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diff --git a/old/15775-tei/15775-tei.tei b/old/15775-tei/15775-tei.tei new file mode 100644 index 0000000..43e3f2a --- /dev/null +++ b/old/15775-tei/15775-tei.tei @@ -0,0 +1,12446 @@ +<?xml version="1.0" encoding="utf-8" ?> + +<!-- +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary by Anne +Warner + + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no +restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or re-use it under +the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included with this eBook or +online at http://www.gutenberg.org/license + + + + +Title: The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary + +Author: Anne Warner + +Release Date: May 2005 [EBook #15775] + +Language: American English + +Character set encoding: UTF-8 +--> + +<!DOCTYPE TEI.2 SYSTEM "http://www.gutenberg.org/tei/marcello/0.4/dtd/pgtei.dtd"> + +<TEI.2 lang="en-us"> +<teiHeader> + <fileDesc> + <titleStmt> + <title>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</title> + <author>Anne Warner</author> + </titleStmt> + <editionStmt> + <edition n="1"> + Edition 1 + </edition> + </editionStmt> + <publicationStmt> + <publisher>Project Gutenberg</publisher> + <date value="2005-5">May 2005</date> + <idno type="etext-no">15775</idno> + <availability> + <p>This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with + almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or + re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included + online at <xref url="www.gutenberg.org/license">www.gutenberg.org/license</xref></p> + </availability> + </publicationStmt> + <sourceDesc> + <bibl> + <title>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</title> + <author>Anne Warner</author> + <imprint> + <pubPlace>Boston</pubPlace> + <publisher>Little, Brown, and Company</publisher> + <date>1910</date> + </imprint> + </bibl> + </sourceDesc> + </fileDesc> + + <encodingDesc> + <classDecl> + <taxonomy id="lc"> + <bibl> + <title>Library of Congress Classification</title> + </bibl> + </taxonomy> + </classDecl> + </encodingDesc> + + <profileDesc> + <langUsage> + <language id="en-us">United States English</language> + </langUsage> + <textClass> + <classCode scheme="lc"> + *** <!-- LoC Class (PR, PQ, ...) --> + </classCode> + <keywords> + <list> + <!-- <item></item> any keywords for PG search engine --> + </list> + </keywords> + </textClass> + </profileDesc> + + <revisionDesc> + <change> + <date value="2005-5">May 2005</date> + <respStmt> + <name>Suzanne Shell</name> + <name>Josephine Paolucci</name> + <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name> + <name>Online Distributed Proofreading Team</name> + </respStmt> + <item>Project Gutenberg Edition</item> + </change> + <change> + <date value="2005-8">August 2005</date> + <respStmt> + <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name> + </respStmt> + <item>Converted to PGTEI v0.3.</item> + </change> + <change> + <date value="2006-6">June 2006</date> + <respStmt> + <name>Joshua Hutchinson</name> + </respStmt> + <item>Added PGHeader/PGFooter.</item> + </change> + </revisionDesc> + +</teiHeader> + +<pgExtensions> + <pgStyleSheet> + figure { text-align: center; page-float: 'htb' } + .w95 { } + @media pdf { + .w95 { width: 95% } + } + </pgStyleSheet> +</pgExtensions> + +<text> +<front> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<divGen type="pgheader" /> +</div> + +<titlePage rend="page-break-before: right"> +<docTitle><titlePart type="main" rend="font-size: x-large">The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</titlePart></docTitle> + +<lb /><byline>By <docAuthor>Anne Warner</docAuthor><lb /><lb /> +Author of "A Woman's Will," "Susan Clegg +and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop," "Susan +Clegg and a Man in the House," etc. +</byline> + +<docEdition><hi rend="font-style: italic">NEW EDITION</hi><lb /> +<hi rend="font-style: italic">With Additional Pictures from the Play</hi><lb /><lb /></docEdition> + +<docImprint>Boston<lb /> +Little, Brown, and Company<lb /> +1910</docImprint> +</titlePage> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1904,</hi><lb /> +By Ainslee Magazine Company.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1905,</hi><lb /> +By Little, Brown, and Company.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">Copyright, 1907,</hi><lb /> +By Little, Brown, and Company,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><hi rend="font-style: italic">All rights reserved</hi></p> + +<p rend="text-align: center">Fourteenth Printing</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center">Printers<lb /> +S.J. Parkhill & Co., Boston, U.S.A.</p> + +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<anchor id="frontispiece" /> +<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image01" /> +<figure rend="w95" url="images/image01.png"> +<head>Aunt Mary en Fête. +May Robson as "Aunt Mary."</head> +<figDesc><hi rend="font-style: italic">Frontispiece</hi></figDesc> +</figure></p><p></p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> + +<p><table cols="2"> +<head><hi rend="font-style: italic">Books by Anne Warner</hi></head> +<row> +<cell>A Woman's Will</cell><cell>1904</cell> +</row> +<row> +<cell>Susan Clegg and Her Friend Mrs. Lathrop</cell><cell>1904</cell> +</row> +<row> +<cell>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</cell><cell>1905</cell> +</row> +<row> +<cell>Susan Clegg and Her Neighbor's Affairs</cell><cell>1906</cell> +</row> +<row> +<cell>Susan Clegg and a Man in the House</cell><cell>1907</cell> +</row> +<row> +<cell>An Original Gentleman</cell><cell>1908</cell> +</row> +<row> +<cell>In a Mysterious Way</cell><cell>1909</cell> +</row> +<row> +<cell>Your Child and Mine</cell><cell>1909</cell> +</row> +</table></p> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<head>Contents</head> +<divGen type="toc" /> +</div> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Illustrations</head> + +<list type="simple"> +<item><ref target="frontispiece">"Aunt Mary en fête" (May Robson as "Aunt +Mary") <hi rend="font-style: italic">Frontispiece</hi></ref></item> + +<item><ref target="image02">"'Do not let us play any longer,' she said. +'Let us be in earnest'"</ref></item> + +<item><ref target="image03">"'She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's +voice suddenly proclaimed behind him"</ref></item> + +<item><ref target="image04">Aunt Mary and Her Escorts</ref></item> + +<item><ref target="image05">"The carriage stopped three hundred feet below +the level of a roof-garden"</ref></item> + +<item><ref target="image06">"And now the fun's all over and the work +begins"</ref></item> + +<item><ref target="image07">"'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know +a blue chip from a white one'"</ref></item> + +<item><ref target="image08">"Aunt Mary had also had her eyes +open"</ref></item> +</list> + +</div> +</front> + +<body> +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<pb n="001" /><anchor id="Pg001" /> +<head>The Rejuvenation of Aunt Mary</head> +<p></p> +</div> + +<div> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter One - Introducing Aunt Mary</head> + +<p>The first time that Jack was threatened +with expulsion from college his Aunt +Mary was much surprised and decidedly +vexed—mainly at the college. His family were +less surprised, viewing the young man through a +clearer atmosphere than his Aunt Mary ever had, +and knowing that he had barely escaped similar +experiences earlier in his career by invariably leaving +school the day before the board of inquiry +convened.</p> + +<p>Jack's preparatory days having been more or +less tempestous, his family (Aunt Mary excepted) +had expected some sort of after-clap when +he entered college. Nevertheless, they had fervently +hoped that it would not be quite as bad as +this.</p> + +<p>Jack's sister Arethusa was visiting her aunt +when the news came. Not because she wanted to, +for the old lady was dreadfully deaf and fearfully +<pb n="002" /><anchor id="Pg002" />arbitrary, but because Lucinda had said that she +must go to her cousin's wedding, and the family +always had to bow to Lucinda's mandates. Lucinda +was Aunt Mary's maid, but she had become +so indispensable as a sitter at the off-end of the +latter's ear-trumpet that none of the grand-nephews +or grand-nieces ever thought for an instant of crossing +one of her wishes. So it was to Arethusa that +the explanations due Aunt Mary's interest in her +scapegrace fell, and she bowed her back to the +burden with the resignation which the circumstances +demanded.</p> + +<p>"Whatever is the difference between bein' expelled +and bein' suspended?" Aunt Mary demanded, +in her tone of imperious impatience. +"Well, why don't you answer? I was brought +up to speak when you're spoken to, an' I'm a +great believer in livin' up to your bringin' up—if +you had a good one. What's the difference, +an' which costs most? That's what I want to +know. I do wish you'd answer me, Arethusa; +there's two things I've asked you now, an' you +suckin' your finger an' puttin' on your thimble as +if you were sittin' alone in China."</p> + +<p>"I don't know which costs most," Arethusa +shrieked.</p> + +<p>"You needn't scream so," said Aunt Mary. +"I ain't so hard to hear as you think. I ain't +<pb n="003" /><anchor id="Pg003" />but seventy, and I'll beg you to remember <hi rend="font-style: italic">that</hi>, +Arethusa. Besides, I don't want to hear you talk. +I just want to hear about Jack. I'm askin' about +his bein' expelled and suspended, an' what's the +difference, an' in particular if there's anything +to pay for broken glass. It's always broken glass! +That boy's bills for broken glass have been somethin' +just awful these last two years. Well, why +don't you answer?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to answer," Arethusa +screamed.</p> + +<p>"What do you suppose he's done, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Something bad."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary frowned.</p> + +<p>"I ain't mad," she said sharply. "What made +you think I was mad? I ain't mad at all! I'm +just askin' what's the difference between bein' expelled +an' bein' suspended, an' it seems to me this +is the third time I've asked it. Seems to me it is."</p> + +<p>Arethusa laid down her work, drew a mighty +breath, very nearly got into the ear-trumpet, and +explained that being suspended was infinitely less +heinous than being expelled, and decidedly less +final.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked relieved.</p> + +<p>"Oh, then he's gettin' better, is he?" she said. +"Well, I'm sure that's some comfort."</p> + +<p>And then there was a long pause, during which +<pb n="004" /><anchor id="Pg004" />she appeared to be engaged in deep reflection, +and her niece continued her embroidery in peace. +The pause endured until a sudden sneeze on the +part of the old lady set the wheels of conversation +turning again.</p> + +<p>"Arethusa," she said, "I wish you'd go an' +get the ink an' write to Mr. Stebbins. I want +him to begin to look up another college with good +references right away. I don't want to waste any +of the boy's life, an' if bein' suspended means +waitin' while the college takes its time to consider +whether it wants him back again or not I ain't goin' +to wait. I'm a great believer in a college education, +but I don't know that it cuts much figure whether +it's the same college right through or not. Anyway, +you write Mr. Stebbins."</p> + +<p>Arethusa obeyed, and the authorities having +seen fit to be uncommonly discreet as to the cause +of the young man's withdrawal, no great difficulty +was experienced in finding another campus +whereon Aunt Mary's pride and joy might freely +disport himself. Mr. Stebbins threw himself into +the affair with all the tact and ardor of an experienced +legal mind and soon after Lucinda's return +to her home allowed Arethusa to follow suit, +the hopeful younger brother of the latter became +a candidate for his second outfit of new sweaters +and hat bands that year. +<pb n="005" /><anchor id="Pg005" /></p> + +<p>Aunt Mary wrote him a letter upon the occasion +of his new start in life, Mr. Stebbins delivered +him a lecture, and things went smoothly in consequence +for three whole weeks. I say three +whole weeks because three whole weeks was a +long time for the course of Jack's life to flow +smoothly. At the end of a fortnight affairs were +always due to run more rapidly and three weeks +produced, as a general thing, some species of +climax.</p> + +<p>The climax in this case came to time as usual +his evil genius inciting the young man to attempt, +one very dark night, the shooting of a cat which +he thought he saw upon the back fence. Whether +he really had seen a cat or not mattered very little +in the later development of the matter. He was +certainly successful as far as the going off of the +gun was concerned, but the damage that resulted, +resulted not to any cat, but to the arm of a next-door's +cook, who was peacefully engaged in taking +in her week's wash on the other side of the +fence. The cook ceased abruptly to take in the +wash, the affair was at once what is technically +termed looked into, and three days later Jack +became the defendant in a suit for damages.</p> + +<p>Naturally Mr. Stebbins was at once notified +and he had no choice except to write Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary was somewhat less patient over the +<pb n="006" /><anchor id="Pg006" />third escapade than she had been with the first +two.</p> + +<p>The letter found her alone with Lucinda and +she read it to herself three times and then read it +aloud to her companion. Lucinda, whose thorough +knowledge of the imperious will and impervious +eardrums of her mistress rendered her, as a +rule, extremely monosyllabic, not to say silent, +vouchsafed no comment upon the contents of the +epistle, and after a few minutes Aunt Mary herself +took the field:</p> + +<p>"Now, what do you suppose possessed that boy +to shoot at a cook?" she asked, regarding the +letter with a portentous frown. "Cooks are so +awful hard to get nowadays. I don't see why +he didn't shoot a tramp if he had to shoot somethin'."</p> + +<p>"He wa'n't tryin' to shoot a cook, 'pears like," +then cried Lucinda—Lucinda's voice, be it said, +<hi rend="font-style: italic">en passant</hi>, was of that sibilant and penetrating +timbre which is best illustrated in the accents of a +steamfitter's file—"'pears like he was tryin' for +a cat."</p> + +<p>"Not a bat," said her mistress correctively; +"it was a cat. You look at this letter an' you'll +see. And, anyway, how could a man shootin' at +a cat hit a cook?—not 'nless she was up a tree +birds'-nestin' after owls' eggs. You don't seem +<pb n="007" /><anchor id="Pg007" />to pay much attention to what I read to you, +Lucinda; only I should think your commonsense +would help you out some when it comes to a boy +you've known from the time he could walk, an' +a strange cook. But, anyhow, that's neither here +nor there. The question that bothers me is, what's +to pay with this damage suit? I think myself +five hundred dollars is too much for any cook's +arm. A cook ain't in no such vital need of two +arms. If she has to shut the door of the oven +while she's stirrin' somethin' on the top of the +stove, she can easy kick it to with her foot. It won't +be for long, anyway, and I'm a great believer in +making the best of things when you've got to."</p> + +<p>Lucinda screwed up her face and made no comment. +Lucinda's face in repose was a cross +between a monkey's and a peanut; screwed up, it +was particularly awful, and always exasperated +her mistress.</p> + +<p>"Well, why don't you say somethin', Lucinda? +I ain't askin' your advice, but, all the same, you +can say anything if you've got a mind to."</p> + +<p>"I ain't got a mind to say anythin'," the faithful +maid rejoined.</p> + +<p>"I guess you hit the nail on the head that +time," said Aunt Mary, without any unnecessary +malevolence concealed behind her sarcasm; then +she re-read the note and frowned afresh. +<pb n="008" /><anchor id="Pg008" /></p> + +<p>"Five hundred dollars is too much," she said +again. "I'm going to write to Mr. Stebbins an' +tell him so to-night. He can compromise on two +hundred and fifty, just as well as not. Get me +some paper and my desk, Lucinda. Now get a +spryness about you."</p> + +<p>Lucinda laid aside her work and forthwith got +a spryness about her, bringing her mistress' writing-desk +with commendable alacrity. Aunt Mary +took the writing-desk and wrote fiercely for some +time, to the end that she finally wrote most of the +fierceness out of herself.</p> + +<p>"After all, boys will be boys," she said, as she +sealed her letter, "and if this is the end I shan't +feel it's money wasted. I'm a great believer in +bein' patient. Most always, that is. Here, Lucinda +you take this to Joshua and tell him to +take it right to mail. Be prompt, now. I'm a +great believer in doin' things prompt."</p> + +<p>Lucinda took the letter and was prompt. "She +wants this letter took right to the mail," she said +to Joshua, Aunt Mary's longest-tried servitor.</p> + +<p>"Then it'll be took right to mail," said Joshua.</p> + +<p>"She's pretty mad," said Lucinda.</p> + +<p>"Then she'll soon get over it," replied the +other, taking up his hat and preparing to depart +for the barn forthwith.</p> + +<p>Lucinda returned to Aunt Mary with a species +<pb n="009" /><anchor id="Pg009" />of dried-up sigh. One is not the less a slave +because one has been enslaved for twenty years, +and Lucinda at moments did sort of peek out +through her bars—possibly envying Joshua the +daily drives to mail when he had full control of +something that was alive.</p> + +<p>Lucinda had been, comparatively speaking, +young when she had come to wait upon the pleasure +of the Watkins millions, and her waiting had +been so pertinent and so patient that it had endured +over a quarter of a century. Aunt Mary +had been under fifty in the hour of Lucinda's +dawn; she was over seventy now. Jack hadn't +been born then; he was in college now; and Jack's +older brothers and sisters and his dead-and-gone +father and mother had been living somewhere out +West then, quite hopeful as to their own lives and +quite hopeless as to the stern old great-aunt who +never had paid any attention to her niece since +she had chosen to elope with the doctor's reprobate +son. Now the father and mother were dead +and buried, the brothers and sisters reinstated in +their rights and had all grown up and become +great credits to the old lady, whose heart had +suddenly melted at the arrival of five orphans all +at once. And there was only Jack to continue to +worry about.