretary Stood Open Always, And Was Of     A 
 Consistently Immaculate Order. The     Neat Little Piles Of     Papers And 
 Account-Books In The     Various Pigeon-Holes Were Arranged So Precisely 
 They Looked As If They Had Never Been Touched Since First Put In Their 
 Places, And Yet The     Owner Spent Many Industrious Moments, Nearly Every 
 Day, Working With Them. The     Piano, Which Sat Almost Directly Opposite 
 The Secretary, Was Of     A Trifle Later Construction. It Was Large And 
 Square, Of     Inlaid Rosewood, With Handsomely Carved Legs, And Had 
 Mother-Of-Pearl Keys Faintly Tinged With Brown All Around Their Edges. 
 From End To End, Lengthwise Of     Its Top, Was A Long Narrow Piece Of     Dark 
 Red Satin Decorated With Bunches Of     Tall Cat-Tails Heavily Painted In 
 Oils. Scattered Music Lay All Over The     Piano, On The     Music-Rack, 
 Sliding Down On The     Keys, And In Small, Untidy Piles Hastily Placed On 
 The Red Satin Cover. Its Scattered Condition Was Conclusive Evidence 
 That Arethusa Had Been Handling It, For She Was The     Only Person On The 
   
 Place Who Ever Scattered Anything About So Untidily. There Was A Wicker 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 13 
 Sewing-Basket In The     Room, Miss Letitia's Property. And A Large And 
 Pompous What-Not Of     Black Walnut, Elaborately And Fantastically Carved, 
 Guarded The     Corner Nearest The     Door, Bearing As Its Pièce De Resistance 
 A Bunch Of     Wax Flowers Under A Glass Case, Flowers Shaped By Miss 
 Asenath's Gentle Fingers A Great Many Years Ago; One Or Two Shells 
 Wearing Landscapes In Oils--Of Colors And Tints Never Yet Seen In An 
 Actual Landscape--Also Reminiscent Of     Miss Asenath's Artistic Girlhood; 
 And Several Other Non-Utilitarian Objects Of     Varying Degrees Of     Beauty, 
 According To The     Personal Taste Of     The     Beholder. A Much Larger Shell 
 Than Those On The     What-Not, With A Landscape Containing A Cow And Other 
 Objects No Doubt Intended As Human, Propped Open The     Door Into The 
 Hall. A White Marble Clock, With A Large Piece Of     White Coral Lying On 
 Its Top And Under A Glass Case Like The     Wax Flowers, Ticked Away On The 
 High Mantel In The     Dignified And Quiet Way Which Befitted A Clock 
 Belonging To The     Redfields. And There Were Many Other Pieces Of 
 Furniture And Bits Of     Old-Fashioned Ornament In The     Room. 
   
   
   
 The Various Generations And The     Lives Which Each One Had Lived At The 
 Farm Might Almost Be Known By Observation Of     These Things In The 
 Sitting-Room. Each Generation And Its Occupations Had Seemed To Leave 
 Behind It An Imprint In Furniture And Ornament. 
   
   
   
 But Had The     Sitting-Room Not Been A Room Of     Rather Unusual Dimensions, 
 It Could Never Have Held All Of     The     Diversified Objects Gathered In It. 
 And They Were Gathered In It Of     Real Necessity, For All The     Life Of     The 
 House Centered About Miss Asenath, And In This Room She Spent Her Whole 
 Waking Time. Miss Asenath Had Not Left The     Couch Between The     Two South 
 Windows For Over Fifty Years, Except To Be Lifted From It To Her Bed At 
 Night And Back To It Again In The     Morning For Another Day. 
   
   
   
 She Was As Tiny As Miss Eliza, But Even Thinner, And Her Delicate 
 Features Made Her Profile Seem Like A Deliciously Tinted Cameo Against 
 The Faded Tan Of     The     Sitting-Room Wall. She Had An Abundance Of     Soft 
 White Hair That Waved Like A Fleecy Cloud About Her Face. Her Skin Was 
 White And Waxen Clear; Her Loose Gown Was Of     Woolly Material, White And 
 Spotless; The     Pillows Piled All Around Her Were All In Immaculate White 
   
 Cases; And Though Her Lips Still Held A Faded Rose And Her Eyes Gleamed 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 14 
 Dark, The     Only Real Spot Of     Color Anywhere Immediately About Her Was A 
 Fluffy Wool Afghan Of     A Heaven-Like Shade Of     Deep Blue Spread Across 
 The Lower Part Of     Her Helpless Body. 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Loved All That Had Color: The     Gold Of     Sunlight Across The 
 Sitting-Room Floor; The     Green Of     The     Grass And The     Waxen-Leaved Coral 
 Honeysuckle Just Outside The     Sitting-Room Windows; She Even Loved The 
 Wax Flowers Because They Were So Gay. But Miss Letitia Loved Just As 
 Dearly To Dress Her All In White To Match Her Hair And Skin (Miss 
 Letitia Was The     Seamstress For The     Whole Family); So There Was A 
 Compromise. Miss Asenath Wore The     Soft White Gowns Of     Miss Letitia's 
 Making And, With Miss Letitia's Own Connivance, Indulged Her Fancy For 
 Colors In Her Afghans, Which She Had In Every Conceivable Shade. 
   
   
   
 Long Ago, Miss Asenath Had Had A Romance. 
   
   
   
 She Had Always Been The     Acknowledged Beauty Of     The     Family In Her 
 Dresden China Loveliness, And She Had Been Little More Than A Child 
 When Love Had Come To Her In All The     Wonder And Ecstacy Of     Loving That 
 Belongs To Youth. But A Fall From Her Riding Horse Had Left Her Pinned 
 To This Couch, Never To Walk Again, So She Had Sent Her Boy-Lover Away. 
   
   
   
 And Although She Had Known Him Grow Old And Had Watched Him Live A Full 
 Life Apart From Hers (A Life Actually Ended Only A Very Few Years Ago), 
 She Had Seemed To See Him Always As The     Boy Belonging To Her Girlhood, 
 To Those Months She Had Claimed Him As Her Own. She Wore His Picture In 
 A Locket At Her Throat Hung On A Piece Of     Ribbon The     Color Of     The 
 Afghan For That Day. It Was A Miniature Of     A Smiling Boy With Waving 
 Blonde Hair Brushed High Above His Forehead In An Unmistakable Roll, 
 With Eyes Of     A Very Deep Shade Of     Blue, And Dressed In A High Stock And 
 Much Be-Ruffled Shirt, And A Blue Coat Adorned With Brass Buttons. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Dearly Loved All Of     This, The     Romance And The     Locket. She Made 
 It Her Special Bit In The     Dressing Of     Miss Asenath Every Morning To 
   
 Hang The     Locket On Its Bit Of     Ribbon And Tie The     Tiny Bow Around Miss 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 15 
 Asenath's Frail Neck. 
   
   
   
 She Often Wondered Just How It Would Seem When One Was Old To Have Been 
 The Heroine Of     A Situation Exactly Like A Story Book. She Pictured It 
 As A Dramatic Scene Of     Renunciation Between The     Lovers, Both 
 Satisfyingly Well-Favored--For Miss Asenath's Beauty Was A Tradition 
 And The     Boy In The     Locket Was Undeniably Good To Look Upon--; And Her 
 Natural Inclination To Romance Was Aided By The     Reading Of     Many 
 Old-Fashioned Novels Of     Unbridled Sentimentality. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Loved Miss Asenath Herself Even More Than The     Romance, Though 
 Everyone Loved Her; No One Could Help It. Even Miss Eliza's Crisp Tones 
 Softened When She Spoke To Her. 
   
   
   
                      *      *      *      *      * 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Plumped Herself Down On Her Special Hassock Right Beside Miss 
 Asenath's Couch. It Was A Hassock With A Wool-Worked Top Of     Fearful 
 Reds And Greens And Yellows, Which Always Stood Just In That Place So 
 Arethusa Could Sit Close To Miss Asenath. Miss Asenath Smiled A 
 Welcome, And Then With Her Slender Fingers, So Waxen White Against The 
 Glowing Color Of     The     Girl's Hair, Began Plaiting Up The     Loose Red Mass 
 Lest Miss Eliza Should Notice It And Scold Arethusa For Running About 
 With Her Hair Unbound. 
   
   
   
 The Room Was Stifling. 
   
   
   
 Every Window Was Closed Tight, And The     Blinds Drawn Down, In Addition, 
 Making A Semi-Darkness. For Miss Letitia Was Afraid Of     Storms, Thunder 
 Storms Especially. At The     Very First Distant Rumble Of     Thunder She 
 Always Closed Every Opening In The     House. 
   
   
   
 She Sat Bolt Upright In The     Centre Of     The     Room, Her Plump Little Person 
 Enthroned Upon A Leather Pillow--Lightning Never Struck Through 
 Feathers--And Her Never Idle Fingers Were Busy Crocheting A 
 Rose-Colored Afghan For Miss Asenath. Miss Letitia Decidedly Preferred 
   
 Steel Needles Both For Crocheting And Knitting, But Steel Was Dangerous 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 16 
 To Use During A Storm--It Attracted Lightning--, So Her Steel Needles 
 Were All Safe In The     Very Bottom Of     Her Bureau Drawer Underneath Her 
 Plain Assortment Of     Chemises And Petticoats. And She Had Wheeled The 
 Sewing Machine Into The     Very Farthest And Darkest Corner Of     The     Room. 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Was Like Nothing In The     World So Much As A Ridiculously 
 Fat Edition Of     Miss Eliza. But She Lacked Miss Eliza's Precision, And 
 She Could Never, Even With Several Conscientious Trials, Get Her Hair 
 Parted Exactly In The     Middle. Arethusa Sometimes On Very Special 
 Occasions Parted It For Her. Miss Eliza Liked To See Her Sister As Neat 
 As Herself. She Liked Miss Letitia's Apparel To Have The     Same Trim Look 
 As Her Own Instead Of     The     Comfortably Untidy Appearance It Did Have. 
   
   
   
 But, As Miss Letitia Plaintively Expressed It, When Taken To Task 
 Because She Was Not Just So, "It's A Great Deal Easier, Sister, To Pin 
 Things Down On A Thin Person, Because There Isn't Any Strain." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Picked Up The     Last Copy Of     The     _Christian Observer_, Which 
 Was Lying Near Miss Asenath, And Fanned Herself Vigorously. Her 
 Efforts To Cool Herself Were So Vigorous That In A Very Few Moments 
 She Was Wet With Perspiration And Much Warmer Than She Had Been Before 
 She Started To Fan. She Felt As If She Were About To Suffocate In This 
 Close Room After Her Glorious Little Run In The     Breath Of     The     Cold 
 Wind. 
   
   
   
 "May I Open A Window, Aunt 'Titia," She Begged, "Please, Mayn't I? It's 
 Not Storming Yet, And, And, I'm So Hot!" 
   
   
   
 "Never Open A Window In A Storm, 'Thusa. It's A Very Dangerous Thing To 
 Do." 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Iooked At Her Great-Niece Just As Severely As She Knew 
 How, Though The     Severe Effect She Intended Was Somewhat Marred By That 
 Perennial Twinkle In Her Eyes And The     Rosy Cloud In Her Lap Below Her 
 Round, Rosy Face. Such A Setting Made Her Look More Like A Grown-Up 
 Cherub Than Anything Else At The     Moment. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 17 
 The Whole Room, Even With Its Closed Blinds, Was Suddenly Illuminated 
 By A Blinding Glow, And A Crashing Roll Of     Thunder Followed Immediately 
 Afterwards. 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Screamed. 
   
   
   
 "Mercy On Us! How Awful! That Was So Near. Sister 'Liza, You'd Better 
 Get A Pillow! 'Thusa...!" 
   
   
   
 Always, In A Storm, One Of     Miss Letitia's First Duties Was To Bulwark 
 Miss Asenath Who Could Not Get Pillows For Herself, And So The     Latter 
 Was Almost Buried In Them. Miss Asenath Passed One Of     Her Many Over To 
 Arethusa, Who Sat On It Obediently. Then The     Gentle Creature On The 
 Couch Rewarded Her With A Pat; By This Conveying Her Loving 
 Intelligence Of     Just How Much The     Sitting On The     Hot, Stuffy Protection 
 Miss Letitia Insisted Upon Was Hated, And Her Recognition Of     The 
 Magnanimity Of     Doing So With Murmuring. But It Was Miss Asenath's Way 
 To Make Anything But Good Behaviour In Her Immediate Vicinity Well-Nigh 
 Impossible. 
   
   
   
 Next, She Reached Over And Took The     _Christian Observer_ From 
 Arethusa's Hot Grasp, And Began Herself To Fan The     Overheated Girl 
 Very Slowly And Quietly. 
   
   
   
 "If You Sit Quite Still, Dear," She Said Softly, "You'll Cool Off In 
 Just A Moment." 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza's Sturdy Uprightness Disdained The     "Safety First" Aid Of 
 Pillows. She Was A Fatalist. 
   
   
   
 "If I'm Struck, Then I'm Struck," She Said, With The     Finality That 
 Admits Of     No Argument. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Sat Quietly On Her Hassock And Under Miss Asenath's Gentle 
 Regularity Of     Fanning She Cooled Off Gradually, But Her Impatience Was 
 In No Wise Abated. Father's Letter Was Still Undiscussed; And Arethusa 
 Wished That Miss Eliza Would Hurry And Tell Her About It, And What He 
   
 Had Said. She Seemed So Very Much Longer Than Usual In Getting Started 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 18 
 On What Her Niece Considered The     Most Burning Question Of     The     Hour. 
   
   
   
 She Told Miss Letitia About The     Fall Of     The     Bird's Nest Which She Had 
 Noticed On Her Trip To Get Arethusa, And Miss Letitia Agreed With Her 
 Sister That It Was A Blessing That The     Wind Had Blown It Down Before It 
 Rained, Else The     Gutter Would Surely Have Flooded Again. They Discussed 
 With Zeal The     Advisability Of     Putting Wire Netting Over The     Gutter End 
 To Keep Those Birds From Re-Building, And The     Length Of     Time The     Storm 
 Was In Actually Coming. Miss Letitia Ventured The     Prediction That It 
 Was To Be A Hard Rain And She Certainly Hoped That Blish Had Remembered 
 To Put The     Barrels Under That Broken Place In The     North-East Water 
 Spout To Catch All The     Rain-Water That Was Possible: And Miss Eliza 
 Replied With Asperity That If He Had Not Remembered It, He Would Find 
 Himself Sorry. But She Really Considered It Decidedly Remiss In Jere 
 Conway Not To Have Fixed That Spout Weeks Ago; She Herself Had Told Him 
 About It On Her Last Visit To Town. Jere Conway Was Getting Lazier And 
 Lazier As He Got Older And Less Attentive To Business. Although She 
 Hated Very Much To Employ A Strange Man, Still If He Put Off Much 
 Longer Fixing That Spout, She Was Going To Send For The     New Tin-Smith 
 At The     Junction. 
   
   
   
 Finally, Arethusa Felt That She Could Not Stand All This Irrelevancy 
 Another Second; Her Impatient Longing Had To Be Expressed. 
   
   
   
 "Please, Aunt 'Liza, What Did Father Say?" 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Dropped Her Glasses To The     End Of     Her Nose. 
   
   
   
 "You Must Learn To Wait, Arethusa. You Are Much Too Impatient. Like 
 Your Father." 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath's Gentle Voice Interposed, "But Why Not Tell Her, Sister? 
 Right Now?" 
   
   
   
 So Miss Eliza Proceeded. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 19 
   
 "Your Father," She Announced, In A Tone That Plainly Indicated Her 
 Hearty Disapproval Of     The     Whole Affair, And Plunging At Once Into The 
 Very Middle Of     Her Subject, "Has Married Again!" 
   
   
   
 "Married Again!" Echoed Arethusa, Uncertainly. 
   
   
   
 The Effect Of     Her Aunt's Disclosure Was As Though Some One Had Thrown A 
 Bulky Object At Her Quite Unexpectedly. 
   
   
   
 "That's What I Said, I Believe. It's What I Intended To Say. Shut Your 
 Mouth, Child,--You Look Half-Witted With It Open That Way. I Always Did 
 Think He Would. And I Must Confess I Never Thought He'd Wait Near As 
 Long As He Has. Though I'm No Great Believer In Second Marriages, 
 Myself." 
   
   
   
 "But, Aunt 'Liza ..." 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Frowned At The     Interruption. 
   
   
   
 "Will You Wait, Arethusa? Till I Finish!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Might Have Retorted, And Very Properly, That Nothing Had Been 
 Really Begun As Yet, By Jumping Into A Middle Without Preamble. But 
 Then, Miss Eliza Had Her Own Most Individual Way Of     Doing Everything, 
 Even To Telling Of     The     Contents Of     Important Letters. 
   
   
   
 "When I Have Finished, You May Read His Letter For Yourself. His New 
 Wife," She Crowded A Quantity Of     Scorn Into Those Two Words, "Wants You 
 To Come Visit Them. He Says She Does. They Both Do. She Has Sent ..." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Sprang, Starry-Eyed, From Her Hassock. Her Hands Flew, 
 Clasped, Up To Her Heart To Hold Its Beating Down. 
   
   
   
   
 "To Europe? Oh, Aunt 'Liza!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 20 
   
   
   
 "Will You _Wait_!! I Must Say! To Europe, Indeed! He's In America!" 
   
   
   
 And Then Arethusa Gave Such A Shriek Of     Joy That It Echoed Through And 
 Through The     House. Mandy, In The     Kitchen, Looked Inquiringly At Blish 
 As It Penetrated There. Miss Asenath Smiled; Miss Letitia's Crochet 
 Needle Slipped Clear Out Of     The     Stitch She Was Just Taking: And Miss 
 Eliza Put Her Hands Over Her Ears. 
   
   
   
 "_Arethusa!!_ If You Don't Sit Down!..." 
   
   
   
 So Arethusa Subsided To The     Hassock, Still Quivering. Miss Asenath Gave 
 Her A Reassuring Pat And Her Frail Hand Was Grabbed And Held Tight. 
 Such Composure As Could Be Managed Came Easier With Something To 
 Squeeze. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Continued Her Tale. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, His New Wife, Thank Heaven, Is An American, And I Reckon She 
 Wants To Live At Home." Then To Herself, Parenthetically, "I Was Always 
 Afraid He'd Marry One Of     Those Frog-Eating Foreigners He's Been 
 Trotting Around With So Long, And I Must Say I'm Mightily Surprised 
 That He Didn't." 
   
   
   
 She Paused A Moment And Looked At Arethusa Over Her Glasses As If 
 Arethusa Were The     One To Blame For This Situation. Although The     Girl 
 Did Not Dare Open Her Mouth In Face Of     Such An Expression, She Gave A 
 Little Jump Of     Impatience. It Did Seem As If Miss Eliza Might Finish 
 Telling It, And Tell It Straight, In Some Sort Of     Order, If She Were 
 Going To Tell It At All. 
   
   
   
 "They Want You To Come Visit Them," Repeated Miss Eliza, After Her 
 Parenthesis And The     Little Pause, "And Your Father's Sent The     Money, As 
 He Says, For Your 'Immediate Needs.' Over One Hundred Dollars It Is. He 
 Says His Wife Gave It To Him. She Must Be Mighty Well-Off. 'Immediate 
   
 Needs,' Indeed! I Can Buy Your Whole Winter Wardrobe With That Money!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 21 
   
   
 Then Once More Did Arethusa Rush Recklessly In Where Angels Would Have 
 Feared To Tread. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Aunt 'Liza!..." A Belated Discretion Came To Her Aid Before She 
 Finished. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Frowned Again. Her Lips Drew Ominously Down, And Reprimand 
 Of Some Sort Was Plainly To Be Detected Hovering There, But, For Some 
 Obscure Reason, She Also Changed Her Mind. 
   
   
   
 "Your Aunt 'Titia," She Said, Rather Mildly, And Thus Apparently 
 Shifting All Responsibility For Any Evil, Which Might Ensue From This 
 Step To Miss Letitia's Plumper Shoulders, "Your Aunt 'Titia Has Decided 
 That So Long As This Is Nearly August, There's No Earthly Use In Your 
 Going To Visit Them Until Fall. So I'm Going To Write Your Father That. 
 He May Not Like It, Because He Wants You Right Away, His Letter Says. 
 But It Would Be Downright Foolishness To Get You More Summer Clothes 
 This Late In The     Season; And You Haven't Near Enough Now, Nor The     Right 
 Kind, To Visit In A City. It's Just Like Him, For All The     World, This 
 Whole Affair. Letting You Alone For This Long, And Then All Of     A Sudden 
 Wanting You To Be Bundled Right Off To Him! You'll Be Needing Winter 
 Clothes In A Month Or Two," She Finished Decidedly, "So You're Going In 
 The Fall." Then She Added, Much More To Herself, However, Than To 
 Arethusa, "But I Must Say, I Strongly Doubt The     Wisdom Of     Your Going At 
 All." 
   
   
   
 She Settled Back In Her Chair With The     Air Of     One Having Said Her Say, 
 But Leaving Her Niece With A Feeling Strongly Resembling 
 Dissatisfaction. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Had Simply Flung These Few Facts At Her Without Any 
 Elaboration; Sketched In The     Bare Outlines To What, Viewed By Arethusa, 
 A Whole Volume Might Be Added Without Doing Anywhere Near Full Justice 
 To The     Subject. There Was That Matter Of     The     "New Wife," Especially. 
 One's Only Father Does Not Get Married Every Day, And To Dismiss The 
 Lady Of     His Choice By Simply Stating Her Existence Does Not Gratify A 
   
 Thousandth Part Of     Natural Curiosity. Her Father, She Knew, Had Written 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 22 
 More Than Just The     Simple Fact Of     His Marriage. If He Had Done Just 
 That; Then It Was Certainly Not Her Father Who Had Written The     Letter. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Had Not Told Her When ... Or Where ... Or ... 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Gazed At Her Aunt, Clasping And Unclasping Her Hands 
 Helplessly; Her Lips Parted For Speech, But No Words Came, For So Many 
 Words Trembled There, They Literally Dammed One Another Up. 
   
   
   
 "I ... Did Father ..." She Managed To Gasp, Finally. 
   
   
   
 But Miss Eliza Seemed To Read Through This Inadequacy Of     Expression 
 Some Of     That Chaos Of     Thought Which Whirled Round And Round In 
 Arethusa's Brain. She Reached Down In The     Little Leather Pocket That 
 Always Hung At Her Belt And Drew Out A Large, Square Envelope. 
   
   
   
 "Here, Child, I Said You Could Read It," And Although Her Tone Was As 
 Sharp As Always, It Was Not Unkind. "That Woman He Married. You Want To 
 Know, I Reckon. Some More About Her. It's Perfectly Natural. He's Gone 
 Into All Sorts Of     Raptures Over Her, Of     Course. He Wouldn't Be Ross 
 Worthington If He Hadn't. And She Is Very Probably Just An Ordinary 
 Female Woman." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Seized The     Outstretched Envelope Eagerly. 
   
   
   
 "May I...?" She Asked. 
   
   
   
 She Spoke To Miss Asenath, Who Nodded A Permission To The     Unfinished 
 But Evident Request Before Either Of     The     Other Aunts Had A Chance To 
 Refuse It. 
   
   
   
 So Arethusa Was Off Like The     Wind, Unheeding Of     The     Anxious Call Miss 
 Letitia Sent After Her. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 2 Pg 23 
   
 Out Through The     Back Of     The     House This Time, And On Through The     Kitchen 
 Where She Paused Only Long Enough To Squeeze Mandy, One Of     Her 
 Staunchest Allies And A Certain Sharer In All Joys, To Whirl Her Clear 
 Around From Her Table Where She Was Working, And To Wave The     Letter At 
 Her Excitedly And Then Plunge On, Leaving Mandy Absolutely Breathless 
 With The     Suddenness Of     This Onslaught. 
   
   
   
 The Rain Was Falling Now, Slowly But Steadily, In Big Heavy Drops, And 
 The Darkest Clouds Were Lowering, Apparently Right Above Her Head; But 
 The Flying Girl Paid No Attention To These Evidences Of     The     Imminence 
 Of Her Storm. She Held The     Letter Pressed Close Against Her As If To 
 Protect It And Made Straight For Miss Asenath's Woods, Via The     Orchard. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 24 
   
   
 Arethusa Flung Herself Flat On A Mossy Spot Of     Ground Underneath The 
 Largest And Tallest Of     The     Trees In Miss Asenath's Woods. 
   
   
   
 Like The     Vaulted Ceiling Of     A Huge Green Cathedral, The     Branches Far 
 Above Her Curved In Graceful Arches. And They Were So Thickly 
 Interlaced And Grown With Leaves, That Although This First Slow-Falling 
 Rain Of     The     Storm Could Be Distinctly Heard In Its Noisy Pattering On 
 Those Leaves, Very Little Came Through Them, Save An Extra Large And 
 Splashing Drop Every Now And Then. 
   
   
   
 Having Run Every Step Of     The     Way From The     House, Arethusa Was 
 Completely Out Of     Breath: And She Could Only Lie Panting For Some 
 Moments, The     Letter Still Clutched To Her Breast. 
   
   
   
 The Wind Had Died Down, And It Was As Hot And Close Out Here In The 
 Open Under The     Trees As It Had Seemed In The     Shut-Up Sitting Room. But 
   
 She Was Far From Any Thought Of     Physical Discomfort Now. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 25 
                      *      *      *      *      * 
   
   
   
 At The     Beginning Of     Miss Asenath's Romance Those Many Years Ago, Her 
 Father, Arethusa's Great-Grandfather Redfield, Had Set Aside This Strip 
 Of Woodland In Which To Build His Daughter A House. 
   
   
   
 It Was Not Nearly So Heavily Wooded Then, And The     Lovers Had Wandered 
 Over It And Selected A Spot For The     Little Home, Mute Evidence Of     Their 
 Choice Of     Site Remaining In A Half-Dug Foundation, Overgrown With Vines 
 And Weeds And Almost Indistinguishable Save For The     Few Heavy Stones 
 That Marked One Side Of     The     Depression. But The     Walls Of     The     Little 
 House Had Risen In Fancy For Her With Such Reality, That, When The     Sad 
 Ending To Her Love-Story Came And The     Building Was Abandoned, At Miss 
 Asenath's Request The     Woodland Was Fenced Off. Hence, Its Name Of     "Miss 
 Asenath's Woods." She Had Never Gone There Since The     Day When With Her 
 Own Hands She Had Spread A Layer Of     Mortar Between Two Stones "For 
 Luck," But She Knew Every Inch Of     It As It Was Now, Every Tree And 
 Bush, From Arethusa's Vivid Description. Arethusa's Imagination Could 
 For Herself, From Miss Asenath's Telling, Place The     Little House On Its 
 Ghostly Foundation In All The     Actuality It Was Once To Have Had. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Loved The     Woodland Quite As Much As Miss Asenath Did, Even 
 Apart From The     Significance Of     Its Connections With Her Aunt's 
 Love-Story. It Was The     Only Spot On The     Place That Miss Eliza Did Not 
 Keep Straight; The     Only Bit Of     The     Farm That Was Not Inspected, Often, 
 By That Keen Glance Which, Even If A Trifle Near-Sighted, So Little 
 Escaped. But She Never Went Near The     Woodland On Any Pretext. 
   
   
   
 There Was Nothing "Combed" Or "Fixed" About Miss Asenath's Woods; No 
 White-Washed Trees Or Clipped Grass. Bees Droned And Birds Sang And 
 Wild-Flowers Bloomed There All Uninterrupted; Squirrels Chattered In 
 The Trees, Friends Of     Arethusa's That Were Tame Enough To Perch On Her 
 Shoulder If She Sat Quite Still; And Funny Little, Molly-Cotton-Tail 
   
 Rabbits Often Scampered In Front Of     Her While She Was Reading, So Close 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 26 
 She Could Have Touched Them. It Was A Bit Of     Nature That No Human Hand 
 Had Ever Spoiled, The     Never Finished Foundation Was Only An Addition In 
 Its Suggestion; Therefore, The     Girl's Woodsy Heart Claimed It As Her 
 Very Own, Although By Name It Belonged To Miss Asenath. 
   
   
   
 But, Since The     Time She Was A Wee Scrap And, Running Away From Miss 
 Eliza's Scolding, Had Stumbled On This Enchanted Spot Entirely By 
 Accident And Had Brought Her Dolls Down Here For Play, Arethusa Had 
 Found Congenial Occupation In The     Woodland. And Now That She Was Older, 
 She Spent Long Hours Of     Reading And Dreaming Instead Of     Play. 
   
   
   
 In Her Favorite Position, Flat On Her Stomach With Her Heels In The     Air 
 And Her Chin Propped In Her Hands (Which Position Miss Eliza Contended 
 Was Far Removed From The     Dignity Befitting Arethusa's Years And Had 
 Forbidden In Her, Miss Eliza's, Presence) She Read Old-Fashioned Novels 
 That She Smuggled Out Of     The     Bookcase In The     Parlor. When The     Book Was 
 Closed, She Invariably Added Long Chapters Of     Her Own Fancy To The 
 "Lived Happily Ever After" Ending. Yet All That She Read Did Not, By 
 Any Means, End Thus Happily, For She Loved Sad Stories Also. She Knew 
 "The Scottish Chiefs" Almost By Heart. It Was Foolish, Perhaps, To Lie 
 Under The     Trees And Read Sobbingly Until She Could Hardly See What She 
 Was Reading For The     Tears, And Then Dab At Her Eyes With A Sopping Wet 
 Handkerchief; But ... It Was Arethusa. She Was Most Incurably Romantick. 
   
   
   
 She Kept A Few Of     Her Greatest Favorites Here In This Hollow Tree In 
 The Centre Of     The     Woodland, For A Story One Likes Cannot Be Read Too 
 Often, Thought This Gentle Reader. 
   
   
   
 Here Also, For The     Hollow Tree Somewhat Resembled A Treasure Chest In 
 Its Interior, She Had A Length Of     Green Of     The     Same Soft Shade As The 
 Lichen Of     The     Woods Around Her. It Was A Green Ribbon So Thoroughly 
 Satisfying In Its Color That Only To Spread It Out On The     Grass Where 
 Her Eyes Might Gaze Upon It Delighted Arethusa's Soul. 
   
   
   
 Some Day.... Some Day.... She Would Have A Green Dress Of     Just That 
 Identical Shade. "And Aunt 'Liza May Say All She Pleases About My 
 Hair!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 27 
   
   
 Of Which Bit Of     Meditated Defiance, Miss Eliza Remained In Total 
 Ignorance. 
   
   
   
 For Arethusa's Hair Was An Uncompromising Red. It Was A Deep, Rich 
 Brown-Red In Shadow And A Burnished Coppery-Red In The     Sunlight, 
 Wonderful To Behold, But Still Red. And There Was A Decided Difference 
 Of Opinion Between Miss Eliza And Her Niece As To The     Color Most 
 Suitable For The     Clothes That Were To Be Worn With Such A Top-Knot. 
 Miss Eliza Was Horrified At The     Bare Thought Of     Any But The     Plainest Of 
 Shades Beside It; Generally Standing Up Strongly For Blue, A Very Dark 
 Blue. Arethusa, Although She Rather Preferred Other Colors Of     An 
 Infinite Variety, Would Not Have Minded Blue So Much Had Miss Eliza's 
 Selections Been Less Depressingly Somber. Abortive Attempts To Enliven 
 Her Wardrobe Were Immediately Crushed With Scathing References To The 
 Fiery Locks. And The     Wardrobe Remained Of     An Unwaveringly Dull Tone. 
   
   
   
 According To Miss Eliza, Arethusa's Red Hair Was Wholly To Blame For 
 Her Temper, Which Was Of     A Somewhat Quick And Lively Nature. She 
 Seemed, At Times, Almost To Consider It A Deep Disgrace To The     Family 
 That Her Niece Should Be So Crowned. Arethusa Was The     Only Red-Haired 
 Person That Had Ever Been In The     Whole Family Connection, So Far As 
 Anyone Knew; An Off-Shoot, So To Speak. But Miss Asenath Dearly Loved 
 Its Bright Color, And She Was Never Tired Of     Running Her Fingers 
 Through The     Ruddy Masses And Of     Curling And Twisting The     Little Shining 
 Tendrils Of     Curls That Clustered In The     Nape Of     The     Girl's Neck. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had The     Warm White Skin That Nearly Always Accompanies Red 
 Locks, Somewhat Freckled, It Is True, But Not Enough So Really To 
 Matter; And Deep Greenish-Grey Eyes, Rimmed All Around With The     Most 
 Unbelievably Long Lashes. They Were Real Irish Eyes, Which Excitement 
 Darkened And Made To Shine Like Big Stars. It Naturally Followed That 
 They Were Dark And Starry The     Greater Part Of     The     Time, For She Was 
 Arethusa And In An Almost Constant State Of     Excitement. 
   
   
   
 And She Was Quite Tall And Slender, Very Unlike The     Redfields. They 
 Were All Small And Compactly Built; But Arethusa Had Got Her Height 
 From Her Father. 
   
   
   
                      *      *      *      *      * 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 28 
   
 Having Arrived Almost At A State Of     Natural Breathing Once More, 
 Arethusa Rolled Over And Spread The     Letter Out Before Her. She Studied 
 Her Father's Bold Handwriting With Shining Eyes, And Kissed His 
 Signature Rapturously. 
   
   
   
 When She Was A Baby Of     About Six Months Or So Her Father Had Given Her 
 Into Miss Eliza's Keeping And Started For A Foreign Trip, "Of A Few 
 Months," He Had Said Then. But That Was Nearly Eighteen Years Ago, And 
 He Was Still On The     Other Side, With Never So Much As The     Most Flying 
 Visit To The     Little Daughter In America In All That Time. Yet The     Love 
 And Loyalty Of     That Little Daughter Had Never Wavered From The     Day Miss 
 Asenath Had Put His Photograph Into Her Tiny Hands, And Taught Her To 
 Call It "Father," And To Kiss It Through The     Glass. 
   
   
   
 This Love And Loyalty Were Not Founded Upon Memories, For She Had None. 
 They Were Given A Father Created By Her Own Vivid Fancy, Aided By The 
 Photograph. This Was A Faded Likeness Of     An Unusually Handsome Man With 
 Waving Hair Of     An Eccentric Length And Bold Dark Eyes Smiling Straight 
 Out Of     The     Picture As If He Were Just About To Speak To The     Arethusa 
 Who Worshipped It. He Wore A Byronic Sort Of     Collar, With A Wide Tie, 
 And His Shoulders Were Draped In An Italian Military Cape, Effectively 
 Thrown Back From The     One Wide Frog That Clasped It Just Below The 
 Flowing Ends Of     The     Tie. So He Was Not Like Other Fathers; Not At All 
 Like Those Most Commonplace Male Parents With Which Arethusa Was 
 Acquainted. He Was Far More Like The     Hero In One Of     Those Sentimental 
 Novels She Never Tired Of     Reading. She Could But Give Him All The     Most 
 Desirable Of     The     Attributes Of     The     Men-Folk Who Lived In Those Pages; 
 For They Seemed So Far Superior To Any Man She Knew In The     Flesh. 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath, With Her Stories Of     Him, Had Helped Unconsciously In The 
 Creation Of     This Ideal. Miss Asenath Had Loved Him Very Dearly,--Loved 
 His Bright Youth As She Did All Youth. Miss Eliza's Bark Was Always 
 Much Worse Than Her Bite, And She, Although She Spoke Very Slightingly 
 Of Him At Times, Had Been Quite Fond Of     Him. So, Too, Had Miss Letitia. 
 The Little Daughter Had Grown Up In An Atmosphere That Fostered Her 
   
 Hero-Worship. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 29 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Most Carefully Cherished Dream, Through Childhood To The 
 Very Present Time, Had Been That Some Day This Wonderful Father Of     Hers 
 Would Come Home, Here To The     Farm. She Had Planned Their Meeting, To 
 The Smallest Detail, Many And Many A Time. And He Had Written That He 
 Was Coming, Over And Over Again; Only To Add A Little Later That "He 
 Would Not Be Able To Get Across This Year." But These Repeated 
 Disappointments Had In No Wise Chilled The     Glow Of     His Daughter's 
 Anticipation. 
   
   
   
 And Now ... He Was Actually On This Side Of     The     Atlantic! No Longer 
 The Broad Ocean Rolled Between Them. If He Had Not Come Clear Back 
 To The     Farm, He Had Come Much Nearer To It Than He Had Ever Been In 
 Arethusa's Recollection Of     Him; And, Moreover, He Had Come With A 
 _Wife_! 
   
   
   
 Small Wonder That Arethusa Was Excited! 
   
   
   
 But The     Letter.... The     Letter Would Tell Her All About It. 
   
   
   
     "My Dear Miss Eliza," It Ran-- 
   
   
   
     "I May As Well Come To The     Point At Once--You Always Liked That 
     Best, As I Recall--And Tell You That I Am Married; Was Married In 
     Italy, At The     American Consulate At Florence, The     Second Of     Last 
     June. My Wife Is The     Very Finest Woman God Ever Made, Bar None; 
     Save Perhaps You Ladies To Whom I Write. And I, Who Was Ever For 
     Peace, Will Fight To A Finish Him Who Avers Aught To The     Contrary. 
     I Cannot Expect You, Who Have Never Seen Her, To Share My 
     Enthusiasm, Of     Course. But If You Knew Her, Miss Eliza, If You Knew 
     Her! 
   
   
   
     "Words Fail Me In An Effort At Description, But Will It Suffice To 
     Say That I Am Perfectly Satisfied To Gaze At Her All Day Long, Day 
     In And Day Out? This Surely Must Convey Something To You Who Knew 
     Me Well Of     Old And Will Remember That I Was Ever Most Critical, 
     Having The     Idea Then That My Bent Was Artistic. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 30 
   
     "I Could Hardly Believe In My Own Good Fortune, Miss Eliza, When 
     She Said She Would Have Me. I Asked Her All Over Again, 
     Immediately, Just To Make Sure. So Now The     Former Miss Elinor 
     Harvey Is Mrs. Ross Worthington. 
   
   
   
     "To Make A Long Story Short, I Have Told Her About Arethusa, And 
     She Is Most Anxious To Know Her New Daughter. As She Is Possessed 
     Of     Considerably More Of     This World's Goods Than Is Your Humble 
     Servant--The One Thing I Have Against Her--She Has Insisted Upon 
     Herself Enclosing A Check For Our Daughter's Immediate Needs, And 
     This Daughter Is To Come As Soon As You And Miss Letitia Can Get 
     Her Ready. Don't Be Sparing With This Check; I Am Instructed To 
     Add, More Will Be Sent If Necessary. 
   
   
   
     "My Wife--I Do Love To Write That Word, Miss Eliza,--Says That She 
     Will Write, Herself, Very Shortly. She Is Most Busy At Present, 
     Turning Her House Upside Down From Garret To Cellar, But She Says 
     That When It Is Finished It Will Be A Most Beautiful House. 
   
   
   
     "Give My Love To Miss Letitia And My Darling Daughter, Arethusa, 
     And My Most Knightly Devotion Always To Miss Asenath, Bless Her! 
     My Wife Joins Me In All Kind Wishes For Your Household. 
   
   
   
     "Yours Affectionately, 
   
   
   
     "Ross Worthington." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Hugged Herself Ecstatically And Then Pressed Her Lips To The 
 Letter Until The     Ink Smudged. It Was A Wonderful Letter! 
   
   
   
 And The     Whole Of     The     Situation Revealed In It Appealed To Her. The 
 Romance (A Love Story Brought Even Nearer Home Than Miss Asenath's, For 
 It Was Her Own Dearest Father Who Was Living It Right Now); The     Beauty 
 Of The     Bride, So Plainly Stated, And Arethusa Loved Beauty With All The 
 Fire Of     Her Romantic Young Soul; And The     Bride's Wealth, Undoubtedly 
   
 Intimated, Which Gave The     Necessary Touch Of     Luxury To The     Picture, For 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 31 
 Arethusa Loved The     Fleshpots Also, If An Innocent Liking For Silks And 
 Satins And Baronial Halls Could Be Called "Love Of     The     Fleshpots,"--It 
 Was As Perfect A Situation As Any Created By Any One Of     Her Favorite 
 Novelists. She Was Visioning A Rarely Handsome Couple, Hand In Hand, 
 Moving With Slow And Stately Grace Through The     Vast Halts Of     A Mansion. 
   
   
   
 "Elinor" Was A Beautiful Name; Far More Beautiful Than Any Other Name 
 She Knew. 
   
   
   
 In Short, Being Constitutionally Unable To Do Anything By Halves, 
 Arethusa Fell Most Completely In Love With The     Newcomer Into The 
 Family, When She Might Have Had Other Feelings About Her, Perhaps Just 
 As Strong. But There Was Not The     Slightest Trace Of     Anything Resembling 
 Resentment In The     Daughter's Heart That A Strange Woman Had Taken The 
 First Place With Her Father; She Would Not Have Understood If Anyone 
 Had Suggested To Her That It Might Be Permissible Under The 
 Circumstances. There Was Only A Very Deep Gratitude That Flooded Her 
 Whole Being. She Realised Quite Plainly From The     Letter That It Was 
 Owing A Great Deal To The     "New Wife" That Her Dream Of     So Many Years 
 Was Coming True. She Had Brought Ross Back To America, So Much Nearer 
 To His Daughter, And She Had Sent Her, Arethusa, (Sent It Herself 
 Because It Was Positively So Stated) The     Money Whereby She Was To Make 
 Reality That Long Anticipated Meeting. 
   
   
   
 But She Did Not Waste Much Time In Speculation As To The     Spending Of 
 That "Check For Her Immediate Needs"; Such Would Have Been Truly Idle 
 Dreaming. Miss Eliza Would Spend It. She Would Attend To The     Providing 
 Of A Wardrobe For The     Visit, And That Wardrobe Would Be Utilitarian 
 First And Foremost, And Durable. All Of     Miss Eliza's Purchases Had The 
 Virtue Of     Durability. For Best, Perhaps, Arethusa Might Have A Silk 
 Dress (Her Sunday Silk Of     The     Season Before Was Almost Worn Out), But 
 It Would Be A Dark Blue One, Undoubtedly; And One Was Convinced Before 
 It Was Even Bought That It Would Be A Sensible Dress. 
   
   
   
 Had Arethusa Had The     Spending Of     The     Money Her Outfit Might Present A 
 Very Different Appearance. 
   
   
   
   
                      *      *      *      *      * 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 3 Pg 32 
   
 She Had Been So Absorbed In Her Letter That She Had Not Noticed That 
 The Storm Had Begun To Increase In Violence. The     Wind Was Rising Again 
 And The     Rain Was Beginning To Come Rapidly Through The     Leaves. 
   
   
   
 Suddenly, With A Roar Like The     Approach Of     Some Vast Army Across The 
 Fields, It Came From The     Northwest In A Blinding Sheet, And In Just A 
 Moment She Was Drenched. She Scrambled Hastily To Her Feet And Thrust 
 The Letter Far Down In The     Hollow Of     The     Tree To Keep It Dry, And Then, 
 Flattened Herself Against The     Trunk To Watch, As Much Protected As She 
 Could Be, And With The     Intensest Admiration, This Masterpiece Of     The 
 Storm King. She Was Not In The     Least Bit Frightened Of     The     Vivid 
 Lightning That Played Almost Incessantly About Her, Or Of     The     Rolling 
 And Crashing Thunder. She Lifted Up Her Face To Feel The     Rain Upon It, 
 And Smiled In Sheer Joy Of     The     Wonderful Beauty Of     The     Graceful Long 
 Sweep Of     That Failing Rain. 
   
   
   
 But With A Crack Of     Thunder Which Miss Letitia Would Have Said Was 
 "Near," Most Certainly, For It Sounded As Though The     Heavens Themselves 
 Were Fallen, Arethusa's Eyes Closed Involuntarily. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 33 
   
 Timothy Jarvis Was Making Preparations To Salt The     Cattle Down In The 
 "V" Lot On His Place (So-Called Because A Wedge Of     The     Redfield 
 Property Carved Out A Bit Of     Its Very Centre) When Those Angry Black 
 Clouds Began Piling Up. 
   
   
   
   
 He Was Not Very Weather Wise As Yet, This Sturdy Boy Farmer, Timothy, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 34 
 And So His Study Of     The     Brooding Sky Did Not Help Him As Much, In His 
 Prognostication Of     What It Would Bring Forth, As It Might Have Helped 
 Older Folk More Acquainted With The     Vagaries Of     Weather. Mandy Or Miss 
 Eliza Or Blish Could Have Told Him That Black Clouds In The     North West 
 Always Meant A Bad Storm, And One That Came Quickly. But Timothy 
 Thought Of     His Sleek Red Cattle, Of     Which He Was So Proud, Which Were 
 Needing Salt So Dreadfully, And He Decided That He Had Plenty Of     Time 
 In Which To Go On Ahead And Finish His Job Before The     Storm Should 
 Really Break. He Hated To Leave Them Until Every Last One Had Had A 
 Chance At The     Coarse Salt He Spread Out For Them On The     Rocks By The 
 Branch. And The     Clouds Would Probably Go On Piling Up That Way For Some 
 Hours. 
   
   
   
 So Sure Was He That This Prediction Was Correct That He Sent The     Man 
 Who Was Helping Him Back To The     Barn With The     Mule And Spring-Wagon, 
 And Planned To Walk Himself. He Wanted A Look At The     Bunch In The 
 Wood-Lot, And Now, While He Was So Near It, Was As Good A Time As He 
 Could Find In Which To Visit That Other Herd. 
   
   
   
 But The     First Falling Drops Caught Him Before He Was Half Way To The 
 Wood-Lot, So He Turned Around Without Attempting That Visit And Started 
 For Home. Then That Great Downpour Which Had Trapped Arethusa Under The 
 Hollow Tree Caught Him Just As He Was Passing Miss Asenath's Woods, And 
 He Decided To Go On Up To The     Redfield House, As It Was So Much Nearer 
 Than His Own; Nearly A Mile And A Half Nearer, This Way. 
   
   
   
 He Climbed The     Snake Fence Into The     Woodland And Splashed Rapidly 
 Through The     Wet Growth. The     Big Leaves That He Brushed In Passing, 
 Emptied Their Load Of     Water Upon Him; Timothy Was Getting Wetter And 
 Wetter, But Rather Enjoying It All. Then He Spied Arethusa Propped Up 
 Against Her Tree With Her Eyes Shut Tight, And He Stopped Short In 
 Amazement. 
   
   
   
 "A--Re--Thusa Worthington!" 
   
   
   
 Her Eyes Flew Open. She Screamed; For Timothy Had Appeared Before Her 
 As Suddenly As Though He Had Come In That Clap Of     Thunder. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 35 
   
 "Timothy! You Nasty Thing! You Scared Me Almost To Death!" 
   
   
   
 "What On Earth Are You Doing Out Here?" 
   
   
   
 "Picking Water Lilies!" She Replied Pertly. 
   
   
   
 "You Must Have Fallen In Then, Because I Never Did See Anything Just As 
 Wet! But I Thought You Weren't Afraid Of     Storms?" 
   
   
   
 "I'm Not. I Love 'Em." 
   
   
   
 "Why Do You Screw Up Your Eyes For When It Thunders Then?" He Asked, 
 Teasingly, As At Another Terrific Sound Her Eyes Shut Just As Tight As 
 Before. 
   
   
   
 But She Only Made A Face At Him In Reply. 
   
   
   
 "Does Miss 'Liza Know You're Out Here?" Timothy Demanded Next. 
   
   
   
 "She Does." 
   
   
   
 "I'll Just Bet She Doesn't," He Contradicted Calmly. "You Better Come 
 Go In. You Are Wet Clear Through." 
   
   
   
 "So Are You," Retorted Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "I Think You Had Better Come Go In," Persisted Timothy. "Honest, 
 Arethusa! It's Dangerous," He Added, Quickly, For Just As He Spoke A 
 Great Tree In The     Outer Edge Of     The     Woodland Went Crashing To The 
 Ground. 
   
   
   
   
 "I Shan't Go In." She Stamped Her Foot For Emphasis. "Run Along, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 36 
 Timothy, If _You're_ Afraid. _I'm_ Going To Stay. I Love It!" 
   
   
   
 That Implication Of     Fear Put Him On His Masculine Mettle At Once. 
   
   
   
 "I'm Not Afraid," He Declared, Stoutly. "It's Just Foolish, That's All. 
 Come On, Arethusa." 
   
   
   
 She Resented This Tone Of     Authority. 
   
   
   
 "No!" She Said, Most Positively. 
   
   
   
 "Well, Then ... I'll Take You," Announced Timothy, Equally Positive. 
 "I Just Can't Let You Tempt Providence This Way." 
   
   
   
 Her Eyes Blazed Dark. "If You So Much As Dare Touch Me, Timothy Jarvis, 
 Even; I'll ... I'll...." Words Failed Her. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Regarded Her In Helpless Exasperation. Being Very Well 
 Acquainted With Arethusa And Arethusa's Ways, He Knew That She Would 
 Have Retaliated In Some Very Real And Immediate Fashion, Had He Made A 
 Single Move To Carry Out His Threat. And Nothing He Could Do Along This 
 Line Would Have Brought The     Going In Any Nearer, For In A Scuffle She 
 Was Quite As Strong As He Was. 
   
   
   
 They Had Been Forced To Converse In Shouts In Order To Be Heard Above 
 The Noise Of     The     Storm Through The     Swaying And Bending Trees, And The 
 Whole Affair:--The Loud Argument Which Got Nowhere, And The     Subsequent 
 Tableau Of     The     Girl And Himself Standing Here Under The     Big Tree 
 Glaring At Each Other While The     Fury Of     The     Rain Lashed Against Them 
 And The     Storm Dinned About Them, Suddenly Struck Timothy As Funny. 
   
   
   
 He Laughed. 
   
   
   
   
 "Stop Laughing!" Screamed Arethusa, Angrily. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 37 
   
 "I Can't Help It! You--You Look So Perfectly Funny!" Timothy's Mirth 
 Pealed Forth Again. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Hair Hung About Her Face In Long, Wet Locks; Her Eyes, In 
 Her White Face, Were Like Great, Dark Pools Of     Wrath; And She Had 
 Spread Her Arms Out Behind Her Against The     Tree As If She Had Gripped 
 It To Hold Should Timothy Attempt Force To Make Her Leave Her 
 Stronghold. 
   
   
   
 "You Look Just Like A Drowned Rat, Yourself!" She Exclaimed Furiously. 
 "And--And You've Got A Whole Pond In Your Jimmy!" 
   
   
   
 So Timothy Took Off His Big Jimmy Hat And Shook The     Pool Of     Rain Water 
 Out Of     The     Curved Brim. 
   
   
   
 Had She Not Been So Angry With Him, Arethusa Might Have Likened Him 
 Then To A Young River God Instead Of     A "Drowned Rat," And The 
 Comparison Would Have Fitted Much Better. And With His Blonde Head, 
 Which The     Dampness Had Merely Made To Wave A Little More, For His 
 Thickly Plaited Straw Hat Had Somewhat Protected It From A Thorough 
 Wetting, She Might Even Have Called Him A Young Viking, Without Any 
 Very Great Misuse Of     Metaphor; Timothy Was So Thoroughly Of     The 
 Outdoors In His Appearance, With All His Youthful Strength. 
   
   
   
 His Deep Blue Eyes Gleamed With Determination As Plainly As The     Grey 
 Eyes Opposite Him Gleamed With Anger, For Timothy Meant That Arethusa 
 Should Go Into The     House; And That Without Much More Delay. 
   
   
   
 But He Changed His Tactics To Accomplish This. Although He Was Nothing 
 Of A Weather Prophet, He Displayed, At Times, Wisdom Rather Beyond His 
 Years. 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa, Do Be Reasonable, Now," He Said, In The     Most Friendly Of 
 Coaxing Tones. "Suppose That Tree Should Be Struck; You'd Be Killed. I 
 Would Too." 
   
   
   
 "That Wouldn't Make Very Much Difference," She Replied, Naughtily. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 38 
   
   
 But He Ignored This Interruption. "I Might Enjoy Doing This Some Other 
 Time, Arethusa, When The     Lightning And Thunder Aren't So Bad. This Is 
 The Very Worst Electrical Storm We've Had This Whole Summer. And You 
 Know That I Never Do Mind Being Out In The     Rain, Don't You? I've Always 
 Been Quite Wilting To Play Alpheus For You, Whenever You Wanted." 
 (Timothy Had Studied Mythology When He Was In Freeport At College.) 
 "But Think," He Added, Much More Seriously, "Think Of     Poor Miss 'Titia. 
 You Can Be Sure She's Just Having One Fit Right After The     Other With 
 You Out Here. I Call It Dirt Mean To Make Her Suffer So. And It's Not A 
 Bit Like You To Be Mean, Arethusa, Not A Bit." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Yielded. 
   
   
   
 The Picture Timothy Presented Of     Miss Letitia's Distress Was All The 
 More Sad To Contemplate Because She Knew It, Only Too Well, To Be True. 
 She Was Getting A Trifle Tired Of     It, Besides: It Was Only Obstinacy 
 That Had Kept Her Out So Long. Yet It Would Never Do To Have Him Find 
 That Out. She Conveyed The     Intelligence To Him That Nothing In The     Wide 
 World But The     Thought Of     Miss Letitia And Miss Letitia's Unhappiness 
 Would Ever Have Dragged Her Away From The     Tree, Lest He Become Unduly 
 Convinced Of     The     Idea That Any Of     His Other, And More Immediately 
 Personal, Arguments Had Influenced. 
   
   
   
 "And," She Added, "I Wanted To Get Real Wet, For Just Once. But I 
 Couldn't Get Any Wetter If I Stayed. My Shoes Slosh Now." 
   
   
   
 He Agreed With Her Perfectly. "Without A Doubt They Do; I Can Hear 'Em. 
 You Were Certainly Well Named Arethusa, You Crazy Thing!" He Tucked Her 
 Arm In His With An Authoritative Air, "Let's Run For It." 
   
   
   
 Nothing Suited Arethusa Better. 
   
   
   
 They Had A Glorious Race Through The     Wet Orchard And Brought Up With A 
 Grand Flourish On The     Back Porch, Where Mandy Greeted Their Finale With 
 Many Horrified Exclamations And Much Gesturing. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 39 
   
 "Ef Mis' 'Liza Wuz To See You! Ef Mis' 'Liza Wuz Jes' To See You All 
 Now!" 
   
   
   
 "Well, She Mustn't," Cautioned Timothy. "Stop Making So Much Noise, 
 Mandy, And Smuggle Arethusa In." 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Really Care If She Does See Me," Arethusa Herself Announced 
 Most Recklessly. "I've Had So Much Fun! Listen...." She Slapped Her Wet 
 Dress Against Her, "Doesn't That Make A Funny Sound? And, Oh, Timothy, 
 See What A Puddle I've Made Already, Just Running Off Me!! Look!" 
   
   
   
 "Mis' Titia's Ben Havin' One Hystik After Anothah, Arethusie, She Were 
 So Sure You Wuz Struck W'en We Heered That Big Tree Go Down In Mis' 
 'Senath's Woods. An' Mis' 'Liza's...." 
   
   
   
 "Well, Arethusa! I Must Say That This Is A Performance!" 
   
   
   
 And The     Three On The     Back Porch Turned To See Miss Eliza Regarding Them 
 Grimly From The     Kitchen Doorway. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Gallantly Removed His Jimmy Hat And Bowed, But Miss Eliza's 
 Expression Did Not Soften In The     Least. 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Think She's Hurt At All, Miss 'Liza," He Said, With The     Worthy 
 Intent To Soothe, "I Found Her In Miss 'Senath's Woods And Brought Her 
 In." 
   
   
   
 "I Can See She Isn't," Replied Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Glared At Timothy For His Statement Of     The     Situation. 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa," Continued Miss Eliza, "I Must Say That I Think This Is 
 Going A Little Bit Too Far. You Have Almost Made Your Aunt 'Titia Ill 
   
 By Running Off In This Storm. You Know Perfectly Well Just How They 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 40 
 Affect Her. And I Brought You Into The     House--Once. You Were Certainly 
 Expected To Stay. Sometimes You Seem To Me To Be Absolutely Lacking In 
 Any Finer Sensibilities; Especially In Consideration For Others. And 
 You Behave Just Like A Child!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Miss 'Liza," Interposed Timothy, "Please Don't Jack Arethusa Up So 
 Hard! I Know She Didn't Mean To Make Miss 'Titia Ill. She Loves A Storm 
 Herself, So Much, That She Doesn't Always Remember That Other People 
 Are Afraid Of     Them. But She Did Come In Just As Soon As She Remembered 
 It. She...." 
   
   
   
 "You Needn't Say All That Stuff, Timothy Jarvis," Interrupted Arethusa, 
 Angrily, "I Reckon I Can Tell Aunt 'Liza Anything I Want, Without You 
 Butting In. I'm Sorry About Aunt 'Titia, Aunt 'Liza, I Truly Am, And 
 I'll Go Right Straight And Tell Her So; But...." 
   
   
   
 "That Will Do, Arethusa," Interrupted Miss Eliza, In Her Turn. "Don't 
 Add Rudeness To Timothy To The     Rest Of     Your Behaviour. And You've Been 
 Told A Number Of     Times Not To Use That Vulgar Expression. Timothy Is 
 Not A Goat. But There Is Not The     Slightest Use In My Standing Here 
 Arguing With You Over Your Disobedience While You And Timothy Are 
 Catching Your Death Of     Cold. You'd Better Take Off Those Wet Shoes And 
 Go Right Up To Your Room And Change The     Rest Of     Your Things--Immediately. 
 Mandy Will Make You A Hot Lemonade. And I Want It Drunk This Time. We 
 Won't Take Any Risks From This Escapade." (Arethusa Hated Hot Lemonade.) 
 "And, Timothy, You Will Stay To Supper, Of     Course. We Are A Household 
 Of Women, And I Have Nothing To Offer You As Dry Clothes Except Those 
 Old Garments Of     Mr. Worthington's. But At Least They Are Warm And Dry, 
 And Will Be Better Than What You Have On. You Just Go On Up To The 
 West Bed-Room And I'll Send Them To You There." 
   
   
   
 "Timothy _Shan't_ Wear Father's Clothes!" 
   
   
   
 "_Arethusa!_" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Toed The     Mark, Although With A Very Bad Grace. 
   
   
   
   
 "It Wasn't Me That Invited You To Supper, Timothy Jarvis," She 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 41 
 Announced, As A Small Measure Of     Retaliation, "Remember That, Please! 
 And I Don't Want You, Either!" 
   
   
   
 "I'm Sorry," Replied Timothy Calmly, And His Eyes Danced, "Because I'm 
 Going To Stay. Miss 'Liza Asked Me. Mandy's Going To Have Hot 
 Biscuit,--I See 'Em; And Miss 'Liza'll Get Me Out Some Of     Her 
 Strawberry Preserves, I Know." 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Smiled Indulgently At This Request, And Reached Down Into 
 Her Leather Pocket For The     Key To The     Preserve Closet. 
   
   
   
 "You Better Make Lots Of     Biscuit, Mandy," Continued Timothy; "I'm As 
 Hungry As A Bear." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Sniffed Disdainfully And, With Her Red Head High In The     Air, 
 Started Off Down The     Passage In The     Direction Of     The     Sitting-Room. 
   
   
   
 "Where Are You Going?" Called Miss Eliza After Her. 
   
   
   
 "To Tell Aunt 'Titia I'm Sorry I Scared Her." 
   
   
   
 "Did You Hear Me Tell You To Take Off Your Shoes And Go Straight To 
 Your Room?" Miss Eliza's Tone Was Awful. 
   
   
   
 Although Arethusa Towered A Good Head And Shoulders Over Miss Eliza, 
 She Obeyed As Meekly As The     Tiniest Child. She Returned To The     Kitchen 
 To Remove Her Shoes And Then Went Down The     Side Passage To The     Boxed-In 
 Steps, Miss Eliza Surveying Her Sternly All The     While. 
   
   
   
 As Arethusa Passed Timothy On Her Way Out Of     The     Kitchen, She Leaned 
 Close To Him And Whispered, "I'll Fix You For All This, Timothy Jarvis! 
 You Just Wait And See If I Don't!" 
   
   
   
   
 It Was Hardly Fair To Blame Timothy For Any Of     It, But If She Had 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 4 Pg 42 
 Threatened To "Fix" Miss Eliza Total Annihilation Would Have Followed 
 Immediately. Yet Overcharged Feelings Must Be Somehow Relieved. 
   
   
   
 With The     Disappearance Of     Her Niece, Miss Eliza Took Occasion To 
 Apologize To The     Guest Of     The     Evening For Any And All Of     Her Behaviour, 
 Which Might Have Appeared Unseemly. This Proceeding So Delighted 
 Timothy He Could Hardly Repress A Whoop; For He Well Knew That Nothing 
 Would Make Arethusa So Furious As To Know Her Aunt Had Apologized (To 
 Him) For Anything She Had Done. 
   
   
   
 One Of     The     Chief Joys Of     Timothy's Existence Was Teasing Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 What Fun To Tell Her Of     This! 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 5 Pg 43 
   
 Miss Eliza Presided With Gentle Dignity At The     Head Of     The     Supper 
 Table. She Seemed To Shed Some Of     Her Militant Spirit When Seated 
 Before The     White Expanse Of     Table-Cloth On Her Own Board. Hospitality 
 Was Her Passion; Nothing So Thoroughly Delighted Her As A "Guest In The 
 Home." 
   
   
   
 Mandy Had Made Floating Custard For Dessert This Evening, And When Miss 
 Eliza Helped It, She Helped It With A Deprecatory Air, As Though 
 Despite Its Superlative Value As A Custard Which She Very Well Knew, It 
 Really Was Not Fit To Be Offered To A Guest: It Might Do For Just The 
 Family. Timothy Ate As Many As Three Meals Every Week Of     His Life In 
 This Very Dining-Room, But Not Being A Member Of     The     Immediate Home 
 Circle, He Came Quite Under The     Head Of     Guests. 
   
   
   
 At The     Other End Of     The     Table Miss Letitia Carved The     Beautifully Pink 
   
 Old Ham Into Paper Thin Slices. She Was Still Visibly Nervous And Her 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 5 Pg 44 
 Hands Trembled A Bit, Every Now And Then (That Storm Had Been A 
 Terrible Experience); But Such Was Habit With Miss Letitia That Not A 
 Single Slice Was A Bit Ragged Or A Sliver Too Thick. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had Paid Miss Letitia A Visit Just Before Supper To Make Her 
 Peace, And Miss Letitia Had Forgiven Her, As She Always Did. And Even 
 Had She Suffered Far More On The     Girl's Account Than She Actually Had, 
 Who Could Have Resisted Such Pleading To Be Forgiven? Contrition Had 
 Been So Plainly Visible In Those Grey-Green Eyes, And Arethusa Had 
 Given So Many Kisses--Soft And Fleeting As Thistledown They Were, Yet 
 Very Satisfactory To Miss Letitia As Kisses--That It Was Quite 
 Impossible For Miss Letitia Not To Believe In The     Perfect Genuineness 
 Of Arethusa's Apology. 
   
   
   
 She Had Promised Fervently, "Never, So Long As I Live, To Run Out In A 
 Storm--Ever Again. Hope I May Die Right In My Tracks If I Do!" 
   
   
   
 While Miss Letitia Had Deprecated The     Latter Part Of     That Promise As 
 Savoring Slightly Of     Sacrilege, She Had Accepted The     First Part In Good 
 Faith; And Experience Should Have Taught Her Otherwise. 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Had One Whole Side Of     The     Table To Herself, Her Couch Took 
 Up So Much Room. It Was Blish's Duty, Generally, To Wheel The     Couch 
 Across The     Hall From The     Sitting-Room, But Whenever Timothy Stayed To 
 Meals, He Took This Office Upon Himself. And He Took It With A 
 Gallantry And Old-Fashioned Deference That Brought A Faint Pink Flush 
 To Miss Asenath's Soft Old Cheek. Timothy Was A Great Favorite Of     Hers. 
   
   
   
 He And Arethusa Sat Together On The     Other Side; But Arethusa Ignored 
 Him Just As Much As Possible. Timothy Took Special Delight In Moving 
 Such Dishes Of     Eatables As Were Nearest Him Too Far Away From His 
 Neighbor For Her To Reach Herself, So That She Would Be Forced To Ask 
 Him For Them. She Might Have Eaten Her Supper, And Managed Very Well, 
 Without Any Of     This Food That Timothy Had Commandeered, Had Not One Of 
 Those Dishes Been The     Plate Of     Biscuit, An Absolute Necessity. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza's Sharp Eyes Would Certainly Have Noticed, Had Her Niece 
 Helped Herself To Too Many At A Time, So Poor Arethusa Was Most 
   
 Unpleasantly Situated. And Every Request That She Was Forced To Make 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 5 Pg 45 
 For That Plate Of     Bread, For Timothy Pretended Every Now And Then Not 
 To Hear The     First Time She Asked, Added To Her Fury With Him. 
   
   
   
 But This Continued Warfare Did Not Seem To Affect Timothy's Appetite In 
 The Slightest. He Consumed A Most Alarming Quantity Of     Biscuits And 
 Those Strawberry Preserves Miss Eliza Had Produced In His Honor. 
   
   
   
 When He Was Receiving His Third Helping Of     Ham, Arethusa Leaned Over 
 Close And Whispered In His Ear, But Very, Very Softly, So That Miss 
 Eliza Would Not Hear Her, "_Pig_!" 
   
   
   
 She Also Lost No Single Opportunity Of     Conveying To Him, Though Much 
 More By Expression Than By Actual Word Of     Mouth, How Exceedingly 
 Ridiculous She Thought He Looked In His Borrowed Clothing. It Was Far 
 Too Small For Him In Every Possible Way. Ross Worthington Was A Large 
 Man, But Timothy Was Even Larger. He Topped Arethusa, Who Was Quite 
 Tall For A Girl, By Considerably More Than Half A Head, And He Was 
 Built All Over In Proportion. 
   
   
   
 When He Was Not Covertly Teasing His Next-Door Neighbor, Timothy 
 Carried On A Very Polite Conversation With Miss Eliza On Sundry Country 
 Matters. He Complimented The     Stand Of     Corn In The     Redfield Lot Near 
 That "V" Lot Of     His Own, And Told Her That It Did Not Seem To Show The 
 Need Of     Rain So Badly As Did His Corn; And Miss Eliza Bridled At The 
 Compliment. She Was Proud Of     Her Ability As A Farmer, And That The 
 "Redfield Farm" Could Hold Its Own Among The     Other Farms In The     County, 
 Even After All The     Male Members Of     The     Family Had Been Long Gone To 
 Their Reward, Was Due Solely To Miss Eliza's Indefatigable Energy. She 
 Deserved The     Compliment; And Any Others Of     Like Tenor That Timothy 
 Might Have Given. 
   
   
   
 But She Was Modestly Deprecatory, Though Her Old Eyes Did Shine, And 
 Her Appreciation Was Written All Over Her. That Had Always Been A Wet 
 Piece Of     Ground, Said Miss Eliza; She Hadn't Been So Sure Corn Would Do 
 At All Well There. She Was A Bit Surprised Herself. 
   
   
   
 It Was Rather Sad, Remarked Timothy, After A Bit, That This Rain 
 Couldn't Have Come Just Two Or Three Weeks Sooner. He Was Afraid That 
 Some Of     Their Farmer Friends Had Lost Some Money By The     Drought. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 5 Pg 46 
   
   
 Miss Eliza Agreed That It Was Sad. She Specified One Or Two Persons 
 Whose Crops Had Not Seemed To Her To Be Quite Up To The     Mark. And There 
 Was A Field Or Two Of     Her Own Which, If Timothy Were To See, He Would 
 Not Compliment Quite So Highly; But This Rain Would Work Wonders In A 
 Great Many Places. It Hadn't Come Altogether Too Late. 
   
   
   
 In A Slight Lull Which Followed Timothy's Third Helping To Ham, Miss 
 Letitia Asked Arethusa If She Had Brought Her Father's Letter Back To 
 The House With Her. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Eyes Shone Immediately. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," She Replied. Then She Remembered, "No, I Didn't Either. I Left 
 It Down In The     Hollow Tree." 
   
   
   
 "It Happened To Be _My_ Letter," Said Miss Eliza, Drily. 
   
   
   
 "I Know, But It Won't Be Hurt. I Can Get It Tomorrow. It'll Keep 
 Perfectly Safe And Dry. And, Oh Aunt 'Liza, Please Let Me Go Now! He 
 Said Just As Soon As I Could Get Ready. Please Don't Make Me Wait 'Til 
 Fall! Please!" 
   
   
   
 "Go Where?" Enquired Timothy. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Pretended That She Had Not Heard Him. Miss Eliza, However, 
 Answered. 
   
   
   
 "Ross Worthington Has Married Again, Timothy, And Come Back To America. 
 He Wants Arethusa To Come Make Him A Visit." 
   
   
   
 Timothy Dropped The     Biscuit He Was Holding Halfway To His Mouth. 
   
   
   
 "Since I Was A Yellow Pup!" He Ejaculated Feelingly. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 5 Pg 47 
   
 "You Still Are One," Arethusa Remarked Sweetly For Him Alone; But 
 Timothy Magnanimously Allowed This Interpolation To Pass Without 
 Retaliation. 
   
   
   
 "He Married An American, Thank Heaven," Continued Miss Eliza, "Married 
 Her Over There Somewhere. In Italy, I Think He Said. She Seems To Be 
 Well-Off. It Was She Sent The     Money To Arethusa For The     Visit." 
   
   
   
 Timothy Picked Up His Biscuit, In His Agitation He Rebuttered It 
 Extravagantly On Top Of     Butter Already There, And Resumed Operations. 
   
   
   
 "Well," He Said, Between Mouthfuls, "This Is Certainly Some Bunch Of 
 News To Hand A Fellow All Of     A Sudden. Arethusa's Father Married! 
 That's Enough By Itself For A Starter!" For To The     Twenty-Two Year Old 
 Mind Of     Timothy, Ross Worthington Seemed Far Too Aged For Anything Like 
 Matrimony. "But Wanting Arethusa To Come Visit Him! You Going To Let 
 Her Go, Miss Liza?" 
   
   
   
 "Of Course She Is!" Burst From Arethusa, Indignantly. 
   
   
   
 "Sister 'Titia And I And Sister 'Senath," Replied Miss Eliza To 
 Timothy's Question, As Calmly As If Arethusa Had Not Opened Her Mouth, 
 "Have Decided To Let Her Go In The     Fall. Though I Must Say I'm Not Sure 
 It's Wise To Let Her Go At All. I Never Did Think It Was A Very Good 
 Place For Girls, Or Boys, Either, For That Matter, The     City. Still, 
 Arethusa's Never Been And A Little Visit Might Not Do Her Any Harm. 
 After All, He's Her Father When You Get Right Down, And I Reckon He 
 Won't Let Anything Happen To His Own Flesh And Blood." 
   
   
   
 "No," Agreed Timothy, With Becoming Gravity, Although His Blue Eyes 
 Danced Merrily, "I Don't Suppose He Would. What City Is It, Miss 
 'Liza?" 
   
   
   
 "He Don't Say. It's Just Like Him. But The     Envelope Was Post-Marked 
 'Lewisburg,' So I Reckon It's Pretty Safe To Say That's Where He Is. 
 I'm Glad It's In The     State. I Wouldn't Want Arethusa Traveling Too 
 Far." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 5 Pg 48 
 Arethusa Was Irritated Beyond Her Always Slight Endurance By This 
 Little Discussion Of     Her And Her Affairs, Carried On So Much As If She 
 Were Not Present. She Plunged Suddenly Into The     Conversation Without 
 Any Invitation. 
   
   
   
 "I'm Not Going Just To Visit," She Announced, Flatly, "I'm Going To 
 Live. Father Didn't Say Just 'Visit.'" 
   
   
   
 This Created All The     Stir She Could Have Wished; A Chorus Of     Outcry 
 From Miss Eliza And Miss Letitia And Timothy. Only Miss Asenath Smiled. 
 Arethusa Pushed Her Chair Back From The     Table And Surveyed Them All 
 Defiantly. 
   
   
   
 "I Reckon I Can Go Live With My Own Father!" 
   
   
   
 "Of Course Not," Snapped Miss Eliza; "You _Live_ Here!" 
   
   
   
 "Of Course You Do," Affirmed Timothy; "It's Perfectly Foolish To Talk 
 Of Living Any Place Else But Here, Arethusa. And Even If You Do Go Make 
 Your Father A Visit, You Won't Stay Very Long. I Know. You See, I've 
 Been There And I Know What It's Like, And I Know You, Too, Arethusa; So 
 I Know Very Well You Won't Want To Stay!" 
   
   
   
 With This Calm Assurance And Assumption Of     Superiority On Timothy's 
 Part, Arethusa's Rage At Him Boiled Over, Openly, Despite Miss Eliza's 
 Presence. 
   
   
   
 "Nobody Asked Your Opinion, Timothy Jarvis, That I Heard! And You Know 
 Absolutely Nothing Whatever About What I'm Going To Do!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Yes, But I Do," He Replied, Still Maddeningly Superior, "I 
 Know...." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Fairly Quivered In Her Fury. 
   
   
   
   
 "You Do _Not_," She Interrupted, In Flat Contradiction. "I'm Going 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 5 Pg 49 
 There To _Live_. And If You Want To Know Just Why, Timothy Jarvis, 
 It's Because Then I Shan't Ever Have To Lay Eyes On You Again!" 
   
   
   
 "_Arethusa_!" From Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 Whereat Arethusa, Retaining Some Small Remnants Of     The     Instinct For 
 Self-Preservation, Subsided, Though Her Eyes Still Blazed With Honest 
 Anger Directed At Timothy. And When Miss Eliza's Attention Was 
 Distracted Elsewhere For A Brief Moment, She Seized The     Occasion To 
 Whisper To Him; "Don't You Dare Stay A Minute After Supper, Timothy; 
 Don't You Dare! I'll Go Right Straight To Bed If You Do!" 
   
   
   
 "Which Wouldn't Harm Me At All, If You Did," He Whispered Pleasantly In 
 Reply, "Just Yourself. And Miss 'Liza Wouldn't Let You Do It Anyway, 
 Even If I Stayed And You Wanted To. She'd Say It Was Rude, And You Know 
 It. But Don't Worry; Keep Your Shirt On," He Added, Most Inelegantly, 
 "I've Got Something Else To Do, So I'm Going Right On Home." Then, Very 
 Meanly, For It Was Taking A Rather Unfair Advantage, As Miss Eliza's 
 Gimlet Eyes Were Just Then Boring Right Through Arethusa To Prevent Any 
 Outburst Of     Suitable Venom From Her, "And, Take It From Me, Arethusa, 
 You Won't Stay Long In Lewisburg." 
   
   
   
 He Escaped To Miss Asenath's Side To Wheel The     Couch Back Into The 
 Sitting-Room, As Miss Eliza Had Risen Just As He Finished That Last 
 Speech And Signified That Supper Was Over. Arethusa Remained Seated For 
 A Moment, Speechless With Wrath, And With That Helpless, Cheated 
 Feeling She Always Experienced When The     Last Word Was Timothy's. 
   
   
   
 The Rain Had Stopped, So The     Guest Departed With Immediacy For Home, 
 Wearing His Borrowed Clothing And Carrying His Own Under His Arm, Much 
 To Arethusa's Further Ire. She Considered That He Might Just As Well 
 Have Changed Before He Left, For His Own Things Had Got Perfectly Dry 
 By The     Roaring Kitchen Stove. 
   
   
   
 Then Came The     Lecture For Her Niece Which Had Been Steadily Gathering 
 Momentum With Miss Eliza For Some Little Time. But Arethusa Sat On The 
 End Of     Miss Asenath's Couch, To Hold Her Hand, And Did Not Mind It 
 Quite So Much. Besides, In The     Depths Of     Her Conscience, She Was 
 Guiltily Aware Of     Rather Deserving It. 
   
   
   
   
 After The     Atmosphere Had Cleared, Conversation Once More Veered Around 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 5 Pg 50 
 To The     Letter, And The     Aunts Sat In Solemn Consultation Over It And The 
 Proposed Visit And Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 51 
   
 One Of     The     Most Agitating Parts Of     This Whole Affair Was The     Actual 
 Traveling That Must Be Done By Arethusa In Order To Reach Her Father. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza's First Idea Was To Find Out If Anyone In The     County Would 
 Be Making A Trip To The     City This Fall And To Place Her Niece Under 
 That Person's Protection; Provided That Person Was Of     The 
 Irreproachable Character She Deemed Requisite Before Being Entrusted 
 With Such A Charge. 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Then Ventured To Mention, Most Timidly, The     State Fair, 
 Which Was Held In Lewisburg Every September. Some One Of     The     County's 
 Agricultural Population Would Most Surely Be Going There Then. 
   
