Chapter 4 The following evening Ella sat in her room primping in front of the small partially cracked mirror she had taken from the wall in their previous home with Mr. Neil.  She was actually wearing Shirley’s wedding dress fixed up with a blue sash around the waist and blue trim to make it look less like wedding clothes.  She was actually pleased with the effect and they had only to tack up the skirt to shorten it, so no permanent harm was done, which Ella had hoped to avoid.  She had put her hair up following the styles she had seen on covers of ladies magazines when she was shopping.  Ella was quite skilled at hair design and only wished Mina’s hair would grow out so she could play with it, which she knew would please the girl.  She pinched at her cheeks feeling as if she would burst from nerves.  She kept telling herself that white dresses were all the rage, and therefore no on would think it amiss to see her in white.  It isn’t in the style of wedding dresses these days, so who would guess she nearly whispered.  At least her hair was perfect: she couldn’t be modest about how nice her hair had turned out the way it was piled on top with the ringlets hanging down. She could hear the door open to the house and the sound of the floor moving underneath Keith’s heavy frame.  She was too frightened to come out of her room.  “Your dinner is ready.  Here.”  “What are you doing all dressed up like that to serve dinner?”  “Ella has a suitor.”  “I never heard tell of this.  Is it one of the Cox boys?  They always had their eye on her.”  “No, it isn’t anyone who lives round here.  She’s going to the show boat.”  “Where is she?”  “In her room.”  “Get out here Ella!”  Keith called, and Ella obediently got up hoping she wouldn’t be ordered to stay home.  He looked at her, and she weakly smiled.  “Well, you look mighty nice, but I’m not going to ask where you got a fancy dress like that.”  “Good, because Ella isn’t any of your business,” Shirley sharply spoke handing him the warmed bowl of soup.  “When is this man coming here?”  “He isn’t.  I’m going to walk Ella to the river front.”  “Why isn’t he just coming here?  Isn’t this place good enough for you two?”  Ella turned her head pretending not to have heard, and Shirley smacked down a cup full of water.  “No milk?”  “I’m saving that for Mina.  She needs it.”  Shirley wiped down the rest of the table with the dishrag, which was probably dirtier than the table, and straightened her back.  “Well, are you ready Ella?”  “Yes.”  “Well then, we’re leaving Keith, and I’ll be back to put Mina to bed.  Put your bowl in the sink when you’re finished.” Ella and Shirley hurried down Wimpole street which intersected Main Street, which led straight down to the river front, where the gaily painted show boat had been moored for a week or so.  It wasn’t far at all to the show boat, and when they were a few yards from the boat, Ella spotted Leslie, and squeezing Shirley’s hand ran towards him.  He looked up, and seeing how pretty she looked forgot to ask why her sister hadn’t stayed to be introduced.  He took her hand.  “You look beautiful.  I was worried you wouldn’t come.”  “Am I late?”  “No, I’ve just been here for a little while.  I’ve already bought the tickets, so we can go right in if you want.”  “All right,” Ella said nodding and smiling, brimming with excitement. They entered the narrow door, Leslie standing a step behind guiding her by holding onto her elbow.  The place was barely lit by gas lamps mounted on the sides of the auditorium, which gave off an oily smoke.  The stage had two rows of lights around its very edge, so as to light the players, but they had not begun yet, and people were still taking their seats.  They found their seats and sat in the dim light looking at each other, and Ella fanned herself in the warm air.  “I’ve never seen anything like this,” Ella confessed.  “Really?  Well, I prefer this to the types of shows I saw in Boston.  There is something about a showboat.  I think you will like it.”  “Oh, I know I will.”  “Now tell me.  What do you think of my friend Duncan now that you’ve spent some time with him?  Great fellow don’t you think?”  “Oh, yes.  I think him very good and generous.”  “That’s good to hear, because I worry some girls don’t take a liking to Colin.  I can’t see why really, but perhaps he’s too bookish.”  Ella smiled wishing they could talk about something else, even though Colin was very nice, but she realized that they were barely acquainted, and therefore they had little to speak about.  The manager came out and introduced the play, so their lack of conversation was put to an end by the beginning of the play. The play was a classic love and horror show, where girl meets boy, boy falls in love with girl, but is forced from her, and then a horrible creature comes to hurt the girl, and the boy comes to the rescue ending their separation.  The acting was not phenomenal, but Ella was impressed for having never seen something on par with it, and Leslie was no judge and wasn’t really there for the show anyhow.  If anything it was fun, and this was the only thing that Ella had ever attended for amusement, except the fair, but that was always hot and inelegant.  This seemed to Ella like the richest most beautiful thing she had ever seen or done.  She was sorry when it ended and the pretty people who almost seemed unreal took their bows.  So, to show support she clapped very loudly. Very quickly the showboat emptied of people, and Leslie and Ella were left standing in the now tolerable heat of a late summer evening.  “Well, what did you think?”  “Oh, I loved it!  Thank you so much Mr. Bayard.  I can’t thank you enough for inviting me.”  He smiled down on her beaming face, which was barely visible in the weak light coming from the showboat.  He wanted to kiss her, but he knew that would be inappropriate, and then she would probably insist on going home.  “It’s very late.  