Chapter 8

Summary

Alixe had plaited a bracelet of old Mrs Price's hair for her friend Emily à son insęu and she had ornamented it with a small silver clasp and “Madre amata” in silver letters. She brought it with great joy and Emily, after thanking her and expressing extreme pleasure, said, –

“How very odd; I was just bringing you a little present (so speedy an interchange is really like a traffic). May the one I offer you be as precious to you, as that you have given, is to me.”

And Emily put into her friend's hand, a small trinket box containing a little gold harp, already known to the reader. Alixe was surprised, enchanted.

“How beautiful! Oh, how beautiful! The little crown of jewels at the top and the whole harp so exactly like a real one!”

“Promise me dear Alixe always to wear it – for my sake?”

“Oh, I promise faithfully. And the strings, they are made of your own hair, Emily, I know by the colour. What an ingenious way of giving a lock of hair,” said she, laughing.

“I am glad you admire it,” said her friend. “But I am sorry to say it is not my idea, nor is it my hair, though it is so like mine. The harp was made at Geneva under the direction of a person who is particularly clever at invention and has excellent taste. No doubt he chose the harp strings, as he knew it was to please you I ordered the trinket.” This was said half playfully, half seriously. The crimson blood rushed to Alixe's transparent skin. Everard was at Geneva! There was a pause.

Emily, laying her hand on Alixe's arm, said “you have promised to wear it?”

“Oh yes, pour toujours.” And she raised her bright expressive eyes to Emily's countenance with a look of affection which made the latter sigh for the chances against her having Alixe for a sister. I have before said that our heroine was romantic, but I hope readers will not misunderstand. Alixe could not have wept over a French romance or a bad English tragedy. Neither did she sigh over love poetry, or gaze on the moon out of her chamber window, that she might be the better enabled to think on Mr Price.