</p> + +<p>Jack was not anything particularly remarkable; +<pb n="010" /><anchor id="Pg010" />he was just one of those lovable good-for-nothings +that seem born to get better people into trouble +all their lives long. He had been spoiled originally +by being ten years younger than the next +youngest in the family; and then, when the +children had been shipped on to Aunt Mary's +tender mercies, Jack had won her heart immediately +because she accidentally discovered that he +had never been baptized, and so felt fully justified +in re-naming him after her own father and +having the name branded into him for keeps by +her own religious apparatus. It followed naturally +that John Watkins, Jr., Denham, for so +her father's daughter had insisted that her youngest +nephew should be called, was the favorite +nephew of his aunt.</p> + +<p>And it was lucky for him that he was the favorite, +for Aunt Mary, who was highly spiced at +fifty, became peppery at sixty, and almost biting +at seventy. And yet for Jack she would sign +checks almost without a murmur. Mr. Stebbins +was much more censorious and impatient with the +young man than she ever was; and to all the rest of +the world Mr. Stebbins was an urbane and agreeable +gentleman, whereas to all the rest of the world +Aunt Mary was a problem or a terror. But Mr. +Stebbins needed to be a man of tact and management, +for he was the real manager of that fortune +<pb n="011" /><anchor id="Pg011" />of which "Mary, only surviving child of +John Watkins, merchant and ship owner," was the +legal possessor; and so tactful was Mr. Stebbins +that he and his powerful client had never yet +clashed, and they had been in close business relations +for almost as many years as Lucinda had +been established on the hearthstone of the Watkins +home. Perhaps one reason why Mr. Stebbins +endured so well was that he had a real talent +for compromising, and that he had skillfully +transformed Aunt Mary's inherited taste for driving +a bargain into an acquired pleasure in what is +really a polite form of the same action.</p> + +<p>So, when it came to the matter of Jack's difficulties, +Mr. Stebbins could always find a half-way +measure that saved the situation; and when he +received the letter as to the cook and her claim +he hied himself to the city at once, and wrote back +that the claim could be settled for three hundred +dollars.</p> + +<p>"And enough, I must say," Aunt Mary remarked +to Lucinda upon receipt of the statement; +"three hundred dollars for one cat—for, after +all, Jack blames the whole on the cat, an' he didn't +hit it, even then."</p> + +<p>Lucinda did not answer.</p> + +<p>"But if the boy settles down now I shan't mind +payin' the three—Where are you goin'?" +<pb n="012" /><anchor id="Pg012" /></p> + +<p>For Lucinda was walking out of the room.</p> + +<p>"I'm goin' to the door," said she raspingly. +"The bell's ringin'."</p> + +<p>After a minute or two she came back.</p> + +<p>"Telegram!" she announced, handing the yellow +envelope over.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary put on her glasses, opened it, and +read:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p>Cook has blood poison. Sues for a thousand. +Probable amputation.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">STEBBINS.</p> +</quote> + +<p>Aunt Mary dropped the paper with a gasp.</p> + +<p>Lucinda looked at her with interest.</p> + +<p>"It's that same arm again," said Aunt Mary, +"just as I thought it was settled for!" Her +eyes seemed to fairly crackle with indignation. +"Why don't she put it in a sling an' have a little +patience?"</p> + +<p>Lucinda took the telegram and read it.</p> + +<p>"'Pears like she can't," she commented, in a +tone like a buzz saw; "'pears like it's goin' to +be took off."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary reached forth her hand for the +telegram and after a second reading shook her +head in a way that, if her companion had been a +globe-trotter, would have brought matadores and +Seville to the front in her mind in that instant.</p> + +<p>"I declare," she said, "seems like I had enough +<pb n="013" /><anchor id="Pg013" />on my mind without a cook, too. What's to be +done now? I only know one thing! I ain't goin' +to pay no thousand dollars this week for no arm +that wasn't worth but three hundred last week. +Stands to reason that there ain't no reason in that. +I guess you'd better bring me my desk, Lucinda; +I'm goin' to write to Mr. Stebbins, an' I'm goin' +to write to Jack, and I'm goin' to tell 'em both +just what I think. I'm goin' to write Jack that +he'd better be lookin' out, and I'm goin' to write +to Mr. Stebbins that next time he settles things +I want him to take a receipt for that arm in full."</p> + +<p>The letters were duly written and Mr. Stebbins, +upon the receipt of his, redoubled his efforts, +and did succeed in permanently settling with the +cook, the arm being eventually saved. Aunt +Mary regarded the sum as much higher than +necessary, but still pleasantly less than that demanded +of her, and so life in general moved quietly +on until Easter.</p> + +<p>But Easter is always a period of more or less +commotion in the time of youth and leads to +various hilarious outbreaks. Jack's Easter took +him to town for a "little time," and the "little +time" ended in the station-house at three o'clock +on Sunday morning.</p> + +<p>Accusation: Producing concussion of the brain +on a cab driver.</p> +</div> +<pb n="014" /><anchor id="Pg014" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter Two - Jack</head> + + +<p>The news was conveyed to Aunt Mary +through private advices from Mr. Stebbins +(who had been hastily summoned +to the city for purposes of bail); she was very +angry indeed, this time—primarily at the indignity +done her flesh and blood by arresting it. +Then, as she re-read the lawyer's letter, other +reflections crowded to the fore in her mind.</p> + +<p>"Funny! Whatever could have made the boy +get up and go downtown at three in the morning, +anyway?" she said. "Seems kind of queer, don't +you think, Arethusa? Do you suppose he was +ill and huntin' for a drug store?"</p> + +<p>Arethusa had been sent for the second day +previous because Lucinda's youngest sister's youngest +child had come down with scarlet fever, and the +family wanted Lucinda to enliven the quarantine. +Arethusa had sent invitations out for a dinner +party, but she had recalled them and hastened to +obey the summons. It was an evil hour for her, for +<pb n="015" /><anchor id="Pg015" />she loved her brother and was mightily distressed +at the bad news.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe he can have been ill," she said, +at the top of her voice; "if he'd been ill he +wouldn't have had the strength to hit the cab +driver so hard."</p> + +<p>"I don't blame him for hittin' the cab driver," +said Aunt Mary warmly. "As near as I can +recollect, I've often wanted to do that myself. +But I can't make out where he got the man to hit, +or why he was there to hit him. I can't make +rhyme or reason out of it. I wish we knew more. +Well, I presume we will, later."</p> + +<p>Her surmise was correct. They knew much +more later. They knew more from Mr. Stebbins, +and they knew profusely more from the +evening papers.</p> + +<p>"I think our boy'd better have come home for +his Easter," Aunt Mary remarked, with a species of +angry undertow threading the current of her +speech. "There's no sayin' what this will cost +before we're done with it."</p> + +<p>Arethusa choked; it was all so very terrible +to her.</p> + +<p>"What is it that the cabman wants, anyhow?" +her aunt demanded presently.</p> + +<p>"He doesn't want anything," yelled the unhappy +sister. "He's going to die." +<pb n="016" /><anchor id="Pg016" /></p> + +<p>"Well, who is going to sue me, then?"</p> + +<p>"It's his wife; she wants five thousand dollars +damages."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's lips tightened.</p> + +<p>"Five thousand dollars!" she said, with a bitter +patience. "I can see that this is goin' to be an +awful business. Five thousand dollars! Dear, +dear! I must say that that wife sets a pretty +high price on her husband—at least, a'cordin' to +my order of thinkin', she does. From what I've +seen of cabmen, I'd undertake to get her another +just as good for a tenth of the money, any day."</p> + +<p>Arethusa was silent, staring thoughtfully at the +newspaper cuts of a great Tammany leader and +a noted pugilist, which had been labeled as the +principals in the family tragedy.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary turned over another of the many +papers received, and scanned its sensational columns +afresh.</p> + +<p>"Arethusa," she exclaimed suddenly, "do you +know, I bet anythin' I know what this editor +means to insinuate? It just strikes me that he's +tryin' to give the impression that our boy's been +drinkin'."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps so," Arethusa screamed.</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't believe it," said Aunt Mary +firmly, "and I ain't goin' to believe it. And I +ain't goin' to pay no five thousand dollars for no +<pb n="017" /><anchor id="Pg017" />cabman's brains, neither. You write to Mr. Stebbins +to compromise on two or maybe three."</p> + +<p>She stopped and bit her lips and shook her +head. "I don't see why Jack grows up so hard," +she murmured, half in anger and half in sorrow. +"Edward and Henry never had such times. Oh, +well," she sighed, "boys will be boys, I suppose; +an' if this all results in the boy's settlin' down +it'll be money well spent in the end, after all. +Maybe—probably—most likely."</p> + +<p>The days that followed were anxious days, but +at last the cabman rallied and concluded not to +die, and Jack went off yachting with a light heart +and a choice collection of good advice from Mr. +Stebbins and Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>Nothing happened to mar his holiday. He ran +a borrowed steam launch on to some rocks with +rather heavy consequences to his aunt's exchequer, +and returned from the West Indies so late that +she never had a visit from him at all that summer; +but, barring these slightly unwelcome incidents, +he did remarkably well, and when he returned to +college in the fall he was regarded as having +become, at last, a stable proposition.</p> + +<p>"I wonder whether our boy's comin' home for +Christmas?" Aunt Mary asked her niece, Mary, +as that happy period of family reunions drew near. +Mary had come up to stay with her aunt while +<pb n="018" /><anchor id="Pg018" />Lucinda went away to bury a second cousin. Mary +was very different from Arethusa, having a voice +that, when raised, was something between an icicle +and a steam whistle, and a temperament so much +on the order of her aunt's that neither could abide +the other an hour longer than was absolutely necessary. +But Arethusa had a sprained ankle, so there +was no help for existing circumstances.</p> + +<p>"No, he isn't," said Mary, who had no patience +at all with her brother, and showed it. "He's +going West with the glee club."</p> + +<p>"With the she club!" cried poor Aunt Mary, +in affright.</p> + +<p>Mary explained.</p> + +<p>"I don't like the idea," said the old lady, shaking +her head. "Somethin' will be sure to happen. +I can feel it runnin' up and down my bones this +minute."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if he can get into trouble, of course, Jack +will," said Mary cheerfully.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary didn't hear her, because she didn't +raise her voice particularly. Besides, the old lady +was absorbed for the nonce in the most dismal sort +of prognostications.</p> + +<p>And they all came true, too. Something unfortunate +beyond all expectations came to pass during +the glee club's visit to Chicago, and the result was +that, before the new year was well out of its incubator +<pb n="019" /><anchor id="Pg019" />Jack had papers in a breach-of-promise suit +served on him. He wrote Mr. Stebbins that it was +all a joke, and had merely been a portion of that +foam which a train of youthful spirits are apt to +leave in their wake; but the girl stood solid for her +rights, and, as she had never heard from her +fiancé since the night of the dance, her family—who +were rural, but sharp—thought it would take +at least fifteen thousand dollars to patch the crack +in her heart. If the news could have been kept +from Aunt Mary until after Mr. Stebbins had +looked into the matter, everything might have resulted +differently. But the Chicago lawyer who +had the case took good care that the wealthy aunt +knew all as quickly as possible, and it seemed as if +this was the final straw under which the camel +must succumb.</p> + +<p>And Aunt Mary did appear to waver.</p> + +<p>"Fifteen thousand dollars!" she cried, aghast. +"Heaven help us! What next?"</p> + +<p>It was Lucinda who was seated calmly opposite +at this crisis.</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose he really did it?" the aunt +continued, after a minute of appalled consideration.</p> + +<p>"It's about the only thing he ain't never done," +the tried and true servant answered, her tone more +gratingly penetrative than ever. +<pb n="020" /><anchor id="Pg020" /></p> + +<p>Aunt Mary eyed her sharply, not to say +furiously.</p> + +<p>"I wish you'd give a plain answer when I ask +you a plain question, Lucinda," she said coldly. +"If you'd ever got a breach-of-promise suit in the +early mail you'd know how I feel. Perhaps—probably."</p> + +<p>"I ain't a doubt but what he done it," Lucinda +screamed out; "an' if I was her an' he wouldn't +marry me after sayin' he would I'd sue him for a +hundred thousand, an' think I let him off cheap +then."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary deigned to smile faintly over the +subtlety of this speech; but the next minute she was +frowning blacker than ever.</p> + +<p>"A girl from Kalamazoo, too, just up in +Chicago for a week—just up in Chicago long +enough to come down on me for fifteen thousand +dollars."</p> + +<p>"Maybe she'll take five thousand instead," Lucinda +remarked.</p> + +<p>"Maybe!" ejaculated her mistress, in fine +scorn. "Maybe! Well, if you don't talk as if +money was sweet peas an' would dry up if it wasn't +picked!"</p> + +<p>Lucinda screwed up her face.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary gave her one awful look.</p> + +<p>"You get me some paper an' my desk, +<pb n="021" /><anchor id="Pg021" />Lucinda," she said. "I think it's about time I was +takin' a hand in it myself. I've been pretty +patient, an' I don't see as it's helped matters any. +Now I'm goin' to write that boy a letter that'll +settle him an' his cats, an' his cooks, an' his cabmen, +an' his Kalamazoo, just once for all. I guess I can +do what I set out to do. Pretty generally—most +always."</p> + +<p>Lucinda brought the desk, and Aunt Mary +frowned fearfully and began to write the +letter.</p> + +<p>It developed very strongly. As her pen sized +up the situation in black and white, the old lady +seemed to realize the iniquities of the case more +and more plainly; and as the letter grew her wrath +grew also. The whole came, in the end, to a threat—made +in good earnest—to take a very serious +step indeed if any more "foolishness" developed.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary prided herself on her granite-like +will. She had full faith in her ability to slay her +nearest and dearest if it seemed right and best to +do so.</p> + +<p>She sealed her letter tight, stuck the stamp +on square and hard, and bid Lucinda convey it to +Joshua and tell him never to quit it until he saw it +safe on to the evening train.</p> + +<p>"She's awful mad at him for sure, this time," +said Lucinda after she had delivered her message, +<pb n="022" /><anchor id="Pg022" />and while Joshua was considering the front and +back of the letter with a deliberateness born of long +servitude.</p> + +<p>"I sh'd think she would be," he said.</p> + +<p>As nearly all of Jack's private difficulties were +printed in every newspaper in America, Joshua +naturally was on the inside of all their history.</p> + +<p>"She scrinched up her face just awful over that +letter," Lucinda continued. "I'm sure I wish +he'd 'a' been by to 'a' taken warnin'."</p> + +<p>"He ain't got nothin' to really fret over," +said Joshua serenely; "he knows it, 'n' I know it, +'n' you know it, too."</p> + +<p>"You don't know nothin' of the sort," said Lucinda. +"She's madder'n usual this time. She's +good an' mad. You mark my words, if he goes +off on a 'nother spree this spring he'll get cut out o' +her will."</p> + +<p>Joshua laughed.</p> + +<p>"You mark my words!" rasped Lucinda, shaking +her finger in witchlike warning.</p> + +<p>Joshua laughed again.</p> + +<p>"Them laughs best what laughs last," said Aunt +Mary's handmaiden. She turned away, and then +returned to give Joshua a look that proved that the +peppery mistress had inculcated some cayenne into +the souls of those about her. "You mark my +words—them laughs best what laughs last, an' +<pb n="023" /><anchor id="Pg023" />there'll be little grinnin' for him if he ain't a chalk-walker +for one while now."</p> + +<p>Joshua laughed.</p> + +<p>But, as a matter of fact, Jack's situation was suddenly +become extremely precarious.</p> + +<p>"There ain't no sense in it," said Aunt Mary to +herself, with an emphasis that screwed her face up +until she looked quite like Lucinda; "that life +those young men lead on their little vacations is +to blame for everything. Cities are wells of +iniquity; they're full of all kinds of doin's that +respectable people wouldn't be seen at, and I'm +proud to say that I haven't been in one myself for +twenty-five years. I'm a great believer in keepin' +out of trouble, an' if Jack'd just stuck to college +an' let towns go, he'd never have met the cabman +and the Kalamazoo girl, an' I'd have overlooked +the cook an' the cat. As it is, my patience is done. +If he goes into one more scrape he'll be done too. +I mean what I say. So my young man had better +take warnin'. Probably—most likely—pretty +certainly."</p> +</div> + +<pb n="024" /><anchor id="Pg024" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter Three - Introducing Jack</head> + + +<p>It has been previously stated that Aunt Mary's +nephew, Jack, was a scapegrace, and as delightful +as scapegraces generally are. It goes without +saying that he was good-looking; and of course +he must have been jolly and pleasant or he wouldn't +have been so popular. As a matter of fact, Jack +was very good-looking, unusually jolly, and uncommonly +popular. He was one of the best liked +men in each of the colleges which he had attended. +There was something so winning about his smile +and his eternal good humor that no one ever tried +to dislike him; and if anyone ever had tried he or +she would not have succeeded for very long. It +is probably very unfortunate that the world is so +full of this type of young man, but that which +should cause us all to have infinite patience with +them is the reflection of how much more unfortunate +it would be if they were suddenly eliminated +from the general scheme of things.