I should probably get you home.  Your brother will be waiting up for you.”  “He gets up so early in the morning that he’s probably been asleep for hours,” Ella said not relishing being reminded of reality.  “Perhaps we could stroll along the riverside?” Ella looked hopefully.  “Yes, I’m not particularly eager to go home at the moment either, Miss Ella, thank you for the suggestion.”  Leslie took her arm and they began to walk in the opposite direction of Ella’s home, where the nice river front houses had been built a decade ago.  “Do you live near the river, Mr. Bayard?”  Ella didn’t mean to pry, and her voice gave no sign of some devious meaning, so Leslie didn’t think twice about answering.  “No, we live in the middle of town where the shops stop on Main Street.”  “Oh,” Ella said quietly, for that was where all of the elegant homes were.  “Why, do you live near the river?”  “Yes, my brother’s house is on Wimpole Street.”  It was harmless enough to say so, because the south side of Wimpole was respectable, and he didn’t know she lived on the north side.  He seemed so open that Ella found herself continuing.  “My Father’s store was on Main Street.  He was an apothecary, and we lived there until he died.”  He nodded not complicating things with apologies.  “Then we lived with my sister’s first husband on Laclede’s Boulevard.”  “Your sister has been married twice?”  His tone was not accusing as some people were upon this news.  “Yes, well she was not long a widow, for she was young and had a very pretty baby girl,” Ella said pretending that these things helped rather than hindered.  “And a very pretty sister I dare say.”  His smile was so calming and beautiful that Ella felt entirely comfortable.  She almost felt as if she could tell him she was destitute, but she held back, not wishing to speak of something so unpleasant.  “My Mother is from New England, but my Father is a Frenchman from this general area.”  “Really?  That’s interesting.  Where did they meet?”  “He brought her home from school, but I didn’t follow his lead.  I don’t like the eastern girls anymore than I do my Mother.  You must excuse me for saying that, but she is rather harsh.”  Ella nodded understanding more than he knew.  They continued to walk in silence, Leslie holding Ella’s arm.  “Do you attend St. Genevieve’s, Miss Ella?”  “Yes.”  “Perhaps I’ll see you tomorrow morning then.”  “I don’t suppose your pew is anywhere near mine, put perhaps we will run into each other.”  “We should turn back, we’ll have too far to walk you home.”  “Mr. Bayard there is something you should know…”  “It’s all right, Miss Ella.”  He looked down at her, and they stopped walking.  Leslie led her back down the street in the direction of her home.  “How…why you don’t even know what I was going to say?”  “I followed you home yesterday afternoon, Miss Ella.  Please forgive me, but I wished to see where you lived.”  “Oh, you shouldn’t have done that, Mr. Bayard,” Ella said pulling away her arm and he didn’t protest.  “I know, but I’m terribly crazy about you Miss Ella, and I was only curious, not because I was sizing you up.  Lord I don’t care about that.  I knew I shouldn’t be doing it, but I couldn’t stop, and I wanted to make sure you would get home all right.”  Ella didn’t answer, and she tried to tell herself that it said something for him to show up to their date at all, so she should be glad of that at least.  They walked in silence until they reached the house.  “Thank you, Mr. Bayard.  Nothing could spoil this evening.”  He took her hand and pressed it to his lips.  “Please forgive me, Miss Ella, and promise you’ll try to see me tomorrow after church.  I shall be waiting for you.”  She nodded yes, but she figured he wouldn’t uphold this promise, because after a good night’s sleep he would realize the difference in their situations. Chapter 5 Ella woke up feeling as if she had lived a vivid dream, and she vaguely recalled his promise to seek her out at church.  Ella was accustomed to coming to church just as the last bell sounded, so as to be of no notice, and then she would sit in a back pew on the aisle, where she could leave quickly after the service had ended.  Very rarely did anyone come with her.  Keith was not a religious man, and while Shirley had been raised a good Catholic, she rarely attended, because she felt she was not properly attired and besides that she was tired from a long week.  Ella wished for nothing more than to be able to take Mina on occasion with her, so she would not grow up with out religion and good morals, but Mina was often too sick.  Indeed her appearance was not at all what it should be with her unfortunate attire and very short clipped hair which almost refused to grow.  It was a shame that Mina was so ill suited for given the chance the child would have been very attractive, indeed she resembled her aunt in many ways, only that she was thin and somewhat wasted in appearance.  So, as usual, Ella left the house and made her way down Wimpole, where she would turn right onto Church Street, where the oldest building in town stood, St. Genevieve’s.  She had no real hope of seeing Mr. Bayard, because she had thoroughly resigned herself to the end of his attentions.  The bell was just finishing its last ring when she slid into the back pew, and as much as she tried she could not distinguish anyone far in front where the leaders of the city sat in attendance.  She folded her hands calling shame upon herself for thinking such worldly unimportant thoughts in the house of God.  Nothing changed about her routine: First she prayed for her Father, then her Mother whom she did not remember, then her Sister and Mina, and then Mr. Neil, reluctantly she asked the Lord to remember Mr. Emmett, and as always repented for being so unthankful.  For a fleeting moment she thought of Mr. Duncan and Mr. Bayard, but pushed them out of her memory, but as she did so, she vowed to go to the library tomorrow to look around if nothing else. The service ended, and Ella stood up straightening her skirts.  