The Green Satin Gown | Page 2

on your best hat, and come with me. Madam
Le Baron waits for us!"
It was as if she had said, "The Sultan is on the front door-step." I flew

up-stairs, and made myself as smart as I could in such a hurry. My
cheeks were as pink as Miss Persis's own, and though I had not the
faintest idea what was the matter, I felt that it must be something of
vital import. On the way, I begged my companion to explain matters to
me, but she only shook her head and trotted on the faster. "No time!"
she panted. "Speech delays me, my dear! All will be explained; only
make haste."
We made such haste, that by the time we rang at the door of the stone
house neither of us could speak, and Miss Persis could only make a
mute gesture to the dignified maid who opened the door, and who
looked amazed, as well she might, at our burning cheeks and disordered
appearance. Fortunately, she knew Miss Persis well, and lost no time in
ushering us into a cool, dimly lighted parlor, hung with family portraits.
Here we sat, and fanned ourselves with our pocket-handkerchiefs,
while I tried to find breath for a question; but there was not time! A
door opened at the further end of the room; there was a soft rustle, a
smell of sandal-wood in the air. The next moment Madam Le Baron
stood before us. A slender figure, about my own height, in a quaint,
old-fashioned dress; snowy hair, arranged in puff on puff, with
exquisite nicety; the darkest, softest eyes I ever saw, and a general air
of having left her crown in the next room; this was the great lady.
We rose, and I made my best courtesy,--we courtesied then, my dear,
instead of bowing like pump-handles,--and she spoke to us in a soft old
voice, that rustled like the silk she wore, though it had a clear sound,
too. "So this is the child!" she said. "I trust you are very well, my dear!
And has Miss Elderby told you of the small particular in which you can
oblige me?"
Miss Persis hastened to say that she wasted no time on explanations,
but had brought me as quickly as might be, thinking that the main thing.
Madam Le Baron nodded, and smiled a little; then she turned to me; a
few quiet words, and I knew all about it. She had received that morning
a note from her grandniece, "a young and giddy person," who lived in
B----, some twenty miles away, announcing that she and a party of
friends were about to drive over to Hillton to see the old house. She felt

sure that her dear aunt would be enchanted to see them, as it must be
"quite too forlorn for her, all alone in that great barn;" so she might
expect them the next evening (that is, the evening of this very day), in
time for supper, and no doubt as hungry as hunters. There would be
about a dozen of them, probably, but she knew there was plenty of
room at Birchwood, and it would be a good thing to fill up the empty
rooms for once in a way; so, looking forward to a pleasant meeting, the
writer remained her dearest aunt's "affectionate niece, Effie Gay."
"The child has no mother," said Madam Le Baron to Miss Persis; then
turning to me, she said: "I am alone, save for my two maids, who are of
middle age, and not accustomed to youthful visitors. Learning from my
good friend, Miss Elderby, that a young gentlewoman was staying at
her house, I conceived the idea of asking you to spend the night with
me, and such portion of the next day as my guests may remain. If you
are willing to do me this service, my dear, you may put off your bonnet,
and I will send for your evening dress and your toilet necessaries."
I had been listening in a dream, hearing what was said, but thinking it
all like a fairy story, chiefly impressed by the fact that the speaker was
the most beautiful person I had ever seen in my life. The last sentence,
however, brought me to my senses with a vengeance. With scarlet
cheeks I explained that I had brought no evening dress with me; that I
lived a very quiet life at home, and had expected nothing different here;
that, to be quite frank, I had not such a thing as an evening dress in the
world. Miss Persis turned pale with distress and mortification; but
Madam Le Baron looked at me quietly, with her lovely smile.
"I will provide you with a suitable dress, my child," she said. "I have