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Show 68 t\ 'Pf;l!llion ¢lo'"t b el Gll!l '!Rose anb $tl\ler -from her chains, forgetting that these are of her own forging, and anchor her to the eternal verities of earth and heaven. A single swift stroke had freed Mrs. Ross from her own "bondage." Isabel's father had died, while her mother was out upon a lecturing tour-in a hotel, which is the most miserable place in the world to die in. The housekeeper and chambermaids had befriended Isabel until the tour came to its triumphant conclusion. Mrs. Ross had seemed to consider the whole affair a kindly and appropriate recognition of her abilities, on the part of Providence. She attempted to fit Isabel for the duties of a private secretary, but failed miserably, and, greatly to Isabel's relief, gave up the idea. Madame Bernard had looked forward to Isabel's visit with a certain apprehension, remembering Mrs. Ross's unbecoming gowns and careless coiffures. But the girl's passion for clothes, amounting almost to a complete u reversion to type," had at once relieved and alarmed her. "If I can strike a balance for her," she had said to herself in a certain midnight musing," I sh:ill do very well." As yet, however, Isabel had failed to "balance." She dressed for morning and luncheon and afternoon, and again for dinner, changing to street gowns when necessary and doing her hair in ~ different way for each gown. Still, :an :afternoon C:all as Rose had said, she "suited herself," for she was always immaculate, beautifully clad, and a joy to behold. Madame Bernard greatly approved of the lovely white wool house gown Isabel was wearing. She had no fault to find with the girl's taste, but she wished to subordinate, as it were, the thing to the spirit; the temple to the purpose for which it was made. Isabel smiled at her sweetly as she folded up her work-a little uncomprehending smile. "Are you going away now for your 'forty winks,' Aunt Francesca?" "Yes, my dear. Can you amuse yourself for an hour or so without playing upon the piano?" "Certainly. l didn't know that you and Cousin Rose were asleep yesterday, or l wouldn't have played." "Of course not." Madame leaned over her and stroked the dark hair, waved and coiled in quite the latest fashion. "There are plenty of books and magazines in the library." Madame went upstairs, followed at a respectful distance by Mr. Boffin, waving his plumed tail. He, too, took his afternoon nap, curled up cosily upon the silken quilt at the foot of his mistress's couch. In the room adjoining, Rose rested for an hour also, though she usually spent the time with a book. Left to herself, Isabel walked back and forth |
