"Well that certainly was an improvement," thought Aaron as he went through the same operation, with a stronger feeling of self-approbation than he had enjoyed for some time past.
In the course of the next fortnight the family arrangements all altered themselves.Unless when Beckard was there Aaron would sit in the widow's place, the widow would take Susan's chair, and the two girls would be opposite.And then Dunn would read to them; not sermons, but passages from Shakspeare, and Byron, and Longfellow.
"He reads much better than Mr.Beckard," Susan had said one night.
"Of course you're a competent judge!" had been Hetta's retort."Imean that I like it better," said Susan."It's well that all people don't think alike," replied Hetta.
And then there was a deal of talking.The widow herself, as unconscious in this respect as her youngest daughter, certainly did find that a little variety was agreeable on those long winter nights; and talked herself with unaccustomed freedom.And Beckard came there oftener and talked very much.When he was there the two young men did all the talking, and they pounded each other immensely.But still there grew up a sort of friendship between them.
"Mr.Beckard seems quite to take to him," said Mrs.Bell to her eldest daughter.
"It is his great good nature, mother," replied Hetta.
It was at the end of the second month when Aaron took another step in advance--a perilous step.Sometimes on evenings he still went on with his drawing for an hour or so; but during three or four evenings he never asked any one to look at what he was doing.On one Friday he sat over his work till late, without any reading or talking at all; so late that at last Mrs.Bell said, "If you're going to sit much longer, Mr.Dunn, I'll get you to put out the candles." Thereby showing, had he known it or had she, that the mother's confidence in the young man was growing fast.Hetta knew all about it, and dreaded that the growth was too quick.
"I've finished now," said Aaron; and he looked carefully at the cardboard on which he had been washing in his water-colours."I've finished now." He then hesitated a moment; but ultimately he put the card into his portfolio and carried it up to his bedroom.Who does not perceive that it was intended as a present to Susan Bell?
The question which Aaron asked himself that night, and which he hardly knew how to answer, was this.Should he offer the drawing to Susan in the presence of her mother and sister, or on some occasion when they two might be alone together? No such occasion had ever yet occurred, but Aaron thought that it might probably be brought about.But then he wanted to make no fuss about it.His first intention had been to chuck the drawing lightly across the table when it was completed, and so make nothing of it.But he had finished it with more care than he had at first intended; and then he had hesitated when he had finished it.It was too late now for that plan of chucking it over the table.
On the Saturday evening when he came down from his room, Mr.Beckard was there, and there was no opportunity that night.On the Sunday, in conformity with a previous engagement, he went to hear Mr.
Beckard preach, and walked to and from meeting with the family.
This pleased Mrs.Bell, and they were all very gracious that afternoon.But Sunday was no day for the picture.
On Monday the thing had become of importance to him.Things always do when they are kept over.Before tea that evening when he came down Mrs.Bell and Susan only were in the room.He knew Hetta for his foe, and therefore determined to use this occasion.
"Miss Susan," he said, stammering somewhat, and blushing too, poor fool! "I have done a little drawing which I want you to accept,"and he put his portfolio down on the table.
"Oh! I don't know," said Susan, who had seen the blush.
Mrs.Bell had seen the blush also, and pursed her mouth up, and looked grave.Had there been no stammering and no blush, she might have thought nothing of it.
Aaron saw at once that his little gift was not to go down smoothly.
He was, however, in for it now, so he picked it out from among the other papers in the case and brought it over to Susan.He endeavoured to hand it to her with an air of indifference, but Icannot say that he succeeded.
It was a very pretty, well-finished, water-coloured drawing, representing still the same bridge, but with more adjuncts.In Susan's eyes it was a work of high art.Of pictures probably she had seen but little, and her liking for the artist no doubt added to her admiration.But the more she admired it and wished for it, the stronger was her feeling that she ought not to take it.
Poor Susan! she stood for a minute looking at the drawing, but she said nothing; not even a word of praise.She felt that she was red in the face, and uncourteous to their lodger; but her mother was looking at her and she did not know how to behave herself.
Mrs.Bell put out her hand for the sketch, trying to bethink herself as she did so in what least uncivil way she could refuse the present.She took a moment to look at it collecting her thoughts, and as she did so her woman's wit came to her aid.
"Oh dear, Mr.Dunn, it is very pretty; quite a beautiful picture.Icannot let Susan rob you of that.You must keep that for some of your own particular friends.""But I did it for her," said Aaron innocently.
Susan looked down at the ground, half pleased at the declaration.
The drawing would look very pretty in a small gilt frame put over her dressing-table.But the matter now was altogether in her mother's hands.
"I am afraid it is too valuable, sir, for Susan to accept.""It is not valuable at all," said Aaron, declining to take it back from the widow's hand.
"Oh, I am quite sure it is.It is worth ten dollars at least--or twenty," said poor Mrs.Bell, not in the very best taste.But she was perplexed, and did not know how to get out of the scrape.The article in question now lay upon the table-cloth, appropriated by no one, and at this moment Hetta came into the room.