</p> + +<p>Like all college boys, Jack had a chum. The +chum was Robert Burnett, another charming young +<pb n="025" /><anchor id="Pg025" />fellow of one-and-twenty, whose education had +been so cosmopolitan in design and so patriotic in +practice that he always said "Sacre bleu" and +"Donnerwetter" when he thought of it, and +"Great Scott" when he didn't. He and Jack were +as congenial a pair as ever existed, and they had +just about as much in common as the aunt of the +one and the father of the other had had to pay for.</p> + +<p>In the February of the year of which I write, +Washington, celebrating his birthday as usual, gave +all American students their usual chance to celebrate +with him. Celebrations were temptations +incarnate to Jack, and he was feeling frowningly +what a clog Aunt Mary's latest epistle was upon +his joys, when his friend came to the rescue with an +invitation to spend the double holiday (it doubled +that year—Sunday, you know) at the brand-new +ancestral castle which Burnett <hi rend="font-style: italic">père</hi> had just finished +building for his descendants. It may be imagined +that Jack accepted the invitation with alacrity, and +that his never-very-downcast heart bounded gleefully +higher than usual over the prospect of two +days of pleasure in the country.</p> + +<p>It is not necessary to state where the castle of +the Burnetts was erected, but it was in a beautiful +region, and the monthly magazines had written it +up and called it an architectural triumph. The +owner fully agreed with the monthly magazines, +<pb n="026" /><anchor id="Pg026" />and his pride found vent in a house-warming which +filled every guest chamber in the place.</p> + +<p>The festivities were in full swing before the +youngest son and his friend arrived; and when +the dog-cart, which brought them from the station, +drew up under the mighty porte-cochère with its +four stone lions, rampant in four different directions, +Jack felt one of those delicious thrills which +run through one under particularly hopeful and +buoyant circumstances.</p> + +<p>"It's like walking in a novel," his friend said; +as they entered under some heavy draperies which +the footman pushed aside and found a tiny spiral +staircase, which wound its way aloft in a style that +Jack liked immensely and the latter agreed with all +his heart.</p> + +<p>The staircase led them to the third floor and +when they emerged therefrom they found themselves +in a big semi-circular billiard room, with a +fireplace at each end large enough to put one of the +tables in, and cues and counters and stools and +divans and smoking utensils sufficient for a regiment.</p> + +<p>"I tell you, this is the way to do things," +exclaimed Burnett; "isn't it jolly? Time of your +life, old man, time of your life!—And, oh, by the +way," he said, suddenly interrupting himself, "I +wonder if my sister's got here yet!" +<pb n="027" /><anchor id="Pg027" /></p> + +<p>"Which sister?" Jack inquired; for his friend +was one of a very large family, and he had met +several of them on their various visits to town.</p> + +<p>"Betty—the one who beats all the others hollow,"—but +just there the conversation was broken +off by the servants coming up with the luggage +and setting two doors open that showed them two +big rooms, both exquisitely furnished, and both +with windows that looked out, first on to a stone +balustrade, and secondly on to a superb view over +the river and the mountains beyond.</p> + +<p>The men unstrapped the things and went away, +leaving such a plenitude of comfort behind them +as led Jack to fling himself into the most luxurious +chair in the room and stretch his arms and +legs far and wide in utter contentment.</p> + +<p>Burnett was fishing for his key ring.</p> + +<p>"It's a great old place, isn't it?" he remarked +parenthetically. "Great Scott! but I'll bet we have +fun these two days! And if my sister Betty is +here—" He paused expressively.</p> + +<p>"Doesn't she live at home?" Jack asked.</p> + +<p>"She's just come home; she's been in England +for three years. Oh, but I tell you she's a +corker!"</p> + +<p>"I should think—"</p> + +<p>The sentence was never completed because a +voice without the not-altogether-closed door cried: +<pb n="028" /><anchor id="Pg028" /></p> + +<p>"No, don't think, please; let me come in instead." +And in the same instant Burnett made +one leap and flung the door open, crying as he did +so:</p> + +<p>"Betty!"</p> + +<p>Then Jack, bunching somewhat his starfish attitude, +looked across the room and realized instantly +that it was all up with him forever after.</p> + +<p>Because—</p> + +<p>Because she who stood there in the door was +quite the sweetest, the loveliest, the most interesting +looking girl whom he had ever laid eyes on; +and when she was seized in her brother's arms, and +kissed by her brother's lips, and dragged by her +brother's hands well into the room, she proved to +be a thousand times more irresistible than at +first.</p> + +<p>"I say, Betty, you're absolutely prettier than +ever," her brother exclaimed, holding her a little +off from him and surveying her critically; and then +he seemed to remember his friend's existence, and, +turning toward him, announced proudly:</p> + +<p>"My sister Bertha."</p> + +<p>Jack was standing up now and thinking how +lovely her eyes were just at that instant when they +were meeting his for the first time, thinking much +else too. Thinking that Monday was only two +days away (hang it!); thinking that such a +<pb n="029" /><anchor id="Pg029" />smile was never known before; thinking that he +had <hi rend="font-style: italic">years</hi> ahead at college; thinking that the curl +on her forehead was simply distracting (whereas +all other like curls were horrid); thinking that he +might cut college and—</p> + +<p>"My chum, Jack Denham," Burnett continued, +proving in the same instant how rapidly the mind +may work since his friend had compassed his +encyclopedia of sentiment and probability between +the two halves of a formal introduction.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm very glad to meet you, Mr. Denham," +she said, putting out her hand—and he took and +held it just long enough to realize that he really was +holding it, before she took it away to keep for her +own again. "I've often heard of you, and often +wished I might know you."</p> + +<p>"I'm awfully glad to hear you say that," he +said, "and if I should have the royal luck to be +next to you at dinner, it doesn't seem to me that I +shall have the strength to keep from telling +you why."</p> + +<p>She clapped her hands at this, just as a very little +girl might have done.</p> + +<p>"If that is so, I hope that they will put you +next to me at dinner," she said gayly; "but if they +don't, you'll tell me some other time, won't you? +I'm always <hi rend="font-style: italic">so</hi> interested in what people have to +tell me about myself." +<pb n="030" /><anchor id="Pg030" /></p> + +<p>Burnett began to laugh.</p> + +<p>"Jack," he said, "I see that we'd better have a +clear and above-board understanding right in the +beginning and so I'll just tell you that this sister +of mine, who appears so guileless, is the very worst +flirt ever. She looks honest, but she can't tell the +truth to save her neck. She means well, but she +drives folks to suicide just for fun. She'd do anything +for anybody in general, but when it's a case +of you individually she won't do a thing to you, +and you must heed my words and be forewarned +and forearmed from now on. Mustn't he, +Betty?"</p> + +<p>At this the sister laughed, nodding quite as +gayly as if it were a laughing matter, instead +of the opening move in a possibly serious—tremendously +serious—game of life.</p> + +<p>"It's awful to have to subscribe to," she said, +with dancing eyes; "but I'm afraid it's true. I'm +really quite a reprobate, and I admit it frankly. +And everyone is so good to me that I never get a +chance to reform. And so—and so—"</p> + +<p>"But then, I suppose I ought to warn her about +you, too," said Burnett, turning suddenly toward +his friend. "It isn't fair to show her up and not +show you up, you know. And really, Betty, he's +almost as bad as you are yourself. I may tell you +in confidence—in strict confidence (for it's only +<pb n="031" /><anchor id="Pg031" />been in a few newspapers)—that he hasn't got his +breach-of-promise suit all compromised yet. Ask +him to deny it, if he can!"</p> + +<p>The sister looked suddenly startled and curious +and Jack felt himself to be blushing desperately.</p> + +<p>"I don't look as if he was lying, do I?" he +asked smiling; "be honest now, for you can see +that Burnett and I both are."</p> + +<p>"No, you don't," she said. "You look as if it +was a very true bill."</p> + +<p>"It is," he said; "and it's going to be an awfully +big one, too, I'm afraid."</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't have thought you were such a bad +man," said the sister ever so sweetly; "but I like +bad men. They interest me. They—"</p> + +<p>"There!—I see your finish," said Burnett. +"That's one of her favorite opening plays. It's +all up with you, Jack, and your aunt will have to +to go down for another damage suit when you +begin to perceive that you have had enough of our +family. But you'll have to get out now, Betty, +and let him get dressed for dinner. You needn't +cry about it either for he's even more attractive in +his glad rags than he is in his railway dust—my +word of honor on it."</p> + +<p>"I look nice myself when I'm dinner-dressed," +said the sister, "so I sympathize with him and I'll +go with pleasure. Good-bye." +<pb n="032" /><anchor id="Pg032" /></p> + +<p>She sort of backed toward the door and Jack +sprang to open it for her.</p> + +<p>"You can kiss her hand, if you like," Burnett +said kindly. "They do in Germany, you know. +I don't mind and mamma needn't know."</p> + +<p>"May I?" Jack asked her; and then he caught +her eye over her brother's bent head and added, +so quickly that there was hardly any break at all +between the words: "Some other time?"</p> + +<p>"Some other time," she said, with a world of +meaning in the promise; and then she flashed one +wonderful look straight into his eyes and was gone.</p> + +<p>"Isn't she great?" Burnett asked, unlocking his +suit-case in the most provokingly every-day style, as +if this day was an every-day sort of day and not the +beginning and end of all things. "Oh, I tell you, +I'm almost dotty over that sister myself."</p> + +<p>"Do you suppose that I could manage to have +her for dinner?" Jack asked, feeling desperately +how dull any other place at the table would be +now.</p> + +<p>"I don't know. When I go down to my +mother I'll try to manage it; shall I?"</p> + +<p>"I wish you would."</p> + +<p>"I reckon I can; but, great loads of fire, fellow! +don't think you can play tag with her, and feel +funny at the finish. She'll do you up completely, +and never turn a hair herself. She's always at it. +<pb n="033" /><anchor id="Pg033" />She don't mean to be cruel, but she's naturally a +carnivorous animal. It's her little way."</p> + +<p>Jack did not look as dismal as he should have +done; he smiled, and looked out of the window +instead.</p> + +<p>"She'll have to marry someone some day, you +know," he said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Have to marry someone some day!" Burnett +cried. "Why, she is married. Didn't you know +that?" and he unbuckled the shirt portfolio as he +spoke just as if calamities and tragedies and shooting +stars might not follow on the heels of +such a simple statement as that last.</p> + +<p>It was an awful moment, but poor Jack did manage +to continue looking out of the window. If any greater +demand had been made upon him he might have +sunk beneath the double weight.</p> + +<p>"No," he said at last, his voice painfully steady; +"I didn't know it."</p> + +<p>Burnett laughed heartlessly, hauling forth his +apparel with a refined cruelty which took careful +heed of possible interfolded shoes or cravats.</p> + +<p>"She married an Englishman when she was +nineteen years old," he said. "That was when +they sent me to Eton that little while,—until I +drove the horse through the drug shop. The time +I told you about, don't you know?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember," said Jack. He observed +<pb n="034" /><anchor id="Pg034" />with sickening distinctness that the night had begun +to fall, the river's silver ribbon had become a +black snake, and that the mountain range beyond +loomed chill and dark and cheerless. "I guess I +ought to be getting into my things," he said, moving +toward his own door.</p> + +<p>"There's a bath in here," his friend called after +him. "We're to divide it."</p> + +<p>"Sure," was the reply. It sounded a trifle +thick.</p> + +<p>"I don't think that she ought to," said the +brother to himself, as he began to draw out his +stick-pin before the mirror, "I don't care if she is +my favorite sister—I don't think that she ought +to."</p> + +<p>Then he went on to make ready for the securing +of his half of the bath, and forthwith forgot his +sister and his friend.</p> +</div> + +<pb n="035" /><anchor id="Pg035" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter Four - Married</head> + + +<p>It was almost like a scene at a ball, the great +white-and-gold music room before dinner that +night. The Burnett family proper numbered +fifteen among themselves, and there were nearly +thirty guests added. It was entirely too large a +house party to have handled successfully for very +long, but it would be most awfully jolly for three +or four days; and now, when the whole crowd +were gathered waiting for dinner, the picture was +one of such bubbling joy that Jack's very heavy +heart seemed to himself to be terribly out of place +there and he wondered whether he should be able +to put up even a fairly presentable front during the +endless hours that must ensue before the time for +breaking up arrived.</p> + +<p>Burnett took him all around and introduced him +to people in general, and people in general seemed +to him to merely bring the fact of her pre-eminence +more vividly than ever before his mind. He +found himself looking everywhere but at them too, +<pb n="036" /><anchor id="Pg036" />and listening with an acutely sensitive ear for +sounds quite other than those of their various lips. +But eternal disappointment rewarded his eyes and +ears. She was nowhere.</p> + +<p>So he talked blindly about nothing to all the +nobodies and laughed stupidly over all their stupidities +until—suddenly and without any warning—a +fearful jump in his throat sent the mercury in +his constitution shooting up to 160, and he saw, +heard, felt, gasped, and knew, that that radiant +angel in silver tissue who had just entered the +farther end of the room was indubitably Herself.</p> + +<p>(Married!)</p> + +<p>He quite forgot who, what and where he was. +There was a somebody talking to him—a very +awful and bony young lady, but she faded so completely +out of the general scheme of his immediate +present that all the use he made of her was to stare +over her head at the distant apparition that was +become, now and forever, his All in All. The distant +apparition had not lied when she had told him +up in her brother's room that she too, looked +"nice" when dressed for dinner. Only the word +"nice" was as watered milk to the champagne of +her appearance. She was gowned superbly and +her throat and arms were half bared by the folds +of silvered lace; her hair fitted into the back of +her neck in the smoothest mass of puffs and coils, +<pb n="037" /><anchor id="Pg037" />and the curl on her forehead was more distracting +than ever.</p> + +<p>(Married!)</p> + +<p>She seemed to be speaking to everyone, and +everyone seemed to be crowding around her. He +couldn't go up like everyone else, because the +awful and bony young lady was talking hard at +him and heightened her charms with a smile that +took up two-fifths of her face, and wrinkled all the +rest.</p> + +<p>Her name was Lome—Maude Lome. He +knew that she must be a relative without being told, +because otherwise she wouldn't have been invited +at all. Anyone could divine that.</p> + +<p>"Oh, isn't dear Betty just lovely?" this fearful +freak said. "I think she's just too lovely for +anything! She's my cousin, you know; we're often +mistaken for one another."</p> + +<p>"I can well believe it," said Jack, heavily, not +ceasing to stare beyond as he said it.</p> + +<p>(Married!)</p> + +<p>"Oh, you're flattering me! Because she's ever +so much prettier than I am, and I know it."</p> + +<p>He didn't reply. It had suddenly come over +him to wonder whether there ever had been an +authentic case of heartbreak. Because he had the +most terrible ache right in his left side!</p> + +<p>(Married! Married!) +<pb n="038" /><anchor id="Pg038" /></p> + +<p>"But, then," Miss Lome continued, "I'm +younger than she is. Her being married makes +her seem young, but she's really twenty-four. I'm +only twenty."</p> + +<p>He shut his eyes, and then opened them. He +wished he hadn't come here, and then grew shivery +to think that he might have happened not to; and +all the while that awful twisting and wrenching +at his heart was getting worse and worse.</p> + +<p>(Married! Married! Married!)</p> + +<p>Burnett came up just then with a man wearing +a monocle and presented him to Denham, and +forthwith handed the bony cousin to his safe-keeping.</p> + +<p>"She's a great pill, isn't she?" he began, as +the couple moved away; and then he stopped short. +"What's the matter?" he asked. "Sick?"</p> + +<p>"I hope not," said Jack, trying to smile.</p> + +<p>"You look hipped," his friend said anxiously. +"Better go get a bracer; you'll have time if you +hurry. You can't be sick before dinner, because +I've been moving all the cards around so as to get +Betty next to you, and I could never get them back +as they were before if you gave out at the last minute."</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I'm ill," said Jack, trying to +realize whether the news that she was to be his (for +dinner) made him feel any better or only just about +<pb n="039" /><anchor id="Pg039" />the same. "I don't know what ails me. Do I +look seedy?"</p> + +<p>"You look sort of knocked out, that's all," said +Burnett. "Perhaps, though, it was just the having +to talk to my cousin Maude so long. Isn't +she the limit, though? But I'll tell you the one +big thing about that girl: She's just the biggest +kind of a catch. She was my uncle's eldest child; +she's worth twelve times what any of us ever will +be."