The remaining days till New Year’s Eve passed quickly. The weather was gloriously fine, the sunsets unequalled.
Early in the evening Mariana arrived, and brought with her a large box containing the dress and other things. She came in a carriage drawn by chestnut horses, not occupants of the stables at Marble House.
Rosalie came out into the hall to meet her, and kissed her with affection, which Mariana in her colder way returned.
Together they went upstairs, Rosalie suddenly finding herself very short of words to express her delight at meeting this old friend.
And it was Mariana who dressed her completely, from the arranging of her hair to the tying on of her clog-shaped, satin-jewelled slippers.
And oh! what a dress! With designs of lovers’ knots worked in delicately-tinted jewels all over its shining surface, and a train that hung from the shoulders in showers of priceless lace. It was studded with jewels in the bodice, and on her hair was placed a tiara that stood high, and had the same design worked in diamonds. Clasps of gold and jewels were on her arms, and round her neck one fine chain of gold—no other ornament.
“I’m afraid, after all, Mariana,” said she at length, “your great ambition has not come to pass.”
“I am content to see it as it is, and you so beautiful.”
“And when to-night is over you will want it back?”
“To-night is not yet over, and you will never wish to part with such a robe. You begged it from the Master, and you’ll keep it I know none other who would care to bear so great a load, though in its beauty all forget to think of that.”
“I say, Mariana,” said she, “suppose—suppose when I come to Marble House it should shine red all round about me. They’d take me for a veritable scarlet woman. I have misgivings. I remember once before.”
“I heard from the Master you had gained strength from weakness; and I heard from Everard you had jewels of your own that you have worn to counteract the fatal charm of these.”
“Not of my own, Mariana; they were of God.” “Ah, God! I had forgotten Him. The dream has passed so long ago.”
“God is no dream, but a living reality, Mariana.”
“I was once bitten by a snake, and here they call the Serpent God. I love not such an image, but live in the never-ending twilight. I think it is the shadowed light the idol throws, placing itself betwixt the world and God.”