   
   
 Perhaps Timothy, Answered Miss Eliza, Graciously Conceding Miss Letitia 
 A Stroke Of     Real Mentality In Her Suggestion. If He Was Planning To 
 Attend, It Would Be Just The     Thing; The     Girl Could Go With Him. She Was 
 Sorry She Had Not Broached The     Subject At Supper. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Vehemently Opposed This Idea. She Would Not Go A Single 
 Step With Timothy. And Why Could She Not Go Alone, Anyway? She Was 
 Quite Large Enough, And She Was All Of     Eighteen This Summer. 
   
   
   
 This Very Radical Departure From The     Established Order Of     Things Raised 
 A Storm Of     Protest Immediately From Miss Letitia And Miss Eliza; Miss 
 Eliza Especially. Such Was Not To Be Considered For A Moment! An 
 Absolutely Unprotected Female Traveling Alone! And A Young Female At 
 That! 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 52 
   
   
 "No," Said Miss Eliza, Firmly. 
   
   
   
 If The     Worst Came To The     Worst, And It Could Not Possibly Be Managed 
 Any Other Way, She Would Go With Arethusa Herself, Rather Than Have Her 
 Make That Four Hour Trip Totally Unattended; At Which Presented 
 Alternative Arethusa's Mobile Face Clouded Over Most Completely. This 
 Was A Much Worse Prospect Than Timothy. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza And Miss Letitia Suggested And Counter-Suggested, And Then 
 Rejected Everything. No One Idea Seemed Altogether To Suit. 
   
   
   
 Now All This Commotion Over The     Trip And Arethusa's Making It Alone Was 
 Really Not So Uncalled-For When One Realized All The     Circumstances. 
   
   
   
 She Had Never Been On A Railroad Train; Never Having Spent Longer Than 
 A Portion Of     A Day Away From The     Farm In All Of     Her Eighteen Years, Nor 
 Slept, Even For One Night, Under Any Other Roof. 
   
   
   
 The Family Did Their Shopping In "Blue Spring," Five Miles Away Down 
 The Pike, Only By Courtesy A Town. It Was A "Town" Of     Six Hundred 
 Inhabitants, Including Babes In Arms And Counting Very Carefully. On 
 Two Most Memorable Occasions Arethusa Had Visited The     County-Seat, 
 Twelve Miles Farther On, On The     Same Pike (For Blue Spring Had 
 Preempted A Portion Of     The     State Road As Its Main Street); And These 
 Were Occasions Truly Never To Be Forgotten. For There Ran The     Railroad, 
 Through The     Heart Of     The     Town; There Were Electric Lights And Paved 
 Streets; The     Little Place In Its Aping Of     A City Gave Her Glimpses Of     A 
 World Of     Fascinating Bustle And Confusion. To Arethusa, The     County-Seat 
 Seemed Bewilderingly Active And Alive. 
   
   
   
 But Miss Eliza Was Not Much Of     A Believer In Going To Town, And She 
 Considered It A Waste Of     Time To Drive About Merely To Be Driving. The 
 Old-Fashioned Surrey, With Its Dark Green Felt Upholstery, And Its 
   
 Flapping Curtains, Was Rarely Taken Out Of     The     Barn Without A Distinct 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 53 
 Objective Point In View. Church And Prayer-Meeting At The     Tiny Frame 
 House Of     Worship On The     Pike Were The     Principal Dissipations Of     This 
 "Household Of     Women." Though Arethusa Had Often Rebelled Inwardly At 
 These Arbitrary Decisions Which So Limited Her Excursions Abroad, 
 Outward Rebellion Would Have Done Her No Good; Miss Eliza Was Firm And 
 Ruled Her Little Kingdom With A Rod Of     Iron. 
   
   
   
 Under Cover Of     The     Discussion Between Miss Eliza And Miss Letitia, Miss 
 Asenath Was Having A Few Ideas Of     Her Own On Other Subjects. 
   
   
   
 "Why," She Asked Arethusa, In Her Soft Voice, "Why Do You Dislike 
 Timothy So Much, Dear?" 
   
   
   
 "Dislike Timothy, Aunt 'Senath!" Arethusa's Eyes Opened Wide In 
 Surprise, "Why, I Don't, At All! I Like Him Just Lots!" 
   
   
   
 "Then Why," Continued Miss Asenath, Smiling Just A Little, "Do You 
 Quarrel With Him So?" 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Quarrel With Him, Aunt 'Senath, Dear.... Not.... Not Much...." 
 Added For The     Sake Of     Honesty, After Thought. 
   
   
   
 "I Thought You All Had Rather A Bad Time At Supper." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, That," Arethusa Tossed Her Head, "That Was All Timothy's Fault. 
 He's.... He's Just Awful Sometimes. He Makes Me So Mad I Could 
 Just...." Both Hands Clenched, "And He Had On Father's Clothes!" 
   
   
   
 "I See. But He's Worn Them Before, Dear." 
   
   
   
 "I Know He Has, Aunt 'Senath, And Every Time He Does, It Makes Me Just 
 As Mad. He.... He Doesn't Belong In Father's Clothes! They Don't Suit 
 Him At All!" 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Was Silent. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 54 
   
   
 'Way Deep Down In Her Heart Was A Wish; But It Was A Wish She Had 
 Never Expressed To Anyone Because She Was Wise, And She Knew That 
 Wishes Expressed Were Often Not Granted. 
   
   
   
 Timothy And Arethusa Were Nearer And Dearer To Her Than Any Two People 
 In The     World. Timothy Was His Grandfather Over Again, Name And All, She 
 Sometimes Thought. 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Had Not Resented It When That First Timothy Jarvis Had 
 Married. It Had Hurt Her A Little, Naturally, When She Had First Heard 
 Of It; But Her Loving Heart Had Very Soon Understood. An Active Man 
 Could Not Be Expected To View Those Months Before That Terrible Fall As 
 Did She, Pinned Always To The     One Spot. There Were Long Hours Of     Both 
 Day And Night In Which She Had Naught To Do But To Lie Still And 
 Remember The     Joy Of     Those Months. And Nothing Could Ever Take That Away 
 From Her, She Told Herself: It Was Hers For Always, And It Was A Great 
 Deal. So She Had Clung To Her Miniature And Her Memories And Sent For 
 Him To Wish Him Happiness; And She Had Wished It With Her Whole Soul 
 From The     Bottom Of     Her Heart. She Had Loved His Sons And Daughters When 
 They Came, But Even More Than They, She Loved This Grandson And 
 Namesake, Timothy. 
   
   
   
 And To See Timothy And Arethusa Pick Up The     Threads Of     Her Love-Story 
 Where She Had Laid Them Down Would Almost Have Compensated Miss Asenath 
 For Living All These Years With Only Memories. 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Laid Her Hand On The     Locket At Her Throat, And Fell To 
 Dreaming. 
   
   
   
 "Timothy," Said Arethusa, Half To Herself, "Timothy And I Get Along 
 Just Beautifully Sometimes ... When He Behaves. But He Knows All The 
 Things I Hate, And I Think He Does Them Just For Spite To See Me Get 
 Mad. He Says He Likes To See Me Get Mad, And I ... Just Like A Goose, 
 Go Right Straight Ahead And Get Mad For Him. But I'll Fix Timothy 
 Jarvis Yet For To-Night! Just Let Him Wait! If He Thinks I'm Going To 
 Let Him Ride All Over Me Like That, He's Mightily Mistaken! Timothy 
 Jarvis!!" With A Most Scornful Emphasis, Her Voice Rising. 
   
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Was Conscious, Although Her Thoughts Were So Very Far 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 55 
 Away, Of     The     Vindictiveness Of     This Ending, And Smiled; Miss Eliza, 
 Catching Timothy's Name Through The     Sound Of     Her Own Conversation, 
 Asked Sharply:-- 
   
   
   
 "What Did You Say About Timothy, Arethusa?" 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Had A Wish Also, But Her Wish Was Quite Often Expressed; She 
 Had Other Ideas Than Miss Asenath. She Kept Arethusa Fully Cognizant Of 
 What Her Heart Most Earnestly Desired. 
   
   
   
 "Nothing Very Much, Aunt 'Liza." 
   
   
   
 "Yes, You Did. I Heard You. Arethusa," Miss Eliza Straightened Her 
 Glasses And Attacked Directly, "The Way You Treated Timothy At The 
 Supper-Table ... All Through The     Meal.... It's Beyond My Comprehension 
 How You Can! But He Was A Gentleman Through The     Whole Thing, I Must 
 Say, A Perfect Gentleman. Which Ought To Make You More Than Ever 
 Ashamed Of     Yourself. Sometimes I'm Forced To Think That All The 
 Training Your Aunt 'Titia And I And Your Aunt 'Senath Have Given You 
 Has Gone For Naught. To Treat A Guest In Your Own Home The     Way You Did 
 Timothy! I Was Scandalised!! Simply Scandalized! But I Must Say That 
 Timothy Behaved Like A Gentleman." 
   
   
   
 It Was What Timothy Would Have Termed "Dirt Mean" Of     Miss Eliza To Add 
 This Extra Chapter To The     Thorough Scolding For The     Afternoon Which She 
 Had Given Arethusa Such A Short While Before. But Timothy Was Miss 
 Eliza's Most Vulnerable Spot; One Of     Her Few Weaknesses. 
   
   
   
 "He Always Does," Muttered Arethusa, "According To You. But You Don't 
 Hear Anything He Says, He's Too Smart!" 
   
   
   
 "What's That?" Miss Eliza Looked Quite Ready For Battle. 
   
   
   
 "Nothing, Aunt 'Liza." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 56 
   
 "There Was Something. You Said Something About Timothy, Arethusa, For I 
 Heard You ... Again. That Habit Of     Yours Of     Answering 'Nothing,' When I 
 Ask You To Repeat What You Have Said, Is Decidedly Disrespectful." 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Reached Around For A Copy Of     The     _Christian Observer_ Which 
 Was Lying On The     Sitting Room Table (The Most Secular Reading She Ever 
 Did Were The     Stories And Articles In Its Pages) And Settled Her Shiny 
 Glasses Firmly On The     Bridge Of     Her Nose. Then She Drew The     Lamp 
 Nearer And Turned It Up Just A Trifle, Preparing To Enjoy A Long 
 Discussion Of     The     Burning Of     Servetus Which She Had Been Saving For 
 Several Weeks To Read When She Would Have Time To Do So Uninterrupted. 
 It Was Signed "Calvinist," And Miss Eliza Had The     Feeling That She Was 
 Going To Agree With Every Word Of     It. 
   
   
   
 Then As A Parting Shot, As She Rattled The     Pages Open: 
   
   
   
 "You Must Conduct Yourself More Like A Lady With Timothy, Arethusa, Or 
 I'm Very Much Afraid He Won't Want To Marry You." 
   
   
   
 "Won't Want To Marry Me!" Arethusa Sprang Hotly From Her Seat On The 
 Couch. "It's Me That Don't Want To Marry Timothy!" 
   
   
   
 "You Do Not Know What You Are Saying," Very Coldly And Decidedly From 
 Miss Eliza. "Of Course You Want To. It Is Fitting In Every Way, Most 
 Fitting. He Is The     Right Age, The     Families Have Known Each Other 
 Always, And The     Lands Adjoin." 
   
   
   
 This With Miss Eliza Was The     Clinching Argument. The     Jarvis Farm Was On 
 Both Sides Of     The     Pike, But On One Side It Enclosed The     Redfield Farm 
 North And West And South, And Went Nearly To Town. The     "V" Lot, 
 Especially, Seemed To Miss Eliza To Be In A Position That Made 
 Annexation Desirable. The     Marriage Of     Timothy And Arethusa Would Make 
 One Farm Of     The     Two, And Straighten All Those Irregular Boundaries. 
   
 When So Made, It Would Be By Far The     Largest Individual Piece Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 57 
 Property In The     County. For To Arethusa, As The     Sole Descendant Of     The 
 Redfields, Would Go Some Day All The     Land Of     Their Owning, And To 
 Timothy Had Already Been Left The     Home Farm Of     His Grandfather, Because 
 Of His Name. 
   
   
   
 "I Shall Never Marry Timothy," Said Arethusa, "Never! If The     Land Was 
 Plaited In And Out, I Never Would!" 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Put The     _Christian Observer_ Down In Her Lap; Her Glasses 
 Slipped To The     End Of     Her Nose. 
   
   
   
 "Why?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Sister, Don't!" 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Gazed Distressfully From Miss Eliza To Arethusa, And Then 
 Back To Miss Eliza Again. Her Round, Good-Natured Little Face Was All 
 Drawn Up And Distorted With Worry, Just As It Always Was When War 
 Threatened, Even Remotely, Between Miss Eliza And Arethusa. And These 
 Bouts Concerning The     Girl's Marriage To Timothy Occurred So Often 
 Without Any Advantage To Either Side. 
   
   
   
 "Because I Shan't." 
   
   
   
 "That's No Reason. You Must Have Some Sort Of     A Reason. You Can Have No 
 Really Valid Objection To Timothy, Arethusa. He Is Quite Handsome, And 
 Very Likeable. _I_ Am Devoted To Him, Myself." 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Felt Quite Like Answering For Arethusa That This Last 
 Statement Was Most Irrelevant, But She Refrained. There Was Really No 
 Use In Adding The     Slightest Fuel To Flames Already Sufficiently High. 
   
   
   
 "You Speak Of     The     Land Being Plaited In And Out," Continued Miss Eliza, 
 Looking Sternly Over Her Glasses. "That Was A Most Foolish Remark. Such 
   
 A Thing Could Never Be, And You Know It. I Do Not Want You To Marry 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 58 
 Timothy For His Land, Of     Course. I Merely Mention Its Situation As Next 
 To What Will Some Day Be Your Own As Making The     Alliance Just That Much 
 More Desirable. For Heaven Knows What Will Happen To The     Farm When You 
 Do Get It, If You Haven't Some Sensible Man To Take Care Of     It For You! 
 But There Are Other Things About Timothy That Would Make Him A Husband 
 Any Girl Could Be Proud Of. There Are Plenty Of     Them In This Very 
 County Would Jump At The     Chance You've Had." 
   
   
   
 "They're Very Welcome To Him!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Thought It Best Not To Say This Too Loud, But Unfortunately 
 Miss Eliza Heard. 
   
   
   
 "I'm Ashamed Of     You, Arethusa, If You're Not Ashamed Of     Yourself. It's 
 Throwing Away The     Opportunity Of     A Life-Time. I Wish I Was Young, And 
 In Your Shoes. Have You Refused Him Lately?" 
   
   
   
 No Answer From Arethusa. She Picked At The     Soft Blue Fleece Of     Miss 
 Asenath's Comfort Until She Had Collected Quite A Little Pile Of     Down, 
 Which She Made Into A Ball And Put As Carefully To One Side As If She 
 Intended It For Some Future Use. Miss Asenath Watched Her 
 Sympathetically. If It Would Have Done The     Slightest Good She Would 
 Have Entered The     Breach, But When Miss Eliza Reached The     Stage Of     Her 
 Argument Of     Pointblank Questions, It Meant Pursuit To The     Bitter End. 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Was Not So Wise. She Had Made Three Attempts To Catch The 
 Loop Of     The     Same Stitch In Her Crocheting, And Failed Each Time, In Her 
 Excitement. This Was A Most Unusual Performance For Her. Her Crochet 
 Needle Poised In Mid-Air. 
   
   
   
 "Sister," She Pleaded, "Please. I Wouldn't Ask The     Child Such A 
 Personal Question, If I Were You. Please!" 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 59 
 "Please What, 'Titia?" Miss Eliza Was Distracted For The     Fraction Of     A 
 Moment To Miss Letitia. "Why Do You Sit There Saying, 'Please,' In That 
 Silly Way? I Will Ask My Niece Arethusa Anything I Wish. When I Was 
 Young We Were Supposed To Answer All The     Questions Of     Our Elders, 
 Personal Or Not, As You Call Them. Arethusa!" 
   
   
   
 When Miss Eliza Spoke Of     "My Niece Arethusa," It Meant Business. The 
 Poor Niece Turned Desperately, And Just In Time To Receive The 
 Broadside Of     A Still More Emphatic, "Arethusa!" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, I Have, Aunt 'Liza. Timothy Has Asked Me To Marry Him Every 
 Summer Since I Was Five Years Old, And In Between Times Too, And I've 
 Said, 'No,' Every Single Time. And If He Keeps On Asking Me Until I'm 
 Five Hundred Years Old, I'll Still Keep On Saying, 'No!' I Shall Never, 
 Never, Marry Timothy!" 
   
   
   
 She Left Her Refuge Of     The     Couch And Started Toward The     Door. 
   
   
   
 "I Did Not Hear You Asking Permission To Leave The     Room, Arethusa, And 
 I Do Wish You Would Not Exaggerate So Violently. It Is Simply Telling 
 Falsehoods. You Told Two In That One Sentence. You Know Perfectly Well 
 Timothy Hasn't Been Asking You To Marry Him Since He Was Nine--A Child 
 Of That Age Doesn't Think Of     Marriage. And You Also Know Just As Well 
 As I Do That You'll Not Live To Be Five Hundred, It's Absurd To Make 
 Such Statements. Come Back Here, Arethusa? Now What Is Your Real Reason 
 For Acting This Way Whenever I Speak To You Of     Timothy. I Want To Know? 
 You Know Just How Your Aunt 'Titia And I And Your Aunt 'Senath Feel 
 About It. Why Do You Persist In Going Against Our Wishes?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Gazed Wildly Around The     Room. She Seemed To Hunt On Walls And 
 Floor An Answer To The     Uncompromisingly Plain Question. Close To The 
 Door She Was Poised Like Some Wild Bird Arrested In Its Flight. One 
 Glance That Included Miss Asenath And Miss Letitia Absolved Them Both 
 From Participation In The     Scheme So Clear To Miss Eliza's Heart. 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Love Timothy," She Said, At Last, Desperately. 
   
   
   
 "Nonsense!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 60 
   
 "But I Don't!" 
   
   
   
 "Bah!... Love!" Miss Eliza Was Thoroughly Disgusted. "What Do You Want 
 To Be So Mawkish And Sentimental For? Just Like Your Father! You Like 
 Timothy, Don't You? Then That's Quite Enough." 
   
   
   
 "But I Couldn't Marry Anybody I Didn't Love." The     Persecuted One Edged 
 A Little Bit Of     A Way Nearer To The     Door. 
   
   
   
 "You Don't Know Any Thing About It," Declared Miss Eliza, Flatly. "What 
 You Call Love Is Just Pure Silly!" 
   
   
   
 "Well," Arethusa Despairingly Presented Her Final Bit Of     Reasoning, "I 
 Hate Timothy! I Think It's The     Very Ugliest Name I Ever Heard. I Could 
 Never Be Happy Married To Anybody Called 'Timothy'." 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Sniffed. The     Girl Was Getting More And More Foolish! "That 
 Certainly Means Nothing!" 
   
   
   
 "I Always Thought 'Timothy' Was A Good Name," Came Softly From Miss 
 Asenath. "I Always Liked 'Timothy' Very Much Myself." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Melted Suddenly. She Remembered. 
   
   
   
 How Could She Have Been So Cruel As To Say Such A Thing And Hurt Dear 
 Aunt 'Senath's Feelings? With A Rush She Was Across The     Room And Both 
 Strong Young Arms Had Clasped The     Frail Figure Of     The     Best-Loved Aunt 
 Closely To Her. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Aunt 'Senath, Aunt 'Senath!" She Sobbed, Wildly Penitent. "I Was A 
 Beast! I Didn't Think! Your Timothy Was A Lovely Name!" 
   
   
   
   
 It Sounded A Trifle Illogical And Inconsistent, But Miss Asenath Seemed 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 61 
 To Understand Perfectly. She Whispered Her Forgiveness To The     Weeping 
 Arethusa, Who Could Only Squeeze Her And Murmur Incoherent Avowals Of 
 Her Lack Of     Intent To Be Unkind. To Be Unkind To Aunt 'Titia Was Bad 
 Enough, But To Be Unkind To Aunt 'Senath! It Was The     Last Word In 
 Perfidy. 
   
   
   
 "It All Depends On What We Think Of     The     Person, What We May Think Of 
 The Name, Arethusa, Dear," Said Miss Asenath. "I Know You Didn't Mean 
 It." 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Wept Some More, Scalding Tears Of     Still Another Sort Of 
 Penitence: Aunt 'Senath Was Such A Darling! The     Back Of     Miss Asenath's 
 Woolly White Wrapper Was Rapidly Getting Damper And Damper. 
   
   
   
 Such Scenes As The     One Just Past Generally Ended In Just This Way, With 
 Arethusa's Tears; And The     Tears Nearly Always Cleared The     Air. Miss 
 Eliza Took Up The     _Christian Observer_ Once More, And Miss Letitia 
 Resumed Her Rosy Crocheting, After Raveling Out Almost A Whole Row 
 Which She Had Put In As Wrong As Was Possible. 
   
   
   
 "If I Were You, Arethusa," Remarked Miss Eliza Drily, After Awhile, 
 Looking Up From Her Magazine To Bend Her Sharp Glance On The     Pair On 
 The Sofa, "I Would Not Crush My Aunt Into Jelly In Order To Show Her 
 Your Sorrow At Being So Thoughtless And Unfeeling. And You Will Make 
 Her Quite Ill; Very Likely It Will Bring On One Of     Her Bad Headaches, 
 If You Carry On Much Longer That Way." 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath's Headaches Were Periods Of     Much Anxiety For All The 
 Family, With The     Great Suffering They Brought The     Gentle Invalid. 
 Arethusa Drew Away From The     Couch Abruptly. She Felt Suddenly 
 Overwhelmed With Her Inability Ever To Do The     Right Thing; A Feeling 
 Which Miss Eliza Was Quite Often Successful In Arousing In Her Niece. 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Offered Her Own Cobwebby Handkerchief To Dry Arethusa's 
 Reddened Eyes. Then She Asked Miss Eliza If She Would Not Be Good 
 Enough To Read Aloud To Them For Awhile. Miss Asenath Had Some Of     The 
 Makings Of     A Diplomat. 
   
   
   
   
 None Of     The     Roomful Of     Women Would Really Listen, For Miss Letitia 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 6 Pg 62 
 Would Be Far Too Intent On Counting Stitches, And Miss Asenath Would 
 Dream, And To Arethusa, Miss Eliza's Choice Of     Reading Matter Was 
 Anything But Interesting; But Miss Eliza Herself Would Be Made 
 Beatific. She Considered Herself Somewhat Gifted As An Elocutionist; 
 During Her Course At The     Old Freeport Seminary, Now So Long Ago, She 
 Had Had The     Most Lady-Like Of     Instruction. She Prided Herself On Her 
 Ability To Put "Expression" Into Her Reading. Thus Would Amiability Be 
 Especially Restored In Her Quarter, And Poor, Persecuted Arethusa Might 
 Have A Little While In Which To Attain Some Degree Of     Calmness Once 
 More. 
   
   
   
 So Miss Asenath Patted The     Place At Her Side Invitingly. Arethusa 
 Cuddled Up Very Close; Miss Eliza Went Back To The     Beginning Of     Her 
 Article, Having Read A Paragraph Or Two; And Peace Began To Reign With 
 The Very First Word Of     The     Reading Aloud. 
   
   
   
 When Miss Eliza's Voice, With All The     Proper Inflections, Had Followed 
 The Various Whys And Wherefores Of     The     Death Of     Servetus To A 
 Triumphant Conclusion, She Was A Different Person. All The     Sharpness 
 Aroused By Arethusa's Seeming Scorn Of     Timothy Had Disappeared. She Was 
 Even Ready To Say, When Her Niece Stooped To Kiss Her Good-Night, That 
 She Was Sorry If She Had Made Her Unhappy In Her Manner Of     Discussing 
 Timothy, And Timothy's Matrimonial Possibilities; And This Was A Very 
 Great Concession For Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 "But You Are Making A Great Big Mistake, Arethusa," She Could Not Help 
 Adding, "Every Way, In Not Taking Timothy While You Can." 
   
   
   
 Yet It Was Amiably Said, And Did Not Cause The     Slightest Excitement. 
   
   
   
 Which Goes But To Prove More Surely That Miss Asenath Seemed To Have 
 Missed Her Calling. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 63 
   
 "That Was Such A Pretty Girl That Just Went Past Us, Ross." 
   
   
   
 Elinor Worthington's Smiling Glance Followed The     Girl Far Down The 
 Deck. 
   
   
   
 For The     Creature Was So Deliciously Young, Everything About Her; Her 
 Slenderness; The     Joyful Way She Swung When She Walked; Even The     Cut Of 
 Her Clothes Spelled Youth. And She Was Undeniably Pretty, With Eyes 
 Like Bits Of     Blue Sky And Quantities Of     Silky, Corn-Colored Hair. Her 
 Mouth Was Almost Too Large, But Even That Could Not Spoil The     Essential 
 Prettiness Of     Her. She Was Laughing At Her Escort, With Glowing 
 Upturned Face, As They Swept Past Elinor And Ross In Their Quiet 
 Corner, And Her Laugh Displayed An Unusually Straight Row Of     The 
 Whitest Teeth Imaginable. 
   
   
   
 "Was She?" Ross Seemed Most Indifferent. "I Didn't Notice Her. I Never 
 Look At Other Women When You're Around, My Dear." 
   
   
   
 Elinor Laughed. "You Goose!" But 'Way Deep Down In Her Heart She 
 Couldn't Help Feeling A Bit Flattered. 
   
   
   
 It Was Just Past Tea-Time On The     Big Home-Coming Liner, And It Might 
 Seem As If All Of     Its Voyagers Were Taking An Afternoon Stroll. There 
 Was Only One More Day--To-Morrow--Left Of     The     Voyage Before Boston 
 Harbor, And Everyone Was Full Of     The     Repressed Excitement And 
 Restlessness Of     Getting Home. The     Decks Were Alive With Couples And 
 Single Folk, Passing And Repassing In Both Directions; Some Very 
 Briskly In Real Constitutionals, And Some Much More Leisurely As Though 
 Merely For The     Occupation Of     Movement. 
   
   
   
 But Ross Felt Very Lazy. He Had Buried Himself Deep In His 
 Steamer-Chair And Refused To Budge An Inch When Elinor Had Suggested 
 That They Might Join That Strolling Throng. 
   
   
   
 "I'm A Married Man Now," He Said, "And I Don't Have To Worry About 
 Exercising To Keep My Figure. Besides, I Had Much Rather Sit Here In 
 The Corner And Hold Your Hand Under The     Rug." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 64 
   
   
 So Elinor Had Humored Him About The     Sitting Still, And Arranged A Fat 
 Pillow Under His Head The     Way He Liked It Best; But She Had No 
 Intention Of     Permitting That Even So Newly Married A Couple As 
 Themselves Should Be Seen Holding Hands In Broad Daylight On A Crowded 
 Deck. Whereat, Ross Pretended To Sulk; He Tilted His Cap Far Down Over 
 His Eyes; Thrust His Hands Deep Into His Coat Pockets And Sprawled 
 Full-Length In His Chair. Though Instead Of     Conveying To The     Passers-By 
 Any Idea Of     Displeasure, With Anything Or Anybody, His Attitude Only 
 Succeeded In Picturing Lazy Comfort. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Would Hardly Have Known This Ross Worthington Reclining So 
 Easefully In The     Steamer-Chair As The     Original Of     Her Beloved 
 Photograph. She Might Have Recognized The     Eyes, Keen And Bright In 
 Their Glance As Ever, And With The     Same Debonair Smiling; But The     Wavy 
 Dark Hair Was Clipped As Closely As The     Hair Of     Any Other Male Biped 
 And Had Greyed A Trifle Just At The     Temples. He Was Less Like A 
 Novelist's Creation, And More Like The     Men Arethusa Had Known In The 
 Flesh, In His Appearance, Certainly. For This Older Ross Worthington 
 Had Discarded Italian Military Capes And Byronic Collars And Flowing 
 Ties For More Conventional Attire. He Was As Commonplace And Ordinary 
 As To Clothing, In Every Respect, As Any Other Man On That Huge 
 Steamship. 
   
   
   
 But Elinor Worthington Would Have Attracted Attention Almost Anywhere, 
 And More Than One Of     The     Pedestrians Had Given Her A Second Glance Of 
 Surreptitious Admiration As They Passed Her. She Was Rather A Wonderful 
 Looking Person. Ross's Raptures Had Not Been Altogether Exaggeration. 
 She Had A World Of     Soft White Hair, Pure White It Was, Worn Simply 
 Coiled Around A Beautifully Shaped Head; Its Elderly Color In Strange 
 And Attractive Contrast To The     Smooth Youthfulness Of     Her Lovely Skin. 
 Her Eyes Were Brown, A Warm, Dark Brown, Under Long Dark Lashes And 
 Slightly Arched Dark Eyebrows; And The     Tiny Gleam Of     Unmistakable Fun 
 That Lurked In Their Quiet Depths Was Again A Contrast To The     Almost 
 Classical Severity Of     Finely Cut Features, Straight Nose, And 
 Delicately Chiseled Mouth, And Cleanly Rounded Chin. And She Was As 
 Graceful In Her Slender Tallness As The     Girl She Had Admired--This 
 Woman Of     Forty Or More. It Was Small Wonder That Ross Had Declared He 
 Loved To Look At Her. 
   
   
   
 Here In This Corner With Her Husband, Elinor Worthington Was All 
 Herself. She Glowed Like A Rose, With None Of     The     Little Stiffness In 
   
 Her Manner She So Often Unfortunately Showed To Strangers And Which 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 65 
 Only The     Discerning Few Correctly Named As Shyness. To The     Majority Of 
 People She Was Likely To Seem Cold, Almost Distant. 
   
   
   
 "What Are You Thinking About? You Look So Serious And Far Away," Ross 
 Remarked After An Interval Of     Silence. 
   
   
   
 He Believed In The     Power Of     The     Spoken Word. It Was Not Given Him To 
 Remain Quiet For Long. He Might Have Managed It With The     Communion Of     A 
 Hand-Clasp; But Without, It Was Impossible. 
   
   
   
 Just Then The     Pretty Girl And Her Escort Passed By Them Again. Elinor's 
 Brown Eyes Watched The     Pair This Second Time Until They Had Turned The 
 Corner Of     The     Deck. 
   
   
   
 "That Girl," She Said, Half Wistfully, "She Is So Delicious And Young. 
 I Can't Help Wishing She Were Mine. There Is Something Too Utterly 
 Adorable About A Young Girl." 
   
   
   
 "She Seems Merely Silly To Me," Ross Replied. "I Don't See Anything 
 Particularly Interesting Or Unusual About Her That Should Make You Want 
 To Own Her, Or Any Other Callow Young Thing Her Age. However, If You 
 Say She Is Adorable, I Suppose She Is.... Merciful Heavens!!" 
   
   
   
 "Ross Worthington!" 
   
   
   
 "And I Never Thought Of     Her, I'll Swear, Until This Very Moment!" He 
 Muttered. 
   
   
   
 "Thought Of     Who?" 
   
   
   
 "The Child." 
   
   
   
   
 "What Child? Ross, Will You Kindly Make One Remark That Is 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 66 
 Intelligible? What On Earth Are You Talking About? Or Who?" 
   
   
   
 "My Child." He Turned His Face To Hers, Ruefully Smiling. "Heaven Knows 
 What You'll Think Of     Me! But.... But, Elinor, I'll Swear I Never 
 Thought Of     Her Until This Very Moment!" 
   
   
   
 His Wife Very Nearly Went Over Backwards. 
   
   
   
 She Had Thought She Was Getting Used To Ross, And Had Been Sure She Was 
 Quite Prepared For Anything He Might Do Or Say That Smacked Of     The 
 Unusual, Which Seemed To Be One Of     His Peculiar Gifts; But This Far 
 Surpassed Anything Yet. She Had Known Him Very Well For Nearly Three 
 Years And While He Had Once, Long Ago, Told Her Of     A Previous Marriage, 
 He Had Never Mentioned The     Existence Of     A Child; Or Intimated In Any 
 Way That There Were Any Ties To Have Drawn Him To America. 
   
   
   
 But That Gleam Of     Fun Was Not In Her Brown Eyes For Nothing, And So She 
 Laughed. And It Was Such A Merry Peal Of     Unrestrained Mirth That Ross 
 Rose, Deeply Offended. 
   
   
   
 "There Is Nothing At All Ludicrous In This, I Assure You, Elinor. It's 
 Quite Serious!" 
   
   
   
 "I Am Quite Ready To Believe It Is. But, Ross, I.... Please Think For 
 Just A Moment. I Can't Help Laughing. It _Is_ Rather Funny!" 
   
   
   
 Then He Smiled Himself. One Of     His Greatest Charms Was The     Ability To 
 View His Own Performances, As It Were, From A Detached Perspective. 
   
   
   
 "You're Quite Right There, I'll Have To Admit. To Leave You In 
 Ignorance Of     Any Family, And Suddenly, After Months And Years Of     Such 
 Ignorance, Produce A Daughter!" 
   
   
   
 "You Say A Daughter? Are There," Elinor's Eyes Danced Mischievously, 
   
 "Are There Any Sons You Have Concealed At Home, In Case I Should Admire 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 67 
 A Passing Small Boy? Are You Going To Spend The     Rest Of     Your Life Thus 
 Immediately Granting My Idle Wishes?" 
   
   
   
 "No, I'm Afraid I've Done My Very Best. I'm No Genie Of     The     Lamp, 
 Although It Does Look A Bit Like It." 
   
   
   
 "Then Sit Down And Tell Me All About Her," She Patted His Empty Chair 
 Invitingly. "Begin At The     Very Beginning And Tell Me Everything You Can 
 About Your Daughter." 
   
   
   
 Ross Obediently Draped Himself Once More In The     Steamer-Chair. But He 
 Buried His Chin Deep In His Hands And Sat Staring Long Without 
 Speaking, Across The     Slowly Rising And Falling Rail, At The     Sea. 
   
   
   
 His Own Disclosure Had Been, As Much, If Not More, Of     A Shock To 
 Himself As It Had Been To Elinor. He Had Not Thought Very Definitely Of 
 Arethusa In Weeks, Or Even Months; And Now, Suddenly With The     Chance 
 Passing Of     Another Young Female Creature, And His Wife's Admiration Of 
 Her, His Daughter's Personality Had Intruded Itself As One Which Must 
 Be Reckoned With, And Taken Somewhat Into His Calculations. For The 
 First Time He Realized That He Had Not Been Considering His Child At 
 All, In Any Plans He Had Made For The     Future; And The     Thought Was A Bit 
 Disturbing. 
   
   
   
 "What Is Her Name?" Prompted Elinor. 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa." 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa!" 
   
   
   
 "Yes. I Know It's A Most Awful Mouthful. But Her Mother Named Her," His 
 Voice Softened, "Her Own Name Was Matilda; And She Had Always Disliked 
 It So." How Long The     Time Had Been Since He Had Thought Of     The     Mother, 
 Either! Once More He Stared Across The     Rail, Out At The     Sunlit Sea. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 68 
   
 Elinor Laid Her Hand Gently On His Arm For Just A Moment; A Fleeting 
 Caress Of     Sympathy For His Sobered Mood. 
   
   
   
 "Ross, Dear," Her Speaking Voice Was Unusually Beautiful, As Soft And 
 Clear As A Bell, But It Had Never Sounded More Like Low Music Than Just 
 Now. "Ross, Would You Tell Me Something About Her? Arethusa's Mother, I 
 Mean. But If You'd Rather Not.... I've No Sort Of     Wish To Arouse Any 
 Memories Which Might Hurt; But I Can't Help Feeling, Dear, That I Would 
 Like To Know Something About Her. I've Never Asked You Before, Because 
 It Seemed Impertinent; But I Really Do Not Mean It At All In That 
 Sense." 
   
   
   
 "I Know," He Answered Slowly. "But It Was All So Long Ago, Elinor, 
 There Is Nothing Left To Hurt. It Seems Sometimes Now As If I Had 
 Dreamed Every Bit Of     It. She Was A Slip Of     A Thing; Just A Girl." 
   
   
   
 It Had Not Been Very Long, His First Cycle Of     Love. 
   
   
   
 It Was Just A Little More Than Two Years From The     Summer Day He Had 
 First Met Her, With Her Cornflower Eyes As Blue As The     Ribbons On The 
 Muslin Dress She Wore, And Her Dainty Tininess, Until That Summer Day 
 When He Had Turned Away From A Low Mound In The     Country Cemetery, With 
 Hot Rebellion In His Heart That The     One Had Been Taken And The     Other 
 Left. 
   
   
   
 He Had Not Wanted To Go To That Country Party. With All A City Boy's 
 Superiority He Had Yawned At The     Suggestion; Then Decided To Go Just To 
 Watch "The Rubes"; And There He Had Found Her, And His Visit To The 
 Distant Cousin Had Assumed A New Significance. After They Were Married, 
 He Had Wanted To Take Her Away With Him, But She Had Clung To Her Own 
 Home; And So He Had Stayed With Her On The     Redfield Farm, Making Lazy 
 Efforts To Learn A Trade That Had No Sort Of     Attraction For Him, Just 
 Because She Wished It. 
   
   
   
 But After She Was Gone, The     Farming Had Lost Its Excuse For Being, And 
 The Tiny Baby Daughter, Who Cried When He Picked Her Up, And Who Only 
 Wanted To Eat And Sleep, Had No Real Power To Hold Him Where She Was. 
 He Wandered Restlessly About The     Country-Side, Trying To Find Some 
 Place Where The     Mother's Personality Had Never Been; And Then One Day 
 He Had Announced To Miss Eliza That He Was Going Abroad, To Work At 
   
 Something Congenial Where No Memories Made It Hard For Him To Stay. He 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 69 
 Had Not Intended To Remain Very Long, A Year Or Two Perhaps. But Ross 
 Followed The     Line Of     Least Resistance Nearly Always, And The     Friends He 
 Had Made And The     Life He Had Lived Had Proved Attractive; Little By 
 Little The     Ties That Had Bound Him To The     Farm Had Slackened, Until He 
 Hardly Felt Them At All. 
   
   
   
 Time Had Done What His First Hot, Youthful Grief Would Never Have 
 Admitted That It Could Do, And Had Faded The     Glowing Colors In The 
 Pictures Of     That Chapter In His Life; And It Was Now, As He Had Said, 
 Almost Like Something Dreamed. 
   
   
   
 "Then She Died Just After Arethusa Was Born?" 
   
   
   
 Ross Nodded. 
   
   
   
 "That Was An Odd Name To Give Her, Dear; 'Arethusa'! Was She Named For 
 Anyone?" 
   
   
   
 "No, Just Because Her Mother Liked It. I Was A Great Goose In Those 
 Days, With Large Ideas Of     The     Necessity For The     Revival Of     Grecian 
 'Pure Beauty,' As I Called It. Heaven Knows Where I Got The     Phrase! I 
 Had Just Graduated From College That June Before I Met Her And I Had A 
 Lot Of     Stuff I Had Taken To The     Country With Me. Then I Sent For More. 
 I Used To Devour Volumes About Vase Paintings, And Classical Ideals, 
 And I Read Worlds Of     It Aloud To Her. Miss Eliza Used To Think It Was 
 Atheistic, I'm Quite Sure. She Didn't Say So, But She Wouldn't Let Me 
 Read My Mythology In The     House At Least, Aloud. Matilda And I Had To Go 
 Down To The     Branch, So We Wouldn't Be Heard. It Was From Bulfinch, I 
 Believe, She Got The     Story Of     The     Fountain Nymph That Seemed To Appeal 
 To Her So Strangely. And I Was Quite Willing To Saddle My Daughter With 
 It; It Was Like Taking A Firm Stand For My Ideas. They Were Hardly 
 Ideals." He Sighed. 
   
   
   
 "You Poor Babies!" Said Elinor Softly, To Herself. 
   
   
   
 "What Did You Do With The     Little Girl, Ross?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 70 
   
 "Her Great-Aunts Kept Her. The     Same Women, Miss Eliza And Miss Letitia 
 Redfield, That Had Raised Her Mother. Matilda's Mother Was Their 
 Sister. Miss Asenath, The     Third Aunt, Is A Cripple. You Must Know Her 
 Some Day, Elinor. She Is 'Pure Beauty' And Pure Everything Else. And 
 What A Friend She Was To Me When I Needed Her!" 
   
   
   
 "How Old Would She Be?" 
   
   
   
 "Who, Miss Asenath? About Seventy." 
   
   
   
 "No, Of     Course Not, Dear Goose! Arethusa." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I Don't Know. Eighteen, I Suppose. Yes, Just About." 
   
   
   
 Elinor Looked For A Moment As If She Did Not Believe What She Had Heard 
 Him Say. 
   
   
   
 "Ross Worthington!" 
   
   
   
 "I'm All Attention." 
   
   
   
 "Am I To Understand That You Actually Haven't Seen That Child For 
 Eighteen Whole Years!" 
   
   
   
 "You Are." 
   
   
   
 "Why, Ross!" 
   
   
   
 "Well, I Told You Why I Didn't Go Back Home Just At First, Elinor. 
 A Scrap Of     An Infant Who Seemed To Thoroughly Dislike The     Sound Of 
 My Voice, For As I Remember It, She Howled Vociferously Every Time I 
 Went Near Her, Was Not Much Attraction. And Then I Just Put Off Going 
   
 Back And Kept Putting It Off, Year After Year. Now Do You Still 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 71 
 Wonder"--Suddenly Whimsical--"That I Could Forget All About Her?" 
   
   
   
 "I Never Wonder At Anything You Do, Ross," Replied His Wife. Her Tone 
 Was Grave. "I Gave That Up A Long Time Ago. But I Would Call Your 
 Behaviour, In This Instance, Heartless; If I Didn't Know You Well 
 Enough To Know You Wouldn't Really Be Consciously Harsh To A Fly." 
   
   
   
 "Heartless!" He Echoed. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Heartless!" She Repeated Firmly. "Your Own Child! And Eighteen 
 Whole Years! Oh, Ross!" 
   
   
   
 "But She's Been Well Taken Care Of," He Protested, Though Somewhat 
 Feebly. 
   
   
   
 "Very Probably She Has. But You're Her Father. I Verily Believe, Ross 
 Worthington," She Added Suddenly, "That You Haven't Even Told Her You 
 Were Going To Be Married!" 
   
   
   
 The Pendulum Of     Ross's Moods Swung Very Rapidly, As Rapidly As Ever 
 That Of     His Daughter. The     Little Softness Aroused By The     Thought Of 
 Arethusa's Mother Had Passed, And Now His Eyes Were Full Of 
 Unmistakable Fun. 
   
   
   
 "No," He Replied, "I Will Have To Confess That I Haven't. I Didn't 
 Think She Would Be Very Much Interested. And 'Where Ignorance Is 
 Bliss,' You Know." 
   
   
   
 "Ross!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Come Now, Elinor, Do Make Some Allowances! You Ought To Be Feeling 
 Flattered, Instead Of     Getting All Up In The     Air About It. It Shows Such 
 A Complete Absorption In You, I Think. But I Did Mean To Write, If It 
 Will Make You Feel Any Less Convinced That I'm A Hardened Wretch With 
 No Natural Affections. I've Really Never Seen Her, In A Sense, And 
 Writing To A Person You've Never Seen Is.... Don't Look So Stern, 
 Woman, I Do Write Her Often. I'll Have You To Know My Daughter And I 
   
 Are Very Good Friends." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 72 
   
   
   
 "How Often?" Pursued Elinor, Remorselessly. 
   
   
   
 "Once Or Twice, Or Maybe Three Times A Year. I Never Make A Point Of 
 Counting Letters With Anyone. It Seems So Terribly Small!" 
   
   
   
 Elinor Shook Her Head Helplessly. "Oh, Ross, Ross," She Sighed. "Thank 
 Heaven, There's Only One Of     You!" 
   
   
   
 "Yes," He Answered, Very Placidly. "Thank Heaven! I Was Never In The 
 Least Ambitious To Be A Twin!" 
   
   
   
 And Now It Was The     Wife's Turn To Stare Out At The     Sea And Think Of 
 Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 She Was Even More Vexed With Ross For This Dreadful Neglect Of     His 
 Daughter Than She Had Shown Him. Elinor Had A Very High Ideal Of 
 Parenthood. Her Own Happy Childhood, With A Father And Mother Who Had 
 Included Her As The     Third In All Their Pleasures And Even In Every Day 
 Commonplaces, As Naturally As They Had Included Themselves, Had Given 
 Her No Hazy Picture Of     What A Very Beautiful Thing Such A Relation 
 Could Be. She Could Not Understand How Ross Could Take The     Idea Of     His 
 Fatherhood So Very Indifferently. Surely He Must Love His Child! 
   
   
   
 When Elinor Loved, She Gave Royally Of     Herself. If She Spoiled The 
 Objects Of     Her Affection A Bit, Along With This Giving, It Was Not A 
 Sort Of     Spoiling That Hurt. So Now Her Heart Went Straight Across The 
 Miles That Still Separated Them And Found Arethusa. That She Was Ross's 
 Daughter Was Reason Enough By Itself, Thought Ross's Wife, To Love Her, 
 Had Not The     Story Of     That Blue-Eyed Girl Who Had Died So Long Ago, Also 
 Drawn Elinor's Heart To The     Motherless Baby The     Girl Had Left. And The 
 Motherless Baby Was Grown! 
   
   
   
 Elinor Could Not Help Wondering How Arethusa Would Feel About Her 
 Father's Re-Marriage; She Was Bound To Have Some Ideas On Such A 
   
 Subject. It Was Cruel Of     Ross To Leave Her So Long In Ignorance. He Had 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 73 
 Been Married Over A Month; Six Whole Weeks In Fact. He Should Have 
 Written To The     Farm As Soon As His Marriage Was A Settled Fact. But He 
 Would Not Have Been Ross If He Had. A Slight Smile Flitted Across 
 Elinor's Face At This Thought Of     The     Consistency Of     The     Whole 
 Performance. 
   
   
   
 She Felt As If It Had Devolved Upon Her To Make All Of     This Neglect Up 
 To Arethusa, And To Love Down The     Resentment, If There Was Any At All. 
 And So She Could Not Know The     Girl A Moment Too Soon. 
   
   
   
 "Ross, What Were You Going To Do About Arethusa? Did You Think Of     Going 
 Down To See Her When We Got Home?" 
   
   
   
 "I Haven't Had Time To Think Very Much About Any Of     It Yet. I Had Left 
 Her Out Of     Things Altogether Until Just This Afternoon, By Forgetting 
 About Her. Why?" 
   
   
   
 "Well, Then," Elinor's Voice Trembled Slightly, "Please Let Me Write 
 And Ask Her To Come And See Us, In Lewisburg. Away From The     Aunts. So 
 We Can Get Acquainted By Ourselves. And.... And Then.... Ross ... If 
 She Likes Us, We Can Keep Her With Us And Make Three In The     Family." 
   
   
   
 "Does Any One Wonder," He Murmured, Apparently To The     World At Large, 
 "That I Love This Woman As Much As I Do? Elinor, Dearest, It Is Very 
 Plain To Me That I Am Going To Be Very Jealous Of     My Own Daughter." 
   
   
   
 "Do Be Serious, Ross." 
   
   
   
 "I Am, Never Was More So In My Life." 
   
   
   
 "You Mean.... I May Write Her To Come? You Ought To Write To Her Too," 
 She Was As Eager As Any Girl. "And I Shall Send Her The     Money For The 
 Trip. It Will Be My First Gift To My New Daughter." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 74 
 "No," Said Ross, Very Decidedly, To The     End Of     This Speech, "I Can't 
 Let You Do That." 
   
   
   
 And All The     Eagerness Died Out Of     Elinor's Face. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Ross, Now Please Don't Spoil It All By Being A Mule," She Pleaded. 
 "We Have So Many Of     These Disagreeable Arguments About Money, And It Is 
 So Very Foolish! Why Can't I Send Arethusa A Little Check Without Your 
 Behaving So!" 
   
   
   
 "Because I Won't Have You, That's Why. Arethusa Isn't Your Incumbrance, 
 In Any Way. She's _My_ Daughter, And I'm Not Such A Pauper That I 
 Can't Manage To Support Her, For I Most Certainly Did Not Marry You To 
 Have You Caring For My Various Relatives. You Write Your Letter, And 
 I'll Enclose The     Check." 
   
   
   
 "You Haven't Been Treating Her Very Much As If She Were Your Daughter." 
 The Gentle Elinor Could Not Help Saying This And Saying It Quite 
 Sharply. 
   
   
   
 She So Rarely Let Her Temper Slip For Even The     Fraction Of     A Moment, 
 But Ross Was Always So Horrid And Obstinate About This Question Of 
 Money. He Never Seemed To Realize Her Side Of     It; That One Of     The 
 Greatest Joys Of     Its Possession Was What She Could Do For Him And 
 Others That She Loved By Means Of     It. To Say That She Should Not Have 
 The Very Simple Pleasure Of     Sending A Trifle Of     Her Abundance To 
 Arethusa, Was Almost Too Much! The     Little Thought Had Caused Such A 
 Glow When It Had Come. 
   
   
   
 "I Shall Do Just What I Please With My Own Money," She Continued, "And 
 Send Every Bit Of     It To Arethusa If I Wish. You Have No Earthly Right 
 To Forbid Me Any Natural Use Of     It." 
   
   
   
 But This Money Of     His Wife's Was A Thing About Which Ross Worthington 
 Was Almost Foolishly Sensitive. The     Fact That Elinor's Monetary 
 Possession Far Exceeded His Had Kept Him A Great Many Months From 
 Asking Her To Marry Him, When The     Most Casual Observer Might Have Read 
 His Secret With The     Greatest Ease. So Enormous Was The     Discrepancy 
   
 Between Their Quotas Of     This World's Good That More Than One Spiteful 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 75 
 Minded Person Had Intimated It Had Had Something To Do With His Choice. 
 He Knew This Only Too Well, And The     Thought Rankled. Elinor Had So 
 Much; She Could Do So Much; She Could Do So Much More For Herself Than 
 He Could Ever Do For Her That It Was A Great Sore Spot. They Were To 
 Live In Elinor's House; Ride About In Elinor's Expensive Automobile; Be 
 Waited Upon Like Royalty, As He Phrased It, By Elinor's Servants; They 
 Were Even Now, After A Lengthy Argument About It, Traveling Home With 
 Elinor's Wealth In A Far More Luxurious Manner Than He Had Ever Been 
 Able To Travel On His Own Money. 
   
   
   
 The Most Foolish Sort Of     False Pride Considered This Offer To Send A 
 Check To Arethusa A Sort Of     Finishing Straw. He Would Keep All 
 Expenditure For His Daughter Strictly For Himself. 
   
   
   
 "I Wish You Would! I Wish You Would Send It All To Somebody! I Wish To 
 Goodness You Didn't Have A Cent Of     The     Money!" He Rose, His Jaw Set 
 Savagely, And Turned Away. "I Didn't Marry You For It, Though From The 
 Way You Spend It On Me I'm Not At All Surprised That A Great Many 
 People Say I Did!" 
   
   
   
 And He Was Off Down The     Deck In An Almost Blind Rage. Arethusa's Temper 
 Came Not So Much From The     Fact That Her Hair Was Red, As Right Straight 
 From Her Father. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Stared After Him, Too Hurt To Want To Follow Him, Or To Try To 
 Call Him Back. They Had Had Many A Heated Discussion As To Which 
 Portion Of     The     Expense She Was To Bear And What Was To Be Left For Him, 
 But None Had Gone So Far; Never Degenerated Into As Real A Quarrel As 
 This. 
   
   
   
 But Ross Was Too Tempestuously Moody To Remain Angry Long. It Needed 
 Only One Turn Of     The     Deck For Him To Be Back At Her Feet, Ready To 
 Humble Himself In The     Dirt In The     Abjectness Of     His Apology. 
   
   
   
 The Outcome Of     It Was That Ross Himself Wrote A Letter To Enclose 
 Elinor's Check, That Letter Arethusa Had Kissed Under The     Hollow Tree. 
 It Required Much Persuasion On The     Part Of     His Wife To Keep Him From 
   
 Describing The     Whole Affair In Detail, How Abominably He Had Acted 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 76 
 About The     Check, And How Badly He Had Made Her Feel. It Would Make His 
 Abasement More Complete And Lasting In Effect, He Said, If Some One 
 Else Were To Know About It. Ross, Like Arethusa, Did Nothing By Halves. 
   
   
   
 Yet Miss Eliza Unwittingly Disappointed Elinor's Eagerness To See 
 Arethusa, By Announcing That Arethusa Could Not Come Until The     Fall. It 
 Was Far More Of     A Disappointment To His Wife Than It Was To Ross. Ross 
 Was Very Happy With Things Just As They Were. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Made A Room Ready For The     Girl To Be Her Very Own, When Doing 
 Over The     Rest Of     Her House; And She Put Into It All The     Love And Little 
 Personal Touches That Arethusa's Own Mother Might Have Given It. 
   
   
   
 "She Might Not Be," She Said, Thoughtfully Considering When Selecting 
 The Wall-Paper, "A Pink Or Blue Person At All. Ross Doesn't Know The 
 Color Of     Her Eyes Or Hair Or Anything That He Ought To. He's Been 
 Woefully Remiss As A Parent. White Might Perhaps Be Safest." 
   
   
   
 Which Choice Was Surely Most Fortunate. 
   
   
   
 So White With A Silky, Silvery Stripe Was Chosen For The     Walls Of     The 
 Big, Sunny Room With Its Rows Of     Windows On Two Sides Which Had Been 
 Set Aside As Arethusa's. It Was A White Ground With Garlands Of     Flowers 
 In Soft Pastel Shades Near The     Ceiling. And Green, A Soft, Dull Green, 
 Was Chosen For The     Side Curtains Of     Those Sunny Windows, And For The 
 Sofa Cushions And The     Upholstery On The     Window Seats And The     "Squshy" 
 Chairs. The     Largest Pieces Of     Furniture Were Of     A Satiny Brown Walnut 
 Combined With Cane. There Was A Green Rug, The     Color Of     The     Moss In 
 Arethusa's Own Beloved Woods And So Soft And Thick That Her Feet Would 
 Sink Deep Into It, For The     Floor. Then Elinor Put A Long, Soft Sofa At 
 The Foot Of     The     Bed, And Arethusa's Room Was Ready For Her Coming. 
   
   
   
   
 The Bath-Room Adjoining, Which Was Also To Belong To The     Daughter Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 7 Pg 77 
 The House, Was White, Shiny Tile From Floor To Ceiling, And It 
 Contained Every Conceivable Device Known To The     Mind Of     A Modern 
 Plumber That Makes For Comfort In A Bath-Room. Could Elinor Have But 
 Glimpsed The     High-Backed Tin Tub In Which Arethusa Had Bathed All Of 
 Her Life At The     Farm! 
   
   
   
 "You've Done Too Much," Was Ross's Comment, When Elinor Showed Him This 
 Nest, "And Spent A Fortune Besides, On My Child. When...." 
   
   
   
 "Our Child," Interrupted Elinor Gently, "I Thought We Had Settled That 
 Once For All. Please, Ross, Don't Be Eternally Dragging In The     Cost Of 
 Things.... I Didn't Bring You Up Here For That.... But Tell Me If You 
 Think Arethusa Will Like It." 
   
   
   
 "Like It! Ye Gods! Think Of     The     Farm! And The     Woman Asks If Arethusa 
 Will Like It!" 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa's Actual Coming Was Postponed By Miss Eliza For Various 
 Reasons Several Times. The     Correspondence On This Subject Was All 
 Between Her And Elinor, For Miss Eliza Wrote A Stilted, Old-Fashioned 
 Hand, Not Easy To Read, Which Ross's Impatience Refused To Take The 
 Time To Decipher. 
   
   
   
 First, It Was Hard Finding Suitable Company For Arethusa,--No Date 
 Could Be Fixed Until That Was Settled; And Then Miss Letitia Had A 
 Little Spell Of     Illness And The     Making Of     The     Clothes Was Interrupted; 
 And So On. But The     Last Postponement, Until Late October, Was The 
 Worthingtons' Own Fault. It Was Far Too Hot In Lewisburg That 
 September, So Off They Scurried To The     Seashore Before Arethusa Was 
 Nearly Ready To Join Them. 
   
   
   
 "Just Like Ross Worthington," Said Miss Eliza, Grimly, When The     Letter 
 Telling Of     This Move Reached The     Farm. "He Just Can't Stay Put. I 
 Reckon The     Lord Didn't Make The     Place Where He'd Be Happy Long At A 
 Time." 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 78 
   
 Arethusa Sat On A Big, Smooth Stone At The     Edge Of     The     Branch, Under 
 The Low-Drooping Willow Tree That Leaned Far Over Those Clear Waters, 
 And Absent-Mindedly Flipped At The     Water With A Long Switch Broken From 
 The Tree. Under The     Stone It Was Cool Shadow And The     Rocks On The 
 Bottom Of     The     Branch Gleamed Invitingly Green. Something Like A 
 Fresh-Water Seaweed Moved Slowly Back And Forth, As Arethusa Stirred 
 The Water Above It. But For All Its Inviting Appearance, It Was 
 Treacherously Slimy. It Would Have Been Hard For Even Nimble-Footed 
 Arethusa To Keep Her Balance On Those Rocks. A Tiny Snake Darted Out 
 From Under The     Big Stone And Shot Across To The     Other Side; Arethusa 
 Leaned Far Over To Watch It. 
   
   
   
 "A Baby Snake," She Exclaimed Delightedly. "I Wonder If There're Any 
 More!" Then She Poked Farther Back Under The     Stone, But No More 
 Appeared. It Was Probably The     Only Child In Its Family, Thought 
 Arethusa. It Was Rather Late For Baby Snakes. 
   
   
   
 She Straightened Up Once More And Resumed Her Absent-Minded Switching 
 At The     Water. Farther Out, Where The     Shadow Of     The     Weeping Willow Did 
 Not Reach, The     Sunlight Shone With Dazzling Brightness On The     Water, 
 And The     Hundreds Of     Little Drops That Flew Off The     End Of     Arethusa's 
 Switch Gleamed Like Tiny Diamonds As They Fell Back Into The     Branch. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Terrifically Hot Day. 
   
   
   
 The September Sun Blazed Away So Fiercely That The     Whole Landscape 
 Drooped Under It. Even Arethusa, Whose Enthusiasm No Amount Of     Ordinary 
 Heat Had The     Power To Lessen, Felt Wilted. 
   
   
   
 But Despite The     Heat, Work On Her Outfit For The     Visit Did Not Slacken. 
 Miss Letitia And Miss Eliza Were Sewing Away For Dear Life. Even 
 Arethusa Herself Had Been Pressed Into Service. Miss Eliza Believed In 
   
 Being Ready For Your Occasions; Rather Ready With A Long Waiting, Than 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 79 
 Not Be Ready. She Would Have The     Simple Wardrobe Finished And All 
 Carefully Packed Days Before It Was Time To Leave So There Would Be No 
 Flurry At The     Last Moment; Miss Eliza Hated Flurry. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Did Not Sew With Ease. What Little She Knew Of     That Art 
 Had Been Acquired With Painful Effort. And With The     Heat And Her 
 Uncontrollable Excitement When She Considered What This Work Was For, 
 The Sewing Had Stuck To Her Hands So Badly This Morning, And The     Thread 
 Had Knotted With Such Diabolic Persistency, That Miss Asenath Had Taken 
 It All Away From Her And Suggested That She Run Outside For Awhile. She 
 Was, However, To Remain Within Easy Calling Distance Of     The     House, So 
 She Had Come Down Here To The     Willow Tree At The     Branch. 
   
   
   
 It Was Just A Little Over A Month Now Until Arethusa Was Actually To 
 Go. She Had Counted The     Days On The     Calendar Until October Twenty-Fifth 
 And Then Multiplied Them By Twenty-Four. And Every Night, With Puckered 
 Brow And Moistened Pencil And Great Care So That No Smallest Mistake 
 Should Be Made In So Important A Subtraction, She Subtracted 
 Twenty-Four More From Those Hours Still Remaining. The     Number Of 
 Figures On The     Slip Of     Yellow Paper Stuck In The     Mirror Of     Her Bureau 
 Had Increased As The     Size Of     The     Remainder Decreased With Each Passing 
 Day. This Method Of     Showing The     Flight Of     Time Appealed To Her Very 
 Strongly. It Made It Seem As If So Much More Had Been Covered Every Day 
 When She Subtracted Twenty-Four From The     Larger Number Of     Hours, Than 
 If She Simply Took One Away From The     Number Of     Days. 
   
   
   
 She Lay Back On The     Big Stone And Clasped Her Hands Under Her Head, 
 Smiling Up Into The     Willow Branches As If She Saw Something There Which 
 Pleased Her Exceedingly. And So Did Any Contemplation Of     The     Limitless 
 Possibilities For Happiness Before Her In The     Visit Bring Just Such A 
 Smile To Curve Her Lips. A Few Sweat-Bees Buzzed Half-Heartedly About 
 Her Head, But Arethusa Did Not Even Trouble To Brush Them Away. It Was 
 Too Hot For Any More Exertion Than Was Absolutely Necessary. 
   
   
   
 Miss Johnson, Arethusa's Fox Terrier, Sat Right Beside Her Mistress, 
 With Her Small Red Tongue Hanging Out At One Side Of     Her Mouth, And 
   
 Panting As If Her Small Heart Would Burst Through Her Ribs. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 80 
 Miss Johnson Had Been The     Gift Of     Timothy, Who Owned Her Mother. But It 
 Had Needed All His Blandishments To Induce Miss Eliza To Allow Arethusa 
 To Have The     Little Dog, For Miss Eliza Cared Nothing Whatever For Dogs 
 Of Any Kind Or Size Or Degree, Either Far Or Near. And Once Timothy's 
 Cajolements Had Carried His Point, And Miss Johnson Had Taken Up Her 
 Abode At The     Farm, She Had Been Hedged About With Restrictions. She Was 
 Never Permitted To Set Foot Inside The     Sacred Precincts Of     The     House, 
 Or Even On Either Porch, Or To Go Near The     Flower Garden; And She Knew 
 It Quite As Well As Anybody. Experience Still Remains The     Best Of 
 Teachers. When Miss Eliza Appeared On Her Horizon, Miss Johnson Would 
 Put What Was Left Of     Her Tail Between Her Legs And Scuttle For Cover. 
 She Was A Wise Little Dog, And Did Not Have To Be Told Who Wielded 
 Brooms And Slapped. 
   
   
   
 But Out In The     Open, Her Disposition Was Much Less Humble. She And 
 Arethusa Were Boon Companions; Her Mistress Had The     Whole Of     That Small 
 Heart Which Thumped So Violently. One Of     Her Paws Rested On A Dumpy, 
 Round Stick Which She Had Selected As A Good Plaything, And She Gave A 
 Short, Sharp Bark Of     Frantic Appeal When She Saw Arethusa Lie Down On 
 The Stone. 
   
   
   
 It Was Never Too Hot For Miss John To Play At Chasing Sticks; Her 
 Energy Never Flagged In The     Least, Even Though It Might Seem That She 
 Would Pant Herself To Death The     Very Next Moment. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Raised Her Head To One Elbow To Look Very Reproachfully At 
 Miss Johnson. 
   
   
   
 "I Told You Twice It Was Too Hot, Miss Johnson." 
   
   
   
 Miss Johnson Barked. There Were Almost Words In That Bark, It Was So 
 Entreating. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, 'Tis. There's Nothing You Can Say Will Make Me Think It Isn't, 
 And It's Very Bad For You To Run In The     Heat." 
   
   
   
   
 Another Bark. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 81 
   
   
 "No, I'm Not Going To Throw It For You. I've Told You So Over And Over. 
 Besides, You Ought Not To Want To Run With An Old Stick When I'm Going 
 Away So Soon. You Ought To Be Glad To Sit With Me While You Can." 
   
   
   
 But Miss Johnson Believed In Snatching At The     Pleasures Of     The     Present 
 Rather Than In Preparation For The     Sorrows Of     The     Future. She Sat Up 
 Quite Straight And Begged Beseechingly. Her Tiny Fore-Paws Were So 
 Irresistible In Their Appealing Waving That Arethusa Relented. 
   
   
   
 "But Just This Once, Only," She Warned, As She Sat Up And Reached For 
 The Stick. 
   
   
   
 Miss Johnson Jumped About, With Excitement At The     Highest Tension; And 
 Her Mistress Lifted That Round Bit Of     Wood High Above Her Head And 
 Threw It With A Swing Which Had Far More Grace Than Aim, And All The 
 Force She Could Muster. 
   
   
   
 And It Hit Timothy, Stealing Up Quietly To Surprise Her, Square Between 
 The Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "Suffering Cats, Arethusa!" 
   
   
   
 Timothy Grabbed Miss Johnson's Plaything And Continued Its Flight So 
 Very Far Away That The     Poor Little Dog Could Not Find It At All, 
 Although She Searched Most Diligently For It For A Long, Long Time. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Almost Jumped Off The     Big Stone Into The     Branch. 
   
   
   
 "Why Don't You Look Where You're Throwing Things Occasionally! You 
 Nearly Put My Eyes Out!" There Was A Fast Growing Red Spot On His Nose; 
 Timothy Rubbed It Ruefully. 
   
   
   
 "Served You Quite Right If I Had! How Could I Know You Were Sneaking 
   
 There!" Then Arethusa Turned Her Back To Timothy, And She Turned It 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 82 
 With A Movement Of     The     Greatest Dignity. "I Thought I Told You Last 
 Night," She Added, "Not To Come To See Me Any More, Ever." 
   
   
   
 Timothy Was Silent For A Moment.... "I Didn't Think You Really Meant 
 It," He Said, Miserably. 
   
   
   
 "Well, I Did." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Back Looked Decidedly Inhospitable; There Was An 
 Uncompromising Rigidity About The     Way She Stared Straight Before Her. 
 Even The     Long Rope Of     Red Hair Seemed To Have Become Suddenly As Stiff 
 As The     Rest Of     Her. It Was Not An Attitude In A Hostess Conductive To 
 Easy Conversation, Or To Make One's Thoughts Flow Smoothly. 
   
   
   
 Miss Johnson Flew About, Hunting For Her Stick, Every Now And Then 
 Coming Back To Timothy With Frantic Little Questioning Yelps; But 
 Timothy, Ordinarily Such A Friend Of     Hers, Paid No Sort Of     Attention. 
 He Had Eyes Only For Arethusa. It Was Hard For Miss Johnson To 
 Understand. 
   
   
   
 Finally, Timothy Flung Himself Down On The     Ground At The     Side Of     The 
 Big Stone. "Do You Mind If I Stay, Arethusa?" 
   
   
   
 "Suit Yourself," She Replied, Indifferently. "It's Not On My Land. But 
 It Seems To Me You Have An Awful Lot Of     Time To Loaf Around For Anybody 
 Who Calls Himself A Farmer." There Was Scorn In Arethusa's Tone. 
   
   
   
 "I Came Over Here Just Especially To Tell You I Was Sorry. I Saw You 
 From The     Hemp-Field And Came." 
   
   
   
 "You Better Go On Back To The     Hemp-Field Then," Said Arethusa, "Now 
 That You've Said It." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 83 
 Timothy Gathered A Handful Of     Small Stones Lying Near Him And Began To 
 Idly Skip Them One By One Across The     Branch. It Was An Accomplishment 
 Which Arethusa Deeply Envied Him: Her Stones Invariably Fell In Without 
 Skipping. Yet She Made No Move To Show Him That She Saw How Beautifully 
 Every Single Stone That Timothy Skipped Sped Across The     Top Of     The 
 Water To The     Other Side. Miss Johnson Came And Sat Down Between Them, 
 Worn Out In Her Vain Search For Her Stick, And She Panted And Gazed 
 Inquiringly From One To The     Other Of     Her Playmates, So Unusually 
 Silent. 
   
   
   
 "I Don't See Why," Said Timothy Suddenly, "That You Want To Act This 
 Way, Arethusa. I've Said I Was Sorry. That Ought To Be Quite Enough; 
 And ... And.... Anyway, I Don't See Why One Kiss Should Make You So 
 Mad." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, You Don't?" Replied Arethusa, Very Sarcastically. 
   
   
   
 Life Had Seemed A Gloomy Affair To Timothy Since The     Day He Had 
 Realized That Arethusa Was Actually Going On This Visit. He Did Not 
 Want Her To Go, To Put It Very Plainly. Not That He Thought She Would 
 Not Have A Good Time; He Thought She Would Have A Good Time; In Fact, 
 He Thought She Would Have Far Too Good A Time, His Verbal Expression To 
 Arethusa Of     The     Contrary Idea, Notwithstanding. Timothy Had Made More 
 Than One Visit To Lewisburg; He Was Well Acquainted With The     Variety Of 
 Its Attractions. He Could Not Help But Vision The     Oceans Of     Beings Of 
 The Opposite Sex It Was Inevitable She Should Meet, And He Saw In These 
 Meetings His Own Eclipse As A Suitor. 
   
   
   
 Timothy's Ardent Wish For Arethusa And Himself Was Identical With Miss 
 Asenath's Secret Hope And Miss Eliza's Openly Expressed Desire. And 
 Arethusa Had Not Exaggerated In The     Least, To Miss Eliza, The     Number Of 
 His Proposals. He Had Been Proposing To Her Every Summer With Worthy 
 Persistence Since He Was Nine Or Ten, Childish Though Those First 
 Proposals May Have Been; And Sometimes Twice A Summer. 
   
   
   
 Ever Since That Time When She Had Made The     First Appeal To His Chivalry 
 When He Had Met Her, A Chubby Little Scrap Of     Only Three Scant Summers, 
 Wandering Off Down The     Pike, Every Little Footfall Taking Her Farther 
 And Farther Away From The     Farm, And She Had Raised Her Eyes, Brimming 
   
 Over With Tears In Their Wonderful Tangle Of     Black Lashes, And Said, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 84 
 With A Tiny Catch In Her Voice, "I'm Losted. Tate Me Home, Boy!"; And 
 He, With The     Superior Knowledge Of     Location Which Seven Years Gives 
 Over Three, Had Led Her Safely Back To Miss Eliza--Ever Since That 
 Long-Past Day, Arethusa Had Made Up The     Most Of     Timothy's World. They 
 Had Played Together All Through Childhood And Boyhood And Girlhood, And 
 Quarreled Violently And Much Over Their Play, And Then Made Up With 
 Commendable Immediacy; Timothy Was The     Nearest Approach To A Brother 
 Arethusa Had Ever Known. But Timothy's Feeling For Arethusa Had Ever 
 Been, And Especially These Last Few Years, More Than A Brother's Love. 
 It Was The     Clean Whole-Hearted Affection Which A Boy Gives To The     One 
 Girl In The     World Who Seems To Him Superior To Other Girls. Even When 
 Timothy Had Gone Away To A Neighboring Town To College, His Allegiance 
 Had Never For A Moment Been Shaken; In All Those Four Long Years He Had 
 Never Seen A Single Maiden, Among The     Many He Had Met, Who Came 
 Anywhere Near Arethusa In His Estimation. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Had Had Some Dim Idea That It Might Be Quite Wise To Get Her 
 Safely Promised To Himself Before She Went Away. The     Last Point-Blank 
 Refusal She Had Made Him, Earlier In This Summer, Had Not Left Him 
 Altogether Disheartened. He Knew Arethusa Was Given To Moods. Then, 
 Too, Persistence Often Wins The     Reluctant; Dripping Water Wears Away A 
 Stone. There Are A Great Many Aphorisms Dealing Directly With Such A 
 State Of     Mind As Timothy's. 
   
   
   
 So The     Evening Just Before This Hot September Morning, He Had Dressed 
 Himself In His Very Best And Strolled Over To The     Farm, Fully 
 Determined On A Definite Course Of     Action. 
   
   
   
 He Had Made His Formal Proposal For Arethusa's Hand To Arethusa 
 Herself, As They Sat Side By Side On The     Top Step Of     The     Worn Stone 
 Steps To The     Front Porch. But She Had Laughed At Him, So Derisively, 
 That Timothy, Goaded Into Rashness By The     Laughter, Had Kissed Her With 
 A Resounding Smack. Then He Had Been Slapped By The     Indignant Arethusa 
 Until His Check Stung With The     Pain, Sent Straight Home And Told Never 
 To Come Back Again As Long As He Lived. 
   
   
   
 And He Had Wondered, As He Cut Across The     Fields, A Chastened And A 
 Sadder Timothy Under The     Friendly Stars Which Winked So Sympathetically, 
 And Rubbing His Still Stinging Cheek As He Walked, If There Would Ever 
 Be Anybody Who Would Understand Arethusa. He Didn't. He Could Recall 
   
 Occasions When He Had Kissed Her And Had Not Been Slapped. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 85 
   
   
 Now Miss Eliza Had Unfortunately Heard The     Conversation And The 
 Kiss And The     Slap And The     Dismissal Of     Timothy, From Inside The 
 Sitting-Room; And She Had Called Arethusa Into Her After The     Rejected 
 Suitor Had Fled And Outdone Even Herself In The     Quality Of     Her 
 Scolding. She Had Gone So Far As To Make A Threat Of     Such A Truly 
 Horrible Nature That It Had Turned Arethusa Absolutely Cold With The 
 Fear That She Might Really Carry It Out. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had Every Right To Be Very Angry With Timothy. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Gathered Him Another Little Heap Of     Stones, And One By One, 
 With A Perfect Mastery Of     The     Art, Skipped Those All Across The     Water. 
 But He Did It Very Gloomily, With No Apparent Pleasure, Hardly As If 
 Conscious Of     What He Were Doing. And Arethusa Continued To Stare 
 Straight Before Her As If She Had Found New And Unexpected Beauties In 
 A Familiar Landscape. 
   
   
   
 "I Hate For Us To Be Mad," Said Timothy After Awhile, Making Another 
 Attempt To Break The     Hostile Little Silence. 
   
   
   
 "So Do I," Replied Arethusa Non-Committally. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Brightened. 
   
   
   
 "But I Expect To Be Mad At You As Long As I Live," She Continued, And 
 Timothy Lapsed Into Gloom Once More, "When You Act The     Way You Do. I 
 Don't See Why You Want To Be Always Bothering Me About Marrying You; 
 Unless Aunt 'Liza Puts You Up To It. I Don't Want To Marry You, 
 Timothy; And I'll Never Change My Mind About It. You Needn't Ask Me 
 Again, Ever. I Want To Be Very Good Friends With You, Because You're 
 The Very Oldest Friend I've Got, But We Can't Be Friends If You're 
 Going To Be So Silly And Sentimental All The     Time. I Hate Sentimental 
 People!" 
   
   
   
 Had Timothy's Sense Of     Humor Not Deserted Him Absolutely, He Must Have 
 Laughed At This; As It Was, He Took It Very Seriously. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 8 Pg 86 
   
 Just Then Came A Faint, "Ar----Ee--Thu----Sa!" From The     Direction Of 
 The House, And Arethusa Rose Quickly To Answer The     Call. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I Forgot," Timothy Rolled Over. "Miss 'Titia Called To Me From The 
 House As I Came By To Tell You She Was Ready For You." 
   
   
   
 "Why Didn't You Tell Me Then, An Hour Ago? You've Been Here A Half Hour 
 At Least And Haven't Said A Word About It!" 
   
   
   
 "I Forgot," Replied Timothy Humbly, Thoroughly Ground To The     Earth By 
 That Speech Of     Arethusa's With Its "I'll Be A Sister To You" Tone. 
   
   
   
 "That's Evident. She Probably Thinks I'm Lost Or Something By This 
 Time. If You Weren't So Busy Always Seeing How You Can Annoy Me, You 
 Might Remember When People Give You Messages To Deliver!" Arethusa 
 Swept Majestically Off, Bending Her Head To Escape The     Low-Growing 
 Willow Branches, And Timothy Watched Her Miserably. But She Had Gone 
 Only About Six Or Seven Paces When She Turned And Came Back To Him, 
 "And Timothy," She Announced, As Sternly As Miss Eliza Herself Might 
 Have Spoken, "If You Ever Even Try To Kiss Me Again, Like You Did Last 
 Night, I'll Do Something Worse To You Than Just Slap. I'll ... I'll ... 
 It's ... I Don't Like To Be Kissed." 
   
   
   
 "But You Used To Kiss Me," Timothy Sat Upright, Here Was His Alibi And 
 A Chance To Defend Himself. 
   
   
   
 "I Know I Did, But We Were Babies. That Was Ages Ago, And It's Very, 
 Very Different. Grown Girls Don't Kiss Grown Men. It's Not Nice. 
 It's.... It's Just Like Poor White Trash!" 
   
   
   
 And With Last Stroke Of     Annihilation, Arethusa Departed For The     House 
 And Miss Letitia And Her Fitting, With Miss Johnson Trotting At Her 
 Heels, Leaving Timothy In Abject Abandonment To Misery Under The     Willow 
 Tree. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 87 
   
 Miss Eliza Eyed Arethusa Over Her Glasses With Stern Displeasure. She 
 Dropped Her Sewing Into Her Lap And Prepared To Take The     Delinquent One 
 To Task. 
   
   
   
 "Where Have You Been All This Time? Your Aunt 'Titia's Been Ready And 
 Waiting For You A Half Hour At Least." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Sister, Not Quite That Long." Miss Letitia's Deprecatory Accents 
 Made An Attempt (And It Could Always Be Only An Attempt) To Stem The 
 Tide Of     Miss Eliza's Severity. "It's Not Been More Than Fifteen 
 Minutes, I'm Sure." 
   
