Free Fog Magic by Julia L. Sauer Page B

such a piercing look that Retha stopped suddenly. She always treated him as if he could hear and understand.
    â€œMrs. Stanton has come back from Halifax, Anthony,” she said distinctly and in that louder tone we always use to foreigners. “We don’t know for sure, but we think she got what she went after. Anyhow I’ll tell you tomorrow.” A little flicker of a smile lightened Anthony’s somber face. Greta could not tell whether it meant that he had understood or whether it was merely his response to a friendly gesture.
    Indoors Mrs. Morrill had opened the parlor and was putting little touches to her spotless house. The butter had been brought up from the cellar to soften, and preserves and dishes of candied ginger were set out. The delicate task of buttering the thin slices of soft bread kept both girls busy until after the guests had begun to arrive.
    All the neighbors were there who had been there on that Sunday afternoon when Mrs. Stanton had stopped on her way to Halifax. There were others besides so that the parlor was filled and some even sat in the kitchen. Mrs. Trask, impatient as always with any preliminary conversation, said briskly, “Well, Ardis, did you see the Duke?”
    Mrs. Stanton nodded happily. “Yes,” she said, “I saw him,” and paused.
    â€œWell, go on, Ardis Stanton!” Mrs. Trask bade. “We aim to hear more than that you stood and gaped at him. Even a cat can look at a queen.”
    Mrs. Stanton only laughed. “I must tell my story in my own way, Harriet Trask,” she said. “You always did hurry me. In school you stood better than I did and I always thought it was because you never gave me a chance to answer.” The others laughed, too.
    â€œTake your own time, Ardis,” Stella Denton said. “Like as not we’ll survive the suspense even if it doesn’t seem possible now.”
    â€œI reached Halifax pretty well worn out,” Mrs. Stanton began slowly. “But you wouldn’t be so much interested in what happened to me on the way. I walked most of it. Oh, I had a few rides but it seemed best to save what money I had for food and decent lodgings. At Annapolis Royal and at Windsor I had friends to stop with, so I could rest up and start Out fresh again.
    â€œI told you when I was here that I had a plan for seeing the Duke. I hardly dared hope it would work. But it did. Old Mr. Blackthorn, down on the Island, has a grandniece in service in Government House and he gave me a note to her. She turned out to be a pleasant girl and she promised to help me. Now this was my plan — somehow I had to get into Government House when there was a party; and somehow I had to be presented to His Highness. I knew there was no use in applying for an audience on business. I’d never have got past all the guards and aides and secretaries with my clothes and my story—no, nor with my wrinkles, either. But I had one dress—my wedding dress. My grandfather brought that ivory silk all the way from China for my sixteenth birthday. He said then it was to be laid aside for my wedding dress. I remember Mother thought it wasn’t suitable and that it was too elegant, but when I came to get married two years later, Grandfather made quite a fuss. She finally let me use it.”
    â€œThat was as lovely a length of silk as ever came out of the East, Ardis,” Mrs. Denton interrupted. “Captain Dakin must have enjoyed picking it out. But then he always favored you.”
    â€œI guess he must have,” Mrs. Stanton agreed. “I used to tell Mother she was just a mite envious of that silk. Of course, I knew she wasn‘t, but you know how proper she always was and how everything had to be what she called ‘suitable.’ And that ivory brocade, she said, was only ‘suitable’ for a court ball. Well, one day last winter when it seemed that I’d about reached the end of my strength, I went