She walked slowly out of the door into the cooler air of an early morning, which had been freshened, by rain.  She stepped over a puddle and made way for an important looking woman, and she marveled that she hadn’t heard the rain during the service.  It occurred to her that she ought to wait for a few moments to see if Mr. Bayard came forth, but on the other hand as she expected he wished to avoid such a scene, she did not want to be seen waiting about like a puppy.  So, she dawdled down the shallow steps of St. Genevieve’s and tried to look otherwise absorbed.  “Miss Ella!”  She turned and saw Mr. Bayard hurrying down the steps towards her, two at a time.  “Miss Ella,” he called again.  Ella thanked heaven that with the noisy crowd of church no one seemed to be drawn to this spectacle.  “I’m so glad to have found you!  Such a crowd, which I did not remember from before I went away to school.  Has the attendance thus increased?”  All of this was spoken quickly in one breath without pause.  “I don’t think so,” Ella said smiling.  “But of course a crowd always seems very daunting when one is in search of something.”  “Yes, and very handy when that something is found.”  Leslie smiled curiously.  “Miss Ella I must ask for you to allow me to drive you home, for it looks at any moment to open up again, and you have forgotten your parasol.”  “So I have, but I don’t think I should have too much trouble if I hurry.  Besides, how should your parents get home, if you were to take their conveyance?”  “Oh, they have their own carriage waiting for them, mine is just a little chaise, but it would afford some protection.  Please let me be of some assistance.”  “Oh, I don’t think I should.  If it is to rain, I should just walk home quickly.  Walking is my only exercise.”  “No, no, I have just felt a drop.  I will not have this; I have felt a drop.  I will not be held accountable for your catching a cold, Miss Ella,” he said taking her arm, and Ella was not suited to say no.  He led her in the increasing drizzle to his chaise parked along Church Street and he lifted her into the vehicle, and after getting in himself, he started the horse off. “Who was that?”  “Who was who?”  “You got out of someone’s chaise!” Keith nearly shouted, and Shirley’s head popped up.  Ella looked towards her sister for support, but Shirley only looked questioningly back.  Ella nodded yes to answer Shirley’s question.  Her sister jumped up and ran to the window to try and catch a glimpse of the famous Mr. B, but he had long taken off.  “Will someone tell me what’s going on?” Keith said even louder.  “I told you yesterday, Keith, so calm down.  I won’t have you yelling at Ella.”  He looked suspiciously at Shirley and Ella in turn.  Keith wasn’t a mean man, but he was often in a bad mood, because he was tired, and Ella tried not to be frightened by him.  “May I take Mina for a walk?”  Shirley thought for a moment.  “Isn’t it raining?”  “No it stopped, and it’s clearing,” Ella said nodding towards the window.  “Well, I don’t see why not, but Mina isn’t dressed.”  “I’ll do it,” Ella said getting up to find Mina where she often hid in Ella’s own room.  “Come on Mina.  I’m going to take you for a walk.”  Mina obediently came out from behind the bed, and Ella pulled the child’s nightgown off.  “Why don’t you visit Mrs. Cox?” called Shirley, and Ella wished she could pretend she hadn’t heard.  Ella had no wish to visit anyone, she had merely wanted to walk, but Mrs. Cox had supplied the needed thread, so it was right to thank her. Having dressed Mina and washing her face, Ella headed out the door going north where the Coxes lived a block away.  Ella was obliged to take small steps to stay at her companion’s pace and they slowly made their way in this manner.  Standing outside was the youngest Cox, Jeremy, who was a year Ella’s senior, and their other two boys were equally close in age.  Ella had hoped they wouldn’t be home.  Jeremy took off his dirty hat and grunted hello.  “I’ve come to see your mother,” Ella said trying to summon up her courage under such vulgar looks as Jeremy was giving her entire body.  “I don’t suppose she’s in?”  “Yeah, Ma’s inside,” he said jerking his thumb and leaning over to pull open the doorframe.  “Thank you,” Ella said pulling Mina along who was afraid of men.  She entered the dark house which was even worse off than their own, and was met with three horrible truths, Hank Cox was sitting next to his mother, Jacob Cox was in the corner leaning back on a wooden chair, and Jeremy had followed her into the house.  “Hello, Ella, dear, how are you?” Mrs. Cox said in her loud voice.  Mrs. Cox was a large woman, and Ella thought all three of her boys probably had to work pretty hard to keep her that well fed.  “I’m fine thank you, Mrs. Cox.”  “Pull up a chair for Ella, Jeremy,” Mrs. Cox said smiling at the thought of female company, even if it was an outsider like Shirley Emmett or Ella Douglas, for that’s what she called them with tolerant affection, outsiders.  Ella sat in the tall straight-backed chair and did her best to look at ease, but she could feel everyone’s eyes on her, and some of them didn’t have any manners.  “I wanted to thank you for the thread you gave to my sister, Mrs. Cox, I appreciated your generosity, for we had no time to buy our own.”  “Well, I’m only glad I didn’t have any girls, because they’re a heap of trouble always needing something pretty to wear.  I see you brought that little mite.  She sure is tiny,” Mrs. Cox said nodding at poor Mina who was standing at Ella’s side, clutching her skirts.  “She’s doing much better actually.”  “Hmm…seems as if that child could use some beets, because that is what my mother always gave to sickly children.”  “Beets, thank you Mrs. Cox for that suggestion.”  