   
   
 "Your Aunt Has Been Ready And Waiting For You A Half Hour At Least!" 
 Repeated Miss Eliza, Firmly. "Didn't You Understand From Her Message 
 That She Wanted You? And I Had To Call You, Myself, Finally." 
   
   
   
 "Well, I Didn't Get Any Message.... Timothy Didn't Tell Me She Wanted 
 Me, So How Was I To Know? I Came Right Straight Away When I Heard You." 
   
   
   
 "You've Been Quarreling With Timothy Again!" 
   
   
   
 "_I Have Not!_" 
   
   
   
 And At Arethusa's Irritable Tone, Miss Asenath Looked Up, Startled. It 
 Was So Decided A Contradiction, And Not One Of     The     Household Ever 
 Contradicted Miss Eliza. This Gentlest One Was A Trifle The     Most 
 Discerning Of     The     Sisters, And She Wondered If Any Other Chapters To 
 Last Night's Incident Had Been Added Under The     Willow Tree. 
   
   
   
 "Don't You Speak To Me In That Manner, Arethusa," Miss Eliza Was 
 Surprised Almost Into A Mildness Of     Reproof. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 88 
 "I Didn't Mean To Be Impertinent, Aunt 'Liza," Faltered The     Culprit. 
   
   
   
 She Was A Wee Bit Frightened At Her Own Temerity After That Emphatic 
 Contradiction Had Burst Forth. But Anger At Timothy Had Over-Ridden 
 Discretion, With That Question Concerning Him And Miss Eliza's Obvious 
 Inclination To Side With Him; Last Night's Events Were Still Clear In 
 Arethusa's Mind, And Miss Eliza Had Been Most Unfair In Her Viewpoint 
 On That Occasion. There Still Rankled, With Both Aunt And Niece, A 
 Little Of     The     Bitterness Then Aroused. 
   
   
   
 "You Are Getting," Remarked Miss Eliza Grimly, "Absolutely 
 Incomprehensible To Me. Ever Since That Letter Came From Your Father, 
 You Have Been Utterly Demoralised. I've Half A Mind To...." 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Hastily Held Up The     Dress To Be Slipped On. She Felt It 
 Was Undoubtedly The     Moment, The     Moment Sometimes Called Psychological, 
 At Which To Introduce A Counter-Irritant. 
   
   
   
 It Was The     Dark Blue Silk Dress That Arethusa Had Been Sure She Would 
 Have. It Was As Beautifully Made As All Miss Letitia's Garments Were, 
 But Very Plain; Only Lightened At Throat And Wrists With The     Simplest 
 White Collar And Cuffs. Arethusa Was Very Grateful To Miss Letitia For 
 Having Made It. She Expressed Her Gratitude By An All-Enveloping Hug 
 Which Ruffled The     Small Portion Of     Miss Letitia's Hair Remaining 
 Comparatively Smooth Until This Moment. But She Did Wish, Most 
 Decidedly, That It Was Not Quite So Plain. 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Smoothed The     Folds In The     Skirt And Put A Pin In One Place 
 In The     Hem Where She Believed It Hung A Little Bit Long. 
   
   
   
 "Do You Think," She Enquired Anxiously Of     Miss Eliza, "That It Hangs 
 All Right In Other Places, Sister?" 
   
   
   
 "If Arethusa Would Stop Spinning Around Like A Top Long Enough For Me 
 To Get A Good Look At It, I Might Be Able To Tell You Something About 
 It," Replied Miss Eliza, Severely. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Straightened Up Like A Drum Major And Began Turning Very 
   
 Slowly, As Slowly As It Was Possible And Keep Her Balance At The     Same 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 89 
 Time, And Miss Eliza Viewed The     Lower Edge Of     The     Garment Critically 
 From All Sides. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Was Her Crisp Verdict, "I May Say I Think It Hangs Even 
 Everywhere.... But Just That One Place." 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Breathed A Deep Sigh Of     Relief. Arethusa Echoed The     Sigh. 
 They Dreaded Equally The     Task Of     Hanging A Skirt (When It Had Not Hung 
 Right At First) With Miss Eliza's Accurate Eyes Fixed Upon The 
 Operation. 
   
   
   
 "That Is A Very Pretty Dress. Sister 'Titia," Remarked Miss Asenath. 
 She Had Quite A Point Of     Vantage On Her Couch; All Fitting Processes 
 Were Visible In An Entirety. "Don't You Think So, Arethusa?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Agreed With Fervency. 
   
   
   
 "You'd Better Thank Your Aunt 'Titia Then," From Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 "She Did, Sister," Interposed Miss Letitia Hastily. "She Already Did!" 
   
   
   
 "I Didn't Hear Her." 
   
   
   
 "Well, She Gave Me A Lovely Hug, And We Both Know What That Means, 
 Don't We, 'Thusa Dearie?" 
   
   
   
 "Hum ... Ph!" From Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Took The     Blue Silk Dress Off Very Carefully And Handed It Back 
 To Miss Letitia For The     Finishing Touches. 
   
   
   
   
 She Stood Straight And Tall Before Them For Just A Moment, And Tilted 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 90 
 Back Her Head And Yawned, Stretching Her Round Arms High Above Her In A 
 Glorious Relaxation. 
   
   
   
 Then She Looked Down At That Exceedingly Dark, Blue Silk Dress With 
 Dissatisfaction. Then She Looked At Miss Letitia Bending Her Grey Head 
 Far Over It And Putting In Innumerable And Almost Invisible Stitches 
 Very Carefully, Just For Arethusa: Her Round, Cherubic Little Mouth 
 Puckering Into Happy Smiles About Something Known Only To Herself As 
 She Worked. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Warm Heart Smote Her. 
   
   
   
 She Swooped Down Upon Miss Letitia And Hugged Her With Violence To Make 
 Up For That Moment Of     Inward Dissatisfaction With Miss Letitia's Loving 
 Work. Miss Letitia's Glasses Were Knocked Off In The     Sudden Swoop And 
 Fell Into Her Lap. She Looked Most Surprised At This Unexpected 
 Proceeding, Though Highly Gratified, As She Retrieved The     Glasses. Had 
 She Asked Miss Asenath About It, Miss Asenath Could Probably Have Told 
 Her Just What Had Been Passing Through Arethusa's Mind. Miss Asenath 
 Had Been Watching Arethusa. She Was Never Tired Of     Watching Her, In 
 Every Smallest Thing The     Girl Did, With Loving Eyes That Took Keen 
 Delight In Her Youth And Life And Vivid Coloring. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Gazed Around At The     Many Garments In Various Stages That Were 
 Strewn About The     Room; Every Single One Of     Them Was Hers. All The     Plain 
 White Cotton Under-Things, One Or Two Of     Them With Puffings Or A Bit Of 
 "Thread" Lace Whipped Around Their Edges, As A Concession To The 
 Unusualness Of     This Occasion; The     Few Simple Shirtwaists, Trimmed With 
 Neat Tucking; The     "Medium Lisle" Stockings Miss Eliza Was Marking In 
 Pairs After A Method Of     Her Own Invention; The     Plain Dark Suit That 
 Miss Letitia Had Completed Only That Morning, And Which Miss Asenath's 
 Frail Fingers Were Even At This Moment Engaged In Further Finishing 
 With A Braid-Binding All Around The     Skirt To Save The     Hem; The     New Hat 
 Which Arethusa Had Tried On For Them With The     Finished Suit To See How 
 Well They Went Together, And Which Was Lying Now On Top Of     The     Piano; 
 And The     Silk Dress In Miss Letitia's Lap: It Was All Hers. But There 
 Was Nothing Frivolous In The     Array, Nothing At All Light In Color, Save 
   
 Perhaps The     Underclothes And The     Shirtwaists; There Was Not One Purely 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 91 
 Decorative Or "Frilly" Garment Such As The     Heart Of     Girlhood Loves. It 
 Was A Wardrobe, Without Doubt, Entirely Of     Miss Eliza's Choosing. 
   
   
   
 "Aunt 'Liza," Arethusa Knelt Down By That Lady's Chair And Put Her 
 Glowing Face Very Close To Her Aunt's; Her Tone Was Most Wheedling. 
 "Aunt 'Liza, Is There Any Of     My Money Left?" 
   
   
   
 "There Is," Declared Miss Eliza, With Satisfaction. "There Is. I've 
 Saved Your Step-Mother Quite A Tidy Bit Of     What She Sent. It's Too Bad 
 If Ross Has Married A Woman With Extravagant Tastes Just Like His Own; 
 Too Bad! But It Would Seem As If He Had. All That Money For Just One 
 Girl! Put Your Dress On Again, Child, You Oughtn't To Sit Around That 
 Way. Yes, You're Going To Have Quite A Sum To Take Back To Your 
 Step-Mother." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Wished That Miss Eliza Would Not Say "Step-Mother" With Just 
 Such An Emphasis. It Made Her Seem So Undesirable A Relative To Have 
 Acquired, Miss Eliza's Way Of     Saying The     Name. And Arethusa Did Not 
 Choose To Think Of     Elinor As Anything Undesirable. She Was Nothing That 
 Was Not Perfect. She Was Certainly Nothing That Deserved To Be 
 Distinguished By Such A Term Of     Reproach As That "Step-Mother." 
 Practising Saying "Mother" Very Softly To Herself, Arethusa Had Come To 
 Regard Elinor That Way, Without The     Sign Of     A "Step." 
   
   
   
 She Ignored The     Injunction To Put On Her Dress And Leaned Coaxingly 
 Nearer To Miss Eliza, Whose Habitually Stern Expression Softened 
 Involuntarily. But How Could She Help It, With That Glowing Face 
 Wheedling So Close To Her Own? Miss Eliza, After All, Was Not Wood Or 
 Iron. 
   
   
   
 "Then Please, Aunt 'Liza, Let Me Have Another Dress?" 
   
   
   
 "What Do You Want With Another Dress, 'Thusa?" Miss Eliza Sounded 
 Almost Indulgent. "This Silk One Makes Three New Ones, Counting Your 
 Suit." 
   
   
   
 "I Know," Arethusa Said, A Trifle Apologetically, As If She Knew It 
 _Was_ A Strange Request. "I Know, But I Want A Party Dress. I Want," 
   
 And She Hurried On With The     Expression Of     Her Want In Desperate Haste 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 92 
 Lest She Be Stopped Before She Had Finished, "I Want A Green Dress?" 
   
   
   
 "A Green Dress! Mercy On Us! With Your Hair! Why, Arethusa 
 Worthington!" Miss Eliza Was Plainly Horrified. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Worthington Nodded, Most Hopefully. 
   
   
   
 "Nonsense! A Person With Hair As Red As Yours Can't Wear Green! Of     All 
 Wild Ideas!" 
   
   
   
 "I Think She Might Look Lovely In A Soft Shade Of     Green," Put In Miss 
 Asenath's Sweet Voice. "And So Why Can't She Have A Green Party Dress, 
 Sister? If She Wants One And There's Plenty Of     Money Left?" 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa Looked Still More Hopefully At Miss Eliza, For Sometimes 
 Miss Asenath's Gentle Vote Prevailed; But This Time It Was Not So To 
 Be. Miss Eliza Bit Off Her Thread With As Much Decision As Ever Atropos 
 Dares Use In Cutting Hers. 
   
   
   
 "You Always Did Care A Lot Too Much About Color, 'Senath," She Said, 
 Though Not In The     Least Unkindly; No One Was Ever Unkind To Miss 
 Asenath, "And Arethusa Is Just Like You. But As For Getting Her A Green 
 Dress To Wear With That Red Head Of     Hers, Why It Would Be A Waste, And 
 A Perfectly Sinful Waste, Of     Money, Because I Know Her Step-Mother 
 Wouldn't Let Her Wear It. She Would Think _I_ Was Crazy Besides." 
   
   
   
 Both Arethusa And Miss Asenath Were Quite Inclined To Disagree With 
 Her. Miss Asenath Was Wise Enough To Know That She Could Say Nothing 
 Further To Change The     Decision; And She Communicated To Arethusa, With 
 A Shake Of     Her Head, That She Was Not To Attempt It, Either ... For 
 The Latter's Mouth Had Plainly Opened For Speech. Be It Said To Her 
 Everlasting Credit, That She Struggled Hard With This Disappointment, 
 And Turned Away To Put On Her Dress Without Any Other Plea. 
   
   
   
 "Your Aunt 'Titia And I," Continued Miss Eliza, (She Had Not Seen This 
 Bit Of     By-Play) "Had About Decided To Get You A White Dress. We Thought 
 That If It Weren't Of     Too Sheer Material, You Might Wear It To 
   
 Entertainments There In The     City--Because I Suppose You'll Be Invited 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 93 
 To Some--Even If It Is Cold Weather, Without Having To Take Off Your 
 Underwear, Which Is Always Dangerous In Winter." 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Want An Old, Thick, White Dress...." Began Arethusa, 
 Rebelliously, But A Chorus Of     "Arethusas" Interrupted Her. 
   
   
   
 It Was Very Gentle From Miss Asenath; Very Plaintive From Miss Letitia, 
 Who Was Dreading Another Tilt; And Very, Very Stern From Miss Eliza, 
 Who Added, "If Your Aunt 'Titia Is Good Enough To Make You A White 
 Dress, You Ought To Be Very Grateful, Instead Of     Acting As You Do! I 
 Doubt The     Wisdom Of     Your Having One At All, Myself, I Must Say. A White 
 Dress In The     Winter-Time! When I Was A Girl, I Would Have Thought That 
 A Great Deal To Have!" 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Failed To Be Properly Impressed. Her Dislike Of     The     Idea 
 Of The     White Dress Showed So Plainly In Her Ever-Changing Face, That 
 Miss Asenath Silently Held Out Her Hand And Arethusa Flew To That 
 Haven, Her Couch. 
   
   
   
 "I Wouldn't Worry, Dear, About My Dress," Whispered Miss Asenath. She 
 Sometimes Just Could Not Help Consoling The     Girl, Even If It Was In 
 Direct Opposition To Miss Eliza, When Things Seemed To Be Too 
 Thoroughly Disappointing. "You Know Your Aunt 'Titia Will Make It Just 
 As Pretty As She Possibly Can. I Think Green Is Lovely With Red Hair, 
 Myself, Even Though Sister 'Liza Doesn't Seem To, But White Is Lovely 
 With It Also. And Your Mother May Get You Some Other Things, Very 
 Probably; Don't You Remember That It Said 'Immediate Needs' In The 
 Letter? And If That Means What I Imagine It Does, You May Find Yourself 
 With Two Party Dresses When You Thought You Were Only Going To Have 
 One. And," Ended Miss Asenath, Smiling, "She May Feel About Colors Just 
 As You And I Do. I Think Somehow She Will!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Smiled Back. It Was A Pleasing Prospect Held Out By Aunt 
 'Senath, So She Took Heart And Hope Immediately. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Bent Her Glasses Upon The     Two Conspirators On The     Sofa. 
   
   
   
 "Don't You Be Telling Arethusa She Would Look Nice In Green, 'Senath, 
 Because You Know Very Well She Wouldn't. In _My_ Day," This Severely 
   
 Directed At Arethusa Herself, "So Much Wasn't Done For Girls That They 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 94 
 Forgot How To Be Grateful. Nowadays, They Want The     Whole Earth And A 
 Ring Around It, Into The     Bargain. The     More You Give 'Em, The     More They 
 Want. A Green Dress For Arethusa! Who On Earth Would Have Thought Of 
 Such A Thing But You! If Your Hair Wasn't Quite So Red, You Wouldn't 
 Be So Limited In Your Choice Of     Colors. A Green Dress! That's Ross 
 Worthington All Over Again. Wild Ideas; Nothing Like Anybody Sensible 
 Would Think Of     Ever Having Or Doing! A Green Dress With Your Fiery Red 
 Hair!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Could Not Help But Feel That This Apostrophe To Her Hair Was 
 Going Rather Far. Miss Letitia And Miss Asenath Had Much The     Same 
 Feeling. But Miss Letitia Dared Only Look Her Sympathy, And Miss 
 Asenath Felt It Best To Express Hers By One Of     Her Loving Little Pats. 
   
   
   
 Then Miss Eliza Happened To Glance At The     Tall Marble Clock. She 
 Immediately Put Her Work Down. "You May Finish These Stockings, 
 Arethusa, If You Think You Can Keep Your Mind On It Long Enough. But 
 Just As I Was Doing Them Though; Mind! It's Time For Me To Go Show 
 Blish About Fixing That Sore Place On The     Black Cow's Back. He Was To 
 Be Up At Four." 
   
   
   
 With Miss Eliza's Departure Harmony Reigned Supreme, And Arethusa's 
 Tongue Loosened. Over The     Marking Of     Her Stockings, She Chattered 
 Happily To Miss Asenath And Miss Letitia. Very Often, When Miss Eliza 
 Was Present, Her Rather Dry Reception Of     Her Niece's Enthusiastic 
 Presentation Of     Ideas Had A Somewhat Quenching Effect Upon The     Real 
 Flow Of     Conversation. 
   
   
   
 "Did You Leave Timothy Down At The     Branch?" Queried Miss Asenath, After 
 Awhile. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I Reckon He Went On Home," Arethusa Answered Carelessly. 
   
   
   
 She Could Be Thus Casual In Her Answers To Miss Asenath, For With Her 
 No Subject Had Pursuit Unto A Bitter End. 
   
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Finished The     Hem Of     The     Blue Dress And Laid The     Garment 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 95 
 Carefully Over The     Back Of     A Chair. Then She Reached Over And Took 
 Arethusa's Pile Of     Stockings Away From Her. 
   
   
   
 "Suppose, Dearie," She Suggested, "You Practise A Bit Now. You Don't 
 Play That Piece Yet As Well As You Ought, And Your Father Used To Be A 
 Great Lover Of     Music. He Will Want To Hear You Play." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Rose Obediently And Went To The     Piano; Twirled The     Squeaking 
 Stool To A Lower Height, And Settled Herself, Elbows Properly Rigid And 
 Head Upright. Miss Letitia Was Her Music Teacher. 
   
   
   
 In Fact, All Of     Her Education, Domestic And Academic And Purely 
 Ornamental, As Miss Eliza Termed The     Music, Had Been Gained At Home. 
 Instruction In The     "Principal Branches," Again Miss Eliza's Name, Had 
 Been Received Mostly From Miss Asenath. Geography She Had Taught Her 
 Niece With The     Aid Of     The     Same Faded Globe That Had Fixed The     Shape Of 
 The World And The     Location Of     Its Hemispheres And Continents And 
 Principal Countries In Her Own Mind. If The     Boundaries Of     Any Of     Those 
 Countries Had Changed Since The     Globe Was Made; If New Land Had Been 
 Discovered; If Any Hitherto Obscure Cities Had Sprung Into Size And 
 Prominence During The     Sixty Years Or More That The     Globe Had Stood In 
 The Corner Of     The     Square Hall: It Had Made No Sort Of     Difference In The 
 Geography Lessons. Arethusa Had Learned History, From Ancient History 
 Books With Almost Obliterated Names On The     Fly-Leaves. But It Had Been 
 Rather A Biased Version Of     The     Period Connected With The     Civil War 
 Which She Had Learned, For Miss Eliza Was Very Bitter About Those Years 
 Of Her Country's Existence. Her Only Brother, And Her Twin, Had Been 
 Killed Fighting For The     Confederacy. Miss Eliza Seemed To Be Unable To 
 Believe That He Had Been Killed In Battle, However, For She Always 
 Spoke Of     Him As "Murdered" By The     Yankees. So Arethusa's Ideas Of 
 Events Connected With This Time Was Hardly Very Favorably Inclined 
 Towards The     Northern Side. Miss Asenath Was Very Shaky In Arithmetic; 
 Therefore, Her Pupil Had Not Got Into Higher Mathematics. She Had 
 Paused In Her Figuring Somewhere About The     Beginning Of     Long Division, 
 But Even Where She Had Paused She Could Not Be Said To Be Very Steadily 
 Fixed. 
   
   
   
 The Musical Part Of     This Education Belonged To Just About The     Same Date 
   
 As The     Part Which Miss Asenath Had Supervised. For All The     Pieces 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 96 
 Arethusa Had Learned "By Heart," Which Was The     Only Way To Learn Music 
 Properly So As To Be Able To Give Pleasure To Others, Were Pieces Which 
 Miss Letitia Herself Had Practised With Painstaking Care For Expression 
 Over Fifty Years Ago. Both Musicians Were Quite Proficient In Mazurkas 
 And Polkas And Old-Fashioned Reels And Ballads, And Let Us Not Forget 
 To Mention Variations Of     Every Conceivable Variety, For Miss Letitia 
 Possessed A Whole Book Of     Variations, And It Was Quite A Thick Book. 
   
   
   
 Just At Present, Arethusa Was Busily Engaged In Committing To Memory 
 "The Babbling Brook." 
   
   
   
 But Her Brook Did Not Babble Just Precisely As Miss Letitia's Did. 
 There Was Something Far More Fantastic And Wild About The     Runs The 
 Younger Musician Made On The     Tinkling Square Piano; Runs Which Miss 
 Letitia Considered Were Not At All In Keeping With The     Character Of     The 
 Music She Was Playing. Effort Had Been Expended By Both To Bring 
 Arethusa's Brook To The     State Of     Really Flowing As A Brook Should Flow; 
 But It Seemed So Far To Be Hopeless. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Played It Through Once And Miss Letitia Kept Time For Her With 
 A Threaded Needle. 
   
   
   
 "No, Dearie," She Shook Her Head, "You Don't Get It At All. You Play 
 Just A Bit Too Fast Sometimes, And Not Quite Fast Enough Others." 
   
   
   
 So It Was Played All Over Again From The     Beginning By The     Pupil; But 
 Still It Was No Better. Miss Letitia Looked Troubled. 
   
   
   
 "I Just Don't See How I Can Make You Do It Differently." 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath Liked Arethusa's Way Of     Playing This Particular Piece And 
 She Did Not Want It Changed. 
   
   
   
 "Perhaps," She Suggested Gently, "The Child Is Tired. It's Been A Very 
 Hot Day, And It's Very Hard To Do Anything Just Right On Such A Day. It 
 Seems To Take All The     Life Out Of     One." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 97 
   
   
 Miss Letitia Agreed. "It Does So. Well, She Can Learn It The     Right Way 
 Before She Leaves. There's Plenty Of     Time Still." 
   
   
   
 "Play Something Else For Us, Dear," Said Miss Asenath. "Play Some Of 
 The Ballads." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Turned Again To The     Piano And Filled The     Room With The     Soft 
 Sounds Of     "Auld Robin Gray" And "The Low-Backed Car" And "Annie 
 Laurie." 
   
   
   
 Under Cover Of     The     Music Timothy Slipped In And Found A Chair Close To 
 Miss Asenath. He Had Been Spending A Very Miserable Time Down By The 
 Branch. And He Would Never Have Come Near The     House Had He Not Heard 
 The Piano, For Timothy Loved Music Intensely And He Could Never Resist 
 Following Its Sound. If Arethusa Was Still Angry With Him, He Had No 
 Intention Of     Bothering Her Again; He Only Wanted To Be Allowed To 
 Listen. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Came Back To The     Sitting-Room And Settled Once More To Her 
 Sewing. Miss Asenath Closed Her Eyes And Gave Herself Over To Dreaming. 
 It Was Her Book Of     Ballads, And She Had Used To, Long Ago, Play Them 
 Softly In Just Such Twilights For Another Timothy. Miss Letitia's Busy 
 Fingers Worked Away And Her Head Nodded Time. 
   
   
   
 The Late Summer Evening With Its Myriads Of     Sounds And That Feeling Of 
 Restless Settling Down For The     Night That It Always Seems To Have In 
 The Country, Slowly Deepened Into Darkness And Arethusa Still Played 
 On. Perhaps Her Execution Was Not Of     The     Best And Her Fingering May 
 Have Been Questionable; But She Seemed To Feel Some Of     The     Real Spirit 
 Of The     Quaint Old Tunes She Played And She Put A Soft Expression Into 
 Them That Was Far More To Her Circle Of     Listeners Than Brilliant 
 Execution Or Perfect Fingering. None Of     Them Could Have Found The 
 Smallest Fault: The     Music Spoke To Each One Of     Them In That Way Each 
 One Most Wanted. 
   
   
   
 So She Played On Softly Until Mandy Came, Announcing Supper. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 9 Pg 98 
   
   
 Timothy Must Stay, Miss Eliza Insisted. But Timothy Declined, Even 
 Though Arethusa, With Rather Strange Cordiality Considering What She 
 Had Said At The     Branch, Joined Her Voice To Miss Eliza's. The     Music Had 
 Spoken To Arethusa Herself, To Soften. Timothy's Mood, However, Was Not 
 Inclined For Conversation On General Topics, And At Miss Eliza's 
 Supper-Table One Nearly Always Conversed On General Topics. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 99 
 The Only Persons At The     Farm Who Did Not Go To The     Station To See 
 Arethusa Off For Her Trip Were Miss Asenath And Nathan. Even Mandy 
 Went, On The     Front Seat Of     The     Surrey With Blish. 
   
   
   
 Nathan Was Mandy's Better Half, A Darkey Of     A Deeply Religious Nature. 
 He Considered A Town, Everything In It, And Everything Connected With 
 It, Snares Of     The     Evil One To Lead Men Astray. Although In His Youth, 
 And Up Almost Until Early Middle Age, He Had Been The     Terror Of     The 
 County Seat The     Saturday Nights He Had Been Paid Off, He Had "Gotten 
 Religion" Along About The     Time Of     His Marriage To Mandy, And Now 
 Nothing On Earth Could Take Him Anywhere Near Any Of     His Former Haunts. 
 He Had Even Refused To Drive Miss Eliza To Town When On One Or Two 
 Occasions His Services Had Been Required. And He Was The     Only Human 
 Being On Record Who Had Ever Opposed Her Thus Successfully. 
   
   
   
 But It Happened Most Fortunately In This Case, This Feeling Of     His 
 About Town, For He Could Remain With Miss Asenath And Mandy Could Go To 
 The Station With Arethusa. Otherwise, She Might Have Had To Stay At 
 Home, And This Would Almost Have Broken Her Heart. 
   
   
   
 Timothy And Timothy's Mother And His Aunt, Who Made Her Home With Them, 
 Also Drove The     Six Miles 'Cross Country To The     Little Town Of     Vandalia 
 Where Arethusa Was To Take The     Train, To Bid Her Good-Bye. They Were 
 Already Present When The     Farm Delegation Arrived, As Early As It Was 
   
 When They Came, For Timothy Wanted As Many As Possible Of     These Last 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 100 
 Moments With Arethusa. His Mother Had Been Sure It Was Far Too Soon To 
 Start When Timothy Called Her, But She Suffered From A Chronic 
 Inability To Oppose Any Of     His Wishes, Even By Suggestion, So She Had 
 Left Her Housewifely Counting Of     Preserves And Pickles Without A Word 
 Of Complaint To Go With Him. 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Became A Little Tearful In Her Leave-Taking. 
   
   
   
 "Letting The     Dear Child Go Off All Alone By Herself This Way For The 
 Very First Time!" 
   
   
   
 For In Spite Of     Miss Eliza's Decided And Oft Loudly Expressed 
 Disinclination To Have Her Do So, To Arethusa's Unbounded Delight, She 
 Was Actually Going Alone. 
   
   
   
 Thanks To That Flight Of     Elinor And Ross To The     Seashore, The     State 
 Fair Had Been Only A Memory For More Than A Month. But Diligent Search 
 By Miss Eliza, In The     Way Of     Inquiries At Church And When In Town, Had 
 Discovered A Friend Who Was Going To Lewisburg Later In The     Fall To 
 Shop, And Who Would Be More Than Glad To Take The     Girl Under Her Wing. 
 Then Almost At The     Very Last Moment This Promised Company Was Forced To 
 Abandon Her Trip And Arethusa Was Left High And Dry. The     Fate Of     Her 
 Visit Trembled In The     Balance For A Few Days. Miss Eliza Was Strongly 
 Inclined To Postpone The     Whole Affair Until She Could Arrange Things To 
 Go With Her Niece Herself, But She Finally Gave In To The     Pleading That 
 Arethusa Was Entirely Ready. Why Should She Wear The     First Freshness 
 Off Her Outfit Before She Made This Visit? 
   
   
   
 But If She Was Going Alone, She Was Going Fully-Equipped So Far As 
 Advice Was Concerned. Miss Eliza Had Spent Several Conscientious Hours 
 Of Instruction And Counsel. Arethusa Had Been Told A Dozen Times Over 
 Just What She Was To Do, And That She Was To Leave The     Train Only When 
 It Stopped For The     Very Last Time To Stay, Without Going On. The 
 Terminus Of     The     Line Was Lewisburg. 
   
   
   
 "And If You Sit There A Half An Hour, You Make Sure," Said Miss Eliza, 
 Firmly. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 101 
   
   
 A Great Many People, Added She, Especially Young People, Get Lost By 
 Leaving Trains At Wrong Stations. 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Contributed Her Quota Also, Though It Was More In Actual 
 Preparation For Contingencies That Might Arise Than Advice. Arethusa's 
 Name And Address Had Been Sewed In Everything She Had On, "In Case Of 
 Accident." Miss Letitia Had Had A Dream One Night Of     An Unidentified 
 Body Lying By A Railroad Track After A Wreck. She Dreamed The     Body To 
 Be Arethusa's. Then She Had Read, Very Often, Of     Folks Whose Sense Of 
 Their Own Identity Had Been Taken From Them Most Completely By A Blow 
 On The     Head; This Also Had Happened In Wrecks. Should There Be A Wreck 
 And The     Dream Come True, Or The     Other Horrible Thing Happen, In Either 
 Case They Would Never Know What Became Of     Arethusa. The     Thought 
 Harrowed Miss Letitia. Fortunately, She Had Only Dreamed The     Dream The 
 One Time, So There Was Not Quite So Much Danger Of     It Being Fulfilled. 
 Had She Dreamed It Three Nights, Arethusa Should Never Have Gone A Step 
 On This Trip. But Even Had The     Other Dreadful Thing Occurred, It Would 
 Have Been The     Most Careless Searcher Who Would Have Failed To Discover 
 Just Who Arethusa Was And Where She Belonged, After Miss Letitia Had 
 Finished Her Labeling, In Slanting, Old-Fashioned Letters On Neatly 
 Bound-Down Squares Of     White Linen. 
   
   
   
 The Traveller Carried A Small Packet Of     Baking-Soda, Tucked Into A 
 Corner Of     Her Satchel By The     Long-Sighted Miss Letitia, "In Case Of 
 Car-Sickness." There Was Nothing So Good For Nausea As Soda. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Wore The     Dark Blue Suit Miss Letitia Had Made Her, With Its 
 Plain, Full Gathered Skirt, All Lined For Better Warmth, And Its 
 Double-Breasted Coat, Trimmed With The     Buttons From One Of     Her 
 Great-Grandfather's Broadcloth Suits. Her Traveling Waist Was Pongee. 
   
   
   
 "Pongee Is The     Best Material To Travel In That I Know Of," Said Miss 
 Eliza. "It Never Shows The     Least Bit Of     Soil." 
   
   
   
 It Was Buttoned Modestly To Her Throat, Ending In A Straight Line, 
 Neither High Nor Low Which Would Have Been Most Trying To Nearly 
 Everyone, But Above Which Arethusa's Flower Face Rose As Lovely As 
 Ever. Her Hat Was A Plain Round Felt Trimmed With Two Really Beautiful 
   
 Turkey Feathers That Miss Eliza Had Been Saving Carefully Since The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 102 
 Winter Previous. Arethusa Had Never Had A Feather On A Hat Before (Only 
 Ribbons, The     Year Round), And She Considered These Feathers The     Height 
 Of Elegance. Her Hair Was Fixed On The     Top Of     Her Head For The     Very 
 First Time In Her Life, A Graduation From The     Long Red Plait Just For 
 This Glorious Visit. Her Feeling About That Heavy, Unbecomingly 
 Arranged Roll, And The     Hairpins Which Held It In Place, Was An 
 Indescribable Mixture Of     Pride And Elation And Satisfaction. 
   
   
   
 Clutched Tightly In One White, Cotton-Gloved Hand Was Mandy's 
 Contribution, A Small, Neatly Tied-Up Box Of     Lunch. Her Extra Money Was 
 In A Little Bag On A String Around Her Neck, Where Miss Eliza Had Also 
 Deposited The     Trunk Check. There Was Only The     Tiniest Possible Amount 
 Of Change In Her Purse. She Carried A Hand-Satchel So Ancient In 
 Appearance That It Might Have Been The     Forerunner Of     All Hand-Satchels, 
 And Her Trunk Was A Wee Round-Topped Affair Of     Red Leather With A 
 Canvas Cover. It Was A Trunk Which Had Been Last Viewed By The     Public 
 When Miss Eliza And Miss Letitia Attended The     Centennial Exposition In 
 Philadelphia. Miss Eliza Was Not One To Expend Money For Anything, When 
 What She Already Had Was Still Perfectly Good, Albeit A Trifle Out Of 
 Date. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Scorned To Show Her Feelings As Did Miss Letitia When She 
 Told Arethusa Good-Bye. Consequently, She Was Even Gruffer Than Usual 
 As She Adjured The     Departing One Not To Make A Fool Of     Herself. 
   
   
   
 Mandy Wept Openly. Putting Her Head Into A Lion's Mouth Held No More 
 Unknown Terrors For Mandy Than The     Making Of     A Journey. 
   
   
   
 And Timothy Prepared To Wring Arethusa's Hand Almost Off When It Was 
 His Turn To Say Farewell; He Thought It Was The     Most Expression Of     His 
 Affectionate Unhappiness At Seeing Her Leave Them That Would Be 
 Permitted Him. But She Held Her Face Up To Him In The     Most Natural 
 Manner To Be Kissed, Just As She Had Held It Up To Miss Eliza And Miss 
 Letitia And His Mother; So Timothy, After A Brief Moment Of     Hesitation 
 And Remembrance Of     What Arethusa Had Said So Emphatically About 
 Kissing, Took What The     Gods Were Offering And Imprinted A Very Modest 
 Salute On The     Sweet, Upturned Face. 
   
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was So Excited That She Scarcely Heard All Of     Miss Eliza's 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 103 
 Last Instructions, And She Bade Some Of     Her Party Adieu More Than Once. 
 Timothy Claimed The     Privilege Of     Helping Her On The     Train And Escorting 
 Her Into The     Coach, And He Deposited Her Satchel On A Seat He Turned 
 Over To Face Her So She Would Be Sure To Have Plenty Of     Room. 
   
   
   
 She Chattered Away, These Last Few Precious Moments, As Merrily As If 
 Timothy Were Companioning The     Adventure Of     This Trip To Lewisburg, But 
 He Found No Tongue To Reply. It Is True That He Was Not Allowed Very 
 Much Chance, But Even If He Had Been, There Was No Heart In Him For 
 Talk. Timothy Was Finding The     Actual Reality Of     Parting With Arethusa 
 For Heaven-Only-Knew-How-Long-A-Time, Far Worse Than Its Anticipation, 
 As Bad As That Had Been. 
   
   
   
 The Conductor Called, "All A--Bo-Ard!" 
   
   
   
 And In Sudden, Desperate Utterance Of     A Wild Little Wish. Timothy 
 Leaned Close To Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "Kiss Me Good-Bye Again, Arethusa," He Coaxed, All His Young Heart In 
 His Blue Eyes. "Please!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Stared At Him, Frankly Amazed At Such A Remarkable Request. 
   
   
   
 "What's The     Matter With You, Timothy Jarvis? Kiss You Good-Bye? Why, 
 The Very Idea! And What On Earth Do You Mean By 'Again'?" 
   
   
   
 For She Was Completely Unaware That In Her Excitement She Had Given 
 Timothy That Kiss. 
   
   
   
 His Spirits Went Clear To Zero, But Fortune Spared Him The     Necessity Of 
 A Reply, For The     Conductor Called Another Raucous Signal, And The     Train 
 Began To Move. Timothy Had Barely Time To Save Himself From Being 
 Carried Off. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 104 
 Arethusa Stuck Her Head Out Of     The     Car Window, Regardless Of     One Of 
 Miss Eliza's Very Last And Most Positive Instructions, And Waved And 
 Waved To The     Ones She Had Left Behind On The     Vandalia Platform, And She 
 Kept On Waving Long After They Had Become Mere Indistinguishable Specks 
 As The     Train Gathered Speed. 
   
   
   
 Then She Settled Back Against The     Luxury Of     Her Dusty Red-Plush Seat 
 With A Soft Little Sigh. 
   
   
   
 The Swift Motion Of     The     Train Was Most Exhilarating, For Every Single 
 Click Of     The     Car-Wheels Meant A Turn Which Brought Her Just That Much 
 Nearer To Her Father And Elinor And The     Wonderful Visit. 
   
   
   
 After A While, When Her Agitation Had Begun To Subside A Trifle, 
 Arethusa Began To Remember A Few Of     The     Multitude Of     Directions Miss 
 Eliza Had Given That Were Most Important To Be Carried Out Without 
 Fail. She Removed Her Hat With Care And Reached Down Into The     Ancient 
 Travelling Bag And Brought Forth A Piece Of     Manila Paper In Which She 
 Wrapped It, To Save Its Newness From Flying Cinders. She Took Off Her 
 Coat And Folded It, Lining Outside, And Hung It Over The     Arm Of     The 
 Opposite Seat And Rolled Her White Cotton Gloves Into A Neat Little 
 Ball And Put Them And Her Purse Down Into Her Bag. 
   
   
   
 Then She Drew "The Dove In The     Eagles' Nest" Out Of     That Capacious 
 Receptacle (Miss Asenath Had Advised Bringing Something To Read And 
 Arethusa Had Not Read This Particular Romance For A Very Long While), 
 Propped Herself Primly Way Over In The     Corner Of     Her Seat And Prepared 
 To Do Just As She Had Been Told. 
   
   
   
 But She Was Far Too Excited To Do Much More Than Just Open Her Book. 
 The Fortunes Of     Christina And Her Two Sons In The     Free City Of     Ulm, As 
 So Graphically Portrayed By Miss Charlotte Yonge, Could Generally 
 Transport Arethusa Far From The     Everyday Events Of     Her Own World Into 
 The Actual Middle Ages That Was The     Scene Of     Their Happening; But 
 To-Day.... They Seemed To Have Lost A Lot Of     This Power; She Could 
 Hardly Keep Her Eyes On The     Book. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 105 
   
   
 The Flying Landscape Outside The     Window Fascinated Her At First And 
 After Awhile Her Fellow Travellers Claimed Her Attention, And Proved 
 Far More Interesting Than Even That. Miss Eliza Could Have No Possible 
 Objection To Her Niece Watching Them If She Sat Very Still. 
   
   
   
 There Were Not Very Many Passengers When Arethusa Got On; One Or Two 
 Men In The     Other End Of     The     Car, And Several Women And Babies. But As 
 The Tram Rushed Ever Nearer To Lewisburg, The     Passengers Increased In 
 Number. 
   
   
   
 A Group Climbed On At One Of     The     Way Stations, And Took A Seat Just 
 Opposite Arethusa Across The     Aisle, And They Particularly Attracted 
 Her. It Was Composed Of     A Woman Who Reminded Her Very Strongly Of     Miss 
 Letitia In The     Round Chubbiness Of     Her Face And Her Comfortable 
 Untidiness, Although She Was Undoubtedly Much Younger, And Her Two 
 Children. The     Sex Of     One Of     Them Arethusa Was Unable To Determine Just 
 At First, For It Was So Small That The     Cut Of     Its Blue Raiment Might 
 Have Served For Either Boy Or Girl; But The     Other One Was Unmistakably 
 Of A Feminine Persuasion. This Child Had The     Lightest Hair And Eyebrows 
 The Watcher Across The     Aisle Had Ever Seen, And The     Very Palest Of     Blue 
 Eyes. So Light Were The     Eyebrows That Only A Close Inspection Later On 
 Convinced Arethusa That There Were Any There At All. 
   
   
   
 These Travellers Had A Great Deal Of     Baggage, Several Boxes And A Large 
 Telescope, As Well As A Huge Satchel. The     Handle Of     The     Telescope Had 
 Been Broken Off At Some Stage Of     Its Career, And This Deficiency Had 
 Been Remedied By Inserting Under The     Leather Straps Still Remaining, A 
 Coat Hanger Covered With Bright Red Silk Ribbon Gathered On And Tied At 
 The Hook With Gay Little Bows. 
   
   
   
 The Children Were Very Restless; They Did Much Moving About, Climbing 
 In And Out Of     The     Seat. The     Mother Seemed To Find It Necessary To 
 Admonish Her Offspring With Frequency, And Arethusa Discovered In This 
   
 Way That The     Little Girl's Name Was "Helen Louise" And The     Being In The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 106 
 Straight Up-And-Down Blue Garment Was A Boy Infant Who Answered To The 
 Name Of     Peter. 
   
   
   
 At A Junction Farther Down The     Line, A Man Got On. And As The     Car Was 
 Pretty Full By This Time, He Took The     Seat Just Opposite Arethusa; That 
 Seat Which Timothy Had Gallantly Turned Over For Her. 
   
   
   
 He Buried Himself Immediately In A Paper He Carried, But When His 
 Neighbor's Liquid Laugh Rang Out At Some Ridiculous Antic Of     Peter's, 
 He Dropped His Paper And Regarded Her Mobile Face With Interest. 
   
   
   
 He Was Rather A Nice Looking Man, Quietly Dressed In Well Cut Clothes 
 And He Had An Air Of     Good Living About Him That Was Quite Attractive. 
 To Any Experienced Traveller, The     Neat Looking Leather Cases With The 
 Brass Locks, Which He Carried, Would Have Been Quite Sufficient To Have 
 Immediately Told His Occupation. He Travelled For A Notions House, Out 
 Of Cincinnati, With A Territory Covering Most Of     The     Small Towns In 
 Three States. It Was A Boring Business, And Offered Very Little As 
 Diversion On The     Side; But He Hoped Before Very Long To Be Much Better 
 Placed. He Liked Girls, And The     One Before Him Was One Of     The     Prettiest 
 He Had Ever Seen. 
   
   
   
 They Rode Facing One Another For About Five Miles, And He Watched 
 Arethusa, Without Her Actually Realizing She Was Being Watched. Then 
 She Laughed Gayly At Peter Once More, As His Mother All But Saved His 
 Life When He Pitched Head First Off The     Seat, And Her Eager Grey Eyes 
 Caught A Glimpse Of     The     Brown Eyes Across From Her, Smiling In 
 Sympathy. 
   
   
   
 "Isn't He The     Funniest Little Boy!" Exclaimed Arethusa, Involuntarily, 
 To The     Sympathy. 
   
   
   
 "He Is," Replied The     Man Kindly, Then He Added, After A Bit, "Are You 
 Travelling Alone, Or Do You Belong With The     Funny Little Boy?" 
   
   
   
 "No, Sir,... Yes, Sir!" Replied Arethusa, Suddenly Covered With A Shy 
 Confusion. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 107 
   
   
 "Which Is Which?" Asked The     Man, Laughing, And He Showed Attractive 
 White Teeth. 
   
   
   
 The Friendliness Of     His Brown Eyes And His Laugh Reassured Arethusa Of 
 Her Momentary Feeling Of     Alarm When He Had Spoken. Her Exclamation Had 
 Not Really Expected A Reply, And She Had Been Quite Startled When The 
 Sympathetic Eyes To Which She Had Addressed Herself Had Been Discovered 
 To Have This Voice Belonging To Them. 
   
   
   
 She Blushed, And Dropped Her Head. Then She Raised It Again, After A 
 Moment, And He Was Still Smiling At Her In The     Same Friendly Fashion, 
 So Arethusa Found Courage To Look At Him. To Her Rose-Colored View Of 
 The Inmates Of     The     Best Of     All Possible Worlds, He Seemed In That Look 
 To Be A Very Nice Man. It Is True That Miss Eliza Had Warned Her With 
 Emphasis Against Strange Men, But The     Man Across From Her Could Not Be 
 Said To Come Anywhere Near The     Descriptions Of     The     Ogres Against Which 
 Arethusa Had Been So Warned. Arethusa Had Not Had Her Red-Riding-Hood 
 Experience As Yet, And It Was Her Habit To Trust. 
   
   
   
 They Rode For A Few Moments Silently, And Then Peter Did What Had Been 
 Inevitable For Some Time That He Would Do, He Pitched Head First Out 
 Into The     Aisle. 
   
   
   
 "Oh!" Exclaimed Arethusa, And She Jumped Clear Out Of     Her Seat At The 
 Loud And High-Pitched Wail With Which He Made Known His Distress. 
   
   
   
 "That's Too Bad," Said The     Man. "But I've Been Afraid He Was Going To 
 Do That Very Thing." 
   
   
   
 "So Have I," Answered Arethusa Confidentially. 
   
   
   
 And In A Very Short While, She Was Talking Away As If She Had Known Her 
 New Acquaintance All Her Life, With All The     Dimples And Excitement And 
 Gestures That Belonged To Arethusa. But What Harm To Talk To Such A 
 Nice, Kind Man? Miss Eliza Had Not Known That She Would Meet This Sort 
   
 Of Man, She Was Sure. She Could Not Possibly Object To A Little 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 108 
 Friendly Conversation With Someone In The     Very Same Seat. 
   
   
   
 And He Listened, Truly Interested, As Arethusa's Enthusiasm Began To 
 Make Up For The     While It Had Been Pent, In All She Told Him Of     The 
 Coming Visit And The     Magnificent Expectations She Had Of     That Visit, 
 And Of     Ross And Elinor. 
   
   
   
 But The     Motherly Looking Woman Across The     Aisle Had Been Watching 
 Arethusa For Some Time Also. And When Peter's Sobs Had Ceased, And She 
 Looked Up Once More From Her Family Cares To See Arethusa Conversing So 
 Animatedly With Her Chance Acquaintance, She Decided At Once To 
 Interfere. She Had Heart Enough To--At Least--Attempt The     Management Of 
 Any Affairs Coming Under Her Notice Which Did Not Seem To Her To Be 
 Running Just As They Should. 
   
   
   
 She Bustled Over And Loomed Above Arethusa And Her Friendly Man. 
   
   
   
 "Know This Man, Dearie?" She Demanded Peremptorily. 
   
   
   
 "Why ... No ... I...." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Almost Added, "Aunt 'Titia." For The     Tone Of     Voice And The 
 Little Term Of     Endearment And The     Woman Herself Were All Rather 
 Bewilderingly Like Her Aunt. 
   
   
   
 "Well, I Don't Reckon You Ought To Be Talking To Him Then," And She 
 Turned To The     Man, A Self-Elected Champion Of     A Lone Maiden, And Stared 
 At Him As Authoritatively As She Had Spoken To Arethusa. "You're Plenty 
 Old Enough To Know Better'n This. And You'd Better Get Out Of     That Seat 
 Mighty Quick, Or I'll Call The     Conductor. And You A Nice-Looking Man, 
 Too!" 
   
   
   
 The Man Turned As Red As A Well-Cooked Beet, Clear Down Into His 
 Immaculate Collar. He Wasted No Time In Expostulation Or Protest That 
   
 Arethusa's Champion Was Interfering In Something Which Was None Of     Her 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 109 
 Immediate Business, But He Gathered Up His Neat Leather Cases And Fled 
 To The     Smoker For Safety. He Had Meant No Sort Of     Harm, And He Was So 
 Embarrassed That He Was Hours Recovering From The     Experience. 
   
   
   
 After He Had Disappeared Down The     Aisle, Arethusa's Defender Moved Her 
 Family And Most Of     Her Baggage Across The     Way, Depositing Her 
 Remarkably Decorated Telescope In The     Space Between The     Two Seats Which 
 Had Faced Each Other For Arethusa's Adventure, Before The     Astonished 
 Arethusa Was Thoroughly Aware Of     Just What Was Happening. 
   
   
   
 "You Sit There, Helen Louise," Admonished This Substitute For The     Nice 
 Man To Her Daughter, Indicating The     End Of     The     Telescope, "And If Our 
 Friend Wants To Come Back, I Reckon He'll Have To Fall Over You. That 
 Was A Horrid Man," She Added To Arethusa: "It's The     Likes Of     Him Makes 
 It Disagreeable For Girls To Be Travelling By Themselves." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, No," Protested Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, He Were," Replied Helen Louise's Mother In A Positive Way That 
 Indicated Superior Wisdom On Such Matters. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Bowed To The     Superior Wisdom And The     Positive Tone, Through 
 Long Habit Of     Her Experience With Miss Eliza When She Used Such A Tone. 
   
   
   
 "But He Looked Like A Nice Man," She Said, Though Feebly. 
   
   
   
 "It's Most Always The     Nicest Looking Ones Is The     Worst At Heart. I'm 
 Raising Up Helen Louise To Steer Clear Of     Anything In Pants She Ain't 
 Been Introduced To First By Somebody She Knows. It's Safest." 
   
   
   
 This Speech Had A Somewhat Familiar Sound, Though Perhaps Couched 
   
 Differently. Arethusa Had A Moment Of     Terrified Remembrance Of     Certain 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 110 
 Instructions. She Looked Down At The     Bulwark Of     Helen Louise And The 
 Telescope Between Her And The     Aisle, And She Suddenly Felt Grateful To 
 Helen Louise's Mother. 
   
   
   
 "Thank You," She Said, With Fervent Sincerity, "Thank You, Ma'am, Just 
 Ever So Much. I Never Do Remember Anything Aunt 'Liza Tells Me, She 
 Says." 
   
   
   
 "You Ain't Got No Real Call To Thank Me," Was The     Placid Reply. "I'd Be 
 Doing The     Same For Any Girl As Good-Looking As You Be; And I'd Be 
 Hoping Somebody'd Do The     Same For My Helen Louise. It Seems Like It's 
 Always Most Easiest For Young Folks To Keep Right On Forgetting Just 
 What They Ought To Be Remembering." 
   
   
   
 "I Know," Said Arethusa Apologetically. "But This Is The     First Time I 
 Ever Traveled Anywhere, And...." 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry (For Such Was The     Name Of     Arethusa's Latest Friend) Rescued 
 Her Small Son From His Repeated Attempts To Plunge Through The     Glass In 
 The Car Window, Before She Turned Around To Continue The     Conversation. 
   
   
   
 "I Should Have Said You Had. You Don't Look So Awfully Citified, Now I 
 Come To Think, But I Should Have Certainly Said You'd Travelled. Who's 
 Your Aunt 'Liza, You Spoke About Awhile Back? Ain't You Got No Ma?" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Was Genuinely Friendly, And She Was Safely Feminine, So 
 Arethusa Once More Launched Into A Glowing Description Of     What Wonders 
 The Future Held In Store, And To Mrs. Cherry's Interested Questioning, 
 Told What The     Past Had Been Like, Timothy And All. 
   
   
   
 "You Certainly Have Got Lots Of     Folks To Care About You," Was The 
 Comment, When The     Narrator Finally Paused For Breath. "And You Ain't 
 Never Seen Your Pa? Well! Well! Helen Louise And Peter And Me We're 
 Going To The     City To Meet Helen Louise's Pa. He's Got Work There And 
 We're Going To Live There Now." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 111 
   
 Helen Louise Smiled All Over Herself At This Mention Of     Her Father, A 
 Toothless Smile, But Of     Unmistakable Joy, And Arethusa's Heart Went Out 
 To Her Immediately. Here, Very Evidently, Was Another Girl-Child Whose 
 Affections Were Centered Largely In A Male Parent. 
   
   
   
 "Helen Louise Favors Her Pa Considerable. And They're The     Biggest Geese 
 Together!" 
   
   
   
 Helen Louise's Silvery Treble Piped Up. "Papa And Me Just Play And 
 Play!" She Gave Herself Something Like An Anticipatory Hug. "Gee, But 
 I'm Going To Be Glad To See Him! I Ain't Seen Him For A Whole Year 
 Now!" 
   
   
   
 "Helen Louise, Don't You Be Telling Miss Worth'ton No Story Now!" 
 Warned Her Mother. Names Had Been Exchanged. "She Ain't Seen Him For 
 More'n A Month Reely, But I Reckon It Does Seem 'Most A Year To Her." 
   
   
   
 Peter Now Joined His Voice To The     Conversation For The     First Time, "Ma, 
 I'm Hungry." 
   
   
   
 "Bless Us! But It Might Be Dinner Time, Now, Mightn't It. Have You Got 
 A Watch, Miss Worth'ton?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Reached Down Into Her Waistband And Drew Forth Miss Eliza's 
 Parting Gift. Which Was A Watch That Had Seen Miss Eliza Faithfully 
 Through More Than One Decade, A Large And Handsomely Chased Affair Of 
 Gold On A Long Ribbon Of     Black Gros-Grain. 
   
   
   
 "The Child Will Need A Watch," Said Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Fully Appreciated The     Parting Gift, And She Reverenced The 
 Old-Fashioned Timepiece Fully As Much As Had Its Former Owner. 
   
   
   
 What Though It Was A Trifle Heavy In Her Hand As She Held It To Read 
   
 The Dial! Was It Not An Actual Watch And Gold At That, And Did Not Its 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 112 
 Tiny Hands Count Off The     Moments Of     Each One Of     The     Twenty-Four Hours 
 For Her To Note As They Flew By? And Was Not All Of     Its Wonder Her Very 
 Own Now? 
   
   
   
 "A Quarter To One," She Announced Proudly. 
   
   
   
 "Well, Well, You Don't Say So! No Wonder He's Hungry! You'll Be Having 
 Some Lunch With Us, Miss Worth'ton, Won't You Now?" 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Refused This Cordial Invitation. She Could Not Possibly 
 Eat A Mouthful. Food Would Have Stuck In Her Throat Right On Top Of     The 
 Big Lump Of     Excitement That Was Already There. And Besides The     Drawback 
 Of This Decided Inability To Swallow, She Had Not The     Slightest 
 Sensation Of     Hunger That Would Have Tempted Her To Try To Eat. 
   
   
   
 "I Had Some Lunch Of     My Own," She Shyly Offered The     Neatly Tied-Up Box; 
 "Aunt 'Liza Makes Awfully Nice Jam And Things And Mandy Said She Was 
 Going To Fix Me Some Fried Chicken. But I Don't Want A Bit Of     It. 
 Wouldn't Helen Louise And Peter Like To Have It?" 
   
   
   
 Helen Louise's Pale Blue Eyes Glistened At This Mention Of     Fried 
 Chicken. Her Own Lunch Contained No Such Appetizing Delicacy. She Had 
 Helped To Tie It Up, And She Knew Just What Was In It. This Was Far 
 Superior In Every Way. She Pulled At Her Mother's Dress In Eagerness, 
 And Mrs. Cherry Reached Down And Slapped Her. 
   
   
   
 "Don't You Act Like You Never Had Nothing In Your Life To Eat," She 
 Said Sharply. 
   
   
   
 Then Helen Louise's Eyes Began To Glisten With Tears. Arethusa Felt 
 Very Sorry For Her. She Had Seemed So Like A Kindred Spirit In Her 
 Plainly Manifested Father Worship. So Arethusa Opened The     Dainty Little 
 Packet Of     Chicken And Sandwiches And Spread It Temptingly On Helen 
 Louise's Lap With Her Own Hands. 
   
   
   
   
 "Here," She Said, "You May Have It, Helen Louise. But You'll Give Peter 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 113 
 Some? Do," She Added Quickly. 
   
   
   
 For Peter's Large Round Eyes Were Regarding With A Greediness 
 Unmistakable The     Munificence Of     Food That Had Been So Generously 
 Bestowed Upon His Sister. 
   
   
   
 "Well, I Will Say This," Remarked Mrs. Cherry, As She Divided 
 Arethusa's Contribution Into Equal Portions Between Her Offspring, 
 After The     Donor Had Succeeded In Convincing Her That She Honestly 
 Wanted None Of     It. "I Will Say This For My Children. They Might Be 
 Acting Like Hoodlums Over This Here Food, But They Ain't Never Seen 
 None Just Like It Before," She Bit Into One Of     Mandy's Beaten Biscuit 
 Sandwiches With The     Pink Ham In Between, Herself, With Relish. "Your 
 Aunt Must Have A Mighty Good Cook. She Cert'inly Must!" 
   
   
   
 Watching The     Little Cherry's Devour Her Lunch And The     Garrulity Of 
 Their Mother Consumed So Much Time For Arethusa, That Almost Before She 
 Knew It The     Little Wave Of     Excitement Denoting The     Nearing Of     A 
 Journey's End Swept Through The     Car. The     Conductor Passed By And 
 Gathered The     Little Slips Of     Stiff Paper From The     Men's Hats; Every 
 Passenger Began His Or Her Peculiar Preparations For Leaving The     Train. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Began Gathering Up Her Boxes And Parcels. Helen Louise Was 
 Sent To The     Water Cooler To Wet A Handkerchief And Then Her Face And 
 Peter's Were Vigorously Scrubbed. At Any Other Time, Mrs. Cherry Would 
 Have Dragged Both Children To The     Cooler, But She Was Not Taking Any 
 Chances With Pretty, Unprotected Arethusa. No One Else Should Have That 
 Seat Of     Hers. 
   
   
   
 The Baggageman Came Through The     Car; Calling As He Went, 
 "Anybaggageyouwantdeliveredinthe-City, Car-Ri-Age Or Omnibus." 
   
   
   
 It Gave Arethusa A Most Delightful Little Thrill All Down Her Spine To 
 Hear Him. She Was Not Exactly Sure He Was The     Person To Give Her Check 
 To, But Decided It Would Be Best To Obey The     Letter Of     The     Law This 
 Time. Miss Eliza Had Mentioned No Baggageman, But She Had Been Most 
 Explicit In Her Directions To Arethusa That She Give That Check To No 
 One But Her Father. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 10 Pg 114 
   
 She Rescued Her Hat From Its Paper Protection And Put It On Her Tumbled 
 Hair, From Which Some Of     The     Precious Hairpins Had Fallen During The 
 Excitement Of     The     Journey; Unfolded Her Coat And Donned It; Drew On The 
 Cotton Gloves And Clutched Her Purse And Satchel Once More As When She 
 Had Started, And With The     Death Grip Miss Eliza Had Adjured For Fear Of 
 Those Pickpockets With Which Railway Stations Are Always Infested, And 
 Arethusa Was Ready. And She Was Ready With A Palpitating Heart, For The 
 Brakeman Had Accommodatingly Called, "Lewisburg," Right In Her Very Own 
 Ear, As If He Wished Her To Be Quite Sure This Was The     Right Place To 
 Leave Her Seat. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Had Been Very Busy With Her Progeny And Her Paraphernalia 
 And Impedimenta Of     Various Sorts--It Was Marvelous How She Managed To 
 Gather Them All Together With Only Two Hands--And She Was Ready Also. 
 But Even In The     Midst Of     This Sleight Of     Hand Performance, She Did Not 
 Forget Her Self-Constituted Guardianship Of     Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "Sure You're Going To Know Your Pa?" She Enquired. "Don't You Want Me 
 To Be Waiting And Help You Hunt For Him?" 
   
   
   
 No, Arethusa Was Very, Very Sure She Would Know Him. She Did Not Need 
 Any Help To Find Him. 
   
   
   
 And Then With One Last Shrieking Grind Of     The     Wheels, The     Train Stopped 
 In The     Shed At Lewisburg, And Arethusa, All Injunctions To Sit Still 
 For A Half Hour Forgotten As If They Had Never Been, Immediately Began 
 With Her Fellow Passengers A Movement Towards The     Door. But So Slow Was 
 This Movement That Her Impatient Heart Thought She Would Never, Never 
 Be Out Of     That Car. 
   
   
   
 Helen Louise's Quick Eyes Spied, Through The     Car Window, Her Father, 
 Among The     Crowd On The     Platform And She Gave A Joyful Shout. But It Was 
 A Shout, Which Although Loud And Very Near, Arethusa Never Even Heard. 
 Her Own Eyes, Star-Like And Intent, Were Busy Searching That Same Crowd 
 For Her Own Father. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 115 
 Just As The     Music Room Was Primarily Elinor's Retreat, So Was The 
 Library The     Place Which Ross Loved Best. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Long, Narrow Room; Two Square Rooms Had Been Thrown Together 
 To Make It, And It Was Lined, On The     Longest Walls To About Half The 
 Distance From The     Ceiling, With Low, Deep, Unglassed Book-Cases Full Of 
 Books On A Bewildering Variety Of     Subjects, Haphazardly Arranged; Some 
 Of Them Well Worn As To Bindings As If Much Read. A Brick Fireplace Of 
 Generous Proportions With A High, Narrow Mantel Shelf Of     Brownish Red 
 Marble Occupied Most Of     One Of     The     Other, And Narrower, Walls. A Log 
 Fire Burned There Fitfully Now, Throwing Little Dancing Gleams On The 
 Brass Andirons And The     Dark Polished Floor Just In Front. All The 
 Chairs In The     Room Were Broad And Deep And Enticingly Comfortable. An 
 Enormous Davenport Stood At One Side Of     The     Fireplace, And There Was A 
 Long, Heavy Table Of     Carved Mahogany Directly In Front Of     The     Hearth. 
 The Few Rugs In The     Room Were All In Dull, Subdued Tones That Melted 
 Into The     Floor Unobtrusively. 
   
   
   
 Here, In The     Library, Ross Spent His Days In The     Arduous Labor With 
 Which He Kept Body And Soul Together; The     Translation Of     Various Bits 
 Of The     Literature Of     Southern Europe Into English. Ross Was Quite A 
 Student In His Way And A Good Deal Of     A Linguist. 
   
   
   
 But He Was Not Working Just At This Moment. 
   
   
   
 At The     Enormous Desk Between The     Two Long Windows At The     End Of     The 
 Room Opposite The     Fireplace, He Was Reading A Detective Story And 
 Playing With A Bronze Paper Cutter At The     Same Time, Banging It Up And 
 Down On The     Desk. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 116 
 Ross Loved Detective Stories As Much As Any Boy Who Has Ever Thrilled 
 Over Them, And Elinor Loved To Watch Him Read Them. She Stood Still In 
 The Doorway For A Moment And Watched Him Now. She Could Tell By His 
 Changing Expression Just When The     Story He Was Reading Was Sad, Just 
 When It Was Merry, Just When The     Meaning Was Hard To Understand, And 
 Just When He Began To Dislike The     Way Things Were Working Out, Almost 
 As Well As If He Read It Aloud To Her. 
   
   
   
 The Paper Cutter Poised In The     Air For Just A Second, And His Eyebrows 
 Drew Together In A Little Puzzled Frown. Evidently, Things Were Going 
 Badly. Then The     Paper Cutter Came Down On The     Desk With A Swoop, And 
 His Whole Face Lighted. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Crossed The     Room With Her Swift, Graceful Movement, And Kissed 
 Him Lightly On The     Tiny Bald Spot On The     Very Top Of     His Head, Which He 
 Insisted Was Being Widened By "Financial Worries." 
   
   
   
 "Ross, Clay Is Waiting." 
   
   
   
 He Gave Her An Absentminded Squeezing Of     The     Hand Nearest Him By Way Of 
 Answer Without Lifting His Eyes From His Book. 
   
   
   
 She Leaned Over And Covered The     Page With One Hand. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Come Now," He Remonstrated, "That's Not A Bit Fair! That's The 
 Most Interesting Place For Pages And Pages!" 
   
   
   
 "That May Be, You Infant, But You Must Stop Right There. Clay Is 
 Waiting For You." 
   
   
   
 "What For, Please? I Don't Remember Telling Him I Wanted Him!" 
   
   
   
 "Ross Worthington! Have You Actually Forgotten Arethusa Is Coming This 
 Afternoon!" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 117 
   
 Ross Returned, With The     Most Commendable Suddenness, From The     Long 
 Island Country Place, Scene Of     His Sojourn For The     Last Few Hours Where 
 A Most Fearful And Intricately Involved Crime Had Been Committed, To 
 Things Which Were Happening In Lewisburg. 
   
   
   
 "Ye Gods! And I Had!" 
   
   
   
 "You Ought To Be Ashamed To Admit It!" 
   
   
   
 "I Don't See Why You Say That," His Air Was One Of     Mild Protest. "You 
 Remembered Her, Didn't You? And That's What A Wife's For, Anyway, One 
 Of The     Things, To Remember What Her Husband Ought To. What's The     Use Of 
 Having One If...." 
   
   
   
 But Elinor Hurried Him Into The     Hall Without Allowing Him To Finish 
 This Speech, Thrust His Coat And Hat Forcibly Upon Him, And Propelled 
 Him On Toward The     Open Front Door, And Then On Down The     Steps. 
   
   
   
 "Wait A Minute Here," Ross Came Back From Halfway To The     Automobile, 
 "Aren't You Going?" For It Had Penetrated His Consciousness That She 
 Had Not Come Any Farther Than The     Top Step. 
   
   
   
 "No." 
   
   
   
 "Why Not?" 
   
   
   
 She Blushed A Trifle. "I ... I Thought I Wouldn't." 
   
   
   
 All Her Shyness Was Up In Arms. 
   
   
   
 It Was Very Probably Going To Be Hard Enough At Best, This First 
   
 Meeting With Arethusa, Without Staging It Before A Crowd Of     Prying Eyes 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 118 
 In A Railroad Station. In Spite Of     All Her Longing To See And Know The 
 Girl, And Her Loving Preparation, Now That The     Moment Was Actually 
 Come, Elinor's Shyness Intruded And Kept Her At Home. 
   
   
   
 Ross Understood (It Was One Of     The     Very Nicest Things About Him, His 
 Understanding) But As He Was Feeling A Bit The     Same Way Himself, He 
 Would Have Liked The     Bulwark Of     Her Presence. Two Shy Folk To Back Each 
 Other Up Are In Not Nearly So Bad A Fix As The     One Who Goes It Alone. 
 So He Stood Hesitatingly In The     Middle Of     The     Front Walk, Slowly 
 Drawing On His Gloves. Perhaps Elinor Would Change Her Mind. 
   
   
   
 "You'll Be Late," She Warned. 
   
   
   
 But Still He Hesitated. "How In The     Dickens Am I Going To Know The 
 Child? I Haven't The     Remotest Idea What She's Like. I May Miss Her 
 Altogether. I Think I Need You." 
   
   
   
 His Statement Of     Not Knowing What Arethusa Was Like Was Perfectly True, 
 For In None Of     Her Letters Had Miss Eliza Once Mentioned Arethusa's 
 Personal Appearance And Elinor Had Never Thought To Ask About It. 
   
   
   
 "You Should Have Told Her," He Continued, Almost Reproachfully, "To 
 Wear A Red Carnation Or Something. I Am Quite Sure I Shan't Be Able To 
 Find Her. And You're So Much Smarter Than I Am. Your Woman's Intuition 
 Is A Great Thing To Have In A Search, You Better Come Go 'Long." 
   
   
   
 Elinor Came Down The     Walk To Where He Was And Gave Him A Push. "Do Go 
 On, Ross. You Really Will Miss Her Altogether, If You Don't. And I 
 Haven't Time To Dress Now, So I Can't Possibly Go. She Probably Looks 
 Like Her Mother Or Some Member Of     The     Family." 
   
   
   
 "Now, I Don't Know About That," He Answered, Still Lingering. "She May 
 Not At All. I Don't Look Like My Mother, And You...." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Please Go On And Stop Fooling!" Though She Laughed, His Wife's 
 Patience Was Ebbing. It Would Be Dreadful For Arethusa To Come And Find 
   
 No One To Meet Her. "You Always Hurry So, Ross, When There's No Real 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 119 
 Necessity For It And Won't When There Is!" 
   
   
   
 Ross Decided That The     Moment For Actual Departure Was Certainly At 
 Hand, So He Made Haste To The     Automobile. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa, After Descending From The     Train With Her Satchel And Purse 
 Still Clutched Firmly, Followed The     Crowd Across The     Tracks Under The 
 Shed, Toward The     Iron Gates She Had To Pass Through To Reach The 
 Station Proper. Her Busy Grey Eyes Had Failed To Find Anyone Among 
 Those Menfolks Just Around The     Train Who At All Resembled Her Mental 
 Picture Of     Her Father. And As She Hurried After The     Crowd, Still 
 Watching For Him, It Seemed To Arethusa That There Were More People In 
 This Comparatively Small Space Than She Had Ever Seen In One Company 
 Before, In All Of     Her Life. So Many Of     Them Were Men, She Noted; So 
 Many Of     Them Were Men With Nice Faces Who Might Have Been The     Fathers 
 Of Travelling Daughters They Had Come To Meet. 
   
   
   
 She Felt A Sudden And Most Unexpected Bewilderment Sweep Over Her As 
 She Looked About. How Would She Ever Find Her Father Here, Among All 
 These Hundreds And Hundreds Of     People? She Was Carried Along, 
 Unresisting In Her Panic, Clear Through The     Gates Without Being Aware 
 She Had Passed Them, And Pushed Aside By The     Impatient Throng Against 
 One Of     The     Iron Pillars That Supported The     Roof Of     The     Platform At One 
 Side Of     The     Station. 
   
   
   
 From This Point, She Could Not Help But Watch All The     Glad Meetings 
 About Her, Of     Sisters And Brothers And Husbands And Wives, And Various 
 Other Relationships (There Were Some She Was Quite Positive Were 
 Fathers And Daughters), And She Watched Them With Something Like Envy; 
 For So Far As She Could Tell, Everyone Who Had Got Off The     Train Had 
 Been Immediately Seized By Some Person Who Seemed Superlatively Glad To 
 See Him Or Her. Yes, Every Human Being But Arethusa Worthington Seemed 
 To Have Been Met By Somebody. 
   
   
   
 Then A Cold Little Fear Clutched At Her Heart; Suppose.... Suppose.... 
 She Had Made A Mistake And This Was Not Lewisburg, After All! 
   
   
   
 But It Must Be! Had Not The     Brakeman Accommodatingly Told Her So Right 
 In Her Very Own Ear? And The     Cherrys Had Been Going To Lewisburg, And 
   
 They Had Got Off With Arethusa. She Was Surely In The     Right Station. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 120 
   
   
 The Next Most Natural Supposition Was That No One Had Come To Meet Her. 
 And Then The     Wildest And Most Unreasoning Terror Of     This Situation, 
 Directly Grown From Some Of     Those Travellers' Tales Of     Her Aunts' 
 Weaving, Overwhelmed Arethusa. She Stood Closer To The     Pillar As A Sort 
 Of Protection. 
   
   
   
 Such An Ending To The     Joyfully Begun Journey! 
   
   
   
 The Cherry Family Had Been So Long In Their Greetings That They Were 
 Among The     Last To Pass By The     Unmet Traveller And Her Pillar. Mrs. 
 Cherry, Seeing That The     Girl Was Alone, Crossed The     Platform To Her, 
 The Whole Collection Of     Cherrys Trailing In Her Rear. 
   
   
   
 "Found Your Pa Yet, Dearie?" She Asked Cheerfully. 
   
   
   
 "This Is The     Pretty Miss Worth'ton I Was Telling You About We Saw On 
 The Train, Cherry," To Her Husband, And "This Is Helen Louise's Pa," To 
 Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Managed To Acknowledge This Introduction, But Being In Such A 
 State Of     Mind As She Was, She Could Not Make Her Acknowledgment Very 
 Cordial. 
   
   
   
 Helen Louise Was Dancing Up And Down And Hanging On To One Hand Of     A 
 Man Who Could Have Been Nothing Else But A Close Relation To The     Little 
 Girl, Pale Blue Eyes And Pale Eyebrows And All. The     Daughter Certainly 
 Favored "Her Pa Considerable" As Her Mother Had Said. 
   
   
   
 "My Papa," Helen Louise Announced Happily. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Sensed Something Wrong. She Looked At Arethusa More 
   
 Closely. "You Ain't Found Him? Here, Cherry, You Take The     Children And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 121 
 The Bundles And Put Them In The     Waitin'-Room And Then Come Straight 
 Back Here And We'll Help Miss Worth'ton Hunt Her Father." 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Want To Be Put In The     Waitin'-Room!" Wailed Helen Louise In 
 Protest, "I Want To Stay With Papa!" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Was Reproving Her And Starting Her Off In The     Direction Of 
 The Designated Depository, When Arethusa Interrupted The     Proceedings. 
 She Did Not Want Mrs. Cherry, Kind As She Had Been And Kind As Her 
 Intentions Still Were To Continue Being, With Her Just Now. If This Was 
 A Fiasco To Her Beautiful Dream She Needed A Few Moments To Face It 
 Alone. A Funny Sort Of     Little Pride Gave Her This Feeling. She Had 
 Talked To Mrs. Cherry So Glowingly And At Such Length About Her Father 
 And Her Visit. 
   
   
   
 But Mr. Cherry, Till Just Now Silent, Had A Suggestion To Make. 
 "S'pose," He Drawled, "If Miss Worth'ton Wants To Wait By Herself Here, 
 Maria, Me And You Set Inside Awhile, And Then If She Finds She Reely 
 Has Missed Him Somehow, I Might Help Her To Look Him Up, Mebbe." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Considered This A Decidedly Brilliant Idea. It Relieved Her Of 
 Present Society, Which Though Friendly Was Irksome, And Promised Future 
 Comfort. 
   
   
   
 She Rewarded The     Tall, Thin Father Of     Helen Louise With A Misty Smile. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Thought It Very Good, Also. Miss Worth'ton Wasn't To Worry 
 A Mite Now, Not A Mite. If Her Father Didn't Come For Her, The     Cherry 
 Family Would Escort Her Right Up To His Front Door. 
   
   
   
 So The     Little Procession Trailed Away And Left Arethusa Once More 
 Alone, And Most Disconsolate, Against Her Kindly Iron Pillar. 
   
   
   
 The Station Had Gradually Become Deserted, Until There Were Only A Few 
 Employees Pottering About Here And There, And One Lone Man Standing 
 Talking To The     Blue-Capped Man At The     Gate. 
   
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Mental Picture Of     Her Father Had Been Very Clear. All This 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 122 
 While She Had Been Looking For The     Handsome Youth Of     The     Wavy Dark 
 Hair, Eccentrically Long, And The     Graceful Italian Military Cape. And 
 She Had Been Looking For Him Without Adding A Single Year To His Age, 
 Perfectly Confident She Would Know Him Anywhere. 
   
   
   
 Ross Had Really Been On Time, Despite His "Fooling." He Had Arrived 
 Before The     First Passenger Left Arethusa's Train. And He Had Waited 
 Until Every Human Being Had Gone Before Starting To Leave Himself, So 
 He Was The     Lone Man Arethusa Saw Questioning The     Gatekeeper. 
   
   
   
 Elinor's Last Suggestion That The     Daughter Might Resemble Her Mother 
 Had Been Taken Literally, And All These Moments Ross's Search Had Been 
 For A Tiny, Dainty Bit Of     A Girl With Cornflower Eyes. When The     Crowd 
 Had Somewhat Thinned, He Had Noticed Arethusa And Her Prettiness And 
 Her Height, Standing So Forlornly By Herself, Had Mentally Labeled Miss 
 Letitia's Costuming, "A Godey's Ladies' Book Relic," And Had Turned 
 Away Again To His Search For The     Dresden China Daughter, Who Did Not 
 Seem To Be Anywhere About. Ross Was Vexed To Have Been Snatched From 
 His Book For This Fruitless Trip To The     Station. If Miss Eliza Had 
 Postponed Arethusa's Coming Once More, She Should Have Written Them 
 About It, Or Telegraphed; For They Should Surely Have Been Notified. 
   
   
   
 As He Passed Arethusa On His Way Out He Saw That Her Grey Eyes Under 
 Their Long Black Lashes (He Noticed Them First Because They Were Such 
 Unusually Beautiful Eyes) Were Full Of     Shining Tears, Some Of     Which 
 Were Beginning To Roll, Unashamed, Down The     Girl's Cheek. A Damsel In 
 Distress Always Appealed To Ross, For No Knight Of     The     Time Of 
 Tournaments Had No More Real Chivalry In His Composition, And So He 
 Stopped. 
   
   
   
 "Could I Help You In Any Way?" He Asked Courteously. "Are You In 
 Trouble?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Just On The     Point Of     Seeking Mr. Cherry And His Promised 
 Assistance, When Out Of     The     Bleak Expanse Of     That Awful And Lonely 
 Platform Providence Had Sent This Other Help: A Man With Reassuring 
 Grey Hairs And A Smile Which She Could Not Possibly Mistake For 
 Anything But Kindness. She Seized It Gratefully: And There Would Be No 
 Embarrassment Of     A Mrs. Cherry Connected With It. This New Man Knew 
 Nothing Of     Any Dream That Had Been Shattered. And If He Lived In 
 Lewisburg, He Most Probably Knew Her Father. Her Experience With 
 Municipalities Was That Everybody In A Town Knew Everybody Else And All 
   
 Their Affairs Into The     Bargain. And She Was Far Past Remembering 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 123 
 Certain Instructions In Such A Crisis. 
   
