Belinda

“ And Belinda stooped and kissed her.
And then Blanche opened wide her eyes, saying.
"Where have you been?" she asked; "I have had such a nice sleep. It all came from the foxglove."
Belinda looked round to thank the boy, but he had vanished.
So had the cushion and the lilies, and the poppies.
"Why it's the old woodpath again," murmured Belinda. "I know the place quite well. Size, wise, prize, disguise; disguise, prize, size, wise," she repeated; "yes, the young gentleman must have been a king in disguise."
Blanche looked surprised. ”

“ He loves Belinda very much. Belinda’s dark and a beauty. Great brown eyes and an exquisite mouth: straight as an arrow, and the figure that everyone wants. You know. The more you take off, the better it looks. In her bathing-dress. . . . And she’s really a sweet girl. Since I turned fifty I’ve learned to expect nothing from twenty-five. But this child is not like that. Belinda treats me as if I were her very rich aunt. But she treats Ivan Pomeroy as if he were a hideous wedding-present which she can’t throw out for fear of offending the donor—a certain sign of love, as you will agree. ”

“ Belinda nodded comprehension.
The "Black Sheep" read the sympathy in her eyes.
"It's good of you to listen. You see, I've been away twenty years. It's a long time."
He sat silent for a moment staring straight before him, but seeing something that she could not see. Then he came back to her.
"Yes; it's a long time. One imagines the things one has left stand still, but they don't. I thought I'd find everything pretty much the same. Of course I might have known better, but—well, a fellow's memory and imagination play tricks upon his intelligence sometimes. I liked New York, you know. ”

“ It was after a hasty and simple luncheon, beginning with lobster salad and ending with tutti-frutti ice cream and chocolate éclairs, that the Ryder expedition drifted into a well-known jewellery shop.
Belinda, helping Katherine Holland to choose a stickpin for her brother, saw the familiar faces and idly watched the girls as they bore down upon a counter where a bland salesman greeted them with welcoming smiles. ”

“ Devenish.
Devenish (excitedly) . Money–thank Heaven, I have no money. Reputation–thank Heaven, I have no reputation.
(Baxter, very annoyed, moves down and sits on deck-chair.)
What can I offer you? Dreams–nothing but dreams. Come with me and I will show you the world through my dreams. What can I give you? Youth, freedom, beauty—
Baxter. Debts.
Belinda (still with her eyes shut) . You mustn't interrupt, Mr. Baxter.
Devenish (leaning across hammock) . Belinda, marry me and I will open your eyes to the beauty of the world. Come to me!
Belinda (happily) . O-oh! ”

“ Belinda shone for all. She allowed great and small to adore her. To her pupils she was just but merciful, and stoically impartial. The school superintendent, who had weathered the first throes of widowerhood, and reached the stage where he loved sitting upon a veranda in the twilight and hearing nocturnes played by some feminine personality in the parlour, suffered much emotional stress and strain in the endeavour to decide whether he would rather have nocturnes and a parlour-chained Belinda or a Belinda beside him in the twilight and no nocturnes. ”

“ Find me my little infirmier, Erard. I must have somebody who knows how to assist at a dressing. You are wasting my time."
"Ah, Belinda, why are you so cross?" cried the sergeant-major, with a pleading note in his voice. "Why so harsh with one who admires you so?"
"Tut, tut, Paul! Save your love making for village maidens," Belinda told him tartly. "Nor are we rehearsing a scene from a comic opera. This is serious business, this hospital work——"
"And I'd have you know," said Paul with sudden fierceness, "that I am serious, too, Cousin Belinda. ”

“ It was not until the following day that Belinda met Frank Sanderson. The submarine scare of the first evening at sea was all but forgotten in the morning sunshine and with the Belle o' Perth plowing through a perfectly placid sea.
The calm was not sufficient, however, to tempt Aunt Roberta on deck—or even out of her stateroom.
"An absolutely horizontal posture for forty-eight or sixty hours after leaving port is the only safeguard against mal de mer," the Frenchwoman declared. "How you can be so reckless I do not see, Belinda. It is almost a crime for a woman to possess such robust health." ”