Someone was always prescribing something for Mina, but they never tried what Shirley called nonsense remedies.  Ella glanced around at the other three sets of eyes, which she had otherwise ignored and nervously smiled.  “The boys tell me that Mr. Emmett is working double shifts a lot.”  “He’s only worked two as far as I know, but…”  “The boys say he says he’s planning to be working plenty more double shifts.  I should hope you wouldn’t have your husband work that hard, Ella,” Mrs. Cox said lifting one eyebrow.  Ella had a strong urge to state the fact that they needn’t worry, because she would never marry any of the Cox clan, but she bit her tongue.  “I haven’t a husband, Mrs. Cox.”  “True,” she said with as much hinting as that one word allowed her to express.  Even though Ella was merely an outsider, she was extremely pretty, which qualified her as good enough for the Coxes boys.  “Now just what did you need that thread for?  Your sister said it was for something she was making for you. Am I going to get to see it?”  “It was used to put trimming on one of my dresses.”  Hank stifled a laugh, which resembled a grunt, and Mina pulled closer.  Ella patted the child’s head and stood up.  “Must you be going, Ella?” Mrs. Cox inquired.  “Yes, but thank you again,” Ella said opening the door, but before she could leave Jacob said in a booming voice, “I’ll walk you home, Ella.”  “Oh, Mina and I weren’t going home, thank you.  We’re on a walk.”  “Then I’ll compny you on yuh walk.”  Jacob stood up and lumbered towards her, and she saw no way to stop him.  Ella was frightened of Jacob, because not only was he the oldest Cox, but he was also the biggest, and Ella feared he wasn’t as harmless as Keith was. Jacob walked close beside her as they headed back in the direction of the house, where she hoped she could loose him by changing her mind about the walk.  He didn’t have anything to say, which suited Ella just fine, but he breathed on her neck as they walked, and she had the urge to shy away.  Mina silently held her hand on the other side, and Ella wished their walk had not turned out so badly, because Mina seldom went about, so it was a shame to have the day ruined.  They approached the house, and Ella summoned up her courage, which made her voice come out louder than she had expected.  “Thank you Jacob, but I think Mina is tired, we shall not go any farther today.”  “Put the child away, and we can walk.”  “Oh, I don’t think so, I’m feeling a little fatigued myself.”  He grabbed her arm, and she looked at his harsh face fighting an urge to scream.  “Listen here Ella, I’ve been hankering for you for quite a time now, and you’re a pretty sort of girl, so I’m asking you to marry me.”  “Oh, Jacob, I don’t think so, you’re mistaken, because I don’t hold you in any reserve.  We aren’t even properly acquainted!”  “Don’t matter to me.  I’m not gonna have you marrin my brothers, even though they’ve been a hankering for you too, because I’m the oldest, and I’m the biggest, which means I could do the best by you.”  Ella was worried he would start to talk about breeding at any moment, so she attempted to pull herself free, which didn’t work.  “Jacob!” she shouted with all her might, “let me go!  I am already engaged.”  He let go of her arm, and she said in a much quieter voice, “so you see, while I am very flattered, I am not at liberty to accept you.”  “Who in the hell are you engaged to?”  “Nobody you know.  Now, I’m very sorry, but we’re going inside.”  Mina had begun to cry with all the commotion, and Shirley came to the door having heard the yells, but Jacob had already started off towards home, where Ella was sure he would be too embarrassed to tell anyone of her engagement. “What was that all about?”  “Nothing,” Ella weakly said hurrying inside.  She had no wish to be yelled at by Keith for not accepting such a proposal.  Mina would not stop crying, so Ella picked her up and carried her into her room calling back, “we’re going to lie down for awhile.”  Ella put Mina down on the bed and began to pull on her boots.  Having finished she took off her own, and lay down on the tiny bed with Mina still quietly sobbing in her arms.  As soon as Mina had fallen asleep, Ella was left to contemplate, and soon she too was wrecked with silent tears.  Mr. Bayard had proposed on the way home in the chaise: he had begged her to marry him, but she had adamantly said no, because she knew it to be impossible. Chapter 6 “You asked her to marry you?”  “Why do you sound so surprised?”  “Because Leslie, you’ve only known her for a week…not even that!”  “Calm down Colin.  She didn’t accept.”  “At least she has some sense.”  “Does she?”  Colin looked at Leslie shocked by his question.  “She’s a very bright girl, Leslie, I would think you would have noticed that.”  “No, I mean, does it make any sense to say no to me?  I was offering her something much better than what she has right now.”  Colin stood up, aggravated with his friend.  “I don’t know why you should care so much.”  “Have you never considered that I might…you’re my friend after all Leslie,” he finished meekly sitting back down, but rubbing his temples.  “What would your parents say, Leslie?  Or haven’t you thought about that?  Maybe the deal she would be getting wouldn’t be too good, if you were disinherited.”  Leslie didn’t respond.  “She might not wish to marry for money anyway, Leslie: You might have to win her some other way.”  “I didn’t expect her to accept me because of my financial worth.”  “Well that’s what it sounded like.  I would think you would appreciate her more for not jumping at the chance.  I’m sure she’s well aware of what she just gave up.  Don’t be selfish and think merely of your own broken pride.” They were sitting in Colin’s family’s library, and Mrs. Duncan came in to find a book she had wished to consult.  Her dress was not the fancy overbearing style, which some of the richer ladies in town took to, instead she was dressed simply and smartly, and she cheerily greeted the boys, whose conversation had stopped.  “Why aren’t you two out enjoying the cooler weather?”  “We’ve been discussing Leslie’s life I’m afraid.”  “Oh, how very serious,” she said with a smile and laugh.  “I suppose your mother is giving you a headache, my dear,” she said to Leslie as she patted his shoulder absently.  Mrs. Duncan was very fond of Leslie and of a totally different disposition than his mother.  “In a round about way, I suppose my mother is the cause of some of this anguish, but I have made a proposal and it has been turned down.”  She stopped smiling, and it was obvious that she did not intend to weasel the information of whom he had proposed to out of him, as he knew many would.  “Your first, I assume.”  Colin stood up and paced the room unable to bear talk of the proposal for much longer.  Mrs. Duncan left with her book giving Leslie one last look of sympathy.  “Your mother is a perfect lady.  What a lucky man you are.”  “No, I’m cursed.”  “Oh, now perhaps I shouldn’t have told you this, because now you will stew over it much more than I will.  My pride is not much damaged, and I will not give up.  Perhaps I was too forward, having just met her, as you say, but this makes no difference to me, I assure you.” *** Ella pulled opened the heavy door of the library, carrying the two books she had taken out a few days earlier, and she lay the fiction book on the librarian’s desk, having finished reading during the latter part of the day before.  The librarian looked over her spectacles and opened her book.  “Ella Douglas,” Ella quietly said.  “Yes, I know.”  “I didn’t think you would remember me.”  “Well, it’s not everyday that Mr. Duncan brings in a young lady with him,” she said smiling.  Ella thought this lady must be very fond of Mr. Duncan.  “I’ve finished this book, and I was wondering if I could read this other one inside.”  “Yes, of course.  There’s nothing like the quiet of a library to read a book.”  Ella wandered in and found an empty table where she sat down and began to read her history book.  She sat there for a number of hours before she decided that she should probably be on her way: Shirley would scold her, but she could be of more use at home.  As she went out the door, the librarian smiled over her spectacles.  She hurried down the steps, and brushed the hair out of her eyes. “Miss Ella, I thought perhaps I would find you here.”  It was Mr. Duncan, and she was embarrassed, because she worried he knew about the refused proposal.  “Hello sir, how are you?”  “Very good, thank you, but I was wondering if you would do me the honor of walking awhile with me, because I have some things I would like to discuss.”  “Discuss?  With me?”  “Unless you are busy?”  He held out his arm, and she took it.  “I’m so glad we ran into each other, because I have just been with Leslie…Mr. Bayard.”  Ella went white.  “Oh, please, I don’t wish to upset you, and I’m not here to scold you.”  Ella looked straight ahead not able to meet his eyes, while he watched her.  “I wish to applaud you.”  Ella drew away her hand shocked.  “Applaud…is there something so terrible about Mr. Duncan?”  Colin sensed not a question, but a challenge, and his heart sunk, even though he wished this had cheered him for his friend’s sake.  “No, certainly not…Leslie is…well I only thought it very sensible of you, do you understand?”  Ella shook her head.  “I’m sorry, perhaps it was wrong of me to bring it up, but…”  “are you thanking me for not taking advantage of Mr. Bayard?”  Ella’s voice was strained.  Colin, in all good conscience could not tell her what he had felt he wanted to say, and it would be not be well received it appeared, because Ella’s heart was already taken.  “No, I think Mr. Bayard would be very lucky to be blessed with you, Miss Ella,” he said taking off his hat.  Ella blushed feeling badly that she had nearly upbraided such a good meaning young man.  “Thank you, Mr. Duncan, but I’m afraid I have tricked you into praise which I neither deserve nor believe,” but Ella said this with a smile, wishing to set things right between them.  Colin was unable to say anything else, because he was inwardly scolding himself.  “Is that all you wished to say, Mr. Duncan?”  “No…I…have you finished reading the other book?” he said gesturing to the one remaining.  “Yes, and I truly enjoyed it.  Thank you for your recommendation.  From now on, I will consider you the pinnacle of good taste.”  “Indeed, that is more than what I had hoped for, Miss Ella,” Colin said quietly.  “Shall we walk?”  Colin nodded offering her his arm once again.  He struggled to think of something to say.  “So, what did you think of the show boat, which I understand Mr. Bayard took you to see?”  “Oh, I really enjoyed myself that night,” Ella was immediately put in a better mood thinking of the play and the singing.  “Have you seen the show, Mr. Duncan.”  “No, I’m afraid I’m not very good about going out.”  “What do you mean?”  “I mean that I never go anywhere.  I’m afraid I never have anyone to take.”  Ella found that hard to believe: Mr. Duncan was 6’1 and he had very dark glossy but slightly curly hair with large brown eyes.  Altogether he had above average looks, and Ella, although not interested in him as anything more than a friend, had to admit that he might even be considered attractive.  Never mind the fact that he was extremely intelligent and charming.  “I have not the winning ways which Leslie has, quickly making friends wherever he goes.”  “Why, we made friends, if I may be so bold as to say that, very quickly.”  “It is my pleasure to count you Miss Ella among my good friends, but I’m afraid once again it was due to Mr. Bayard that I became acquainted with you.  For, you see, it was his idea to stop you on the street as we did…I’m afraid I advised against it, because you looked busy…I didn’t want to bother you, but I am glad that we did, are you?”  “Yes, very, very glad, Mr. Duncan,” Ella said squeezing his arm, and Colin sighed imperceptibly. “Mr. Duncan, I must be frank with you, and as a friend I hope you will endeavor to help me.”  “Yes…”  “I’m afraid I have scared off Mr. Bayard, and that is the last thing I wanted to do, because I’m not ashamed to say I like him very much.  I want you to tell him that, because I just…it was all too quick and very other worldly…I mean me?  Well, I don’t care what of this you tell him, because you are so clever that I know you can handle a little thing like that.  Will you do that for me, Mr. Duncan?  Will you tell him I like him a great deal?”  Colin nodded, but she had no idea what a difficult task this would be for him. *** “I spoke with Miss Douglas yesterday after we spoke.”  For some reason Colin didn’t feel like saying her Christian name.  “You did?”  The inescapable note of anticipation in Leslie’s voice forced Colin to take a deep breath, because he felt as if the room was getting smaller.  “Yes, and she mentioned you.”  “Really?  Well, what’s stopping you, do tell me what she said…every word.”  “She says she hopes she didn’t offend you, because she likes you a great deal.”  Colin swallowed.  “What do you think she meant by like?  Do think she meant she thought I was a pitiful friend, because I couldn’t stand that.”  Colin paced his breath, and wiped at his brow.  “You need not worry I think, if that will help.”  “Really?  Oh God.  Well, when she refused me I was really worried…” Colin said under his breath, “it’s me she wants to be a pitiful friend to for God’s sake.”  “This is good news.  Let me take you out for a drink.”  “I’m not interested.  That’s all I came to say.”  Leslie wasn’t aware of Colin’s brisk manner, because he was absorbed in his good luck to have captured Ella’s good opinion.  Colin had determined not to let this ruin things between them, but at the moment of Leslie’s exultation, he couldn’t stay to watch.Chapter 7 It became the habit of Ella and Colin to take their morning walk together once they discovered that they both took such a walk.  Ella had always cherished the time alone, but she enjoyed Colin’s company enough that she welcomed him as her companion.  At night and in the afternoons though Ella spent her time with Leslie, and Colin was never too keen on joining them, although he was often invited. “Why don’t you come with us tomorrow.  More people make a picnic more enjoyable…it’s a simple equation, I don’t think you can refuse that.”  “I wouldn’t feel right.”  “No, but I meant for you to bring someone along, I don’t expect you to sit and watch us.”  “I knew what you meant, but that is precisely the reason I won’t go.”  “I’m sure you can find someone to take, Colin.  You sell yourself short with ladies.  If you can’t find someone, I’ll find someone for you.”  “One of your cast of girls I suppose.”  “Don’t be ridiculous, you know I haven’t anyone but Ella.  You don’t have to bring someone, but do join us.”  “I wouldn’t feel right doing either.  I’m not going to tease some girl by taking her somewhere, when my heart is entertained elsewhere.”  “Ah, so that is why you have been so distant as of late.  Who is the girl?  Someone back east that you’re now just missing?  Or some pretty little girl here in Reverdy?”  “I’m sorry, but I can’t accept your offer, Leslie.”  “Listen, I thought you and Ella were rather thick, it isn’t her you’re bothered about is it?”  “Just what do you see in her?”  “So it is Ella.”  “No, this has nothing to do with how I feel about Ella.  I…I’m very fond of Ella.  What I want to know is why you care about her.”  “Anyone can see she’s as beautiful as and angel…”  “So it’s her looks?”  “You didn’t let me finish.  I was about to say that she is sweet and good and bright and Lord it’s impossible to say just why, but I’m crazy about her.”  “Are you sure you’ll still be in love with her when things get difficult or the novelty wears off.”  “I’m afraid I don’t catch your meaning.”  “Ella is something different isn’t she?  She isn’t like the society girls we’ve been exposed to…”  “Are you saying I’m taken by her situation?  Some romantic sensibility?”  “Or rebellion.”  “I’m not going to listen to this.”  Leslie stood up, but Colin kept talking.  “Have you thought of what your parents would say?”  “I’m not concerned with anyone else but Ella and myself.  I thought we were friends, Colin.  Why are you interrogating me?”  “I’m sorry,” Colin said standing up.  “I know you are very devoted to Ella, and I couldn’t be happier for you.  Please excuse my behavior.  I only wished to be sure you were good enough for Ella.”  This last sentence elicited a half laugh from Leslie, who was quickly restored to good humor.  Little did he know that Colin was being serious. *** “So he wouldn’t come with us?”  “No, he out and out refused.”  Ella bit her lip thinking.  “Do you think Colin is all right?  He’s seemed rather depressed lately and it only gets worse.”  “Really?  I hadn’t noticed.  He did mention that his heart was engaged elsewhere or something like that.”  Ella looked up at Leslie in silence and then looked away thinking and biting her lip.  She shook her head, and Leslie inquired “what is it?”  “Oh, nothing,” Ella said trying to appear nonchalant.  “He didn’t come on our walk this morning.”  “Really?  That’s odd.  I thought he cherished those walks with you.  What do you talk about?” Leslie asked playfully squeezing her.  “Well, I suppose we’ll muddle along somehow without him, hmm?”  “Yes,” Ella said smiling.  “Now, remember, I’ve taken care of everything, so the only thing you need to bring is your parasol, because I wouldn’t want anyone…or rather anything to…meaning the sun…” Leslie started laughing.  “I understand.  The sun might be strong, and a parasol provides such protection against the prying eyes of…or rather the scorching rays.”  “Yes, precisely.” So, they next day Ella and Leslie made their way to the picnic site.  They were going to picnic above the river on a grassy bluff, which was popular with kite flyers and picnic goers.  Leslie had decided on the exact location a few days earlier; it was under a large elm, and it was separate enough from the crowds that they could have some privacy.  The blanket was quickly spread with all the delightful things to eat and drink that Leslie had taken his time to select.  They ate and then sat watching the children running about.  “I have a niece you know, and she is four, although she isn’t as strong as these,” she said gesturing towards the children.  “What is her name?”  “Mina Neil.  She is from my sister’s previous marriage, and she is so precious.”  Leslie smiled leaning over close to her.  “And I suppose she is very attached to you.”  Ella picked up her parasol and opened it, as he smiled into her upturned face. Leslie touched her face and kissed her: It was the first time Ella had ever been kissed. Walking along Main Street coming back from the picnic, Ella held Leslie’s arm with a new sense of mutual belonging, but she was distracted, because she was keeping a look out for Colin, whom she was worried about.  “Might we have a late supper with Colin?”  “Yes, of course, if we can find him.”  Ella kept looking about her, and she stopped dead in her tracks when she caught the eye of Jacob Cox directly in front of them, and she felt shivers travel down her spine from the look he was giving her, having spotted her.  “What is it, Ella?” Leslie said perceiving the backward pull on his arm.  “We should go,” Ella said, but it was too late, for Jacob had made his way forward and pushed Leslie’s shoulder to get his attention.  Jacob smelled of alcohol.  “Hello?  What’s this?”  “Thad is jus whad I was gonna say.  Who de hell is this high and mighty fella, Ella?”  “I’m afraid I’ll have to ask you not to address Miss Douglas in that manner.”  “Leslie…” Ella said warningly.  “Is dis the ass hole you are gettin hitched to?”  “I’m warning you.”  “I’m a waning you.  Get yo own slut…”  Jacob didn’t finish, because Leslie had hit him straight in the face.  Jacob, being a strong man accustomed to labor, was not easily dispatched of, and therefore quite a struggle ensued, with a crowd of people stopping along the street, and Ella being pushed against a store front where she held her hand to her face.  The storekeeper came out of his store, and after a few seconds, Jacob limped away, having had enough.  Leslie raised his hand to show that he was all right.  “Oh, Leslie, I have to clean you up.  You’re bleeding,” Ella pleaded having rushed forward to his side.  “All right Ella, all right.”  They walked down the street heading towards Leslie’s house, and Ella didn’t dare look back over her shoulder.  He opened the door and leaned against the inside hallway.  “I’ll need some water and a clean cloth.”  “The kitchen.  It’s this way Ella.”  “Isn’t anyone home?”  “Not today.” She wiped at the blood above his eyebrow.  “It isn’t too bad.”  She brushed his forehead thinking him the handsomest thing she had ever laid eyes on.  “May I ask what that was all about?”  Ella felt almost ashamed.  “Jacob is a horrible man, and I’m afraid he’s angry from not having gotten what he wanted.  I’m sorry I brought this on you.”  Leslie fingered his lump.  “There’s no reason to be sorry, Ella.  I did what I had to do.”  “Still, you shouldn’t have fought him.  You could have been seriously injured.  How do you feel?”  “My head is swimming.”  “You need to lie down.  We’ll take this wet cloth to put on your head.”  “Let’s go into the sitting room.” Leslie lay down on the red sofa and Ella put some pillows behind his head.  She put the wet cloth on his head, wishing she had some ice.  “Do you have any ice?”  “No.”  “Just close your eyes, Leslie.”  She brushed back his wet honey blond hair.  “Should I call for a doctor?”  “No, I’ll be all right.”  Ella sat down on the edge of the sofa, so that she could stay near to Leslie, and he took her hand.  Ella looked about her for the first time.  She had been too busy mothering to notice the way the house was richly decorated.  It was the finest house she had ever been in.  The sitting room was decorated with red plush and the walls were hung with paintings and photos.  The back wall had a handsome portrait of Leslie probably taken upon his graduation from school.  The floors were covered with oriental carpet and there were four rose glass lamps.  The tables were of dark mahogany wood and they were covered with white lace beneath vases and miniatures.  Ella could see both the entry hall and the dining room from where she sat as they both opened onto this room, and both of those rooms promised to be just as finely done.  Ella looked back down at Leslie.  “You have a beautiful home.”  He opened his eyes.  “I was just thinking what it would be like if this was our home, Ella dear.”  Ella turned her head afraid she would cry.  “Oh, don’t be silly, Leslie.”  “My mother doesn’t think it is big enough or grand enough.  All she cares about is money.”  “You mustn’t talk about your mother that way.”  “Well, you don’t know her.”  “Precisely, and that’s why I think I should be going.  I feel odd not being invited here.”  “I invited you.”  “How does your head feel?”  “A bit better, but it throbs.”  “And it will for a while.  I only hope you don’t bruise too badly.  If it gets worse or doesn’t keep improving you should get a doctor to look at you.”  Ella kissed his forehead, and dropped his hand.  “Goodbye, Leslie.”  “Thank you Ella.” Chapter 8 “What’s this I here about you getting in a street fight not a week ago?”  Leslie looked up at his mother, who usually didn’t bother to address her son.  Mrs. Bayard had a practiced air of ignoring everyone.  He was shocked and tried to guess her reason for addressing him, for he had not heard what she said.  Mr. Bayard was watching Mrs. Bayard as well.  