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Page 40
At this juncture of the affair, Princess Urazov came forward, and
said with a gracious smile:
"Now I think you and I should agree with each other, sir; I had
just as great cause for surprise as you had at the news of my
brother's engagement to your niece, but I know and love him so
well that I did not question the wisdom of his choice. And as you
know and love your niece, can we not agree to try and make them
happy together by giving them our blessing? After all, it is no
crime for two young people to love each other!" and she put out
her hands, which Canon Ebley, who was, after all, longing for
peace, was obliged to take. Then with a charm and dignity that he
was forced to admire, she drew him to the pair and placed his hand
on their clasped hands, and her own over it.
"See," she said, "Sasha and Stella, we both wish you all happiness
and joy--is it not so?"
And Canon Ebley was constrained to murmur, "Yes."
At this instant the door was opened violently, and the Aunt
Caroline followed by the Reverend Eustace Medlicott burst into the
room, brushing aside the frightened waiter, who would have
prevented them; then they stopped dead short, petrified with
astonishment, and before she could prevent herself, Stella had
pealed a silvery laugh, while she rushed forward and
affectionately kissed her aunt.
"Dear Aunt Caroline," she said. "Uncle Erasmus understands quite,
and has given us his blessing, so won't you, too?"
But Mrs. Ebley was made of sterner stuff--she was horribly
shocked, her feelings had been bruised in their tenderest parts,
the laws of convention had been ruthlessly broken by her niece,
and forgiveness was not for her.
She drew herself up with disgusted hauteur, while the Rev. Mr.
Medlicott stood there glaring at the party too speechless with
humiliation and pain to utter a word.
"Erasmus," Mrs. Ebley said with scathing contempt. "I do not know
how you have let yourself countenance this disgraceful scene, but
I shall not do so. And if my niece still persists in bringing
shame upon us all I must beg you to conduct me back to our hotel--
I wash my hands of her and shall no longer own her as my sister's
child, come"
At this, Stella gave a pitiful little cry and turned tender,
beseeching eyes to her lover, and the sound of her voice touched
that chord which was fine in Eustace Medlicott's heart. He seemed
suddenly to see things as they were, and to realize that love had
indeed come to his betrothed, though not for him, so he rose above
the pain this conviction caused him and let justice have sway.
He strode forward and joined the group.
"You must not say that, Mrs. Ebley," he said, "since your husband
seems satisfied, there must have been some proper explanation
made. You should hear them first. But I, for my part, wish to
state now, in the presence of everyone, that if Miss Rawson can
assure me she has made this choice of her own free will, and
because she loves this gentleman--" here there was a break in the
tones--"I can have nothing further to say and will give her back
her freedom and make my retreat."
"Oh, Eustace, thank you," said Stella, gratefully holding out her
hand. "I knew I could eventually count upon your goodness. I do
indeed love Count Roumovski, and why should not we all be happy
together? You will feel with me, I am sure, that our engagement
was always a mistake and now won't you be friends?"
She still held out her timid hand, and Mr. Medlicott took it at
last and wringing it silently turned and drew toward the door,
making his exit.
Silence fell upon the company until he had gone and then Count
Roumovski whispered in his harassed little fiancee's ear:
"Never mind his point of view, darling--yonder goes an English
gentleman, and since I have gained my star and he has lost his, he
has my deepest sympathy."
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