The Soul of the Rose by Ruth Trippy Read Free Book Online Page B

observation. So we’re all in agreement about Chillingworth. Now, what did you think about—”
    For the next quarter hour, they discussed the book and its characters. Celia looked from one woman to the other. These two seemed to love literature as she did. Could they be soul mates?
    “The child Pearl was my favorite. Puts me in mind of my own daughter,” Mrs. Divers said.
    “I don’t know about your daughter,” Celia said, “but while the child Pearl was a fair sprite and her mother loved her, the little girl was still an anguish to her.”
    “As mine was to me, Miss Thatcher, as mine was to me—” Mrs. Divers stopped, seeming to lapse into reverie. Celia hesitated and looked to Miss Waul for help.
    Miss Waul caught the look. “Yes, Miss. Marguerite was the apple of her mother’s eye, that she was. And beautiful, too. So beautiful she caught many a man’s eye. But it was our neighbor, Mr.—” she dropped her voice—“Mr. Lyons, who finally got her.”
    At the mention of the name, Mrs. Divers bestirred herself and blurted out, “My Marguerite suited him just fine before they were married. But after the knot was tied, it was a different story. And he let her know it. Oh, it was a sad affair, Miss Thatcher, a sad affair.”
    Celia wondered if she should try to redirect the conversation into other avenues.
    “Marguerite was bright, sensitive—but delicate of health—that’s why I encouraged the marriage. I could see Mr. Lyons was big and strong. And rich. He would take care of her. But she was bright only those early months, then her brightness began to fade, especially after that first year. I didn’t see her much after that. Why he’d hardly let her out of the house. He was severe, Miss Thatcher. He was that severe!”
    Celia looked to Miss Waul for confirmation or help, she didn’t know which—but had she had it all wrong? Apparently, Mr. Lyons wasn’t grieving for his wife after all. He was—how had she so misunderstood the situation?
    Miss Waul rose and smoothed Mrs. Divers’s hand. “Now, we’re getting ourselves all worked up. And here we invite Miss Thatcher in and don’t even offer her some refreshment.”
    Mrs. Divers roused herself. “You must forgive me, my dear, going off on a tangent like that. I missed the discussion at the bookstore, and you being so kind to bring it right here into my parlor, yes, most kind. And tea, yes, let’s have some tea. That would be the very thing.”

    Miss Waul saw Celia to the front hall. “I’m sorry we got into all that, Miss Thatcher. But you see how this family has suffered.” She handed Celia her coat. “I’ll accompany you to the road. I’d like to stretch my legs a bit.”
    As they stepped out on the porch, Celia looked off to the left. She’d noticed a large house showing through the trees on her arrival.
    Miss Waul took hold of the hand railing and carefully let herself down each step. “That’s Edward Lyons’s house. You see how near he is. When my mistress leaves the house she shields her face with her hand, doesn’t even like to glimpse it. Now with the leaves falling, a body can see it quite well. Otherwise, during the summer, the trees hide it.”
    Celia tried to say something noncommittal. “It must be a cool, shady place during hot days.”
    “Yes, except there’s a large spot in the back cleared of trees. Sunny for a garden. I hear he grows flowers. Our little Loydie says he’s never seen so much color. Doesn’t seem like a man that somber would have a garden.” She stopped at the road. “I haven’t been in the back, just up to the front door, like most people. Well now, you be careful on your way home.” Miss Waul waved her off and turned back to the house.
    Celia couldn’t help be curious about Mr. Lyons’s house, but took care not to seem to do so, allowing herself only a few glances. The dark-red brick structure had steep roofs and gables with trim and window casements of forest green. Evergreen shrubs and