Mrs. Catherine Talbot Bayard was an elegant lady, who wished the difference in social standing to always be held in mind, so she dressed very finely, and carried her chin very high.  Her looks were not what one would call beautiful only because they contained a hard quality and she never smiled, but they were well maintained and while she had never appeared young, she certainly didn’t appear to be her age, 38.  Her hair was nearly black and her skin in contrast was pure white, giving her a ghostly quality.  Her lips were thin and her cheekbones well defined.  Her blue eyes were not at all like her sons, because they appeared icy.  She was tall for a woman, 5’8 ft tall, and she used her height to her advantage, making others feel small.  Mr. Pierre Jean Bayard was prematurely white at 50 years of age, most likely because he had spent his life gingerly stepping around Mrs. Bayard and following her directions.  He had a handsome profile, which slightly resembled his son’s, and he had pleasant green hazel eyes.  However, if he had once been a kind generous man, he had given that up in order to please his wife.  Whatever Mrs. Bayard said went, there was no arguing.  “Excuse me?”  “I said, I have it on good authority that you were seen fighting in the street with some laborer.”  “Perhaps they were mistaken,” Leslie said continuing to eat his morning meal.  “I highly doubt it.”  “Catherine, if Leslie says…”  “Mr. Bayard, I will ask you to address me as Mrs. Bayard in front of our son, and I will ask you to stay out of this.”  She turned her eyes back on Leslie.  “It has been said that you were with some girl, some girl no one in good society knows, and that she went off with you after the fight.”  Leslie just looked at her.  “What began this fight?  What have you to do with common men?”  “The lady I was with was being insulted, I couldn’t let that go on.”  “Lady?  Not by any of my accounts.  Who are her parents I ask you?  Who are her associates?  She has never been seen in good society!”  Mrs. Bayard was shouting by this time.  “The servants…” Mr. Bayard pleaded.  “Be quiet Pierre!  If you don’t care about your son’s goings on, I shall have to deal with them myself.”  Calling Leslie’s father Pierre was Mrs. Bayard’s way of insulting him, as if to say she had no respect for him.  Leslie stood up, not wishing to hear anymore of this.  “And where do you think you’re going?  We are not done here Leslie.  I will know once and for all who this chit you have been seen with is!  I must demand that you never see her again!  How shall you marry a good girl, when these rumors are about?  She has never been seen in good society!”  “If she hasn’t, she soon shall!” Leslie said storming out of the room. *** “So, you’ve decided to come?”  Ella hadn’t expected Colin to show, and she had to admit that she wasn’t entirely pleased that he had: She had a sinking sensation that she had found Colin’s secrete out, and she didn’t like it.  “Do you mind my company, Ella?”  “No, I’m just surprised.”  They began walking along in silence.  “Did you hear about Leslie?”  “The fight?”  “Yes.”  “It’s the talk of good society.”  Colin said the word good with sarcastic bitterness.  “I hope I didn’t cause any trouble.”  “Ella, you mustn’t think of yourself as trouble.”  Colin looked very serious.  “All right,” Ella said trying to get him to stop making that pained face.  “Why haven’t you been coming?”  “Have you missed me?”  Ella hesitated, “yes.”  “I’m sorry I never told you I wouldn’t be coming: that was rude of me.”  “I’m sure you had your reasons.”  “Yes, I did actually.”  Ella turned her head pretending she wasn’t interested, hoping that he would stop.  “Ella, I have something I think you should know.”  “Maybe you should think about what you are going to say before you say it,” Ella hurriedly imposed.  Colin looked at her, but she wouldn’t meet his eyes.  “All right, I won’t say it if that’s what you want.”  Ella sighed, “no, that isn’t fair of me.  Please Colin, speak your mind.”  “Ella I think you know what’s coming, and I’m sorry, because I’ve tried to suppress my feelings for the both of your sakes.”  Tears welled up in Ella’s eyes and she made no attempt to wipe them away.  Colin continued, “I think I love you for different reasons than Leslie, but that doesn’t make my feelings any less strong.  Leslie is my best friend…we’ve always been friends, but I can’t help feeling this way about you.  I always have, and I’ve always hoped you could feel more than friendship for me, but you’ve never given me any hope Ella…you are a perfect saint holding to Leslie the way you do.  He’s not good enough for you, I’m not good enough for you.”  He took her hand and kissed it, and Ella made no refusal.  “Thank you for allowing me that…I’ve so long wanted to…Ella, I can’t see you anymore…it’s too painful.”  “Can’t we be friends, Colin?”  “No, I can’t at the moment.”  Ella couldn’t stop her tears; she had never wanted to do this to anyone, least of all dearest Colin.  “Who shall I discuss philosophy and books with?  Or theorize about the…” Ella couldn’t finish.  “You can talk about that with Leslie.  I’m afraid you can’t have the both of us.  If I was any less realistic I would hope that in time you would tire of Leslie, but I know how devoted you are, and I still would never want to give up Leslie’s friendship, even though he has what I deem most dear and precious.”  “You’ll find someone else, Colin.  I promise.”  “I doubt it, but if Leslie or…if you ever need anything…”  “You’ll be the first one I see, Colin.”  They walked along in silence, until Ella felt as if she could stand it no longer.  “Colin, I do love you, you know that don’t you?” she said throwing her arms around his neck, and he put his arms around her waist, before letting go.  “Yes, but you belong with Leslie, you do.”  Ella nodded and ran back towards the way that she had come, leaving Colin standing alone.