“ The Lieutenant drew Belinda's hand through his arm and stopped her under the glare of the electric light.
"Don't be an idiot," he said brusquely. "Who is Miss Ryder? Who are the girls?"
The bullying stirred the young woman to intelligence.
"She's principal of the school. I'm teaching there. I brought twelve pupils to the theatre."
Amazement, comprehension, sympathy chased each other across the man's face and were swallowed by wild mirth, but Belinda's eyes filled with tears, and his mirth evaporated.
"Never mind. Buck up, little girl. We'll fix it some way. We'll get a cab. We'll kill a horse. ”

“ She led her charges home in time for chapel, and meditated deeply during the morning session.
Late on that same afternoon Belinda was conferring with Miss Lucilla Ryder when the maid brought a card to the principal.
"'Mr. Satterly'—I don't know the gentleman. What did he look like, Katy?"
"Turribly prosperous, ma'am."
"Ah! possibly some one with a daughter. Miss Carewe, will you go down with me? I am greatly pressed for time. Perhaps this is something you could attend to."
Belinda followed the stately figure in softly flowing black. Miss Ryder always looked the part. ”

“ With no night nurse, no assistance of orderlies, the work bore heavily upon Belinda and her infirmier. Jacob did what he could; but his wounds had been painful and he was only able to hobble about the ward.
Erard crept to Belinda's side as she was busy preparing packs and bandages for the day's dressings, and whispered:
"Mademoiselle, what will you do when the Boches come? Me, I shall slip away. I am a small man—and a cripple. They will not bother one like me. But you, Mademoiselle——"
"I speak German," Belinda said briefly.
"But you wear the French insignia." ”

“ Delia (smiling, on Belinda's L.) . I'll be your mother if you like.
Belinda. Oh no, that wouldn't do, because then Mr. Baxter would feel that he ought to ask your permission before paying his attentions to me. He's just that sort of man. A niece is so safe–however good you are at statistics, you can't really prove anything.
Delia. All right, mummy.
Belinda (enjoying herself) . You'd like to be called by a different name, wouldn't you? There's something so thrilling about taking a false name. Such a lot of adventures begin like that. How would you like to be Miss Robinson, darling? ”

“ Devenish. You are as old as the stars and as young as the dawn.
Baxter. You are ten years younger than I am.
Belinda. What sweet things to say! I don't know which I like best. Devenish. Where will my lady sit!
Belinda (with an exaggerated curtsy) . I will recline in the hammock, an it please thee, my lord—
(Baxter goes to the right of the hammock, saying "Allow me." Devenish moves to the left of the hammock and holds it, takes up a cushion which Baxter snatches from him and places in hammock again.) ”

“ Belinda wrestled heroically to suppress a fit of untimely mirth. She knew Amelia and her set so well. She could picture each detail of the musical flirtation, each ridiculous touch of sentimentality.
"I shall expel her."
Miss Ryder's tone was firm.
Belinda laid a soft hand impulsively upon the arm of the August One. "She isn't bad—just foolish——"
"She's made the school ridiculous."
[Pg 40] "The school can stand it. She's made herself more ridiculous, and it will be hard for her to stand that." ”

“ When the fortune which had seemed a premise in life's logic shrunk to proportions barely adequate to support the mother and the younger children, and became for Belinda herself a vague hypothesis, New York still hung mystic and alluring upon the horizon ”

“ But, poor boy——"
"Waste no sympathy on him," growled Paul. "He is a treacherous little beast. Whether it be true or not——"
"Whether what be true, Paul?" demanded Belinda, unable to smother her impatience, and shaking his arm in the grip of both her hands. "Tell me! Is there something wrong? What has Ernest said to you?"
"That the flying-man talks other languages than German. That he speaks French to that harelipped Erard. That they have long conferences together." ”

“ When the girl bade the matron and her particular friends among the nursing staff good-by that last evening and left the hospital by the side exit with her bag, it was her fate to meet Doctor Herschall likewise going out. Or had he waited for her?
"We lose you, do we, Miss Belinda?" he said, taking her bag with his usual assurance. "We shall miss you—none more than I, Fräulein, I do assure you."
"You are very kind, Doctor," murmured the girl, wishing that she might rid herself of him. ”

“ The robins were gone, and so was Belinda's occupation, but she had more important things on hand, and after the first joy of greetings, the little grandmother led Anne to a cozy corner of the little kitchen, where in a big basket, Belinda sang lullabies to four happy, sleepy balls of down as white as herself.
"Oh, the dear little pussy cats," gurgled Anne, as Belinda welcomed her with a gratified "Purr-up," "what does Becky think of them, grandmother?"
"She takes care of them when Belinda goes out," said the little grandmother. "It's too funny to see them cuddle under her black wings." ”