   
   
 She Turned To Ross, A Tear-Stained Face On Which Her Gratitude At His 
 Offer Struggled With Her Woes And The     Horror Of     The     Situation. 
   
   
   
 "My ... My Fa-Ther...." She Began Brokenly, And Then Gulped, And 
 Stopped. 
   
   
   
 It Sounded Very Much Like A Greeting Of     The     Man Before Her, But It Was 
 Only That Her Unruly Voice Refused Entirely To Respond To Her Efforts 
 To Use It. 
   
   
   
 Ross's Look Searched Her Quickly, Up And Down. She Was As Unlike The 
 Child He Had Expected To Find As He Could Have Found In A Day's Long 
 Journey; But There Could Hardly Be Two Sets Of     Fathers And Daughters In 
 So Similar A Predicament In The     Same Station. 
   
   
   
 "I Think You've Found Him, Right Here," He Said Lightly, To Down A 
 Curious Little Feeling That Suddenly Surged Through His Heart, "If 
 You're Miss Arethusa Worthington, That Is. I'm...." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Waited Not For Him To Finish With A Definite Announcement Of 
 His Identity; She Needed No Further Words To Convince Her Of     Just Who 
 He Was. And Although This Was Far, Far From Being What She Had Always 
 Visioned The     Wonder Of     Their Meeting, She Put Her Whole Soul Into Her 
 Side Of     It. 
   
   
   
 She Flung Both Arms Tight Around His Neck As If She Never Intended To 
 Let Him Go; And Sobbed Violently, Salty Tears That Soaked Clear Through 
 The Expensive Tweed Of     His New Suit. But These Were Not The     Tears Of 
 Unhappiness Which He Had Noticed And Which Had Caused Him To Stop And 
 Make His Offer Of     Help; They Were Tears Of     Joy For The     Sheer Relief 
 That His Bodily Presence Gave To His Volatile Daughter. With The 
 Impulsive Suddenness Of     Her Embrace Her Hat Had Flown Clear Off, But 
 Arethusa Recked Not, In Such A Moment, Of     Hats With Precious And 
 Beautiful Turkey Feathers, And She Lost, Of     Necessity, Her Careful Grip 
   
 Of Her Purse And Satchel. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 11 Pg 124 
   
   
 Ross, For A Moment Or Two, Was Entirely Bereft Of     Coherent Thought By 
 The Suddenness Of     Her Movement. He Was Nearly Strangled By The     Clinging 
 Arms, And A Trifle Embarrassed Besides; For It Was Not Every Day That A 
 Strange Young Lady Precipitated Herself Into His Arms And Sobbed So 
 Violently. That It Was A Daughter Whose Acquaintance He Was Making For 
 The Very First Time, Did Not Altogether Deprive The     Situation Of     Its 
 Strangeness. 
   
   
   
 "Here," He Said, When He Began To Recover Somewhat, "Here, Buck Up, 
 Child! Buck Up. This Won't Do At All, You Know. Let's Go Home And 
 Finish This!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa "Bucked Up." 
   
   
   
 She Drew Away From Him As Suddenly As She Had Grabbed Him And Blushed 
 Hotly All Over With A Most Unusual Accession Of     Sudden Shyness. And 
 Ross Made Straight For The     Waiting Automobile Without Further Parley. 
 She Followed Behind Him In Silence, But About Halfway She Stopped And 
 Clapped Her Hand To Her Head. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, My Hat!" She Exclaimed. "And I've Lost My Purse And Satchel!" 
   
   
   
 Ross Turned Around And Went Back To Find Them. 
   
   
   
 But The     Purse Was Gone Beyond Any Power Of     Their Finding It, Though Hat 
 And Satchel Were Safely Retrieved And Progress Once More Resumed. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 125 
 "This Is Miss Arethusa, Clay," Said Ross, When The     Chauffeur Jumped 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 126 
 Down To Open The     Door Of     The     Machine And Took Charge Of     The     Ancient 
 Handbag. 
   
   
   
 Clay Touched His Cap Respectfully. 
   
   
   
 But To The     Surprise Of     Both Men Arethusa's Acknowledgement Of     This 
 Introduction Was A Shy And Old-Fashioned Courtesy Miss Letitia Had 
 Taught Her. She Murmured Politely, "I'm Very Glad To Meet You," And 
 Extended Her Hand. 
   
   
   
 Clay Very Nearly Dropped The     Handbag. 
   
   
   
 But Something In The     Friendly Smiling Of     The     Grey Eyes That Regarded 
 Him Made Clay Himself To Smile Warmly In Return, And Arethusa Had Made 
 A Friend. He Grasped The     Out-Stretched Fingers Lightly, In The     Spirit 
 In Which They Had Been Offered, And Said With Unmistakable Cordiality, 
 "I'm Awfully Glad You've Come, Miss Arethusa. Home, Mr. Worthington?" 
   
   
   
 "Home," Replied Ross, Smiling At Him For His Kind Quickness. 
   
   
   
 And Then Clay Slammed The     Door Upon Ross And Arethusa And Climbed Up In 
 Front. Arethusa Was Just A Bit Puzzled At First, And Then She Decided 
 It Was The     City. 
   
   
   
 She Had Had No Previous Dealings Of     Intimacy With Automobiles, The 
 Nearest She Had Ever Been To One Was To Watch Them Fly Past Down The 
 Pike. The     Word "Chauffeur" Would Have Conveyed No Meaning To Her Mind, 
 Nor Have Given Her Any Idea Of     His Place In The     General Scheme Of 
 Things Connected With Machines. She Had Thought The     Good-Looking, 
 Well-Dressed Youth In His Natty Norfolk Suit And Cap Was Some Friend Of 
 Her Father's Out For A Ride With Him, And So It Was Quite In Order That 
 He Should Be Introduced. People Often Took Their Friends Driving In The 
 Country. It Was Just A Bit Strange That He Should Do The     Driving And 
 Not Her Father, But It Did Not Bother Her Long; And After A While, She 
 Was Rather Glad That The     Friend Did Sit In Front. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 127 
 She Abandoned Herself To Complete Happiness Against Those Marvelously 
 Soft Cushions In The     Limousine. She Dearly Loved To Ride, And She Did 
 Not Get Near Enough Of     It At The     Farm. In Fact, Motion Of     Any Sort Had 
 A Charm For Arethusa. But She Had Never Felt Motion So Superlative As 
 This. It Was Even More Exhilarating Than The     Train Had Been, So Swiftly 
 They Moved Forward, And So Silently. 
   
   
   
 Her Momentary Shyness With Her Father Began To Disappear Under The 
 Influence Of     Her Enjoyment. She Glanced Around At Him From Under Her 
 Long Lashes And Found Him Watching Her. 
   
   
   
 His Daughter's Appearance Was Proving Interestingly Mystifying To Ross. 
 Where In The     World Had She Got That Red Hair And Those Wonderful Irish 
 Eyes? She Had Not A Single Feature Like Her Mother. Her Tallness, He 
 Thought, Could Be Said To Have Come Straight From Him. And That 
 Ever-Changing Play Of     Expression Across Her Face,--It Was Quite 
 Fascinating. 
   
   
   
 Though Thus Watching Her, From The     Moment They Had Sat Down, Ross Was 
 Rather At A Loss How To Begin Conversation; He Had Not Entirely 
 Recovered From That First Embrace. But He Could Not Help, However, 
 Replying To Her Smile, The     Friendliest Possible Smile, With Which She 
 Conveyed To Him Her Delight In The     Machine. 
   
   
   
 "So You Like To Ride?" 
   
   
   
 "I _Love_ It!" She Answered, Enthusiastically. "This.... It's Just 
 Like Flying!" 
   
   
   
 Ross Liked This Unbridled Ecstasy; It Was Decidedly Refreshing. 
   
   
   
 "Ever Ridden In One Before?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Shook Her Head Vigorously. 
   
   
   
 "But I Should Certainly Have Thought Automobiles Had Penetrated To 
   
 Barnett County!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 128 
   
 "Some People In Town Have Them," Arethusa Came Quickly To The     Defence 
 Of Her County, "But It's Nobody I Really Know. Timothy Was Going To Get 
 One, But His Silo Blew Down And He Couldn't This Summer; Because He Put 
 Up A Concrete One In Its Place And It Cost So Much." 
   
   
   
 "Who Is Timothy?" 
   
   
   
 "Why, Timothy Is.... Why, Timothy.... He's Just Timothy Jarvis ... Father." 
 She Added The     "Father" A Trifle Shyly, It Being The     Very First Time 
 She Had Ever Addressed That Title To Him In Person. "Aunt 'Liza Wants 
 Me To Marry Him," She Continued, As If That Ought To Explain Matters 
 Perfectly. 
   
   
   
 Ross Remembered The     Jarvises. "I See, But How About You?" He Found That 
 Shy Little "Father" Most Attractive. He Wished She Would Say It Again. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Laughed. "Why, He's My Very Best Friend And I've Known Him 
 Always And Always. Of     Course I'm Not Going To Marry Him! I Couldn't 
 Marry Timothy ... Father. You Have To Fall In Love With The     Person You 
 Marry!" 
   
   
   
 "Then It Seems I May Gather From Your Remarks," And Ross Was Most 
 Highly Entertained By Those Same Remarks, "That You Can't Possibly Fall 
 In Love With A Person You've Known Always!" 
   
   
   
 "It Doesn't Ever Happen In Books," Said Arethusa, Seriously, "And 
 They're Supposed To Be Just Like Things Really Are, Aren't They? I've 
 Read Just Oceans Of     Love-Stories. I Just Adore Them!" She Added, With 
 Emphasis. 
   
   
   
 Ross's Smile Broadened. "But Truth, They Say, Is Stranger Than 
 Fiction," And He Was About To Add Something To Arethusa's Further 
 Mystification, When The     Automobile Stopped. 
   
   
   
   
 It Had Stopped In Front Of     A Huge, Brick House, Painted Grey, With 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 129 
 Tall, Narrow Windows Indicative Of     The     High Ceilings Within, And A 
 High, Pointed Roof Of     Grey And Red Slate. It Was A House Which Had 
 Originally Been Much Smaller, But It Had Been Added To Until It Was 
 Spread Out, All Over A Lot Which Was Unusually Wide For A City Lot, 
 With Huge Excrescences Of     Wings On Each Side. 
   
   
   
 It Was Not A Handsome House, And The     Most Kindly Intentioned Critic 
 Could Never Have Called It So. Elinor Had Never Been Able To Do Much 
 Towards The     Improvement Of     The     Outward Appearance, However Much She Had 
 Beautified The     Interior. But It Had Been Her Home Since She Was Too 
 Small To Remember Any Other, And She Loved It Dearly Despite Its 
 Deficiencies From An Artistic Standpoint Outwardly. Ross Thought It A 
 Hideous Pile. He Said Its Only Redeeming Feature Was That It So 
 Undoubtedly Looked Respectable. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Could Find No Fault With It. She Admired It Unaffectedly 
 As They Went Up The     Walk Toward It. 
   
   
   
 "Do You _Live_ Here, Father?" She Asked, Breathlessly. She Had 
 Considered At First The     Possibility That It Might Be A Hotel. "It's So 
 Awfully Big! Why, Father, It's Every Bit As Big As Our County Court 
 House!" Which Was Till Now The     Largest Building She Had Ever Seen. 
   
   
   
 She Regarded The     Stately Proportions Of     The     Facade With Awe. Had She 
 Not Been With Her Father, She Would Never Have Found The     Courage To 
 Lift That Shining Knocker In The     Center Of     The     Broad Paneled Door. She 
 Would Have Gone On Past This Place, She Was Sure; It Seemed So Much Too 
 Large For The     Family Of     Two She Had Come To Visit. 
   
   
   
 Elinor's Loving Impatience Had Taken Her To The     Library Windows More 
 Than Once To Watch For Their Coming. It Seemed So Long That Ross Had 
 Been Gone. When The     Automobile Was Heard To Stop, She Rushed To The 
 Front Door To Open It Herself, Flinging It Wide As A Hospitable 
 Indication Of     How Glad She Was To Welcome Arethusa. But With Her Hand 
 Still On The     Door Knob, She Paused And Drew Back. This Tall, Slim 
 Child, Every Bit As Tall As She Was Herself, With Her Ardent Grey Eyes, 
 And That Mass Of     Tumbled Red Hair Down Her Back, For Arethusa's Various 
 Exciting Experiences Had Been Hard For The     Coiffure With Which She Had 
 Started From Home, Was Not The     Girl Elinor Had Led Herself To Expect As 
   
 Ross's Daughter. Arethusa, Furthermore, Was Bareheaded, Having 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 130 
 Forgotten All About Her Hat And Left It In The     Machine. This, As Well 
 As The     Quaint Costume Of     Miss Letitia's Designing, Added To Elinor's 
 Little Feeling Of     Surprise. 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Stopped Short Also, Just Inside The     Door, And Shyness 
 Descended Upon Her Once More With This, Her First Glimpse Of     The     "New 
 Wife." 
   
   
   
 But Whatever Elinor's Expression Might Be Said To Resemble, Arethusa's 
 In Return After That First Look Was One Of     Absolute And Unalloyed 
 Admiration. In Her Wildest Flights Of     Anticipatory Imaginings As To The 
 Appearance Of     Her Father's Wife, Founded On That Letter Of     His That Had 
 So Positively Indicated Her Beauty, Arethusa Had Never Been Able To 
 Paint Such A Picture As She Actually Saw. For Elinor's Young Brown 
 Eyes, Under Her White Hair, The     Lovely Glow Of     Her Skin, And Her 
 Slender Gracefulness Clothed In That Clinging, Fascinatingly 
 Smoky-Colored Gown She Wore (A Color She Much Affected), Seemed To The 
 Beauty Worshipper Who Regarded Her To Make Her The     Most Altogether 
 Beautiful Human Being That She, Arethusa, Had Ever Gazed Upon. 
   
   
   
 "Well," Remarked Ross; He Thought The     Funny Little Silence Had Lasted 
 Quite Long Enough, "I Hope You Two Will Know Each Other The     Next Time 
 You Happen To Meet Anywhere!" 
   
   
   
 Then Was Elinor Given One Of     Those Same Disarming Smiles With Which 
 Arethusa Had Won Her Father In The     Automobile, And Anything Else But 
 Immediate And Complete Friendship Was Impossible After Such A Smile, 
 However Unlike The     Girl Expected The     One Who Had Come Might Be. 
   
   
   
 Clay Had Brought In The     Forgotten Hat When He Came With The     Satchel, 
 And He Hovered About In The     Background Of     The     Hall Until He Could 
 Communicate To Ross That Miss Arethusa's Trunk Had Not Been Attended 
 To. Should He Go Right Straight Back For It? Clay Was Somewhat Used To 
 The Remembering Of     Things Which Ross Had Not Remembered; Rarely A Day 
 Passed That He Did Not Have To Do Something Of     This Kind. 
   
   
   
 "My Trunk!" Arethusa's Mind Made A Complete Somersault At This 
   
 Intrusion Of     So Commonplace An Article Into The     Happy Family Greetings 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 131 
 And The     Joy Of     Finding Elinor As Dear As She Looked. "I ... I Forgot 
 All About It!" She Faltered. 
   
   
   
 "It Doesn't Matter," Comforted Elinor, "There's No Harm Done At All. 
 Just Give Clay The     Check And He'll Go See About It!" 
   
   
   
 The _Check_! 
   
   
   
 A Wild Search For It Followed Immediately. Arethusa Had Entirely 
 Forgotten Where It Had Been Put. Down Into The     Very Depths Of     The 
 Satchel She Dived, To Emerge Unrewarded. Was It By Any Chance In That 
 Lost Purse? 
   
   
   
 Visions Of     Miss Eliza Rose Before Her, Making More Frantic The     Efforts 
 To Locate It. How Many Times Had She Said, "Whatever You Do, Arethusa, 
 Don't You Dare Lose That Trunk Check!" 
   
   
   
 She Sank Weakly To The     Floor To Lean Her Head Despairingly Against The 
 Heavy Newel Post Of     The     Stairway. 
   
   
   
 "What Will Aunt 'Liza Say?" She Cried, With The     Hopelessness Of     One 
 Already Condemned. "Oh, What Will She Say?" 
   
   
   
 "It Does Not Need Even A Clever Mind Like Mine To Deduce From My 
 Daughter's Behaviour That Miss Eliza Remains Unchanged Through The 
 Changing Years," Murmured Ross In Elinor's Ear. "Tempus May Fugit, But 
 Miss Eliza's Disposition Stands Perfectly Still." 
   
   
   
 Suddenly, Arethusa's Hand Flew To Clasp Her Throat. She Looked Up At 
 Them With A Little Laugh, Her Face Clearing As If By Magic. 
   
   
   
 "How Awfully Stupid Of     Me! I Remember Now Where It Is!" She Drew The 
 Tiny Bag On Its Cord Out Of     The     Neck Of     Her Blouse. "She Put It In 
 Here, So I Wouldn't Lose It." Her Relief Was Great And Thoroughly 
   
 Genuine. "Whee," She Sighed, "Just Suppose I Had Lost It!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 132 
   
 It Was All Too Much For Ross. He Could Scarcely Manage To Untie That 
 Bag For The     Check, He Was So Hilarious. 
   
   
   
 "You Needn't Laugh That Way," Said Arethusa Defensively. "You Don't 
 Know What Aunt 'Liza Can Be Like When She's Mad! If You Did, You 
 Wouldn't Laugh!" 
   
   
   
 "But I Do," He Replied, "I Do. That's The     Reason I Laugh. It Brings Her 
 Back To Me So Plainly." 
   
   
   
 It Had Brought Her Back To Arethusa Very Plainly Also. She Remembered 
 Some Instructions Miss Eliza Had Given, Which The     Time Had Come To 
 Carry Out. 
   
   
   
 "I Must Lie Down And Rest Now," She Said To Elinor. 
   
   
   
 "Are You Very Tired, Dear? We'll Go Right Up To Your Room." 
   
   
   
 "No, I'm Really Not A Bit Tired," Explained Arethusa, As She Scrambled 
 To Her Feet To Start Upstairs, "Not The     Very Weeniest Bit. But Aunt 
 'Liza Said I Must Lie Down And Rest Just As Soon As I Got Here." 
   
   
   
 Elinor Looked A Trifle Puzzled. "But If You're Really Not Tired...." 
   
   
   
 "But I Must Rest. Aunt 'Liza Said So." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Sure That She Had Disobeyed Miss Eliza Enough For One Day, 
 In The     Forgetting What She Had Said About Strange Men And The     Attitude 
 To Be Adopted Towards Them, And She Had Gone On From That To Lose Her 
 Purse. There Was No Telling How Long Miss Eliza's Arm Might Be, How Far 
 Her Wrath Might Reach. It Was Best Not To Tempt Providence. 
   
   
   
   
 She _Would Rest_. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 12 Pg 133 
   
 "Wait," Said Ross As An Answer To His Wife's Bewilderment, "Just Wait 
 Until You Know Miss Eliza And All Of     This Will Be Fully Explained." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 134 
   
   
 A Reward Of     Some Description Was Surely Due Miss Eliza's Niece For Her 
 Behaviour On This Occasion, For No Creature Ever Felt Less Like Even 
 The Outward Semblance Of     "Resting" Than Did Arethusa. While Regard For 
 The Strictest Truth Will Not Permit It To Be Stated That Much Rest Was 
 Obtained From Her Method Of     Carrying Out Miss Eliza's Command; Still, 
 She Remained In Her Room With Every Appearance Of     Obedience And 
 Intervals Were Spent On The     "Squshy" Green Sofa, When She Could Have 
 Talked And Talked To Ross And Elinor The     Entire Afternoon Without The 
 Slightest Hint Of     Fatigue. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Delight In Her Room More Than Repaid Elinor For Any Trouble 
 Which The     Fixing Of     It Might Have Been. Her Little Gasping "Oh!" When 
 The Door Was First Opened, And The     Silent, Shining-Eyed Gaze Around 
 Afterwards Were The     Most Genuine And Appreciated Tribute Of     Admiration 
 She Could Have Given. 
   
   
   
 She Would Never Have Dreamed That The     Mere Gathering Together Of 
 Furniture And Pictures And Other Objects Of     Familiar Names Which Were 
 The Commonplaces Of     Everyday Life At The     Farm Could Present An 
 Appearance So Beautiful. When Once On The     Sofa, Tucked Under A Fluffy 
 Green Coverlid By Elinor's Kind Hands, She Could Not Stay For Long. A 
 Hundred Times Did She Bob Up To Examine Various Fascinating Objects 
 That Attracted Her Attention As Her Eager Regard Explored While She Lay 
 There, "Resting." 
   
   
   
 The Bath-Room Delighted Her Beyond Any Power Of     Her Expression. It Was 
 A Far More Wonderful Piece Of     Work As A Bath-Room Than The     One At 
 Timothy's House Which She Had Deeply Envied Him Ever Since It Had Been 
   
 Put In. That Hot And Cold Water Should Run Together For One's 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 135 
 Cleansing Without The     Trouble Of     Fetching Them In Heavy Buckets From A 
 Far-Away Kitchen, Had Seemed To Arethusa The     Acme Of     Luxury When She 
 Had First Glimpsed The     New Bath-Room At Timothy's. 
   
   
   
 There Was But One Faucet At The     Farm, And That Was In The     Kitchen, By 
 The Sink. Miss Eliza Had Made This One Concession To Modernity Because 
 She Could Not Help But See That It Saved A Lot Of     Bother In Very Cold 
 Weather. The     Plumbing Arrangements, However, Were Of     The     Most 
 Primitive. She Scorned The     Suggestion That A Bath-Room Be Added; An 
 Effete Idea. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Made Up Her Mind Immediately To Write Timothy Of     The     Glories 
 Of Her Washing Paraphernalia As Being Far Superior To His. It Was So 
 Far Superior, In Fact, That There Were Things In That Region Of     White 
 Tile And Flashing Nickel Whose Specific Use She Failed To See. There 
 Was Nothing Just Like It At Timothy's. 
   
   
   
 She Decided Also, After A Rather Longer Interval Than Usual Spent On 
 The Sofa, To Take A Bath This Very Afternoon; Now, Before Supper Time. 
 But The     Dainty Little Silver Clock On Her Mantel Was Chiming Half-Past 
 Six Before She Had Finished Her Toilet; She Had Spent So Long And 
 Luxurious A Time In That Wonderful Porcelain Tub. And There Was So Much 
 To Be Admired All Around Her. 
   
   
   
 Her Hair, To Her Great Sorrow, She Could Not Make Stay Up On Top Of     Her 
 Head At All, And She Was Forced To Leave It Plaited Down Her Back As Of 
 Old. She Was Vaguely Dissatisfied With The     Youthful Look It Gave Her, 
 So Arranged, But It Could Not Be Helped. She Had Lost Most Of     Her 
 Hairpins When It Had Tumbled Down, And Miss Eliza Had Provided But The 
 One Set. 
   
   
   
 She Wondered Why There Had Been No Call Of     "Arethusa!" As When She Was 
 Late To Supper At The     Farm; For She Must Be Late, Very Late. Six 
 O'clock Was The     Supper Hour At Home. She Hastily Slipped On The     Skirt 
 To The     Blue Suit And The     Pongee Waist, Without Stopping To Bother With 
 Anything In Her Trunk, Which Had Been Opened And Placed In Her Room For 
 Her. How Dreadful To Be So Late To Her First Meal! 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 136 
   
 Arethusa Fairly Plunged Down The     Front Stairs, But Once At The     Bottom, 
 She Paused Uncertainly. She Had No Idea Where The     Dining-Room Was. Then 
 She Heard Voices Not Far Away And She Followed The     Sound Into The 
 Library, Where She Found Ross And Elinor In Front Of     A Gloriously 
 Burning Wood Fire. But They Were Both Garbed In What To Her 
 Inexperienced Eyes Seemed The     Most Pronounced Party Garments. Ross Had 
 Donned A Tuxedo And Pinned A Tiny, Pink Rose In His Buttonhole. Elinor 
 Wore A Black Gown That Was Very Low In The     Neck To Arethusa, Although 
 In Reality It Was The     Most Modest Of     Décolletage, And A Few Of     The     Same 
 Pink Roses Were Clustered At Her Belt. 
   
   
   
 "I Was So Afraid I Was Late," Began Arethusa Breathlessly, Then She 
 Stopped Short, Halfway Across The     Room, When She Fully Realized The 
 Costuming Of     The     Pair Before The     Fire. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, You All Are Giving A Party And I Didn't Know Anything About It!" 
 She Exclaimed. 
   
   
   
 Ross Raised Himself Just A Trifle From The     Comfortable Depths Of     His 
 Chair. "Are You Quite Rested?" He Enquired Gravely. 
   
   
   
 But She Scarcely Heard That He Spoke. "Oh, I Just Wish I'd Known It Was 
 A Party!" She Repeated. "I Wish I'd Known!" She Glanced Down At The 
 Plainness Of     Her Own Attire And Then At Elinor's Simple Evening Frock. 
   
   
   
 Her Face Clouded. And Then A Truly Dreadful Thought Intruded Itself. 
 Perhaps She Was Not Even Expected At This Party; That May Have Been Why 
 She Had Not Been Called. 
   
   
   
 Her Troubled Grey Eyes Spelled Something Of     This To Elinor, So She 
 Pulled A Plump Chair A Little Nearer To Her Own And Patted It 
 Invitingly, Just As Miss Asenath Patted The     Couch For Arethusa To Join 
 Her. 
   
   
   
 "It Isn't A Party, Arethusa Dear," Said Elinor. "Come Over By Us And Be 
   
 Sociable And I'll Tell You All About It." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 137 
   
 She Explained To Arethusa That It Was Just Three Years Ago On The 
 Twenty-Fifth Of     October (This Very Night) That She And Ross Had First 
 Met Each Other, At A Dinner At The     Baronne De Braunecker's In Paris 
 When She Had Been Visiting The     Baronne And Ross Had Come As A Guest To 
 The Dinner Given In Her Honor. 
   
   
   
 "I Fell In Love With Her On The     Spot," Interrupted Ross, "And I Could 
 Hardly Wait For Morning So I Could Go Back To Call On Her." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Flashed Her Father A Brief Smile Of     Appreciation For This Bit 
 Of Information And Proceeded To Grow More And More Enraptured With The 
 Whole Affair As Elinor Added To The     Narrative. They Were Celebrating 
 The Occasion Of     That Meeting This Evening, She Continued. Ross Had Sent 
 Her The     Flowers, Touching The     Cluster At Her Belt, For She Had Worn 
 Pink Roses At The     Baronne's Dinner; And They Were To Have For This 
 Anniversary Meal As Many Things As Elinor Had Been Able To Remember 
 They Had Eaten Together At The     First One. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Eyes Sparkled. 
   
   
   
 What A Darling Idea! This Keeping Of     The     Anniversary Of     So Memorable An 
 Occasion! Her Romantic Heart Thought It Came Very Near Being More 
 Thrilling Than A Real Party! It Was A Way Of     Living After Her Own 
 Conception Of     Life! 
   
   
   
 "But If I Had Known About It I Could Have Dressed Up, Too. _I_ Have A 
 Party Dress!" 
   
   
   
 "You Have Plenty Of     Time To Go Put It On, If You Wish." Elinor Smiled 
 For The     Little Air Of     Pride With Which The     Girl Had Announced Her 
 Possession. "There's Oceans Of     Time For You To Change. Dinner Isn't 
 Until Seven." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Bounded From Her Chair. "Oh, Really ... May I?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 138 
   
   
 Elinor Nodded. "Would You Like Me To Help You?" She Added. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Was Already Halfway Up The     Front Stairs By The     Time She 
 Had Finished Her Friendly Offer. 
   
   
   
 She Dived Down Into Her Trunk, Recklessly Pitching Out And Aside All 
 Those Garments Miss Eliza Had Folded So Carefully And Placed Into It As 
 She Had Considered Arethusa Would Be Needing Them. For The     One White 
 Dress Miss Letitia Had Made For Parties Was Far Down Towards The     Very 
 Bottom Of     The     Trunk. It Is Well That Miss Eliza Did Not See This 
 Unpacking! 
   
   
   
 Still Further Down, Arethusa Lifted Up A Box She Had Put There Herself, 
 Tucking It In When Miss Eliza Had Not Been Present To Observe, And From 
 It She Drew That Length Of     Green Ribbon Which She Loved. Unknown To Her 
 Aunt, It Had Travelled All The     Way From The     Hollow Tree To Lewisburg 
 For Arethusa's Adorning. 
   
   
   
 "I Will _Not_!" She Said Aloud, Defiantly, As Though Miss Eliza Were 
 Actually Present In Person Forbidding The     Tying-On Of     That Decoration, 
 "I Will _Not_ Wear A Blue Ribbon! I Will Wear This!" 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa, Thus Arrayed In Her Best, Descended The     Stairs Once 
 More. 
   
   
   
 She Crossed The     Library Towards The     Two By The     Fire, This Time Stepping 
 Proudly In A Consciousness Of     Clothes, Holding Her Head High. Her 
 Cheeks Were Adorably Flushed, And Her Eyes Were Almost Black Under Her 
 Long Dark Lashes. 
   
   
   
 The Dress Was Very Becoming, Even If It Were Not Of     The     Accepted 
 Standards For Formal Evening Wear. Miss Letitia Had "Spre'd Herse'f," 
 So Mandy Said, On That Dress. It Was A Trifle Sheerer Than Miss Eliza 
 Had At First Intended It To Be, Thanks To Miss Asenath's Gentle 
 Persuasion; Round In The     Neck And Even A Bit Low, For With Fingers That 
   
 Trembled In Their Excited Daring Miss Letitia Had Cut It Down Farther 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 139 
 Than The     Line Miss Eliza Had Indicated As Modest And Becoming. And Then 
 There Was No Way To Fill It In. 
   
   
   
 But "'Thusa Had Such A Pretty Neck," Said The     Guilty Seamstress To 
 Herself; And What Did An Inch Or So Matter In The     End? 
   
   
   
 In Arethusa's Simple Soul, Even With Her "Love Of     Gew-Gaws," As Miss 
 Eliza Phrased It, There Was No Smallest Room For Envy. This White 
 Garment Of     Hers Had Been Bought And Made For A Party Dress, And It Was 
 The Most Party "Party Dress" She Had Ever Possessed; Her Mother's Black 
 Gown Was Plainly A Party Dress Also: Therefore, To Arethusa's Mind, 
 They Were Similarly Arrayed For An Occasion. She Could Admire 
 Whole-Heartedly The     Soft Sweep Of     The     Folds Of     Elinor's Gown Without 
 One Iota Of     Unhappiness Because Her Own Frock Hung In Straight Thick 
 Gathers With But A Ruffle Edged With Lace At The     Bottom Of     The     Skirt 
 For Its Trimming. 
   
   
   
 "I Put On My Best Dress," She Said Happily, "Because It Was Your 
 Anniversary. I Know Aunt 'Liza Would Say I Should Have Put On My Blue 
 Silk, But It's So Dark, And It's Not Dress-Up A Bit." 
   
   
   
 Elinor And Ross Exchanged Glances, But Forebore To Smile At The     "Best 
 Dress." Somehow She Appealed To Them Both More At This Very Moment Than 
 She Had In Any Mood Shown Before. 
   
   
   
 Ross Sprang From His Chair And Recklessly Denuded A Large Bowl On The 
 Big Mahogany Table Of     Most Of     Its Burden Of     Pink Roses, And Gallantly 
 Presented Them To His Daughter To Put In Her Green Belt, So That She 
 Might Also Be Wearing The     Anniversary Flowers. 
   
   
   
 "For The     Queen Rose In The     Rosebud Garden Of     Girls," He Said, With A 
 Low, Sweeping Bow As He Presented Them, Which Enraptured Arethusa. And 
 The Words Had A Vaguely Familiar Sound, As Of     Poetry. Arethusa Adored 
 Poetry. 
   
   
   
   
 Yet The     Warm-Hearted Blossoms Themselves, Thought Ross, Were Really No 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 140 
 More Fresh And Glowing Than The     Girl Whose Fluttering Fingers Strove To 
 Tuck Them In The     Ribbon Around Her Waist Just As Elinor Had Her Cluster 
 Arranged. 
   
   
   
 "Bless Her Heart!" Said Elinor To Herself, As She Noted Arethusa's 
 Little Glance At The     Flowers She Wore And The     Little Effort At 
 Imitation. "And She Shall Have A Real Party Frock To-Morrow. The     Very 
 Prettiest I Can Find!" 
   
   
   
 When George, The     African Butler, An Imposing Personage Of     Almost 
 Unnatural Blandness, A Few Moments Later Announced Dinner As Served, To 
 Arethusa's View He Appeared To Be Dressed For The     Party Also. She Was 
 Gladder Then Than Ever That She Had Gone Up And Changed Her Dress. 
   
   
   
 The Round Dining-Table With Its Gleaming Silver And Glass, The     Tall, 
 Ivory-Colored Candles, Burning Without Shades In Silver Candlesticks, 
 And The     Huge Centerpiece (Of The     Flowers Of     The     Occasion) Was Far More 
 Of A Picture Than Arethusa Had Ever Known Such An Ordinary Thing As A 
 Dining-Table To Present. And All Around The     Room Were More Roses, In 
 Bowls And Tall Vases, Until It Seemed A Veritable Bower Of     Them, Dimly 
 Lighted Away From The     Candle Glow By Shaded Sconces Against The     Walls. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Drew A Deep, Sharp Breath Of     Ecstasy At All This Loveliness. 
 She Did Not Want To Sit Down In The     Chair George Held For Her At First, 
 But Just To Stand And Look, And Look. At Home, They Ate At Night Under 
 An Oil Lamp Hanging By Chains From The     Ceiling, And The     Supper Table At 
 The Farm Had Never, In All Its Existence As A Supper Table, Been A 
 Fairy Scene Such As This. But Ross And Elinor Were Sitting Down, And So 
 Almost Unconsciously Arethusa Slid Into Her Own Chair, Still Admiring. 
   
   
   
 She Examined The     Silver Articles At Her Place With Interest. There 
 Seemed To Be So Many For Only One Person. Why Did They Put All Their 
 Silver On The     Table This Way At Once? For It Surely Looked To Arethusa 
 As If That Was What Had Been Done. It Was Very Pretty, She Admitted, 
 But Seemed Curious. She Made No Audible Comment, However, Remembering 
 That Miss Eliza Had Said That It Was Most Ill-Bred Audibly To Remark 
 Anything As Curious Seen In Another Person's House. Their Ways Might Be 
 Strangely Different, But It Was Never The     Part Of     A Lady To Allude To 
   
 The Fact. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 141 
   
 Arethusa's Bouillon Gave Her No Real Trouble. It Had A Familiar 
 Appearance And One Ate Soup With A Spoon, Even At The     Farm. She 
 Selected The     Spoon Among That Brave Array That Invited Selection Spread 
 So Accommodatingly Before Her, Which Seemed To Her To Best Fit The     Cup 
 In Size; And Conscious Now Of     The     Lack Of     That Lunch She Could Not Eat, 
 For She Was Very Hungry, She Ate Every Bit Of     This First Course With 
 Relish, Even Lifting The     Cup As She Noticed Elinor Do Once Very 
 Daintily, To Drain It Of     Its Last Drop. She Longed For More, But It Is 
 Never Polite To Ask For A Second Helping, When A Guest. 
   
   
   
 The Bouillon Drunk, And The     Gold And White Cups Removed, Came George 
 Bearing A Large Silver Platter Whereon Reposed What Arethusa At First 
 Thought To Be Flowers Of     Some Description. But It Seemed Queer To Cook 
 Flowers And Serve Them For Food, As They Seemed To Be Intended. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Did Not Like The     Appearance Of     Those Strange, Spiky, 
 Dark-Green Things, And It Made It Very Easy To Remember One Of     Miss 
 Eliza's Earliest Lessons That Something Must Be Left For The     Servants 
 In The     Kitchen, And Never To Take Everything On A Dish, There Being 
 Only Three Of     These Unknown Objects On That Platter, So She Refused 
 With Unforced Politeness When They Came Her Way. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Come Now," Remonstrated Ross, "Surely You Want An Artichoke!" 
   
   
   
 "Artichoke!" The     Name Made Arethusa Giggle. 
   
   
   
 "Try One," Suggested Elinor, "For This Is One Of     The     Things I Happened 
 To Remember We Had At Our First Dinner Together." 
   
   
   
 Whereupon She Changed Her Mind, Servants Or No Servants In The     Kitchen, 
 For Arethusa Was Celebrating. 
   
   
   
   
 There Was No Spoon On The     Platter. There Was Nothing In The     Shape Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 142 
 Implements To Assist This Thing Over To Her Plate Save A Large, Wide 
 Fork And A Pancake Turner. At Least, It Resembled A Pancake Turner. It 
 Was Strange To See Such Use For One, And To Help Herself To Food Such 
 As This And In This Manner. It Proved A Bit Awkward In The     Attempt. The 
 Artichoke, Too, Made It More Awkward. It Behaved Like Something Alive, 
 And Hesitated For A Second On The     Tip Of     The     Pancake Turner, Balanced 
 Uncertainly; Then Plunged To Ignominy And Darkness, Under The     Table. 
 And Arethusa Had Made The     Noblest Of     Efforts To Manage It! 
   
   
   
 She Looked Up Quickly In Elinor's Direction, Braced For The     Reprimand. 
 Such An Occasion Would Have Proved The     Finest Of     Grist For Miss Eliza's 
 Mill; But Elinor Merely Smiled Kindly At The     Embarrassed Guest, And 
 Requested George To Fetch Miss Arethusa Another Artichoke. 
   
   
   
 This One Was Retrieved In Triumph. 
   
   
   
 But Once On Her Plate, Arethusa Eyed It Distrustfully. How Did She Eat 
 It, Now That She Had It? Did She Cut It Up Before Hand, Or What? Which 
 One Of     Her Many Knives And Forks Did She Use For It? Then Her Quick 
 Glance Noted How Elinor Peeled Off A Leaf, So She Did The     Same. 
   
   
   
 "Like It?" From Ross, After Her First Mouthful. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Looked Doubtfully At The     Artichoke. Recollections Of     Miss 
 Eliza As To The     Criticism Of     Food Put Before One, Made Her Temporize. 
   
   
   
 "I Know Other Things I've Eaten That I Like Much Better." She Was 
 Perfectly Courteous In Manner, But Her Tone Decidedly Lacked In 
 Enthusiasm. Then She Added, Hastily, Fearing That She Might Have 
 Offended By Even This Statement, "I May Get Used To It, If I Eat Enough 
 Of Them. Aunt 'Liza Says You Can Acquire Tastes." She Smiled At Ross 
 Apologetically. "I Never Saw One Before, You Know." 
   
   
   
 "You'll Do, Arethusa," Laughed Ross. 
   
   
   
   
 And Elinor Smilingly Told Her That Its Eating Was Not At All 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 143 
 Compulsory, But Arethusa Was Game. When She Celebrated, She Celebrated 
 With No Half Measure, So She Finished Her Artichoke To The     Last Bitter 
 Leaf, Though She Did Not Like That Last Leaf Any Better Than She Had 
 The First. 
   
   
   
 But It Would Be Most Unfair To Chronicle All Of     Arethusa's Vicissitudes 
 And Mistakes During The     Course Of     That Long Dinner; Her Struggles With 
 Her Strange Multitude Of     Table-Ware, Which Had A Propensity For 
 Disappearing Decidedly Odd, But To Which Ross's Own Augmented Supply 
 Might Have Given Her A Clue, Had She Looked More Sharply Near His 
 Plate, And The     Eating Of     Dishes New To Her And Not Always Liked. For, 
 New Dishes Or Not, Arethusa Partook With Heartiness Of     Everything That 
 Came Her Way; Even To The     Tiny Cup Of     Coffee At The     Very End, With Its 
 Baby Spoon Which Had So Enraptured Her As Like A Doll's, And Which Had 
 Vanished Mysteriously Before She Could Use It So That George Had Had To 
 Bring Another. 
   
   
   
 She Sighed The     Sigh Of     The     Well-Fed When It Was All Over. 
   
   
   
 "I Feel Just Like I Would Burst," She Announced, As She Pushed Back 
 From The     Table. "We Don't Have Half This Much To Eat At Night At Home!" 
   
   
   
 "Would You," Asked Ross, Most Amused, "Like To Go To Bed And Sleep It 
 Off? The     Instinct For Which The     Lower Animals Are So Commended Leads 
 Them To Some Such Sensible Proceeding After Over-Feeding, I Believe." 
   
   
   
 "Go To Bed!" Exclaimed Arethusa, Indignant At The     Bare Suggestion. 
 "Why, We Never Think Of     Going To Bed At The     Farm Before Nine Or 
 Half-Past; And Sometimes, Even Ten!" 
   
   
   
 "Ye Gods! What Hours! I'm Surprised At Miss Eliza's Permitting It!" 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Could Not Possibly Tell, From His Expression, Whether He 
 Was Joking Or Not. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 13 Pg 144 
   
 He Strolled Slowly Across The     Hall To The     Music Room, His Daughter 
 Following, The     Idea Stirring Within Her Brain That This New-Found 
 Father Was Inclined To Be As Much Of     A Tease As Timothy, And That His 
 Teasing Was A Trifle Hard To Understand. Elinor Was Going To Play For 
 Them. She Played Every Night To Ross Unless They Went Out Somewhere. 
   
   
   
 "I Can Plainly See, Arethusa, My Child," Ross Added, "Plainly See Where 
 We're Going To Prove A Most Demoralizing Influence For Miss Eliza's 
 Careful Rearing." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 145 
   
   
 In The     Morning, Arethusa Wrote The     Letter To Miss Eliza She Had Been 
 Bidden To Write As Soon As Possible After Arrival In Lewisburg, Giving 
 A Sketchy Description Of     Her Trip And The     Information That It Had Been 
 Accomplished In Safety, Without Mentioning A Single One Of     The     Friends 
 Made On The     Train; Or That She Had Almost Missed Her Father; Or That 
 She Was Now Minus A Purse. 
   
   
   
 But Immediately After This Duty Was Done She Wrote Another Letter; To 
 Miss Asenath This One, And It Was Overflowing With Spirits And 
 Exuberant Retrospect Of     All That Had Happened To Her Since She Left The 
 Farm. Into This Effort She Put Her Encounter With The     Strange Man, Mrs. 
 Cherry And Helen Louise And Peter And Mr. Cherry; How Nearly She And 
 Ross Had Missed Connection And How Terribly She Had Felt; The     Loss Of 
 Her Purse, And Her Fear That The     Check Had Been Gone Also; Just How 
 Exciting This Glorious Visit Had Already Proved. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Long Letter And A Breathless One, With Many Missing Words All 
 Down The     Pages, For Arethusa's Mind Was Working So Much Faster Than She 
 Could Move Her Pen That It Was Quite Impossible To Get In Every 
 Syllable. But Miss Asenath Would Understand. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 146 
   
 Arethusa Described At Length The     Wonders Of     This Big House Where She 
 Was A Guest, And The     Superlative Beauty Of     The     Room She Had Been Given 
 For Her Very Own. She Told Of     That Anniversary Dinner, And The 
 Artichoke; Of     All Her Troubles With The     Strange Food And The 
 Bewildering Number Of     Knives And Forks And Spoons. She Also Told Miss 
 Asenath Of     Elinor's Music. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Made Sounds To Issue From A Piano That Arethusa Had Never 
 Dreamed That Instrument Was Capable Of     Accomplishing. With Her Slender 
 Fingers On Those Black And Ivory Keys, The     Big, Black Box Had Sobbed 
 And Laughed, And Even Talked Ordinarily At Her Bidding. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Left Her Chair, And Crept Nearer And Nearer To The     Musician 
 Until She Was Almost On Top Of     The     Piano Bench Herself, In Her Absorbed 
 Interest. Her Hands Clasped Over Her Heart To Still The     Curious Little 
 Ache The     Music Made Her To Feel There, With Her Lips Parted Slightly 
 And Her Eyes Like Big Stars; She Had Scarcely Dared Breathe. She Wished 
 Suddenly For Timothy, For Timothy Worshipped Music. He Loved Even To 
 Hear Her, Arethusa, Play. And She Was Sure He Had Never Heard Any Music 
 Such As This. 
   
   
   
 It Was Not What Miss Letitia Would Have Called Playing "With 
 Expression"; It Was Not As She Had Tried To Teach Arethusa. Elinor's 
 Long, White Hands Just Seemed To Wander Over The     Keys, As Softly 
 Aimless As If She Had No Slightest Idea What The     Next Note Was To Be; 
 They Strayed From Themes Which Aroused To An Ecstasy Into Simple 
 Melodies That Left A Haunting Sense That They Had Not Been Finished. 
 Sometimes The     Piano Scarcely Seemed To Sound; Sometimes It Crashed In 
 Grand Chords, As If The     Musician's Playing Had Changed With Her Mood. 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Had Listened, Full Of     Vague Longings She Did Not 
 Understand, Feeling When It Ended That It Was Ended Far Too Soon; And 
 Ross Had Smoked Silently, Blowing Great, Blue Wreaths About His Head, 
 One After Another. There Had Been No Single Word From Either To Break 
 The Spell Of     The     Music. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Wrote Away, The     Wrinkles Of     Composition Between Her Brows And 
 Her Writing Becoming More And More Ragged As The     Letter Proceeded. Her 
   
 Feet Were Twined In The     Rounds Of     Her Chair, Her Arms Were Spread Out 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 147 
 All Over The     Top Of     The     Big Desk With A Great Display Of     Elbows, And 
 She Was Ungracefully Humped As To Back; For When Arethusa Wrote, Her 
 Whole Body Responded To The     Effort. 
   
   
   
 Close Beside Her Lay Boris, Ross's Great Dane, A Dignified Animal Of 
 Unusual Beauty. Ordinarily, He Was So Indifferent And Sometimes So 
 Disagreeable To Strangers That He Was Rarely Allowed Where They Were, 
 Yet He Had Adopted Arethusa At Sight When First Introduced Just After 
 Breakfast, And He Had Not Left Her Side Since. Most People Were 
 Frightened Nearly Speechless When Boris Merely Opened His Mouth To 
 Yawn; But He Had Not Frightened Arethusa. She Had Voted Him The     Most 
 Wonderful Dog She Had Ever Seen, And Pleased Ross Immensely By Her Lack 
 Of Fear. 
   
   
   
 Every Now And Then When She Stopped In Her Writing To Open Her Cramped 
 Fingers For A Moment And Gaze Admiringly Around The     Room, She Would 
 Stoop And Pat Boris. And She Would Stroke Him Wherever Her Hand 
 Happened To Fall, And He Did Not Seem To Resent It In The     Least, Which 
 Was Something Most Unusual. 
   
   
   
 Ross Was In The     Library, Sprawled On The     Big Davenport, And Watching 
 The Girl And The     Dog With Keen Delight In The     Picture They Made. He Had 
 Never Known Boris To Make Friends Thus Suddenly, In All The     Six Years 
 He Had Owned Him; Even Elinor Was A Bit Afraid Of     The     Splendid 
 Creature. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Had Been In The     Library Also Most Of     The     Morning, Talking To 
 Ross While Arethusa Performed A Duty; But She Had Been Called Out To 
 The Telephone. When She Came Back, Her First Words Were For Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "I Have An Invitation For You." 
   
   
   
 "For _Me_!" Arethusa's Pen Dropped Abruptly In The     Middle Of     Her Page 
 To Make A Large And Sprawling Splash Of     Ink. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, For You. That Was Mrs. Chestnut On The     Telephone. I Had Told Her 
   
 You Were Coming To Visit Us, And So She Called Up To Invite You To The 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 148 
 Dinner-Dance She Is Giving Friday Night, If You Were Here." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Would That Be A Party, A Real Party?" The     Excited Scribe Abandoned 
 Her Letter Altogether, And Followed Elinor Over By The     Fire-Place, 
 Nearer To Ross And The     Davenport, "Isn't That A Party?" 
   
   
   
 "I Should Say It Was!" 
   
   
   
 "I've Never Been To A Party," Apologetically Explained Arethusa, "And 
 I've Wanted To Go To One Ever Since I Can Remember. Aunt 'Senath Said 
 There Would Be Parties In The     City, And That I Might Be Invited! 
 But...." Some Of     The     Glow Began To Fade, "I Don't Know Mrs. Chestnut, 
 Mother." 
   
   
   
 "That Doesn't Make Any Difference This Time, Arethusa Dear, Because 
 She's One Of     My Best Friends. And All Her Parties Are Wonderful, So If 
 You've Really Never Been To Any At All, You're Starting In In The     Right 
 Way To Enjoy Them," Said Elinor, And Arethusa Glowed Once More. "I Had 
 Hardly Dared Hope She Would Invite You," She Continued, "Because I 
 Supposed Her List Was Made Up Long Ago. It's For Emily, Her Daughter. 
 You'll Like Emily; She's Just About Your Age, And She's Coming Out This 
 Winter. It's To Be At The     Boden Hotel, I Think She Said. But She's 
 Going To Send An Escort For You." 
   
   
   
 What Richness Of     Prospect! 
   
   
   
 Yet With Her Joy, Arethusa Puzzled For A Moment Over Some Of     The 
 Obscurer Items Of     Her Mother's Speech. 
   
   
   
 "Why Doesn't She Have Her Party At Home Instead Of     A Hotel," She 
 Enquired, "And What Is Emily Coming Out Of?" 
   
   
   
 "Your Mother Used The     Wrong Words, Arethusa," Volunteered Ross From The 
 Davenport; "She Means To Say That Mrs. Chestnut's Daughter Is On 
 Exhibition After Some Years Of     Careful Preparation By Her Mother For 
 Just This Event And Will Be Gladly Presented To The     Man Offering To 
   
 Take Her Off Her Mother's Weary Hands. Said Mother Will Be Fearfully 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 149 
 Disappointed, If, After All This Trouble And Expense, No Man Should 
 Offer. And As To Her Not Having The     Party At Her Home, She Thinks Far 
 Too Much Of     Her Furniture And Persian Rugs And Pale Pink Walls To Allow 
 Her Daughter's Callow Young Friends To Romp Around Among Them For A 
 Whole Evening." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Looked At Him Uncertainly, But His Expression Was One Of 
 Perfect Seriousness. It Was Even A Trifle Sad. 
   
   
   
 "Is She Really Like That, Father?" 
   
   
   
 "Really Like That," Replied Ross Sorrowfully. 
   
   
   
 "Then," Announced Arethusa With Decision, And Her Red Mouth Pursed 
 Disapprovingly, "I Don't Believe That I Want To Go To Her Party!" 
   
   
   
 Elinor Struggled Between Exasperation And A Desire To Laugh. 
   
   
   
 "Mrs. Chestnut Is Lovely, Arethusa, And So Is Her Daughter. They Only 
 Have The     Dance At The     Hotel Because Their Own House Is Too Small For So 
 Many People At Once. Everyone Has Their Large Parties There Nowadays. 
 If You Are Going To Believe Everything Your Father Says, You'll Be 
 Having A Very Hard Time. And If He Keeps On Talking This Way, I'll Have 
 To Send Him Out. You Mustn't Pay So Much Attention To Him." 
   
   
   
 "Nice, Wifely Speech, That," Observed Ross. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Had Glimpsed The     Laughter In His Quizzical Dark Eyes. She 
 Realized Now He Had Been Teasing, So She Turned Clear Away From Him To 
 Give All Her Attention To Elinor, Who Could Be More Trusted. 
   
   
   
 "Do You Know How To Dance, Dear?" Asked Elinor. 
   
   
   
 "Some," Replied Arethusa, "Timothy Taught Me Down In The     Barn. Aunt 
   
 'Liza Says Dancing Is Very Wicked," (Miss Eliza Had A Truly Deep And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 150 
 Honest Horror Of     Round Dances). "But Timothy Says It Isn't A Bit Wrong, 
 And I Just _Love_ It! She Doesn't Know," Added Almost Confidentially, 
 "That Timothy Ever Showed Me How." 
   
   
   
 "'Tis Just As Well, I Suppose," Murmured Ross. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had Proved An Apt Pupil To Timothy's Friendly Instructions 
 When He Had Come Home From College And Passed On His Acquirements In 
 The Art Terpsichorean. The     Lessons Had Taken Place In The     Central, 
 Biggest Space In The     Barn, As She Had Said, With Timothy Humming An 
 Accompaniment Until Breathless, And Then She Taking Up The     Tune In Her 
 Turn. This Little Taste Of     The     Joys Of     Dancing Had Made Her Long For 
 More. She Failed To See How Anything That Made For Such Pure And 
 Unadulterated Delight Could Be So Wicked As Miss Eliza Insisted That It 
 Was. 
   
   
   
 "I'm Glad You Know Something About It," Said Elinor, Really Relieved. 
 "I Was Afraid Perhaps You Didn't, And You Would Hardly Have The     Time To 
 Learn. And, Arethusa Dearest," Tactfully Feeling Her Way, Fearing To 
 Spoil The     Girl's Innocent Happiness In The     Garment, "Was That White 
 Dress You Wore Last Night Your Very Best?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Ma'am." The     Eager Face Lighted Still More. "And It's The     Lowest 
 Necked Dress I Ever Did Have, And It Has The     Shortest Sleeves! They're 
 Nearly Up To My Elbow. Aunt 'Liza Didn't Want It Made That Way, So Low, 
 Nor So Thin, Either; Because She Said I Wouldn't Be Able To Wear My 
 Underwear With It, And She's Afraid It's Dangerous For Me To Take It 
 Off. But I Rolled It Up Last Night And In At The     Neck, And It Didn't 
 Show Very Much. Did It?" 
   
   
   
 Elinor And Ross Were Almost Equally Affected By This Speech. 
   
   
   
 "Shades Of     The     Summer Of     Seventy-Six!" Was His Rather Inappropriate 
 Exclamation. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 151 
 And Elinor's Expression Seemed To Arethusa To Be One Of     Incredulity, So 
 She Turned Back Her Shirtwaist Cuff To Prove Her Statement, And Showed 
 The End Of     A Long, Knit Sleeve. 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Like To Wear It A Single Bit," She Said, "But Aunt 'Liza Makes 
 Me. I Have To Put It On When We Have The     First Heavy Frost And I Can't 
 Take It Off Until The     Tenth Of     May." 
   
   
   
 "I Am Becoming More And More Convinced That Miss Eliza's Peculiar 
 Talents Are Entirely Lost In The     Place She Occupies," Replied Ross, 
 With Sincerity. 
   
   
   
 But The     White Dress, Low As Its Proud Owner Seemed To Consider It, And 
 As Thin, And In Spite Of     Miss Letitia's Loving Effort Expended On It 
 For Just Such Occasions As Parties, Would Hardly Serve For The 
 Chestnuts' Dinner-Dance, Thought Elinor. 
   
   
   
 And So, Ere Very Much Time Were Sped, Arethusa Discovered Miss Asenath 
 To Have Been A True Prophet. She Was To Have Another Party Frock. She 
 And Elinor Started Off Immediately To Get It; But They Had To Get It 
 Ready-Made, For There Was Not Near Enough Time Before The     Party For A 
 Dressmaker's Services To Have Accomplished The     Sort Of     Frock That 
 Elinor Wanted Arethusa To Have. 
   
   
   
 They Went In The     Automobile, To Arethusa's Great Delight, And The 
 Palatial Establishment Where It Stopped, And Which Elinor Told Her Had 
 The Prettiest Dresses In Town To Offer In Just Such Emergencies As 
 This, Was So Enormous A Place And So Filled To Overflowing With 
 Scurrying People, That Arethusa Wondered If Every Human Being In 
 Lewisburg Had Not Come A-Buying This Morning, And Right In This 
 Particular Shop. She Was Not Used To Stores Where She Bumped Into 
 Somebody At Every Other Step. She Apologized Several Times From The 
 Front Door To The     Elevator, For Such Collisions; Because Her Delighted 
 Eyes Would Insist In Wandering To The     Bewilderment Of     Riches Displayed 
 On Every Side, Instead Of     Finding Her A Passage Through The     Crowd. She 
 Could Not Understand How Elinor Could Pass Them All So Calmly By, 
 Looking So Straight Ahead. Had She Not Been Afraid Of     Losing Her, 
 Arethusa Would Have Stopped, More Than Once, For A Little Closer View. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 152 
 They Went Up In The     Elevator To The     Third Floor, And The     Elevator Was 
 Another New Sensation For Arethusa. There Were No Elevators Within 
 Miles Of     The     Farm. 
   
   
   
 The Whole Third Floor Was Entirely Given Over To Ready-Made Garments Of 
 Every Description; Cloaks And Suits And Dresses Of     Every Conceivable 
 Variety Of     Cloth And Color, Hanging Carelessly Over Tables And Chairs, 
 And Neatly Displayed Inside Lighted Glass Cases, And Girls Were Rushing 
 About Carrying Still More Piled In Their Arms. There Were More Clothes 
 Then Arethusa Had Imagined Could Ever Have Been Made, Right Here On The 
 One Floor Of     This Huge Shop. 
   
   
   
 To The     Floor-Walker Who Stepped Up To Greet Them, Elinor Conveyed Her 
 Desire To Buy A Dress For Arethusa; "And I Should Like Miss Rosa, Mr. 
 Wells, If She's Not Too Busy." 
   
   
   
 Mr. Wells, Bowing Grandly From The     Waist, Ushered Them Into A Small 
 Room Hung All Around With Mirrors, And Disappeared. Then He Reappeared 
 In A Few Moments To Announce That Miss Rosa Would Be With Them Very 
 Shortly, If Mrs. Worthington Would Be So Kind As To Wait. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Simply Overcome By The     Rapidity With Which Events Moved 
 Forward, To Carry Her With Them. Speech Was An Impossibility. She Could 
 Only Follow Elinor Silently. 
   
   
   
 She Sat And Gazed About Her In The     Little Mirrored Room. Her Quaint 
 Figure Was Repeated Again And Again On All Sides In A Very Bewildering 
 Way; And She Noted That The     Hat Of     Each Arethusa Had Somehow Got 
 Crooked Far Down Over One Ear. She Straightened It Immediately. There 
 Were Many Elinors In The     Mirrors Also, And Arethusa Admired The     Grace 
 Of Those Reflections With Unaffected Showing Of     Her Admiration. She 
 Especially Admired The     Soft Sweep Of     Elinor's Long Stole Of     Moleskin. 
 There Was No More Envy In Her Regard Of     The     Difference Of     Their 
 Appearance In These Many Unmistakable Evidences Of     It Than There Had 
 Been When They Had Both Been Dressed For The     Anniversary The     Night 
 Before. Arethusa Rejoiced That Elinor Was Such A Beautiful Creature; 
 And It Was Perfect Bliss To Be With Her And Watch Her Lovely Clothes, 
 Without Worrying About Herself In Any Way. 
   
   
   
   
 Miss Rosa Did Not Keep Them Waiting Long, And At Elinor's Request When 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 153 
 She Did Come, She Flitted Away In A Business-Like Manner That Spelled A 
 Knowledge Of     What Was Wanted, To Return Bearing An Armful Of     Color; 
 Pale Blues And Pinks And Lavenders And Whites And Deeper Creams, In The 
 Softest Of     Satins And Silks And Chiffons And Lace. Among All This 
 Loveliness Was Glimpsed By Arethusa A Fleck Of     Green. 
   
   
   
 "Mother," This Whispered To Elinor, As Miss Rosa In Her Modish And 
 Well-Fitting Black Crepe De Chine And Her Air Of     Knowing What She Was 
 About, Was Just A Trifle Awe-Inspiring, "Do You Suppose That Would Be A 
 Green Dress?" 
   
   
   
 But Miss Rosa Heard The     Whisper. She Smiled In A Friendly Way At 
 Arethusa, For Miss Rosa Was A Kindly Soul, And Produced From The     Very 
 Bottom Of     Her Pile Of     Beautiful Things A Green Frock Of     The     Identical 
 Shade So Beloved By Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Drew In Her Breath With A Sharp, Little Sound. "Oh, That Is 
 The One I Want! Oh, Mother, May I Have...." 
   
   
   
 But She Had Had Too Long A Training By Miss Eliza For It To Desert Her 
 With Too Great A Suddenness. The     Dress Looked Neither Sensible Nor 
 Durable When Miss Rosa Held It Spread Out To Plainer View; In Fact, It 
 Had Every Possible Appearance Of     Being Neither. And It Was So Wonderful 
 A Mass Of     Chiffon And Silk And Lace That Arethusa Began To Remember 
 Sundry Lessons In Economy Also; She Feared Its Cost Would Prove 
 Terrific. She Had Never Seen Anything Nearly So Wonderful In The     Shape 
 Of A Gown Before. Then Too, Those Caustic Remarks Of     So Positive A 
 Nature Concerning Green With Her Red Hair, Which Miss Eliza Had Spoken 
 So Often In Her Hearing, Began To Worm Themselves Into Her 
 Consciousness. 
   
   
   
 The Happy Expression, Roused By The     First Sight Of     This Creation, Faded 
 Quite Noticeably. 
   
   
   
 "What's The     Matter?" Inquired Elinor. "I Think That's The     Dress Of     All 
 Dresses For You, Dear. If You Like It. Don't You, Miss Rosa?" 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 154 
 Miss Rosa Nodded. "Yes, Indeed, Miss Worthington Has The     Very Hair And 
 Eyes For This, And The     Skin As Well." 
   
   
   
 Then Did Arethusa's Spirits Soar To Touch Heaven Once More. She Turned 
 Such An Illumined Face To Elinor As Elinor Had Never Seen; She Was All 
 Aquiver In Her Sudden Joy. 
   
   
   
 "Aunt 'Senath Was Right! Darling Aunt 'Senath Was Right! She Said Not 
 Everybody Would Be Like Aunt 'Liza; That Some People Would Be Sure To 
 Think Green Was All Right With My Hair! Aunt 'Liza Never Has Let Me 
 Have Anything But Blue, And I've Wanted A Green Dress For A Thousand 
 Years. But This One Looks So...." She Paused Uncertainly, And Reddened. 
 She Did Not Like To Mention Its Cost, Since Elinor Was Making Her A 
 Gift, But Miss Eliza Was A Good Teacher. 
   
   
   
 "Expensive?" Finished Elinor, Laughing. "I Don't Imagine It Is. But 
 I'll Do The     Worrying About That. If You Want It, You May Have It. It 
 Rests With You To Say." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Blushed More Deeply, But It Was A Radiant Blush, Even If 
 Embarrassed, For Elinor's Words, If Intended As Words Of     Correction, 
 Were Not Spoken In The     Tone Arethusa Associated With Corrections. She 
 Fingered At The     Green Dress, Almost Caressingly. To Own This Gorgeous 
 Thing For Her Very Own! 
   
   
   
 "Suppose We Try It On," Suggested Miss Rosa, Amused At Arethusa's Naïve 
 Joy. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Coat Was Off Before The     Kindly Suggestion Was Quite 
 Finished, Then She Looked At Miss Rosa. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Read The     Hesitating Thought. "It's All Right," She Said. "Miss 
 Rosa Must Fit It For You, You Know." 
   
   
   
 So Miss Rosa Whisked Off Arethusa's Shirtwaist For Her, And Her Skirt, 
 And Even Manipulated That Uncompromisingly Unbeautiful Protection Which 
 Miss Eliza Insisted Was All That Kept The     Healthy Arethusa From Dying 
 Of Pneumonia In The     Winter Season, In Such A Very Capable Way That It 
 Could Not Possibly Show; And Slipped The     Dainty Gown Over The     Girl's 
   
 Ruddy Head. And It Fitted Her As If It Had Been Made Especially To Her 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 155 
 Measurement. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Stared Into The     Mirror Directly Before Her, And Into The     Ones 
 All Around Her, Twisting And Turning To See Every Inch Of     Her Back, 
 Lost In Ecstasy At The     Contemplation Of     Her Glorified Self In These 
 Wonderful Reflections. Even The     Heavy Black Lace Shoes, Ugly Shoes From 
 A Country Store, Which Showed So Plainly Below Her Green Skirt, Had No 
 Sort Of     Power To Spoil For Arethusa The     General Effect Of     Loveliness. 
   
   
   
 It Was The     Most Beautiful Dress In The     World, She Was Sure. 
   
   
   
 The Skirt Billowed And Flowed Around Her In Soft Generous Folds Of     Pale 
 Green Chiffon And Lace Draped Over An Underskirt Of     Green Silk, And 
 Caught To It Here And There With Bunches Of     Tiny Flowers In Odd, Bright 
 Colors. The     Waist Had A High, Soft Girdle Of     The     Green Silk, And Some 
 Of The     Little Flowers Were Sewed Around One Side Of     It Against The 
 Gathers Of     The     Skirt; And A Tight Little Bunch Of     Them Was Right In The 
 Middle Of     Her Back At The     Very Top Of     The     Girdle, From Which Hung 
 Narrow, Flowing Sash-Ends That Were Tied Into The     Fulness Of     The     Skirt 
 With Other Wee Bunches Of     The     Flowers. Some Of     These Flowers Were 
 Nestled About In The     Lace On The     Upper Part Of     The     Waist As If They Had 
 Grown There, And Some Caught Up The     Short Lace Sleeves. 
   
   
   
 "How Do You Like It?" Asked Elinor. It Was Really Rather A Superfluous 
 Question. 
   
   
   
 "I _Love_ It!" Burst From Arethusa. "I Think It Is Perfectly 
 Beautiful!" Then She Turned Around. "But I Just Know, Mother, That 
 Aunt 'Liza Won't Like It At All." 
   
   
   
 "Why, What On Earth Has Miss Eliza To Do With It?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 156 
   
 "You See," Seriously, "She Has Always Said Just What I Should Wear, 
 And She Tells Aunt 'Titia Just How To Make Them." 
   
   
   
 "I Understand, Dear, But You're In Lewisburg Now; And ... I Can't 
 See Possibly How Miss Eliza Could Have A Single Objection To Make." 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Knew Only Too Well. 
   
   
   
 "Couldn't I Have A Guimpe With It?" She Suggested Hopefully; "If I Had 
 A Guimpe, It Would Look Different." 
   
   
   
 It Would Indeed! 
   
   
   
 "A Guimpe!" Echoed Both Elinor And Miss Rosa. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Nodded, And Turned Once More To The     Mirror, "It's The     Sleeves 
 She Wouldn't Like," She Lifted One To Show Its Lack As A Sleeve From 
 Miss Eliza's Point Of     View, "And The     Neck, Besides. It's Ever So Much 
 Lower Than My White Dress, I Always Used To Wear Guimpes With Dresses 
 Like This. I Don't Mean Just Like This," Added Hastily, For A Blunder 
 Had Been Committed, "But When It Had Sleeves As Short, And Didn't Come 
 Up Any Higher." 
   
   
   
 "I Never Heard Of     Such A Thing," Declared Elinor. "And, Arethusa, I 
 Can't Believe That Even Miss Eliza Would Make You Wear A Guimpe With An 
 Evening Dress!" 
   
   
   
 But Then Elinor Did Not Know Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 And, "Anything On Earth That You Would Do To That Dress, Mrs. 
 Worthington, Would Spoil It," Said Miss Rosa, Warmly. "It's Absolutely 
 Perfect Just As It Is. And I'm Almost Sure, Miss Arethusa, That Your 
 Aunt Would Say So Herself If She Could See It." 
   
   
   
   
 But Neither Did Miss Rosa Know Miss Eliza. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 157 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Did. 
   
   
   
 She Stepped Slowly Down From The     Little Platform Where She Had Been 
 Standing For The     Better View All Around, And Her Grey Eyes Filled 
 Rapidly With The     Bitter Tears Of     Disappointment. It Was Tragedy To Give 
 It Up! But If There Was To Be No Guimpe.... 
   
   
   
 Her Fumbling Fingers Were Reaching Under The     Flowers At The     Girdle For 
 The Hooks Which Had Fastened Her Into It, When Elinor Stopped Her. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Had Set Her Heart On Arethusa Having That Green Dress From The 
 First Moment Of     Seeing Her In It. It Seemed To Elinor To Suit The     Girl 
 As If, As Miss Rosa Had Enthusiastically Declared, Somebody Had Sat 
 Down Before Her And Studied Her "Style". Her Namesake Nymph Might Have 
 Worn The     Gown Just As It Was Without A Single Change To Make It More 
 Airy Or More Like Captured Sea-Foam In Its Fluttering Draperies. It 
 Belonged With Arethusa's Hair And Her Greenish Eyes. She Would Never 
 Find Another Frock, If They Looked All Day, Which Would Be Half So 
 Becoming. But There Was No Slightest Use In Buying It If This Bugbear 
 Of Miss Eliza's Disapproval Would Continue To Rear Its Serpent Head To 
 Arethusa's Further Unhappiness. 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa," She Demanded, "Don't You Think I Know Every Bit As Much 
 About Clothes As Miss Eliza?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Could But Smile Through The     Tears She Was Winking Back At The 
 Utter Ridiculousness Of     This Question. She Looked At Elinor's 
 Wonderfully Made Suit And Her Furs And The     Dark Purple Velvet Hat She 
 Wore That Was So Attractive Against Her White Hair, And Then Memory 
 Showed Her Miss Eliza, Trotting About In The     Sensible And Comfortably 
 Cut Garments She Affected The     Year Round. 
   
   
   
 "More," She Declared, With Honesty And Emphasis. 
   
   
   
 "And Do You Imagine For A Single Instant That I Would Be Letting You 
 Wear Anything That Was Not At All Right For You To Wear?" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 158 
   
   
 Arethusa Shook Her Head Decidedly. That Was Not Exactly The     Point. "But 
 If I Only Had...." She Began, Uncertainly. 
   
   
   
 "Miss Rosa," Asked Elinor Desperately, "Have You Such A Thing As A 
 Guimpe?" 
   
   
   
 Miss Rosa Had, She Was Sure, Somewhere About. 
   
   
   
 "Would You Mind Bringing It?" 
   
   
   
 So The     Guimpe Was Brought, A Lace Guimpe With Long, Lace Sleeves, And A 
 High Collared Neck Of     Lace. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Could Have Cried At The     Way It Made Her Look. It Ruined Her 
 Wonderful Frock; Even She, Inexperienced In Such Frocks, Could Tell 
 That With Ease. It Was A Real Relief To Get It Off, And View Herself 
 Once More As She Had Been At First Arrayed, Without It. 
   
   
   
 "Now Don't You See?" 
   
   
   
 Yes, Arethusa Saw. 
   
   
   
 "And Do You Suppose," Pursued Elinor, "That Miss Eliza, As Sensible As 
 You Say She Is, Would Want To Spoil An Already Beautiful Dress That 
 Way?" 
   
   
   
 No, Arethusa Could Not Believe That Even Miss Eliza Would Want To Be So 
 Unfeeling To Beautiful Dresses Such As This. She Could Not Help But 
 Think, She Who Had Seen It And Worn It, Both Ways, That Miss Eliza 
 Would Be Forced To Select, As The     Prettier, The     Dress Without The 
 Guimpe. There Was Really No Choice, Thought Arethusa, Between Them. 
   
   
   
 She Smiled At Her Many Reflections Once More, And Strutted A Bit, Back 
   
 And Forth, To Watch Her Draperies Float About Her. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 159 
   
   
   
 "I'm Rather Sorry," Remarked Elinor, "That You Needed So Much 
 Convincing That I Had Any Idea What Was Best." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Stopped Short, And Turned In Alarm. "Why, Mother...." 
   
   
   
 But Elinor's Merry Brown Eyes Were Smiling At Her, And Arethusa 
 Understood. She Swooped Upon Her Joyously, With The     Danger Of     Damage To 
 The Green Gown In Her Sudden Movement, And Hugged Her Mother Swiftly. 
   
   
   
 "It's Just," She Exclaimed, "It's Just That If You Knew Aunt 'Liza You 
 Would Understand!" 
   
   
   
 Ross Had Also Said Something Of     The     Kind, Only The     Day Before. So 
 Elinor Was Beginning To Feel A Rather Respectful Interest In Miss 
 Eliza. 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa And Elinor, The     Dress Carefully Removed And Folded Into A 
 Box That They Might Take It With Them, While Arethusa's Jealous Eyes 
 Watched Until The     Last Knot Was Fast In The     String Which Tied That Box, 
 Departed Happily To A Lower Floor In Search Of     Slippers And Stockings 
 To Match And Complete The     Costume. 
   
   
   
 These Purchased, And Deposited With The     Dress-Box In The     Automobile, 
 Elinor Directed Clay To Drive To "Parnell's." 
   
   
   
 "We'll Go Get A Soda Water," She Said, "After This Trying Morning." 
   
   
   
 "But I Don't Feel The     Least Bit Sick," Remonstrated Arethusa, With 
 Memories Of     Miss Letitia's Packet Of     Soda Tucked Into The     Corner Of     Her 
 Satchel. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 14 Pg 160 
   
 Later, She Told Arethusa She Was Very Likely To Be Needing Miss 
 Letitia's Sort, When After Her Second Glass Of     A Beverage Of     A Most 
 Seductive Taste, She Expressed A Desire For A Third Drink Of     This New 
 And Altogether Charming "Soda Water." 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 161 
   
 Arethusa Had Not The     Faintest Idea What A "Dinner-Dance" Might Be. She 
 Knew Very Well What A Dinner Was, And She Could Conceive Of     The     Glories 
 Of A Dance, But As A Combination They Eluded Her. The     Only Picture She 
 Could Form For Herself Of     Such An Entertainment Was A Strange 
 Conglomeration Of     Eating And Dancing; Eating For Awhile, And Then 
 Dancing; And So On, First One And Then The     Other, Until Time To Go 
 Home. But Whatever The     Exact Nature Of     It, It Would Be Her Very First 
 Party. 
   
   
   
 Hitherto, Her Expeditions Into The     Social World Had Compassed Nothing 
 More Shattering To Her Nervous System Than Church Entertainments And 
 Occasional Spend-The-Days. Miss Eliza Was No Very Great Believer In 
 Parties As An Influence For Good In Arethusa's Development. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa, Had She Been Permitted, Would Have Gone Straight To Bed And 
 Slept Soundly And Dreamlessly Until Friday Night, Asking Only To Be 
 Waked When It Was Time That She Dress Before Seeking The     Scene Of 
 Festivity. But Her Preparation For The     Event Helped To Pass The     Two 
 Days That She Must Wait. 
   
   
   
 She Had Once, Long Ago, Found In The     Garret At The     Farm, When Poking 
 About There On A Rainy Day That Had Kept Her Housed, A Little Book With 
 Her Grandmother's Name In Faded Writing On The     Fly-Leaf. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 162 
   
   
 Its Title, Almost Indistinguishable Outside On The     Worn Board Covers, 
 But Plainly Enough Visible Within, Read: 
   
   
   
     "Advice To Young Ladies 
              Of 
          Good Family 
              On 
       Entering Society 
           For The 
         _First Time_ 
              By 
        A Former Belle" 
   
   
   
 This Little Volume She Had Brought With Her To Lewisburg, Packed In The 
 Box With Her Green Ribbon, The     Box That Had Been Slipped Into The 
 Canvas-Covered Trunk Unknown To Miss Eliza. Arethusa Had Been Very Sure 
 There Would Be Parties For Her To Attend; Had Not Miss Asenath Told Her 
 So? Had Not A Dress For Them Been Provided? And The     Book Would Clear Up 
 Her Ignorance Of     The     Line Of     Conduct Recognized As To Be Followed At 
 These Entertainments. 
   
   
   
 The First Time She Had Read It, It Had Seemed To Her To Cover Every 
 Contingency That Might Arise In The     Most Varied And Active Of     Social 
 Careers. But There Was Absolutely Nothing In It, She Was Sorry To See, 
 When She Fished It Out Of     The     Trunk And Climbed Into Her Window-Seat To 
 Study It This Day Before The     Party, Relating At All Directly To 
 Dinner-Dances; Although Two Whole Chapters Were Devoted To A Full 
 Discussion Of     The     Subject Of     Dinners. 
   
   
   
 She Went Through The     Pages Again And Again, But Not Once Did The     Magic 
 Word She Hunted Greet Her Eyes. Then She Went Back To A Paragraph In 
 One Of     Those Chapters Headed "Dinners," Which Had Particularly 
 Attracted Her Attention. 
   
   
   
     "A Young Lady," So It Ran, "Should Be Thoroughly Conversant With 
     The     Affairs Of     The     Day And Able To Take Part In An Intelligent 
     And Lively Way In Conversation Regarding The     Same With Her Fellow 
   
     Guests, Most Especially That Member Of     The     Other Sex Next Whom She 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 163 
     May Be Seated At The     Festive Board. In A Manner Of     The     Proper 
     Reserve And Deference To Masculine Opinion, She Should Endeavor 
     To Introduce Topics That Would Promote Animated And Interested 
     Discussion Among Those Nearest Her, Thus Adding To The     Enjoyment 
     Of     The     Party And Assisting The     Efforts Of     Her Hostess To Make 
     The     Occasion Prove An Auspicious Event, Which Is One Of     The     Very 
     First Requirements Of     The     True Guest. It Is Well, Also, Before 
     Attending A Dinner-Party, Where Most Of     The     Evening's Entertainment 
     Inevitably Consists Of     Conversation Over The     Delicious Viands, To 
     Be Ready With Thoughts Formed For Expression As Opinions In Regard 
     To The     Polite Arts; To Be Well-Read In The     Current Novels Such As 
     Are Proper For Young Females Of     Good Family To Have Read: For Talk 
     And Discussion May Often Be Led Adroitly In Such Directions With 
     Pleasure And Profit." 
   
