The Point of View: Chapter 8

Chapter 8

It seemed an endless time the hour that she waited in her room,
and then a knock came to the door, and Ivan's voice saying his
master desired her presence in the sitting-room at once, and she
hurriedly went there to find Count Roumovski standing by the
mantelpiece looking very grave.

"Stella," he said, "there has been an accident to the train my
sister was to have arrived by--it is not serious, but she cannot
be here now until the early morning perhaps--unless I send the
automobile to Viterbo for her. The line is blocked by a broken-
down goods train which caused the disaster," he paused a moment,
and Stella said, "Well?" rather anxiously.

"It will be impossible for us to remain here," he continued,
"because it may be that your relations, aided by the Embassy, will
have traced us before then, and if they should come upon us alone
together, nothing that I could say or prove could keep the
situation from looking compromising,"--he now spoke with his old
calm, and Stella felt her confidence reviving. He would certainly
arrange what was best for them, she could rely upon that.

"What must we do then?" she asked gently, while she put her head
on the sleeve of his coat.

"I will wrap you up in the fur cloak, darling," he said, "and you
must come in the automobile with me to meet Anastasia. Your family
must not find you again until your are in my sister's company. We
ought to start at once."

It spoke eloquently for the impression which he had been able to
create in Stella's imagination of his integrity and reliability,
for the thought never entered her brain that it was a most unusual
and even hazardous undertaking to start out into the night in a
foreign land with a stranger she had not yet known for a week. But
that was the remarkable thing about his personality; it conveyed
always an atmosphere of trust and confidence.

It was not long before Miss Rawson was ready, wrapped in the long
gray cloak she had worn before, and with the veil tied over her
hat, and was descending in the lift alone with Ivan--her lover
having gone on by the stairs.

Their departure was managed with intelligence. Stella and the
servant simply walking out of the hotel and down the street to
where the car waited, and then presently Count Roumovski joined
them, and they started.

"Ivan will remain behind to answer any questions if the reverend
clergyman and your aunt do come," he said, when they were seated
in the car in the settling sunlight. "And now, sweetheart, we can
enjoy our drive."

Stella felt deliciously excited, all the exultation of adventure
thrilling her, and the joy of her lover's presence. She cared not
where they were going, it was all heaven.

"We shall stop at a little restaurant for some dinner," he said,
"it will be rather bad, but we must not mind, it would not have
been wise to risk any well-known place," and soon they drew up at
a small cafe on the outskirts of Rome, where there were a few
people already seated at little tables under the trees. They were
all Italians, and took no notice of the Russian and his lady.

It was the greatest amusement to them both, this primitive place,
and to be all alone ordering their first meal together, and Sasha
Roumovski exerted himself to charm and please her. He had
recovered complete mastery of himself, it would seem, and his
manner, while tenderly devoted, had an air of proprietorship which
affected Stella exceedingly.

They spent an enchanting half hour, as gay as two children, with
all the exquisite under-current of love in their talk; and then
they got into the motor again.

"Let us have it open," Count Roumovski said. "The evening drive
will be divine."

And Stella agreed.

The road to Viterbo is far from good, one of those splendid routes
which lead from Rome which ought to be so perfect and in reality
are a mass of ruts and pitfalls for the unwary. The jolting of the
car constantly threw Stella almost into her lover's arms, who was
sitting as aloof as possible. He had gradually become nearly
silent, and sat there holding her hand under the rug, using the
whole of his strong will to suppress his rising emotion.

The beautiful colors of the lights of evening over the Campagna;
the sense of the spring time and the knowledge that she belonged
to him heart and body and soul were madly intoxicating as they
rushed through the air. He dared not let himself caress her
gently, which he might have permitted himself to do, and he held
her little hand so tightly it was almost pain to her.

As for Stella, she was profoundly in love. Her whole nature seemed
to be awaking and blooming with a new grace and meaning. Her soft
eyes, which glanced at him in the glowing dusk, swam with
tenderness and unconscious passion, and once she let her head rest
upon his shoulder, when a violent jerk threw her toward him, and
at last he encircled her with his arm and there they sat trembling
together, she with she knew not what, and he very well knowing,
and fighting with temptation.

Thus they spent an hour in a bliss that was growing to agony for
him, and then it grew perfectly dark, and the stars came out in
myriads in the deep blue sky, and on in front of them the
headlights of the motor made a flaming path in the night.

And all this while he had resisted his strong desires, and never
even kissed her.