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure she'll need it," said Jack heartily.</p> + +<p>"You're right there," laughed his friend; +"but you've got to hurry and get your brandy now +if you want it, because they'll be going out in a +minute."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm all right," said the poor chap, straightening +his shoulders back a little. "I can make +out well enough, I'm sure. I think I'd better go +over by your sister and let her know that I'm ready +when the hour of need shall strike."</p> + +<p>Burnet nodded and then he went on and his +friend walked down the room, no one but himself +knowing that he was making his way into the lion's +(or, rather, lioness's) den.</p> + +<p>And then he paused there beside her. Oh! she +Was seven million times lovelier close to than far +away. All the rot about Venus and statues and +paintings and Helen of Troy was nowhere beside +<pb n="040" /><anchor id="Pg040" />Her and he felt his strength come surging mightily +upward and then—oh Heavens!</p> + +<p>She looked up—looked so sweetly up—right +into his eyes and smiled.</p> + +<p>"I expect you are to take me into dinner," she +said; and at her words the man who had been +talking to her murmured something meaningless +and got out of their way.</p> + +<p>"I believe so," he said.</p> + +<p>She rose and he noticed that the top of her head +was just level with his coat lapel. He wondered, +with a miserable pang, where she came to on her +husband's coat and with the wonder his surging +strength surged suddenly out to sea again and left +him feeling like Samson when he awoke to the +realization of his haircut.</p> + +<p>"Dinner's very late," she said, quite as if life +presented no problem whatever; "you see, it's the +first big company in the house. We were only +seventeen last night, and to-night we're forty-five. +It makes a difference."</p> + +<p>"I can imagine so," he said. He was suddenly +acutely aware of feeling very awkward, and of +finding her different—quite different from what +she had seemed up in her brother's room.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" she asked after a minute, looking +up at him; and then she showed that she was +conscious of the change, for she added: "Something +<pb n="041" /><anchor id="Pg041" />has happened; Bob has been saying mean +things about me to you?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he did tell me something," he admitted; +and just then the butler announced dinner.</p> + +<p>"What did he tell you?" she asked, as they +moved away. "How could he say anything worse +than what he said before me?"</p> + +<p>"He told me something that was worse—much +worse."</p> + +<p>She looked troubled and as if she did not understand.</p> + +<p>"But he said that I was a flirt, and that I +couldn't speak the truth, and that I drove people—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I remember all that; but this was infinitely worse."</p> + +<p>"Infinitely worse!"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>She stopped in an angle where the big room +dwindled into a narrow gallery, and stared astonished.</p> + +<p>"I can't at all understand," she said.</p> + +<p>"No, you can't," he said, "and I can't tell you—I +mustn't tell you—how terrible it is to me to +look at you and think of what he told me."</p> + +<p>After a second she went on again and presently +they entered the dining-room. The confusion of +rustling skirts and sliding chairs quite covered +<pb n="042" /><anchor id="Pg042" />their speech for a moment and made them seem +almost alone. Her hand had been resting on his +arm and now she drew it out, looking up at him +again as she did so. Her eyes had a premonitory +mist over them.</p> + +<p>"For Heaven's sake," she said very earnestly, +"tell me what he said?"</p> + +<p>He was silent.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," she pleaded.</p> + +<p>He was still silent.</p> + +<p>"Tell me," she said imperiously.</p> + +<p>He continued silent. They sat down.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Denham," she said, as she took up her +napkin, and her voice grew very low, and yet he +heard, "I don't think that we can pretend to be +joking any longer. You are my brother's friend, +and I am a married woman. Please treat me as +you should."</p> + +<p>"That's just it," said Jack; "that's all there is +to it. It wouldn't have amounted to anything +except for that—or perhaps, if it hadn't been +for that, it might have amounted to a great +deal."</p> + +<p>"If it hadn't been for what?"</p> + +<p>"For your being married."</p> + +<p>She quite started in her seat.</p> + +<p>"What do you mean?"</p> + +<p>"You see I never knew it before." +<pb n="043" /><anchor id="Pg043" /></p> + +<p>"You never knew what before?"</p> + +<p>"That you were married."</p> + +<p>"Until when?"</p> + +<p>"Until after you went out of the room to-night."</p> + +<p>The men were putting the clams around. She +seemed to reflect. And then she peppered and +salted them before she spoke.</p> + +<p>"Bob is very wrong to talk so," she said at last, +picking up her fork, "when you're his friend, too."</p> + +<p>He poked his clams—he hated clams.</p> + +<p>"I suppose men think it's amusing to do such +things," she continued, "but I think it's as ill-bred +as practical joking."</p> + +<p>"But you are married," he said, trying fiercely +to pepper some taste into the tasteless things before +him.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm married," she admitted tranquilly, +"but, then, my husband went to Africa so soon +afterwards that he hardly seemed to count at all. +And then he was killed there; so, after that, he +seemed to count less than ever."</p> + +<p>The air danced exclamation points and the man +on the other side spoke to her then so that her turning +to answer him gave Jack time to rally his wits.</p> + +<p>(A widow!)</p> + +<p>Then she turned back and said:</p> + +<p>"I think Bob mystified you unnecessarily. Of +course I don't flatter myself that you've suffered." +<pb n="044" /><anchor id="Pg044" /></p> + +<p>"Oh, but I have," he hastened to assure her.</p> + +<p>(A widow! A widow!)</p> + +<p>"But it always makes a difference whether a +woman is married or not."</p> + +<p>"I should say it did," he interrupted again. +"It makes all the difference in the world."</p> + +<p>At that she laughed outright, and someone suddenly +abstracted the distasteful clams and substituted +for them a golden and glorious soup, and +music sounded forth from some invisible quartet, +and—and—</p> + +<p>(A widow! A widow! A widow!)</p> +</div> +<pb n="045" /><anchor id="Pg045" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Five - The Day After Falling in Love</head> + + +<p>The next day was a very memorable day +for Jack. The day after a falling in love +is always a red-letter day; but the day after +the falling in love—ah!</p> + +<p>One looks back—far back—to the day before, +and those hours of the day before, when her sun +had not yet dawned, and struggles to recollect +what ends life could have represented then. +And one looks forward to the next day, the next +week, the next year—but, particularly to the next +morning with sensations as indescribable as they +are delightful.</p> + +<p>Whichever way you tip it, the kaleidoscope of +the future arranges itself in equally attractive +shapes of rainbow hue, and the prospect over land +or sea—even if it is raining—looks brilliant green, +and brighter red, and brightest yellow.</p> + +<p>Upon that glorious "next day" of Jack's the +weather was quite a thing apart for February—partaking +of the warmth of May, and owing that +fact to a sun which early June need not have +<pb n="046" /><anchor id="Pg046" />scorned to own. Under the circumstances the +house party overflowed the house and ravaged the +surrounding country, and Jack and Mrs. Rosscott +began it all by having the highest cart and the +fastest cob in the stables and making for the forest +just as the clock was tolling ten.</p> + +<p>"Do you want a groom?" asked Burnett, who +was occasionally very cruel.</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm not going to wait for him to get +ready now," replied his sister, who had sharp wits +and did not disdain to give even her own family the +benefit of them.</p> + +<p>Then she gathered up the reins and whip in a +most scientific manner, and they were off. Jack +folded his arms. He was simply flooded, drenched, +and saturated with joy. The evening before +had been Elysium when she had only been his +now and again for a minute's conversation, but +now she was to be his and his alone until—until they +came back—and his mind seemed able to grasp no +dearer outlines of the form which Bliss Incarnate +may be supposed to take. He didn't care where +they went or what they saw or what they talked of, +just if only he and she might be going, seeing, and +talking for the benefit of one another and of one +another alone.</p> + +<p>They bowled away upon a firm, hard road that +skirted the park, and then plunged deeply into the +<pb n="047" /><anchor id="Pg047" />forest. Mrs. Rosscott handled the reins and the +whip with the hands of an expert.</p> + +<p>"I like to drive," said she.</p> + +<p>"You appear to," he answered.</p> + +<p>"I like to do everything," she said. "I'm very +athletic and energetic."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of that," he told her warmly. "I +like athletic girls."</p> + +<p>He really thought that he was speaking the +truth, although upon that first day if she had declared +herself lazy and languid he would have +found her equally to his taste—because it was the +first day.</p> + +<p>"That's kind of you, after my speech," she said +smiling, "but let's wait a bit before we begin to +talk about me. Let us talk about you first—you're +the company, you know."</p> + +<p>"But there's nothing to tell about me," said +Jack, "except that I'm always in difficulties—financial—or +otherwise,—oftenest 'otherwise,' I +must confess."</p> + +<p>"But you have a rich aunt, haven't you?" said +Mrs. Rosscott. "I thought that I had heard about +your aunt."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, I have a rich aunt," Jack said, laughing, +"and I can assure you that if I am not much +credit to my aunt, my aunt is the greatest possible +credit to me." +<pb n="048" /><anchor id="Pg048" /></p> + +<p>"Yes, I've heard that, too," said Mrs. Rosscott, +joining in the laugh, "you see I'm well posted."</p> + +<p>"If you're so well posted as to me," Jack said, +"do be kind and post me a little as to yourself. +You don't need information and I do."</p> + +<p>She turned and looked at him.</p> + +<p>"What shall I tell you first?" she inquired.</p> + +<p>"Tell me what you like and what you don't like—and +that will give me courage to do the same +later," he added boldly.</p> + +<p>She laughed outright at that and then sobered +quickly.</p> + +<p>"I told you that I liked to drive and to do everything," +she said lightly; "what else do you want to +know about?"</p> + +<p>"What you dislike."</p> + +<p>"But I don't know of anything that I dislike;" +she said thoughtfully—"perhaps I don't like +England; I am not sure, though. I had a pretty +good time there after all—only you know, being +in mourning was so stupid. And then, too, I didn't +fit into their ideas. I really didn't seem to get the +true inwardness of what was expected of me. Oh, +I never dared let them know at home what a +failure I was as an Englishwoman. I mortified +my husband's sisters all the time. Just think—after +a whole year I often forgot to say 'Fancy +now!' and used to say 'Good gracious!' instead." +<pb n="049" /><anchor id="Pg049" /></p> + +<p>Jack laughed.</p> + +<p>"My husband's sisters were very unhappy about +it. They did want to love me, because I had so +much money; but it was tough work for them. +Did you ever know any middle-aged English young +ladies?" she asked him suddenly.</p> + +<p>"No, I never did," he said.</p> + +<p>"Really, they seem to be a thing apart that can't +grow anywhere but in England. Every married +man has not less than two, nor more than three, and +they always are a little gray and embroider very +nicely. Someone told me that as long as there's +any hope they wear stout boots and walk about and +hunt, but as soon as it's hopeless they take to embroidering."</p> + +<p>"It must be rather a blue day for them when +they decide definitely to make the change," said +Jack.</p> + +<p>"I never thought of that," said Mrs. Rosscott +soberly. "Of course it must! I was always very +good to them. I gave them ever so many things +that I could have used longer myself, and they used +to set pieces of muslin in behind the open-work +places and wear them."</p> + +<p>She sighed.</p> + +<p>"It's quite as bad as being a Girton girl," she +said. "Do you know what a Girton girl is?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't." +<pb n="050" /><anchor id="Pg050" /></p> + +<p>"It's a girl from Girton College. It's the most +awful freak you ever saw. They're really quite +beyond everything. They're so homely, and their +hands and feet are so enormous, and their pins +never pin, and their belts never belt. And no one +has ever married one of them yet!"</p> + +<p>She paused dramatically.</p> + +<p>"I won't either, then," he declared.</p> + +<p>She laughed at that, and touched up the cob a +trifle.</p> + +<p>"Did you live long in England?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Forever!" she answered with emphasis; "at +least it seemed like forever. Mamma left me +there when I was nineteen (she married me off +before she left me, of course) and I stayed there +until last winter—until I was out of my mourning, +you know—and then I was on the Continent for a +while, and then I returned to papa."</p> + +<p>"How do we strike you after your long +absence?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, you suit me admirably," she said, turning +and smiling squarely into his face; "only the terrible 'and' +of the majority does get on my nerves +somewhat."</p> + +<p>"What 'and'?"</p> + +<p>"Haven't you noticed? Why when an American +runs out of talking material he just rests on one +poor little 'and' until a fresh run of thought overwhelms +<pb n="051" /><anchor id="Pg051" />him; you listen to the next person you're +talking with, and you'll hear what I mean."</p> + +<p>Jack reflected.</p> + +<p>"I will," he said at last.</p> + +<p>The road went sweeping in and out among a +thicket of bare tree trunks and brown copses, and +the sunlight fell out of the blue sky above straight +down upon their heads.</p> + +<p>"If it don't annoy you, my referring to England +so often," said she presently, "I will state that +this reminds me of Kaysmere, the country place of +my father-in-law."</p> + +<p>"Is your father-in-law living yet?"</p> + +<p>"Dear me, yes—and still has hold of the title +that I supposed I was getting when I was married +to his eldest son. My father-in-law is a particularly +healthy old gentleman of eighty. He was +forty years old when he married. He didn't +expect to marry, you know—he couldn't see his +way to ever affording it. But he jumped into the +title suddenly and then, of course, he married right +away. He had to. You'd know what a hurry +he must have been in to look at my mamma-in-law's +portrait."</p> + +<p>"Was she so very beautiful?"</p> + +<p>"No; she was so very homely. Maude's very +like her."</p> + +<p>Jack laughed. +<pb n="052" /><anchor id="Pg052" /></p> + +<p>She laughed, too.</p> + +<p>"Aren't we happy together?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"My sky knows but one cloud," he rejoined, +"and that is that Monday comes after Sunday."</p> + +<p>"But we shall meet again," said Mrs. Rosscott. +"Because," she added mischievously, "I don't suppose +that it's on account of my cousin Maude that +you rebel at the approach of Monday."</p> + +<p>"No," said Jack. "It may not be polite to say +so to you, but I wasn't in the least thinking of your +cousin."</p> + +<p>"Poor girl!" said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully; +"and she was so sweet to you, too. Mustn't it be +terrible to have a face like that?"</p> + +<p>"It must indeed," said Jack; "I can think of +but one thing worse."</p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"To marry a face like that."</p> + +<p>She laughed again.</p> + +<p>"You're cruel," she declared; "after all her +face isn't her fortune, so what does it matter?"</p> + +<p>"It doesn't matter at all to me," said Jack. "I +know of very few things that can matter less to me +than Miss Lorne's face."</p> + +<p>"Now, you're cruel again; and she was so nice to +you too. Absolutely, I don't believe that the edges +of her smile came together once while she was +talking to you last night." +<pb n="053" /><anchor id="Pg053" /></p> + +<p>"Did you spy on us to that extent?" said Jack. +"I wouldn't have believed it of you."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm very awful," she said airily. "You'll +be more surprised the farther you penetrate into +the wilderness of my ways."</p> + +<p>"And when will I have a chance to plunge into +the jungle, do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Any Saturday or Sunday that you happen to +be in town."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to live in town?"</p> + +<p>"For a while. I've taken a house until the +beginning of July. I expect some friends over, +and I want to entertain them."</p> + +<p>Jack felt the sky above become refulgent. He +was in the habit of spending every Saturday night +in the city—he and Burnett together.</p> + +<p>"May I come as often as I like?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said she; "because you know if +you should come too often I can tell the man at the +door to say I'm 'not at home' to you."</p> + +<p>"But if he ever says: 'She's not at home to you,' +I shall walk right in and fall upon the man that you +are being at home to just then."</p> + +<p>"But he is a very large man," said Mrs. Rosscott +seriously; "he's larger than you are, I think."</p> + +<p>Jack felt the blue heavens breaking up into thunderbolts +for his head at <hi rend="font-style: italic">this</hi> speech.</p> + +<p>"But I'm 'way over six feet," he said, his heart +<pb n="054" /><anchor id="Pg054" />going heavily faster, even while he told himself +that he might have known it, anyhow.</p> + +<p>"He's all of six feet two," she said meditatively. +"I do believe he's even taller. I remember +liking him at the first glance, just because he +struck me as so royal looking."</p> + +<p>He was miserably conscious of acute distress.</p> + +<p>"Do—do you mind my smoking?" he +stammered.</p> + +<p>(Might have known that, of course, there was +bound to be someone like that.)</p> + +<p>"Not at all," she rejoined amiably. "I like +the odor of cigarettes. Shall I stop a little, while +you set yourself afire?"