We shall see . ' Of course Josie never slept a wink , and was in a fever of joyful excitement next day . Uncle Laurie enjoyed the episode very much , and Aunt Amy looked out her most becoming white dress for the grand occasion ; Bess lent her most artistic hat , and Josie ranged the wood and marsh for a bouquet of wild roses , sweet white azalea , ferns , and graceful grasses , as the offering of a very grateful heart . At ten she solemnly arrayed herself , and then sat looking at her neat gloves and buckled shoes till it was time to go , growing pale and sober with the thought that her fate was soon to be decided ; for , like all young people she was sure that her whole life could be settled by one human creature , quite forgetting how wonderfully Providence trains us by disappointment , surprises us with unexpected success , and turns our seeming trials into blessings . ' I will go alone : we shall be freer so . Oh , Bess , pray that she may tell me rightly ! So much depends on that ! Do n't laugh , uncle ! It is a very serious moment for me . Miss Cameron knows that , and will tell you so . Kiss me , Aunt Amy , since mamma is n't here . If you say I look nice , I 'm quite satisfied . Good-bye . ' And with a wave of the hand as much like her model 's as she could make it , Josie departed , looking very pretty and feeling very tragical . Sure now of admittance , she boldly rang at the door which excluded so many , and being ushered into a shady parlour , feasted her eyes upon several fine portraits of great actors while she waited . She had read about most of them , and knew their trials and triumphs so well that she soon forgot herself , and tried to imitate Mrs Siddons as Lady Macbeth , looking up at the engraving as she held her nosegay like the candle in the sleep-walking scene , and knit her youthful brows distressfully while murmuring the speech of the haunted queen . So busy was she that Miss Cameron watched her for several minutes unseen , then startled her by suddenly sweeping in with the words upon her lips , the look upon her face , which made that one of her greatest scenes . ' I never can do it like that ; but I 'll keep trying , if you say I may , ' cried Josie , forgetting her manners in the intense interest of the moment . ` Show me what you can do , ' answered the actress , wisely plunging into the middle of things at once , well knowing that no common chat would satisfy this very earnest little person . ` First let me give you these .
I thought you 'd like wild things better than hot-house flowers ; and I loved to bring them , as I 'd no other way to thank you for your great kindness to me , ' said XXXXX , offering her nosegay with a simple warmth that was very sweet . '
Amy Bess Cameron First Josie Laurie Providence minutes nosegay parlour