At last human endurance came to an end, and he said to her almost
fiercely:

"Stella, my beloved one, I cannot bear this, I can no longer
answer for myself. I shall settle you comfortably among the furs
where you must try to sleep, and I shall go outside with the
chauffeur. If I were to stay--"

And something in the tone of his voice and in his eyes made her at
last have some dim, incomprehensible fear, and yet exaltation, and
so she did not try to dissuade him, and soon was alone endeavoring
to collect her thoughts and understand the situation.

Thus eventually they reached Viterbo, and drew up at the station
door, when Count Roumovski seemed to have regained his usual calm
as he helped her out with tender solicitude. The passengers, they
learned, were still in the train, half a mile up the line, waiting
until it was cleared to go on to Rome.

At last, after generous greasing of palms, permission was given
for Count Roumovski to walk on and find his sister. And Stella was
put back into the motor to await their coming.

Her heart began to beat violently. What would she be like, this
future sister-in-law? She must be very fond of Sasha to have come
from Paris at a moment's notice like this, to do his bidding. It
seemed a long time before she heard voices, and saw in the dim
light two figures advancing from the station entrance, and then
Count Roumovski opened the door of the automobile, and Stella
started forward to get out.

"Anastasia, this is my Stella," he said, in his deep voice. "You
cannot see her plainly, but I tell you she is the sweetest little
lady in the world, and you are to hasten to love each other as
much as I love you both."

Then in the half dark Stella stepped down and found herself
embraced by a tall woman, while a voice as deep for a feminine one
as Count Roumovski's was for a man whispered kind, nice things in
the fluent English which brother and sister both used. And a
feeling of warmth and security and happiness came over the poor
child, to be in a haven of rest at last.

"Now we shall all pack in and get to Rome before dawn," the
princess said. "Sasha assures me the automobile will be faster
than the train."

So it was arranged, and, with Stella between them, the two
Russians sat in the commodious back seat, and this time Count
Roumovski allowed himself to encircle his beloved with his arm--
and very often surreptitiously kissed her little ear and that
delicious little curl of hair in her neck. She had taken off her
hat, that its brim might not hit the princess, and had only the
soft veil wound round her head, which loosened itself
conveniently. This drive back to Rome was a time of pure
enchantment to them both. And when the first streaks of dawn were
coloring the sky they arrived at the door of the Excelsior Hotel,
where Ivan had supper ordered and awaiting them.

The princess proved to be a handsome woman when they got into the
light, with the same short face and wide eyes as her brother.
Stella and she made immediate friends, and before they parted to
try and sleep the princess said:

"Stella, that my brother loves you proves that you must be a very
dear girl, that is what made me come from Paris at his
instantaneous bidding. He is the most splendid character in the
world, only don't cross his wishes. You will find it is no use,
for one thing," and she laughed her deep laugh. "He always knows
best."

"I am sure he does," said Stella shyly. "I felt that at once, and
so I did not hesitate."

Next morning, when the three were seated at a merry early
breakfast in the sitting-room discussing what should be said in
Stella's letter to her Aunt Caroline, a loud knock came to the
door, and, without waiting for a response, Canon Ebley and
Stella's cousin, Mr. Deanwood, entered the room.

The princess rose with dignity, draping her silk morning wrapper
round her like a statue, and Stella stepped forward with
outstretched hand.

"Oh, Uncle Erasmus," she said gaily, before any of the party could
speak, "I am so glad to see you. I was just going to write to Aunt
Caroline to tell her where I am, quite safe, in case she was
worried about me. Let me introduce you to my future sister-in-law,
Princess Urazov, with whom I am staying. My fiance, Count
Roumovski, you have met before."

Afterwards she often wondered how this emancipated spirit of
daring had ever come to her. But she felt so joyous, so full of
love and happiness, that it seemed that she could not be afraid or
annoyed with anyone in the world.

"Stella, you are a shameless girl," Canon Ebley retorted in a
horrified voice. "I refuse to admit that you are engaged to this
gentleman. Your whole conduct has been a scandalous series of
deceptions and you must be ready to return at once with your aunt
and your affianced husband. They are following us here now."

Then Stella used a weapon that she had more than once found
effectual with her uncle. She flung herself into his arms and
clasped him round the neck. He was a short, portly man, and from
this position she began to cajole him--while Count Roumovski
looked on with amused calm, and his sister, following his lead,
remained unmoved also.

Mr. Deanwood was the only restless person; he felt thoroughly
uncomfortable and bored to death. He hated having been dragged
into this family quarrel, and secretly sympathized with his cousin
in her revolt at the thought of being Eustace Medlicott's wife.