</p> + +<p>"It isn't necessary," he said. "I can set myself +afire under any circumstances."</p> + +<p>He lit a cigarette.</p> + +<p>"Is he English?" he couldn't help asking then.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said; "I like the English."</p> + +<p>"You appear to like everything to-day." He +did not intend to seem bitter, but he did it unintentionally.</p> + +<p>(Confounded luck some fellows have.)</p> + +<p>"I do. I'm very well content to-day."</p> + +<p>He was silent, thinking.</p> + +<p>"Well," she queried, after a while.</p> + +<p>He pulled himself together with an effort.</p> + +<p>"I think perhaps it's just as well," he said. +<pb n="055" /><anchor id="Pg055" /></p> + +<p>"What is just as well?"</p> + +<p>"That I know."</p> + +<p>"Know what?"</p> + +<p>"About him. I shan't ever take the chances of +calling on you now."</p> + +<p>She laughed.</p> + +<p>"He wouldn't put you out unless I told him +to," she said. "You needn't be too afraid of him, +you know."</p> + +<p>His face grew a trifle flushed.</p> + +<p>"I'm not afraid," he said, as coldly as it was in +him to speak; "but I'll leave him the field."</p> + +<p>She turned and looked at him.</p> + +<p>"The field?" she asked, with puzzled eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>Then she frowned for an instant, and then a +species of thought-ray suddenly flew across her +face and she burst out laughing.</p> + +<p>"Why, I do believe," she cried merrily, "I do +believe you're jealous of the man at the door."</p> + +<p>"Weren't you speaking of a man in the drawing-room?" +he asked, all her phrases recurring to his +mind together.</p> + +<p>"No," she said laughing; "I was speaking of +my footman. Oh, you are so funny."</p> + +<p>The way the sun shone suddenly again! His +horizon glowed so madly that he quite lost his head +<pb n="056" /><anchor id="Pg056" />and leaning quickly downward seized her hand in +its little tan driving glove of stitched dogskin, and +kissed it—reins and all.</p> + +<p>"I'm not funny," he said, "it was the most +natural thing in the world."</p> + +<p>She was laughing, but she curbed it.</p> + +<p>"You'd better not be foolish," she said warningly. +"It don't mix well with college."</p> + +<p>"I'm thinking of cutting college," he declared +boldly.</p> + +<p>"Don't let us decide on anything definite until +we've known one another twenty-four hours," she +said, looking at him with a gravity that was almost +maternal; and then she turned the horse's head +toward home.</p> +</div> +<pb n="057" /><anchor id="Pg057" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter Six - The Other Man</head> + +<p>That evening Burnett felt it necessary to +give his friend a word of warning.</p> + +<p>"Holloway's going to take Betty in to-night," +he said, as they descended the tower stairs +together.</p> + +<p>"Who's Holloway?" Jack asked.</p> + +<p>"You can't expect to have her all the time, you +know," Burnett continued: "She's really one of +the biggest guns here, even if she is one of the +family."</p> + +<p>"Who's Holloway?"</p> + +<p>"Last night the <hi rend="font-style: italic">mater</hi> had her all mapped out +for General Jiggs, and I had an awful time getting +her off his hook and on to yours, and then you +drove her all this morning and walked her all the +afternoon, and the old lady says she's got to play +in Holloway's yard to-night—jus' lil' bit, you know."</p> + +<p>"Who's Holloway?" Jack demanded.</p> + +<p>"You know Horace Holloway; we were up +at his place once for the night. Don't you remember?" +<pb n="058" /><anchor id="Pg058" /></p> + +<p>"I remember his place well enough; but he +hadn't got in when we came, and hadn't got up +when we left, so his features aren't as distinctly +imprinted on my memory as they might be."</p> + +<p>"That's so," said Burnett, pushing aside the +curtains that concealed the foot of the wee stair; +"I'd forgotten. Well, you'll meet him to-night, +anyhow; he came on the five-five. Holly's a nice +fellow, only he's so darned over-full of good advice +that he keeps you feeling withersome."</p> + +<p>Jack laughed.</p> + +<p>"Did he ever give you any advice?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"I don't recollect your taking it."</p> + +<p>"I never take anything," said Burnett; "I consider +it more blessed to give than to receive—as +regards good advice anyhow."</p> + +<p>"Who will I have for dinner?" Jack asked +presently, glancing around to see if there were any +silver tissues or distracting curls in sight.</p> + +<p>"Well," his friend replied, rather hesitatingly, +"you must expect to balance up for last night, I +reckon."</p> + +<p>"Your cousin, I suppose!"</p> + +<p>Burnett nodded.</p> + +<p>"She wanted you," he said. "She's taken a +fancy to you; and she can afford to marry for +love," he added. +<pb n="059" /><anchor id="Pg059" /></p> + +<p>"I'm thankful that I can, too," the other answered +fervently.</p> + +<p>His friend laughed at the fervor.</p> + +<p>"You make me think of her teacher," he said. +"She sings, and when she was sixteen she meant +to outrank Patti; she was lots homelier then."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I say!" Jack cried. "I can believe 'most +anything, but—"</p> + +<p>Burnett laughed and then sobered.</p> + +<p>"She was," he said solemnly; "she really and +truly <hi rend="font-style: italic">was</hi>. And her mother said to her teacher,—there +in Dresden: 'She will be the greatest soprano, +won't she?' And he said: 'Madame, +she has only that one chance—to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi> +greatest.'"</p> + +<p>Jack laughed.</p> + +<p>"But why 'Lorne'?" he asked suddenly. +"Why not 'Burnett,' since she's your uncle's +child?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, that's straight enough; there's a hyphen +there. My uncle died and my aunt married a title. +My aunt's Lady Chiheleywicks, but the family +name is Lorne. And you pronounce my aunt's +name Chix."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad I know," said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh, we're great on titles," said Burnett, modestly. +"If the Boers hadn't killed Col. Rosscott, +Betty would have been a Lady, too, some day. But +<pb n="060" /><anchor id="Pg060" />as it is—" he added thoughtfully, "she's nothing +but a widow."</p> + +<p>"'Nothing but'!" Jack cried indignantly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," said Burnett, "of course it's great, +her being a widow—but then she'd have been great +the other way too."</p> + +<p>"But if he was English and a colonel," Jack +said suddenly, "he must have been all of—"</p> + +<p>"Fifty!" interposed Burnett; "oh, he was! +Maybe more, but he dyed his hair. It was a +splendid match for her. It isn't every girl who +can get a—"</p> + +<p>Their conversation was suddenly cut short by +voices, accompanied by a sort of sweet and silky +storm of little rustles and the sound of feet—little +feet—coming down the great hall. Aunt Mary's +nephew felt himself suddenly wondering if any +other fellow present had such a tempest within his +bosom as he himself was conscious of attempting +to regulate unperceived.</p> + +<p>And then, after all, she wasn't among the influx! +Miss Maude, was, though, and he had to +go up to her and talk to her; and terribly dull hard +labor it was.</p> + +<p>While he was rolling the Sisyphus stone of conversation +uphill for the sixth or seventh time, Jack +noticed a gentleman pass by and throw a more than +ordinarily interesting glance their way. He was +<pb n="061" /><anchor id="Pg061" />a very well-built, fairly good-sized man of thirty-five +or forty years, with a handsome, uninteresting +face and heavy, sleepy dark eyes.</p> + +<p>"Who is that?" he asked of his companion, his +curiosity supplementing his wish that she would begin +to bear her share of the burden of her entertainment.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know?" she said in surprise. +"That's Mr. Holloway. He's just come. Oh, +he's so horrid! I think he's just too awfully +horrid for any use."</p> + +<p>"Why?"</p> + +<p>"Because he does such mean things. I just +know Bob must have told you how he treated me. +Bob's always telling it. Surely he's told you. It's +his favorite story."</p> + +<p>"No, never," said Jack (his eyes riveted on +the staircase); "he never told me. But do tell me. +I'll enjoy hearing your side of it."</p> + +<p>"But I haven't any side. It's just Horace Holloway's +meanness. There's nothing funny."</p> + +<p>"But tell me anyway."</p> + +<p>"Do you really want to hear?"</p> + +<p>"Indeed, I do."</p> + +<p>"Well, it's just that we were up in the mountains, +and I was rowing myself, and the boat didn't +go well, and Mr. Holloway came down off the +hotel piazza and called to me that she needed ballast, +<pb n="062" /><anchor id="Pg062" />and—and I said: 'Is that the trouble?' And +he said: 'Yes, row ashore, and I'll ballast you.' +And so, of course I rowed ashore to get him, and +(of course, I supposed he meant himself), and +when I was up by the dock he picked up a great +stone and dropped it in, and shoved me off, and +called after me: 'She'll go better now,' and—everyone laughed!"</p> + +<p>Miss Lome stopped, breathless.</p> + +<p>"I never would have believed it of him," Jack +exclaimed, turning to see where Holloway kept his +sense of humor; but just as his eye fell upon the +latter, the latter's eyes altered and suddenly became +so bright and intent that his observer involuntarily +turned his own gaze quickly in the same +direction.</p> + +<p>It was Mrs. Rosscott who was approaching, all +in cerise with lines of Chantilly lace sweeping +about her. It seemed a cruelty to every woman +present that she should be so beautiful. Jack +wanted to fly and fall at her feet, but he couldn't, +of course—he was tied to her hyphenated cousin.</p> + +<p>But Holloway went forward and greeted her +with all possible <hi rend="font-style: italic">empressement,</hi> and the man who +was so much his junior felt an awful weight of +youth upon him as he saw her led out of his sight.</p> + +<p>"I think dear Betty will marry Mr. Holloway," +her cousin chirped blandly, thus settling her fate +<pb n="063" /><anchor id="Pg063" />forever. "He came over in her party, you know, +and—she's always been fond of him."</p> + +<p>Jack suddenly recollected how Mrs. Rosscott +had commented on the terrible tendency to land +upon "and," and wondered why he had never +noticed before how disagreeable said tendency was.</p> + +<p>(Going to marry Holloway!)</p> + +<p>"But, then, dear Cousin Betty's such a coquette +that no one can ever tell whom she does like. +She's very insincere."</p> + +<p>Jack twisted uneasily. If there was any comfort +to be derived from Miss Lorne's last speech, +it was certainly of a most chilly sort.</p> + +<p>(Probably going to marry Holloway!)</p> + +<p>"Now, I think it's too bad, when there are so +many simple, sweet girls in the world, that men +seem to adore those that flirt like dear Cousin +Betty. I don't approve of flirting anyway. I +wouldn't flirt for anything. I don't want to break +men's hearts."</p> + +<p>"That's awfully good of you," Jack said, looking +eagerly to where Holloway and Mrs. Rosscott +stood together.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no it isn't," said Miss Lorne, "I don't +take any credit for it—I was born so. Dear +Betty was a regular flirt when she was ever so +small, but I never was. I'm sincere and I can't +take any credit for it. I was born so." +<pb n="064" /><anchor id="Pg064" /></p> + +<p>Holloway was talking and Mrs. Rosscott's eyes +were uplifted to his. Jack was sure there was +adoration in them. He knew Holloway was in +love with her. How could he be a man and help +it. Oh, it was damnable—unbearable.</p> + +<p>He stood up suddenly. He couldn't help it. +He was crazed, maddened, choked, stifled. The +fates must intervene and rescue his reason or +else—</p> + +<p>There was a blessed sound—the announcing of +dinner.</p> + +<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" /> + +<p>Later there was music in the great white salon +where the organ was. Maude Lome sang, and +the man with the monocle accompanied her on the +organ. Mrs. Rosscott sat on a divan between +Holloway and General Jiggs. Jack was left out +in the cold.</p> + +<p>(Surely in love with Holloway!)</p> + +<p>It was only twenty-six hours since he had first +met her, and he hated to consider his life as unalterably +blasted, or to even give up the fight. +Nevertheless, whenever he looked across the room +he saw fresh signs of the most awful kind. Even +the way that she didn't trouble to trouble over the +one man, but devoted herself to General Jiggs, was +in itself a very bad portent. Well, such was life +and one must bear it somehow and be a man. +<pb n="065" /><anchor id="Pg065" />Probably he would suffer less after the first five or +ten years—he hoped so at any rate. But, great +heavens, what a fearful prospect until those first +five or ten years were gone by!</p> + +<p>Finally he went up to his own room and put on +another collar and sat down at the open window +and thought about it for a good while all quiet and +alone by himself. After that he went back downstairs.</p> + +<p>She was gone, and Holloway, too. He felt +freshly unhappy. When you come to consider, +it was so damned unjust for one man to be +thirty-five while another—just as decent a fellow +in every way—was in college. He—</p> + +<p>A hand touched his arm.</p> + +<p>He turned from where he was standing in the +window recess, and looked into her eyes.</p> + +<p>"I'm very wicked, am I not?" she asked, looking +up at him so straight and honest.</p> + +<p>"I can't admit that," he replied.</p> + +<p>"But I am. I know it myself. What Bob +told you was all true. I'm a heartless wretch."</p> + +<p>She spoke so earnestly that his heart sank lower +and lower.</p> + +<p>"I wanted to speak to you about to-morrow +morning," she said, after a little pause. "You +know we were going to drive at ten together, and—and +I wondered if—you see, Mr. Holloway's +<pb n="066" /><anchor id="Pg066" />an old friend, and he's had so much to tell me to-night, +and he isn't half through—"</p> + +<p>She was drawing him with a chain, a hair chain, +which she had woven out of her eyelashes in the +twinkling of an eye (either eye).</p> + +<p>He felt himself helpless—and choked.</p> + +<p>"Of course I don't mind. You go with him. +It's quite one to me."</p> + +<p>She gave a tiny little start.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I didn't mean that at all," she cried. "I +meant—I meant—you see it's all been a little tiring—and +to-morrow's Sunday anyway and I—I +Wanted to—to ask you if we couldn't go out at +eleven instead of ten?"</p> + +<p>She looked so sweetly questioning, and his relief +was so great, and his joy—</p> + +<p>(Probably don't care a rap for Holloway!)</p> + +<p>—so intense, that he could hardly refrain from +seizing her in his arms.</p> + +<p>But he only seized her little hand instead and +pressed it fervently to his lips. When he raised +his eyes she was smiling, and her smile filled him +with happiness.</p> + +<p>"You're such a boy!" she said softly, and +turned and left him there in the window recess +alone again,—but this time he didn't care.</p> +</div> +<pb n="067" /><anchor id="Pg067" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Seven - Developments</head> + + +<p>It was during that drive the next morning that +Jack buoyed up by memories of Saturday and +hopes of coming Saturdays, poured out the +history of his life at Mrs. Rosscott's knees. He +told her the whole story of Aunt Mary, and <hi rend="font-style: italic">his</hi> side +of the cat, the cabman, and Kalamazoo. It interested +her, for she had arrived too recently to have +had the full details in the newspapers beforehand, +but when he spoke of Aunt Mary's last letter she +grew large-eyed and shook her head gravely.</p> + +<p>"You will have to be very good now," she said +seriously.</p> + +<p>"Why?" he asked. "Just to keep from being +disinherited? That wouldn't be so awful."</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't it be awful to you?" she asked, +turning her bright eyes upon him. "What could +be worse?"</p> + +<p>"Things," he said very vaguely.</p> + +<p>Then she touched up the cob a little; and, after +a minute or two, as she said nothing, he continued:</p> + +<p>"I almost fancy quitting college and going to +work. I was thinking about it last night." +<pb n="068" /><anchor id="Pg068" /></p> + +<p>She touched up the cob a little more, and +remained silent.</p> + +<p>Finally he said:</p> + +<p>"What would you think of my doing that?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she said slowly. "You see, +I'm a great philosopher. I never fret or worry, +because I regard it as useless; similarly, I never +rebel at the way fate shapes my life—I regard that +as something past helping. I believe in predestination; +do you?"</p> + +<p>She turned and looked at him so seriously—so +unlike her <hi rend="font-style: italic">riante</hi> self—that he felt startled, and did +not know what to say for a minute.</p> + +<p>Then:</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he said slowly; "I don't know +that I dare to. It rather startles me to think that +maybe all of our future is laid out now."</p> + +<p>"It doesn't startle me," she said. "It seems +to me the natural plan of the universe. I believe +that everything that crosses our path—down to +the tiniest gnat—comes there in the fulfillment of +a purpose."</p> + +<p>"I'm sure that all the mosquitoes that ever +crossed my path came there in the fulfillment of a +purpose," Jack interrupted. "I never doubted +<hi rend="font-style: italic">that</hi>."</p> + +<p>She smiled a little.</p> + +<p>"It's the same with people," she went on.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image02" /> +<figure rend="w95" url="images/image02.png"> +<head rend="text-align: center">"Do not let us play any longer,' she said. 'Let us be in earnest.'"</head> +<figDesc>Illustration 2</figDesc></figure></p><p></p> + +<pb n="069" /><anchor id="Pg069" /> + +<p>"Only less painful," he interrupted again.</p> + +<p>"Sometimes not," she said, with a look that +silenced him. "Sometimes much more so—my +Cousin Maude, for example."</p> + +<p>"Hip, hip, hurrah for the mosquito!" he murmured. +They laughed softly together. Then +she grew earnest, and looked so grave that he became +serious too.</p> + +<p>"There is always a purpose," she said, with a +touch of some feeling which he had never guessed +at. "If you and I have met, it is because we are +to have some influence over one another. I can't +just see how; I can't form any idea—"</p> + +<p>"I can," he said eagerly.</p> + +<p>She looked up so suddenly and steadily that he +was silent.</p> + +<p>"Do not let us play any longer," she said. +"Let us be in earnest."