   
   
 Here, Arethusa Dropped The     Little Book, Bitterly Disappointed, To Look 
 Out Of     Her Window For Awhile At The     Automobiles Whirling Past Her Down 
 Lenox Avenue. She Leaned Her Head Against The     Window-Casing And 
 Reviewed What She Had Read. 
   
   
   
 After All, There Was Nothing To Help Her Very Much. She Knew Scarcely 
 Anything About The     Affairs Of     The     Day. Miss Eliza Had Never Allowed Her 
 To Touch The     Only Newspaper That Came To The     Farm, Not Considering Her 
 Old Enough. She Had Not The     Vaguest Idea What The     "Polite Arts" Were, 
 And As To The     Books She Had Read, She Was Very Uncertain Whether They 
 Might Be Called "Current Novels." 
   
   
   
 She Picked Up Her Book To Read Further And Discovered That.... 
   
   
   
     "Poetry May Often Be Introduced With Charm And Effect. A Few Lines 
     Of     Verse, Judiciously Interspersed With The     Conversation; Pearls 
     Of     The     Thought Of     Our Great Masters Of     The     World Of     Rhyme Falling 
     From The     Ruby Lips Of     The     Young And Fair Daughters Of     Eve, Have 
   
     Often Caused A Masculine Heart To Beat Faster And To Be Thrown 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 164 
     Around The     Lovely Borrower Of     Words An Atmosphere Of     Gentle And 
     Refined Erudition That Nothing Else Could So Well Impart." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Brightened Up. Here, She Felt More At Home. 
   
   
   
 She Could Certainly Learn Poetry! In Fact, She Had No Need To Learn It, 
 For She Already Knew Quite A Lot. She Had Read _The Family Poetry 
 Book_ Through From Cover To Cover, A Hundred Times At Least. It 
 Contained A Great Deal Of     Scott And Burns, And Many Long-Delightful 
 Ballads Such As "Lord Ullin's Daughter," And "The Cruel Sister," As 
 Well As Irish Melodies That Charmed With Their Plaintive Atmosphere. 
 England, However, Had Not Been Neglected, For The     Work Of     The     Lake 
 Poets Held A Prominent Place, And There Was Much Of     Tennyson, His "May 
 Queen" Cycle, And "Sir Galahad." "The Prisoner Of     Chillon" Was 
 Arethusa's Favorite Of     Byron's Representation; She Knew It From End To 
 End. And She Knew All Of     Those Specifically Named Off By Heart, For The 
 Swinging Lines Of     A Ballad Form Were Arethusa's Idea Of     What Real 
 Poetry Should Be. But The     Compilers Of     The     Big Brown Book, Which Was 
 Sacred To The     Marble-Topped Center Table In The     Parlor At The     Farm, Had 
 Not Stayed Entirely On The     Other Side Of     The     Ocean; And So Arethusa 
 Could Recite Many Of     The     Verses Of     Our Own Sweetest Singers Of     That 
 Day; As Well As Many That Were Scattered Throughout The     Book That Were 
 Signed "Anonymous"; And Many That Had Been Written By Dead And Gone Men 
 And Women Whose Very Existence Would Have Been Forgotten By A Fickle 
 World, Had Not _The Family Poetry Book_ Preserved An Imperishable 
 Record Of     Their Achievements. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Exulted Arethusa, "I Know Some Poetry!" 
   
   
   
 She Read On, Greatly Cheered. 
   
   
   
     "Conversation," Continued The     Quaint Little Pamphlet Of     Advice, "Is 
     Best Carried On If Some Definite Topic Is Introduced. This, 
     However, Must He Accomplished With Ease And Grace, Lest A Feeling 
     Of     Awkwardness Be Aroused." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 165 
   
 Arethusa Descended To The     Library And Hunted Up A Dictionary, To Look 
 For "Topic." 
   
   
   
 She Discovered It To Be: 
   
   
   
     "The Subject Of     Any Distinct Portion Of     A Discourse; A Theme Or 
     Subject As Of     Talk Or Thought." 
   
   
   
 This Was Fairly Clear. "I Might Find A Topic," She Thought, For She 
 Surely Could Not Quote Poetry All Through The     Evening. "I Might Read 
 About Something I Could Talk About." 
   
   
   
 Her Eyes Roved Restlessly Down The     Same Row Of     The     Bookcase Where She 
 Had Got The     Dictionary. It Was Nearly All Encyclopedia, Stretching Away 
 In A Formidable Array Of     Volumes Exactly Alike, Except For The     Tiny 
 Gold Lettering Across The     Center Of     The     Back. She Lifted Out One At 
 Random, The     "L's," And It Opened Accommodatingly Of     Its Own Accord, 
 When Its Heaviness Slid Out Of     Her Grasp, To "Lepidoptera." Which Was A 
 Strange And Almost Unpronounceable Word; But The     Pictures Which 
 Accompanied This Text Were Somewhat Explanatory Of     Its Meaning, Being 
 All Of     Familiar Looking Butterflies And Moths. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Grew Interested. She Spread Herself Comfortably Out On The 
 Floor, There In The     Corner, And Began To Read; And She Gleaned As She 
 Read Several Facts That Might "With Profit" Be Introduced Into A 
 Conversation. 
   
   
   
 For Instance; She Learned That There Were Over Fifty Different Families 
 Of These Lepidoptera, And That All Of     These Family Divisions Were 
 Divided Also, So Many Times That They Have Never All Been Counted Or 
 Classified; That All Common Moths And Butterflies Belonged Under This 
 Big Head, As Well As Some "Cousins," So Aristocratic And So Wonderful 
 In Their Colorings That Arethusa Exclaimed Aloud Over Their Beauty In 
 The Large Plate On The     Page Just Opposite; And That Every Single, 
 Solitary Member Of     Every Family, Whether Of     High Or Low Degree, Came 
 From Some Sort Of     Caterpillar. She Discovered That These Lepidoptera 
   
 Had Traits Of     Character Which Still Further Differentiated Them. They 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 166 
 Were Exceedingly Finicky About Their Food, She Read; The     Meat Of     One 
 Variety Seemed To Be The     Deadly Poison Of     Another. And Some Of     Them 
 Could Live Under The     Water; Some Drowned In A Drop Of     Rain. 
   
   
   
 She Committed To Memory Some Of     The     Most Interesting And Peculiar Of 
 The Names Of     The     Families, So As To Be Ready When The     "Member Of     The 
 Other Sex Next Whom She Was Seated At The     Festive Board" Should Become 
 So Interested In Her Topic Of     Conversation As To Inquire. 
   
   
   
 One Of     These Names Was "Nymphlidae," Which The     Writer Of     The     Article 
 Declared Was The     Largest Family Of     All; And Included The     Commonest Of 
 The Gaily Colored Butterflies One Saw Flying About Every Day. Arethusa 
 Took A Deep Personal Interest In This Family, Because Of     Its Name. She 
 Was Well Acquainted With Nymphs, And Knew Exactly Where Her Own Pretty 
 Name Had Been Found. This Was All Sure To Prove Interesting To Her 
 Fellow Diners-Out. It Was Most Fascinating To Read. 
   
   
   
 Elinor And Nettie, Elinor's Maid, Helped Arethusa To Dress For The 
 Party. 
   
   
   
 It Was Well That She Had Their Assistance, For She Could Never Have Got 
 Into That Green Frock Alone And Unaided. There Was An Intricacy And 
 Invisibility Of     Fastening About It That Her Trembling, Excited Fingers 
 Could Never Have Managed. Nettie, With The     Air Of     An Artist Loving Her 
 Work, Piled Arethusa's Hair Up High To Show The     Sweep Of     The     Line Of 
 Her Neck And Head Which Elinor, Watching Critically From The     Green 
 Sofa, Decided Was Particularly Good. And Nettie Poked And Pulled And 
 Fussed With Arethusa As One Who Dressed A Beloved Doll, And The     Result 
 Was Altogether Good. 
   
   
   
 Ross Had Hied Himself To The     Florist And His Daughter Was The     Recipient 
 Of Her First Flowers, An Anonymous Bouquet Of     Lilies-Of-The-Valley 
   
 Which Caused Much Excitement, Largely Compounded Of     Pleasure, When They 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 167 
 Arrived; And Which Looked Just As If They Had Grown With The     Other Wee 
 Blossoms Out Of     The     Green Of     The     Frock When Elinor Pinned Them At Its 
 Waist. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Found It Hard To Believe That The     Reflection She Gazed At In 
 Her Own Long Mirror Was Herself, Even After Seeing That Other So 
 Glorified Arethusa In The     Mirrors Of     The     Shop The     Other Day; For This 
 Was Still More Wonderful. It Was Metamorphosis From The     Crown Of     Her 
 Head To The     Soles Of     Her Feet. The     New Arrangement Of     Her Hair Imparted 
 An Air Of     Quaint Dignity That Was Immensely Becoming And That Made Her 
 Appear A Trifle Older. Its Piled Masses Shown Like Burnished Copper 
 Under The     Bright Glare Of     Numerous Electric Lights; And Under The     Same 
 Brilliance Her Arms And Neck Seemed More Like Creamy Satin Than Ever. 
 She Noted With Deep Satisfaction That The     Tiny Bridge Of     Freckles Which 
 She Considered Absolutely Spoiled Her Nose, Was Almost Invisible When 
 Viewed By This Artificial Illumination. She Struck One Satin Slipper 
 From Under The     Edge Of     Her Dress And Lifted Her Skirts High To See Her 
 Feet. They Looked Perfectly Wonderful Also. She Did Not Know Them As 
 Her Own Feet. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Had Gone To Find Ross To Show Him The     Completed Debutante, So 
 Arethusa Had Time Alone In Which To Admire To Her Heart's Content. 
   
   
   
 She Curtsied To The     Figure In The     Mirror, A Long, Sweeping, 
 Old-Fashioned Curtsey That Ended With A "Cheese," And The     Billowy Gown 
 Spread Itself Out Around Her Shimmeringly Like The     Party Frock Of     Some 
 Belle Of     Long Ago; The     "Former Belle" Of     Her Little Book Might Have 
 Curtsied And Looked Just So. This Charmed Her Utterly, And She Did It 
 Again And Again. 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa Suddenly Leaned Close To The     Mirrored Figure And Kissed 
 Its Face Fleetingly. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, But You Are Beautiful! Beautiful! I'm So Glad You're Beautiful!" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 168 
   
 And Ross And Elinor, Arriving At The     Door Just In Time To Hear The 
 Exclamation, Slipped Away Again Lest They Should Spoil Her Rapture In 
 This Impersonal Admiration Of     Her Own Fair Self, By Letting Her Know 
 That They Had Heard. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Chestnut Was Sending A Youth By Name Of     Harrison To Escort 
 Arethusa To The     Party, A Youth Who Did Not Want To Come. He Had Fully 
 Intended To Go Alone To The     Festivities Since His Own Particular 
 Inamorata Was Already Provided With Company, And Thus He Would Have The 
 Best Of     Chances To Show This Lady A "Real Time." 
   
   
   
 But Mrs. Chestnut, Being His Own Blood Aunt, Felt Perfectly Privileged 
 To Call Upon Him In Emergencies, And So His Carefully Laid Plans Were 
 All Upset With The     "Country Jane" Shoved Upon Him For The     Evening. 
   
   
   
 He Was One Of     The     Few Beaux Of     Lewisburg Who Possessed An 
 Automobile--Entirely His Own--In Which To Carry Ladies To Parties. When 
 He Appeared With It, He Handed The     Cocoon That Was Introduced To Him As 
 Arethusa Into The     Back Seat And Climbed, Ungraciously, In Front All By 
 Himself. Conversation On The     Road To The     Party Was Clearly An 
 Impossibility, So Arethusa Reviewed Her Knowledge Of     The     Article On 
 "Lepidoptera," And Recited Under Her Breath A Few Selections Of     The 
 Poetry She Had Deemed Most Appropriate For Use On This Occasion. She 
 Was As Ready For Eventualities As She Knew How To Be. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Harrison Dumped His Cocoon In The     Dressing-Room And Departed, In 
 Search Of     A Little Refreshing Man-Talk Before Taking Up His Arduous 
 Duties In Connection With Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 As Elinor Had Instructed Her To Wait Until He Should Return For Her, 
 Arethusa Waited. But They Had Been So Late In Their Coming That The     Few 
 Girls Who Had Been In The     Room When She Arrived, Were Soon Gone With 
 Their Liveliness And Laughter, And The     Tardiest Guest Was Left Alone. 
 She Sat On The     Extreme Edge Of     A Chair Quite Near The     Door As She 
 Waited, And Tapped Her Feet Impatiently. 
   
   
   
 The Party Seemed Already To Be In Full Swing; Music Was Playing, And 
   
 She Caught A Glimpse Of     Dancers In The     Large Ball Room At The     Other End 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 169 
 Of The     Hall. It Was Maddening To Be So Near It And Not A Part Of     It. 
 She Went To The     Door And Peered Out. She Considered That Mr. Harrison 
 Was Entirely Too Long In Returning. But He Was Amusing Himself In The 
 Hall, And Was Not In The     Least Hurry To Take Up The     Burden Of     His 
 Evening. 
   
   
   
 One Of     The     Men In The     Little Group Where He Stood, Whose Eyes Were 
 Towards That Dressing-Room Door, Noticed Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "Who's The     Stranger?" He Enquired, "And She's Some Looker, Too, Believe 
 Me." 
   
   
   
 The Whole Group Turned As One Man To Stare In Arethusa's Direction. Mr. 
 Harrison Was Unpleasantly Reminded Of     What Was Before Him. 
   
   
   
 "I've Got A Skirt In There," He Muttered, "And I Might As Well Go Get 
 Her, I Reckon." 
   
   
   
 "This One Yours? Confide In Us, Harry, And Introduce Us, Immediately If 
 Not Sooner. The     Idea Of     Your Keeping Anything Like That All To 
 Yourself!" 
   
   
   
 "No." Mr. Harrison Was Admiring Arethusa's Lovely, Eager Face. "I 
 Haven't Any Idea Who She Is! Wish I Did Know! But Mine's A Hayseed, 
 Daughter Of     A Friend Of     Aunt Nell's Up From The     Country For The     Very 
 First Time In Her Life! That's What I Drew For Being In The     Family! 
 Well, Pray For Me, Fellows, For Here Goes!" 
   
   
   
 He Made Straight For Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 With Each Step He Took Towards Her, The     Greater His Admiration Grew. 
 Mr. Harrison's Affections Fluttered From Girl To Girl Like A Moth In A 
 Room, Full Of     Candles, Unable To Settle Down Steadily To One Particular 
 Flame. He Did Not Recognize Arethusa As His Lady For The     Evening. He 
 Had Been So Late In Going For Her That She Had Been All Muffled And 
   
 Waiting For Him When He Arrived. And He Had Not Cared To Look Very 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 170 
 Closely At The     Figure In Those Wrappings. Mr. Harrison Asked Very 
 Little Of     The     Damsels He Honored With His Attention, Save That They Be 
 Pretty. He Decided, Without The     Slightest Hesitancy, That Arethusa Was 
 The Prettiest Girl He Had Ever Seen. 
   
   
   
 She Did Not See Him Coming, Or Even Hear His Approach, With All Her 
 Thought For The     Gay Scene Before Her, Until He Asked Her If She Would 
 Mind Telling Miss Worthington That Mr. Harrison Was Waiting For Her. 
   
   
   
 Then She Turned And Smiled Such A Welcome Of     Him From Her Shining Eyes, 
 That The     Weather-Vane Of     Mr. Harrison's Volatile Affections Veered To 
 Point Straight Arethusa-Ward. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, It's You! I'm So Glad! I've Been Wishing You'd Come! I Thought 
 Maybe You'd Forgotten!" 
   
   
   
 And The     Weather-Vane Became Firmly Fixed. 
   
   
   
 But Mr. Harrison Felt As If Some Audible Apology Were Surely Due This 
 Dream Of     A Girl For All Those Unkind Things He Had Thought (And 
 Uttered), Earlier In The     Evening, That Her Entertainment Should Have 
 Devolved Upon Himself. He Considered Himself Now The     Very Luckiest Of 
 Mortals. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Laughed At His Attempt At Vindication Of     His First Greeting Of 
 Her, That Ripply Soft Laugh Of     Hers, And The     Susceptible Mr. Harrison 
 Named It The     Most Musical, And The     Prettiest, Laugh He Had Ever Heard. 
   
   
   
 "You Didn't Know Me, Did You? I Don't Wonder, Because I Was So Wrapped 
 Up When You Came For Me, And It Was Mother's Cloak! She Thought I Might 
 Take Cold, Because I'm Not Used To Going Out At Night, And My Own Cloak 
 Wasn't Near Warm Enough, She Said; And So She...." 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa Paused, And Flushed Prettily With Embarrassment. One Did 
   
 Not Confide Such Intimate Personalities To Strange Gentlemen At 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 171 
 Parties, She Was Quite Sure, From That Close Study Of     The     Little Book. 
 She Must Be More Careful Of     Her Tongue. 
   
   
   
 But Mr. Harrison Cared Not A Bit What She Said, Or Whether She Ever 
 Said Anything At All. She Was A Joy For Him To Behold If She Never 
 Opened Her Mouth. He Escorted Her, With The     Pride Of     A Personal 
 Possession, To Mrs. Chestnut And Introduced Her. Mrs. Chestnut Held Her 
 Hand Kindly For A Moment And Spoke Of     Elinor, And Expressed A Hope That 
 Arethusa Would Have A Good Time; Then Passed Her On To Emily, Who Was 
 Almost Hidden Behind A Mass Of     Roses She Carried, And So Excited At The 
 Whole Affair, She Could Pay No Real Attention To Arethusa; But She 
 Managed To Transfer Her To Her Older Sister Just Next; And The     Older 
 Sister To A Cousin Or So Next To Her, And A Bosom Friend Or Two Thrown 
 In For Good Measure. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Long Receiving Line And Arethusa Was So Utterly Bewildered 
 Long Before She Had Ever Reached The     End Of     It, By This Way She Was 
 Shoved, So To Speak, From Person To Person, Without Ever Really Finding 
 Out Who Half Of     Them Were, For It Would Seem As If There Had Been A 
 Conspiracy To Mumble The     Names Spoken To Arethusa, That She Could 
 Almost Have Fled The     Party. "The Advice To Young Ladies" Had Said 
 Nothing Of     Such A Proceeding As Being Part Of     The     Routine Of     Parties, 
 Nor Had Elinor Made Any Mention Of     It. Arethusa Was Totally Unprepared. 
 And It Was, As An Experience, Well Calculated To Dampen Even The 
 Exuberance Of     Spirits With Which Arethusa Had Fared Forth To This New 
 Adventure. Everyone About Her Seemed To Know Everyone Else Intimately; 
 She Had No Part In The     Gay Greetings Of     Old Friends. It Made Her Feel 
 Herself, As She Watched, The     Only Stranger At The     Dinner Dance. 
   
   
   
 So She Clung To Mr. Harrison For An Old Acquaintance, As To A Rock In A 
 Weary Land Of     Unfamiliar Surroundings. But Such Clinging Was Really 
 Unnecessary; For He Wanted Not To Leave Her Side. Arethusa's Little 
 Confusion Only Made Her Prettier. 
   
   
   
 "Am I Going To Sit By You At The     Dinner-Table?" She Asked Him, When She 
 Had Summoned Sufficient Courage To Add This Bit To The     General Uproar 
 Of Pleasant Conversation. It Would Help Matters Mightily, If She Was. 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Know," He Began Slowly, But Then He Added, Very Briskly 
   
 Indeed, "But I Can Go Find Out And Change The     Cards Around If You're 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 15 Pg 172 
 Not." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Don't Leave Me! Don't Leave Me!" Arethusa Fairly Shrieked This 
 Request, And She Grabbed At His Coat-Tails As He Started Away. "Please 
 Don't Go Off And Leave Me!" 
   
   
   
 Consequently, He Was Forced To Leave Her When They Finally Sought The 
 Dining-Room, And He Was Miles Away On The     Other Side Of     The     Huge 
 Apartment At Another Table. Arethusa Found Herself Next To A Perfectly 
 Strange Youth, A Rotund, Almost Moon-Faced Individual With Eyes That 
 Danced Good-Humoredly Behind Glasses. 
   
   
   
 This Person Addressed Himself Strictly To Business, Weeding Out From 
 The Silver By His Plate With Such A Reassuring Air Of     Knowing That He 
 Did The     Right Thing, A Small Article Shaped Like A Tiny Pitchfork, That 
 Arethusa Followed Suit Immediately. 
   
   
   
 But She Had A Very Decided Dislike Of     Eating Blindly Ahead Without 
 Knowing What It Was She Ate, And Although The     Objects Before Her 
 Presented A Rather Familiar Appearance, She Wanted To Be Quite 
 Positive. Having Somewhat Recovered Her Spirits By This Time, It Was 
 Not So Hard To Ask Her Neighbor The     Question. He Did Not Look At All 
 Formidable, And One Talked To One's Partner At Dinners, So The     "Advice" 
 Had Said, And It Had Not Specified Any Condition Of     Previously Knowing 
 That Partner. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 173 
   
 "Would You Mind Telling Me," Inquired Arethusa, As Courteously As 
 Possible, "What These Are?" 
   
   
   
 But Her Neighbor Paid No Attention. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 174 
   
 She Repeated Her Request, Raising Her Voice A Trifle. "Maybe He's 
 Deaf," She Thought. 
   
   
   
 And This Time He Turned, "I Beg Your Pardon.... But Did You Speak To 
 Me?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes," She Replied, "I Asked You To Tell Me What These Were." 
   
   
   
 He Stared At Her, Surprised Into A Direct Reply, "Why, They're 
 Oysters!" 
   
   
   
 "Oysters!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Examined Them Critically. No Wonder They Had Looked So 
 Familiar! "But They're Raw!" She Exclaimed. 
   
   
   
 "It's An Oyster Cocktail! Of     Course They're Raw!" 
   
   
   
 "But I Never Saw Them This Way Before! I Didn't Know People Ate Raw 
 Fish At Parties! I.... This Is The     Very First Party I Ever Went To," 
 She Explained. It Was Surely Extenuation Enough For Any Ignorance Of 
 The Customs Of     Such Gatherings! 
   
   
   
 His Glance Searched Her, Up And Down. He Struggled Visibly With 
 Amusement. It Was All He Could Do Not To Laugh Outright. 
   
   
   
 "I Suppose You're Visiting Here?" He Remarked, After Awhile, When 
 Speech Was Once More Somewhat Of     A Possibility. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Thought It Was Most Polite Of     Him To Show This Interest. She 
 Nodded. 
   
   
   
 "I'm Arethusa Worthington." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 175 
   
 "Arethusa Worthington!" The     Youth Was All Real Interest And Animation 
 At Once. "Not Mr. Ross Worthington's Daughter! Why, I ... I'm Proud To 
 Call Him One Of     My Best Friends! I'm Just Crazy About That Man! I Met 
 Him Abroad. And So You're Really His Daughter! I Certainly Am Glad To 
 Meet You! Now, That I Think, Of     It, I Believe He Did Tell Me The     Other 
 Day That You Were Coming!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Smiled All Over, Showing Every Dimple; She Felt At Home 
 Immediately With Any Friend Of     Her Father's, Self-Announced Though He 
 Might Be. 
   
   
   
 "My Name's Watts, Miss Worthington," He Continued, "William Watts. But 
 Most People Call Me 'Billy.'" 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Know You Quite Well Enough Yet To Call You 'Billy,'" She 
 Replied, Seriously Reproving. "But Wasn't It Just Dear That We Happened 
 To Sit Next To Each Other?" 
   
   
   
 Mr. Watts Enthusiastically Agreed. And Acquaintanceship Established On 
 This Firm Foundation, He Turned His Attention Once More To Food. 
   
   
   
 "Don't You Like Oysters?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, But They Look So Horrid! Ugh!" Arethusa Shivered. "Generally, I 
 Love 'Em, But These Are Raw! I Never Ate Any Raw Ones Before!" 
   
   
   
 "Go Ahead And Try Them," He Urged In All Friendliness. "If You Like 
 Them At All, You'll Like Them This Way, Too, I'll Bet." 
   
   
   
 But She Still Hung Back, "I Don't Know How." 
   
   
   
 "It's Perfectly Easy. Just Like This." He Speared One And Lifted It To 
 Show Her. 
   
   
   
   
 Arethusa Watched The     Operation, Fascinated At His Skill, But She Shook 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 176 
 Her Head With Decision When He Suggested That She Do Likewise. 
   
   
   
 "I Couldn't Possibly. I Believe I'd Drop It. That Little Pitchfork 
 Thing Doesn't Look Near Big Enough To Hold Such An Enormous Oyster." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, You Won't Drop Any," He Encouraged; "Nobody Ever Has That I Have 
 Heard Of. Go On And Try." 
   
   
   
 "No," She Shook Her Head Again, "No, I Don't Believe I Will. I Think 
 I'd Much Rather Practice At Home First." 
   
   
   
 For It Looked Far Too Difficult To Attempt Thus Offhand, Even Though 
 Reassured That None Had Ever Been Dropped. And Should One Really Miss 
 Its Way To Her Mouth And Fall Off The     Pitchfork Thing To Land In Her 
 Lap? Well, The     Dress Was Far Too Beautiful And Too Precious To Be 
 Risked So Foolishly. Those Oysters Had A Most Slimy Appearance. 
   
   
   
 There Was A Little Silence While The     Epicurean Mr. Watts Consumed His 
 Oysters Unaccompanied. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Wondered If The     Time Was Ripe For Her To Introduce Into The 
 Conversation The     Subject Of     Lepidoptera, But If It Was, She Was Quite 
 At A Loss How To Do So With "Ease And Grace." Perhaps A Little Poetry 
 Would Be Appreciated, But There Was Nothing As Yet With Which It Could 
 Be "Interspersed." None Of     The     Verses She Knew Had Any Remotest 
 Application To What Had Been Said So Far. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Watts Finished His Oysters To The     Very Last One, And Then Turned 
 Her Way With A Little Sigh Of     Satisfaction. 
   
   
   
 "You Certainly Did Make A Mistake This Time, Miss Worthington, For 
 Those Were Perfectly Bully. This Hotel Is Rather Famous For Its Sea 
 Food, You Know, Especially For Oysters." 
   
   
   
 Now Arethusa Was Getting Somewhat Tired Of     Hearing Of     These Bivalves 
 And Their Extremely Succulent Taste; She Did Not Want The     Entire 
 Evening To Be Given Over To A Discussion Of     Oysters. There Were Other 
   
 Things. The     Subject She Had Been At Such Pains To Prepare, For 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 177 
 Instance, Would Make A Much More Interesting Conversation. So She 
 Plunged Right In. 
   
   
   
 "Do You Know Anything About Lep--Lep-E-E-Top-Dera?" She Asked, With A 
 Charming And Social Smile. 
   
   
   
 He Looked Frankly Puzzled. 
   
   
   
 "Moths And Butterflies," She Added, In Explanation To That Questioning 
 Expression. 
   
   
   
 "No, I Bite. What About 'Em?" 
   
   
   
 "I Thought They Would Be Nice For Us To Talk About. I Read About Them 
 In The     Encyclopedia So I Could. The     'Advice To Young Ladies' Said At A 
 Dinner You Must Always Have Something To Talk About." 
   
   
   
 But This "Member Of     The     Other Sex Next Whom She Was Seated At The 
 Festive Board" Was Not At All Affected By Her Attempt To Make The 
 Evening Pleasant As Arethusa Had Been Led By The     Little Book To Believe 
 He Would Be; For After A Momentary Stare, He Began To Laugh. 
   
   
   
 He Went Through All The     Gamut Of     Mirth. He Gurgled. He Giggled. He 
 Shrieked. He Roared. And He Even Pounded On The     Table. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, But This Is Rich!" He Gasped. "My Word! But This Is Rich! It's The 
 Very Richest Thing I Ever Heard!" 
   
   
   
 His Unseemly Merriment Attracted The     Attention Of     Nearly Everybody 
 Around Them. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Rather Startled By His Laughter At First, And Then She Was 
 Infuriated; For She Realized That It Was Laughter Directed Straight At 
   
 Her. Timothy Could Have Told Mr. Watts That It Was Very Unsafe To Laugh 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 178 
 At Arethusa; That She Hated Nothing In The     World So Much As To Be 
 Laughed At. Her Eyes Darkened With Anger, And The     Mirthful One Was 
 Given The     Full Battery Of     Their Wrathful Blazing. 
   
   
   
 But He Did Not Even Pause. He Laughed On And On, Uncontrollably. 
   
   
   
 So She Reached Over And Pinched Him With All The     Power Of     Strong Young 
 Fingers On The     Very Fleshiest Part Of     His Arm. 
   
   
   
 His Laughter Stopped Abruptly. "Say," He Exclaimed, "That Hurt Like 
 Fury!" 
   
   
   
 "I Meant It To Hurt!" Breathed Arethusa, And She Turned As Far Away 
 From Him As Was Possible, Owing To The     Fact That Their Chairs Were So 
 Close Together. 
   
   
   
 She Was Trembling All Over With Her Rage, And He Mistook It For 
 Weeping. 
   
   
   
 "I Didn't Mean To Make You Cry, Miss Worthington," He Began. 
   
   
   
 Her Angry Dark Eyes Flashed Around At Him For A Moment. "I'm Not 
 Crying!" She Announced With Emphasis, And Then Turned Away From Him 
 Again. 
   
   
   
 But That One Brief Glance Had Shown Him How Far She Was From Tears. 
 "Well, I Most Certainly Didn't Mean To Make You Mad," He Had Only To 
 Change The     Words Of     His Apology. "But ... That Was Funny!" 
   
   
   
 "Why?" She Demanded, Peremptorily, Half Turning Back To Face Him. 
   
   
   
 "It Just Was! You Ask Your Father!" Arethusa's Expression Remained Most 
 Unrelenting. "But I Really Do Beg Your Pardon, In All Humbleness, For 
 Laughing At You. It Was Horribly Rude Of     Me, I'll Have To Admit, And 
 I'm Certainly Sorry That I Did It. So Do Forgive Me This Time, And 
 Let's Go On Being Friends. Please...." He Coaxed. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 179 
   
 Arethusa Softened, Just The     Least Bit. "But Why Was It So Funny, What I 
 Said? You Didn't Tell Me. Oughtn't I To Have Said It?" 
   
   
   
 "It Wasn't What You Said. There Wasn't Anything So Dead Wrong In That. 
 You Could Talk About Such Creatures All You Wanted, I Suppose, And 
 Still Not Commit Anything That Wasn't Right According To Hoyle. It Was 
 The Way You Handed It Out That Got My Goat So Completely!" He Gurgled 
 Reminiscently. "But Listen Here, Miss Arethusa, You Do Just What I'm 
 Telling You And You Let The     Natural History Alone For The     Rest Of     This 
 Party, No Matter What Your Book Said About It. You Can The     High-Brow 
 Stuff From Now On, And You'll Get Along Better." 
   
   
   
 She Could Plainly Tell That Every Word Of     This Was Meant As Advice 
 Between Friends. It Was Impossible To Construe Mr. Watts' Manner As 
 Anything But Eagerness To Help. And It Sounded Delightfully Like 
 Timothy In Their Happier Moments. 
   
   
   
 Her Face Broke Into A Forgiving Smile. 
   
   
   
 She Informed Her Repentant Neighbor Of     How He Had Pleasantly Reminded 
 Her Of     Timothy; Just Who Timothy Was, And All About Him. Mr. Watts Was 
 The Personification Of     Absorbed Interest. Timothy Sounded To Him As If 
 He Might Be A "Human Being," He Declared, And Quite Worth While. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa And Her Adjacent "Member Of     The     Other Sex" Managed To Get 
 Along Famously For The     Rest Of     The     Dinner, Oblivious To The     Fact That 
 Each Had Another Person On The     Other Side, Mr. Watts Because He Did Not 
 Like The     Girl In Blue At His Left, And Arethusa Because She Was Almost 
 Unconscious That There Was Anybody Else At This Table Beside Their Two 
 Selves. Mr. Watts Was Quite Sufficient For Her Entertainment. 
   
   
   
 As The     Courses Proceeded And Arethusa Ate And Laughed And Chattered 
 Away, From Time To Time Her Glance Roved Around The     Huge Dining-Room, 
 So Gorgeously Decorated For This Occasion, Admiring Everything She Saw, 
   
 The Diners Themselves, As Well As The     Decorations. There Were Some Very 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 180 
 Pretty Girls At This Party, As Well As Some Passably Handsome Men; And 
 Arethusa Liked The     Contrast Of     The     Sombre Black And White Of     The     Men's 
 Attiring Silhouetted Against The     Gay Dresses Of     The     Girls Near Them. 
 And She Liked To Watch Them As They Laughed And Talked Together. 
   
   
   
 Among The     Faces Which Most Interested Her Was One, A Man's Face, To 
 Which She Returned Again And Again To Steal A Look. Finally, She Asked 
 Mr. Watts To Tell Her Who He Was. 
   
   
   
 "The One Next To The     Girl With The     Feather Fan, At That Second Table By 
 The Pillar." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, That? That's Gridley Bennet." 
   
   
   
 There Was Something In The     Way He Said The     Name That Made Arethusa Ask 
 If There Was Anything Wrong With Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
 "Nothing I Know Of. He's Just Our Prize Debutante's Delight." 
   
   
   
 "Why.... What?" 
   
   
   
 "Lady-Killer," He Amplified. "All The     Girls Are Crazy About Him." 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Wonder!" Arethusa's Own Admiration Was Wholly Undisguised By 
 Now. "He's The     Handsomest Man I Ever Saw!" She Added Recklessly. 
   
   
   
 "He's Handsome Enough, I Reckon, But He Knows It Almost Too Well. And 
 He Just Hates Himself!" 
   
   
   
 "That's A Horrid Thing To Say About Anybody; I Don't Believe It At All! 
 And How On Earth Could He Help Knowing He's Good-Looking If He Ever 
 Looks In The     Mirror! There's No Harm In Knowing You're Good-Looking If 
   
 You Are!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 181 
   
   
   
 The Subject Of     This Discussion Looked Far More As Those Charming 
 Gentlemen Pictured In The     Advertising Sections Of     Our Various Current 
 Magazines To Show The     Superiority Of     Certain Brands Of     Collars And 
 Other Necessary Articles Of     Manly Garb Were Intended To Look Than The 
 Artists Have Ever Been Able To Make The     Pictures. He Was Superbly Tall 
 And Broad Of     Shoulder; In Every Way He Fulfilled The     Most Exacting 
 Requirements Of     What A Hero Should Be. No Dream Of     A Prince Charming 
 Could Have Formed A Being Half So Well-Fitted For The     Role As This 
 Living Reality. 
   
   
   
 He Wore His Faultless Dress Clothes As If They Had Been A Veritable 
 Part Of     Him, Not Something Donned For The     Few Hours Of     This Evening. 
 And He Had Gold-Tipped Eyelashes Every Bit As Long As Arethusa's Own 
 (She Could Tell That They Were Even So Far Away As She Sat From Him), 
 And The     Most Irresistible Of     Smiles. He Smiled With Commendable 
 Frequency. Perhaps He Knew That His Rows Of     Teeth Were As Perfect As 
 Ordinary Human Teeth Could Very Well Be, And That This Superlative 
 Smile Was In Consequence No Trifling Addition To His Other Attractions 
 Of Person. He Had A Little Trick Of     Flinging His Head Back When He 
 Laughed Aloud, That Showed To Still Greater Advantage All Of     These 
 Wonderful Teeth, And His Eyelashes, And Even Called Attention To The 
 Perfect Straightness Of     His Handsome Nose. 
   
   
   
 He Laughed For Arethusa's Benefit As She Watched Him, And She Smiled In 
 Sympathy For Such A Charming Laugh, Although She Was So Far Across The 
 Room From Him She Could Have No Idea Why He Laughed. 
   
   
   
 And Then She Gazed And Gazed At Him, Unashamed; A Tiny Sigh Fluttered 
 Through Her Parted Red Lips. 
   
   
   
 "I Wish I Could Meet Him!" 
   
   
   
 "That's Perfectly Simple," Remarked Mr. Watts. "Introductions Haven't 
 Gone Out Yet, As I Have Heard." His Tone Was Scornful, But It Was All 
 Lost On Arethusa. 
   
   
   
   
 "Could You Introduce Me?" Eagerly. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 182 
   
   
 "I Might, If Really Urged." Then He Added, Half To Himself, "It's A 
 Regular Slaughter Of     The     Innocents Whenever Grid Bennet Goes To A 
 Debutante Party. He Ought To Be Barred From 'Em By Law." 
   
   
   
 "I Think You're Jealous Of     Him," Said Arethusa Reprovingly. 
   
   
   
 "I Haven't A Thing To Be Jealous Of     Him About, And Just To Prove It, 
 Here Goes." 
   
   
   
 And As The     Party Was All Beginning To Rise From The     Tables, Mr. Watts 
 Headed Straight For Mr. Bennet. He Was A Trifle Disgusted With Arethusa 
 For This Display Of     Enthusiasm Over Gridley Bennet. His Type Did Not 
 Appeal To Mr. Watts Very Much. 
   
   
   
 But It Certainly Did To Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 A Nearer View Of     Mr. Bennet Showed Him To Her As Even Handsomer Than 
 She Had Thought At A Distance. The     Introduction Was A Momentous Affair, 
 Far More Of     A Real Event Than Any Introduction In Which Arethusa Had 
 Ever Participated. Mr. Bennet's Manner Of     Bending Over Her Hand In His 
 Acknowledgment Of     It Called Loudly For Satin Knee Breeches And Lace 
 Ruffles, Silver Buckled Shoon And A Decorative Sword, As The     Most 
 Appropriate Accompaniments. It Was Delightfully Suggestive, To The 
 Thrilled Arethusa, Of     The     Pages Of     Her Favorite Novels Of     Those Days 
 When Ladies' Hands Were Kissed In Public. 
   
   
   
 "Grid's Squshy Manner Would Get Him Anywhere He Wanted With The     Skirts, 
 Even If He Didn't Have The     Looks To Back It Up," Commented Mr. Watts, 
 With Inward Dryness, Of     The     Meeting. 
   
   
   
 "I've Been Watching You For Some Time, Miss Worthington," Was Mr. 
 Bennet's Flattering Opening To The     Conversation, "And I Was Planning An 
 Introduction To You Just As Soon As Dinner Was Over." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 183 
   
 Now He Very Probably Had Not Noticed Her At All Until Billy Watts Had 
 Him Face To Face With Her, But He Could No More Help Saying Such Things 
 Than He Could Help His Breathing. He Was Built Just That Way. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Found No Reason To Doubt The     Sincerity Of     These Charming 
 Words. And His Little Way Of     Looking At Her And Of     Leaning Toward Her 
 As He Talked, Were A Perfect Corollary, Seeming To Single Her Out From 
 Among All These Hundred Or More Feminine Beings In The     Vast Room As The 
 One Whose Company He Most Ardently Desired. "These Other Stupid Folks 
 Do Not Exist For Me At Present," Proclaimed His Manner, "And I Am Just 
 Where I Most Want To Be." 
   
   
   
 Her Heart Fluttered Painfully. She Could Only Stand There At First, 
 Silently Flushing And Paling By Turns, At A Loss For The     Words Of     A 
 Reply That Should Suitably Acknowledge Such A Marvelous Greeting Of     Her 
 Insignificant Self. Then The     Music Started Up In The     Ball Room At The 
 Other End Of     The     Hall, And She Moved Away With All The     Rest Of     The 
 Party Toward The     Sound, At Mr. Bennet's Side, Still Quite Unable To 
 Find Her Generally So-Ready Tongue. 
   
   
   
 "Shall We Dance?" Asked Mr. Bennet Courteously, As They Walked. His 
 Voice Was Another Of     His Distinct Attractions, Rather Deep And With The 
 Slightest Possible Drawl. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Paused Just Under The     Broad Arch Of     The     Ball-Room Doorway, 
 And So Mr. Bennet Paused Also, To Watch The     Dancers For A Moment, All 
 Of Them Bending And Turning And Twisting To A Tune Of     Such Impelling 
 Rhythm That It Would Have Made A Wooden-Legged Man Almost To Attempt 
 The Impossible, And Then To Curse His Fate; Then She Lifted Troubled 
 Eyes To Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
 "But I Don't Dance What They're Dancing." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Yes, You Do, I'm Sure," With The     Intimation In His Tone That She 
 Was Sure To Be The     Very Best Dancer On The     Floor. "It's Only The 
   
 One-Step." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 184 
   
 Arethusa Could Not Help But Laugh. 
   
   
   
 "Well, It Certainly Doesn't Look Anything Like The     One-Step That _I_ 
 Know! You See, Mr. Bennet, I've Never Been To Any Parties. Timothy 
 Just Taught Me Some Down In Our Barn." She Was Beginning To Feel A 
 Little Less Awed By His Magnificence As A Man, For He Was, After All, 
 Human, And Quite Inclined To Be Kind. 
   
   
   
 "Then Let Me Give You Another Lesson, Now.... Do, Please. You Won't 
 Really Need It As A Lesson Though, I Know." 
   
   
   
 Still She Hesitated. Yet Her Feet Unconsciously Kept Time To The     Gay 
 Music As She Stood, Just Watching. 
   
   
   
 "Surely You Won't Confer A Favor On This Timothy Person You'd Deny To 
 Me," And Arethusa Was Quite Convinced There Was A Wee Tinge Of 
 Reproachful Jealousy In Mr. Bennet's Attractive Voice. "I May Not Prove 
 To Be So Good A Teacher As He Is, But I Shall Certainly Do My Best." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Laughed Again; With Real Merriment This Time. 
   
   
   
 The Very Idea Of     Timothy As A Better Teacher Of     Anything Than This 
 Wonderful Mr. Bennet! 
   
   
   
 The Picture Of     Herself In Those Blue Print Dresses She Wore Around The 
 Farm And Timothy In Khaki Trousers And Blue Flannel Shirt, Hopping 
 About On The     Barn Floor (Which, Though Clean-Swept And Smooth, Was 
 Hardly Meant For Dancing) To Tunes Which Were Hummed And Whistled By 
 Each Alternately, Rose Before Her; And She Compared It In Its Utter 
 Inferiority With This Picture Of     Herself In This Heavenly Green Frock 
 And Mr. Bennet In His Perfect Evening Clothes, The     Shining Floor Which 
 Stretched Away From Them, And The     Lilt Of     The     Band Music Which Went To 
 Her Head Like Wine. 
   
   
   
   
 She Shook Her Head. "But Suppose I Should Fall Down Or Something. This 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 185 
 Floor Looks So Dreadfully Slick And Hard To Stand Up On. I Wouldn't 
 Mind A Bit If I Was Awkward With Timothy. But...." 
   
   
   
 "I'm Getting Rather Jealous Of     Timothy, I'm Afraid," Said Mr. Bennet. 
 "Miss Worthington, You Couldn't Be Awkward If You Tried. And You Won't 
 Fall Down, I Can Promise To Take Care Of     That. Please Give Me This 
 Great Pleasure." 
   
   
   
 So Arethusa Allowed Herself To Be Thus Charmingly Persuaded. 
   
   
   
 But It Must Be Confessed That Their Start Was A Bit Awkward. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Horribly Self-Conscious, And Not At All Sure, Despite His 
 Reassurance, That She Was Going To Manage This New Venture. After A Few 
 Moments, However, And His Low-Spoken Command To Let Herself Be Guided, 
 Her Natural-Born Instinct To Dance Asserted Itself, The 
 Self-Consciousness Wore Away, And She Was One-Stepping With The     Best Of 
 Any On That Floor. 
   
   
   
 She Was More Certainly Meant For A Dancer. She Was As Light As A 
 Feather, For All Her Height, And Like A Piece Of     Thistledown She Swayed 
 And Circled About The     Room In Perfect Time To The     Music. She Seemed To 
 Feel Instinctively The     Beat Of     The     Measures, And Her Flying Feet Obeyed 
 Mr. Bennet's Guidance, As If He And She Had Danced Together All Of 
 Their Lives. Mr. Bennet Himself Was A Truly Wonderful Exponent Of     The 
 Art. He Danced With A Grace And Ease That Few Men Ever Attain, And He 
 Had An Arm Of     Sureness At His Partner's Back That Took Her Safely 
 Through That Crowded Room Without A Single Bump Or Mishap. Had Arethusa 
 But Known It, There Was No One At The     Party Who Could So Well Have 
 Conducted Her In Her First Real Effort Of     This Kind As Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
 It Was Over Much Too Soon To Please Her. She Could Have Gone On For 
 Hours, Just Like That Without A Pause, And Without Once Tiring. 
   
   
   
 "Why, You Dance Beautifully!" Exclaimed Mr. Bennet, When The     Music 
 Stopped. "I Verily Believe," Very Softly, "That You Were Fibbing When 
 You Said You Had Danced So Little!" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 186 
 She Looked Up At Him Shyly, From Under Her Long Lashes, And Blushed 
 Just A Bit. "That Was You. I Couldn't Have Danced With Anyone Else That 
 Way. Timothy Doesn't Dance At All Like That!" 
   
   
   
 Now This Was The     Rankest Ingratitude On Arethusa's Part. For Had It Not 
 Been For Timothy's Surreptitious Lessons, So Kindly And Willingly 
 Given, She Would Never Have Experienced The     Intense Pleasure Of     This 
 One-Step With Mr. Bennet. But Arethusa Was Honestly Surprised At Her 
 Own Swallow-Like Ability To Keep Time To Music That Was Played Instead 
 Of Whistled. 
   
   
   
 Then Mr. Harrison Caught Sight Of     Her And Rushed Across The     Room To 
 Claim Her. He Had Been Hunting Everywhere For Her, He Declared. 
   
   
   
 Then Mr. Watts Came In His Turn, And Inquired Saucily, As He "Broke 
 In," If She Had Found Mr. Bennet As Charming As He Looked. But She 
 Laughed At Him Merrily, For His Friendly Teasing. She Was Too Happy To 
 Be Offended At Anything. 
   
   
   
 And She Laughed And Chatted Away With These Two Oldest Acquaintances 
 Her Most Enthusiastic And Arethusa-Like Self; With Every One Introduced 
 To Her She Had Just As Wonderful A Time. There Were A Great Many Who 
 Asked To Be Introduced To Her, For Her Shining Eyes And Her Very 
 Evident Enjoyment Of     Everything She Did Made Her An Object Of     Interest 
 To Nearly Everybody Who Observed Her. Arethusa Was Really One Of     The 
 Belles Of     The     Evening; Such Unreserved Happiness As Hers Is Bound To 
 Attract. Consequently, The     Party Fulfilled Her Most Sanguine 
 Expectations As To What A Party Should Be, Although She Did Not Know 
 How Large Was Her Own Personal Share In This Fulfillment. 
   
   
   
 She Entirely Forgot That She Had Ever Prepared A Topic Of     Conversation 
 For The     Occasion; She Made No Other Mention Of     Moths And Butterflies; 
 Not Once Did She Quote A Line Of     Poetry. Her Words Poured Forth In As 
 Mad A Rush, As Gaily Inconsequential, As The     Words Of     The     Most Hardened 
 Party-Goer Who Has Ever Been An Assistance To Her Hostess In Adding To 
 The Enjoyment Of     Her Fellow Guests. Without Making Any Conscious Effort 
 To Do So, Arethusa Followed Mr. Watts' Kindly Advice, And His Words As 
 To The     Result Proved Delightfully True. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 187 
   
   
 The Terpsichorean Attempts Which She Made During The     Evening Without 
 Mr. Bennet's Able Guidance, Might Have Been Managed With A Little More 
 Gratifying Success, Had Not Her Eyes Been So Prone To Follow Him In His 
 Whirling About The     Room, Wherever She Could, As He Honored Other Ladies 
 With His Attentions. But When She Did Miss Step, Or Stumbled, Her 
 Apologies Were So Pretty, And She Was So Sincere In Her Confused 
 Regrets, That It Could Make No Difference To Any One With His Heart In 
 The Right Place. 
   
   
   
 Yet Mr. Bennet Came Back To Arethusa Herself Quite Often To Ask For 
 Dances--A Truly Flattering Number Of     Times--For It Was A Kindly Fate 
 That Had Given Her That Lightness Of     Foot And Her Undeniable Grace. 
 Then Too, Mr. Bennet, Like Mr. Watts, Knew Ross Rather Well, And He 
 Wanted To Be Nice To Ross's Daughter For Various Reasons. And Last, But 
 Not Least, Her Ingenuous Admiration Of     His Own Attractive Person Amused 
 Mr. Bennet More Than He Had Been Amused For A Long While. 
   
   
   
 There Was One Last Wild Romp Of     A Dance As An Encore From The     More 
 Good-Natured Members Of     The     Orchestra, While The     Other Musicians Packed 
 Their Instruments, And Then The     First Real Party Was Only A Thing To Be 
 Remembered. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Made A Special Point Of     Telling Arethusa Good-Night, And He 
 Bent Lingeringly Over Her Hand As He Did So, In His Own Inimitable Way 
 Of Making It Seem The     Very Hardest Parting He Had Ever Had To Make. 
   
   
   
 "I'm Coming To See You Some Time, If I May," He Said. 
   
   
   
 Her Heart Almost Stopped Beating At This. Then It Raced On Again To 
 Beat In Quick, Little Jumps. She Lifted Young, Frankly Adoring Eyes To 
 The Handsome Man Before Her, And Quite Suddenly, Without A Word Of     Real 
 Warning, Arethusa Knew.... 
   
   
   
 She Had _Fallen In Love_! 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 16 Pg 188 
 But It Was Not As She Had Fallen In Love With Elinor, And It Was Not 
 Such Love As She Gave Ross Or Miss Asenath Or Even Timothy; For This 
 Was Without Doubt The     Miracle She Had Read About So Many Times Under 
 The Hollow Tree In Miss Asenath's Woods. And It Had Come Just As She 
 Had Always Dreamed It Would Come, With A Hand-Clasp And A Glance. 
   
   
   
 The Hand In Mr. Bennet's Holding Trembled And Grew Cold Before Arethusa 
 Could Withdraw It. Her Misbehaving Heart Almost Interfered With Her 
 Breathing. But The     World Around Them Went On As Casually Unaware Of     The 
 Miracle As If Neither Arethusa Nor Mr. Bennet Existed, When It Should 
 Surely Have Been Hushed Into A Startled Silence By What Had Happened. 
   
   
   
 All Through That Night, Arethusa Wandered With A Tall Man Of 
 Long-Lashed Hazel Eyes Of     Marvelous Beauty, Through A Country Which Was 
 A Country Of     Rare Delight, Even If Only A Country Of     Dreaming. And As 
 They Wandered, He Bent His Head Again And Again To Whisper, In A Deep 
 Drawling Voice, Words Which Bore A Remarkable Resemblance To Some Of 
 The Lyrics Of     The     Early Nineteenth-Century Poets, And The     Pages Of 
 Conversation In Arethusa's Much Read Romances. 
   
   
   
 What Though The     Gentleman Of     The     Dream Wore A Modern Suit Of 
 Commonplace Evening Clothes, Instead Of     Ruffles And A Velvet Coat And 
 Satin Small-Clothes? It Did Not Prevent, In The     Dream, His Pressing His 
 Hand To His Heart At Moments When It Was Logical That He Should Have 
 Done So, Nor Did It Rob His Voice Of     The     Proper Passionate Inflection. 
 Nor Did It Keep The     Cardiac Region Of     The     Arethusa Of     The     Dream From 
 Fluttering In An Altogether Delightful Way. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 189 
   
   
 Ross Took Arethusa Out To The     Country Club For A Round Of     Golf The     Next 
 Afternoon, And As It Was The     First And Only Time She Had Ever Spied A 
   
 Golf Club, It Is Not At All Difficult To Imagine What Sort Of     Game She 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 190 
 Played. It Deserved A Name All Of     Its Own; And Her Method Of     Holding 
 Her Club Would Have Brought Tears To The     Eyes Of     Any True Devotee Of 
 The Sport. But From The     Standpoint Of     Pure Enjoyment For The     Two Most 
 Intimately Concerned, The     Occasion Was A Great Success. 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Believe I Care Very Much For Golf," She Remarked Decidedly, 
 After She Had Almost Dug A Trench Around Her Ball On The     Second Tee, 
 "And I Believe You Move That Ball, Father, When I'm Not Looking With My 
 Stick Up Over My Head." 
   
   
   
 Ross Protested His Innocence, And Insisted That She Try Once More. So 
 She Did. But When She Missed It This Time Also, She Was Firm In Her 
 Resolve To Quit. 
   
   
   
 "You Do Move It, Father!" She Repeated. "I Just Know You Do! To Tease 
 Me! Because, Why Shouldn't My Stick Come Down In The     Right Place When I 
 Know Exactly Where It Is When I Start To Hit It, If You Don't Push It 
 Away?" 
   
   
   
 "Because Of     One Of     The     Cardinal Rules Of     The     Game, My Dear, 'Keep Your 
 Eye On The     Ball.' You Are Demonstrating Its Truth Of     That Aphorism 
 Every Time You Take Your Eye Off." 
   
   
   
 "But How Can I?" Retorted Arethusa. "I've Only Got Two Eyes. How Can I 
 Watch My Ball And My Stick And Where I'm Going To Knock It, And 
 Everything, When They Won't Look But One Way At Once? I'm Not 
 Cross-Eyed!" 
   
   
   
 Ross Gave It Up As Beyond His Powers Of     Reasoning. 
   
   
   
 So Arethusa Put Her Driver Back In The     Bag And Announced That She Would 
 Do The     Caddying. But As Conversation Is One Of     The     Things Most 
 Unnecessary To A Caddy, She Could Hardly Be Said To Approach Perfection 
 In This Rôle, Either, Though As Ross, Very Fortunately, Did Not Take 
 His Golf With Any Too Much Seriousness, They Got Along In Fine Shape. 
   
 Arethusa Was Outspoken In Her Loyal Admiration Of     Each One Of     His 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 191 
 Shots, And When He Made One Drive Of     Two Hundred Yards And Over, Her 
 Proud Delight Was Manifest All Over The     Course. 
   
   
   
 She Had Not Even Begun To Exhaust The     Dinner-Dance And The     Wonderful 
 Mr. Bennet As Congenial Topics Of     Conversation, Although The 
 Breakfast-Table And The     Luncheon-Table Had Heard Much Of     Both, So She 
 Continued To Find A Great Deal To Say About Them As They 
 Walked,--Especially About Mr. Bennet, Upon Which Subject She Enlarged 
 To Ross's Amusement. But Arethusa Did Not Consider That His Replies To 
 Her Raptures Were Suitably Enthusiastic. 
   
   
   
 "Now Don't You Really Think He's Good-Looking, Father?" 
   
   
   
 "Undoubtedly So, My Dear." 
   
   
   
 "I Think," Arethusa's Expression Was Dreamy, And Her Eyes Were Far 
 Away, Apparently On The     Hazy Skyline, "I Think That He Looks Just Like 
 A Prince!" 
   
   
   
 It Spoiled Ross's Drive From The     Seventh Tee Completely. He Sliced Far 
 Over Into The     Tall Grass, And As She Had Not Been Watching As A Caddy 
 Should, They Had To Go On Without Ever Finding The     Ball. 
   
   
   
 While They Were On The     Fourteenth Fairway It Began To Rain In Hard 
 Pelting Drops, A Fulfillment Of     The     Morning's Promise Of     A Heavy Gray 
 Sky. Arethusa Was In Her Element Then, And As There Was No Miss Eliza 
 To Drag Her In By The     Power Of     Her Will, To All Of     Ross's Entreaties 
 That They Seek Shelter With More Haste, She Turned A Deaf And Unheeding 
 Ear. He Was Far More Of     A Hot-House Plant Than His Daughter, So He 
 Caught A Violent Cold From His Drenching In The     Chilly Fall Rain, Which 
 Made Itself Promptly Known With Much Sneezing Before He Had Gone To Bed 
 That Night. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Thoroughly Conscience-Stricken When He Was Unable To Get 
   
 Up The     Next Morning. She Felt Personally Responsible For His Aches And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 192 
 Pains And His Fever. It Was Her Duty, She Decided, As The     Contributing 
 Cause Of     It All, To Nurse And Amuse Him. She Refused To Budge From His 
 Side For The     Next Several Days, Indefatigable In Her Attentions. She 
 Read Aloud To Him, Jumping Up From Her Chair With Almost Every Turning 
 Of A Page To Plump Up His Pillows With Zeal, And To Demand If He Wanted 
 Anything. Arethusa Was Hardly A Gentle Nurse, Even If A Conscientious 
 One. She Fetched Him Veritable Gallons Of     Ice-Water, And Carried Up His 
 Meals With Her Own Fair Hands. And While He Dozed, At Intervals Through 
 The Days, She Stayed Near Him, Dreaming Of     Mr. Bennet. Ross Accepted 
 All Of     This Solicitude With A Lazy Nonchalance, Not In The     Least Averse 
 To Being Fussed Over. 
   
   
   
 All Of     Sunday Afternoon, Arethusa Watched Anxiously For Mr. Bennet. Had 
 He Not Said That He Was Coming To Call? 
   
   
   
 But He Did Not Come, Although Mr. Harrison And Billy Watts And Several 
 Other Acquaintances Made At The     Party Did. She Denied Herself To All Of 
 These Visitors. How Could She Leave Her Sick Father For Such As They? 
   
   
   
 By Wednesday Afternoon, However, Ross Was Undeniably Better. Even 
 Arethusa Could See That He Was, In Spite Of     The     Fact That He Continued 
 To Complain. But It Was Such Complaining As Only Too Plainly Indicated 
 That He Was Loth To Relinquish Any Of     This Delightful Attention He Was 
 Receiving. So When George Announced A Caller Who Had Asked For "Miss 
 Worthington," Elinor, Who Had Just That Moment Come Back From Down-Town 
 With Those Two New And Widely Advertised Detective Stories For Ross's 
 Amusement Which He Had Earlier In The     Day Expressed A Desire To See, 
 Said That She Would Begin The     Reading Aloud In Arethusa's Place, And 
 That Arethusa Must Receive The     Visitor. 
   
   
   
 "And You'll Like Candace Warren, I Think. She's Rather A Dear Girl. I 
 Suppose She Came To See You Because I Know Her Mother So Well. It Was 
 Very Kind Of     Her." To Elinor's Rose-Colored View Of     Youth, All Young 
 Girls Were Attractive Because Of     What They Were. 
   
   
   
 "I Think It Was Perfectly Lovely!" Chanted Arethusa Happily. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 193 
 She Would Certainly See Miss Warren, Come To Call On A Stranger In Her 
 City, Just Because Of     Her Mother's Friendship For Elinor! There Was A 
 Warm Little Glow In Her Heart At The     Thought Of     The     Kindness Shown Her 
 By So Many People For The     Sake Of     Ross And Elinor; The     Chestnuts, And 
 Mr. Watts, Innumerable Others At The     Dinner-Dance, And Now Miss Warren! 
   
   
   
 "I'll Send George In With Tea A Little Later On," Said Elinor, "If You 
 Would Like To Have It." 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa's Face Clouded Somewhat, "But I Wanted To Have Supper Up 
 Here Again!" 
   
   
   
 "Not Supper, Arethusa, It's Just Afternoon Tea. I Thought Perhaps It 
 Might Help You To Get Acquainted." 
   
   
   
 That Was Very Different. It Might Be Great Fun To Have Afternoon Tea. 
 She Had Read About It, And It Had Always Sounded Most Delightful In The 
 Reading. 
   
   
   
 "But Aunt 'Liza Says I Can't Pour Anything," She Added Doubtfully. "She 
 Never Lets Me At Home. She Says My Fingers Are All Thumbs." 
   
   
   
 George Could Pour It For Her, If She Wished. 
   
   
   
 And So With These Trifling Details Arranged, And The     Tea A Settled 
 Prospect, Arethusa Went In Search Of     Miss Warren. 
   
   
   
 She Ran Gaily Down The     Wide Front Steps, Humming A Little Tune, And 
 Skipped Into The     Small Reception Room At The     Side Of     The     Hall, Both 
 Hands Cordially Outstretched. 
   
   
   
 "I Think It Was _Perfectly Dear_ Of     You To Come To See Me!" She 
 Exclaimed. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 194 
 Miss Warren Rose Politely From The     Spindle-Legged Sofa Where She Had 
 Been Sitting, And Touched One Of     The     Outstretched Hands With Rather 
 Extraordinary Limpness. She Murmured Something Altogether 
 Indistinguishable. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Cordiality Felt Somewhat Thrown Back Upon Herself. She Sat 
 Down Abruptly In The     Nearest Chair. Miss Warren Resumed Her Place On 
 The Sofa. There Was A Long Silence, While The     Visitor Covertly Studied 
 Her Hostess, And The     Hostess Openly Observed The     Details Of     Her 
 Visitor's Appearance With The     Frankest Interest. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Thought Miss Warren Was Very Pretty. She Had Coal Black Hair, 
 Although Very Little Of     It Showed From Under Her Hat, Bright Black 
 Eyes, And A Wonderfully White Skin With A Great Deal Of     Color In Her 
 Lips And Cheeks. 
   
   
   
 But It Was Her Clothes That Really Most Intensely Interested The 
 Clothes-Loving Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 For Miss Warren Was Exceedingly Well-Dressed In Garments That Could But 
 Excite Admiration. She Wore Silky Furs As Black As Her Hair, Soft And 
 Long And Smoothly Shining. Arethusa Had A Childish Longing To Stroke 
 Them. Miss Warren's Suit Was Made Of     A Marvelous Sort Of     Stuff Unlike 
 Any Material Arethusa Had Ever Seen, Dark Wine In Color, And It Spelled 
 "Paris" In Every Well-Cut Line. The     Blouse She Wore Was A Superlative 
 Affair Of     Lace And Delicacy And Tracings Of     Fine Embroidery. It Could 
 Never Have Been Called A "Shirtwaist," As Arethusa's Plain Garments Of 
 The Same Shape With Their Simple Rows Of     Tucking Were Named. From One 
 Daintily Gloved Hand She Dangled A Gold Purse, And Several Other Small 
 Articles Of     The     Same Metal Of     An Unknown Variety. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Glance Traveled Downward, Still Admiring, And There It 
 Paused. For It Was Hard In The     First Glimpse To Determine Just Where 
 Miss Warren's Feet Could Be, In Those Long Narrow Shoes, With The     Ends 
 Just Like Pointed Pencils. It Did Not Seem Possible That Human Toes, Of 
 The Number Of     Five, Could Fit Into One Of     Those Shoes. Arethusa Looked 
 Suddenly At Her Own Feet, And As Miss Warren's Eyes Were At That Moment 
 Upon Them Also, They Seemed To Arethusa To Appear Very Large, And Very 
 Awkward To Have As Feet, In Her Comfortable House Slippers With The 
 Broad, Round Toes. She Tucked Them As Far Under Her Chair As She Could, 
   
 And Felt A Little Hot. Miss Eliza Had Selected Those Slippers, As A 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 195 
 Special Privilege Of     An Extra Pair Of     Shoes For The     Visit. But They 
 Were A Half-Size Larger Than Arethusa Ordinarily Wore, Because They Had 
 Been The     Only Pair Obtainable At Tobin's, In Blue Spring. She Had Never 
 Minded This Fact Before, But By Contrast With Miss Warren's So Slim 
 Foot-Covering They Looked Really Dreadful. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Found It Quite Impossible To Admire Miss Warren's Hat, 
 Although Liking Everything Else She Wore So Much. It Was Much Too Small 
 To Conform To Arethusa's Ideas Of     Beauty In A Hat, And It Came So Close 
 Down Over The     Visitor's Delicate Eyebrows, That It Seemed Impossible 
 That She Could Have Much Of     That Black Hair Tucked Underneath It. 
 Arethusa Began To Feel A Trifle Better, Minding The     Difference In Feet 
 And The     House-Slippers A Little Less, As She Remembered Her Own 
 Glorious Mop Of     Redness; Which, Although So Undesirable In Color, Could 
 Never Have Been Squeezed Into So Small A Space As That Hat Represented. 
   
   
   
 "I Think It Was Perfectly Dear Of     You To Come To See Me," Said Arethusa 
 For The     Second Time. 
   
   
   
 But The     Words Elicited Very Little More Response Than They Had When 
 First Spoken. 
   
   
   
 Miss Warren Seemed To Be Glad That Arethusa Should Feel As She Did 
 About Her Coming To Call, But There Was No Real Animation In Her 
 Gladness. 
   
   
   
 The Hostess Cast Around For Sentiments, Which If Uttered, Might Loosen 
 Her Visitor's Tongue, But The     Visitor Fortunately Loosened It Of     Her 
 Own Accord. 
   
   
   
 "Do You Like Lewisburg, Miss Worthington? Is This Your First Visit 
 Here?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, And I Just Love It!" Declared Arethusa, "Everybody Is Perfectly 
 Darling To Me! I Went To A Dinner-Dance The     Other Night And Had The 
 Most Heavenly Time! Mrs. Chestnut's It Was, At The     Hotel. Were You 
   
 There?" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 196 
   
   
 Miss Warren Had Not Been Invited, She Was Sorry To Say. She Volunteered 
 The Information That She Was A Second-Year Girl, And That She Believed 
 That Very Few Of     Them Had Been Asked. 
   
   
   
 While Her Information As To The     Cause Of     It Shed Very Little Light, 
 Arethusa Was Exceedingly Regretful That Her Visitor Had Missed Such A 
 Wonderful Party. She Described It In Detail For The     One So 
 Unfortunately Deprived Of     First-Hand Enjoyment Of     The     Heavenly Affair, 
 Bringing Mr. Bennet Into The     Narrative. 
   
   
   
 Did Miss Warren, By Any Chance, Know Mr. Bennet? 
   
   
   
 Miss Warren Did. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Waxed More Eloquent Upon So Moving A Theme. 
   
   
   
 But Miss Warren Had Not Added That Mr. Bennet Had Recently Been 
 Devoting Quite A Little Of     His Valuable Time And Attention To Herself, 
 And That There Was Very Little Of     Mr. Bennet's Charm That Arethusa 
 Could Mention Which She Did Not Already Know. One Of     The     Reasons She 
 Had Called So Promptly When Her Mother Suggested A Visit To Mr. 
 Worthington's Daughter Was Because She Had Been Informed That Mr. 
 Bennet Had "Rushed" The     Visiting Lady At The     Chestnut's Dinner-Dance, 
 And So A Very Natural Curiosity As To The     Personality Of     The     Visiting 
 Lady Craved Gratification As Soon As Possible. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet As A Subject Was Exhausted Before Very Long, For Miss Warren 
 Was So Very Unresponsive That It Was Hard To Continue The     Discussion Of 
 Him In Just The     Way It Had Started. Arethusa Felt A Shyness Descending 
 Upon Her At The     Cold Reception Of     Her Enthusiasm For The     Wonderful 
 Being Who Had So Recently Come Into Her Life. Rhapsodies Are Well-Nigh 
 Impossible Unless The     Mood Of     The     Listener Answers In Some Small 
   
 Degree. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 197 
   
   
 So The     Conversation Languished Once More. 
   
   
   
 Miss Warren Languidly Dangled Her Gold Purse And Stared Through The 
 Lace Curtains Of     The     Window Nearest Her. It Was Gloriously Autumnal As 
 To Weather This Afternoon, And The     World Was Gay To The     Vision. The 
 Trees Were Bright With Their Rapidly Turning Joseph's Coat Of     Foliage, 
 And The     Sunlight Streamed Like Liquid Gold. Overhead, The     Sky Was The 
 Very Clearest Of     Bright Blues. Lenox Avenue Was Unusually Full Of     Those 
 Who Had Been Tempted Out To Revel In It; Babies And Nurses Strolled 
 Past On The     Sidewalk, And Loaded Automobiles Sped By In A Sort Of 
 Procession In The     Street. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Regard Was Largely For The     Outside Also. It Was Such A Day 
 As She Adored. Then, Feeling It Was Quite Beyond Her Power To Sit So 
 Unsociably So Close To Anyone In The     Same Room, When It Was So Glorious 
 A World They Were Both Viewing, She Turned Back To Miss Warren With A 
 Friendly Little Smile. 
   
   
   
 "It's A Perfectly Beautiful Day, Isn't It?" 
   
   
   
 Miss Warren Seemed To Thaw A Trifle. "It's Just Gorgeous Outside!" 
   
   
   
 "I Like Fall Better Than Spring, Always," Replied Arethusa, "And 
 Especially When It's Like This." 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Agreed Miss Warren. 
   
   
   
 The Silence Descended Once More, To Be First Broken By Miss Warren With 
 The Polite Inquiry, "Do You Play Bridge, Miss Worthington?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Surprised Gray Eyes Were Removed From The     Window To Which 
 They Had Returned With The     Silence, To Be Fixed On Miss Warren. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 198 
   
   
 "Do I What?" She Exclaimed. 
   
   
   
 "Play Bridge." 
   
   
   
 Miss Warren Made This Contribution To Conversation For No Other Reason 
 Than That It Had A Strong Personal Appeal. And From Her Point Of     View, 
 It Had More Possibilities As A Theme For Development Than Had The 
 Weather; The     Silence Had Grown Almost Oppressive. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Laughed Gaily. She Had Played A Game Called "London Bridge" 
 When She Was Quite Small, She And Timothy And The     Little Darkies From 
 The Washer-Woman's Cabin, And They Had All Liked It Very Much As A 
 Game; But They Had Never Thought Of     Calling It Just "Bridge." 
   
   
   
 "I Used To Play London Bridge When I Was Little, But Of     Course I Don't 
 Now." 
   
   
   
 "I Meant Cards," Explained The     Visitor With A Well-Bred Smile. "I'm 
 Perfectly Mad About It. Though Some People Do Like Auction Better, I 
 Never Have." 
   
   
   
 Her Smile Had Nettled Her Hostess. It Had A Calm Superiority About It 
 That Was Rather Trying. "No," She Replied, Shortly. "No, I Don't Know 
 Anything About It, Or That Other Thing Either. Aunt 'Liza Says Playing 
 Cards Are Wicked." 
   
   
   
 The Delicate Black Eyebrows Of     The     Visitor Lifted A Little. 
   
   
   
 "It's Too Bad If You Don't Play. There're So Many Bridge Parties Given 
 Here. And," She Added, "Mr. Bennet Plays A Beautiful Game." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Decided That Miss Warren Was Not Nearly So Pretty As She Had 
 At First Considered Her. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 199 
 At This Critical Juncture, George Made His Entrance With The     Tea-Tray. 
 Arethusa Remembered She Was A Hostess And Had A Guest. She Enquired If 
 The Guest Would Care For Some Tea. 
   
   
   
 The Guest Would Be Delighted To Have Some Tea. She Was Famished, She 
 Added. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Made No Reply To This Sally. She Had Not Yet Forgiven That 
 Last Remark About Mr. Bennet's Ability As A Bridge-Player. 
   
   
   
 While The     Tea And Its Attendant Sandwiches Were Consumed Almost In 
 Silence, Arethusa Did Some Thinking. When In Rome Do As The     Romans Do 
 Is An Excellent Old Saw, And Although Miss Eliza's Views On The     Subject 
 Of Games Played With A Deck Of     Cards Were Firm And Had Been Expressed 
 So As Not To Be Mistaken, Arethusa Was Meditating Open Defiance. If The 
 Wonderful Mr. Bennet Played Bridge, Then She, Arethusa, Would Learn The 
 Game, Miss Eliza Or No Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 Over Her Last Sandwich, She Eyed Miss Warren. 
   
   
   
 "Is It Very Hard To Learn?" 
   
   
   
 "What?" 
   
   
   
 "That.... That Card Game You Called 'Bridge'?" 
   
   
   
 Miss Warren Laughed With Softness. Arethusa Was Really Rather Amusing. 
   
   
   
 "Why, Not At All, I Think, For Some People. Would You Care To Learn? 
 I'd Be Delighted To Teach You Myself, Sometime. Mr. Bennet Says I Play 
 A Very Good Game." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Choked On Her Sandwich. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 200 
 "I Don't Think I Shall Bother _You_," She Said, Pointedly; "Mr. Bennet 
 Would Show Me, If I Asked Him, I Reckon." 
   
   
   
 Once More Miss Warren's Well-Bred And Superior Smile Shone Forth To 
 Arouse Resentment. "I Think If I Were You, Miss Worthington, That I 
 Would Ask Some One Else First, Because," Very Kindly, "Gridley Bennet 
 Is A Perfect Old Maid About His Game. It Bores Him Almost To Tears To 
 Play With A Poor Player Or A Beginner. I've Heard Him Say So More Than 
 Once. And Men Just Simply Hate That Sort Of     Thing When They Do Hate It, 
 You Know." 
   
   
   
 The Air With Which Miss Warren Called The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet By His 
 Christian Name Was Galling. It Bespoke A Degree Of     Intimacy With His 
 Charming Self From Which Arethusa Felt Herself Far Removed. And Her 
 Manner Of     Stating His Likes And Dislikes Was That Of     One Who Knew. 
 Arethusa Boiled Over. 
   
   
   
 "I Didn't Ask Your Advice!" She Exploded. "And When I Want Any Of     It, 
 I'll Let You Know!" 
   
   
   
 Miss Warren Looked Surprised. 
   
   
   
 "Why, I...." She Began, And Then She Decided That It Was Time To Leave. 
 She Could Not Quarrel With Arethusa, And Arethusa Looked Very Ready To 
 Quarrel. 
   
   
   
 As Miss Warren Made Her Way Gracefully Homeward Along The     Avenue, She 
 Decided That She Really Had Nothing To Fear From Mr. Bennet's Casual 
 Attentions To The     Visiting Lady At Parties. She Was Countrified And 
 Queer, And Her Clothes Were Awful. Miss Warren Knew Mr. Bennet To Be A 
 Gentleman Of     Taste. Yet She Was Glad She Had Made The     Call, For She Had 
 Rather Enjoyed It. It Would Be Fun To Tell Gladys, Friend Nearest Her 
 Heart, All About It. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Went Up The     Stairs About Three At A Time, And Burst Into 
 Ross's Room Like A Small Whirlwind, Cheeks Glowing And Hands Still 
 Clenched In Righteous Anger At Miss Warren. 
   
   
   
   
 "Well, Well," Exclaimed Ross, "What Has Happened? Did Not The     Fair 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 201 
 Candace Come Up To Expectations?" 
   
   
   
 "I Thought You Said She Was A Dear Girl!" Arethusa Looked Accusingly At 
 Elinor. 
   
   
   
 "And Isn't She?" Asked Ross Mischievously. 
   
   
   
 "She's ... She's A Cat!" Said Arethusa With Emphasis. "She Said 
 Perfectly Awful Things To Me, And She Was As Nasty As Could Be To Me 
 About Mr. Bennet!" 
   
   
   
 "So That Is Where The     Shoe Pinches! Elinor, Dearest, Methinks There Is 
 One Of     Your Friends' Daughters Who Has No Sort Of     Attraction For Our 
 Daughter. But Arethusa, My Child, I Told You, When You First Mentioned 
 His Name, That He Was In A Class Apart. I Told You That He Was No 
 Lonely Floweret Wasting His Sweetness On The     Desert Air, And That The 
 Competition Where You Would Compete Was Keen. I Told You...." 
   
   
   
 "Ross, For Heaven's Sake!" Laughed Elinor. 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa Is Only Finding Out The     Truth Of     My Words," Replied Ross 
 Seriously. "She Will Learn To Depend On Her Father With One Or Two More 
 Experiences Of     This Kind." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Perched Herself On The     Arm Of     Ross's Big Chair, And Ross 
 Tweaked At Her Ear Affectionately. "Is That Not So, Mine Own Daughter?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Disregarded This Question, And Asked One Of     Her Own. 
   
   
   
 "Could I Learn Bridge, Do You Reckon?" 
   
   
   
 Ross Jumped. "Shades Of     Miss Eliza!" 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 17 Pg 202 
 "But Could I?" Recklessly; "Miss Warren Said Mr. Bennet Played A 
 Beautiful Game And She Said It Was Cards And That He Was Fond Of     It." 
   
   
   
 "I See. I've Heard That He Did. Well, Something Will Have To Be Done 
 About This. Myself, Being The     Sort Of     Player From Whom The     Bridge World 
 Runs As One Man Cannot Help You Much. But Elinor Might. She Is Said To 
 Be Somewhat Proficient At It. We'll Give Arethusa A Bridge-Party, How 
 About It, Belovedest?" 
   
   
   
 Elinor Agreed, And So Ross Suggested A Lesson Right Away. 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Was Just Starting Off To Fetch Some Cards And Have George 
 Bring What Elinor Spoke Of     A "Card-Table," When George Himself Knocked 
 At The     Door To Announce That Miss Arethusa Was Wanted On The     Telephone. 
   