“ Belinda put a hand to her heart as though to still its throbbing and sat down suddenly. She heard Carl set a sentinel at her door. She felt herself to be in some personal peril, yet of what nature she scarcely knew.
CHAPTER XVI A THREATENING SITUATION
"Fret not thyself, Fräulein," Jacob said, with tenderness, patting her shoulder. "These are thine own people. If Germany is stern to her enemies, she is generous to her friends." ”

“ Upon Belinda's part there was no question as to whether the aviator was deserving or not. She loved him. Therefore she must save him.
"How can we get word to this Renaud?" the nurse asked softly, her glowing eyes devouring the face of the aviator.
"Oh, Belinda! how lovely you are!" he whispered. Then: "Isn't there a faithful Frenchman left about the place? Were you alone of all the old corps of attachés abandoned when the Germans advanced?"
"My little infirmier would not desert me. They have made a cook of him—these Germans."
"The man with the lame foot and the harelip?"
"Erard. Yes." ”

“ Sue Blaine hissed dramatically.
"For pity's sake! Who is here? Not—not Doctor Herschall?" and Belinda did not very successfully hide her anxiety.
"Nonsense! No! That perfectly splendid airman, Sandy Sanderson!"
"On this boat?" murmured Belinda feebly.
"Yes, ma'am! And he's going, too. His brother has just bidden him good-by and gone ashore. Didn't you know he was to sail? What fun! Wait till I tell the Herr Doktor. Wouldn't you like to see his face when I do?" And the mischief-loving Sue Blaine ran away before Belinda could make reply. ”

“ Devenish. "Belinda." It is far too beautiful to rhyme with anything but itself.
Belinda. Fancy! But what about Tremayne? (Singing.) Oh, I am Mrs. Tremayne, and I don't want to marry again.
Devenish (protesting) . My lady!
Baxter (protesting) . Belinda!
Belinda (pointing excitedly to Baxter) . There, that's the first time he's called me Belinda! This naughty boy– (indicating Devenish) –is always doing it–by accident.
Devenish. Are you serious?
Belinda. Not as a rule.
Devenish. You're not going to marry again?
Belinda. Well, who could I marry?
Devenish and Baxter (together) . Me! ”

“ Belinda (to herself) . Mariton! How funny! I wonder if it's the same one.
Baxter. What one?
Belinda. Oh, just one of the ones. (Gratefully.) Mr. Baxter, you are doing all this for me.
Baxter. Pray do not mention it. I don't know if it's Devonshire (going to and sitting L. of Belinda) , or the time of the year, or the sort of atmosphere you create, Mrs. Tremayne, but I feel an entirely different man. There is something in the air which–yes, I shall certainly go over to Mariton this afternoon.
Belinda (gravely) . I have had the same feeling sometimes, Mr. Baxter. ”

“ Belinda has from a great Wit, governed by as great Prudence, and both adorned with Innocence, the Happiness of always being ready to discover her real Thoughts. She has many of us, who now are her Admirers; but her Treatment of us is so just and proportioned to our Merit towards her, and what we are in our selves, that I protest to you I have neither Jealousy nor Hatred toward my Rivals. Such is her Goodness, and the Acknowledgment of every Man who admires her, that he thinks he ought to believe she will take him who best deserves her. ”

“ Erard was used to helping Belinda when she did dressings of importance, and if she insisted they sent him to her, as Jacob could not do everything. She asked a passing private to send her Corporal Baum, her cousin; but Sergeant-major Genau appeared instead.
"How now, Cousin Belinda?" he greeted her gaily. "It strikes me that I have not seen you for some time and that Carl is getting an advantage over me. It will never do—never do at all! I'll never allow another man—let alone a dumme Esel—get the inside track of me with any pretty Fräulein." ”

“ If, as has been claimed by worthy persons who have made physiognomy their study, the eyes reflect one's native spirit, and the mouth proclaims one's acquired character, [Pg 10] Belinda's spiritual and emotional heritage was in tears, but her mental habit challenged fate to hurl hall bedrooms ad libitum at her curly head. She had wanted to come to New York. Well, she was in New York. ”