</p> + +<p>"But I am in earnest," he asseverated.</p> + +<p>"You don't know what I mean," she went on +very gently. "You're in college. Let's fight it +out on those lines if it takes all summer."</p> + +<p>He looked up into her face and loved her better +than ever for the frank kindliness that shone in +her eyes.</p> + +<p>"All right, if you say so," he vowed.</p> + +<p>"I do say so," she said. "I like to see men +stick it through in college if they begin. I like to +<pb n="070" /><anchor id="Pg070" />see people finish up every one of life's jobs that they +set out on."</p> + +<p>"But I'm coming to see you in town, you know," +he went on with great apparent irrelevance.</p> + +<p>She laughed merrily.</p> + +<p>"Yes, surely. You must promise me that.—No," +she stopped and looked thoughtful, "I'll tell +you what I want you to promise me. Promise me +that you'll come once a week or else write me why +you can't come. Will you?"</p> + +<p>"You can't suppose that you'll ever see my handwriting +under such circumstances—can you?" Jack +asked.</p> + +<p>She laughed again.</p> + +<p>"Is it a promise?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, it's a promise."</p> + +<p>Oh, joy unmeasured in the time of spring! No +other February like that had ever been for them—nor +ever would be. The drive came to an end, the +day came to an end, but the good-nights, which +were good-bys, too, were not so fraught with hopelessness +as he had dreaded, for the promise asked +and given paved a broad road illuminated by the +most hopeful kind of stars,—a broad road leading +straight from college to town,—and his fancy +showed him a figure treading it often. A figure +that was his own.</p> +</div> +<pb n="071" /><anchor id="Pg071" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter Eight - The Resolution He Took</head> + + +<p>That first meeting was in February, you +know, and by the last of April it had been +followed by so many others that Burnett +remarked one day to his chum:</p> + +<p>"Say, aren't you going a little faster than +auntie'll stand for?"</p> + +<p>Jack turned in surprise.</p> + +<p>"I never went so straight in my life before," he +exclaimed, not in indignation but in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I didn't mean that," said Burnett. "Perhaps +instead of 'auntie' I should have said 'Betty.'"</p> + +<p>Jack hoisted the colors of Harvard, and was +silent.</p> + +<p>"I warned you at first that that was Tangle +town," his friend went on. "Don't suppose I'm +saying anything against her—or against you; but +she's just as much to ten other men as she is to you, +and they all are old enough to carry lots of +weight."</p> + +<p>"And I suppose I'm not," Jack answered, going +over by the fireplace. "I know that as well as +anyone, of course." +<pb n="072" /><anchor id="Pg072" /></p> + +<p>"<hi rend="font-style: italic">Natürlich</hi>," said Burnett, with conclusiveness +that was not meant to be cruel, yet cut like a two +edged knife.</p> + +<p>There was silence in the room. Jack stood by +the chimney-piece, his hands upraised to rest upon +its lofty shelf, his head dropped forward, and his +eyes fixed on the empty blackness below.</p> + +<p>"I wonder," he said at last, "I wonder what +will become of me if—if—"</p> + +<p>He stopped.</p> + +<p>Burnett didn't speak.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if she thinks of me as a boy," the +young man continued. "I wonder if she's so +good to me because I'm her youngest brother's +friend."</p> + +<p>Burnett did not comment on this speech.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to do," the other said. +"When I first met her I wanted to cut college and +get out in the world and go to work like a man. I +told her so. But she wanted me to stay in college, +and as it was the first thing she'd ever wanted of +me, I did it. I'd do anything she asked me. I've +quit drinking. I'm going at everything as hard as +it's in me to go; but—I don't know—I feel—I feel +as if it isn't me—it's just because she wants me to, +and, do you know, old man, it frightens me to +think how—if she—if she went out of my—my +life—" +<pb n="073" /><anchor id="Pg073" /></p> + +<p>He stopped and his broken phrases were not +continued to any ending.</p> + +<p>Another long silence ensued.</p> + +<p>It was finally terminated by the brother's saying:</p> + +<p>"You must confess, old man, that you aren't +fixed so as to be able to say one really serious word +to any woman—unless it is, 'Wait.'"</p> + +<p>"I know that," Jack answered; "but I suppose—"</p> + +<p>"She'd be taking so many chances," the friend +interrupted. "A man in college is never the real +thing. You'd better give it up."</p> + +<p>Then the other whirled about and faced +him.</p> + +<p>"Give it up, did you say?" he asked almost +angrily.</p> + +<p>"Yes, that's what."</p> + +<p>For a minute they looked at one another. Then:</p> + +<p>"I shall never give it up," the lover said very +slowly and steadily—"never, until she gives me +up."</p> + +<p>Burnett sucked in his breath with a sudden compression +of his lips.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said, not unkindly; "but I don't +believe you'll ever get her, and that's flat. There +are too many being entered for that race, and long +before you and I get out of here she'll be Mrs. +Somebody Else." +<pb n="074" /><anchor id="Pg074" /></p> + +<p>Jack stared at him as if he hardly heard, and +then suddenly he stepped nearer and spoke.</p> + +<p>"Did she ask you to have this talk with me?"</p> + +<p>"No," said the brother in surprise, "she never +says anything about you to me."</p> + +<p>A look of relief fled across his friend's face, and +then a look of resolution succeeded it.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going to be discouraged," he said; +"not for a while, at any rate."</p> + +<p>"You'd better be."</p> + +<p>Jack laughed. The laugh sounded a trifle hollow, +but still it was a laugh, and that in itself was +a triumph of which none but himself might ever +measure the extent.</p> + +<p>Because in that moment he decided to lay the +whole case before her the next time that he went to +town, and the coming to a resolution was a relief +from the uncertainty that clouded his days and +nights—even if a further black curtain of darkest +doubt hung before the possibilities of what her +answer might be.</p> +</div> +<pb n="075" /><anchor id="Pg075" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Nine - The Downfall of Hope</head> + + +<p>It was on a Saturday about the middle of May +that Jack came to town, his mind well braced +with love and arguments, and his main +thoughts being that when he returned something +would be settled.</p> + +<p>It was a beautiful day, warm and sunny, and at +five in the afternoon both of the drawing-room +windows of Mrs. Rosscott's house were wide open, +and the lace curtains were taking the breeze like +little sails.</p> + +<p>Just as Jack mounted the steps, the door opened, +and a plainly dressed, unattractive-looking man +was let out. The servant who did the letting out +saw Jack and let him in without closing the door +between the egress of the one and the ingress of +the other. So he entered without ringing, and, as +he was very well known and intensely popular with +all of Mrs. Rosscott's servants, the man invited +him to walk up unannounced, since he himself was +just "bringing in the tea."</p> + +<p>Jack went upstairs, and because the carpet was +of thickly piled velvet and his boots were the boots +<pb n="076" /><anchor id="Pg076" />of a well-shod gentleman, he made no noise whatever +in the so doing.</p> + +<p>There were double parlors above stairs in the +domicile which Burnett's sister had taken until +July, and they were furnished in the most correct +and trying mode of Louis XIV. The chairs were +gilt and very uncomfortable. The ornaments +were all straight up and down and made in such +shapes that there was no place to flick off cigarette +ashes anywhere. Nothing could be pulled up +to anything else and there was not a single good +place to rest one's elbows anywhere. The only +saving grace in the situation was that after five +minutes or so Mrs. Rosscott invariably suggested +removal to the library which lay beyond—a very +different species of apartment where no mode at all +prevailed except the terrible <hi rend="font-style: italic">démodé</hi> thing known +as comfort. To prevent her visitors, when seated +(for the five minutes aforementioned) amid the +correct carving of French art, from looking longingly +through at the easy-chairs of American manufacture, +Mrs. Rosscott had ordered that the blue +velvet portières which hung between should never +be pushed aside, and it was owing to this order that +Jack, entering the drawing-room, heard voices, but +could not see into the library beyond. Also it +was owing to this order that those in the library +could not see or hear Jack. +<pb n="077" /><anchor id="Pg077" /></p> + +<p>The result was that the young man, finding the +drawing-room unoccupied, was just crossing +toward the blue velvet curtains, intending to wait +in the library until the returning servant should +advise him of the whereabouts of his mistress, when +he was stopped by suddenly hearing a voice—her +voice—crying (and laughing at the same time)—</p> + +<p>"Kisses barred! Kisses barred!"</p> + +<p>It may be understood that had Mrs. Rosscott +known that anyone was within hearing she certainly +would never have made any such speech, and it +may be further understood that, had whoever was +with her, also mistrusted the close propinquity of +another man, he would never have replied (as he +did reply):</p> + +<p>"Certainly," the same being spoken in a most +calm and careless tone.</p> + +<p>Jack, the eavesdropper, stood transfixed at the +voices and speeches, and forgot every other consideration +in the overwhelming sickness of soul +which overcame him that instant. All his other +soul-sicknesses were trifles compared to this one, +and the world—his world—their world—seemed +to revolve and whirl and turn upside down, as he +steadied himself against a spindle-legged cabinet +and felt its spindle-legs trembling in sympathy with +his own.</p> + +<p>"Darling," said Holloway, a second or two +<pb n="078" /><anchor id="Pg078" />later (and this time his voice was not calm and +careless, but deep and impassioned), "the letter +was very sweet, and if you knew how I longed to +take the tired little girl to my bosom and comfort +her troubles, and replace them by joys!"</p> + +<p>"Will that day ever come, do you think?" +Mrs. Rosscott answered, in low tones, which nevertheless +were most painfully clear and distinct in +the next room.</p> + +<p>"It must," Holloway replied, "just as surely +as that I hold this dear little hand—"</p> + +<p>But Jack never knew more. He had heard +enough—more than enough. Four thousand times +too much. He turned and went out of the rooms, +back down the stairs and out of the door, closed it +noiselessly behind him, and found himself in a +world which, although bright and sunny to all the +rest of mankind, had turned dark, lonely, and +cheerless to him.</p> + +<p>At first he hardly knew what to do with himself, +he was so altogether used up by the discovery just +made. He drifted up and down some unknown +streets for an hour or two—or stood still on corners—he +never was very sure which. And then +at last he went downtown and took a drink in a +half-dazed way; and because it was quite two +months since his last indulgence, its suggestion was +potent. +<pb n="079" /><anchor id="Pg079" /></p> + +<p>The pity—or rather, the apparent pity—of +what followed!</p> + +<p>Burnett was Sundaying at the ancestral castle; +and Burnett wasn't the warning sort, anyhow. He +was always tow and pitch for any species of flame. +So his absence counted for nothing in the crisis.</p> + +<p>And what ensued was a crisis—a crisis with a +vengeance.</p> + +<p>That tear upon which Aunt Mary's nephew went +was something lurid and awful. It lasted until +Monday, and then its owner returned to college, +as ill of body and as embittered of spirit as it was +in him to be. The lightsome devil who had ruled +him up to his meeting with Mrs. Rosscott resumed +its sway with terrible force. The authorities +showed a tendency to patience because young Denham +had appeared to reform lately and had been +working hard; but young Denham felt no thankful +sentiments for their leniency, and proved his position +shortly.</p> + +<p>There was a man named Tweedwell whom circumstances +threw directly in the path of destruction. +Tweedwell was an inoffensive mortal who +was studying for the ministry. He was progressive +in his ideas, and believed that a clergyman, to +hold a great influence, should know his world. +He thought that knowledge of the world was to be +gained by skirting the outside edge of every +<pb n="080" /><anchor id="Pg080" />species of worldliness. The result of this course +of action was not what it should have been, for +Tweedwell was an easy mark for all who wanted +fun, and the consciousness of his innocence so little +accelerated the pace at which he got out of the way +that he was always being called to account for what +he hadn't done.</p> + +<p>The Saturday night after his Saturday in town, +Jack concocted a piece of deviltry which was as +dangerous as it was foolish. The result was that +an explosion took place, and the author of the gun-powder +plot had all the skin on both hands blistered. +Burnett, in escaping, fell and broke his +collarbone and two ribs. The house in which the +affair took place caught fire, and was badly damaged. +And Tweedwell was arrested on the +strongest kind of circumstantial evidence, and had +to answer for the whole. Naturally, in the investigation +that followed, the two who were guilty +had to confess or see the candidate for the ministry +disgraced forever.</p> + +<p>The result of their confession was that Burnett's +father, a jovial, peppery old gentleman—we all +know the kind—lost his patience and wrote his son +that he'd better not come home again that year. +But Aunt Mary lost her temper much more completely +and the result, as affecting Jack, was awful.</p> + +<p>She might not have acted as she did had the disastrous +<pb n="081" /><anchor id="Pg081" />news arrived either a week later or a week +earlier; but it came just in the middle of a discouraging +ten days' downpour, which had caused a dam +to break and a chain of valuable cranberry bogs to +be drowned out for that year. The cranberry bogs +were especially dear to their owner's heart.</p> + +<p>"Why can't they drain 'em?" she had asked +Lucinda, who was particularly nutcracker-like in +appearance since her quarantine episode.</p> + +<p>"'Pears like they're lower'n everywhere else," +Lucinda answered, her words sounding as if she +had sharpened them on a grindstone.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary bit her lip and frowned at the rain. +She felt mad all the way through, and longed to +take it out on someone.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes after Joshua arrived with the mail +and the mail bore one ominous letter. Joshua felt +something was wrong before the fact was assured.</p> + +<p>"She wants the mail," Lucinda said, coming to +the door with her hand out as usual.</p> + +<p>"She'll get the mail," said Joshua, and as he +spoke he gave the seeker after tidings a blood-curdling +wink.</p> + +<p>"There isn't a telegram in one o' the letters, is +there?" Lucinda asked, much appalled by the +wink.</p> + +<p>"No, there isn't no telegram in none o' the letters," +said Joshua. +<pb n="082" /><anchor id="Pg082" /></p> + +<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, I do believe you was born +to drive saints mad. What <hi rend="font-style: italic">is</hi> the matter?"</p> + +<p>"Nothin' ain't the matter as I know of."</p> + +<p>"Then what in Kingdom Come did you wink +for?"</p> + +<p>"I winked," said Joshua meaningly, "cause I +expect it'll be a good while before we'll feel like +winkin' again."</p> + +<p>Lucinda gave him a look in which curiosity and +aggravation fought catch-as-catch-can. Then she +turned and went in with the letters.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary was sitting stonily staring at the +rain.</p> + +<p>"I thought you'd gone to take a drive with +Joshua," she said coldly. "Well, 's long 's you're +back I'll be glad to have my mail. Most folks like +to get their mail as soon as it comes an' I—Mercy +on us!"</p> + +<p>It was the letter from the authorities enclosed +in one from Mr. Stebbins.</p> + +<p>Lucinda stood bolt upright before her mistress.</p> + +<p>"What's happened?" she yelled breathlessly, +after a few seconds of the direst kind of silence +had loaded the atmosphere while the letter was +being carefully read.</p> + +<p>Then:</p> + +<p>"Happened!—" said Aunt Mary, transfixing +the terrible typewritten communication with a yet +<pb n="083" /><anchor id="Pg083" />more terrible look of determination. "Happened!—Well, +jus' what I expected 's happened +an' jus' what nobody expects 'll happen now. Lucinda, +you run like you was paid for it and tell +Joshua not to unharness. Don't stop to open your +mouth. You'll need your breath before you get to +the barn. Scurry!"</p> + +<p>Lucinda scurried. She splashed and spattered +down through the lane that led to Joshua's kingdom +with a vigor that was commendable in one of +her age.</p> + +<p>"She says 'don't unharness,'" she panted, +bouncing in through the doorway just as Joshua +was slowly and carefully folding the lap-robe in the +crease to which it had become habituated.</p> + +<p>Joshua continued to fold.</p> + +<p>"Then I won't unharness," he said calmly. He +hung the robe over the line that was stretched to +hang robes over and Lucinda gasped for wind with +which to inflate further conversation.</p> + +<p>"She says what nobody expects is goin' to happen," +she panted as soon as she could.</p> + +<p>"What nobody expects is always happenin' +where he's concerned," said Joshua.</p> + +<p>"I s'pose he's in some new row," said Lucinda.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure he is," said Joshua, "an' if you don't +go back to her pretty quick you won't be no better +off." +<pb n="084" /><anchor id="Pg084" /></p> + +<p>Lucinda turned away and returned to the house. +She found Aunt Mary still staring at the letters +with the same concentrated fury as before.</p> + +<p>"Well, is Joshua a'comin' to the door?" she +asked when she saw her maid before her.</p> + +<p>"You didn't say for him to come to the door," +Lucinda howled, "you said for him to stay harnessed."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary appeared on the verge of ignition.