   
   
 "Mr. Bennet Wishes To Speak To Her." 
   
   
   
 Bridge Lessons Were Forgotten As If They Had Never Been Heard Of. Every 
 Vestige Of     Color Left Arethusa's Face. Her Hands Clasped Tightly Over 
 Her Suddenly Tumultuous Heart. 
   
   
   
 "To.... To Me, George? To Me," She Stammered; "Are You Real Sure He 
 Said To _Me_?" 
   
   
   
 George Nodded, Smiling. "He Said, '_Miss_ Worthington,' Very Plain, 
 Miss Arethusa." 
   
   
   
 Then The     Deepest Of     Red Flamed Back Into Her Checks And She Scuttled 
 Off Down The     Hall So Fast That She Upset Every Single Rug In Her Path. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennett Was Waiting At The     Telephone! 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 203 
   
 Arethusa's Trembling Fingers Could Hardly Find The     Telephone Receiver 
 At First, And Even When Once Located, They Could Scarcely Keep It To 
 Her Ear. 
   
   
   
 "Hello!" Her Greeting Was Soft And Almost Breathless. 
   
   
   
 "Hello!" And She Recognized The     Deep Drawl Immediately. "Is This Miss 
 Worthington At The     'Phone?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes, It's Me, All Right!" Arethusa Was Too Excited To Be Quite 
 Grammatical. "But I've Been Running To Get Here, And I've Lost My 
 Breath!" 
   
   
   
 At The     Other End Of     The     Line, Mr. Bennet Smiled Rather Broadly, And His 
 Stenographer, Just Then Depositing A Pile Of     Letters To Be Signed On 
 His Desk, Could Not Help Wondering What The     Young Lady Had Said That 
 Was So Funny. Mr. Bennet Did Not Often Smile So Into A Mere Telephone. 
   
   
   
 "Well, This Is Gridley Bennet Talking." 
   
   
   
 "I Knew It Was!" Happily. 
   
   
   
 "And I Should Like To Know If You Have Any Engagement For To-Morrow 
 Night?" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Mr. Bennet!" 
   
   
   
 "Have You?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 204 
   
 "Of Course, I Haven't!" Arethusa Considered It A Foregone Conclusion 
 That If He Wanted Her For Anything, She Was Free. 
   
   
   
 "Then Will You Go To See The     'Earl And His Girl' With Me?" 
   
   
   
 "What Is That?" 
   
   
   
 "A Musical Comedy, And Quite A Good One, I've Heard Them Say." 
   
   
   
 "Is.... Is It The     Theater?" 
   
   
   
 "Why.... Yes! Certainly!" This Surprised Him Just A Bit. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Mr. Bennet!" Exclaimed Arethusa Once More. 
   
   
   
 "I Take It, Then, You'll Go With Me?" 
   
   
   
 "You Just Bet! I Should Just Love It! Why, I've Never Been To The 
 Theater In All My Life! Not Even To The     Opera House In Hawesville!" 
 Hawesville Was The     County-Seat. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Laughed Outright Then. He Had Been Smiling Right Straight 
 Through This Conversation, To The     Deep Interest Of     His Blonde 
 Stenographer, Who Smiled Herself In Sympathy For The     Laugh. She Took A 
 Frank Pride In Mr. Bennet's Popularity, His Many Invitations And His 
 Telephone Calls. It Was Something To Be Stenographer To The     Very 
 Handsomest Man In The     Fourteen-Story Building Without His Being One Of 
 The Very Nicest To Work For, As Well. 
   
   
   
 "That Surely Makes It All The     Better," Said Mr. Bennet, "And I'll Call 
 For You About Eight." Then He Added, Being What He Was, "I Was Rather 
 Afraid I Wasn't Going To Be Allowed This Great Pleasure; I Was Sure One 
 Of Those Many Youths That Surrounded You The     Other Evening Had Been 
   
 Before Me." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 205 
   
   
   
 "Well, They Haven't. And I'm Awfully Glad They Weren't, Because I Would 
 So Much Rather Go With You." 
   
   
   
 It Was Only The     Truth Which Arethusa Spoke, Just As She Had Been Taught 
 It Was Best To Do On Every Occasion. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Was Still Smiling When He Hung Up The     Receiver And Turned To 
 The Blonde Stenographer. "Please Get Me Two Seats For To-Morrow Night 
 At The     Masonic, Miss Ford. You'd Better Telephone First To See What 
 They Have, And Then You Can Go After Them." He Looked Up At The     Tall 
 Clock Between The     Office Windows. "And You Needn't Come Back Any More 
 To-Night, Unless You Yourself Have Something To Do," He Added Kindly, 
 "Because These Letters Were All, And I Can Mail Them. Just Bring The 
 Tickets With You To-Morrow." 
   
   
   
 Miss Ford, With A Beaming Face, Sat Down To Telephone For The     Seats 
 Which Were To Introduce Arethusa To The     World Of     The     Theater, While Mr. 
 Bennet Busied Himself With The     Signing Of     His Letters. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Kindly Providence That Spared Arethusa The     Loss Of     Life Or 
 Limb On Her Way Back To Impart This Marvelous Piece Of     News, For Such A 
 Plunge Across Slippery Floors Was Never Made Before. Ross And Elinor 
 Seemed Quite As Excited Over It As She Could Have Wished, And Had A 
 Very Proper Appreciation Of     The     Signal Honor Paid Their Daughter By The 
 Princely-Looking Mr. Bennet, Although Ross Was Rather Regretful That He 
 Had Not Realized Before That She Had Never Attended The     Theater. He 
 Would Have Taken Her Himself. 
   
   
   
 Elinor's Most Immediate Concern Was For The     Costume, And After Due 
 Deliberation Of     Arethusa's Slender Wardrobe, It Was Decided A Purchase 
 Must Be Made For This Occasion. 
   
   
   
 The Next Day Was The     Longest That Arethusa Had Ever Spent, In Spite Of 
   
 All That Had To Be Done Toward Getting Ready For The     Theater 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 206 
 Expedition. The     Hands Of     The     Little Silver Clock On Her Mantel Seemed 
 To Arethusa To Be Afflicted With A Sort Of     Palsy, During The     Last Hours 
 Of That Day. She Consulted Them With Frequency, But They Never Seemed 
 To Move Forward Enough To Be Noticeable. And Deeming Something To Have 
 Happened To The     Clock, For Surely Time Could Not Creep So Slowly By, 
 She Was Ready And Waiting For Mr. Bennet Long Before The     Stroke Of 
 Eight. 
   
   
   
 On This Visit To Miss Rosa, She Had Produced A Dress Of     The     Soft Colors 
 Of The     Tinted Autumn Leaves, Shading Into Almost The     Color Of     The 
 Bronzy Hair Of     The     Girl Who Was To Wear It. It Was Made With Soft Skirt 
 On Top Of     Soft Skirt, In These Tones, Of     Shimmering Chiffon. It Was As 
 Wonderful A Frock In Its Way As The     Green Frock Itself. Arethusa Fairly 
 Held Her Breath With Delight When She Saw It. And As It Was Such A Very 
 Momentous Occasion, Far Too Momentous For Anything Borrowed To Be Worn, 
 Elinor Purchased Her Daughter, To Wear With This Dress, A Cloak Of     Soft 
 Velvet In Deep Olive Green With A Collar Of     Fluffy Brown Fur That 
 Framed Her Glowing Face In The     Most Fascinating Way Possible. 
   
   
   
 So Mr. Bennet Could Not Help But Approve Her Appearance As He Handed 
 Her Into The     Automobile. He Liked Those Ladies He Escorted To 
 Festivities To Do Him Credit. He Was As Much Addicted To A Liking For 
 Feminine Loveliness As Was Ever Mr. Harrison. For Mr. Bennet Had Looked 
 In The     Mirror Often, And Being A Person Of     Discernment, Had Liked What 
 He Had Seen There; And He Had A Deep And Abiding Sense Of     The     Fitness 
 Of Things. Had The     Gods Been Less Kind To Arethusa In The     Matter Of 
 Looks, Undoubtedly Her Adoration Of     Mr. Bennet Must Have Remained Of     A 
 Distance. But Even A More Carping Critic Than Her Escort Could Have 
 Found No Fault With Her This Evening; From The     Crown Of     Her Ruddy Head 
 To The     Soles Of     Her Satin Slippered Feet, She Was Joy To The     Eye. 
   
   
   
 The Theater Lobby Was Full When They Arrived, Of     A Good-Natured Crowd 
 That Laughed And Chatted And Greeted Its Acquaintances Gayly As It 
 Moved Slowly Toward The     Inside Entrance; Where The     Women Whose Bare 
 Necks Gleamed White In Their Settings Of     Silks And Velvets And Furs, 
   
 With Their Dress-Suited Men Folks, Were Separated, Like The     Sheep From 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 207 
 The Goats, For The     Downstairs Of     The     Theater, From The     More Plainly 
 Attired Who Climbed Balconyward. Mr. Bennet And His Lady Belonged 
 Unmistakably With The     Sheep. 
   
   
   
 It Would Be A Good House, Judging From This Number Waiting To Get 
 Inside. It Was The     First Night Of     A Much Heralded Show, "With The 
 Original New York Company," Its Advance Notices Had Said; And It Had 
 Called Forth What The     Morning Newspapers Of     Lewisburg Delighted To Call 
 A "Representative Audience." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Recognized, Among The     Many, One Or Two Faces She Had Seen To 
 Know At The     Dinner-Dance, And So She Could Nod And Smile A Greeting Or 
 So, As She And Mr. Bennet Pushed Forward, With The     Rest Of     That Crowd. 
 But The     People Around Her Pressed Against Her So Closely, That All 
 Unknown To Mr. Bennet, She Timidly Grasped The     Skirt Of     His Overcoat 
 And Gripped It Tightly For An Anchor Should They Be Forced Apart. It 
 Was A Fearful Thought. What On Earth _Would_ She Do, If She Lost 
 Him In That Swarm Of     Folks? 
   
   
   
 But Once In The     More Open Space Inside, She Breathed More Easily, And 
 Could Lose Her Hold, For Separation Was No Longer To Be Really Feared. 
   
   
   
 She Looked About Her Then, As Mr. Bennet Divested Himself Of     That 
 Anchoring Overcoat, And They Waited For An Usher, And, Arethusa-Like, 
 Was Deeply Impressed With All That Her Eyes Rested Upon; The     Glittering 
 Crystal Chandeliers That Gleamed Like Hundreds Of     Diamonds High Above 
 Her, The     Distorted Pair Of     Cupids, Unnaturally Fat, Who Swayed From 
 Garlands Of     Stiff Flowers Over The     Proscenium Arch, The     Badly 
 Anatomized Ladies On The     Ceiling, Riding Impossible Blue Clouds; The 
 Gorgeousness Of     Many Gilded Columns, And Even The     Bright Red Plush Of 
 The Seats. Arethusa's Tastes Were Ever Slightly Rococo. 
   
   
   
 They Were Barely Seated When The     Curtain Rose, To A Fanfare Of     Sound 
 More Deafening Than Musical, And She Gave A Long Drawn Out And 
 Delighted, "O ... _Oh_!" For A Really Pleasing Riot Of     Color Was Before 
 Her. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 208 
   
 The Advertising Of     This Musical Show Had Not So Very Far Falsified Its 
 Attractions. There Was Plenty Of     Action In The     Piece, Much Trotting On 
 And Off The     Stage; A Great Many Songs With An Exceedingly Active Chorus 
 Doing Its Best, And The     Dancing Was Unusually Good. It Had A Big 
 Company Of     Principals, Well Costumed; And Such Music As Was Offered Was 
 Almost Music. 
   
   
   
 But Mr. Bennet Gave Up All Pretense Of     Watching The     Performance After A 
 Little While And Devoted His Attention Entirely To Arethusa, For He Had 
 Never Seen Anyone Before Who So Personified Enjoyment. Her Eyes, Great, 
 Deep Pools Of     Darkness, Were Glued Immovably To The     Scene Before Her. A 
 Soft Flush Came And Went In Her Cheeks. She Clutched The     Programme That 
 Had Been Given Her At The     Door Tightly In One Hand. She Had Made No 
 Move To Open It. She Had No Time To Waste On Programmes. Once, At A 
 Very Exciting Moment, When The     Villain Was Eavesdropping Within A 
 Hand's Distance Of     The     Handsome Earl Of     The     Piece, She Grabbed Mr. 
 Bennet's Arm And Squeezed It Painfully, Almost Totally Unaware Whose 
 Arm It Was. 
   
   
   
 Then The     Curtain Went Down With A Grand Flourish To A Long Roll From 
 The Snare Drum. It Went Up Again, An Encore To Much Applause, Then 
 Down; Then Up And Down Swiftly Several Times. Arethusa Clapped A Great 
 Split Right Through The     Middle Of     Her Brand New Gloves. The     Curtain 
 Descended Once More, And This Time.... It Stayed. The     Lights In The 
 Theater Flashed On. 
   
   
   
 It Had Seemed All Too Short A Period Of     Pleasure. Arethusa Sighed As 
 She Rose And Reached Behind Her For Her Green Cloak. 
   
   
   
 "I Wish," She Said, Regretfully, "I Wish It Had Lasted Longer!" 
   
   
   
 "Lasted Longer!" Exclaimed Mr. Bennet, "Why!..." 
   
   
   
 "Isn't It Over?" She Almost Shrieked. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 209 
   
 "Over! Good Gracious, Child! That Was Only The     First Act! I Believe 
 There Are Two More, Before It's Over." 
   
   
   
 "Two More! Oh! Goody!" Arethusa Plumped Herself Down Again With Such 
 Solid Decision To Stay Where She Was, That Had Her Seat Not Been 
 Strongly Made, She Might Have Gone Clear Through It. "But I Saw Men 
 Going Out! And I Thought Of     Course That Was All! It Did Seem Awfully 
 Short, Though!" 
   
   
   
 That There Should Be Two Whole More Acts; Such Richness Of     Prospect! 
   
   
   
 The Curtain Rose For The     Second Act, And Arethusa's Smile Began To 
 Widen In Glad Anticipation. Then It Faded, And Her Expression Changed 
 To That Of     One Rather Bewildered. She Looked All About Her, But No One 
 Else Seemed At All Affected As She Was Herself. Everybody In The 
 Audience Was Gazing Intently, And With Pleasure, At The     Stage. 
   
   
   
 "What's The     Matter?" Inquired Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Nodded Towards The     Frolicking Chorus Girls Who Were Just 
 Immediately Back Of     The     Foot-Lights, All With Arms Out-Stretched To 
 Their Responsive Audience, Singing Vociferously Of     Unintelligible 
 Words. 
   
   
   
 "It's.... It's The     Girls." 
   
   
   
 "Yes...." 
   
   
   
 "They.... They Have On Pa ... Pajamas." She Stumbled A Little Over The 
 Word. 
   
   
   
 "Yes...." Encouraged Mr. Bennet Once More. 
   
   
   
 "They Must Have Been Resting," Replied Arethusa. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 210 
   
   
 "Resting?" 
   
   
   
 "Pa ... Pajamas Are Bedclothes," She Explained, Blushing Just A Bit. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, I Know," Said Mr. Bennet Kindly, "But I Don't Just See...." He 
 Glanced Back At The     Stage. 
   
   
   
 "I Reckon They Put Them On To Rest Between The     Acts," Continued 
 Arethusa, "Because They Must Have Been Tired, After Dancing So Hard, 
 And The     Curtain Must Have Gone Up So Quick They Didn't Have Time To 
 Change. They Must Be Awfully Embarrassed To Come Out Before Us Like 
 That. I Think It's Mean To Laugh At Them. I Wouldn't Laugh For Anything 
 Myself." 
   
   
   
 The Picture Conjured Up By This Speech Of     Arethusa's, Of     The     Chorus 
 Girls Changing Wildly To Pajamas And Reclining After The     Arduous Labors 
 Of The     First Act, Tickled Mr. Bennet More Than Anything That Had 
 Happened On The     Stage, Even The     Best Efforts Of     The     Expensive Comedian. 
 And The     Effect Upon Him Of     The     Idea Was The     Very Same Effect That The 
 Idea Of     Moths And Butterflies As A Topic Of     Conversation For Parties 
 Had Had Upon Mr. Watts, When Arethusa Had Presented It To Him At The 
 Dinner-Dance. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Laughed. 
   
   
   
 His Laughter Was Much More Refined And Less Boisterous Than That Of     Mr. 
 William Watts, But Arethusa Realized, Nevertheless, That He Was 
 Laughing At Her. He Was Not Laughing At The     Chorus Girls Who Had Been 
 Caught Unawares By A Rising Curtain, In Garments In Which They Had Not 
 Intended That They Should Be Seen; But He Was Laughing At Her, 
 Arethusa. Whatever It Was She Had Said This Time That Was Wrong, She 
 Had Made Herself Ridiculous Enough For The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet To 
 Laugh At Her! 
   
   
   
 Her Throat Filled Suddenly With A Perfectly Solid Lump. Something Back 
   
 Of Her Eyes Began To Smart Unbearably, And They Filled Also, Filled 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 211 
 Quickly With Tears That So Blinded Her That She Could Not See Even Her 
 Own Shimmering Lap. Her Hands Trembled Unmanageably, Until The 
 Programme Dropped From Their Uncertain Grasp, And She Fumbled About To 
 Find That Handkerchief Which Was So Badly Needed. She Dabbed At Her 
 Eyes With It, And Winked Back Those Tears As Best She Could, Biting Her 
 Lips Fiercely To Keep From Sobbing Outright. But There Were So Many 
 Tears And They Came So Fast That They Brimmed Clear Over, And Some 
 Fell, Great Shining Drops, On The     Yellow Chiffon Of     Her Dress. Her Tiny 
 Handkerchief Was All Unavailing To Quench This Flow, And In A Very 
 Short While It Was Only A Small Lump Of     Wet. Her Head Drooped Lower And 
 Lower. 
   
   
   
 It Was Absolute And Overwhelming Humiliation. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Heard A Queer Little Sound At His Side, A Little Sound That 
 She Was Quite Unable To Control, And He Turned To See This Weeping 
 Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "Why, My Dear Little Girl!" He Exclaimed, Bending Over. "What On 
 Earth!" 
   
   
   
 She Managed To Swallow A Small Portion Of     The     Lump That Filled Her 
 Throat. "You.... You Laughed At Me!" She Said Brokenly. "You Laughed 
 At Me!" 
   
   
   
 So He Had. But Mr. Bennet Was Very Sure That This Was Not The     Time To 
 Acknowledge It. 
   
   
   
 He Was Genuinely Distressed To See Her Cry, But His Interest Was More 
 Acute That Something Be Done To Stop It Before Too Much Attention Was 
 Accorded Them. Mr. Bennet Disliked Very Much To Be Made At All 
 Conspicuous. 
   
   
   
 He Slid One Arm Gently Along The     Back Of     Her Seat. Arethusa Was 
 Conscious Of     This Movement Through Her Unhappiness, And She Could Not 
 Help Being Thrilled At The     Thought Of     That Wonderful Arm Being Where It 
 Was. Mr. Bennet, However, Knew Very Well Just How Far It Might Go. Miss 
 Eliza Herself Thought No More Of     The     Proprieties Than Did Mr. Bennet. 
   
 Then He Leaned Protectingly Close. Arethusa Thrilled Some More. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 212 
   
   
 "Did You Imagine For A Moment That I Was Laughing At You!" And His Rich 
 Drawling Voice Was So Convincing That She Believed Him Immediately. 
 "Indeed, I Was Not! There Was Something Very Funny Just Then That You 
 Missed. _Why_, I Wouldn't Laugh At _You_ For All The     World!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Smiled Through Her Tears At Him Like A Veritable Bit Of     April. 
   
   
   
 "I Didn't Like To Think You Would. But.... But.... It Seemed Just 
 Exactly Like You Were!" 
   
   
   
 "You Misjudged Me Dreadfully!" 
   
   
   
 And This Time He Sounded So Reproachful That She Was Just As Ashamed Of 
 Herself For So Misjudging Him, As She Had Been Humiliated The     Moment 
 Before Because She Had Thought Herself The     Object Of     His Mirth. 
   
   
   
 "I ... I'm Sorry," She Faltered. Would Mr. Bennet Ever Be Able To 
 Forgive Such A Misinterpretation Of     His Charming Laugh? 
   
   
   
 But Mr. Bennet Was A Truly Magnanimous Soul, And It Seemed That He 
 Would. 
   
   
   
 So An Atmosphere Of     Enjoyment Once More Restored, Arethusa Turned Her 
 Attention Back To The     Chorus Ladies, Who Had In The     Meantime Clothed 
 Themselves In Garments Belonging Less To The     Hours Of     Rest And More To 
 Those Of     Activity, And Responded To Their Antics To Amuse As She Had 
 Before That Most Unfortunate Episode. 
   
   
   
 She Sighed A Gusty Sigh Of     Real Forlornness When The     Curtain Had 
 Descended In Such A Way That It Could Not Possibly Be Construed By Even 
 Inexperienced Theatergoers To Mean Anything But That It Was All Over. 
   
   
   
 "It Doesn't Last Near Long Enough, Not Near!" She Said, Regretfully, As 
   
 She Was Being Helped Into The     Green Cloak. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 213 
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Produced His Watch. "I Don't Know Just How Long You Expected 
 It To Last," He Replied, "But Right This Moment It Happens To Be Ten 
 Minutes Past Eleven; Which Means That We Have Been Here Almost Three 
 Hours!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Regarded Him Open-Eyed And Open-Mouthed. 
   
   
   
 "_Honest!_" 
   
   
   
 "Honest." 
   
   
   
 "Why, It Hasn't Seemed Like Any Time At All!" 
   
   
   
 "Well, It Seems To Me That If You Enjoyed It So Much, We'll Have To 
 Come Again Some Time Very Soon. Shall We?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Accepted This Invitation With Undoubted Pleasure. 
   
   
   
 "I'll Be A Little More Careful, Though, In My Selection Of     Our Next 
 Play, So There Will Be Nothing In It You Could Misunderstand That Might 
 Possibly Spoil A Few Moments For Us. I Don't Want Any Spoiled Moments 
 With You," Tenderly. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Blushed Deeply And Her Head Drooped. 
   
   
   
 _She_ Had Spoiled It, All By Herself; Those Moments Of     Unhappiness 
 Had Been All Her Own Fault, Because She Was Such A Goose. This Play Had 
 Been As Near Perfection As A Play Could Be, Thought She, Who Knew So 
 Little Of     Plays. At The     Next One, She Herself Would See That Nothing Of 
 The Kind Occurred. She Had Learned Her Lesson, And There Would Be No 
 More Misinterpretation Of     Mr. Bennet's Charming Little Ways. 
   
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Was Just A Bit Conscience-Stricken In The     Morning By The     Way 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 214 
 He Had Turned That Episode, When Reviewing It At His Office. She Was A 
 Dear Child. The     Worthington Interest Was A Solid One. There Were 
 Dollars Galore That Stood To That Name In Various Financial 
 Institutions, And When One Is A Dealer In The     Commodities Known As 
 Stocks And Bonds, One Must Not Let The     Smallest Chance Slip By To 
 Cement A Friendship Outside Which Might Prove To Extend Itself Into The 
 Business World. There Was No Telling How Quickly Bread Cast Upon The 
 Waters Might Return. At Least, It Could Do No Sort Of     Harm. She Was A 
 Dear Child! 
   
   
   
 Which Explains Why Arethusa Received A Long Green Box, Brought To Her 
 By George As She Ate Her Luncheon. It Was A Box Of     American Beauties 
 With Stems A Yard Long, Roses That Were Far Too Beautiful As Roses To 
 Be Real, And That Seemed To Arethusa To Have Gathered All The     Perfume 
 Of Heaven Within Their Deep, Red Centers. She Sniffed And Smelled Them 
 In Ecstasy; And Stroked The     Glossy Green Leaves That Spread Out From 
 Their Stems, So Marvelous As Leaves. She Could Hardly Part With Them 
 That They Might Be Put In The     Tallest Vase On The     Library Table, Which 
 Would Display Their Beauty To The     Greatest Advantage. 
   
   
   
 Inside The     Box Was A Tiny Note.... 
   
   
   
     "Would Miss Worthington Do Mr. Bennet The     Honor Of     Reserving The 
     Date Of     The     January Cotillion For Him?" 
   
   
   
 "But That's So Awfully Far Off," Objected Arethusa, As She Read This 
 Communication Aloud To Her Interested Parents. "It's Only The     First Of 
 November Right Now!" 
   
   
   
 It Was Entirely Too Lovely Of     Mr. Bennet To Send Her Roses; It Heaped 
 Coals Of     Fire With Effective Vengeance. She Was Almost Ashamed To 
 Accept Them. But She Did Wish That He Had Made That Engagement For 
 Something A Trifle Closer At Hand. 
   
   
   
 "You Little Goose!" Exclaimed Ross. "Why, That Is _The_ Event Of     The 
 Whole Lewisburg Season! And Not One Debutante In Ten Out Of     A Winter 
 Ever Gets To Go! As Superlative As I'll Have To Admit Mr. Bennet's 
 Taste In Flowers, I Believe Most Girls Would Care Far More About That 
 Invitation Than They Would About The     Roses!" 
   
   
   
   
 "Really!" Arethusa Brightened Up Considerably. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 18 Pg 215 
   
   
   
 "I'd Let A Man Laugh At Me Every Day From Now Till Christmas If He'd 
 Ask Me To Go To The     January Cotillion With Him," Continued Ross, "That 
 Is, If I Was A Young Lady With Any Hope Of     Being A Social Success." 
   
   
   
 "But He Wasn't Laughing At Me," Protested His Daughter. She Had 
 Narrated The     Affair In Detail. "I Told You That, Father. He Said Very 
 Positively He Wasn't Laughing At Me!" 
   
   
   
 "Well," Replied Ross, "It Makes No Difference What Caused His Mirth, It 
 Seems To Me That I'd Assuredly Welcome It, With Such Effect!" 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 216 
   
 Arethusa Was Going Shopping, And Going Shopping For The     Very First Time 
 In Her Life, Alone. 
   
   
   
 And Thereby Hangs A Tale. 
   
   
   
 Wednesday Coming Was Miss Asenath's Birthday, And Arethusa Had 
 Completely Lost Track Of     That Important Fact To Forget It Until This 
 Monday Morning. She, Who Had Given Miss Asenath Something, If Only A 
 Tight Bouquet Of     Flowers From The     Plants Brought Into The     House For The 
 Winter, Every Birthday Anniversary Since She Was Old Enough To Lisp 
 "Birfday" And Comprehend Its Significance, Had Forgotten That This 
 Event Was So Near. She Could Have Made Her A Gift As She Generally Did 
 Had There Been Time To Finish It And Send It So It Would Reach The     Farm 
 On The     Twentieth; But It Would Not Be A Birthday Gift If Miss Asenath 
 Did Not Get It On Her Birthday (This Was Logic To Arethusa); So In Her 
 Distress She Had Appealed To Elinor. 
   
   
   
   
 And Elinor, After Asking If Miss Asenath Ever Wore Shawls And Learning 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 217 
 That She Did All The     Winter Through, Suggested That Arethusa Purchase 
 Her A Rose-Colored Shoulder Shawl Of     Silk And Several Yards Of 
 Rose-Colored Ribbon To Match For The     Locket. If It Was Started Today, 
 It Would Reach There In Time. 
   
   
   
 Charming Idea! 
   
   
   
 So Arethusa Was To Take The     Automobile, As Elinor Had A Board Meeting 
 Of Importance This Morning And Could Not Go With Her; Seek The 
 Magnificent Establishment Where She Had Accompanied Her Mother So Many 
 Times To Shop; Inquire Of     A Floor-Walker The     Location Of     The     Department 
 Of Shawls; Purchase One Of     The     Same, And Charge It To Elinor's Name And 
 Address; And Return Home In The     Machine. Such Were The     Directions Given 
 By Elinor. 
   
   
   
 They Seemed To Cover Every Detail For The     Buying Of     Miss Asenath's 
 Birthday Gift; And, Moreover, Sounded Very Simple. As Viewed By 
 Arethusa, Although Miss Eliza Would Have Been Horrified At The     Bare 
 Suggestion, She Could Surely Buy One Rose-Colored Silk Shawl Without 
 Assistance. 
   
   
   
 She Loved Her Reflection In The     Mirror When She Was Dressed For This 
 Adventure; A Jaunty New Hat With A Flyaway Feather, A New Suit, And 
 Even Gloves And Shoes As Slim As Miss Warren's. And Besides, Pride Of 
 Her Heart, Her Costume Was Enhanced With Furs Of     Rich, Dark Brown, As 
 Silky Smooth In Appearance As Those She Had Envied That Visitor Who Had 
 Been So Trying A Visitor. There Was Also, A Half-Formed Hope Within 
 That When She Looked So Well As She Did This Morning She Would Meet The 
 Wonderful Mr. Bennet Somewhere Downtown That Made Her Eyes Shine, Which 
 Added To The     Attractiveness Of     The     Reflection. 
   
   
   
 She Left The     Car In Front Of     The     Big Shop And Bade Clay Wait For Her 
 With An Air Of     Dignity That Was An Almost Ludicrous Imitation Of 
 Elinor's Manner Of     Uttering The     Same Words. Clay Smiled Broadly As He 
 Touched His Cap, Recognizing Her Model. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Tripped Gayly Into The     Store And A Polite And Obsequious 
 Gentleman Escorted Her To That Counter Where She Might Find Shawls, And 
 Directed That She Be Waited Upon, Immediately. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 218 
   
   
 The Very Prettiest Girl Among Those In This Department Stepped Forward. 
 She Was The     One Which Arethusa Might Have Chosen To Wait Upon Her, Had 
 She Been Choosing. But She Was A Dreadfully Tired-Looking Girl, Even 
 More Tired Looking Than Pretty, Arethusa Noticed When She Was Closer. 
 She Had Great Dark Circles Under Her Eyes And A Pathetic Sort Of     Droop 
 To The     Corners Of     Her Mouth. Her Black Dress Made Her Look Still More 
 Forlorn, For She Was Very Pale And It Accentuated The     Pallor. 
   
   
   
 But The     Girl Smiled At Arethusa; She Could Not Help It, Tired As She 
 Looked And Really Was, For Arethusa's Eagerness To Purchase Was So 
 Amusingly Apparent. 
   
   
   
 "I Want To See Silk Shawls," Announced Arethusa, "Rose-Colored Silk 
 Shawls." 
   
   
   
 A Bewildering Variety Of     Shawls Was Immediately Spread Before Her, In 
 Every Conceivable Shade Of     The     Color She Had Requested. How Miss 
 Asenath Would Have Loved That Heap Of     Gayety! Arethusa Found It 
 Terribly Difficult To Make A Choice. She Picked Out Three As The 
 Prettiest Of     The     Collection, After Much Deliberation And Selection And 
 Rejection; But Each One Was So Lovely That She Wanted Every One Of     Them 
 For Miss Asenath. Then She Made An Appeal To The     Girl. 
   
   
   
 "Which Of     These Do _You_ Think Is The     Very Prettiest? It's For An Old 
 Lady; The     Dearest Old Lady!" 
   
   
   
 The Girl Bent Her Dark Head Over The     Shawls Arethusa Was Holding. 
   
   
   
 "Is It For Your Grandmother?" 
   
   
   
 "No," Replied Arethusa. "It's For My Aunt 'Senath. She's An Invalid." 
   
   
   
 Then, Of     Necessity Almost, She Must Tell Miss Asenath's Interesting 
   
 Story, Beginning Way Back At The     Very Beginning, With The     Romance 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 219 
 Before The     Fall. Her Sympathetic Telling Of     Her Tale, Her Gestures And 
 Her Earnest Voice, Attracted Every Other Girl At That Counter, For It 
 Was Not A Very Busy Morning, So That Long Before She Had Finished, Four 
 Or Five Other Heads Were Bent In Solemn Consultation Above The     Three 
 Shawls From Which Final Choice Was To Be Made. They Could Not All Agree 
 As To The     One Most Desirable; Tastes Were Different As To Which Shade 
 Of Rose Would Really Be Most Becoming And Best For Miss Asenath. 
 Finally, Arethusa And Jessie (For So The     First Girl's Name Had Been 
 Discovered To Be) Decided That Majority Must Rule As Always, And 
 Selected As Miss Asenath's Birthday Gift What They Themselves And Two 
 Of The     Other Girls Liked Best, The     One That Was In Between In Tone. 
   
   
   
 "I Can Get Ribbon Just This Color, Can't I?" Asked The     Shopper 
 Anxiously, Once Her Choice Was Actually Made. 
   
   
   
 "For The     Locket?" Inquired Jessie. 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 "Sure You Can. Suppose You Just Take This Over To The     Ribbon Counter 
 And Match It Right Now, It's Just In The     Next Aisle, And Then You Can 
 Bring It Back To Me." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Went Away Joyfully, Bearing The     Shawl. 
   
   
   
 "Ain't You Afraid, Jess, To Let Her Go Off Like That?" Asked One Of 
 Jessie's Contemporaries, Of     A More Distrustful Turn Of     Mind. "'Sposin' 
 She Don't Come Back With It? It Ain't Paid For, And She Never Told You 
 Who She Was." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, She'll Come Back," Replied Jessie, Confidently, "She'll Come Back, 
 All Right. I Ain't The     Least Bit Afraid. 'Specially When She Looks As 
 Much Like An Angel As She Talks! I Wish There Was More Like Her To Wait 
 On, And Then It Wouldn't Be So Hard To Be Standing Here All Day Long. 
 Yes, Ma'am, These Shawls Are All Silk," To A Personage Who Had Paused 
 To Examine The     Wares Which Jessie Had Not Yet Put Away. 
   
   
   
 It Would Be Impossible To Mention Her In Any Way Save As A "Personage." 
   
 She Exuded Superiority And A Consciousness Of     A High Station In Life 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 220 
 From Every Aristocratic Pore. 
   
   
   
 "I Doubt It. They Look Rather Cheap." She Tossed The     Whole Heap Aside, 
 Contemptuously. "Have You Nothing Any Better?" 
   
   
   
 "No, Ma'am, These Are The     Best." 
   
   
   
 "That's Old Mrs. Bixby," Whispered One Of     The     Clerks In A Tone Of 
 Heartfelt Awe To The     Girl Next Her, As The     Lady Seated Herself Before 
 The Counter. "And She Is Some Swell, Too, Believe Me, Molly Davis! 
 Money! Just Buckets Of     It!" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Bixby Seemed Rather Disdainful Of     What Jessie Had To Offer Her In 
 The Way Of     Shawls. She Continued To Toss Them To Right And Left, 
 Scattering Them So Carelessly About That One Or Two Fell To The     Floor 
 Of The     Aisle And Were Retrieved By A Near-By Floor-Walker, Who Glanced 
 At Poor Jessie, As Much As To Say, "Don't You Let That Happen Again!" 
   
   
   
 "I See Nothing Here I'd Really Have," Remarked Mrs. Bixby, At Last. 
   
   
   
 Then As She Turned, She Caught Sight Of     An Acquaintance Across The 
 Aisle, Who Had Loitered There Hoping For The     Sun Of     Her Smile, To Whom 
 She Beckoned Imperiously; And Who Came Swiftly For Whatever Was Desired 
 Of Her, At This Nod, Much As A Menial Runs In Answer To The     Nod Of     A 
 Master. 
   
   
   
 "I've Got It!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Came Back With The     Shawl And Several Yards Of     Rose-Colored 
 Ribbon That Matched It As Perfectly As If Woven Especially To Be Worn 
 With It To Hold The     Locket. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 221 
 Jessie's Face Broke Into Welcoming Smiles. Most Of     The     Other Clerks 
 Smiled Also. Arethusa's Honest Joy In Her Purchases Was Truly 
 Refreshing After Mrs. Bixby. 
   
   
   
 "Isn't That A Perfectly Beautiful Match?" Arethusa Asked Of     Them All 
 Impartially, With Enthusiasm. "And Yet Aunt 'Liza Always Says I Have No 
 Sort Of     Taste! Can't You Just See Darling Aunt 'Senath In All Her White 
 Clothes With This Lovely Rose Color Next To Her?" 
   
   
   
 It Was Not At All Hard For Jessie To Imagine The     Picture After The 
 Vivid Description She Had Received Of     Miss Asenath. "I'll Bet She'll 
 Look Just Lovely," She Declared Warmly, "And It Certainly Is A Splendid 
 Match! No One Could Have Matched It Better!" 
   
   
   
 The Other Girls Made A Smiling Affirmation To This Verdict. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Bixby Turned Around From Her Own Conversation At The     Sudden Sound 
 Of These Animated Voices So Close To Her And Lifted Her Gold Lorgnette 
 To Examine Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "This Girl Was Waiting On Me, I Believe," She Said, Indicating Jessie 
 With A Wave Of     Her Aristocratic Hand, And Speaking In A Pleasantly Acid 
 Tone That Was Intended To Consign Arethusa To Nothingness Forever. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Gave No Smallest Sign Of     Doing So. 
   
   
   
 "She Was Waiting On Me, Long Before You Ever Saw Her!" 
   
   
   
 That Lorgnette Could But Irritate Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Bixby Glanced Up And Down, And Then Through Her. 
   
   
   
 "Indeed! I Think You're Mistaken!" Then To Jessie. "I Wasn't Through, 
   
 Girl." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 222 
   
 "But You Said...." Began Poor Jessie. 
   
   
   
 She Was Torn Between Her Desire To Serve Arethusa, Whom, Girl-Like, She 
 Had Voted A Darling, And Her Great Fear Of     Offending One So Powerful As 
 Mrs. Bixby. The     Floor-Walker Suddenly Turned His Attention In Their 
 Direction, Which Added To Her Agitation. But She Need Not Have Worried 
 Quite So Much; Her First Customer Made A Sturdy Champion Of     Any Cause, 
 And She Was Still Most Undaunted, Lorgnette Or No Lorgnette. 
   
   
   
 "There's A Whole Stack Of     Girls Here," Declared Arethusa Hotly, "And 
 Just Because You Can't Help Being Disagreeable, You Want The     Same One I 
 Have! Jessie Sold Me This Shawl Before You Ever Came, And She Let Me 
 Take It Over To Match It In Ribbon!" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Bixby Displayed An Interest. She Raised The     Lorgnette Once More. 
   
   
   
 "Indeed! And Had You Paid For It?" 
   
   
   
 "It's None Of     Your Business Whether I Had Or Not! It's Not Your Store, 
 Is It? But I Hadn't, So There, If You Really Want To Know!" 
   
   
   
 "I Shall Report You Immediately," Said Mrs. Bixby, Majestically To 
 Jessie, "For Allowing Goods To Be Taken Away From Your Counter Without 
 Being Paid For, And For Not Waiting On Your Customers Properly. You 
 Were Very Impudent. And...." 
   
   
   
 "Why, You're A Horrible Old Woman!" Interrupted Arethusa, As If The 
 Discovery Was Most Surprising. "A Perfectly Horrible Old Woman! But Go 
 Right Ahead And Report, If You Want To! I Reckon It Won't Hurt Anything 
 Very Much, Because I Brought The     Shawl Back And I'm Going To Charge It 
 Right Now, This Very Minute!" 
   
   
   
   
 "And _You_," Continued Mrs. Bixby, Once More Consigning The     Tempestuously 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 223 
 Excited Arethusa To Nothingness With Her Glance, "Are The     Most Decidedly 
 Ill-Bred Young Person I Ever Saw!" 
   
   
   
 She Sailed Away And Sought The     Floor-Walker. 
   
   
   
 His Glance, After A Brief Conversation With Her, Was Sternly Directed 
 In The     Direction Of     The     Shawl Department. He Nodded Several Times In 
 Answer To What She Said To Him, And Finally Bowed Her Deferentially 
 Towards The     Outer Door. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Turned To Jessie, Whose Rather Frail Hands Were Trembling In 
 Their Effort To Fold Her Shawls, And Her Sympathetic Heart Ached For 
 This Evident Distress. 
   
   
   
 "I Wouldn't Mind, Jessie. That Old Beast Can't Really Do Anything That 
 Would Hurt You, Can She?" 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Know," Miserably. 
   
   
   
 "Was It Very Wrong To Let Me Take The     Shawl To Have It Matched Before I 
 Had Paid For It?" 
   
   
   
 "It's Against The     Rules. People Could Steal Things That Way. But I Knew 
 You'd Bring It Right Back." 
   
   
   
 "That Nasty Old Thing!" Arethusa Leaned Earnestly Across The 
 Counter-Top. "I'll Buy Two Or Three Shawls. Would It Be All Right 
 Then?" 
   
   
   
 Jessie Was Forced To A Smile At This Suggested Method Of     Straightening 
 Out The     Affair. 
   
   
   
   
 "That Wouldn't Make Very Much Difference About This, I'm Afraid. And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 224 
 Besides, I Don't Suppose Your Mother Would Like Your Doing It, Very 
 Much!" 
   
   
   
 "She Wouldn't Care," Affirmed The     Daughter, Stoutly. "She Wouldn't Care 
 The Least Bit. She's The     Loveliest Person In The     World!" Suddenly, An 
 Altogether New Idea Seized Her. "They Won't Discharge You, Will They?" 
 It Was A Horrible Thought! 
   
   
   
 "Oh, No! That Is, I Don't Suppose So. It Depends On What She Said, 
 Mostly. If She Told The     Truth, I Might Just Get Reprimanded. They'll 
 Dock Me Probably, Though; But That's Almost As Bad To Me Right Now, As 
 Being Discharged," Bitterly; "I Need Every Single Cent Of     My Money." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Well," Arethusa Patted Jessie Consolingly On The     Arm, "Don't You 
 Worry! I'll Get Father To Fix It Up For You. He Knows Mr. Redmond 
 Awfully Well. He Plays Golf With Him, And He Told Me Mr. Redmond Owned 
 This Store, Even If His Name Isn't On The     Sign. So He'll Fix It!" 
   
   
   
 She Departed, Serenity Restored All Around; For Ross Would Surely 
 Manage It So That Jessie Should Not Suffer For Being Kind. 
   
   
   
 But Before She Was Out Of     The     Establishment, She Unfortunately 
 Encountered Mrs. Bixby Near The     Door, Who Raised Her Lorgnette And 
 Surveyed The     "Ill-Bred Young Person" Through It Again. She So Aroused 
 Arethusa's Ire That She Rushed Furiously Out Of     The     Shop And Went 
 Headlong On Up The     Street. She Had Gone Quite A Block, When She 
 Ran ... Bang! Into A Man Person, Who In Her Excitement She Had Not 
 Noticed As Approaching. 
   
   
   
 "You Seem To Be In A Very Great Hurry This Fine Morning," Said A 
 Familiar Voice, And She Looked Up. 
   
   
   
 There Was Mr. Bennet Smiling At Her; Standing In The     Middle Of     The 
 Sidewalk, Irreproachably Groomed As Always, Very Much Mr. Bennet, And 
 Evidently Glad To See Her. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Glad To See Him Also. She Clasped Her Hands, Parcel And 
 All, And Dimpled Charmingly. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 225 
   
   
 "I'm Just As Mad As I Can Be! That Nasty Old Beast Of     A Woman!" 
   
   
   
 "What Old Beast Of     A Woman?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Launched Into Explanation. 
   
   
   
 And As The     Narrative Progressed, Mr. Bennet's Inward Amusement Grew. 
 Arethusa Was Primed With Names, And So He Recognised Mrs. Bixby For His 
 Aunt, The     Mentor Of     Their Rather Extensive Family Connection. He Would 
 Have Given Anything To Have Seen The     Encounter! And He Would Have 
 Backed Arethusa For Winner Without Any Hesitancy, As Well As He Knew 
 His Dictatorial Relative. 
   
   
   
 "And Will You, Mr. Bennet," Finished Jessie's Champion Imploringly, 
 "Will You Go Back And See That Man With Me And Fix It So They Won't Do 
 Anything To Jessie?" 
   
   
   
 It Might Be Better To Fix Things Up Now With Mr. Bennet's Able 
 Assistance, Than To Wait Until Later On To Speak To Ross. 
   
   
   
 "Certainly," Said Mr. Bennet, Kindly, "I'll Be Very Glad To; If You 
 Think I Can Do Any Good." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Absolutely Sure Of     This. Was He Not Mr. Bennet? 
   
   
   
 Mr. Platt, The     Floor-Walker To Whom Mrs. Bixby Had Complained Of 
 Jessie, Was Also An Assistant Manager, And He Was Very Glad To Have The 
 Facts In This Particular Case, He Said, When Arethusa And Mr. Bennet 
 Had Hunted Him Up; Arethusa To Do Most Of     The     Talking, And Mr. Bennet 
 To Smile And Look On, And Impress The     One Who Had Jessie's Sentence 
 Within His Power To Make Either Good Or Bad, By Just The     Fact Of     His 
 Appearance And His Air Of     Being Someone Of     Importance, Which Was So 
 Decidedly Mr. Bennet's Air. The     Other Lady, Added Mr. Platt To His 
 Speech Apologetically, Had Slightly Misrepresented Things. She Had 
   
 Accused The     Girl Of     Impudence And Inattention, Which Had Sounded Bad. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 226 
 And In A Store Of     This Size.... But When A Customer Got Excited, She 
 Was Not Always Just Accurate, Yet They Could Not Tell.... 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Was Most Amused By This Little Dig At His Aunt. Arethusa Was 
 Vigorous In Her Defense Of     Jessie, And Her Denial That Jessie Had Been 
 At All Impudent. And Her Indignation Had Made Her So Pretty, With Her 
 Flushed Cheeks, That Mr. Platt Smiled Paternally And Told Her That It 
 Would Be All Right. Probably She Herself Might Like To Stop By And Tell 
 Jessie So? Nothing Suited Arethusa Better; So With Mr. Bennet In Tow, 
 This Pleasant Duty Was Performed, And Then Once More She Sought The 
 Outside. 
   
   
   
 "Now Come Go To Lunch With Me," Said Mr. Bennet, As They Paused Under 
 The Iron And Glass Porte-Cochere For A Moment. "It's Lunch Time," He 
 Added, "And Maybe Considerably After. I Was On My Way When I Met You." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Eyes Sparkled At The     Thought. "But Do Girls Go To Lunch 
 Down-Town With Gentlemen?" 
   
   
   
 He Assured Her That They Often Did, And As Arethusa Had No Further 
 Scruples Of     Any Sort To Add, He Led The     Way Across The     Street To The 
 Big Patterson Hotel; The     Shop Where Shawls And Excitement Had Been 
 Found Was Exactly Opposite. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Followed Him On Into The     Dining-Room, Her Heart Beating Such 
 An Excited Tattoo Against Her Chest She Was Very Glad That The     Band On 
 The Little Balcony At One End Of     The     Room Was Playing So Loudly Just 
 Then, Else She Was Quite Certain That Mr. Bennet, And Even The     Tall And 
 Imposing Head Waiter Who Was So Courteously Showing Them To A Table, 
 Would Have Heard That Pounding Heart. 
   
   
   
 It Was Certainly A Real Adventure. 
   
   
   
 They Were Piloted To A Spot Which Mr. Bennet, From The     Door-Way When 
 They Had First Stepped Inside, Had Selected For Its Attractions, A 
 Little Table For Two Far Over In The     Corner, Just Enough Removed From 
   
 The Band For The     Music To Be A Pleasant Accompaniment To The     Business 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 227 
 Of Luncheon, Instead Of     An Interruption, As It Often Was When Closer To 
 It. The     Table Held A Lighted Candle Lamp Shaded With A Soft 
 Rose-Colored Shade Of     Fluted Silk (And Not All Of     The     Tables Boasted 
 Little Lamps) Which Seemed To Add Most Delightfully To The     Intimacy Of 
 The Occasion. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Leaned Her Elbows On The     Table, And Looked Happily At Mr. 
 Bennet, Sitting So Close To Her On The     Other Side Of     The     White Cloth, 
 Ordering A Lunch For Her To Eat. There Was A Charming Intimacy About 
 The Situation Which Could Not Help But Appeal. 
   
   
   
 "Isn't This Fun!" She Exclaimed. "Just Us!" 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Thought It Was, Indeed. 
   
   
   
 And He Added Instructions To The     Waiter, About The     Food Which Was To Be 
 Prepared For Arethusa To Eat, Which Further Added To The     Charm Of 
 Things. The     Waiter Hurried Off With Their Order, As If He Himself 
 Deemed It No Ordinary Order. 
   
   
   
 Then, While They Waited, Arethusa Unrolled Her Parcel And Showed Mr. 
 Bennet The     Shawl And Told Him All About Miss Asenath. 
   
   
   
 "It Would Be Wonderful To Be Loved The     Way Your Aunt Has Loved That Man 
 All These Years," He Said Softly, When The     Tale Was Ended, For Arethusa 
 Had Crowded Every Single Bit Of     Romance Connected With It Into Her 
 Telling. 
   
   
   
 Her Long Eyelashes Drooped Suddenly Over Her Eyes, And The     Little Flush 
 Which Always Came So Quickly Spread Over Her Face And Neck. Her Unruly 
 Heart Beat Even Faster. 
   
   
   
 There Was A Soft, Long Silence, And Mr. Bennet, Admiring The     Light Of 
   
 The Candle Lamp On Arethusa's Ruddy Hair, Smiled To Himself As He 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 228 
 Watched Her. He Had An Idea That He Knew Just About What She Was 
 Thinking. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Thinking That Mr. Bennet Was Undoubtedly The     Sort Of     Man 
 That One Would Be Sure To Love Just That Way. 
   
   
   
 Now Mr. Bennet Knew Very Well How Arethusa Felt About Him, And This 
 Without Any Real Conceit On His Part. Arethusa Was A Woefully 
 Transparent Young Person; She Had Never Learned There Are Times When It 
 Might Seem Best To Dissemble A Little. Mr. Bennet Knew, Perhaps, Better 
 Than She Did Herself, The     Exact State Of     Her Feeling In Regard To Him. 
 There Were Some Essential Points On Which They Would Not Have Agreed At 
 All; But Still.... His Main Idea As To Just How Arethusa Felt Was 
 Pretty Clear. 
   
   
   
 He Leaned Back In His Chair, And Continued To Watch Her. He Could 
 Almost Have Laughed Aloud At Her Pretty Confusion. Arethusa's Nervous 
 Fingers Crumbled Up A Perfectly Good Slice Of     Bread Until It Could Be 
 Of No Use Of     Any Kind To Anybody, Her Head Still Bent. If The     Situation 
 Had Such Charm, It Had Not Lost Altogether The     Power To Embarrass, When 
 Words That Could Cause Such Thoughts Were Softly Spoken By A Rich And 
 Drawling Voice. 
   
   
   
 The Waiter Helped Matters Considerably By Bringing In The     Soup. 
   
   
   
 Soup Has Never Been Regarded As Much In The     Way Of     A Reliever Of 
 Embarrassment, But It Proved To Be Something Of     The     Kind In This 
 Particular Case. Arethusa's Tongue Was Loosened Again, And She 
 Chattered Of     Inconsequential Topics Of     Variety, But None Of     Them 
 Brought Such Moments As The     One Just Past. There Was Much To Be Said To 
 Mr. Bennet, For They Had Grown To Be Great Friends In The     Last Few 
 Weeks And Had Many Interests In Common. 
   
   
   
 It Was An Unusually Nice Little Luncheon That Mr. Bennet Had Ordered; 
 And It Was Perfect Eaten So, Just The     Two Of     Them, Thought Arethusa. It 
 Was Prolonged Quite Beyond The     Time Generally Allotted For Luncheons, 
 For It Was Almost Half-Past Three When They Emerged From The     Hotel. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 229 
   
 "Well, What Shall We Do Now?" Asked Mr. Bennet. He Glanced At His Watch 
 And Then Shut It With A Snap. "I Don't Believe I'll Go Back To The 
 Office Again This Afternoon; That Is.... How About You? Are You Free? 
 What Do You Say To A Moving-Picture Show?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Delighted. She Had Nothing Whatever To Do, And She Adored 
 The Movies. She Had Seen A Few With Ross And Elinor. 
   
   
   
 So Mr. Bennet Stepped Back Into The     Hotel To Telephone Miss Ford That 
 He Would Not Be Back That Afternoon; And Then They Strolled Side By 
 Side Up The     Street, He And Arethusa, Hunting For The     Picture Show Which 
 Seemed To Have The     Most To Offer. 
   
   
   
 The One They Finally Chose To Attend Proved To Be So Exciting That 
 Arethusa Scarcely Breathed A Word To Him Until It Was All Over, And The 
 Film Had Gone Around And Started To Go Around Again, So That She Could 
 Be Perfectly Sure She Had Seen Every Bit Of     It. There Was A Great Deal 
 Of Honest Realism About The     Acting Done On The     Screen For Arethusa, 
 Photography Though It Might Be. A Smothered Scream Had Attested To Mr. 
 Bennet The     Genuineness Of     Her Fear For Her Own Safety During A Portion 
 Of This Picture's Running, And Her Sudden Jump When The     Evil-Looking 
 Indian Had Shot The     Handsome Cowboy, And The     Little Sound Of     Distress 
 She Had Made, Told Him That Although Movie Guns Were Said To Fire Blank 
 Cartridges, They Inflicted Actual Damage For Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 It Was Dark When They Left The     Moving-Picture Theatre, And Well After 
 Five. Winter Days Seem Woefully Short. 
   
   
   
 "Well, What Shall We Do Now?" Asked Mr. Bennet, For The     Second Time. "I 
 Suppose, Though, It Will Be Home. It's So Late." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Stopped Short In The     Middle Of     The     Crowded Sidewalk, Full Of 
 Folks Who Were Plainly Impatient To Get Somewhere, And Very Probably It 
 Was Home, Flowing Past Her On Either Side, All Unregarded. She Grabbed 
 Mr. Bennet Frantically By One Arm. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 230 
 "Oh, Mr. Bennet!" 
   
   
   
 "What's The     Matter? Did You Leave Something In The     Theater?" 
   
   
   
 "No! But I've Left Clay Waiting In The     Machine For Me All This Time In 
 Front Of     That Store, And I Never Thought Of     Him Once Until You Said, 
 'Home!'" 
   
   
   
 The Last Part Of     This Information Was Wafted On The     Breeze To Mr. 
 Bennet, For Arethusa Had Started Off Down The     Street With The     Swiftness 
 Of The     Wind Itself. He Followed Her Immediately, But Considerably More 
 Slowly As To Locomotion (He Was No Sprinter And Mr. Bennet Rarely 
 Forgot His Dignity) And With The     Parcel Containing Miss Asenath's 
 Birthday Gift In One Hand. Arethusa Had Dropped It Directly At His Feet 
 In Her Excitement. When He Caught Up With Her, She Was Standing In 
 Front Of     The     Shop Gazing Wildly Up And Down The     Street, For No Clay And 
 No Automobile Were To Be Discovered Anywhere. 
   
   
   
 The Door Attendant, When Questioned By Mr. Bennet, Said That He 
 Remembered The     Chauffeur Referred To Very Well. He Had Seemed To Be 
 Very Worried About The     Young Lady, And Had Left His Car Several Times 
 To Ask Him If He Had Seen Her Come Out. But He Had Driven Off Some Time 
 Ago, About Three Hours Ago, The     Door Attendant Thought It Was, To Be As 
 Exact As He Could. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Took Arethusa Home In A Taxicab To An Excited And Distraught 
 Household. 
   
   
   
 When Clay Had Come Back Without Her, With His Strange Story Of     Having 
 Waited For Her, And That She Had Never Returned To The     Machine, Ross 
 Had Been Perfectly Sure That She Had Been Kidnapped, And He Had Gone 
 Impetuously To The     Police Station To Start An Immediate Search. Elinor 
 Was Prostrate In Her Room, Visioning All Sorts Of     Dreadful Things That 
 Might Have Happened To An Arethusa Always Too Prone To Make Chance 
 Acquaintances, When Arethusa Herself, As Repentant And Contrite A Cause 
 Of It All As It Was Possible For Her To Be, Walked In. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 19 Pg 231 
   
 Elinor Would Not Allow Ross To Scold Her After She Heard Arethusa's 
 Sobbing Explanation, That She Was Having Such A Good Time She Forgot 
 Everything Else; For She Said That He Was Really More To Blame For That 
 Than Anyone Concerned. 
   
   
   
 Which Rather Cryptic Statement, If Arethusa Failed Of     Comprehension, 
 Seemed To Be Quite Clear To Her Father. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 232 
   
 The Winter Sped Away Until Christmas, On Wings Of     Fleetness That Made 
 The Days Seem As If They Had Only Been Hours Since Arethusa Had Come To 
 Lewisburg. Life Was Crowded So Full Of     New Experiences And Happenings 
 That She Had Absolutely No Smallest Room Or Time For Any Moments Of 
 Home-Sickness For The     Farm. And Then.... There Was Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
 Now Arethusa Honestly Interested Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
 It Was Not Alone Her Unabashed And Open Admiration Of     Himself Which 
 Amused While It Flattered, Just A Little, For He Was Only Human; But 
 She Had An Unbounding Enthusiasm For Everything She Saw And Did Which 
 Made It A Real Delight To Be With Her Anywhere, At Dance, Or Theater Or 
 Football Game Or Moving Picture. There Was Nothing Blasé Or Jaded Of 
 Any Of     Life's Offerings About Arethusa. She Developed, As The     Days 
 Passed, Into A Young Lady Much Sought After By The     Male Of     The     Species; 
 For This Same Quality Which Endeared Her To Mr. Bennet Brought Her Many 
 Other Suitors. And, Argued Arethusa, Being Very Much In Love With One 
 Charming Person Does Not Prevent One From Having A Very Good Time With 
 Others Of     The     Same Sex, When The     Opportunity Is Presented. 
   
   
   
 But The     Core Of     Her Heart Undoubtedly Remained True To Her First Love, 
 The Wonderful Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 233 
 He Was Still, Of     All The     Men She Had Met, The     One Whose Approach Made 
 Her Heart Heat Faster; Whose Voice, Even Coming From Afar Over The 
 Telephone, Had The     Power To Make Her Thrill; And Around Whom She 
 Builded Innocent Little Castles In The     Air Intended For The     Perfect 
 Bliss Of     Two, In Which She Always Saw Herself As The     Other Person, And 
 Which Made Her Blush As She Sat All Alone And Builded Them. But Even A 
 More Sophisticated Maiden Than Arethusa Might Have Been Led To The 
 Building Of     Air Castles By Mr. Bennet's Manner, Singling Her Out, As It 
 Undoubtedly Seemed To Do, From Among All Those Girls Of     His 
 Acquaintance As The     One With Whom He Most Cared To Be. 
   
   
   
 This Affair, As It Progressed, Amused Ross Immensely. 
   
   
   
 He Teased His Daughter Most Unmercifully About Mr. Bennet, And She 
 Blushed And Bridled Over The     Teasing As Any Orthodox Lovelorn Miss 
 Should, And Has Since The     Beginning Of     Time, When The     Name Of     Her 
 Beloved Is Taken In Vain. There Was No Real Harm In The     Object Upon 
 Which She Had So Settled Her Affections, Said Ross To Arethusa. She Was 
 Only About The     Twenty-Fifth Girl, To The     Certain Knowledge Of     All 
 Lewisburg, Whom He Had Graciously Permitted To Be Thus "Crazy About" 
 His Handsome Self; It Was A Disease Positively Certain To Attack Every 
 Debutante In The     Town In Her Turn; And So On. But Arethusa's Invariable 
 Reply To Such Very Disagreeable Remarks Was That No One In His Right 
 Mind Would Consider Blaming Those Girls In The     Least. 
   
   
   
 But As Much As Mr. Bennet Sought Her Company, It Was Ross And Not Mr. 
 Bennet, Who Had The     Pleasure Of     Escorting Her To Her First Football 
 Game, On Thanksgiving Day. And Perhaps It Was Just As Well, For On This 
 Occasion She Created More Excitement Than The     Game Itself By Falling 
 Down In Between The     Rows Of     Seats As She Bodily Assisted The     Ball Of 
 Her Chosen Side Up The     Field To Goal. 
   
   
   
 The Automobile Was Another Never Ending Source Of     Delight. Clay Had 
 Become A Sworn Ally. He Was At Her Beck And Call With Cheerful 
 Willingness To Do Whatsoever She Commanded, At Any Hour Of     The     Day Or 
 Night; And The     Weather Was Never Too Unseasonable To Go Out With A 
 Machine If Miss Arethusa Wanted It. Hitherto, Clay Had Been As Careful 
 Of Those Two Shining Cars In Elinor's Garage As If They Had Been Bound 
   
 To Suffer Permanently From Mud Splashes And Rain Drops. He Taught Her 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 234 
 How To Run, First The     Smaller One And Then The     Limousine, As Arethusa 
 Insisted She Be Allowed To Try It. She Was So Strong And Quick That She 
 Soon Learned, And She Really Liked The     Larger Car Better, As It Was 
 More Powerful. Many An Hour Was Spent Out With Clay These First Wintry 
 Days, Out On Frosted Country Roads That Crackled Under The     Heavy Tires 
 As They Rushed Along. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa, Somehow, Never Went On One Of     These Expeditions But That She 
 Wished For Timothy. He Would Have Loved It, She Was Sure; The     Rushing 
 Through The     Country On Wings Of     A Swiftness Almost Unbelievable, And 
 Feeling The     Heart Of     The     Big Thing Throbbing Underneath Her And 
 Responding To Her Slightest Touch As Quickly As If It Had Been A Toy, 
 Instead Of     A Monster That Required A Whole Wide Street In Which To Be 
 Turned. 
   
   
   
 Ross Informed Her She Was In A Fair Way To Make Some Headlines For 
 Breakfast Tables, Which He Interpreted As Meaning: 
   
   
   
     "Beautiful Young Daughter Of     Wealthy Parents Elopes With Handsome 
     Chauffeur!" 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa Must Tell Her Father And Elinor All That She Had Learned 
 About Clay In These Many Rides, And About The     Girl He Hoped To Marry 
 Some Day, And About The     Invalid Sister Whom He Supported. 
   
   
   
 For Elinor, Warm-Hearted As She Was And As Kind To Everyone About Her, 
 Had Not Even Known Of     Their Existence Until Arethusa Told Her. But 
 Arethusa Had Been More Than Once To Call At The     Tiny Cottage Where 
 Clay's Invalid Sister Lived With The     Two Stronger Ones Who Worked, And 
 She Had Carried Books And Fruit To The     Sweet-Faced Girl Whose Only 
 Glimpse Of     The     Big World Was What Was Brought To Her In Her Own Room By 
 Those Who Loved Her. Arethusa's Friendships Never Stopped Contented 
 With Knowing A Person; She Had To Know All About Them. She Had Met The 
 Fianceé At The     Cottage Many Times, And She Thoroughly Approved Of     Her 
 For Clay. And Both Of     These Girls Adored Arethusa. 
   
   
   
   
 It Was From One Of     These Excursions She Was Returning When She Brought 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 235 
 The Automobile To Such An Abrupt Stop, That Clay, Who Had Yielded Her 
 The Wheel At Her Request And Was Not Noticing Just Then At All, Was 
 Almost Thrown Out Of     His Seat. 
   
   
   
 "There's Mrs. Cherry," Screamed Arethusa. "Oh, Mrs. Cherry! Mrs. 
 Cherry!" 
   
   
   
 It Was Undoubtedly Mrs. Cherry And Helen Louise And Peter; Mrs. Cherry 
 Holding A Hand Of     Each Child And Strolling Slowly Along Gazing Into 
 Shop Windows Gaily Decorated And Full Of     Christmas Things. Quite A Bit 
 More Prosperous-Looking Trio Than Of     Old They Were, But Mrs. Cherry, 
 For All The     Better Clothes, Was Still Just As Comfortably Untidy As 
 Ever. 
   
   
   
 "Mrs. Cherry!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Waved Wildly, Fearful Lest Her Friend Should Enter The     Store 
 Into Whose Windows She Was At That Moment Gazing, And Miss Her 
 Altogether. But Mrs. Cherry Turned Around At This Last Wild Cry, And 
 Looked Uncertainly Up And Down The     Crowded Street And Across, Directly 
 At Arethusa, Without Recognizing Her, Or Without Locating The     Call. 
   
   
   
 "Here, Clay," Arethusa Began Clambering Ungracefully Over The     Brakes 
 And Handles Around The     Wheel Of     The     Car, And Across Him Before He Could 
 Move. "Here, You Take It, I Must Go Speak To Mrs. Cherry!" 
   
   
   
 "Well, If It Ain't Miss Worth'ton!" Exclaimed Mrs. Cherry When Arethusa 
 Had Reached Her, After A Rather Dangerous Scramble Between Trucks And 
 Horses And Street Cars. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Beamed All Over In Expansive Greeting; Peter Sidled Shyly 
 Behind Her Generous Proportions, As For Shelter; And Helen Louise 
 Smiled, Timidly, A Slightly More Toothless Smile Than Hers Had Been, 
 Even A Few Weeks Past. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Held Out Both Hands. "Oh, I'm So _Glad_ To See You! I've 
 Thought About You Often And Often And Wondered Where You Were And What 
   
 You Were Doing. And Helen Louise And Peter!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 236 
   
 "You Look Just As Pretty As A Peach!" Declared Mrs. Cherry, With Hearty 
 Warmth, Grasping Those Outstretched Hands To Pump Them Vigorously, Up 
 And Down. "I Never Would Have Knowed You!" 
   
   
   
 "Come Get In The     Automobile," Invited Arethusa, "And Then We Can Talk. 
 And Oh!" Seized With A Sudden Inspiration, "Go Home To Lunch With Me, 
 It's Most Lunch Time Now! Please, Please, Mrs. Cherry!" 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Demurred. But Peter Pulled At A Fold Of     Her Skirt, The 
 Word "Lunch" Had Aroused In Him A Strong, If Sudden, Sense Of     Lack. 
   
   
   
 "Ma, I'm Hungry!" He Said. 
   
   
   
 "Well, That's Nothing Very New, You're Always That," Replied His 
 Parent. 
   
   
   
 Helen Louise Had Been Focused In Round-Eyed Admiration On The     Beautiful 
 Lady Before Her, Without Uttering A Word; Now She Murmured Something 
 Indistinguishable Above The     Roar About Her. Her Mother Stopped To Catch 
 It. 
   
   
   
 "Well, I Reckon There Ain't No Harm In It, If You're Right Sure It 
 Won't Be No Trouble To Anybody. Helen Louise Ain't Never Been In A Auto 
 Before And She Says She's Tired And Wants To Ride.... I Reckon She 
 Might Be.... I'm Most Wore Out Myself. We've Done A Sight Of     Walking 
 This Morning. I've Been Aiming To Bring These Children Down Here Ever' 
 Day For A Week, And Never Got Clear 'Round To It, Tel To-Day. It Was 
 Something Sorter Like Providence Done Kept Me Busy, I Reckon, Miss 
 Worth'ton, I Wouldn't Have Seen You No Other Day, P'raps. Law, But Your 
 Pa Must Be A Rich Man, Miss Worth'ton, To Be Owning A Thing Like This 
 Here!" 
   
   
   
 For Under Cover Of     Mrs. Cherry's Volubility, Arethusa Had Piloted The 
 Whole Family Safely To The     Automobile. 
   
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Leaned Back On The     Cushions As One To The     Manner Born. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 237 
 Helen Louise Was Frankly Overawed By The     Unaccustomed Magnificence Of 
 The Limousine, And Seemed To Shrink Before It With Visibility. Peter's 
 Eyes Grew Rounder And Rounder With Each Passing Moment. All Of 
 Arethusa's Efforts To Draw Helen Louise Into The     Conversation Failed; 
 She Seemed Stricken Absolutely Tongue-Tied. Even A Reference To Her 
 Father Failed To Arouse To Animation. Peter Sat Stiffly Erect, Also 
 Silent, One Grubby Hand Tightly Clutching His Mother's Sleeve As If He 
 Feared The     Catastrophe Of     Losing Her Through The     Swiftness Of     His 
 Riding. 
   
   
   
 But Mrs. Cherry Well Supplied Any Lack Of     Words From Her Children. 
   
   
   
 "I've Wondered And Wondered Myself, About You, Miss Worth'ton, Ever So 
 Many Times Sence That Trip We Rode On The     Cars Together. Whether You 
 Found Your Pa And Everything Like You Was Thinking You Would And If You 
 Been Having A Good Time Like You Said You Knew You Was Going To." 
   
   
   
 "Oh, I've Had A Heavenly Time!" Arethusa Cried, "Just A Perfectly 
 Heavenly Time, Mrs. Cherry! And Everyone Is So Perfectly Lovely To Me!" 
   
   
   
 "That's 'Cause You're What You Are," Remarked Mrs. Cherry, Shrewdly. 
   
   
   
 She Was Loud In Her Sincere Admiration Of     The     Ungainly Pile Where The 
 Worthingtons Lived; It Seemed A Superbly Beautiful Exterior To Her 
 Ideas. But When George, Who For All The     Dinginess Of     His Skin Had A 
 Classic Countenance And A Dignity Of     Bearing Which The     Prime Minister 
 Of England Might Well Have Envied Him, Opened The     Front Door For 
 Arethusa And Her Cavalcade, Mrs. Cherry Was Suddenly Stricken As 
 Tongue-Tied As Helen Louise. 
   
   
   
 George Himself Came Nearer To Losing His Equilibrium Than Ever He Had 
 In All His Years Of     Efficient Service, When He Saw What His Young Lady 
 Had In Tow; But He Concealed His Agitation With Real Credit To His 
 Training. 
   
   
   
 "Is Mother In, George?" 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 238 
 "She's In The     Music Room, Miss Arethusa." 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa Remembered Something, All At Once. It Was Something That 
 Brought Panic. She Took Mrs. Cherry And Her Progeny Into The     Library As 
 Rapidly As It Was Possible For Her To Move Them Onward Without Actually 
 Pushing Them. 
   
   
   
 "I'll Go Find Mother," She Said, Hurriedly. 
   
   
   
 She Left Them Seated, In A Row Of     Stiff Attitudes Of     Discomfort On The 
 Big Davenport, Peter Still With A Tight Hold Of     His Mother, Who Sat 
 Erect And Glassy-Eyed Beside Him. George Had Been Almost Too Much For 
 Mrs. Cherry. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Was Just Coming Out Of     The     Music Room As Arethusa Rushed Toward 
 Her Down The     Hall. 
   
   
   
 "Did I Hear You Talking To Any One, Dear? You're Rather Late. I'm 
 Afraid You Barely Have Time To Dress." 
   
   
   
 "Mother," Exclaimed Arethusa, And The     Sound Was Tragedy Whispered, "I 
 Forgot It Was Your Party To-Day And I Met Mrs. Cherry Down-Town, And I 
 Brought Her Home To Lunch With Me!" 
   
   
   
 "Mrs. Cherry? Who...?" 
   
   
   
 "The One Who Was So Nice To Me On The     Train. I Told You About Her, 
 Don't You Remember? But, Mother, I Honestly Did Forget All About Your 
 Party! Honest To Goodness! What Shall I Do!" 
   
   
   
 Elinor Laughed. 
   
   
   
 She Was Somewhat Used To Arethusa's Impulsiveness By This Time, So This 
 Did Not Seem Such A Very Surprising Thing For Her To Do. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 239 
   
   
 "And, Mother," Arethusa's Hissing Whisper Grew Yet More Tragic, "I 
 Brought Helen Louise And Peter Home With Me Too, They Were With Her 
 When I Met Her!" 
   
   
   
 "Peter And Helen Louise!! Who On Earth Are They?" 
   
   
   
 Elinor Could Not Help But Think That This Last _Was_ Going A Bit Far; 
 For Adding Three To A Carefully Arranged Luncheon For Ten Would Be 
 Somewhat Of     A Strain. 
   
   
   
 "Her Children!" Arethusa Was Wildly Penitent. Her Eyes Began Filling 
 With Her Ever-Ready Tears. "Oh, Mother, I Was Just So Glad To See Her! 
 I Really Didn't Mean To Do Anything To Mess Up Your Party! I Was Just 
 So Glad To See Her! She Was So Awfully Nice To Me That Day!" 
   
   
   
 "Don't Cry, Arethusa," Said Elinor Absently, "Don't Cry, Please! It 
 Isn't Worth Tears. We'll Fix It Somehow." 
   
   
   
 Yet The     Situation Was A Bit Peculiar, Without A Doubt. The     Cherry 
 Family Could Not Be Sent Home, Though At The     Same Time, Elinor Had A 
 Vision Of     Some Of     Those Worthy Ladies She Had Invited To Her Luncheon 
 Should The     Cherry Children Join The     Party. Just What Had Best Be 
 Done.... 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had A Gleam First. 
   
   
   
 "Could Mrs. Cherry," She Suggested Timidly, "Could Mrs. Cherry Come To 
 Your Party And Let Me Eat With Helen Louise And Peter In The     Breakfast 
 Room? Would It Make Very Much Difference?" And This Was The     Noblest 
 Piece Of     Self-Sacrifice On Arethusa's Part Which Any Human Being Has 
 Ever Performed, For Above All Else On Earth, Save The     Wonderful Mr. 
 Bennet, She Loved A Party. "Would It Make Very Much Difference If I 
 Didn't Come?" 
   
   
   
 Elinor Considered That There Were Possibilities In This Idea Of     Such 
 Real Worth That It Almost Atoned For The     Lapse Which Had Made It 
 Necessary Of     Existence. She Could Tell Better, However, After Seeing 
   
 Mrs. Cherry Whether It Could Be Carried Out In Its Entirety Or Modified 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 240 
 Or Extended. 
   
   
   
 So She And Arethusa Proceeded To The     Library. 
   
   
   
 Peter Had Somewhat Recovered Himself During The     Moments Of     Arethusa's 
 Absence And Was Now Engaged In Climbing First Into One Big Chair And 
 Then Another, And Bounding Out. It Was A Charming Pastime, But One In 
 Which Helen Louise Had Refused To Join. She Still Sat Just As At First, 
 Like A Small Graven Image, With Stiff Little Flaxen Plaits Sticking Out 
 From Each Side Of     Her Head, And Staring Straight Before Her, With 
 Unblinking Pale Blue Eyes, At The     Log Fire. Her Small Hands Were 
 Clasped Between Her Rigid Little Knees, And Her Feet, Owing To The     Fact 
 That She Was Small And The     Davenport Was Large, Were Far From The     Floor 
 And Extended At Direct Right Angles From Her Body. She Did Not Even 
 Move At The     Entrance Of     Arethusa With Elinor. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry, Like Her Son, Was Rapidly Coming To Herself After That 
 Encounter With The     Magnificent George. She Was Reclining Now, At Ease, 
 And Her Eyes Were Roving Busily About, And She Made Little Ejaculations 
 Under Her Breath With Each New Object She Spied. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Was Exceedingly Gracious When Arethusa Introduced Her To The 
 Unexpected Guest, Although She Hardly Acknowledged The     Meeting With The 
 Unadulterated Cordiality As The     Other Party To It, For Mrs. Cherry Had 
 Been Born Cordial. But No One, Least Of     All Mrs. Cherry Herself, Would 
 Have Gathered From Elinor's Manner That Plans For A Formal Luncheon Had 
 Been A Trifle Upset. She Explained That She Was Having A Few Friends Of 
 Her Own To Lunch And That She Believed That It Might Be Pleasanter For 
 The Children To Have Theirs Separately. Grown Folks And Their 
 Conversation Were Very Tiring To Children. Mrs. Cherry Agreed With All 
 Of This. 
   
   
   
 But Elinor Also Was Of     The     Opinion That The     Cherry Family Had Best 
 Lunch En Masse, With Arethusa, And So Adroitly Did She Manage This Part 
 Of The     Affair That Mrs. Cherry Ever Afterwards Firmly Believed It Was 
 She, Herself, Who Had Suggested That She Join Helen Louise And Peter 
 And The     Younger Hostess, Rather Than Elinor's Older Guests. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 241 
 The Division Of     Luncheon Guests Which Arethusa Headed Was Safely 
 Garnered In The     Breakfast Room With Only A Narrow Margin Of     Time To 
 Spare Before Elinor's Division Arrived. 
   
   
   
 Mrs. Cherry Was Treated There To A Collation That So Long As She Lived 
 Remained Distinctive, With A White-Capped Maid In A Black Dress And 
 Much Befrilled Apron To Serve It In Courses Just As The     Other Luncheon 
 Was Served. She Ate From Egg-Shell China, And Drank From Glasses, So 
 Crystal Clear And Thin, That They Long Stood To Mrs. Cherry As A 
 Synonym For Perfection. 
   
   
   
 "It's As Purty As Them Glasses Of     Mis' Worth'ton's," Was Her Final Word 
 Of Praise. 
   
   
   
 And Helen Louise And Peter Ate And Ate And Ate, Until Their Hostess 
 Began To Be Anxious And Wondered Where They Were Putting It All. 
   