"Oh, dear Uncle Erasmus!" Stella purred, from the highly perturbed
clergyman's neck, where she was burrowing her sweet head, rubbing
her peach-like cheek against his whiskered cheek. "Don't say those
dreadful things, I have not deceived anybody, I have known Count
Roumovski since the day after we came to Rome, and--and--I love
him very much, and you know I always thought Eustace a bore, and
you must agree it is wicked to marry and not to love, so it must
be good to, oh!--well, to marry the person you do love. What have
you to say against it?"

Canon Ebley tried to unclasp her arms from round his neck. He was
terribly upset. To be sure, the girl was very dear to him, and had
always been so sweet a niece, a truthful, obedient child from
early infancy. Caroline had perhaps been a little hard--he had
better hear the facts.

"Dear me, dear me," he blurted out. "Well, well, tell me
everything about the case, and, though I cannot consent to
anything, I must do you the justice of hearing your side."

"Won't you sit down here, sir?" Princess Urazov said, "and let my
brother and your niece tell you their story. Mr. Deanwood, we met
at Buda-Pesth two years ago--" and she turned to the young man and
indicated that he should join her in the far window embrasure,
which he did with alacrity, and from there they heard,
interpolated in their personal conversation, scraps of the
arguments going on between the three.

Stella, assisted by her lover, told of her first talk and her
drive, and their rapidly ripening affection for each other, and
the girl looked so happy and so pleading. Then Count Roumovski
took up the thread. He explained his position, and how his view of
life had always been direct in its endeavor to see the truth and
the meaning of things, and how to him love was the only possible
reason in ethical morality for any marriage between two people.

"It is merely a great degradation, otherwise, sir," he said
earnestly.

But here Canon Ebley was heard to protest that he could not
understand a love which had sprung into being with such violence
in the space of three days, and he felt very suspicious of its
durability.

"Oh, Uncle Erasmus, how can you say that!" Stella interrupted him.
"Why, you have often said that you yourself fell in love with Aunt
Caroline from the moment your eye lighted upon her in church--in
church, remember, you old darling!" and she nestled up against his
shoulder again. Caresses like these she was always obliged to
suppress in her austere aunt's presence; they were only to be
indulged in upon great occasions, and to gain an important end,
she knew! So the rogue smiled archly as she went on. "You could
hardly wait until you were introduced at the garden party the next
day, and Aunt Caroline said you proposed to her before the end of
the week!"

"Come, come," the cornered uncle growled, bridling, but a smile
grew in his kindly eyes.

"There!" exclaimed Miss Rawson, triumphantly. "You cannot have
another thing to say, except that you consent and wish us
happiness."

"It is true you are of age, Stella," Canon Ebley allowed, "and if
you like to take the law into your own hands, we cannot legally
prevent you, as I have tried to explain this morning to your aunt
and Eustace, but it is all very shocking and unusual, and very
disturbing. You must remember, Count Roumovski is a foreigner,
and we English people are prejudiced. I--fear for your happiness,
my dear child!"

"You do not pay me a high compliment, sir," Count Roumovski said,
but without resentment. "Time, however, will prove whether I can
take care of your niece or no. Do you feel any fear for yourself,
Stella?"

"Not in the least," Miss Rawson said, and they clasped fond hands.
"I would go away with you, Sasha, to the ends of the earth now at
once, and never ask you a single question. And I should certainly
die if I were forced to go back to Eustace Medlicott."

"Then I suppose there is nothing more to be said," Canon Ebley
stammered, upon which Stella again flung herself into his arms.

"Indeed, sir--I give you my word that you will not regret this
decision," Count Roumovski said gravely. "I believe your niece and
I were made for one another."

"We will hope so," returned Canon Ebley, who could no longer keep
up a stern resistance in the face of perfectly logical arguments
and a witch of a girl purring over him and patting his cheek. He
would have given in with a fair grace but for the awful knowledge
that his stern spouse and the irate late fiance would arrive at
any moment, and reproach him for his want of strength.

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."

Then everyone seemed to talk at once, and the Princess Urazov at
last appeared to be in some degree appeasing Mrs. Ebley.

There is very little more to tell of this comedy of a spring
holiday in Rome. It ended with a quiet wedding and two young
people going off together in the blue automobile.

And when Count Roumovski clasped his newly made bride in his arms,
he whispered with a tenderly sly smile:

"At last, sweetheart, there are no barriers, and I can show you
that I am at least not as cold as ice!"

THE END

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