</p> + +<p>"Lucinda," she said, "every week I live under +the same roof with you your brains strike me 's +some shrunk from the week before. What in +Heaven's name should I want Joshua to stay harnessed +in the barn for? I want him to go for Mr. +Stebbins an' I want him to understand 't if Mr. +Stebbins can't come he's got to come just the same's +if he could anyhow. I may seem quiet to you, +Lucinda, but if I do, it only shows all over again +how little you know. This is a awful day an' if +you knew how awful you'd be half way back to +the barn right now. I ain't triflin'—I'm meanin' +every word. Every syllable. Every letter."</p> + +<p>Lucinda fled out into the open again. Her footprints +of the time before were little oblong ponds +now and she laid out a new course parallel to their +splashes. She found Joshua sponging the dasher.</p> + +<p>"She wants you to go straight out again."</p> + +<p>Joshua flung the sponge into the pail. +<pb n="085" /><anchor id="Pg085" /></p> + +<p>"Then I'll go straight out again," he said, moving +toward the horse's head.</p> + +<p>"You're to bring Mr. Stebbins whether he can +come or not."</p> + +<p>"He'll come," said Joshua; and then he backed +the horse so suddenly that the buggy wheel nearly +went over Lucinda.</p> + +<p>"She says this is an awful day—" began +Lucinda.</p> + +<p>Joshua got into the buggy and tucked the rubber +blanket around himself.</p> + +<p>"She says—"</p> + +<p>Joshua drove out of the barn and away.</p> + +<p>Lucinda went slowly back to the house. Aunt +Mary had ceased to glare at the letter and was now +glaring at the rain instead.</p> + +<p>"Lucinda," she said "I'll thank you not to ever +mention my nephew to me again. I've took a +vow to never speak his name again myself. By no +means—not at all—never."</p> + +<p>"Which nephew?" shrieked Lucinda.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's eyes snapped.</p> + +<p>"Jack!" she said, with an accent that seemed +to split the short word in two.</p> + +<p>After a little she spoke again.</p> + +<p>"Lucinda, it's all been owin' to the city an' this +last is all city. 'F I cared a rap what happened to +him after this I'd never let him go near a place +<pb n="086" /><anchor id="Pg086" />over two thousand again as long as he lived. It's +no use tryin' to explain things to you, Lucinda, +because it never has been any use an' never will be—an' +anyway, I'm done with it all. I sh'll want +you for a witness when I'm through with Mr. +Stebbins, and then you can get some marmalade out +for tea an' we'll all live in peace hereafter."</p> + +<p>Joshua returned with Mr. Stebbins and the latter +gentleman went to work with a will and willed +Jack out of Aunt Mary's. Later Joshua took him +home again. Lucinda got the marmalade out of +the cellar and Aunt Mary had it with her tea. It +was a bitter tea—unsugared indeed—and the days +that followed matched.</p> +</div> +<pb n="087" /><anchor id="Pg087" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Ten - The Woes of the Disinherited.</head> + + +<p>It was some days later on in the world's history +that Holloway was calling on Bertha +Rosscott.</p> + +<p>They were sitting in that comfortable library +previously referred to and were sweetly unaware +that any untoward series of incidents had ever led +to an invasion of their privacy.</p> + +<p>Holloway lay well back in a sleepy-hollow chair +and looked indolently, lazily handsome; his hostess +was up on—well up on the divan, and he had the +full benefit of her admirable bottines and their +dainty heels and buckles.</p> + +<p>"Honestly," he said, looking her over with a +gaze that was at once roving and well content, +"honestly, I think that every time I see +you, you appear more attractive than the time +before."</p> + +<p>"It's very nice of you to say so," she replied. +"And, of course, I believe you, for every time that +I get a new gown I think that very same thing myself. +Still, I do regard it as strange if I look +<pb n="088" /><anchor id="Pg088" />nicely to-day, for I've been crying like a baby all +the morning."</p> + +<p>"You crying! And why?"</p> + +<p>She raised her eyes to his.</p> + +<p>"Such bad news!" she said simply.</p> + +<p>"From where? Of whom?"</p> + +<p>"From mamma, about Bob."</p> + +<p>"Have his wounds proved serious?" Holloway +looked slightly distressed as was proper.</p> + +<p>"It isn't that. It's papa. Papa has forbidden +him the house. He's very, very angry."</p> + +<p>Holloway looked relieved.</p> + +<p>"Your father won't stay angry long, and you +know it," he said. "Just think how often he has +lost his temper over the boys and how often he's +found it again."</p> + +<p>"It isn't just Bob," said Mrs. Rosscott. "I've +someone else on my mind, too."</p> + +<p>"Who, pray?"</p> + +<p>"His friend."</p> + +<p>"Young Denham?"</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>With that she threw her head up and looked +very straightly at her caller whose visage shaded +ever so slightly in spite of himself.</p> + +<p>"Have <hi rend="font-style: italic">his</hi> wounds proved serious?" he asked, +smiling, but unable to altogether do away with a +species of parenthetical inflection in his voice. +<pb n="089" /><anchor id="Pg089" /></p> + +<p>"It wasn't over his wounds that I cried."</p> + +<p>"Did you really cry at all for him?"</p> + +<p>"I cried more for him than I did for Bob," +she admitted boldly.</p> + +<p>"He is a fortunate boy! But why the tears in +his case?"</p> + +<p>"I felt so badly to be disappointed in him."</p> + +<p>"Did you expect to work a miracle there, my +dear? Did you think to reform such an inveterate +young reprobate with a glance?"</p> + +<p>"I'm not sure that I ever asked myself either of +those questions," she replied, slowly; "but he +promised me something, and I expected him to +keep his word."</p> + +<p>"Men don't keep such promises, Bertha," the +visitor said. "You shouldn't have expected it."</p> + +<p>"I don't know why not."</p> + +<p>"Because a man who drinks will drink again."</p> + +<p>"I didn't refer to drinking," she said quietly. +"It was quite another thing."</p> + +<p>"Ah!"</p> + +<p>She looked down at her rings and seemed to consider +how much of her confidence she should give +him, and the consideration led her to look up presently +and say:</p> + +<p>"He promised me that if he could not call any +week he would write me a line instead. He came +to town last week, and he neither called nor wrote. +<pb n="090" /><anchor id="Pg090" />That wasn't like the man I saw in him. That was +a direct breaking of his word. I can't understand, +and I'm disappointed."</p> + +<p>Holloway took out his cigarette case and turned +it over and over thoughtfully in his hands.</p> + +<p>"He's nothing but a boy," he said at last, with +an effort.</p> + +<p>"He's no boy," she said. "He's almost twenty-two +years old. He's a man."</p> + +<p>"Some are men at twenty-two, and some are +boys," Holloway remarked. "I was a man before +I was eighteen—a man out in the world of men. +But Denham's a boy."</p> + +<p>He rose as he spoke, and she held out her hand +for him to raise her, too.</p> + +<p>"It's early to go," she remarked parenthetically.</p> + +<p>"I know," he replied; "but I hear someone +being shown into the drawing-room. I don't feel +formal to-day, and if I can't lounge in here alone +with you I'd rather go."</p> + +<p>"How egotistical!" she commented.</p> + +<p>"I am egotistical," he admitted.</p> + +<p>And went.</p> + +<p>The footman passed him in the hall; he had a +card upon his silver salver, and was seeking his +mistress in the library. But when he entered there +the room was empty. Mrs. Rosscott had slipped +<pb n="091" /><anchor id="Pg091" />through the blue velvet portières, expecting to see +a friend, and had stopped short on the other side, +amazed at finding herself face to face with an utter +stranger.</p> + +<p>"I gave the man my card," said the stranger, in +a tone as faded as his mustache. He was a long, +thin man, but what the Germans style "<hi rend="font-style: italic">sehr korrect</hi>."</p> + +<p>"I didn't wait to get it," the hostess said. "I +supposed that, of course, it was somebody that I +knew."</p> + +<p>"That was natural," he admitted.</p> + +<p>There was a slight pause of awkwardness.</p> + +<p>"Won't you sit down?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Certainly," said the caller, and sat down.</p> + +<p>Then she sat down, too, and another awkward +pause ensued.</p> + +<p>"You didn't expect to see me, did you?" said +the stranger, smiling.</p> + +<p>"No, I didn't," said Mrs. Rosscott frankly. +"I expected to see someone else—someone that I +knew. Nearly all my visitors are people whom I +know."</p> + +<p>Her eyes rather demanded an observance of the +conventionalities while her words were putting the +best face possible on the queer five minutes. The +stranger smiled.</p> + +<p>"My name is Clover," he said then. "Of +<pb n="092" /><anchor id="Pg092" />course, as you never saw me before, you want to +know that first of all."</p> + +<p>"I'd choose to know," she said. And then the +uncompromising neutrality of her expression deepened +so plainly that he hastened to add:</p> + +<p>"I'm H. Wyncoop Clover."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" she said. And then smiled, too; having +heard the name before.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you ask me my business?" went on +H. Wyncoop Clover. "I must have come for +some reason, you know."</p> + +<p>"I didn't know it," said Mrs. Rosscott—"I +don't know anything about you yet."</p> + +<p>They both smiled—and then H. Wyncoop +resumed his colorless sobriety at once.</p> + +<p>"It's about Jack," he said—"these terrible new +developments—" he stopped short, seeing his <hi rend="font-style: italic">vis-à-vis</hi> +turn deathly white, "it's nothing to be frightened +over," he said reassuringly.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott was furious with herself for +having paled. She became instantly haughty.</p> + +<p>"I was alarmed for my brother," she said. "I +always think of them both as together."</p> + +<p>"Oh, in that case, I can reassure you instantly," +said the caller. "Burnett is doing finely."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott was conscious of being suddenly +and skillfully countercharged. She blushed with +vexation, bit her lip in perturbation, and cast upon +<pb n="093" /><anchor id="Pg093" />the trying individual opposite a look of most +appealing interrogation.</p> + +<p>"You see," said Clover pleasantly, "I was +coming to town, so I came in handy for the purpose +of telling you."</p> + +<p>She gave him a glance that prayed him to be +decent and go on with his errand.</p> + +<p>"Burnett is about recovered," he said.</p> + +<p>She clasped her hands hard.</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't be a man for anything!" she +exclaimed with sudden fervor, "they are so +awfully mean. Why <hi rend="font-style: italic">don't</hi> you go on and tell me +<hi rend="font-style: italic">what</hi> you've come about?"</p> + +<p>He raised his eyebrows.</p> + +<p>"May I?" he asked.</p> + +<p>She choked down some of her exasperation.</p> + +<p>"Yes, you may."</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you so much. I'll begin at once +then. Only premising that as I go to school with +your little brother, and as he is rather under a cloud +just at present, we clubbed together to bring you a +letter about him and Jack. He was going to dictate +it, but in the end Mitchell wrote it all. Here +it is."</p> + +<p>With that he put his hand into his pocket, drew +out an envelope and handed it to her.</p> + +<p>"How awfully good of you," she said gratefully. +"Do excuse my reading it at once, won't +<pb n="094" /><anchor id="Pg094" />you? You see, I've been so anxious about—about +my brother."</p> + +<p>He nodded understandingly, and she hastily tore +open the envelope and ran her eyes over the written +sheets.</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mrs. Rosscott:</hi>—</p> + +<p>Being the prize writer of the class, I am chosen +to take down the ante mortem confessions of our +shattered friends. It is in a sad hour for them that +I do so, because I am naturally so truthful that I +shall not force you to look for my meaning +between the lines. On the contrary, I shall set +the cold facts out as neatly as the pickets on the +fence. And in evidence thereof, I open the ball by +telling you frankly that they both look fierce. If +they had looked less awful, and Burnett had had +more lime in his bones, we might have escaped the +Powers That Be by simply admitting a sprained +ankle and carefully concealing everything else. +But if one man cracks where you can't finish +the deal, even by the most unlimited outlay +of mucilage and persistence, and another blazes +his whole surface-area in a manner that seems +to make the underbrush dubious to count on +forever henceforth; why, you then have a logarithm +the square of which is probably as far beyond your +depth as I am beyond my own just at this point of +this sentence.</p> + +<p>The long and short of my fresh start is, that +your brother wants to write you, but he is so +handicapped (forgive me, but you're the only one +who hasn't had that joke sprung on them!) with +bandages, that it's cruel to expect much of him. It +<pb n="095" /><anchor id="Pg095" />is true that he has his bosom friend to fall back +upon, but if you could see that friend as we see him +these days you wouldn't be sure whether it was true +or not. The old woman, who had the peddler-and-petticoat +episode, was not in it the same day +with your brother's friend! I do assure you. And +anyhow—even if he still has brains—his writing +apparatus is all done up in arnica, so there you +are!</p> + +<p>But do not allow me to alarm you unduly! +When all's said and done, they're not so badly off +physically. Hair and ribs are mere vanities, anyhow, +and we're here to-day and gone to-morrow!</p> + +<p>Something much worse than disfigurements and +broken bones has sprung forth from chaos, and has +almost stared them out of countenance since. It is +the wolf that is at the door, and the howling and +prowling of their particular wolf is not to be +sneezed at, let me tell you. To put a modern political +face upon an ancient Greek fable, the wolf in +their case symbolizes the bitter question of whose +roof is going to roof them when they get out of the +plaster casts that are bed and board to them just at +present. Where are they to go? All those which +used to be open to them are suddenly shut tight. +They've both been expelled, and both been disinherited. +If I was inclined to look on the blue side +of the blanket, I should certainly feel that they +were playing in very tough luck. Burnett, of +course, can come to you, and his soul is full of the +wish to bring his fellow-fright along with him. +Which wish of his is the gist of my epistle. <hi rend="font-style: italic">Can</hi> +he bring him? He wants to know before he +broaches the proposition. I'm to be skinned alive +if Jack ever learns that such a plea was made, so I +<pb n="096" /><anchor id="Pg096" />beg you whatever other rash acts you see fit +to commit during your meteoric flight across my +plane of existence, don't ever give me away. +Firstly, because if I ever get a chance to do so, I'm +positive that I should want to cling to you as the +mistletoe does to the oak, and could not bear to be +given away; and secondly, because I'm so attached +to my own skin that I should really suffer pain if +it was taken from me by force. Bob wants you to +think it over, and let him know as to the whats and +whens by return mail.</p> + +<p>You are so inspiring that I could write you all +day, but those relics of what once was, but alas! +will never be again, need to be rolled up afresh in +absorbent cotton, and so I must nail my Red Cross +on to my left arm, and get down to business. If +you saw how useful I am to your brother, you'd +thank his lucky stars that I came through myself +with nothing worse than getting my ear stepped +on. I was hugging the ladder (being canny and +careful), and the man above me toed in. Isn't it +curious to think that if he'd worn braces in early +youth <hi rend="font-style: italic">my</hi> ear would be all right now.</p> + +<p>Behold me at your feet.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully yours,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.</p> +</quote> + + +<p>When Mrs. Rosscott had finished the letter she +looked across at her caller, and said:</p> + +<p>"You've read this, haven't you?"</p> + +<p>"No," said he. "I tried to unstick it two or +three times coming on the train, but it was too +much for me." +<pb n="097" /><anchor id="Pg097" /></p> + +<p>"Don't you really know what it says?" she +asked more earnestly.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I do," Clover answered, "but Denham +must never know that I do."</p> + +<p>"I won't tell him," she said smiling faintly. +"But surely he can't be as badly off as this says. +Has he really lost all his hair?"</p> + +<p>"Not all—only in spots," Clover reassured +her; but then his recollections overcame him, and +he added, with a grin: "But he's a fearful looking +specimen, all right, though."</p> + +<p>"About my brother," she went on, turning the +letter thoughtfully in her fingers; "when can he +get out, do they think?"</p> + +<p>"Any time next week."</p> + +<p>"I'll write him," she said. "I'll write him and +tell him that everything will be arranged for—for—for +them both."</p> + +<p>Clover sprang to his feet.</p> + +<p>"Oh, thank you," he exclaimed. "That's +most awfully good in you!"</p> + +<p>"Not at all," she answered. "I'm very glad +to be able to welcome them. You must impress +that upon them—particularly—particularly on my +brother."</p> + +<p>Clover smiled.</p> + +<p>"I will," he said, rising to go.</p> + +<p>"I'd ask you to stay longer," she said, holding +<pb n="098" /><anchor id="Pg098" />out her hand, "but I'm due at a charity entertainment +to-night, and I have to go very early."</p> + +<p>"I know," he said; "I've come up on purpose +to go to it."</p> + +<p>"Then I shall see you there?" she asked him.</p> + +<p>"It will be what I shall be looking forward to +most of all," he said.</p> + +<p>"It's been a great pleasure to meet you," she +said, holding out her hand, "you're—well, you're +'unlike,' as they say in literary criticisms."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," he replied; "but may I ask if +you intend that as a compliment?"</p> + +<p>"Dear me," she laughed, "let me think how +I did intend it.—Yes, it was meant for a compliment."</p> + +<p>"Thank you," he said, shaking her hand +warmly, "it's so nice to know, you know. Good-by."</p> + +<p>"Good-by."</p> + +<p>Then he went away.