   
   
 Then George Smuggled In The     Victrola, And Behind Carefully Closed Doors 
 Arethusa Gave A Concert Which Endeared Her To A Music-Loving Helen 
 Louise Forever, As The     Brightest Memory Of     Her Life. Clay Took Them 
 Home In The     Automobile, With A Little Ride Through The     Park Beforehand, 
 So That The     Cherrys' Cup Of     Bliss Was Almost Too Full. Arethusa Went 
 With Them, But When She Had Come Back, It Was Much Too Late To Join 
 That Real Party Of     Elinor's. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Would Not Have Considered Elinor's Method Of     Dealing With 
 Arethusa Any Sort Of     Punishment For Such A Performance As She Had Been 
 Guilty Of     This Day, But Elinor Knew Only Too Well What A Real 
 Punishment It Was. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Most Subdued Arethusa Who Came Down To The     Dinner-Table That 
 Evening, Although Very Eager To Know All The     Details Of     The     Affair She 
 Had Missed. Even Helen Louise And Peter And Their Mother, Charming As 
 They Were, Had Not Proven Any Sort Of     Substitutes For The     Luncheon With 
 Elinor's Friends To Which Arethusa Had Looked Forward So Long. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 242 
   
   
 "Did Miss Grant Come?" She Asked. 
   
   
   
 She Was Somewhat Of     A Worshipper At Miss Grant's Shrine These Days 
 (Miss Grant Was A Real, Live Author Whose Books Arethusa Had Read) And 
 It Had Been Planned That She Would Sit Next To Her. 
   
   
   
 "Yes." 
   
   
   
 It Was A Disappointing Answer, For Arethusa Had Vaguely Hoped That For 
 Some Reason She Had Stayed Away. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Volunteered Ross, "Your Celebrity Was Here, And In Fine Form. I 
 Heard Her Delightful Voice As I Came In, Myself. It Has A Penetrating 
 Quality That Probably Arises From Being So Much In The     Public Eye." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Squirmed, Unhappily. 
   
   
   
 "Did She Ask Where I Was?" Hopefully. 
   
   
   
 "No, Dear," Very Gently From Elinor, "I Don't Suppose She Thought For A 
 Moment That You Were To Be There. You Know I Was Just Letting You Come 
 With All Those Older Women, Arethusa, Because I Was So Anxious For You 
 To Really Know Some Of     My Friends." 
   
   
   
 "You Certainly Got Yourself In Dutch, My Daughter," Said Ross, "For 
 Starting Up That Rival Entertainment. And It's A Mighty Good Thing, I 
 Expect, That The     Adulated Miss Drusilla Grant Did Not Know You Felt 
 That Way About Her Coming To Dine. She Would Have Been Deeply Offended, 
 I Know. She's Not Used To Slights. I Doubt Very Much If She'd Ever Let 
 You Pick Up Her Handkerchief After Such An Affront." 
   
   
   
 "Ross!" Exclaimed Elinor, For He Had Made Arethusa's Punishment Almost 
 Too Complete. 
   
   
   
   
 Her Downcast Head And The     Trembling Of     Her Hands Indicated A Struggle 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 243 
 With Distress, And He Reached Across The     Table And Patted Her Arm 
 Kindly. "Cheer Up, Child," He Said, Laughing, "She Doesn't Know A Thing 
 About It, And Nobody's Going To Be Mean Enough To Tell Her. We Just 
 Won't Let It Happen Again." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Looked Up, Her Eyes Bright With Tears, And The     Fervency Of     Her 
 Promise That She Would Think Like Everything First, Hereafter, Made 
 Elinor Hope That The     Recording Angel Gives Credit For Real Sincerity Of 
 Intention. 
   
   
   
                      *      *      *      *      * 
   
   
   
 Christmas Came In Snowy And Blustery. 
   
   
   
 It Was An Ideal Christmas Day, And Just Such A One As Arethusa Had 
 Never Spent Before; With A Christmas Tree In The     Morning, And A Table 
 Full Of     Guests In The     Middle Of     The     Day, Callers All Afternoon Long, 
 And Presents Galore, In The     Shape Of     Boxes Of     Candy And Flowers And 
 Many Other Equally Useful Articles That Were Showered Upon Her By 
 Admiring Friends. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Sent Another Box Of     American Beauties Which Arethusa Carried 
 Upstairs To Put In Her Own Room, So That She Could See Them The     Very 
 First Thing In The     Morning And The     Last Thing At Night, And She Meant 
 To Make Them Last As Long As Clipped Stems And Fresh Water Could Make 
 Them. His Gift.... 
   
   
   
 It Was A Wonderful, Wonderful Day, One That Was Never To Be Forgotten. 
   
   
   
 There Was A Dance That Night Out At The     Country Club, And Arethusa Had 
 A New Dress For It Especially. She Had A Very Guilty Feeling Sometimes 
 When She Thought Of     Miss Eliza And The     Rows Of     New Garments That Hung 
 In The     Closet Of     The     Green And White Room. It Was A Gloriously Romping, 
 Christmasy Dance, For The     College Boys And Girls, And Arethusa Wished 
   
 Very Much That Timothy Could Have Been In Attendance; And This In Spite 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 244 
 Of The     Fact That She Had Mr. Bennet. But It Was Such An Occasion As 
 Timothy Would Have Loved, With Formality Thrown To The     Four Winds And 
 Everybody Just Bent On Having As Much Fun As Was Possible; Even The 
 Men's Evening Clothes Seemed To Partake Of     The     Festival Feeling And 
 Appeared To Be Worn With A Rakish Air Quite Unlike Their Customary 
 Somber Wearing. The     Girls' Dresses, Of     Course, All Fluttered With The 
 Spirit Of     The     Season; And Voices Were Gay, And Eyes Were Bright. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had Never Been Conscious Of     The     Lack Of     Timothy At Any Other 
 Dance, Because They Had All Been, Every One, So Unlike Anything That 
 She Could Associate With Him. But This Dance On Christmas Night Was So 
 Different, So Suitable For Timothy, That She Did Wish He Could Have 
 Been There. 
   
   
   
 Probably It Helped Her A Little In This Wish That He Had Sent Her, All 
 The Way From Miss Asenath's Woods, A Great Box Of     Mistletoe And Holly 
 (She And Timothy Had Gathered Mistletoe And Holly There Together Every 
 Christmas Since She Could Remember) And She Had Had A Little Homesick 
 Moment When She Opened It; It Brought The     Farm, With All Its Dear 
 Inmates, So Plainly Before Her. Christmas Was Very Quiet There; It 
 Seemed More Like A Real Holy Day, And Less Like A Holiday, Than It Did 
 In Town. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had Sent Timothy A Watch Fob For Christmas, One With His 
 Fraternity Emblem On It Which She Knew That He Had Long Ardently 
 Desired; And Books Which She Had Thought Would Surely Appeal To His 
 Taste In Reading; And Handkerchiefs, Beautiful Big Squares Of     Linen, 
 Shakily Marked In His Initials With Her Own Fair Fingers. 
   
   
   
 The Box She Had Sent To The     Farm Itself Made Miss Eliza Close Her Lips 
 Grimly And Think Unutterable Things About The     Deadly Wickedness Of 
 Extravagance. She Uttered Some Things Before She Had Closed Her Lips, 
 Quite Forcibly, But As Arethusa Was Not Present, It Could Not Do Much 
 Good. Arethusa Did Not Forget A Single Creature At The     Farm. Beginning 
 With Miss Asenath, Every Living Thing Had A Gift. Miss Johnson Had A 
 Collar Of     Wonderfully Shiny, Brassy Beauty; Old Baldy, The     Horse, Had A 
 New Blanket; And There Was Even A Catnip Ball For The     Grey Cat That 
 Slept In Front Of     Mandy's Stove. There Were So Many Cats At The     Farm 
 That It Was Quite Impossible To Remember Them All, But Arethusa 
 Reasoned That They Would All Enjoy A Catnip Ball. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 20 Pg 245 
 Never, In All Of     The     History Of     The     Season, Did Any One Ever Have Such 
 A Christmas Glow As This Of     Arethusa's. And It Was Extended Most 
 Lavishly To Everyone She Met Through These Days, Whether She Knew Them 
 Or Not, Old And Young, Rich Or Poor, From Smiling Lips And Starry Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "A Real Spirit Of     Christmas," Ross Called Her, "Red Hair And All!" 
   
   
   
 But After Christmas Was Over, There Was No Actual Subsiding Of 
 Excitement. For On New Year's Day Elinor Was Giving Arethusa A Party, 
 Her First Party Of     Her Very Own; And It Was To Be The     Most Wonderful 
 Party That Had Ever Been Given. 
   
   
   
 And Timothy Had Been Invited. His Was The     Very First Invitation Sent. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 246 
   
   
 But Timothy Wrote That He Was Sorry, But He Could Not Come. 
   
   
   
 He Thought That Arethusa's Letters Home Had Lately Been Almost Too Full 
 Of A Person By The     Name Of     Bennet, And Torn Between A Curiosity To 
 Observe This Person For Himself In The     Flesh, And A Disinclination To 
 Place Himself In A Position That Should Give Her The     Opportunity To 
 Express Her Preference In Public, The     Latter Won. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Stormed And Raged, As Was Quite To Be Expected. 
   
   
   
 It Was So Stupid Of     Him To Refuse! He Would Spoil The     Whole Party If He 
 Did Not Come! She Almost Cried With Vexation As She Read His Letter At 
 The Breakfast-Table. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 247 
 "He's Just Got To Come, That's All! Nasty Thing! And I'll Just Bet He 
 Waited Till Right Now To Write So It Would Be Too Late For Me To Write 
 To Him Again! That Would Be Just Like Him! He's Had That Invitation Two 
 Whole Weeks! Oh, I Just Hate Him For Acting This Way!" 
   
   
   
 "I Shouldn't Think You Would Be So Anxious To Have A Person You Hated 
 At Your Party," Remarked Ross. 
   
   
   
 "Of Course I Want Timothy To Come," Replied Arethusa, With Decision. 
 "More Than Anyone Else Except You And Mother." 
   
   
   
 "More Than Mr. Bennet Even?" Asked Her Father, Wickedly. 
   
   
   
 No Reply Of     Any Kind Was Made To This Sally. 
   
   
   
 But Why Couldn't Timothy Come? Why Did He Want To Be So Horrid For? And 
 She Expressed Herself With Many More Ejaculations Of     A Like Nature, 
 Until Finally Ross Suggested That It Might Be A Wise Plan To Send 
 Timothy A Telegram Of     Urgency. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Seized With Pleasure On This Idea. 
   
   
   
 When She Learned That He Would Receive It This Very Morning, If It Was 
 Started Immediately, She Left The     Breakfast-Table To Get Her Hat And 
 Coat, Telling George To Notify Clay That She Wanted The     Machine Right 
 Away. She Insisted On Personal Attention To This Important Affair, 
 Refusing To Trust The     Telephone, Although Elinor Assured Her It Would 
 Go Just As Surely. Her Own Handwriting, Said Arethusa, Would Have Far 
 More Effect On Timothy Than The     Handwriting Of     Any Stranger. She Knew 
 Very Little About Telegrams. 
   
   
   
 So Ross Gave Her All The     Details Of     The     Sending Of     One, And Told Her 
 Where It Might Be Done, And Arethusa Departed Gaily With Clay, Who Had 
 Been Called From His Breakfast To Serve Her. She Explained To Him On 
 The Ride Down-Town How Very Important It All Was, And Just How 
 Necessary That Timothy Receive This Message With Despatch, So That 
 Clay, Being A Sensible Person, Could Not Help But Feel It More Vital 
 Than His Breakfast. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 248 
   
 The Telegraph Operator At The     Patterson Hotel Where Ross Had Told Her 
 To Go, Was An Obliging Youth At All Times, And He Felt Still More 
 Obliging When Arethusa's Vivid Face Appeared Before Him And Her Eager 
 Voice Announced That She Wanted To Send A Telegram; And Was This The 
 Right Place? 
   
   
   
 It Was. He Informed Her Further That She Could Send Ten Words For Fifty 
 Cents. 
   
   
   
 Ten Words Was A Great Many; She Could Say Almost Twice As Much As She 
 Wanted To In Ten Words. 
   
   
   
 Her First Attempt Went Something On This Order.... 
   
   
   
     "Dear Timothy--I Will Never Speak To You Again As Long As I Live 
     If You Don't Come To My Party. You Just Must Come. 
   
   
   
     "Arethusa." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Read It In Triumph. It Expressed Just What She Wanted To 
 Express To Timothy. Then She Counted The     Words She Had Written, And Her 
 Facial Expression Changed Radically. She Leaned Over The     Counter Toward 
 The Operator. 
   
   
   
 "Does It Have To Be Ten Words?" 
   
   
   
 "If It's A Telegram, Miss, Unless You Want To Pay The     Charges For The 
 Extra Words. It Might Be A Day Letter," He Suggested. 
   
   
   
 "Is A Telegram Quicker?" 
   
   
   
 It Was. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 249 
 Then It Must Be A Telegram. 
   
   
   
 She Counted The     Words Over Again, But They Remained Considerably More 
 Than Ten. 
   
   
   
 "But I've Got To Say All That," She Said, Aloud, "I've Just Got To!" 
   
   
   
 She Tried Once More, And Once More After That. The     Capacity Of     Ten 
 Words For Expressing What One Wished To Say Seemed To Decrease With 
 Each Trial To Write The     Telegram. The     Operator Volunteered His 
 Professional Help, After He Had Watched Her Spoil Several Blanks. He 
 Smiled Slightly As He Read The     One She Handed Him, Gratefully Accepting 
 His Kind Offer. 
   
   
   
 "You've Never Sent One Before, Have You, Miss?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Propped Her Elbows On The     High Counter, And Rested Her Chin On 
 Them So She Could Regard His Work. "No, I Haven't," And She Smiled Down 
 At Him So Charmingly He Could Almost Have Franked That Telegram 
 Through. "But I Thought Ten Words Was Oceans." 
   
   
   
 "No, Miss, It Isn't Very Many." He Scratched Out The     "Dear Timothy," 
 She Had Written "You Don't Generally Say That." 
   
   
   
 "You Don't! Why, How Do You Know Who It's For?" 
   
   
   
 "You Have The     Address And That Doesn't Cost You Anything." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Stood On Tip-Toe And Leaned Far Over The     Counter To See What 
 He Was Doing. She Was As Close To Him As It Was Possible For Her To Get 
 With A Large Piece Of     Furniture In Between Them. 
   
   
   
 "Let's See It?" She Asked, Breathlessly, When He Had Finished Writing. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 250 
   
 It Read, In The     Operator's Version:-- 
   
   
   
     "Must Come To Party, Very Displeased If You Do Not. 
   
   
   
     "Arethusa." 
   
   
   
 Her Face Clouded. "But I Wanted To Tell Him That I Wouldn't Speak To 
 Him Again If He Didn't Come. I Know He Won't, Unless I Do. Let Me Come 
 Around Where You Are, Can't I? And Can't You Say That, That I Won't 
 Speak To Him?" 
   
   
   
 The Very Obliging Youth Indicated A Little Gate At One Side Where She 
 Might Find A Way In, And Arethusa Joined Him In Consultation Over The 
 Message. Two Heads Are Always Better Than One. 
   
   
   
 In Its Final Form, The     Telegram Read:-- 
   
   
   
     "Will Never Speak To You Again If You Don't Come. 
   
   
   
     "Arethusa" 
   
   
   
 Which Proved To Be Perfectly Satisfactory, And Lived Up To All The     Good 
 Reputations Of     Telegrams; For It Fetched Timothy. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Met Him Herself, At The     Station, When He Came The     Morning Of 
 The Party. She Was So Glad To See Him! She Flung Both Arms Around His 
 Neck And More Than One Soft Kiss Was Pressed Warmly Against His Cheek: 
 Timothy All Unresisting. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Timothy! Timothy!! _Timothy!!!_" 
   
   
   
 It Was A Far More Enthusiastic Greeting Than He Had Dared Let Himself 
   
 Expect He Would Have. He Returned Her Many Soft Kisses With One Very 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 251 
 Vigorous Osculation That Landed Near One Eyebrow As She Bobbed Up And 
 Down Beside Him, And Which Was Immediately Rubbed Off With The     Back Of 
 Arethusa's Glove. 
   
   
   
 "You're Always So Awfully Rough. But.... _Oh, Timothy!_" 
   
   
   
 She Grabbed Him Firmly By One Arm, As If She Really Feared He Might 
 Escape Her And The     Party Even Now, Though Actually In Lewisburg, And 
 Led Him To Where Clay Waited For Them With The     Big Red Automobile. To 
 Clay, She Introduced Her Charge With The     Simple Announcement, "He 
 Really Came, Clay." But No Other Was Needed, For The     Chauffeur Knew Who 
 It Was With Arethusa, And All About Him. Timothy's Fame Had Gone Before 
 Him; Arethusa Had Not Made A Single Warm Friend Since She Had Left The 
 Farm Who Had Not At Least Heard Of     Timothy. 
   
   
   
 She Pushed Him Into The     Car And Banged The     Door. Then She Seated 
 Herself Close To Him, And Bounced Up And Down On The     Cushions Happily. 
   
   
   
 "Say Right Away What A Wonderful Automobile You Think This Is, 
 Timothy!" 
   
   
   
 Timothy Was Perfectly Obedient. 
   
   
   
 "I Can Run It, All By Myself. You Don't Believe It, But I Can. I'll 
 Show You Some Day, Maybe To-Morrow. Oh, Timothy, I'm So Awfully, 
 Awfully Glad You Came! How Is Aunt 'Senath And All Of     Them? How Is Miss 
 Johnson? Oh, I Would Never Forgive You If You Hadn't! That's A New Suit 
 You Have On!" Suddenly Leaning Forward To Pounce On The     Portion Of     The 
 Trouser Leg That Showed From Under His Overcoat, "And It's A New 
 Overcoat, Too! Why, Timothy!" 
   
   
   
 Timothy Pleaded Guilty To Both Accusations. 
   
   
   
 "You Look Awfully Nice!" Arethusa Gave Him A Very Violent Hug Most 
 Unexpectedly. "Oh, But It Was So Dear Of     You To Come! And, Timothy, 
 We're Going To Have A Perfectly Wonderful Party!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 252 
   
   
 Timothy Longed To Give Arethusa A Hug In Return For This One, But He 
 Really Did Not Dare. She Would Probably Have Called Him Rough Again, 
 For His Way Of     Hugging. He Looked At Her A Trifle Sadly. She Seemed To 
 Timothy Such A Far-Away Arethusa, In Spite Of     All This Enthusiasm. And 
 After That Look, He Felt Her More Unapproachable Than At First. He 
 Could Not Tell Exactly What It Was; Perhaps, Her Clothes. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Caught His Glance At Her Furs And Saucy Little Hat, With Its 
 Fly-Away Feather, And Preened Herself Just A Bit. 
   
   
   
 "How Do You Like Me? My New Things? Aren't They Darling?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Replied Timothy, But There Was Not Very Much Warmth In His Tone. 
 "And I Like You In Anything; But I Believe I Like You Better In What 
 Miss 'Titia Makes You." 
   
   
   
 "In What Aunt 'Titia Makes Me!" She Exclaimed, Horrified At Timothy's 
 Poor Taste. "Of Course You Don't! You Can't!" But She Added, Quickly, 
 For Her Loyal Heart Felt That Something Was Not Quite Right About The 
 Sound Of     That Speech. "Aunt 'Titia's Clothes Look Better At Home, On 
 The Farm! They Wouldn't Do At All For Town! But She's A Dear To Make 
 Them For Me, And I Love Them! They're Perfectly All Right In The 
 Country!" 
   
   
   
 "That's Where I Like You Better," Replied Timothy Decidedly, And Very 
 Briskly And Warmly This Time. "On The     Farm! And In The     Country!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Timothy, Don't Begin And Gloom Now! Please Don't! That's A Dear!" 
 Arethusa Clasped Her Hands Imploringly. "Please, Please, Don't Gloom! 
 I'm Not Going To Fuss With You Once While You're Here, Not Once! I 
 Promise, Honest! So There!" 
   
   
   
 This Should Have Been Very Cheering News. But Timothy Merely Remarked 
 With Calmness That She Shouldn't Have Time To Do Much Fussing, Anyway, 
 Since He Was Going Home On The     Morning Train. 
   
   
   
 "Why, Timothy Jarvis!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 253 
   
   
 Yes, He Repeated, The     Early Morning Train Was The     Train He Fully 
 Intended To Take. 
   
   
   
 "No, You're Not!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Very Firm About It, But Then So Was He. And A Quarrel 
 Seemed Most Imminent, In Spite Of     Arethusa's Earnest Promise, Had They 
 Not Very Fortunately Arrived At The     House In Lenox Avenue Just In Time 
 To Prevent The     Disagreement From Becoming Disagreeable. 
   
   
   
 Ross Liked Timothy Immensely. He Liked His Bigness, And His Honest 
 Youngness, And His Clean-Heartedness, Written All Over Him. Elinor 
 Liked Him Too. And The     Boy Had Not Been In The     House Five Minutes 
 Before Ross And Elinor Both Had Read His Story In His Blue Eyes. Those 
 Blue Eyes Never Once Left Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Tongue Certainly Seemed Swung In The     Middle During The     Rest 
 Of This Day. But Then There Were Two Whole Months And Over To Make Up. 
 They Came Within Really Dangerous Hailing Distance Of     An Affray Several 
 Times, Sad To Relate, When Timothy Planted Himself In One Position, 
 Immovable, And She Firmly Entrenched Herself In Another. He Did Not 
 Seem To Be Able To Approve Of     A Single Thing She Had To Tell Him About 
 The Various And Sundry Occupations With Which She Filled Her Days In 
 Lewisburg. But A Person In So Supremely Felicitous A Mood As Arethusa 
 Was In At The     Prospect Of     Her Very Own Party, Could Not Actually 
 Quarrel With Anybody, However Obstinate He Might Be; So The     Hours Sped 
 Happily By, And The     Pitfalls Were Somehow Avoided. 
   
   
   
 "Doesn't Timothy Look Just Perfectly Heavenly When He Has On A Dress 
 Suit?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Asked This Pointed Question Very Proudly Of     Her Parents When 
 She Led Him Into The     Library That Evening After Dinner, To Show Them 
 How Nice He Looked, Just Before The     Party Came. She Held Him By One 
 Hand, Quite As If She Had Been A Fond Mother Exhibiting An Only Child 
   
 Whose Toilette Was Solely Of     Her Personal Making. One Could Easily Have 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 254 
 Imagined Her Actually Responsible For The     Cut And Fit Of     Timothy's 
 Suit. 
   
   
   
 But He Did Look Well, Undeniably. Ross Said That Baldur The     Beautiful 
 Might Have Looked Just Like Him, If They Had Ever Worn Dress Suits In 
 Valhalla, With His Wavy Blonde Head And His Sea Blue Eyes, And His 
 Splendid Bigness. Although Arethusa Knew No Myths Of     The     Northland, 
 Something About Ross's Compliment To Timothy Pleased Her; She Was Proud 
 To Show Him Off As Such A Handsome Creature. 
   
   
   
 But Timothy Very Nearly Spoiled Matters By Inquiring Who Sent Her The 
 Flowers She Wore At Her Belt, As They Stood Together In Front Of     The 
 Library Fire, In Such An "I-Have-A-Right-To-Know" Manner, That She 
 Slapped Him And Told Him To Mind His Own Business. And So The     Party, 
 After All, Began For Timothy With Unhappiness. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was Wearing A White Dress On This Occasion, But It Was A 
 Glorified White Dress, Of     Such Beauty, That Some Other Name Would 
 Surely Have To Be Found For Miss Letitia's Loving Effort; It Would Be 
 Clearly Impossible To Speak Of     Them Both As "White Dresses." Her Hair 
 Was Piled High On Her Head In A Way That Timothy Had Never Seen Her 
 Wear It, And That He Vaguely Did Not Like, Because It Made Her Look So 
 Much Older. And In Her Low-Necked Gown And Wearing The     Flowers Another 
 Man Had Sent Her, She Seemed To Timothy More Than Ever Of     A World 
 Apart. She Was Like An Arethusa Met For The     First Time. He Wished 
 Intensely That He Could Gather Her Up And Carry Her Back To The     Country 
 Where He Considered She So Indisputably Belonged, To Be The     Old 
 Arethusa Once More. He Looked Gloomily Down The     Length Of     The     Library, 
 Which Had Been Cleared For Dancing Of     All Its Furniture, And That 
 Presented An Expanse Of     Shining Floor On Which The     Firelight Danced And 
 Gleamed Enticingly, And Wished Another Wish. He Wished That He Himself 
 Had Stayed At Home. Why Had He Gone Contrary To The     Dictates Of     His 
 Common Sense And Come In Answer To That Telegram? Arethusa Did Not 
 Really Want Him; Did Not Really Care, Now That He Was Here. She Was 
 Altogether Changed; And, Thought Timothy, Rather Soberly, His Head 
 Resting On One Hand As He Leaned Against The     Mantel-Shelf And Stared 
 Down Into The     Fire, It Was Not At All For The     Better. 
   
   
   
 But Timothy Was To Be Still More Unhappy Before The     Evening Had Got 
 Fairly Started. For In Arethusa's Transparent Face And Her Eyes Lifted 
 Adoringly To The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet, The     Very First Time He Saw Her 
   
 Dance With Him, Poor Timothy Read His Certain Doom. As He Had Predicted 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 255 
 Before She Had Ever Left The     Farm, So It Had Come To Pass. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Left His Station By The     Tall Library Mantel And Wandered Across 
 The Room To An Inconspicuous Corner, Where He Propped His Manly Form Up 
 Against The     Wall And Followed Arethusa With His Eyes, Totally 
 Unregardful Of     Anything Else In Their Line Of     Vision, As She Swayed And 
 Dipped Like A Snow Fairy In Her Airy White Gown, About The     Room. He Was 
 No Great Adept In The     Concealment Of     His Feelings; His Tragedy Was 
 Visible So That All They Who Ran Might Read, Even The     Swiftest. 
   
   
   
 He Refused To Dance. And He Could Have Danced, Knowing How Very Well. 
 Was Not Arethusa's Present Proficiency Some Evidence Of     This Fact? But 
 Timothy Was Sure That His Heart Was Broken; And How Could He Dance With 
 A Broken Heart? So He Sulked In His Corner And The     Moments Of     The     Party 
 Sped By Joyfully And All Too Quickly, For Everybody Else. Arethusa's 
 Guests, With The     Sole Exception Of     Timothy, Seemed To Be Having The 
 Very Best Of     Times. 
   
   
   
 She Was Far Too Happy Herself To Notice His Unhappiness Very Much, 
 Although She Did Fly Over To Him Once Or Twice To Beg Him To Behave And 
 Stop Being Such An Awful Gloom. And She Made Him Dance With Her, One 
 Single One-Step; A Rite Which Was Performed By Timothy Promptly At Her 
 Request, But In A Stony Silence On His Part. When It Was Over, He 
 Discovered That Somebody Had Pre-Empted His Little Corner, A Very Silly 
 Couple Were Giggling Foolishly In The     Spot Which Had Been Sacred To 
 Sorrow All Evening Long; So He Betook Himself To The     Doorway Into The 
 Hall, And Propped Himself Up Against The     Jamb, Where He Continued His 
 Unhappy Observation Of     Arethusa's Proceedings. 
   
   
   
 Ross Watched Him With Amusement. 
   
   
   
 "It Is Woefully Apparent," He Remarked To Elinor, "Just What Is Eating 
 Our Friend, Timothy." 
   
   
   
 He Looked Around For Mr. Bennet, And He Found Him Dancing With Arethusa 
 At The     Moment; Then He Looked Back At Timothy Once More, And He Could 
 Easily Tell That Timothy's Somber Blue Eyes Had Seen Just Exactly What 
 He Had Seen; Arethusa And Mr. Bennet So Obviously Enjoying Each Other's 
   
 Company. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 256 
   
   
 "Shall I Go Over There And Tell Him, Do You Think, That He Is Giving 
 Himself Most Unnecessary Pain Over My Daughter's Present State Of     Mind, 
 Which Is Only A Phase? Or Do You Believe, My Fount Of     All Wisdom, That 
 I Had Best Let Matters Stand As They Are?" 
   
   
   
 "I'd Really Let Him Alone, Ross, About That, I Think. For He Wouldn't 
 Believe A Single Word You Could Say To Him. He Has Right Now What He 
 Considers Conclusive Evidence, What His Own Eyes Have Told Him. He And 
 Arethusa Are A Pair Of     The     Youngest Things I Ever Saw, Bless Their 
 Hearts! But Please Do Go Talk To Him About Something, Ross, Because I 
 Cannot Bear To See Him Follow That Child Around Any Longer With That 
 Utterly Hopeless Expression." 
   
   
   
 So Ross, As A Dutiful Spouse, Sauntered Over To Timothy In His Doorway 
 And Made A Most Noble, And Really Commendable Effort, Considering The 
 Total Lack Of     Real Response He Received, Which Is So Dampening To All 
 Such Efforts, To Interest Him In Conversation. Timothy Answered With 
 All The     Politeness Due To Mr. Worthington, But Without The     Slightest 
 Zeal For Pursuit Of     Any One Of     The     Subjects Which Were Introduced, In 
 Succession, As Each One Seemed To Fail To Arouse Animation. Elinor's 
 Real Intention In Sending Her Husband To Fill This Breach Was Not A 
 Complete Success, For The     Boy's Eyes Never Once Rested Upon His 
 Interlocutor; They Still Remained Fixed Wherever Arethusa Was. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Adhered To His Announced Intention Of     Leaving On The     Following 
 Morning, Much To Arethusa's Fury. 
   
   
   
 She Tried Coaxing And Threats Of     Future Silence, And Even Tears; All To 
 No Avail. Timothy's Resolution Was Absolutely Unshaken. His "Good-Bye, 
 Arethusa!" Was Of     The     Very Essence Of     Tragedy. Ross Found It Necessary 
 To Look Hastily In Another Direction. 
   
   
   
 "Please Stay, Timothy," Pleaded Arethusa For About The     Hundredth Time, 
 Even After This "Good-Bye!" "Please Stay!" Then As A Supreme Inducement 
 And A Last Resort.... "Mr. Bennet Said Last Night That If You Would, He 
   
 Would Get You An Invitation To The     January Cotillion Next Week. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 257 
 Everybody Is Crazy For Them; They Give So Awfully Few Away. But He Can 
 Get You One, And He Said He'd Be Very Glad To, Too. He's A Governor," 
 Proudly. 
   
   
   
 She Had Been Holding Tight To Timothy's Hands All This While In Her 
 Effort To Induce Him To Prolong His Visit; But Now He Rudely Wrenched 
 Them Loose And Drew Himself To The     Very Tallest Of     His Tall Self. 
   
   
   
 "I Wouldn't Go Anywhere That Man Was," He Exclaimed Fiercely, "If He 
 Paid Me A Million Dollars A Minute! Not Unless It Was To His Funeral, 
 And I'd Attend That With The     Greatest Pleasure, And Even Pay For The 
 Privilege Of     Getting Into The     Cemetery!" 
   
   
   
 "Timothy Jarvis! Aren't You Ashamed Of     Yourself? Mr. Bennet Said He 
 Liked You! He Was Being Kind!" 
   
   
   
 "Well, He Needn't Be Kind To Me, For I Certainly Don't Want Any Of     His 
 Kindness! I Can Get Along A Great Deal Better Without It! You Can Tell 
 Him That From Me, If You Please! And _I_ Most Certainly Didn't Like 
 _Him_! He's A Four-Flusher, For Fair, If Ever _I_ Saw One!" 
   
   
   
 And Before Arethusa Had Even Begun To Recover From The     Awfulness Of 
 This Speech, Timothy Of     The     Sore Heart Had Run On Down The     Steps, Was 
 Safe In The     Automobile, And Clay Had Driven Away With Him. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Could Not Possibly Follow. 
   
   
   
 But Ross Would Have Stopped Her If She Had Even Tried, For He Had 
 Promised Timothy He Might Go To The     Station Absolutely Alone. Timothy 
 Had Asked Him Before Breakfast. For Once, Arethusa's Wishes Had Been 
 Over-Ridden; She Had Made All Sorts Of     Loud Objections To The     Carrying 
 Out Of     This Idea. But Ross Knew, As Well As If Timothy Had Given Him 
 His Reason For Making This Request, That The     Miserable Boy Who Was So 
 Sure He Was Leaving His Life's Happiness, Forever, Would Far Rather Say 
 A Farewell To That Happiness In The     Presence Of     Folks That He Knew To 
 Help Him Keep A Grip On Himself Than To Wait Until The     Last Moments At 
 The Station; Those Moments When A Parting Is So Surely At Hand, That It 
 Brings A Breaking-Down Even To Those Who Would Be Strongest, Sometimes. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 21 Pg 258 
   
   
 It Was So Like Timothy To Have The     Last Word And Then Run Away, That 
 After Arethusa Got Over Her Violent Anger With Him For The     Words Of 
 Blasphemy He Had Spoken Of     The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet, She Laughed And 
 Laughed At The     Thought. How Many Times He Had Done The     Very Same Thing! 
   
   
   
 Then Came What Ross Had Called The     "Real Event Of     The     Season"--That 
 Long Looked-Forward-To January Cotillion. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 259 
   
 The January Cotillion Was Always Held In The     Very Oldest Hotel In 
 Lewisburg. All Other Really Fashionable Entertainments Had Long Ago 
 Ceased To Be Given There, For It Was Very Far Down-Town, The     Heart Of 
 The Wholesale District Had Crept Up Around It, And Its Character Had 
 Somewhat Changed Of     Late Years; But Still, January After January, The 
 Cotillion Club Continued To Give Its One Yearly And Important Event 
 Within These Historic Portals. And Historic Portals They Truly Were, 
 For The     Ancient Hostelry Went Back Long Before The     Civil War To Trace 
 Its Beginnings. Dickens Was Said To Have Slept Under Its Roof, On His 
 Memorable Visit To America; Duels, In Those Days When Such Settlements 
 Of Affairs Of     Honor Were Winked At By The     Law Of     The     Community, Had Not 
 Only Found The     Reasons For Being Duels Within These Walls, But Had 
 Actually Been Fought In That High-Ceilinged Old Lobby. In One Or Two 
 Places Could Still Be Seen The     Traces Of     Bullet Marks That Had Gone 
 Wild. The     Most Beautiful Woman Of     Her Day In America Had, In Answer To 
 A Laughing Challenge That She Do So, Ridden Her Horse Straight Up Those 
 Broad Front Steps And Into The     Dining-Room. The     Stories In Connection 
 With The     Old Hotel Were Many And Varied. 
   
   
   
 Its Ball-Room, Unlike The     Ball-Rooms In The     Newer Hotels In Town, Was 
 On The     Second Floor. It Was Popularly Supposed To Be Built On Springs 
   
 And Had Long Been Considered To Be The     Best Dancing Floor In The     South. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 260 
   
   
   
 No One Really Remembered Now Who Had First Instituted The     January 
 Cotillion; Just What Long Ago Leader Of     Society Had First Had The     Idea. 
 But It Was Still Kept Up, Just As It Had Been Started, Winter After 
 Winter; And Had So Firmly Established Itself As The     Real Social 
 Tradition Of     Lewisburg That Invitations To It Were Almost Fought For, 
 And No One Who Had One, Or Could Have One (Saving Timothy) Had Ever 
 Been Known To Decline It. Once A Year The     Lewisburg Aristocracy Left 
 Its Familiar Haunts And Betook Itself To This Old Building By The 
 Water's Edge To Spend An Evening Of     Gayety Within Its Dingy Walls. 
 There Were Other Dances Given Here, It Is True, By The     Sons And 
 Daughters Of     The     Morning, And The     Pleasure Club, And The     West End 
 Society; But They Were Frowned Upon By The     Truly Socially Elect, Not 
 One Of     Whom Would Have Wanted To Be Seen Here By Acquaintances As A 
 Frivoler, Except On The     One Consecrated Evening Of     The     Year, The     Second 
 Tuesday In Every January. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had Gathered All Of     This Knowledge Concerning The     January 
 Cotillion, And She Was Quite Properly Impressed To Have Been Invited To 
 Attend. 
   
   
   
 The Old Ball-Room Had Been Made Into Fairyland For The     Occasion, And As 
 Arethusa Stood In Between The     Tall Fluted Columns That Flanked Its 
 Magnificent Old Doorway On Either Side, And Looked About Her, Her Eyes 
 Sparkled With Delight. The     Walls, So Sadly In Need Of     A Renewal Of 
 Their Frescoing, Had Been Latticed With Thin White Strips To The     Edge 
 Of The     Heavy Molding On The     Ceiling, And In This Lattice Work Was 
 Twined Smilax Most Lavishly. Bay Trees And Tall Palms Had Been Used To 
 Make Recesses Like Little Rooms, In Several Places, And These Each 
 Seemed To Fairly Shriek At The     Beholder, "Do Come And Sit Out A Dance 
 In Me! That's Just What I Was Put Here For! Oh, Do Come!" 
   
   
   
 The Faded Upholstery On The     Tall, High-Backed Chairs Had Been Covered 
 Over With Slips Of     Rose-Colored Chintz, And In Each Little Recess Had 
 Been Placed A Matching Sofa. It Was A Very Bad Color To Be Close To 
 Arethusa's Hair, But So Thoroughly Pleasing To See That She Never Once 
 Thought Of     The     Other Side Of     It. The     Crystal-Draped Chandeliers Had All 
 Had Their Electric Light Bulbs Shaded With Big, Pink Tissue-Paper 
 Roses, And Extra Lights, Similarly Shaded, Had Been Scattered 
 Throughout The     Green And The     Lattice Work On The     Walls. The     Whole Room 
   
 Was Bathed In A Soft, Rosy Glow. An Orchestra Played All Unseen Behind 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 261 
 A Thick Bank Of     Palms On A Little Platform At The     Far End Of     The     Room. 
 It Had Quite The     Effect Of     Music At A Distance. 
   
   
   
 "Isn't It Beautiful!" Arethusa Drew A Long, Long Breath Of     Admiration. 
 "Oh, Isn't It Just Beautiful!" 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Replied Mr. Bennet. "The Decorations Are Always Rather Good." 
   
   
   
 But His Agreement Altogether Lacked A Proper Fervency, For He Had A 
 Wretched Cold Of     The     Thoroughly Uncomfortable Kind, And He Did Not Feel 
 Fervent About Anything In The     World. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Was All Solicitude. "You Don't Feel Very Well, Do You? I'm So 
 Sorry! Let's Go Sit Down In One Of     Those Dear Little Places." They Had 
 Been Rather Early In Their Arrival At The     January Cotillion, Hardly 
 Anybody Was Here As Yet. "Wouldn't You Like To?" She Was Almost 
 Maternal In Her Desire To Make Him As Comfortable As Possible. 
   
   
   
 And Mr. Bennet Was Quite Agreeable To The     Idea Of     Being Made Comfortable. 
 So They Strolled Almost The     Length Of     The     Ball-Room To Find A Little 
 Recess Far Enough Away From The     Door, So That Arethusa Could Be Sure 
 There Would Be No Draught To Make His Cold Worse. 
   
   
   
 The Little Recess She Finally Selected Was So Well Screened With Green 
 That Their Occupancy Of     It On The     Pink Chintz-Covered Sofa Was As 
 Effectively Hidden From The     Ball-Room Proper As If They Had Actually 
 Been In Some Other Apartment. This Delighted Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "We'll Call This One Ours," She Said, With An Air Of     Proprietorship, 
 Patting The     Sofa, "And We'll Come Back Here And Sit In It Every Now And 
 Then." 
   
   
   
 "It Would Be Nice To Sit Out A Dance Or Two," Suggested Mr. Bennet, 
 Tentatively. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 262 
   
   
 He Was Rather Inclined To The     Opinion It Would Be Quite Beyond His 
 Powers To Dance The     Evening Straight Through. 
   
   
   
 His Suggestion Was Received With Ecstasy By The     Romantic Arethusa. For 
 To Sit In This Rose-Colored Recess, Side By Side On A Rose-Colored Sofa 
 With The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet, With A Rose-Colored Glow All Over Them, 
 While The     Orchestra Played Dreamy Music Afar Off And The     Rest Of     The 
 World Of     The     Cotillion Whirled Unconsciously By, Appeared To Arethusa 
 As The     Most That Any Girl Could Ask Of     Fate. There Was Nothing More 
 Perfect As A Situation To Be Offered To Anyone, She Was Quite Positive. 
   
   
   
 The January Cotillion, In These Days Of     Trots And One-Steps And 
 Hesitations, Had Of     Recent Seasons Become Almost A Misnomer For This 
 Particular Party. There Was No Cotillion At All About It, Save For A 
 Grand March Of     All The     Couples In The     Early Part Of     The     Evening, And 
 The Fact That Favors Had Remained A Feature. But Why Waste Time In The 
 Performance Of     Slow Figures When One Might Be Joyfully Trotting? Yet 
 Tradition Could By No Means Dispense With The     Favors; They Were Most 
 Highly Prized. And A Feminine Person Who Went Through More Than Three 
 Seasons Of     Lewisburg Society Without Her Share Of     Spoils From The 
 January Cotillion, Was Indisputably A Rank Failure. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Had No Lack Of     Favors From The     Very Beginning Of     This 
 Affair, Thus Indicating Partners. Her Spoils Were Amply Sufficient For 
 Her To Show In Proof That She Was A Social Success, And Not A Failure. 
 Mr. Bennet Was Not Once Forced To Exert Himself, When He Felt So Very 
 Little Like Exertion, To Find Gentlemen Who Were Willing To Dance With 
 Her; They Flocked Around Her Of     Their Own Accord. So Instead Of     Making 
 Any Effort To Join The     Romp, After He Had Performed A Duty In The     Grand 
 March, He Lolled Against A Pillar By The     Door And Watched It All, Which 
 Was Much More To His Taste This Particular Evening. 
   
   
   
 A Man Detached Himself, After Awhile, From The     Group Of     "Stags" In The 
 Center Of     The     Room And Strolled Over To Join Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 263 
 "Don't Seem To See You Dancing Much With The     Fair Arethusa," He Said. 
 "What's The     Matter, Grid? Feeling Anyways Seedy?" 
   
   
   
 "Got A Peach Of     A Cold," Replied Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
 "Which Is Plain To Be Seen, Now That I Look More Closely. You're Not 
 Nearly So Pretty With It, Either. Rubs Off Considerable Of     Your Usual 
 Irresistible Bloom. Beauing Arethusa Worthington For A Change, I 
 Suppose?" 
   
   
   
 The Afflicted One Nodded. 
   
   
   
 "Well, She's One Girl That I Know That You Never Have To Bother About 
 Showing A Time To; She Has It All By Herself. I'll Hand It To Her 
 There. So There's No Real Use In Your Sticking Around Up Here. Come On 
 Down With Me And We'll Play A Round Or Two Of     Pool. It'll Be Much 
 Better For You Than Standing Up Here In This Draughty Hall." 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Demurred. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Come On! I've No Business Clearing Out, Either, But We Won't Stay 
 A Minute.... It'll Do You Good." 
   
   
   
 Just What Medicinal Properties A Game Of     Pool May Be Said To Possess 
 Was Not Made Plain, But Mr. Bennet Seemed, After A Moment Or Two Of 
 Thought, Inclined To Agreement With The     Idea. He Cast A Weather Eye 
 About For Arethusa, But As Her Dancing Partner Had Changed Since He 
 Last Observed Her, Not Five Whole Minutes Before, He Felt Himself 
 Perfectly Safe In Leaving Her To Her Own Devices For Awhile, While He 
 Sought More Congenial Occupation Than That Of     A Mere Spectator Of     The 
 Enjoyment Of     Others. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Saw Him, As He Turned Away From The     Ball-Room Door And His 
 Shapely Back Disappeared Down The     Hall, And Her Warm Heart Smote Her At 
 The Sight. 
   
   
   
 "He Feels Just Perfectly Rotten, I Know!" 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 264 
   
 And She.... She Was Dancing Around Gayly, Enjoying Herself Leaving Him 
 So Wretched And Alone! She Visioned Him Stretched Out Somewhere In 
 Another Room On A Lumpy Hotel Sofa, Suffering! 
   
   
   
 She Grew So Distraught As This Vision Broadened In Its Scope As To The 
 Misery Of     The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet, That She Missed Step With Billy 
 Watts, With Whom She Was Dancing, Entirely. She Then Stepped Squarely 
 On His Foot, And Missed The     Time Again. And It Was Not Only Once Or 
 Twice She Did This Most Unpardonable Thing, But Three Distinct Times In 
 Quick Succession. 
   
   
   
 Billy Stopped Short In The     Middle Of     The     Floor, Disgusted. 
   
   
   
 "See Here, Arethusa, What's The     Matter With You? I've Asked You The 
 Same Question About Sixty Times, And You've Just Been Climbing All Over 
 Me!" 
   
   
   
 Billy Had Somewhat Adopted Timothy's Tone With Arethusa. They Were The 
 Oldest And Best Of     Friends By Now, And He Gave Himself All The 
 Privileges Of     Such A Friend. Arethusa Liked It ... Generally. 
   
   
   
 She Was Most Apologetic. 
   
   
   
 "I'm Sorry, Billy." (She Knew Him Quite Well Enough After These Weeks 
 To Drop The     Formal, "Mr. Watts.") "I Wasn't Thinking About My Feet Just 
 Then. I Was Worrying About Mr. Bennet, He's Real Sick Tonight, And He 
 Just Went Out Somewhere. Do You Reckon I'd Better Go See What's The 
 Matter With Him?" 
   
   
   
 "Well, Of     All Things!" Billy Seized Her Forcibly Around The     Waist And 
 Swung Her Back Into The     Throng Of     Dancers. "There's Nothing The     Matter 
 With That Nut! He's Probably Off Enjoying Himself In His Own Sweet 
 Way." 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Wrenched Herself Away From His Grasp; Her Quick Anger 
   
 Flared. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 265 
   
 "You Just Take That Back Right Now, Billy Watts! Mr. Bennet's Not A 
 Nut. And He's Sick, He Told Me So Himself! If You Don't Take It Back, I 
 Won't Dance Another Step With You, Not One!" 
   
   
   
 Billy Laughed, Good-Naturedly. "I Didn't Say He Wasn't Sick, Did I? But 
 You Don't Have To Trail Around After Him Nursing Him; He's Plenty Old 
 Enough, And Ugly Enough To Take Care Of     Himself." 
   
   
   
 "Billy Watts! You Are Perfectly Horrid!" 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Come On, Arethusa, And Stop Getting All Up In The     Air Over 
 Nothing!" He Took Hold Of     Her Again, But She Jerked Angrily Away. 
 "Don't Be A Goose," He Added, "Everybody In The     Room's Looking At You!" 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Care A Bit If They Are!" 
   
   
   
 "Do You Want Me To Run Out And Look Up Your Sick Friend And Hold His 
 Head Or Anything? I Will, If It'll Please You Very Much! Because I Sure 
 Didn't Mean To Set You Off Like This! Come On Now, Arethusa, And Be A 
 Better Sport!" 
   
   
   
 This Offer To Go Look After The     Suffering Mr. Bennet, Although Of     A 
 Wording Hardly As Respectful As She Considered Seemly, Mollified 
 Arethusa To The     Extent Of     Finishing Out This Dance With Billy. But It 
 Was Not At All Necessary That He Actually Carry Out His Offer When The 
 Dance Was Really Over, For Just As The     Last Strains Of     Music Were 
 Sounding, Mr. Bennet Re-Appeared From The     Direction Of     The     Hall. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Left Billy Abruptly, Standing Open-Mouthed In The     Middle Of 
 The Floor At The     Suddenness Of     Her Departure, And Without A Single Word 
 Of Apology For Leaving Him, To Greet Mr. Bennet With Outstretched Hands 
 And Anxious Inquiry Into The     State Of     His Immediate Physical Being. The 
 Answer Was Reassuring And One Calculated To Raise Her Spirits. Mr. 
   
 Bennet Believed He Felt Much Better. Arethusa Beamed. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 266 
   
 "Do You Want To Dance This With Me?" Asked Mr. Bennet, Then; For Just 
 At That Very Moment The     Music Started Once More. 
   
   
   
 "Do You Feel Well Enough To Be Dancing?" Anxiety And Solicitude Were In 
 Voice And Manner. 
   
   
   
 "Yes, Indeed. It Seems To Me I Haven't Danced With You To Amount To 
 Anything This Evening. And I Couldn't Let It All Slip By That Way. 
 What's The     Use Of     Being Here With You, If Other Men Have All The 
 Pleasure?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Blushed. 
   
   
   
 And Off They Started Together To The     Sound Of     A Waltz That Could Not 
 Have Helped But Make The     Stiffest Possible Person Dance Like An Angel, 
 No Matter How Badly He Might Have Danced Before Hearing This Particular 
 Tune. It Was A Strain Of     Melody With A Haunting Tinge Of     Delicious 
 Melancholy. It Aroused All Sorts Of     Queer, Indistinct Little Longings, 
 And Aching Memories Of     Other Happy Times Irretrievably Past. Its Sound 
 Seemed Meant To Dream By, Or To Make Love By; Ordinary Speech Seemed A 
 Real Sacrilege While It Quivered In The     Air. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Had A Little Way When He Danced With Arethusa (Or When He 
 Danced With Any Girl Alive For That Matter, Although She Did Not Know 
 This) Of     Making It Seem As Though He Thought That They Were The     One And 
 Only Couple In All Christendom Who Had Ever Danced Together For The 
 Dance To Amount To Anything Worth Remembering; As Though She Were The 
 Only Girl He Had Ever Really Cared To Dance With; And As Though Now, 
 With Bodies Tuned To The     One Strain Of     Those Violins Sobbing Their Soft 
 Refrain Over And Over, He Had Reached Paradise With The     Girl In His 
 Arms. 
   
   
   
 The Music Stopped. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 267 
 Arethusa Sighed With A Funny Little Catch Of     Her Breath. "That ... That 
 Sounded Just Like Heaven," She Said, Softly. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Bent His Handsome Head. "Was It Only The     Music?" He Asked. 
   
   
   
 He Could Not Help Asking It, And Asking It Just Exactly As He Did. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Laughed, It Was A Most Subdued Little Sound Of     Embarrassment, 
 And Her Only Answer. And Partly The     Spell Of     That Wonderful Music, And 
 Partly Her Quaint Worship Of     The     Man Standing Beside Her, Made Her Wish 
 To Get Away From The     Crowd And Their Chattering Talk Of     Nothings For A 
 Wee While. 
   
   
   
 "Let's Go Sit In Our Little Room," She Suggested, With A Bit Of 
 Emphasis On The     "Our." 
   
   
   
 An Encore To That Waltz Was Starting Just As They Reached The     Entrance 
 To The     Green Recess, And Mr. Bennet Hesitated. "Shall We Go Back And 
 Try This?" 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Shook Her Head. 
   
   
   
 She Had A Vague Feeling That No Other Waltz In All Her Life, No Matter 
 How Many More She Might Dance Hereafter, Was Ever Going To Be As 
 Perfect As The     One Just Danced Had Been. And She Could Not Spoil Its 
 Memory By So Immediately Dancing Another Waltz To The     Very Same Tune. 
 So They Went Instead Into The     Little Recess And Sat Down On The 
 Rose-Colored Sofa, Side By Side, And Without Saying A Word For A Long 
 Time. Such Music Demanded Silence, Especially When Listened To In Such 
 A Setting. And The     Rose-Colored Lights Threw The     Softest Sort Of     Glow 
 All Over Them. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Reclined A Little In His Corner Of     The     Sofa, With His Feet 
   
 Gracefully Outstretched And His Ankles Crossed, His Arms Folded, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 268 
 Watching Arethusa, For Her Head Was Downcast And Turned Away From Him, 
 And She Could Not Know That He Was Watching Her. He Smiled A Bit As He 
 Always Did Whenever He Watched Her This Way When She Was Not Noticing. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa May Have Felt His Look, Although She Did Not Turn Around 
 To Really See It, Or It May Have Been Those Shy Little Thoughts Of     Him 
 Which Were At The     Moment Filling Her Head Which Caused It, For A Soft 
 Flush Suddenly Ran All Over Her Neck, And Even Up Behind Her Ears. Mr. 
 Bennet's Smile Broadened, Perceptibly. 
   
   
   
 If Anyone Had Asked Him Just Then What He Thought Of     Arethusa, He Would 
 Have Said That She Was A Very Pretty Girl, In His Opinion; The 
 Prettiest Girl, In Fact, That He Had Known For Some Time. Mr. Bennet 
 Had Even Found Himself Wondering, On Several Occasions Lately, If He 
 Was Not Beginning To Think Too Much Of     Arethusa And Her Prettiness; 
 Just A Little Bit More Than Was Quite Wise, From His Own Point Of     View. 
 There Was Very Open Admiration In His Face As He Studied Her Now. He 
 Noticed The     Tiny Curls At The     Back Of     Her Neck, Warm From Dancing To Be 
 Twisted In The     Tightest Little Rings; They Were The     Most Babyish 
 Looking Little Curls He Had Ever Seen, He Thought. And He Distinctly 
 Liked That Proud Little Way She Carried Her Head. He Moved Just A 
 Trifle, Then, So That He Could See More Of     Her Face; How Her 
 Extraordinarily Long Lashes Swept Her Cheek, And Her Adorable Nose, 
 Which Was Ever So Slightly Retroussée. Timothy, In Some Of     Those 
 Moments When Arethusa Was Inclined To Be Most Trying, Had Called It A 
 "Pug Nose," But Mr. Bennet's Ideas Were Much More Poetical. And He 
 Could See Her Mouth, With Her Red Lips Curved In A Slight Smile; 
 Arethusa Had A Very Pretty Mouth. 
   
   
   
 And Then Quite Suddenly, Without Himself Having Any Really Preconceived 
 Idea That He Was Going To Do Such A Thing, Mr. Bennet Leaned Over And 
 Kissed Arethusa. He Kissed Her Square On Her Sweet Mouth. 
   
   
   
 And Almost Immediately, He Kissed Her The     Second Time. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Had Been Startled By His First Kiss, Very Naturally; It Had 
 Broken Rudely Into Her Shy Dreams To Scatter Them Far Away And Bring 
 Her Back To Reality. But She Returned His Second Salutation With All Of 
 Her Young Soul. Then She Sprang Up From The     Sofa, Gently Disengaging 
 Herself From The     Arm He Had Half Slipped Around Her. 
   
   
   
   
 "Now, You Mustn't Kiss Me Any More," She Said, With A Quaint Air Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 269 
 Authority. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Was Somewhat Startled By This, Himself; And Then Rather 
 Amused. He Had Hardly Intended To Do So Again, Being A Trifle Ashamed 
 Of Himself Already, But Arethusa's Reasons For Anything Were Always 
 Original. 
   
   
   
 "Why Not?" He Enquired. 
   
   
   
 "Because...." She Blushed Deeply, Rosy-Red. 
   
   
   
 "Because What?" 
   
   
   
 "Because...." She Looked Down For Just A Moment, Then Raised Her Head 
 With An Adorable Air Of     Dignity Most Becoming, "You Mustn't Kiss Me Any 
 More Until After We're Married. Aunt 'Liza Always Says A Girl Mustn't!" 
   
   
   
 "Married!" The     Thoroughly Startled Mr. Bennet Sank Backward On The     Pink 
 Sofa. "Why...." 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Repeated Arethusa. Then Something In His Expression Suddenly 
 Frightened Her; Her Face Went Chalk White. "Why.... Why Did You.... 
 Didn't You...." 
   
   
   
 "I Think You've Misunderstood Me," Began Mr. Bennet, Gently, "I Didn't 
 Mean...." Then He Stopped Awkwardly. For Once In His Life The     Wonderful 
 Mr. Bennet Was At An Utter Loss For The     Words With Which To Continue A 
 Conversation With A Lady. 
   
   
   
 "You Ki ... Kissed Me," Said Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 But Mr. Bennet Made No Reply. It Was A Fact Which It Was Unnecessary 
 To Confirm, And Could Not Be Denied. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 270 
   
   
 "And Di ... Didn't You ... You Mean," She Continued Slowly, "That You 
 Wanted To Marry Me?" She Brought Each Word Of     This Question Out With 
 Difficulty. "I Thought Me ... Men Never Kissed Girls That Way Unless 
 They Wanted To Marry Them?" This Last Was Also An Interrogation. 
   
   
   
 "No," Replied Mr. Bennet, Uncomfortably, "Not Necessarily." 
   
   
   
 She Began Backing Away From Him, Her Eyes Fixed Upon Him, Wide With A 
 Sort Of     Horror. 
   
   
   
 "My Dear Child...." 
   
   
   
 "I'm Not Your Dear Child!" Arethusa Was Suddenly So Angry That She 
 Trembled With Rage From Head To Foot. "Don't Come Anywhere Near Me," 
 She Exploded, As Mr. Bennet Started Towards Her. 
   
   
   
 She Stuck Her Hands Straight Out In Front Of     Her As If To Push Him 
 Away, And Mr. Bennet Stopped Short Where He Was. 
   
   
   
 "If You'll Let Me Explain," He Said, "I Think I Can. I Didn't.... That 
 Is, I'm Just As Sorry As I Can Be. And I Really Didn't Mean A Single 
 Thing!" But This Was A Very Wrong Beginning. 
   
   
   
 It Made Matters, Already Bad Enough, Very Much Worse. He Had Kissed Her 
 And He Had Not Meant A Single Thing! There Was Deep Disgrace For 
 Arethusa In This Simple Declaration. 
   
   
   
 Now Arethusa's Rearing By Miss Eliza Had Been According To A Few Very 
 Simple Rules For Conduct, Which Were Nevertheless As Ironbound And 
 Unalterable As The     Most Complicated Laws That Were Ever Framed. And One 
 Of Those Rules Was That No Really Nice Girl Would Ever Permit Herself 
 To Be Kissed By A Man Unless She Had Every Intention Of     Marrying Him 
 Immediately Or Was Already Married To Him. Miss Eliza Had Often Said 
 That She Would Far Rather See Arethusa Dead And Cold In Her Coffin Than 
 To See Her The     Sort Of     Girl Who Thought So Little Of     Herself As To Kiss 
 A Man She Was Not To Marry. This Was Really At The     Bottom Of     Arethusa's 
   
 Expressed Objection To Being Kissed By Timothy On Those Occasions When 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 271 
 Such Unexpected Conduct Of     His Had So Displeased Her. She Had No 
 Intention Of     Ever Marrying Timothy, Whatever His Own Intentions Might 
 Have Been; Therefore, It Seemed To Arethusa, According To This Miss 
 Elizian Guide For The     Proper Behavior Of     Nice Young Ladies, It Was 
 Wrong For Him To Salute Her In Any Such Fashion, Or For Her To Permit 
 Him To. It Is True That She Had Kissed Timothy Herself Under The     Stress 
 Of Such Excitement As Arrivals And Departures, But Such Salutations 
 Were Really In A Class Quite Apart, And Of     Their Own. 
   
   
   
 Into The     Kiss She Had Given Mr. Bennet, Arethusa Had Put Her 
 Construction Of     The     Meaning Of     His Unexpected Action Founded Upon These 
 Ideas Of     Kisses, And Her Sentiments In Regard To Him, And All The 
 Thoughts And Dreams About Him In Which She Had Linked Their Two Selves 
 Together: Only To Find That Mr. Bennet Himself Had No Such Ideas Of 
 Kisses, And Had Evidently Had No Such Thoughts And Dreams. Is There Any 
 One To Wonder At Her Sudden Feeling Of     Humiliation? She Rubbed Fiercely 
 At Her Lips With The     Back Of     One Hand, As If To Remove The     Visible And 
 Outward Sign Of     Her Feeling Of     Disgrace. Then The     Color Surged Back 
 Into Her Face; And Once More, Hot Rage Mounted High, Flashing Its 
 Signal From Her Stormy Eyes And Quick Breathing. 
   
   
   
 "I Hate You!" She Exclaimed, Suddenly, "Oh ... _I Hate You_!" 
   
   
   
 "Please Listen To Me Just A Moment, Arethusa. I...." 
   
   
   
 "Don't Say Anything To Me!" She Stamped One Foot With Angry Emphasis. 
 "I Won't Listen! I Don't Want To Hear Anything You Have To Say! And 
 Timothy Was Exactly Right About You! Oh...!" 
   
   
   
 She Flung Herself Face Downward On The     Rose-Colored Sofa And Began To 
 Sob Violently, Her Shoulders Quivering; Burying Her Head Farther And 
 Farther Back Into The     Corner Of     The     Sofa Until It Seemed More Like A 
 Piled Up Heap Of     Party Finery Huddled There Than An Actual Girl. 
   
   
   
 This Was Truly Dreadful! 
   
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Stood, Man-Fashion, Helplessly Above Her, With An 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 272 
 Overpowering Desire To Flee Far From Those Tears; And Yet With A Strong 
 Conviction, At The     Same Time, That He Ought To Stay And At Least 
 Attempt A Justification Of     What Had Been So Sadly Misconstrued, If 
 There Was Any Earthly Way In Which It Could Be Justified. He Was 
 Willing To Say, Or To Do, Anything Which She Might Demand Of     Him, To 
 Straighten It Out. The     Sobs Decreased In Intensity And So Mr. Bennet 
 Spoke. 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa...." He Began. 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa's Sobs Stopped Altogether As Abruptly Almost As They Had 
 Begun, And She Rose Majestically From The     Sofa, Keeping Her 
 Tear-Stained Face Averted. 
   
   
   
 "I Asked You Not To Speak To Me. And I'm Going Home," Not Once Did She 
 Look, Even In His Direction. "By Myself," She Added, Positively. 
   
   
   
 "I Can't Let You Do A Thing Like That...." 
   
   
   
 "It Has Nothing Whatever To Do With What _You_ Can't Let, And I Shall 
 Scream Out Loud Right Here, If You Start To Try To Follow Me!" 
   
   
   
 "Will You Let Me Apologize Then, At Least, Before You Go? If You Insist 
 On Going?" 
   
   
   
 "No, You Can't Apologize. I Don't Want A Single One Of     Your Apologies." 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Felt As Weak As The     Proverbial Water In The     Face Of     Such 
 Personified Determination As Was Arethusa. He Meekly Permitted Her To 
 Leave The     Little Recess Of     Palms And To Fly Across The     Ball Room Floor 
 While He Stood As One Hypnotized Without Moving. When He Had Recovered 
 His Powers Of     Locomotion Sufficiently To Follow, She Was Just Coming 
 Out Of     The     Dressing Room Door Wrapped In Her Green Cloak. The     Sight Of 
 The Green Cloak Almost Unnerved Him Again. He Had Not Dreamed That The 
 Child Would Carry Out Her Wild Plan Of     Going Home. He Had Thought That 
 She Might Retire To The     Dressing-Room For Awhile, But That She Would 
   
 Surely Recover Before Many Moments Were Flown. He Took One Or Two 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 273 
 Half-Hearted Steps Forward. The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet Had No Precedent 
 Established For His Guidance In This Predicament. He Was All At Sea; No 
 Such Situation Had Ever Befallen Him Before. Arethusa Was The     Only Lady 
 He Had Ever Taken To A Party Who Had Gone Home Without Him. Would 
 Decided Pursuit Be Too Undignified; Or Could He Risk A Scene? 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Caught A Glimpse Of     Him In His Uncertain Regard Of     Her, As He 
 Stood Near The     Ball-Room Entrance, And Off She Flew Like The     Wind In The 
 Direction She Judged The     Stairs To Be, Luckily Finding Them Right 
 There; For She Could Not Risk The     Waiting For The     Elevator To Come Up 
 And Get Her. He Should Not Be Given The     Slightest Opportunity To Speak 
 To Her Again! 
   
   
   
 She Plunged Madly Down One Long Flight Of     Wide Steps, Broken By Several 
 Landings, To Find Herself In The     Wide Old Lobby, Where The     Startled 
 Night Clerk Was Aroused From His Dozing, For This Ancient Inn Was Far 
 From Lively At This Hour Of     The     Night Especially In This Part Of     It, By 
 Her Sudden Entrance; And He Went To Hunt For Clay At Her Breathless 
 Request. Very Fortunately, For Arethusa's Impulsive Departing, He Had 
 Not Driven Off Anywhere, But Was Easily Located By The     Obliging Clerk 
 Among A Small Group Of     Chauffeurs Who Were Lounging In The     Barber Shop; 
 While Arethusa Waited Impatiently In The     Lobby, Casting Fearful Glances 
 In The     Direction Of     First The     Stairs And Then The     Elevator, Fully 
 Expectant Of     Seeing Mr. Bennet Appear From Either Direction. Clay Was 
 Slightly Mystified At This Sudden Summons, So Early In The     Evening, But 
 Like A Good Chauffeur And The     Friend Of     Arethusa's Which He So Truly 
 Was, He Asked No Questions; And Unfastened The     Back Door For Her, 
 Having Driven In The     Back Way Without A Word Of     Comment. Arethusa Knew 
 That Ross And Elinor Would Still Be Up At This Early Hour, Within 
 Hearing Of     The     Opening Of     The     Front Door, And She Wanted To Slip Into 
 The House Without Their Knowledge. She Was Quite Sure That Their 
 Interrogations Would Fall Fast And Furious; A Natural Curiosity Which 
 Would Have To Be Gratified As To The     Reason For This Unexpectedly Early 
 Return From The     Real Event Of     The     Season. 
   
   
   
   
 It Was A Silent And Miserable Maiden Who Thus Went Home So Prematurely 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 22 Pg 274 
 From What Was To Have Been The     Most Marvelous Affair Ever Attended, 
 Huddled Back Into One Corner Of     The     Limousine; And It Was A Still More 
 Silent And Miserable Maiden Who Crept Softly Up The     Back Stairs And 
 Sought Her Room, Where She Undressed Entirely In The     Dark And Climbed 
 Immediately Into Bed. 
   
   
   
 And The     Grey Hours Of     The     Dawning Found Her Still Wakeful Under The 
 Same Green Silk Coverlid Beneath Which She Had Slept So Many, Many 
 Nights With Happy Dreaming Of     The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet And His Very 
 Great Charm. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 275 
   
 This Was The     Very First Night In All Of     Her Healthy Young Life That 
 Arethusa Did Not Go To Sleep Just As Soon As Her Head Had Touched The 
 Pillow. 
   
   
   
 Over And Over Again Her Active Imagination Re-Lived For Her That Scene 
 With Mr. Bennet, And Her Whole Body Seemed To Burn With The     Disgrace Of 
 His Kiss. She Writhed And Twisted And Turned In Her Bed, But She Could 
 Not Get Away From The     Shame Of     It, Anywhere; And The     Way Mr. Bennet Had 
 Looked When He Had Said She Had Misunderstood Him. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza's Convictions Upon All Subjects Were Most Decided, But On No 
 Single Subject Were They More Decided Than On This Very One Of     A Kiss. 
 No Decent Woman, Said Miss Eliza With A Terrible Emphasis, Would Allow 
 A Man's Lips To Touch Hers, Or Permit Him To Embrace Her, Unless There 
 Were Matrimonial Intentions. 
   
   
   
 But Poor Arethusa's Intentions Had All Been Matrimonial, However Mr. 
 Bennet's, For With All Her Heart She Had Given Of     Her Very Best. Her 
   
 Shy Building Of     Air Castles For The     Perfect Bliss Of     Two, Through All 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 276 
 These Golden Weeks Just Past, Superinduced, One Might Say, By Mr. 
 Bennet's Attitude Of     Unmistakable Delight In Her Companionship, Had Led 
 To This Catastrophe Of     A Misunderstanding. 
   
   
   
 And As The     Hours Wore On The     Feeling Of     Humiliation At Having So 
 Misunderstood With Her Thought That He Had Wanted To Marry Her When He 
 Had Kissed Her, Grew And Grew Until It Was Almost Unbearable. 
   
   
   
 Then, Quite Suddenly, She Sat Bolt Upright In Bed. For An Idea 
 Concerning Mr. Bennet, No Longer Prefixed The     Wonderful, Had Wormed 
 Itself Into Her Brain Without Her Having The     Slightest Conception How 
 It Had Got There, And Now It Presented Itself To Her, Fully Formed. 
   
   
   
 _Mr. Bennet Was Very Decidedly One Of     The     Very Sort Of     Men Miss Eliza 
 Had Been So Careful To Warn Her Against!_ 
   
   
   
 He Was One Of     Those Awful Male Beings Who Were Nice To Girls To Win 
 Their Affections, Only To Deceive Them! 
   
   
   
 No One In The     World Could Have Been Nicer To Any Girl Than Mr. Bennet 
 Had Been To Her! And He Had Most Certainly Won Her Affections! And She 
 Had Most Certainly Been Completely Deceived! His Had Been The     Kiss Of     A 
 Judas! So Arethusa Would Undoubtedly Have Named It Had She Known Any Of 
 The Classification Of     Kisses. But One Thing About The     Whole Affair 
 Loomed Large And Certain; She Had Gone Contrary To Miss Eliza's 
 Expressed Wishes Once More! And This Time, It Was With What Dire 
 Results! 
   
   
   
 This Made It Twice That She Had Lapsed From The     Path Pointed Out For 
 Her Treading In Her Intercourse With The     Members Of     The     Other Sex; The 
 Man On The     Train, And Now ... Mr. Bennet! The     Man Of     The     Train Appeared 
 Before Arethusa At The     Moment. She Had Thought Him Such A Nice Man, 
 Until Superior Wisdom Had Informed Her Differently. Yet That Affair Had 
 Ended Comparatively Smoothly, Thanks To Mrs. Cherry. There Was No 
 Punishment Miss Eliza Could Fairly Inflict For That, Beyond Scolding A 
 Little. But This! What Would Miss Eliza Ever Do If She Found This Out? 
 And Arethusa Had Thought Mr. Bennet A Nice Man Also. Nay, More Than 
 Merely Nice; He Had Seemed Perfect. It Was Quite Plain To Arethusa That 
   
 She Knew Nothing Whatever About Men. The     Best Thing For Her To Do 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 277 
 Hereafter Would Be Walk In Directions Where They Were Not To Be Found. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Decided, Going Back To The     Very Beginning For About The 
 Hundredth Time, And Reviewing This Affair In This New Light Of     Miss 
 Eliza's Regard Of     It, That Her Lips Had Best Be Locked So Closely 
 Together In Regard To Her Fall From Grace That Inquisitional Torture 
 Would Not Be Strong Enough To Force It From Her. 
   
   
   
 No, Whatever Happened Hereafter Under Her Eagle Eye That So Little 
 Escaped, To Cause The     Pouring Forth Of     The     Vials Of     Her Wrath Upon 
 Arethusa's Head, Miss Eliza Must Never, Never Know Of     The     Bennet 
 Escapade. And Further Considering It, From The     Other Angle Of     Her Deep 
 Humiliation Of     Having Misunderstood, She Also Decided That No Human 
 Being Should Ever Learn, From Her Own Lips, Of     The     Great Shame That Had 
 Befallen The     Daughter Of     The     House Of     Worthington This Fatal Evening Of 
 The January Cotillion. 
   
   
   
 The First Wan Light Of     Dawn Struggling Through Her Half Drawn Blinds 
 Found Arethusa Thus, Still Wakeful, And Still Miserably Thoughtful; But 
 A Little While After She Had Heard The     First Milkman's Cart Rattle Past 
 In The     Street, She Fell Into A Troubled Slumber Of     Vague, Unpleasant 
 Dreams That Made Her Toss And Mutter In Her Sleep. They Were Dreams Of 
 Miss Eliza's Fury In A Personified Form, And Of     Mr. Bennet, 
 Cloven-Hoofed, With Horns Upon His Handsome Head And Grinning As 
 Diabolically As Any Fiend (That Half-Sad, Half-Sweet Smile Of     His She 
 Had So Loved Distorted Thus!) Both Of     Which Phantoms Pursued Her 
 Wheresoever She Fled In Her Dreaming To Escape Them, Even To The 
 Uttermost Parts Of     The     Earth; Sometimes They Were Together In Pursuit, 
 And Sometimes They Pursued Singly. But They Gave Her No Chance To Get 
 Away From Either Of     Them. 
   
   
   
 She Slept Straight On Through The     Breakfast Hour, For They Rarely 
 Disturbed Her When She Had Been To A Party The     Night Before, And Did 
 Not Waken Until Nearly Noon. Then For A Long While She Lay There 
 Conscious That Something Terrible Had Happened To Her, But Not Wholly 
 Conscious, Through The     Heaviness Of     Her Waking, Just What It Was. But 
 It Dawned Upon Her Fully In Time, And She Turned And Buried Her Face In 
 Her Pillow With A Little Miserable Cry. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 278 
 It Was The     Greyest Sort Of     Day, A Real January Day, With Leaden Clouds 
 That Hung Low To The     Earth. Snow Clouds, They Would Have Called Them At 
 The Farm. When Arethusa Looked Out Of     The     Window, She Was Glad That The 
 Sun Was Not Shining: For What A Mockery Of     Absolute Unhappiness A 
 Sunshiny Day Would Have Seemed! 
   
   
   
 She Dragged Herself Out Of     Bed, And Dressed Herself Slowly; It Was As 
 If She Were Trying To Postpone Her Inevitable Appearance In Public As 
 Long As Possible. When She Had Finished She Stood And Stared Intently 
 At Herself In The     Mirror. In Such Reality Were The     Shame And 
 Humiliation Of     The     Night Just Past Still With Her, That She Could Not 
 Be Sure That The     Roundness Of     That Kiss Did Not Show Plainly On Her 
 Lips For The     Observation Of     All Beholders. But Even Her Closest 
 Scrutiny Could Not Detect Anything Actually Visibly Different About Her 
 Mouth, Though Her Eyes Had Unaccustomed Deep Shadows Painted Darkly 
 Under Them, And Her Face Looked Queerly White And Drawn. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Drew Herself To Her Fullest Height And Shook Her Shoulders 
 Decidedly Once Or Twice; Ross And Elinor Must Not Know About This. They 
 Must Not Even Be Permitted To Suspect That Anything Was Wrong. 
   
   
   
 They Were Just Starting Luncheon When She Went Downstairs. 
   
   
   
 Elinor Glanced At Arethusa Who Came Slowly Into The     Little Breakfast 
 Room, Where They Always Lunched, To Greet Her Gayly. 
   
   
   
 "Did You Have A Good...." She Began With Eagerness, But She Stopped 
 When She Noticed Those Dark Circles Under The     Grey Eyes, And Her Own 
 Eyes Widened In Alarm, "Why, Arethusa, Dearest, What On Earth Has 
 Happened?" 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa, Completely Unnerved By The     Kindness Of     The     Anxious Tone, 
 Flew Across The     Room And Flopped Down On The     Floor By Elinor's Chair, 
 To Bury Her Head In Elinor's Lap And Weep Uncontrollably. 
   
   
   
 Over Her Bent Red Head, Ross And Elinor Exchanged A Few Eyebrow 
   
 Telegrams Which Could Be Translated Easily As, "Gridley Bennet." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 279 
   
 No One Spoke To The     Sorrowing Arethusa Though, And Her Mother Stroked 
 Her Hair Softly To Help Her Somewhat Toward A Recovery. But After 
 Awhile Muffled Words Became Distinguishable Through The     Sobs. 
   
   
   
 "I Want To Go Home! Oh, I Want To Go Home! Mayn't I Go Home?" 
   
   
   
 "Do You Mean Back To The     Farm, Dear?" Asked Elinor, With A Nod In 
 Ross's Direction Which Meant That She Was Quite Sure That Mr. Bennet 
 _Was_ At The     Bottom Of     All This Suffering. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Own Nod Of     Affirmation To The     Question Was So Violent That 
 It Shook Out Several Hairpins. 
   
   
   
 "Well, We'll See About It. Suppose You Eat Some Lunch Now, And You'll 
 Feel Much Better. Then We Can Talk It Over." 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Want Any Lunch!" Arethusa Raised Her Head And Looked 
 Tragically Up Into The     Kind Face Which Was Bending Over Her, "I Want To 
 Go Home Now, Today. I Want," And A Deep Sob Shook Her Voice Again, "I 
 Want Aunt 'Senath!" 
   
   
   
 "But You Can't Possibly Go To-Day, Arethusa," It Was Ross Who Spoke 
 This Time. "There Are No More Trains That You Could Take To-Day, Except 
 One That Gets You Home At Midnight; None Until To-Morrow Morning. 
 Will," Smiling Slightly, "Will To-Morrow Morning Be Soon Enough To 
 Leave Us? Do You Think You Can Continue To Put Up With Us For That 
 Little Bit Of     A While Longer?" 
   
   
   
 But His Daughter Made No Sort Of     Response To This Attempt At Levity; 
 Her Face Was Soberness Itself. 
   
   
   
 "Couldn't You Tell Me What Is Troubling You, Dear?" Elinor's Sweet 
 Voice Was All Sympathy. "Could I Help You In Any Way? You Know I'd 
 Gladly Do All I Can. And Perhaps, If You Tell Me...." 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 280 
 Then The     Grey Eyes Filled With Tears Once More, Some Of     Which Brimmed 
 Clear Over; But Arethusa Shook Her Head To That Kind Offer To Share The 
 Burden Of     Her Woe. She Could Not Tell Elinor About It. It Would Be 
 Absolutely Impossible. 
   
   
   
 She Could Not Tell Anyone About It. 
   
