"I can see much beauty in that poem. I can feel its loveliness, but I could never put the poem together as that poet did, any more than I could trim a lady's bonnet," said Scott.
"Then you believe that every person is born with a taste for a certain occupation?" said June.
"Yes," said Scott, "everyone must have a talent, either small or great, and each one must work to cultivate it, if he would have it increase, or he may let it die for want of proper training."
"I guess my talent must have died, then," said June, "for I shall never make a mark in the world at anything."
"Every true, good, pure-minded woman makes a mark, my dear sister, and it is not always the great in name who are really the most worthy of note, although I honor the labor of a grand achievement. The private soldier who is foremost in battle is far more a hero than the most noted general, though he wears not the sword and plume."
"I am afraid it would be the hardest work of all for me to be a hero in goodness," said Paul.
"Why?" asked June.
"Because it is so natural to be wicked and selfish."
"I think all your selfishness lies in your desire for knowledge," said June.
"That is no doubt uncontrollable," said Scott, looking at Paul and wondering how June or any one else could resist the charm of his great dreamy eyes. But he supposed that June had hardly thought of love, and Paul was only a boy. He thought of it being her birthday, but could hardly realize that she was seventeen. He knew that she had plenty of admirers, but he hoped that she had not thought of marrying one of them.
She spoke to Scott of the number of invitations sent out, and among them was the name of Colonel Brunswick.
"Did you invite Brunswick?" he asked.
"Rene sent him the invitation," said June.
Scott's hazel eyes grew darker with the fire that shone in them. Paul, with his keenly perceptive powers, knew that there was a fierce struggle going on in his breast, and never did he pity the most miserable slave more than he pitied him at that moment. He was aware of Scott's wonderful self-control, and he sent up a silent prayer that he might become like him, and that the noble man might yet see happier hours. Of Irene's true character Paul already knew more than did Scott, and he feared that instead of his life clouds dispersing, they would continue to grow blacker; but he had a hope, slight though it was, that the scene which had been enacted on that dismal night would not be repeated.
"It looks cloudy," said June. "I want my birthday of all the year to be a pleasant one."
"I hope they will all be cloudless," said Scott, "but, June, I can hardly realize that you are seventeen. Many a young lady is married at that age."
"Many are very silly, then. I have not the least idea of giving up the best of my life by getting married."
"You are looking as sweet as a rose, June," Irene said as she entered June's room, faultlessly dressed, on the evening of that day. "I know mama will be delighted with your dress; it fits to perfection. I hope you will make the most of your opportunities. Mr. Linton will be captivated, I know."
"Mr. Linton!" June repeated, as her lip curled scornfully.
"Oh, I know what that means. It is a very good sign," Rene said laughing.
"It is a sign that I care very little for Mr. Linton's opinion. His dress will no doubt be faultless."
"And he be perfectly irresistible."
"Not so much so as Mr. Horton," June said, looking archly at Rene.
"Who is this Mr. Horton that you have invited?"
"Guy Horton and sister have both been invited. They live out West, and are visiting the Egglestons, where I met them some time ago. They are relatives of Mrs. Platts' of this city."
"Country people, are they? Why, what will Mr. Linton think?"
"What do I care what he thinks? He is not superintending this affair.
Perhaps I had better try the power of this new dress on Colonel Brunswick."
A jealous pang shot through Irene's heart, but she dare not reveal it, but June looked up just in time to catch the strange look that passed over her sister's face, for she had been suspicious of Rene's admiration for the colonel, and June never forgot the look which Irene gave her. Her eyes grew strangely large and dark, and her face flushed and paled alternately, but June was wise enough not to betray her suspicion, though she decided from that moment to find, if possible, what Irene really did think of him. Max Brunswick was a very handsome man, but she wondered that Rene could not see at once that he never would, or ever could, reach the standard of true greatness that Scott occupied. She would not accuse her sister, even in thought, if she were guiltless, so she determined to satisfy herself if she could.
Irene calmed her enraged feelings enough to speak, and turning her face that the light might not fall full upon it, she said:
"Oh, as to Max Brunswick, I would not waste my time on him, when there are golden fish floating so near, and all you have to do is to bait with a smile."
"But Brunswick is very handsome," June said, as she arose and walked carelessly past Rene toward the mirror, and glancing at her face to note the effect of her words, "and since so many of the girls are half crazy about him, I should follow the fashion, although none of them know the first word of his pedigree. And really it is not only the young, but the married ladies as well."
"Of course the married ones have no idea of falling in love with him, but he is such a society man, and of course it is nothing more than belongs to fashionable society to accept the attention of such men. It is very pleasant to entertain them."
"If I ever marry I shall never accept or even wish to accept attentions from any but the man I marry."
"Suppose that you marry a man entirely unsuited to your tastes, what then? Suppose that he is so taken up with his books or his business that he has no time or desire for pleasure of any kind, what would you do?"
The question went like an arrow to June's heart, for she knew that Rene's mind dwelt on her own choice, though she uttered the words not thinking how they would sound to June.
"Rene," June said in a sober tone, "I have made up my mind to one thing, and that is that I shall never be married without first studying the character of the man I intend to marry."
"Oh, dear," said Rene with a laugh, "you will have a great job on your hands if you set out to find what sort of a husband you are getting."
"I will undertake the job."
"I think, then, you will be an old maid."
"That would be preferable to living an inharmonious life."
"I think you will find Mr. Linton quite to your taste."
"I think the colonel might suit me better," said June, looking again at Irene.
"Silly, like a great many other girls," said Rene with a forced laugh, thinking at the time that she would spoil her little game. "But," said she, turning around before the mirror, "you have not told me how you like my costume."
"You look very pretty, Rene, and that cream silk is wonderfully becoming. I am sure Scott will be pleased with your choice. You dress with exquisite taste."
"Thank you for the compliment, but as regards Scott, I do not think he ever knows what I wear. Why, the night that I attended the party with the colonel, you remember I wore pale pink satin, and he just went into ecstacies over it, and said I was the most beautiful and the most tastily dressed woman there. But Scott never even told me I looked pretty."
"He may have thought so, though; you know Scott is not at all given to flattery, and he thinks much more than he says."
"I would rather he would do more talking and less thinking, then.
There is some satisfaction in knowing whether you please one or not."
"I should be quite satisfied to know that I did not displease."
"You are more easily satisfied than I am; but, June, I cannot get over the idea of your inviting those country people. I hope they will not look real shabby."