CHAPTER XVII.
A DRAMATIC MEETING.
Yes, Juliette was waiting in the hall.
The day was warm, and she wore a black dress, rich in quality, but of a soft, diaphanous material, through which her neck and arms gleamed snowy white. Her golden hair was arranged so as to make the very most of its beauty. She wished to overawe her uncle’s wife, if possible, with her dignity and beauty.
The door opened, and as soon as Colonel Falconer appeared she rushed to his arms with theatrical effect. He returned her kiss, and disengaged himself as soon as possible from her embrace, that he might present her to the beautiful creature waiting in the background:
“My wife, Juliette.”
Juliette looked, and saw a figure of medium height, but so exquisitely slender, though rounded, that it looked taller. It was clothed in a Parisian suit of dove gray, and from under the demure little bonnet looked the loveliest face in the world—sweet yet spirited, with exquisite features, dazzling complexion, and eyes of purplish blue under lovely curling lashes, dark as night.
But what was it that made Juliette stare in wonder and gasp in fear? She caught her uncle’s arm, and he felt her trembling from head to foot.
“Juliette, my poor girl, this meeting has unnerved you,” he exclaimed pityingly, and Pansy advanced, as if to offer assistance, but was instantly repulsed, Juliette flinging out a frantic arm to keep her off.
“Keep back, keep back! Do not come near me with that face!” she hissed angrily; and Pansy looked at her husband in cold amazement.
“Has Miss Ives gone suddenly mad?” she demanded haughtily, and at the sound of her voice, so cold yet silvery sweet, Juliette shrank closer to her uncle, crying out:
“I am not mad, uncle, but I shall be soon if you do not take away that ghost! Oh, that face, that voice! They have been drowned almost three years, and now they rise to haunt me from their watery grave!”
She began to scream with actual terror, bringing the housekeeper and several servants to the scene. Her uncle caught her in his arms and carried her into the parlor, saying to Pansy over his shoulder:
“Keep out of sight a few moments, dear, and I will bring her to her senses. She has evidently been startled by your likeness to some one she has known.”
Pansy sat down just inside the parlor door, which she carefully closed, thus shutting out the gaping servants. Colonel Falconer set himself to the task of quieting his hysterical niece.
Believing herself alone with him, she soon grew calmer, and asked:
“Oh, uncle, where did you find that girl? I thought she was dead!”
“Of whom does she remind you, dear?” he asked soothingly.
Shivering with terror, she replied:
“Of Pansy Laurens, the girl who made all the trouble between Norman and myself. You know, it was thought she drowned herself, but now I can no longer believe it, for surely this is no other than Pansy Laurens!”
Pansy sat motionless, and heard her husband saying sternly:
“You will oblige me, Juliette, by never making such foolish remarks again. I never saw Pansy Laurens; but if my wife resembles her, that is nothing but a chance likeness. Mrs. Falconer was a Miss Wilcox, of Louisville, and has never been in Richmond until to-day.”
“Oh, uncle, are you sure? For indeed she frightened me with her awful likeness, although I believe she is prettier than that Laurens creature,” gasped Juliette.
“Prettier—well, I should say so! My wife is the loveliest creature on earth!” exclaimed the jovial colonel.
But Juliette, still shivering, sighed:
“How can I live in the same house with that face and voice?”