   
   
 She Would Not Be Able To Tell Even Miss Asenath Whom She Wanted So 
 Intensely. But Since She Was The     Very Tiniest Scrap She Had Snuggled 
 Close Up To Miss Asenath On Her Couch When Troubles Came. And She 
 Wanted (Oh, How Terribly She Wanted It!) To Snuggle Up On That Couch 
 Right Now; And It Was So Very Far Away! Miss Asenath Had Somehow Always 
 Understood Things Which Were Hard To Put In Words, Without Arethusa 
 Having To Make Any Effort To Put Them In Words. And In Her Present 
 Miserable State, She Felt That Miss Asenath, With Her Gentle 
 Understanding, Was The     Only Person In The     Whole World Who Would Be Able 
 To Make Her Feel Less Miserable Without Having To Be Told What Had 
 Specifically Caused The     Misery. No Matter How Much Miss Eliza Had Ever 
 Punished Her For Misdeeds In The     Past, No Matter How Bad She Might Have 
 Been, Miss Asenath Had Always Loved And Wanted Arethusa To Come And 
 Snuggle Up To Her That The     Sorrow Might Be Comforted Into Nothing. No 
 Childish Disgrace Of     Former Years Had Ever Been Black Enough To Change 
 Her Feeling For The     Culprit. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Clung To The     Thought Of     Miss Asenath. 
   
   
   
 But Lacking Her Right At This Moment, She Continued To Sit On The     Floor 
 At Elinor's Feet, And Elinor's Kind Hand Lovingly Patted Her Back Into 
 A Certain Semblance Of     Composure. George Stood Disapprovingly Over By 
 The Pantry Door. There Were Times For Everything, Considered George, 
 And Any Mealtime Was The     Time To Be Eating. An Excellent Lunch Was 
 Getting Cold While Miss Arethusa Sat On The     Floor; Good Food Was Being 
 Wasted. 
   
   
   
 "Miss Arethusa's Soup Will Be Quite Cold," He Suggested, After A Few 
 Moments. George Was An Old Family Servant, And He Had Certain 
 Privileges. "Shall I Bring Another Plate?" 
   
   
   
   
 "So It Is!" Exclaimed Elinor. "Yes, Suppose You Do, George. And, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 281 
 Arethusa Dear, You Must Really Eat Your Lunch. Or Breakfast, If You'd 
 Rather Call It What It Is For You. I Think It Will Make You Feel Much 
 Better." 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Was All Unresponsive To Elinor's Tiny Bit Of     Friendly 
 Levity Also; Her Face Was Still Sober. Yet She Obediently Got Up From 
 The Floor And Seated Herself At The     Table To Eat The     Steaming Plate Of 
 Soup Which George Immediately Brought. And It Went Down Her Throat Much 
 Easier Than She Had Imagined Any Sort Of     Food Would Go; Her Throat Had 
 Seemed So Contracted And Full Of     Painful Lumps. As She Ate, Her Healthy 
 Young Appetite Began To Assert Itself, And She Finished All Of     Her Soup 
 And Made A Very Good Meal Besides. Some Of     The     Color Came Back Into Her 
 White Face. 
   
   
   
 After Lunch, Ross Took Her Into The     Library With Him. He Could Not Bear 
 To See Her So Strange And Quiet And He Hated That Curious Look Of 
 Misery So Foreign To Her Young Eyes. 
   
   
   
 "Suppose You Tell _Me_ About It, Daughter, Couldn't You?" He Asked, 
 When He Had Settled Her Comfortably In A Big Chair In Front Of     The 
 Fire And Seated Himself On The     Arm Of     It With One Of     His Arms 
 Protectingly Across The     Back. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Wept Stormily Again. 
   
   
   
 But She Could Not Possibly Tell Him About It. 
   
   
   
 For He Was Certain To Be Terribly Angry With Her, And No Telling What 
 He Might Do To Mr. Bennet. Fathers Surely Had Some Way Of     Punishing Men 
 For Disgraced Daughters. It Was Not That Any Lingering Affection For 
 Mr. Bennet Made Her Thus Anxious To Shield Him From Any Consequences 
 Which Might Be Legitimately His For The     Way He Had Acted; But Everyone 
 Might Hear Of     It Then, And Incidentally.... It Might Reach Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
   
 Ross Could Not Help Smiling As He Looked Down At His Daughter, Sitting 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 282 
 There With The     Warm Firelight Playing Over Her. She Looked So Young, So 
 Altogether Young, With Her Slimness And Her Tumbled Hair, And Her 
 Childishly Quivering Red Mouth, For All That Great Unhappiness In Her 
 Eyes. And Even If She Would Not Tell Him The     Exact Nature Of     Her 
 Trouble, Ross Was Almost Positive That He Knew What It Was. He Was Well 
 Acquainted With Mr. Bennet, And With Arethusa And Arethusa's Worship Of 
 Mr. Bennet, And He Had Had For Some Time A Rather Shrewd Idea That Mr. 
 Bennet Really Thought A Great Deal Of     Arethusa. He Knew Also What 
 Sometimes Happened At Dances, Especially In Rose Bowers As Romantic As 
 Those That Were Always A Feature Of     The     January Cotillion; Ross Had 
 Been To Dances Himself, In His Day, Where There Had Been The     Equivalent 
 Of Romantic Rose Bowers, In Moons And Balconies. It Was All The     Same. 
 He Also Knew Very Well Just What Miss Eliza's Ideas Were About Such 
 Things, He Knew That Most Of     This Unhappiness Over What Had Happened 
 Was Really Due To Miss Eliza's Rearing; Yet Ross Was Not Going To Say A 
 Word Which Would Disclose All Of     This Varied Knowledge Of     His. 
   
   
   
 Further Knowledge He Was Positive He Possessed Was That Arethusa Would 
 Recover Before Very Long. If She Really Insisted On Going Back To The 
 Farm, Timothy Was There To Help In The     Recovery. He Would Undoubtedly 
 Be Of     Assistance Along This Line. This Last Thought Almost Made Ross 
 Laugh Aloud. 
   
   
   
 But Ross Was Not So Aware As He Imagined He Was Of     Just The     Way His 
 Daughter Felt. For It Did Not Occur To Him, For An Instant, That 
 Arethusa's Whole Idea Of     The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet Had Changed; That Now 
 She Saw Him, Instead Of     As The     One Perfect Human Being In A Very Faulty 
 World, As A Ravening Wolf Ranging Within The     Supposedly Safe Folds Of 
 Society Seeking Whom He Might Devour, All Unknown To The     Parents Of     His 
 Innocent Victims; That She Felt So Deeply Humiliated At Having 
 Misunderstood Mr. Bennet's Intentions, And At Having Misconstrued Them 
 To Be As Matrimonial As Her Own; And So Deeply Disgraced At Being 
 Kissed By Him, Such A Man As He Had Proved Himself To Be; And So 
 Completely Terror-Stricken At The     Bare Idea Of     Miss Eliza Finding Out 
 The Very Least Bit Of     All This: That Arethusa Could Almost Have Been 
 Torn Limb From Limb To Have Kept Such Knowledge From Her Aunt. 
   
   
   
 No, Ross's Understanding Did Not Extend Itself To Any Of     This. 
   
   
   
 But He Sat In Front Of     The     Wood Fire With Her, In The     Same Big Chair 
   
 With His Arm Around Her, Silently, As Seemed To Suit Her Mood; And 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 283 
 Every Now And Then He Patted Her A Little On The     Shoulder, As Lovingly 
 As Elinor Had Patted Her, To Let Her Know That She Was To Feel Sure Of 
 His Sympathy, Even If She Could Not Bring Herself To Confide In Him, 
 And That He Was Still Right There, And At Her Service, Whenever She 
 Should Want Him. Arethusa Loved To Have Him With Her; It Was 
 Delightful, Just The     Two Of     Them Together So Cozily; But Every One Of 
 His Soft Fatherly Pats Brought Her Near To Tears As She Felt It, For 
 She Knew Herself So Very Unworthy To Receive It. 
   
   
   
 George Appeared In The     Library About Half-Past Three, Bearing Under One 
 Arm An Enormous Flower Box And In The     Other Hand A Card-Tray With One 
 Small White Slip Of     Cardboard Upon It. 
   
   
   
 "Mr. Bennet To See Miss Arethusa," He Announced. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Sprang Up, Almost Overturning Ross. 
   
   
   
 "Who Did You Say, George?" 
   
   
   
 "Mr. Bennet." He Extended The     Card-Tray, And Then The     Flower Box. 
   
   
   
 "I _Won't_ See Mr. Bennet!" Exclaimed Arethusa, All Over Pride At 
 Once, And Drawing Herself Up. 
   
   
   
 "Very Well, Miss Arethusa." 
   
   
   
 George Turned To Go, But Ross Stopped Him. 
   
   
   
 "Wait Just A Moment, George. Are You Quite Sure, Daughter, That You 
 Hadn't Better See Him?" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa's Eyes Flashed. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 284 
 "_I Won't See Him_, Father! I ... I...." She Fairly Choked Over The 
 Words, Her Utterance Was So Intense, "_I Hate Him_! I Never Want To 
 See Him Again As Long As I Live!" 
   
   
   
 George Looked Inquiringly At Mr. Worthington; This Was No Message For 
 Him To Be Carrying To The     Gentleman In The     Reception Room. 
   
   
   
 "Tell Mr. Bennet, George," Said Ross, In Answer To The     Look, For He 
 Knew That The     Butler Wished The     Conventions Observed On Every Occasion, 
 And He Was Half Smiling As He Said It, "Tell Mr. Bennet That Miss 
 Arethusa Wishes To Be Excused." 
   
   
   
 George Bowed,--This Was Much Better--And Disappeared. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Waited, Standing Poised With A Queer Little Expression Of 
 Strained Attention, Until She Heard The     Front Door Close; Then She 
 Sighed, A Soft Sigh Unmistakably Of     Relief. 
   
   
   
 Mr. Bennet Turned Away From The     Worthington House Uncertainly. He Was 
 Half Of     A Mind To Go Right Straight Back And Try To See Arethusa Once 
 More. He Was Very Sorry About Last Night. He Was Remorsefully Sorry, 
 When The     Day Had Fully Come. He Would Not Have Thought That Arethusa 
 Would Be Inclined To View Such An Episode As She So Very Evidently Had. 
 And Yet, On Further Intensive Consideration, He Realized That If He Had 
 Stopped Beforehand To Give Any Real Thought To It, At All, He Might 
 Have Known That She Would Take It In Just The     Way She Had. 
   
   
   
 There Was Nothing Really Horrid About Mr. Bennet. It Is To Be Doubted 
 If He Had Ever Had A Really Horrid Thought In All His Life; But He 
 Could Not Help Looking Like A Man In A Collar Advertisement And He Was 
 Born With His Manner. He Was Not Himself To Blame If Young And 
 Impressionable Things Feminine Insisted Upon Falling In Love With Him. 
 Who Could Blame Him For Accepting Such Admiration And Attempting, At 
 Times, What Might Be Considered As A Slight Return? Most Of     Us Like To 
 Be Admired. Mr. Bennet's Biggest Fault Was That He Was A Little 
 Selfish; Right Now, It Was No Larger Cloud On The     Horizon Of     His 
 Perfection Than Might Be Compared To The     Palm Of     One's Hand, But Owing 
 To All This Admiration He So Constantly Received, And The     Fact That He 
 Did Not Have To Exert Himself Very Much To Make A Cause For Popularity, 
 The Little Cloud Was Growing. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 285 
   
 But Mr. Bennet Was Really Almost As Unhappy Over This Affair As 
 Arethusa Herself, After He Went Over It Again Very Carefully, In The 
 Garish Light Of     Perspective. Yet He Had Thought Of     Course He Would Be 
 Permitted To Explain At His Call This Afternoon; That Is, Explain In So 
 Far As He Could Explain. Which Would Surely Make It All Right. He Was 
 Even Prepared To Explain To Ross, If It Was Necessary, And Although Mr. 
 Bennet Realized That It Would Not Put Him In Such A Very Good Light In 
 The Eyes Of     Arethusa's Father, He Felt That Mr. Worthington Might 
 Understand. And To Explain To Ross And To Appear So Undignified As He 
 Was Bound To Appear, Would Have Been A Very Hard Thing For Mr. Bennet 
 To Do, But He Was Quite Prepared To Do It; So Anxious He Was To 
 Straighten Out This Very Miserable Business. 
   
   
   
 Then Mr. Bennet, As He Sorrowfully Walked In All The     Bravery Of     A Most 
 Careful Toilette Made Especially For This Important Call, Remembered 
 The Little Air Of     Dignity With Which Arethusa Had Mentioned Marriage. 
 He Was Genuinely Fond Of     Arethusa. If It Had Not Been For That Little 
 Cloud Of     Selfishness, No Bigger Than The     Palm Of     One's Hand, Which Was 
 Keeping Him So Much In Love With Mr. Bennet, He Might Have Been Really 
 In Love With Her. But There Was Not Quite Enough Room For Arethusa, 
 Although She Had Crowded Into His Heart Enough For Him To Give A Great 
 Deal Of     Thought To Her. 
   
   
   
 "She's A Dear," He Said Aloud, "A Perfect Dear! And I'm Just As Sorry 
 As The     Deuce! But Any Other Girl...." 
   
   
   
 And He Poked His Slender Cane So Deep In Between The     Bricks Of     The 
 Old-Fashioned Sidewalk Of     This Conservative Neighborhood That It Was 
 Wrenched Out Of     His Hand And Stood There Quivering, And In His 
 Pre-Occupation With The     Idea Of     Arethusa He Had Gone On Without It 
 Before He Realized. 
   
   
   
 But Then ... Arethusa Was Not Any Other Girl, And She Had Had An Aunt 
 Eliza. 
   
   
   
                      *      *      *      *      * 
   
   
   
 "Open The     Flower Box," Suggested Ross, "And Let's See Who They're 
   
 From." 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 286 
   
   
 It Was A Truly Marvelous Box Of     Blue Violets Then Disclosed To 
 Arethusa's Enraptured Gaze. She Almost Forgot Her Unhappiness In Sheer 
 Joy Of     The     Wonder Of     Their Beauty And Fragrance. They Were Like Waxen 
 Things In The     Absolute Perfection Of     Their Tiny Petals; And There 
 Seemed To Be Hundreds Of     Them, Each As Perfect As A Violet Ever Was, 
 Smiling At Her With Friendly Blue Faces. 
   
   
   
 No Clue To The     Sender Could Be Found At First, For No Card Was Visible. 
 She And Ross Hunted All Through The     Box, And Finally, Way Down In One 
 Corner Under The     Paper, She Discovered A Damp White Scrap. 
   
   
   
 "_Mr. Gridley Warfield Bennet_," It Read, In Irreproachably Correct 
 Old English Script. 
   
   
   
 Into The     Fire Immediately Went Flowers And Box And Card, And Arethusa 
 Flopped Herself Back Into Her Chair And Buried Her Head Deep To Weep 
 Such Scalding Tears As Niobe, Synonym For Those Who Really Weep, Could 
 Not Have Scorned To Be Seen Weeping. Mingled With These Tears Was More 
 Than A Trifle Of     Regret That Violets So Supremely Beautiful Must Be 
 Absolutely Destroyed Because The     Gift Of     Such A Man! 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Remained Determined To Go Home, And As She Really Seemed To 
 Want To See Miss Asenath So Much, Elinor Made No Attempt To Dissuade 
 Her Of     Her Purpose Beyond Reminding Her Of     The     Parties She Was Sure To 
 Miss By Rushing Off So Suddenly. There Were Several During This Very 
 Week That Arethusa Had Been Looking Forward To. But Parties Had No Real 
 Attraction For Arethusa Now; Their Prospect Failed To Move Her In The 
 Least. She Only Desired To Get Away As Quickly As Possible From All The 
 Scenes In Any Way Connected With The     Late Wonderful Mr. Bennet; And To 
 Avoid Encounters With Any Of     Those Friends Of     Hers Who Might Be At All 
 Likely To Guess What Had Happened. Arethusa Felt As If She Could Not 
 Bear To Meet Billy Watts Again, Or The     Still Faithful Mr. Harrison; Or 
 Any Single, Solitary One Of     The     Boys And Girls She Had Come To Know So 
 Well These Last Few Weeks. They Had All Teased Her For Her Adoration Of 
 Mr. Bennet, And As Friendly As That Teasing Surely Was, She Could Not 
 Trust Herself To Face It Again. 
   
   
   
   
 And So, Early The     Very Next Morning, She Took The     Train For Home. She 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 287 
 Had So Much More To Put In Her Little Trunk Than She Had Had When She 
 Came That Elinor Had Sent Down Town And Got Her A Brand New One To Take 
 With Her Instead, And She Carried, As A Successor To The     Ancient 
 Handbag With Which She Had Come, A Smart Little Traveling Case All 
 Fitted Out Inside, That Had Been One Of     Her Gifts For Christmas. But 
 Some Dim Idea Of     Not Hurting Miss Letitia's Feelings Made Her Don For 
 This Returning Journey The     Quaint Little Blue Suit Her Aunt Had Made 
 Her. 
   
   
   
 Everyone In That Big House, From Ross And Elinor On Down The     Scale Of 
 Its Inmates To Even The     Outside Man Who Cut The     Grass And Hedges In The 
 Summer And Cared For The     Furnace In The     Winter, Was Sorry To See Her 
 Leave Them. George Forgot His Immeasurable Dignity As A Butler Long 
 Enough For An Excited Display Of     Real Feeling In Begging Her Most 
 Earnestly "To Come Back Again, Real Soon." Nettie Was Red-Eyed As She 
 Packed, The     Trunk. She Would Miss Arethusa Dreadfully. She Was Young, 
 And She Loved Parties As Much As The     Debutante Herself, And It Was 
 Almost As Good As Going To Them To Help Miss Arethusa Get Ready For 
 Them, And Then To Hear Such Glowing And Vivid Descriptions Of     Those 
 Festivities As Hers Were When She Returned Home. Clay Could Hardly 
 Guide His Car. He, Also, Was Going To Miss Arethusa Dreadfully. 
   
   
   
 "You Must Come Back, Arethusa," Said Elinor, Over And Over Again. "You 
 Must Be Sure To Come Back, And Soon. For This Is Just As Much Your Home 
 As That, You Know, Dear." 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Promised That She Would. She Surely Did Mean To Come Back, 
 Some Day. But Right Now She Only Wanted Miss Asenath. 
   
   
   
 The Returning Traveller Was Armed, As Well As With Her Legitimate 
 Luggage, With A Huge Box Of     Candy With A Flamboyantly Colored Lady On 
 Its Top, The     Shy Gift Of     Clay; A Bunch Of     Violets Identically Like The 
 Ones Which Had To Be Destroyed Yesterday, From Ross; And A Most 
 Superior Package Of     Lunch That Rosalia, Most Marvelous Of     Cooks, Had 
 Prepared Every Bit With Her Own Hands. This Really Had More 
 Significance Than Either Of     Those Other Gifts, For It Was Considerable 
 Of A Condescension For Rosalia. 
   
   
   
 Ross Put Her And All Her Belongings Directly Into The     Charge Of     The 
 Conductor And Asked Him To Please See That She Was Comfortable Every 
   
 Moment, And Then The     Train Pulled Out. And It Pulled Out Bearing Such A 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 23 Pg 288 
 Different Arethusa From The     One Who Had Started To The     City So Happily 
 And So Confident Of     A Wonderful Time, Barely Three Months Ago. But It 
 Actually Seemed Much More Like Three Years To Arethusa, When She 
 Considered All That Happened To Her In That Short Calendar Space. 
   
   
   
 But After All, As Those Wheels Revolved, Faster And Faster, It Was Hard 
 To Remain Wholly Unhappy. She Was Going Back To The     Farm And To The 
 Warmest Sort Of     Welcome From All Of     Them There, She Knew; Even If She 
 Had Been Guilty Of     That Which Would Have Miss Eliza's Heartiest 
 Condemnation Should It Ever Come To Her Ears. And How Glad She, 
 Arethusa, Was That She Was So Soon Going To See The     Folks At The     Farm! 
 She Was Really A Little Homesick Now, For Almost The     First Time Since 
 The Twenty-Fifth Of     October. 
   
   
   
 There Was No Mrs. Cherry To Entertain On This Train, And As Arethusa 
 Was Well Worn Out With Excitement, The     Whole Of     The     Latter Half Of     Her 
 Journey She Slept; And She Only Woke When The     Fatherly Old Conductor 
 Bent Over Her To Tell Her She Had Reached Vandalia. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 289 
   
   
 Arethusa Stood On Top Of     The     Stile A Moment Or Two And Surveyed The     Old 
 House With Eyes That Saw None Too Clearly Anything That Was Before 
 Them, Before She Climbed Down; Yet She Had No Real Need To Actually See 
 It, She Knew It All, In Every Well-Loved Detail, So Well. 
   
   
   
 It Stood There, Facing The     West, And Hugging The     Earth With That 
 Curious Appearance Of     Having Grown In Its Place Like Some Sort Of     Solid 
 Plant, The     Green Blinds Every One Swung Hospitably Open. The     January 
 Sun Was Far Down In The     Afternoon Sky, And Its Golden Light Was 
 Reflected In Every Small And Shining Square Of     The     Square-Paned Front 
 Windows, To Make Each Twinkling Pane Seem To Be Smiling A Welcome. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 290 
   
 And It Was All Just As Neat And Precise As Ever, Although In Winter 
 Garb Instead Of     That Of     Summer. For The     Clematis Vine Over The     Front 
 Porch Was A Matted Heap Of     Dead Tendrils (They Had Died For The     Season 
 In An Orderly Way, However) And The     Little Garden At One End Of     The 
 House Was All Covered Over With Straw For The     Cold Weather, And Queer 
 Little Miniature Straw Stacks Were Bound Around All The     Rose Bushes. 
 Miss Eliza's Roses Were Never Known To Die During The     Winter. Only The 
 Honeysuckle Vine Retained Its Greenness. All The     Dead Leaves Had Been 
 Raked Out Of     The     Yard, And Although The     Trees Stood As Gaunt And Bare 
 As Any Other Trees At This Time Of     The     Year, They Did Not Seem Naked 
 Like Other Trees. They Leaned Protectingly Towards The     House, And They 
 Seemed To Welcome Arethusa Too. 
   
   
   
 Through The     Lower Windows With Their Looped White Curtains, Arethusa 
 Caught A Glimpse Of     The     Flickering Of     The     Sitting-Room Fire, That Fire 
 Which Warmed Miss Asenath. After All, As Dear As Ross And Elinor Had 
 Proved To Be, And As Much As She Truly Loved Them, This Was Home, As 
 Timothy And Miss Eliza Had Declared. And How Good It Was To See It All 
 Once More. She Had Never Really Known Before Just How Much It Meant To 
 Her! 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Had Met Her At The     Station And Had Scolded Her Vigorously 
 (Scolding Sometimes Meant That Miss Eliza Was Trying To Control Her 
 Feelings) Nearly All Of     The     Six Miles From Vandalia, Because Arethusa 
 Looked So Badly, In Miss Eliza's Opinion. 
   
   
   
 "I Knew No Earthly Good Would Come Of     It," She Said, With A Satisfied, 
 I-Told-You-So Air. "You've Come Back Home Sick, After Gallivanting 
 Around In The     City, For Me To Nurse. And My Hands Full As They Are! I 
 Knew Just Exactly How It Would Be!" 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Did Not Mind This Scolding. It Was Really So Much A Part 
 Of The     Home Atmosphere That She Even Rather Welcomed It. And She Needed 
 A Scolding, She Felt, So She Might As Well Have It For One Thing As For 
 Another. This Was A Mere Bagatelle To What Miss Eliza Would Say If She 
 Knew What Had Happened At The     January Cotillion! 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 291 
   
 Arethusa Received Her Tirade With Such Unusual Meekness That Miss 
 Eliza Was Alarmed Immediately, And Convinced That The     Girl _Was_ 
 Actually Sick. 
   
   
   
 While The     Returned Wanderer Stood On The     Stile, Gazing At The     House, 
 The Front Door Flew Open And Miss Letitia Bustled Out, Arms 
 Outstretched. She Almost Ran To Meet Arethusa. She Could Not Move Very 
 Fast With Such A Fat Little Figure As Hers, But She Moved Faster Than 
 She Had Moved For Some Years Past. And Arethusa Dropped Every Single 
 Thing She Held And Flew Down The     Walk And Met Miss Letitia Before She 
 Was Really Fairly Started. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Aunt 'Titia, Aunt 'Titia!" 
   
   
   
 "There, There," Crooned Miss Letitia. "My! My! But We're All Glad To 
 Get You Back! Sister 'Senath's Done Absolutely Nothing But Watch The 
 Clock Ever Since We Got Your Father's Telegram You Were Coming. Why, 
 Dearie!" For Arethusa Was Crying Openly On Miss Letitia's Comfortable 
 Shoulder. 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa Isn't Well," Remarked Miss Eliza, Coming Up Behind Them With 
 Most Of     The     Dropped Belongings; "She Must Go To Bed Just As Soon As She 
 Gets Inside The     House." 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Lifted Her Head. "I Don't Want To Go To Bed, Aunt 'Liza. I'm 
 Not A Bit Sick." 
   
   
   
 "Well, Do Stop Carrying On Like Such A Ninny, Then!" 
   
   
   
 But Underneath All The     Sharpness Of     Word And Tone Of     This Speech, Her 
 Niece Could Somehow Read That Miss Eliza Was Glad To Have Her Back 
 Also. 
   
   
   
 And As For Miss Asenath.... 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 292 
 She Fairly Trembled As She Lay On The     Couch And Waited For Arethusa To 
 Come To Her. She Wore The     Rose-Colored Birthday Gift, But It Was Not 
 The Rose Of     The     Shawl That Had Reflected That Faint Pink Flush To Each 
 Frail Cheek. And It Was With All The     Rush Of     The     Old Arethusa Across 
 The Floor That The     Girl Greeted Her Dearest Of     The     Aunts, And Her 
 Strong Young Arms Clasped The     Tiny Old Lady Close To Her Warm Heart In 
 The Old Loving Way. But This Arethusa's Eyes Were Dewy And Her Voice 
 Held A Hint Of     Tears; And They Were Tears Which Wise Miss Asenath Knew 
 Almost Immediately Came Not From The     Mere Gladness At Being Home, After 
 She Bade Arethusa Stand Off So That She Might Look At Her. Miss 
 Asenath, However, Said Nothing To Anybody About Her Knowledge. 
   
   
   
 It Was Good To Be At Home Again, Arethusa Felt; Good To Snuggle Down In 
 That Old Place Of     Hers On The     Couch And Hold Miss Asenath's Hand Just 
 As She Used To; Good To Watch Miss Letitia's Placidity Throned In Her 
 Straight-Backed Chair And To See Her Fingers Flying As Usual And The 
 Heap Of     Work In Her Lap; Good Even To Listen To Miss Eliza's Scolding 
 Tongue; And Good To See Mandy When She Waddled In From The     Kitchen To 
 See "Arethusie" And To State With Positiveness That The     City Did Not 
 Agree With Her At All. But With All Of     This Glow Of     Feeling Over 
 Getting Home, There Was Really Something Wrong, Something Lacking About 
 It; Something Arethusa Dimly Sensed, But Could Not Exactly Define. 
 After Awhile Miss Eliza Gave Her The     Clue To It, When She Imparted The 
 News That Timothy Had Gone Over To Hawesville To A Dance. 
   
   
   
 "Timothy's Getting Mighty Giddy," She Added, With Great Disapproval In 
 Voice And Manner. "He Just Gads From One Dance To Another, All Over The 
 County, And He's Taken To Calling On The     Town Girls. That Little Visit 
 He Made To You In The     City Had A Very Bad Effect On Him, Too." 
   
   
   
 And Then With A Very Little Thought, Arethusa Knew Just What Was Wrong 
 With Her Home-Coming. It Was Timothy. 
   
   
   
 Timothy, Who Had Always Been A Part Of     Things For Her Ever Since She 
 Could Remember, Was Not There To Greet Her. Timothy Had Gone Off To A 
 Dance And Let Her Come Home Alone. Timothy, Who Had Always Said That He 
 Cared More About Arethusa Than Anyone Else In The     World, Had Not Seemed 
   
 To Care About Her Coming Back To The     Farm. Not In The     Older, Happier 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 293 
 Days Would He Have Done Such A Thing As This. And It Was Well 
 Calculated To Hurt When She Was Already So Miserable. But Then Maybe He 
 Had Not Known She Was To Come; Her Decision Had Been So Sudden. This 
 Might Explain. 
   
   
   
 "Did Timothy Know I Was Coming Home To-Day?" She Asked After A Bit, 
 Rather Timidly. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Snorted. "He Most Certainly Did. I Telephoned Him Myself, 
 This Morning, To Let Him Know. That's How I Happen To Know Where He Is! 
 You Did Something To Timothy, Arethusa, When He Was In The     City To See 
 You. He Hasn't Been A Bit The     Same Since He Came Home. Gallivanting 
 Around With Those Flip Hussies In Town! His Mother's Real Worried About 
 Him. And He Just's Running Himself Thin!" 
   
   
   
 She Would Have Pursued The     Subject Further, Had Not Miss Asenath, With 
 Gentle Diplomacy, Interrupted Such Pursuit. She Did Not Feel As If She 
 Could Listen To Miss Eliza And Arethusa Wrangle Over Timothy When The 
 Child Had Just Barely Got Home, After Being Away So Long. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Would Not Have Wrangled. She Could Not Have Wrangled With 
 Miss Eliza Over Anything In The     World, Much Less Timothy. She Wondered 
 Who Those Girls In Town Were That He Was Going To See; Timothy Had 
 Always Declared Very Emphatically His Dislike Of     The     Town Girls. But 
 She Wondered To Herself, Without Asking Anybody Any Questions. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza's Sharp Eyes Watched Her Niece. She Noticed Those Unusual 
 Dark Circles Under Arethusa's Eyes, Circles Which Most Certainly Were 
 Not There When The     Girl Went Away; And This Strange Quietness With 
 Which She Had Come Back To Them Miss Eliza Did Not Like A Bit. The 
 Tongue Of     The     Arethusa Of     Three Months Ago Would Have Gone Like A Bell 
 Clapper Under Circumstances Such As These. And Miss Eliza, Who For All 
 Her Sharp Manner And Her Scolding Tongue, Loved Her Niece In Her Own 
 Way As Much As Either Miss Asenath Or Miss Letitia, Suddenly Wished 
 That She Had Not Let Arethusa Make Her Visit To Lewisburg. She Left The 
 Sitting-Room Abruptly And Bustled Out To The     Back Door To Find Blish, 
 Whom She Scolded Most Vigorously, Much To His Astonishment And 
 Consternation, For He Could Not Remember A Thing He Had Done Or Left 
 Undone Within The     Last Twenty-Four Hours, Since The     Last Scolding, To 
 Be Scolded For. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 294 
   
 Mandy Had Prepared Such A Supper For The     Arethusa Come Back To Them As 
 Not Even That Much Vaunted Feast Of     The     Prodigal Son, For All Its 
 Fatted Calf, Could Equal. All Of     Arethusa's Favorite Dishes Were On The 
 Table, And It Had Been Set With The     Company China. Then Mandy And Blish 
 And Nathan, Also, Came In A Group To The     Door Of     The     Dining-Room And 
 Peeped In With Good-Natured Dark Faces Stretched Wide In Brilliant 
 Smiling, Just To See Her Eat A Few Mouthfuls. They Were So Glad To Have 
 Her Back At The     Farm. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Choked Up Several Times With All The     Homely Kindnesses She 
 Received. These Dear People Who Loved Her So, How Much Sweeter They 
 Were To Her Than She At All Deserved! 
   
   
   
 Immediately After Supper, Miss Eliza Made Her Niece Go To Bed. And 
 Arethusa Went With Such Meekness And So Altogether Unprotesting, That 
 Miss Eliza Trotted Along Up To Her Room With Her, And Felt Anxiously Of 
 Her Forehead For Fever. She Was Quite Positive Now That The     Girl Was 
 Sick! She Bustled Around And Helped Arethusa Undress. She Tucked Her 
 Tightly Into The     Little Wooden Bed With Its Turned Posts Which Had 
 Always Been Arethusa's Very Own, Covering Her Clear Up To Her Chin With 
 The Blue And White Squared "Counterpin" Miss Letitia Had Made As A 
 Surprise For Arethusa When She Should Come Home. Then Miss Eliza Blew 
 Out The     Lamp, Efficiently With One Blow As Always, Bade Arethusa 
 Peremptorily To Go Right Straight To Sleep, And Left Her. But Very 
 Unexpectedly, She Came Back After Shutting The     Door, And Trotted 
 Briskly Across The     Dark Room To Give Arethusa A Quick Little Peck On 
 One Cheek, Which Was Miss Eliza's Only Way Of     Kissing, And To Tell Her 
 Very Gruffly That She Was Awfully Glad Arethusa Was At Home Again, And 
 She Certainly Hoped That She'd Have Sense Enough To Stay. Then She Once 
 More Bade Her Niece To Go Straight To Sleep And Once More Departed. 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Could Not Go To Sleep. She Threw Back The     Carefully Tucked 
 In Covers And Got Up Out Of     Bed, Draping The     New "Counterpin" Around 
 Her Shoulders, And Paddled, Bare-Footed, Over To That Window Of     Her 
 Room Which Looked In The     Direction Of     Timothy's House. It Was Velvety 
 Black Over On That Horizon, But Arethusa Could Find The     Place Where The 
 House Ought To Be. It Was A Very Beautiful Night, Cold And Clear And 
 Starry. Arethusa Put Her Head Down On The     Window-Sill And Gazed Up At 
 The Stars. There Were Millions Of     Them, And They All Seemed To Be 
 Winking Straight Down At Her Just As Sympathetically As Possible. She 
   
 Had Always Loved Stars. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 295 
   
   
 As She Watched Them, A Sort Of     Mist Began Obscuring Them From Her, And 
 So She Brushed At Her Eyes To Wipe It Away, But It Only Seemed To Keep 
 On Growing To Be More Decided As A Mist; And Then It Dissolved Itself 
 Into Tears Which Fell Thick And Fast, Hot Tears Which Splashed On The 
 Window-Sill ... All Because Of     Timothy's Treatment Of     Her On This 
 Home-Coming Afternoon. Arethusa Felt As If Timothy's Friendship Were 
 Lost To Her Forever. Shamed And Humiliated By Mr. Bennet, It Had 
 Remained For Life In Its Cruelty To Add This Last Blow. For Unless His 
 Feeling For Her Was Absolutely Changed, He Would Never Have Treated Her 
 Like This. Arethusa Knew Timothy Too Well. 
   
   
   
 He Had Read Mr. Bennet Correctly, She Remembered Now, Thinking About 
 Her Best Friend; Or About The     One Who Had Always, Till So Recently, 
 Been Her Best Friend. He Had Called Mr. Bennet A "Four-Flusher." Would 
 That She Had Not Been So Blinded In Her Infatuation As Not To Heed This 
 Warning! She Could Recall A Great Many Times When Timothy Had Been 
 Proved Right In His Deductions, Which Surely Ought To Have Made Her 
 Place More Value On The     One Concerning Mr. Bennet Than She Had. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Felt, Just Then, As If She Would Even Rather That Miss Eliza 
 Should Know Of     That Episode At The     January Cotillion Than That Timothy 
 Should Know About It. Timothy's Good Opinion Of     Her, Suddenly, Seemed 
 To Arethusa To Possess A Great Charm. 
   
   
   
 After Awhile She Crept Back Into Bed, Her Teeth Chattering With The 
 Cold, And Cried Herself To Sleep. 
   
   
   
 In The     Days Which Followed Arethusa Was Kept Very Busy Telling Her 
 Aunts All That She Had Done And Seen In Those Three Months She Had Been 
 Away From Them. And Early In The     Next Week, Elinor Packed All Of     The 
 Pretty Evening Frocks Which Arethusa, For Various Scruples, Had Left 
 Hanging In The     Closet Of     The     Green And White Room In Lewisburg And Sent 
 Them Down To The     Farm, Thinking That Arethusa Had Forgotten Them, And 
 Might Like To Have Them. There Was The     Green Frock, And The     One Like 
 Tinted Autumn Leaves, And The     White Dress Of     Her Very Own Party, And 
 Many Others Besides, All Reminders Of     Evenings With Mr. Bennet. But 
 Even So, Arethusa Was Glad To See Them. She Had Not Realized That She 
 Loved Them So Dearly, Until She Saw Them Again. It Was Just As It Had 
 Been With The     People At The     Farm. She Spread All The     Gay Beauty Of     The 
   
 Contents Of     That Box Out In The     Sitting Room, And Tried Them All On, 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 296 
 Pirouetting And Turning And Making Vivid For The     Three Old Ladies Who 
 Listened To Her The     Parties To Which She Had Worn Them. 
   
   
   
 Miss Letitia Was Loud In Her Outspoken Admiration Of     Every Single 
 Frock; Her Simple Heart Could Not Decide Which One She Liked Best, And 
 Her Seamstress Instinct Marveled At The     Wonder Of     Their Making. Miss 
 Asenath Was More Quiet In Her Approval, But Her Eyes Sparkled At The 
 Brightness Of     Their Various Colors All Around Her. Miss Eliza Was 
 Noncommittal, Though It Was Very Evident That She Found Much To 
 Displease. When Arethusa Tried On The     Green Frock Which She So Dearly 
 Loved, She Openly Expressed Her Displeasure. 
   
   
   
 "Did Your Stepmother," And If Ever Her Rigid Little Body Had Signified 
 Disapproval Of     Anything It Did Then, In Every Line, "Did Your 
 Stepmother Permit You To Go Around Dressed Like That?" 
   
   
   
 "All The     Girls Wear Dresses Like This," Replied Arethusa, Defensively. 
   
   
   
 "Then--," Began Miss Eliza, With Decision, But She Snapped Her Lips 
 Together Just Like A Trap And Did Not Finish. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa, With Cheeks That Flamed, Put Away The     Green Dress, Hung In 
 The Darkest Corner Of     The     High Old Walnut Wardrobe In Her Room. The 
 Exhibition Of     The     Box Of     Clothes Ceased Abruptly For The     Time Being, 
 And Arethusa Fled Far Away From Any Chance Of     Miss Eliza's Questions. 
 The Green Dress Had Been Her Attire That Fatal Night Of     The     January 
 Cotillion. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Took His Time About Coming Over To See Arethusa, Although, Had 
 She But Known It, It Required Every Bit Of     Self-Control He Possessed To 
 Stay Away. He Had Wanted To Rush Right Over That First Afternoon, But 
 His Heart Was Mighty Sore Still, And He Was Taking The     Only Way He Knew 
 To Make Arethusa Understand That He Did Not Care In The     Least How Much 
 She Gazed Adoringly At That Very Objectionable Mr. Bennet. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 297 
 She Did Not See It Just Exactly That Way, However, And As The     Days Went 
 By And She Watched For Him And He Did Not Come, She Put Her Own 
 Construction Upon His Behavior, And It Was Right Along The     Line Of     Her 
 Conclusions In Regard To Him That Night When She Had Gazed Up At The 
 Stars, Thinking Of     Him. 
   
   
   
 But He Strolled Over, Late One Afternoon Quite Formally, Just As If He, 
 Who Had Half Lived At The     Farm All Of     His Life, Was Making A Polite And 
 Necessary Social Call Upon Its Inmates. 
   
   
   
 Miss Eliza Gave Him A Most Vigorous Tongue-Lashing--Before He Was Quite 
 Seated She Began It--For Going To Dances. She Considered Him Headed 
 Straight For Destruction And Had Had No Opportunity To Tell Him So. She 
 Had Seen Him But Once Since He Came Back From That Visit To Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "Arethusa Dances; Ask Her To Tell You What It's Like," He Said, Most 
 Ungraciously. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Horrid Trick, Altogether Unworthy Of     Him; But Then Timothy Was 
 Young And Things Were Going Hard With Him These Days. And Miss Eliza's 
 Tongue Was Very Sharp; It Cut. 
   
   
   
 So Miss Eliza Immediately Attacked Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "Timothy's Of     Course Mistaken. I Imagined You'd Be Going To Places 
 Where Other People Did Such Things, That Probably Couldn't Be Helped In 
 A City, But I Know You Wouldn't So Far Forget All I've Tried To Teach 
 You As To Indulge In It Yourself. It's Just Public Hugging, That's All 
 It Is, Dancing Nowadays!" 
   
   
   
 "But She Did," Put In Timothy. "I Saw Her." 
   
   
   
 "I Can Answer For Myself, Thank You, Timothy Jarvis!" Arethusa Said 
 This With A Bit Of     Her Old Asperity. "Yes, I Danced, Aunt 'Liza; Father 
 And Mother Let Me And They Didn't Think Anything Was Wrong With It." 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 298 
   
 "Well, I Must Say! This Beats Anything I Ever Heard! I'm Not Surprised 
 At Ross Worthington, For He Was Always A Bit Free In His Ideas; But His 
 Wife Certainly Ought To Know Better Than To Allow A Young Girl To Take 
 Part In Such Goings On! I Must Say! I Must Say!" Miss Eliza's Glasses 
 Left Her Nose Entirely In Her Excitement. "What Else Did You Do In The 
 City That You Haven't Told Us About?" 
   
   
   
 And Then ... Arethusa, To The     Great Amazement Of     Everybody, Suddenly 
 Burst Into Tears And Ran Out Of     The     Room. 
   
   
   
 "What On Earth Ails The     Child?" Inquired Miss Letitia, Anxiously. 
 "She's Not The     Least Bit Like Herself!" 
   
   
   
 "She Needs A Tonic," Answered Miss Eliza Decidedly. "I'll See That She 
 Begins It, Tomorrow. All That Carrying-On In The     City! Ross Worthington 
 Ought To've Been Ashamed Of     Himself To Set By And Allow It!" She Shut 
 Her Mouth Very Grimly. "I'll See To It That She Doesn't Go There Soon 
 Again!" 
   
   
   
 "But He's Her Father, Sister," Interposed Miss Asenath Softly; "You 
 Must Remember That." 
   
   
   
 "He's Her Father, 'Senath, And I Can't Dispute It. But He's An Awful 
 Unnatural One, The     Way _I_ Look At Things! And I Reckon, When You 
 Get Right Down To It, Arethusa's Just As Much My Child As She Is 
 Anybody's, Seeing How I've Taken Care Of     Her Ever Since She Was Born 
 And Had All The     Trouble Of     Raising Her. And If _I_ Know It, She 
 Shan't Go To Lewisburg Again And Come Home Like This, All Worn Out! 
 _I Just Won't Have It!_" 
   
   
   
 And It Was Not Hard For Everyone In The     Room, Timothy Included, To 
 Realize That Arethusa's Future Visits To Her Father Would Be Few And 
 Far Between, If There Were Any. 
   
   
   
 But Miss Asenath, Alone Of     All Of     Them Who Loved Her, Dimly Guessed At 
 Arethusa's Real Trouble. And She Tried In Every Way She Could To Make 
 Her Tell, For Arethusa Had Written Miss Asenath Pages And Pages Of 
 Rhapsody Of     The     Wonderful Mr. Bennet. But The     Girl Veered Away From 
   
 Such A Subject, However Adroitly Introduced, Just Like A Scared Rabbit. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 299 
 So After A Little While, Miss Asenath Gave Up Her Attempt To Find Out 
 Definitely, And Contented Herself With Showing Arethusa That No Matter 
 What It Was That Was Troubling Her, Aunt 'Senath Loved Her As Much As 
 Ever. And Her Niece Clung To The     Tenderness Of     This Unfailing Love As A 
 Drowning Man Clings To A Straw; It Was The     Most That Was Left To Her, 
 With The     Loss Of     Timothy's Comradeship. She Took That Tonic Miss Eliza 
 Procured For Her With Meek Obedience, Although It Might Seem As If Miss 
 Eliza Had Hunted Until She Had Found The     Bitterest And Nastiest That 
 She Could Find. But Arethusa Only Grew Paler And Thinner Than Ever; She 
 Lost Her Appetite Also, In Spite Of     The     Tonic. Ere Long, Miss Asenath's 
 Intuition Told Her Something Else. It Was Timothy Causing This, She 
 Believed, And Not Something That Had Happened In The     City. 
   
   
   
 And It Was Timothy. 
   
   
   
 He Was As Top-Loftical And As Haughty As Possible. He Made His Visits 
 To The     Farm Of     A Scarcity And Brevity That Brought Them Near To Being 
 No Visits At All. Such Times As He Did Condescend To Come Over To See 
 Them, He Spent The     Moments Telling Of     All Those Gay Affairs Of     Which He 
 Was A Part And Which Arethusa Did Not Attend, With A Brave Show Of 
 Worldliness That Deceived Them All Except Miss Asenath. Miss Eliza 
 Shook Her Head Over Him. She Did Not Like This Change In Timothy. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Alternated Between A Desire To Slap Him For His Suddenly 
 Acquired Society Veneer Which Had Such Power To Irritate Her, And A 
 Desire To Weep The     Bitterest And Most Scalding Tears For The 
 Completeness Of     His Defection. She Could Not Help Wondering, Sometimes, 
 If He Had, By Any Most Uncanny Chance, Heard Of     That Episode At The 
 January Cotillion; And Knew That Mr. Bennet Had Kissed Her And That She 
 Had Believed That He Wanted To Marry Her And He Had Not. The     Thought 
 Made Her Writhe In Agony Under The     New Blue And White "Counter-Pin." 
 Rather Would She Have Died A Thousand Deaths Than To Have Timothy Know 
 Of That Disgrace! 
   
   
   
 For He Had Been To The     City Twice Since She Had Come Home, With His 
 Other Gadding About; Flying Trips--"On Business," It Is True He Had 
 Said They Were--Yet He Might Have Heard Of     It. All Lewisburg Might Be 
 Ringing With It. Such Would Undoubtedly Explain Quite Satisfactorily 
 His Present Scorn Of     Her. He Did Not Seem In The     Least Anxious To Marry 
 Her Now. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 300 
 Timothy, However, No Matter What Arethusa Thought Concerning Him And 
 His Gayety And His Neglect Of     Her, Was Having The     Hardest Of     Hard 
 Times. If Arethusa Cried Herself To Sleep At Night, And He Did Not, 
 Being Masculine And Not Much Given To Taking A Refuge In Tears, He 
 Suffered None The     Less Keenly. It Seemed To Timothy That He Would 
 Never, As Long As He Lived, Forget Arethusa's Lovely Face As She Danced 
 With Mr. Bennet That Night Of     Her New Year's Party. Every Single Time 
 He Saw Her Now, It Seemed To Bring Before Him The     Picture She Was That 
 Night; Wearing Mr. Bennet's Flowers (He Was Quite Sure That He Knew Now 
 Just Who Had Sent Her Those Flowers) And With That Wonderful Shine In 
 Her Eyes Just For Mr. Bennet. But He Was Determined That She Should Not 
 Know That It Made Any Difference To Him. 
   
   
   
 Poor Timothy! 
   
   
   
 He Loved Arethusa More Than He Ever Had, With All The     Wealth Of     Love 
 His Clean Young Heart Had In Its Power To Give, Now That He Thought Her 
 Unattainable And With All Her Own Affection Given To Another Man. And 
 This Same Heart That Loved Her So Ached And Ached Over Arethusa's 
 Paleness And Thinness; But He Accepted Miss Eliza's Explanation As The 
 Literal One, That The     Winter In Lewisburg Had Been Too Much For Her, 
 And That All She Needed Was A Tonic. Had Timothy Talked A Little To 
 Miss Asenath, As In The     Old And Far Happier Days, He Might Have Formed 
 Very Different Conclusions. Yet He Would Have Bitten Out His Tongue 
 Rather Than Have Mentioned Mr. Bennet's Hated Name, Even To Gentle Miss 
 Asenath, Who Never Failed To Understand All That Troubled. 
   
   
   
 So Timothy And Arethusa Played At Their Cross Purposes All Through The 
 Spring. 
   
   
   
 For The     Winter Had Sped Itself Away Somehow And Before Anyone Was 
 Really Aware Of     Its Coming, Spring Had Slipped Upon All Of     Them. The 
 Days Grew Warm Once More And Arethusa Might Once Again Take Her Books 
 Back To The     Congenial Solitude Of     Miss Asenath's Woods, Where, With A 
 Thick, Woolly Carriage Rug Spread On The     Ground Under The     Hollow Tree, 
 She Lay For Long Hours And Read Or Dreamed. Miss Eliza Absolutely 
 Refused To Countenance Any Sitting Or Lying On The     Damp Earth Of     Spring 
 Without That Rug Beneath Her, In Arethusa's Present State Of     Seeming 
 Ill-Health; But She Made No Objections To As Many Hours Spent In The 
 Woodland As Arethusa Pleased, Only Provided The     Rug Was There Too. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 24 Pg 301 
   
 Timothy Was Very Busy, As All Farmers Needs Must Be In The     Spring. The 
 Garden Had To Be Got In, And The     Fields Plowed And Planted. He Did Not 
 Have Nearly So Much Time For Gadding, And Miss Eliza Was Pleased. She 
 Told Him She Was Every Chance She Had To Do So. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Looked Much Older, Miss Asenath Thought. He Had A Great Deal 
 More Dignity, And His Blue Eyes Seemed To Have Acquired Depth. There 
 Were Stern Little Lines In His Face That Had Never Been There Before; 
 Just As If The     Boy Timothy Had Given Place To The     Man. Miss Asenath 
 Loved These Evidences Of     His Growing. 
   
   
   
 But Often, When He Made His Rare And Formal Visits To The     Farm Of     An 
 Evening And He And Arethusa Sat So Decorously In Front Of     The 
 Sitting-Room Fire With The     Family, She Watched Him Then A Trifle Sadly. 
 Miss Asenath Believed That She Would Almost Be Glad To Hear Him And 
 Arethusa Quarrel Once More. 
   
   
   
 "Poor Children!" She Said To Herself One Night. "I Wonder When They're 
 Going To Even Begin Realising How Much Time They're Wasting! All These 
 Precious Days Are Slipping By And Nothing Can Ever Bring Them Back!" 
   
   
   
 And Then, With Her Frail Hands Clasped On The     Locket At Her Throat, 
 Miss Asenath Fell To Dreaming. 
   
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 302 
   
 Arethusa Gathered Up Her Woolly Rug And A Dog-Eared Copy Of     "Jane 
 Eyre," Which Would Have Known Almost Instant Confiscation If Miss Eliza 
 Had Glimpsed It In Her Possession, And Proceeded To Go Down To The 
 Woodland. It Was An Afternoon In Early May, And Unseasonably Hot. As 
 She Passed Through The     Kitchen, Mandy Paused In Her Bread-Making And 
 Looked Around. She Shook Her Head At The     Girl's Evident Intention, With 
   
 Disapproval. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 303 
   
   
 "I Wouldn' Be Gwine Out Theah To Be Settin' This Arternoon, Arethusie. 
 It Are Gwine To Rain," She Stated With Positiveness. Mandy Was By Way 
 Of Being Something Of     A Weather Prophet. 
   
   
   
 "Nonsense, Mandy! The     Sky's As Blue As Blue! There's Not A Cloud 
 Anywhere!" Arethusa Dismissed The     Idea With Laughter. "Don't Be Such An 
 Old Prophet Of     Evil!" 
   
   
   
 "Yes'sum, It Are Gwine To Rain." Mandy Left The     Table And Went To The 
 Door, Her Hands Full Of     Bread Dough, To Peer Out At The     Metallic 
 Looking Sky, "And 'Foah Ve'y Long, Too. See Thet Theah?" She Pointed To 
 A Low Brownish Grey Line Far Down On The     Horizon. 
   
   
   
 "Oh That! That Doesn't Mean Anything!" Arethusa Was Not To Be Deterred. 
   
   
   
 She Trailed The     Rug After Her Across The     Orchard And Into The     Woodland 
 Without Noticing That It Was Touching The     Ground Nearly All The     Way. 
   
   
   
 Miss Asenath's Woods Were Very Beautiful Just Now; They Were Always At 
 Their Loveliest In The     Spring. The     May-Apples Were In Full Bloom, And 
 The Ground Was Splotched With Great Clumps Of     Them, With Their Straight 
 Waxy Stems And Their Pale Green Umbrella-Like Leaves, Almost Hiding The 
 Delicate Flowers. Everywhere, Through The     Woodland, Were All Sorts Of 
 Ambitious, Tiny Trees Which Would Be Choked Out Later On By The 
 Heaviness Of     The     Growth Above Them, But Just At Present They Lifted 
 Their Beginning Life Towards The     Sun, Each One As Erect As Possible; 
 Making, All Together, Something That Seemed Like A Miniature Forest. A 
 Love-Vine, Sentimentally Named Parasite, Was Starting Its Curling Way 
 Over One Of     The     Shrubs; The     Moss Was Tinted With New Green; And Blue 
 And White And Purple Violets Showed Their Saucy Faces Here And There In 
 Patches, Scattered With Bits Of     The     Straight Dark-Green Of     The     Spears 
 Of The     Star Of     Bethlehem Leaves Which Made A Contrast For The     Lighter 
 Color Of     The     Violet Foliage. And The     Spring World Was All Very Still, 
 And Very Peaceful. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 304 
   
   
 Arethusa Spread The     Rug Underneath The     Hollow Tree, And Lay Down Upon 
 It, Resting Her Head On Her Crossed Arms. She Looked Above Her Into The 
 Curving Arch Of     Those Faraway Branches, Their Gnarled Age Made 
 Beautiful With The     Tenderness Of     Young Leaves. Some Of     These Were So 
 Small And Delicately Curly In Their Newness, They Were Almost Like The 
 Crumpling Of     A Baby's Fingers. Patches Of     The     Bright Blue Sky Showed 
 Through Them All. An Alert Robin Ran Across The     Woodland Like A Very 
 Fat Little Man In A Terrible Hurry, And He Paused At The     Edge Of     The 
 Rug To Look At Arethusa Inquiringly, His Head On One Side. But She 
 Never Moved An Inch To Notice Him, And So, Quite Satisfied That She Was 
 Nothing That Could Harm Him, He Pecked About Within Three Feet Of     Her 
 Head. 
   
   
   
 Dreaming Was Her Favorite Occupation Through These Spring Days, 
 Dreaming Of     The     Future And What It Might Bring To Her. And Arethusa, 
 Believing That She Knew Just Exactly What Was To Happen By Reason Of 
 What Had Already Happened, Settled The     Outlines Of     This Future In Her 
 Dreaming, Over And Over Again, Without A Single Ray Of     Light To Break 
 Through The     Darkness Of     Her Picture. She Would Spend It Here At The 
 Farm, This Strangely Quiet Farm; More Than Ever "A Household Of     Women," 
 Without Timothy Running In And Out Every Day. And Some Day She Would Be 
 Old And Grey Like Miss Eliza, Busy Farming It Herself, And Wearing 
 Plain Black Dresses And Scolding The     Servants When They Did Not Do Just 
 As She Wanted. It Was A Blank Future That Contained No Timothy. But 
 Arethusa Could Not Very Well Put Timothy Into The     Future When He 
 Refused To Be In The     Present. She Would Always Live Alone, She Decided, 
 And When She Was Quite Old She Would Wear A Locket Like Miss Asenath's, 
 And People Would Speak Of     Her As Having Had A Romance; For She Had 
 _Had_ A Romance, And It Had Ended Very Sadly. But She Would Not Wear 
 Mr. Bennet's Picture In Her Locket; He Was Not Worthy Of     That. Perhaps 
 She Might Wear Timothy's. She Had A Splendid Picture Of     Timothy Which 
 Would Look Very Well In A Locket. There Were Times When, Comparing 
 Them, Arethusa Was Quite Of     The     Opinion That Timothy Was Far Handsomer 
 Than Mr. Bennet. And Even If He Did Go Off And Marry Some One Else, He 
 Could Surely Have No Objection To Her Honoring His Picture So. His 
 Grandfather Had Not Minded Miss Asenath's Ownership Of     His Miniature, 
 And He Had Married Some One Else, Because She Had Loved Him When He Was 
 Young. Arethusa Had Always Loved Timothy; She Loved Him Now. If Timothy 
 Would Only Stop To Think Long Enough, He Would Remember The     Hundreds Of 
 Times She Had Told Him He Was The     Best Friend She Had Ever Had. 
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 305 
   
   
 Timothy Had Found, Besides His Farmer's Duties, Another Way To Occupy 
 Himself This Spring. It Was An Automobile Of     Very Recent Acquisition, A 
 Long, Dark, Grey Car Of     Beauty. And Nearly Every Night He Raced Past 
 The Front Gate Of     The     Farm In It, While Arethusa Stood Under The     Shadow 
 Of The     Clematis Vine On The     Front Porch And Listened For The     First Low 
 Hum Of     Its Motor Which Carried So Far Ahead Of     It Through The     Sleeping 
 Country, And Watched To See Its Light Come Flashing Up The     Pike, 
 Drawing Back Hastily Under The     Vine When It Was Close To The     Gate. 
 Timothy Had Stopped Once Or Twice And Asked Them All To Ride, But He 
 Had Never Asked Arethusa Alone. And Since He Did Not Ask Her By 
 Herself, She Was Too Proud To Hop In Beside Him When Miss Letitia And 
 Miss Eliza Refused His Invitation. If Either One Of     Them Had Gone, It 
 Would Have Been All Right. But Neither Would. 
   
   
   
 No Human Power Could Have Got Miss Letitia Into It, And Miss Eliza 
 Considered It Such A Sinful Waste Of     Money When Timothy Told Her How 
 Much It Had Cost Him, That She Showed Her Great Disapproval By 
 Declining To Even Sit In It. 
   
   
   
 But Nearly Every Night It Whizzed By On The     Way To Town, And Arethusa 
 Watched For It In The     Shadow Of     The     Clematis Vine. 
   
   
   
                      *      *      *      *      * 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Sighed Deeply, And Reached For "Jane Eyre," At The     Side Of     The 
 Rug. 
   
   
   
 It Was A Most Abused And Mistreated Copy Of     This Work, Bearing Her 
 Father's Name On Its Fly Leaf, Which She Had Found On A Recent 
 Rummaging Through The     Garret. A Glance Through Its Pages Had Made Her 
 Most Anxious To Read It. It Seemed To Be Rich With Sentiment And 
 Entertainment, Of     A Truly Romantick Nature. 
   
   
   
 She Had Read Only As Far As Jane's Venture Into The     World Of     Mr. 
 Rochester Last Night, When Forced By The     Unfeeling Miss Eliza Who 
 Viewed No Printed Matter As Of     Such Interest As To Make For Any 
   
 Forgetfulness Of     What One Ought To Do, With A Stern Call From The     Foot 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 306 
 Of The     Stairs, To "Put Out That Light, And Stop Whatever It Is You're 
 Reading This Minute, And Go Straight To Sleep!" Arethusa Had Wept 
 Bitterly Over The     Cruelty Of     The     Early Years; She Hoped, This 
 Afternoon, To See Jane Through To An Uninterrupted Conclusion Of 
 Perfect Happiness Such As She So Unmistakably Deserved. 
   
   
   
 She Read Eagerly; Her Grey-Green Eyes Following The     Lines Of     Print 
 Without Once Lifting. Her Only Movement Was The     Turning Of     The     Leaves, 
 Until A Large And Splashing Drop Of     Something Fell Plump On The     Page 
 Then Open, And She Wiped It Off. But Another Fell, Immediately After 
 It; Then Another. It Was Mandy's Rain. 
   
   
   
 So Arethusa Rose And Gathered Up Her Rug To Start For The     House. In Her 
 Recently Acquired Submissiveness, The     Disobeying Of     Miss Eliza To Stay 
 Out In A Rain Seemed To Have No Attraction. 
   
   
   
 But The     Storm Broke With Such Quickness And Fury, That Arethusa Got No 
 Farther Towards The     House Than A Big Oak A Few Yards Away From The 
 Hollow Tree. Underneath This, She Crouched, Covering Her Head With Her 
 Arms. For The     First Time In Her Life She Was Frightened Of     A Storm. But 
 Then, She Never Remembered Having Seen Such A Battle Of     The     Elements As 
 This Became, In The     Fewest Possible Moments. In Fact, For Years 
 Afterwards, Folks In The     Neighborhood Spoke Of     Happenings As Being Just 
 Before, Or Just After, The     "Big Storm." 
   
   
   
 The Lightning Flashed So Continuously That The     Heavens Were Like One 
 Steady Glare Of     White Light; The     Thunder Boomed And Crashed In A 
 Hideous Din Without Any Cessation. The     Rain Beat Against Her As Sharp 
 As Needle Points, And The     Wind Seemed As If It Were Trying To Lift Her 
 Off The     Ground To Fling Her Back Again To Crush, So Hard It Blew. 
 Several Trees Within Her Observation Went Down, Some Torn Up By The 
 Roots; Arethusa Could Have Wept Miserably To See Them Go, These 
 Woodland Friends Of     Hers. "Jane Eyre" Was Blown From Her Unheeding 
 Grasp And Against A Crooked Root Of     The     Oak Tree. Its Water-Soaked 
 Pages Flapped Madly Back And Forth; The     Equally Water-Soaked Rug Had 
 Been Flung Against A Near-By Bush, Wide Spread Like A Sail. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 307 
 Then Suddenly, With A Rush And A Roar As If The     World Itself Were Being 
 Torn From Its Moorings, The     Hollow Tree, The     Very Dearest Of     All The 
 Growth In Miss Asenath's Woods, Went Crashing To The     Ground. It Fell 
 Through The     Tree Against Which Arethusa Crouched, Carrying Branches Of 
 The Latter Along With It. It Was A Pure Miracle That She Was Not Hit By 
 Some Of     These Flying Branches, Or By The     Hollow Tree Itself, In Its 
 Fall; For It Was All Around Her, Hemming Her Into A Prison Of 
 Instantaneous Building So That She Could Not Move. Undoubtedly, Had She 
 Stayed Under The     Hollow Tree After The     Storm Began, She Would Have Been 
 Killed. 
   
   
   
 But With This Last Desecration The     Storm Seemed Satisfied; Its Fury 
 Abated. And Ere Long Leaves Slowly Dripping And Birds Chirping Were The 
 Only Sounds. 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Shivered. Her Teeth Were Chattering, Partly Through Fear And 
 Partly Because She Was Really Very Cold. The     Storm Had Seemed To Wring 
 Every Single Bit Of     Warmth Out Of     The     Air, And She Had Been Wet To The 
 Skin With That Stinging, Chilly Rain. Her Tears Fell Fast As She 
 Reached To Touch The     Hollow Tree, All About Her. Would That The     Wind 
 Had Blown Down Every Single Tree In The     Woodland If It Had Only Left 
 Her This One! 
   
   
   
 She Tried To Climb Out. But Every Attempt She Made Was Unsuccessful. 
 She Was Pinned In Against The     Oak Tree By Interlocked Branches Which 
 Her Strength Seemed Unavailing To So Much As Disturb. It Seemed That 
 All She Could Do Would Be To Lie Helplessly Back And Wait For Somebody 
 To Come And Find Her Before She Could Get Out. 
   
   
   
 But Would She Have To Stay In This Place All Night Before Anyone Did 
 Come? And Wait Until They Could Chop Her Out After They Came? How Many 
 Hours Would That Take? It Might Even Take Days! This Was Such A Big 
 Tree! 
   
   
   
 The Thought Brought A Sudden Overwhelming Terror Of     Her Predicament. 
   
   
   
 She Began Calling Loudly And Frantically For Everyone At The     House; 
   
 Miss Eliza And Miss Letitia, Blish And Nathan And Mandy, But None Of 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 308 
 Them Came. She Even Called Miss Asenath, Hoping She Would Hear And Tell 
 The Others. 
   
   
   
 Then ... She Called Timothy. 
   
   
   
 And Timothy Came. 
   
   
   
 He Plunged Through The     Dripping Woodland As If On Wings Or 
 Seven-Leagued Boots, Unmindful Of     The     Sloppy Ground And The     Wet 
 Branches Which Flopped Back As He Passed To Sting His Face, And He Came 
 As Straight To Arethusa As It Was Possible For Him To Come. He Had 
 Stopped At The     Farm To Get Out Of     The     Storm, On His Way Back From Town, 
 And 'Way Up There At The     House, Standing On The     Back Porch Watching It, 
 He Had Heard Her Calls For Miss Eliza And The     Rest, And Then For Him. 
   
   
   
 But Once In The     Woodland, And There Was No Visible Evidence Of     Her 
 Presence, When He Had Been So Sure Just Where She Was To Be Found, 
 Timothy Stopped Running And Called Wildly Himself For Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 "Here I Am!" It Sounded Thin And Like A Ghost Voice, Coming From 
 Underneath The     Piled Up Heap Of     Broken Tree Right Beside Him In The 
 Most Uncanny Way. 
   
   
   
 "Merciful Heavens!" Timothy Knelt Down And Began Making Frantic Efforts 
 To Move The     Huge Branches. "Are You Hurt?" 
   
   
   
 "Not A Single Bit!" Arethusa's Spirits Began An Immediate Reviving. 
 Here Was Timothy! The     Unmistakable Cheerfulness In Her Tones Somewhat 
 Reassured Her Rescuer. "Only I Can't Get Out!" 
   
   
   
 "And You're Quite Positive You're Not Hurt?" He Asked The     Question 
 Solely For The     Comfort Of     Hearing Her Repeat That She Was Not. For He 
 Did Not See How She Had Escaped Death In Such A Catastrophe. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 309 
 "Sure!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa, Feeling Now So Much Happier, Thought That Perhaps She Might 
 Stand Upright. She Tried The     Experiment Cautiously And Found That She 
 Could. Her Head And Shoulders Appeared Dryad-Like Above The     Young Green 
 Of The     Leaves Beneath Her, And Leaves And Branches Framed Her Face All 
 Around. She Waved Her Hand Energetically, And Called, To Attract The 
 Stooping Timothy's Attention To Her Present Superior Position. 
   
   
   
 His Relief When He Saw Her Was Almost Comical. 
   
   
   
 "I'll Have You Out Now In A Jiffy!" 
   
   
   
 But Such Was Not To Be The     Case, For Although He Poked And Poked About 
 Everywhere Distractedly, And Pulled At First One Part Of     It And Then 
 Another, He Was Unable To Move Any Of     That Tree, For All His Great 
 Strength. Then, Very Unexpectedly, Sticking His Head Around Under The 
 Lower Branches Next The     Ground, He Discovered What Seemed To Offer Some 
 Possibilities As A Road To Arethusa. He Started Exploration, And Very 
 Suddenly, He Was Right Beside Her. 
   
   
   
 Now That His Anxiety For Her Safety Was No Longer Rampant, Timothy 
 Could See For Himself That Arethusa Had Not A Scratch, He Remembered 
 The Present State Of     Their Relationship. That Look Of     Sternness Which 
 Made His Young Face Seem So Much Older Settled Down, And He Made 
 Business-Like Preparations To Help Her Get Out, Breaking Off Small 
 Branches All About Him. 
   
   
   
 "Do You Think You Could Crawl Back The     Way I Came In Here, Or Do You 
 Want Me To Go Back Up To The     House And Get Something To Cut The     Tree 
 Away?" 
   
   
   
 But Arethusa Was Loath To Leave Just Yet. This Seemed So Much Like Old 
 Times, The     Way He Had Come At Her Call, When He Had Used To Help Her 
 Down From Hay-Stacks Which She Had Climbed Too Rashly, And Rescue Her 
 From All Sorts Of     Other Strange Situations. She Could Not See His Face, 
   
 And So She Clasped His Arm, Gratefully, As She Had Used To Do In Those 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 310 
 Other Days. Timothy Stiffened A Little, But She Did Not Notice It. 
   
   
   
 "Oh, Timothy!" She Exclaimed. "Just Suppose You Hadn't Come! I Might 
 Have Had To Stay Here All Night Long!" 
   
   
   
 "I Reckon Not! Somebody Would Have Come." 
   
   
   
 She Was Chilled By His Tone. And When She Looked Up At Him, His Grim 
 Expression Made Her Draw Her Hand Away From His Arm, Abruptly. 
   
   
   
 "How Did You Get In?" She Asked, With Dignity. 
   
   
   
 Timothy Indicated The     Road. 
   
   
   
 So A Little Procession Started Back Through That Gap In The     Branches, 
 Which Arethusa, Had She Not Been So Frightened, Might Have Found For 
 Herself Without Bothering Him. He Went First, To Show The     Way, And She 
 Followed, Both On Hands And Knees. He Was Out When He Heard Her Scream. 
   
   
   
 "My Hair! My Hair Is All Caught! And I Can't Get It Undone At All!" 
   
   
   
 She Had Not Really Asked For His Help, But Timothy Turned And Crept 
 Under The     Tree Once More. Arethusa Was Badly Caught. Her Red Hair Had 
 Been Grabbed By The     Crookedest Possible Branch And It Was All Wound 
 Around It As If The     Hollow Tree Were So Determined To Keep Her 
 Underneath It That Either The     Branch Or Some Of     Her Hair Would Have To 
 Be Cut Off, Before It Would Let Her Go. And Arethusa's Own Efforts To 
 Get Loose Had Only Succeeded In Fastening Her Tighter. 
   
   
   
 She Accepted Timothy's Offer Of     Aid As One Who Is Forced To Something 
 Inevitable, And Bent Her Head Obediently So That He Could Get At The 
 Snarl Better. Timothy Worked Away In Silence, His Knees Braced In The 
 Soft Ground. His Fingers Were Never Very Good At This Sort Of     Thing, 
 And Right Now They Seemed To Become Clumsiness Personified. They 
 Trembled So That The     Snarl Seemed To Grow Worse And Worse With Each 
 Moment. He Gritted His Teeth And Tried His Best To Control His Hands 
   
 And His Heart, Which Raced And Beat So Loudly Above The     Crouching Girl. 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 311 
 He Was Quite Sure She Heard It. This Nearness Was Almost More Than He 
 Could Bear. 
   
   
   
 And To Have His Hands Buried In That Fragrant Mass Of     The     Hair He 
 Loved, Suddenly Proved His Undoing. 
   
   
   
 He Stopped His Ineffectual Work Of     Untangling; But Arethusa Did Not 
 Know That He Had Until She Felt Herself Held Close To A Wildly Beating 
 Heart And Heard Him Whispering, Hoarsely, "Arethusa, I ... I Just Can't 
 Bear It ... Any Longer!" 
   
   
   
 Then Timothy Kissed Her. He Kissed Her Hungrily; Her Hair, Caught In 
 The Branches, Her Startled Eyes, Her Cheeks, And Last Of     All, Her 
 Mouth. 
   
   
   
 "I Love You," He Said, Brokenly, Over And Over Again. "I Love You!" 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Lay Very Quietly, And Listened To Him Say It. 
   
   
   
 "I Can't Get Your Hair Out," Said Timothy, Miserably, "I'll Go And Get 
 Somebody At The     House To Come, But I...." 
   
   
   
 Then Arethusa Spoke, Softly. 
   
   
   
 "I Don't Want You To Go Get Somebody At The     House. I Want You, 
 Yourself, To Get My Hair Out." 
   
   
   
 He Almost Groaned. Why Did She Make Things So Terribly Hard For Him? 
 Suddenly, Something Occurred To Timothy. Arethusa Had Not Even Tried To 
 Slap Him For Those Kisses, Nor Had She Made Even The     Beginnings Of     A 
 Struggle To Get Away; Which Was All Most Un-Arethusa Like. He Looked 
 Down At Her, And He Saw That Her Eyes Were Full Of     A Truly Wonderful 
 Light, A Light Which He Had Never Seen In Those Eyes Before, And It Was 
 Shining Straight At Him. 
   
   
   
 "I Want _You_ To Get My Hair Out," She Repeated, "But Bef ... Before 
   
 You Do, T ... Timothy, Please Ki ... Kiss Me Again!" 
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 312 
   
   
 Timothy Did As Requested. 
   
   
   
 And The     Whole World Did Seem To Really Be Hushed Into A Startled 
 Silence By What Had Happened. 
   
   
   
 And Arethusa Forgot That Her Hair Was Fastened Apparently Inextricably 
 In The     Branches Of     The     Hollow Tree; Perhaps The     Hollow Tree Had Served 
 Its Best Purpose In Crashing To The     Ground. She Forgot All About Mr. 
 Bennet And That Timothy Might Not Want To Marry Her If He Knew Of     The 
 Episode Of     The     January Cotillion. She Forgot To Question The     Propriety 
 Of The     Number Of     Timothy's Kisses, As Too Many Before Their Marriage. 
 She Thought Of     Nothing In The     Wide, Wide World But Just One Thing; That 
 Never Had She Felt More Contented Than Where She Was, Held In The 
 Safety Of     These Strong Arms Of     Timothy's. They Seemed To Shut Her In To 
 Guard From All Unhappiness Or Terror, Or Anything That Could Possibly 
 Hurt Her In The     Days To Come. It Was Just As Though She Had Found A 
 Place Most Truly Her Own, Made For Her By Timothy's Love; And That It 
 Was Exactly What She Had Been Searching For, For A Long, Long While. 
   
   
   
 But She Was Still Arethusa. 
   
   
   
 So After A Time She Stirred, And Said Very Softly, "I Can't Possibly 
 Stay Here All My Life With My Hair Caught Like This, Timothy, You Know. 
 I ... I Really Think You'd Better Undo It. I Asked You To." 
   
   
   
 He Roused Himself With A Happy Little Laugh, And As His Fingers Were 
 Not Trembling So Much, This Attempt Was Quite Successful, And The     Red 
 Locks Were Soon Free. 
   
   
   
 Then They Crawled Through The     Place In The     Branches And Stood Upright, 
 Face To Face, Arethusa's Head Drooped, And A Warm Flush Mounted 
 Suddenly. She Could Not Be Said To Be At Her Best Appearance, For Her 
 Hair Was All Matted And Tangled, And Wildly Disheveled; Her Dress Was 
 Muddy To Her Knees, And Torn In Several Places; There Were Dirty Marks 
 On Her Face. But To Timothy, She Had Never Looked Lovelier In Her Life. 
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 313 
   
 It Was His Suggestion That They Have A Run Up To The     House. 
   
   
   
 Hand In Hand, They Set Off At A Mad Pace Through The     Orchard. Miss 
 Eliza Saw Them Coming, For She Was Restlessly Waiting On The     Back 
 Porch; She Had Been Waiting For Some Time. She Was Grim And 
 Disapproving As The     Flushed Pair Brought Up, Panting, Before Her. 
   
   
   
 "Well, Arethusa...." She Began. 
   
   
   
 But Timothy Interposed In A Very Masterful Sort Of     Way. 
   
   
   
 "You Mustn't Scold Her, Miss 'Liza, For She Came Very Near Being 
 Killed!" He Drew Arethusa's Hand Through His Arm With A Little Air Of 
 Proprietorship Which Did Not Escape Unnoticed. "The Big Hollow Tree 
 Fell And It Pinned Her Down. I Had An Awfully Hard Time Getting Her Out 
 From Under It." 
   
   
   
 At A Sudden Recollection Of     The     Getting Arethusa Out From Under The 
 Tree He Blushed Boyishly, And Most Violently, Even Through His Flush Of 
 Running. Arethusa Followed Suit. 
   
   
   
 "Hum ... Ph!" Said Miss Eliza. 
   
   
   
 She Regarded Them Both With Keen Eyes For A Moment, Those Keen Eyes Of 
 Hers That So Little Escaped. 
   
   
   
 "Have You," She Asked Suddenly, And So Suddenly That Both Boy And Girl 
 Jumped, "Have You Decided To Marry Timothy At Last, Arethusa?" 
   
   
   
 "Yes," Replied Timothy. 
   
   
   
 "No," Replied Arethusa, Although Very Weakly, For It Was More From 
 Force Of     Habit Than Anything Else. 
   
   
   
   
 
 
 
 Book Name (The Heart Of  Arethusa) Part 10 Chapter 25 Pg 314 
 Timothy Put His Arm Clear Around Her Quite Unashamed Before Miss Eliza, 
 To The     Deep Interest And Great Delight Of     Mandy, Peering Through The 
 Kitchen Door; And He Drew The     Unresisting Girl Close To His Side. 
   
   
   
 "Yes," He Repeated, With Firmness, "She Has!" 
   
   
   
 Arethusa Looked Up At Him Sideway, At The     Strength Of     His Young 
 Profile; And Feeling His Arm Around Her And Remembering How Strong And 
 Sure That Arm Had Seemed Such A Little While Before, Like A Bulwark For 
 Safety Between Her And Anything That Might Threaten, She Answered 
 Meekly, Almost Like An Echo, "Yes, I Have!" 
   
   
   
 And This Was Quite In Spite Of     The     Fact (And Yet That May Have Been The 
 Very Reason Why She Did, For She Had Always Declared So Emphatically 
 That She Would Say, "No!" To Any Such Proposition Coming From Him) That 
 Timothy Had Made No Formal Proposal Of     Marriage To Her So Far This 
 Summer. 
   
   
   
   
   
 
 
 Publication Date: June 16th 2014 https://www.bookrix.com/-whdbd538e463635