</p> +</div> +<pb n="099" /><anchor id="Pg099" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter Eleven - The Dove of Peace</head> + + +<p>The first result of Mrs. Rosscott's invitation +was that Jack refused. He said +that he had a sister of his own—two, if +it came to that—and so he could easily manage for +himself. He was very decided about it, and somewhat +lofty and bitter—a stand which no one understood +his taking.</p> + +<p>His flat refusal was communicated to his would be +hostess and it goes without saying that she was +as unable to understand as all the rest. It keyed +well enough with his lately shown indifference, but +the indifference keyed not at all with all that had +gone before and still less with her very correct +comprehension of Jack himself. She was quite +positive as to the sincerity of those protestations +which he had made so haltingly—so boyishly—and +in such absolutely truthful accents. Why he +had turned over a new—and bad—leaf so suddenly +she did not at all know, but her woman's wit—backed +up by the many good instincts which good +<pb n="100" /><anchor id="Pg100" />women always get from Heaven knows just where—made +her feel firmer than ever as to her hospitable +intentions. Jack had told her many times +that she was his good angel, and it did not seem to +her that now, when he was so deeply involved in +so much trouble, was the hour for a man's good +angel to quietly turn away. Suppose he was +haughty!—she knew men well enough to know that +in his case haughtiness and shame would be two +Dromios that even he himself would be unable to +tell apart. Suppose he did rebel against her kindness!—she +knew women well enough to know that +under some circumstances they can put down rebellion +single-handed—if they can only be left in +the room alone with it for a few minutes. As regarded +Jack, she knew that there was something +to explain; and as to herself she was delightfully +positive as to her own irresistibleness. Given two +such statements and the conclusion is easy. Mrs. +Rosscott wrote to Mitchell and here is what she +wrote:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mr. Mitchell</hi>:</p> + +<p>I should have answered your letter before only +that in the excitement of corresponding with my +brother I forgot all else. But my manners have +returned by slow degrees and in hunting through +my desk for a bill I found you and so take up my +pen. +<pb n="101" /><anchor id="Pg101" /></p> + +<p>I am quite sure that—in spite of that beautiful +opening play of mine—you are wondering why I +am really writing and so I will tell you at once. +When Bob comes here to stay with me I want Mr. +Denham to come too. I have various reasons for +wanting him to come. One is that he has nowhere +else to go where he will have half as good a time +as he will here and another is that if he goes anywhere +else I won't have half as good a time as if +he comes here. Pray excuse my brutal candor, but +I am only a woman; brutal candor and womanly +weakness always have gone about encouraging one +another, you know. I cannot see any good reason +for Mr. Denham's not coming except that he declines +my invitation. It is very silly in him, and +I regard it as no reason at all. I am quite unused +to being declined and do not intend to acquire the +habit until I am a good deal older than I was my +last birthday. Still, I can understand that he is too +big to force against his will, so I think the kindest +way to break the back of the opposition will be for +me to do it personally. As an over-ruler I nearly +always succeed. All I require is an opportunity.</p> + +<p>Please lay the two halves of your brain evenly +together and devise a train and an interview for +me. Of course you will meet me at the train and +leave me at the interview. These are the fundamental +rules of my game. I know that you are +clever and before we have left the station you will +know that I am. As arch-conspirators we shall +surely win out together, won't we?</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Yours very truly,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Bertha Rosscott.</p> +</quote> +<pb n="102" /><anchor id="Pg102" /> + +<p>This missive posted, Jack's good angel made herself +patient until the afternoon of the next day +when she might and did expect an answer.</p> + +<p>She was not disappointed. The letter came and +it was pleasantly bulky and appeared ample enough +to have contained an indexed gun powder plot. +She was so sure that Mitchell had been fully equal +to the occasion that she tore the envelope open with +a smile—and read:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Mrs. Rosscott</hi>:</p> + +<p>To think of my having some of your handwriting +for my own!—I was nearly petrified with joy.</p> + +<p>You see I know your writing from having read +Burnett all those "Burn this at once" epistles. +And I know it still better from having to catalogue +them for his ready reference. You know how +impatient he is. (But I have run into an open +switch and must digress backwards.)</p> + +<p>I shall preserve your letter till I die. In war +I shall wear it carefully spread all over wherever +I may be killed, and in peace I intend to keep my +place in my Bible with it. Could words say more! +(Being backed up again, I will now begin.)</p> + +<p>I was not at all surprised at your writing me. +If you had known me it would have been different. +But where ignorance is bliss any woman but yourself +is always liable to pitch in with a pen, and you +see you are not yourself but only "any woman" +to me as yet. Besides, women have written to me +before you. My mother does so regularly. She +encloses a postal card and all I have to do is to mail +<pb n="103" /><anchor id="Pg103" />it and there she is answered. It's a great scheme +which I proudly invented when I first went away +to school and I recommend it to you if you—if you +ever have a mother.</p> + +<p>How my ink does run away with me! Let me +refer to your esteemed favor again! Ah! we +have worked down to the bed-rock, or—in Hugh +Miller's colloquial phrasing—to the "old red sandstone," +of the fact that you want Jack. You state +the fact with what you designate as brutal candor—and +I reply with candied brutality, that I +have thought that all along. If you are averse +to my view of the matter, you must look out of the +window the whole time that I continue, for once +entered I always fight to a finish and I cannot retire +to my corner on this auspicious occasion without +announcing through a trumpet that even if Jack is +a most idiotic fellow I never have caught the +microbe from him, and, as a sequence, have always +seen clear through and out of the other side of the +whole situation. Of course I should not say this +to any woman but you because it would not have +any meaning to her, but, between you and me all +things are printed in plain black and white and, +therefore, I respectfully submit a program consisting +of the two o'clock train Tuesday and myself, +to be recognized by a beaming look of burning +joy, upon the platform. Beyond that you may +confide yourself to waxing waxy in my hands. +They are not bad hands to be in as your brother +and whatever-you-call-Jack can testify. I will lay +my lines in the dark to the end that you may bloom +in the sun.</p> + +<p>Trust me. You need do no more—except buy +your ticket. +<pb n="104" /><anchor id="Pg104" /></p> + +<p>The two o'clock on Tuesday. You can easily +remember it by the T's—if you don't get mixed +with three o'clock on Thursday. Try remembering +it by the 2's. A safe way would be to put it +down.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Yours to obey,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Herbert Kendrick Mitchell.</p> + +<p>P.S. Please recollect that I am only handsome +according to the good old proverb, and do not mistake +me for an enterprising hackman.</p> +</quote> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott clapped her hands with delight +when she finished the letter. She was overjoyed at +the success of her "opening play," and she wrote +her new correspondent two lines accepting his +invitation, and went down on the appointed train +on the appointed day. He met her at the depot +and they divined one another at the first glance. +It was impossible not to know so pretty a woman—or +so homely a man. For the ancestors of Mitchell +had worn kilts and red hair in centuries gone by, +and although he proved the truth of the red-hair +proposition, no one would ever believe that anything +of his build could ever have been induced to +have put itself into kilts—knowingly. Furthermore, +his voice had a crick in it, and went by jerks, +and his eyebrows sympathized with his voice, and +the eyes below them were little and gray and twinkling, +and altogether he was the sort of man who +<pb n="105" /><anchor id="Pg105" />is termed—according to a certain style of phrasing—"above +suspicion." But she liked him, oh! +immensely, and he liked her. And when they were +riding up in the carriage together she felt how +thoroughly trustworthy his gray eyes and good +smile declared him to be, and had no hesitation in +telling him what she wanted to do, and in asking +him what she wanted to know.</p> + +<p>Mitchell certainly had a talent for plotting, for +when they reached the house where the culprits +were temporarily domiciled, Burnett had gone out +to give his mended ribs some exercise, and Jack +was reading alone in the room where they shared +one another's liniments with friendly generosity.</p> + +<p>The arch-conspirator went upstairs, came down, +and then, seeking the lady whom he had left in the +parlor, said to her:</p> + +<p>"Denham's up there and you can go up and say +whatever you have to say. You know 'In union +there is strength.' Well you've got him alone now, +and he'll prove weakly as a consequence or I miss +my guess."</p> + +<p>Then he walked straight over by the window +and picked up a magazine as if it was all settled, +and she only hesitated for half a second before she +turned and went upstairs.</p> + +<p>There was a door half open in the hall above, +and she knew that that must be the door. She +<pb n="106" /><anchor id="Pg106" />tapped at it lightly, and a man's voice (a voice that +she knew well), called out gruffly:</p> + +<p>"Come in!"</p> + +<p>She pushed the door open at that and entered, +and saw Jack, and he saw her. He turned very +pale at the sight, and then the color flooded his +face, and he rose from his chair abruptly, and put +his hand up to the strips that held the bandage on +his head.</p> + +<p>"Burnett isn't here," he said quickly. "He +went out just a few minutes ago."</p> + +<p>His tone was hard, and yet at the same time it +shook slightly.</p> + +<p>She approached him, holding out her hand.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of that," she said, "because it was +to see you that I came."</p> + +<p>To her great surprise something mutinous and +scornful flashed in his eyes as he rolled a chair forward +for her.</p> + +<p>"You honor me," he said, and his tone and +manner both hardened yet more. His general +appearance was that of a man ten years older; +he had changed terribly in the weeks since she had +last seen him. She took the chair and sat down, +still looking at him. He sat down too, and his +eyes went restlessly around the room as if they +sought a hold that should withhold them from her +searching gaze. There was a short pause. +<pb n="107" /><anchor id="Pg107" /></p> + +<p>"Don't speak like that," she said at last. "It +isn't your way, and I know you too well—we know +one another too well—to be anything but sincere. +You owe me something, too, and if I forbear you +should understand why."</p> + +<p>"I owe you something, do I?" he asked. +"What do I owe you?"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott caught her under lip in her teeth.</p> + +<p>"You gave me a promise, Mr. Denham," she +said, quite low, but most distinctly—"a promise +which you broke."</p> + +<p>Jack flushed; his eyelids drooped for a minute.</p> + +<p>"I didn't break it," he said. "I gave it up."</p> + +<p>"Is there any difference?"</p> + +<p>"A great difference."</p> + +<p>He shrugged his shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Do you want to have the truth?" he said. +"If you really do, I'll tell you. But I don't ask +to tell you, recollect, and if I were you I'd drop the +whole—I certainly would.—If I were you."</p> + +<p>She looked at him in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand," she said. "Tell me what +you mean."</p> + +<p>He raised his hand to his bandaged head again.</p> + +<p>"I think," he said, fighting hard to speak with +utter indifference, "I think that it would have been +better if you had told me about Holloway."</p> + +<p>At that her big eyes opened widely. +<pb n="108" /><anchor id="Pg108" /></p> + +<p>"What should I tell you about Mr. Holloway?" +she asked. "What could I tell you about +him?"</p> + +<p>"It isn't any use speaking like that," he said; +and with the words he suddenly leaped from his +chair and began to plunge back and forth across the +small room. "You see I'm not a boy any more. +I've come to my senses. I know now! I understand +now! It's all plain to me now. Now and +always. I've been fooled once but only once and +by All that Is, I never will be fooled again. +Your're pretty and awfully fascinating, and it's +always fun for the woman—especially if she knows +all her bets are safely hedged. And I was so completely +done up that I was even more sport than the +common run, I suppose; but—" she was staring +at him in unfeigned amazement, and he was lashing +himself to fury with the feelings that underlaid his +words—"but even if you made it all right with +yourself by calling your share by the name of 'having +a good influence' over me (I know that's how +married women always pat themselves on the back +while they're sending us to the devil), even then, +I think that it would have been better to have been +fair and square with me. It would have been better +all round. I'd have been left with some belief in—in +people. As it is, when I saw that you'd only +been laughing at me, I—well, I went pretty far." +<pb n="109" /><anchor id="Pg109" /></p> + +<p>He stopped short, and transfixed her paleness +with his big, dark eyes.</p> + +<p>"Why weren't you honest?" he asked angrily. +And then he said again, more bitterly, more scornfully, +than before: "Why wasn't I told about +Holloway?"</p> + +<p>She clasped her hands tightly together.</p> + +<p>"What has been told you about Mr. Holloway +and myself?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing."</p> + +<p>"Then why do you speak as you do?"</p> + +<p>At that he thrust his hands into his pockets and +again began to fling himself back and forth across +the room.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps you'll think I'm a sneak," he said, +"but I wasn't a sneak. I went in to see you that +Saturday as usual, and when I went upstairs—you +were with him in the library. I heard three words. +God! they were enough! I didn't know that anything +could knock the bottom out of life so quickly. +My sun and stars all fell at once—I reckon my +Heaven went too. At all events I went out of your +house and down town and I drank and drank—and +all to the truth and honor of women."</p> + +<p>He halted with his back to her, and there was +silence in the room for many minutes.</p> + +<p>When he faced around after a little, she was +weeping bitterly, having turned in her seat so that +<pb n="110" /><anchor id="Pg110" />her face might be buried in the chair back. Her +whole body was shaking with suppressed sobs. +He stood still and stared down upon her and finally +she lifted up her face and said with trembling lips:</p> + +<p>"And all the trouble came from that. Oh, +what shall I do? What shall I say?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know what you can do, or what you +can say," he said, remaining still and watching her +sincere distress. "I'd feel pretty blamed mean if +I were you, though. Understand, I don't question +your good taste in choosing Holloway, nor your +right to love him, nor his right to be there; but +I fail to understand why you were to me just as you +were, and I think it was unfair—out-and-out +mean!"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Denham," she said almost painfully, +"you've made a dreadful mistake." Then she +stopped and moistened her lips. "I don't know +just what words you overheard, but the dramatic +instructor was there that afternoon drilling Mr. +Holloway and myself for the parts which we took +in the charity play that week; after he went out we +went over one of the scenes alone. Perhaps you +heard part of that." She stopped and almost +choked. "Mr. Holloway has never really made +any love to me—perhaps he never wanted to—perhaps +I've never wanted him to."</p> + +<p>Jack stared. His misconception was so strongly +<pb n="111" /><anchor id="Pg111" />intrenched in the forefront of his brain that he +could not possibly dislodge it at once.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott continued to dry the tears that +continued to rise; she seemed terribly affected at +finding herself to have been the cause (no matter +how innocently) of this latest tale of wrack and +ruin.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean to say," the young man said, at +last, "that there was no truth in what I heard? +Don't you expect to marry Holloway?"</p> + +<p>"I never expect to marry anyone, but certainly +not him," she replied, trying to regain her composure.</p> + +<p>"Honest?"</p> + +<p>"Assuredly."</p> + +<p>It was as if an unseen orchestra had suddenly +burst forth just near enough and just far enough +away. He came to the side of her chair and laid +his hand upon its back.</p> + +<p>"Then what have you been thinking of me +lately?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"Very sad thoughts," she confessed—hiding +her face again.</p> + +<p>"Did you care?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I cared."</p> + +<p>He stood beside her for a long time without +speaking or moving. Then he suddenly pulled a +chair forward, and sat down close in front of her. +<pb n="112" /><anchor id="Pg112" /></p> + +<p>"Don't cry," he said, almost daring to be +tender. "There's nothing to cry about <hi rend="font-style: italic">now</hi>, you +know."</p> + +<p>"I think there's plenty for me to cry about," she +said, looking up through her long wet lashes. "It +is so terrible for me to be the one that is to blame. +Papa swears he'll never forgive Bob, and your +aunt—"</p> + +<p>"Lord love you!" he exclaimed; "don't worry +over me or my aunt. I don't. I don't mind anything, +with Holloway staked in the ditch. I can +get along well enough now."</p> + +<p>He smiled—actually smiled—as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you mustn't speak so," she said, blushing; +"indeed, you must not." And smiled, too, in spite +of herself.</p> + +<p>"Who's going to stop me?" he said. "You +know that you can't; I'm miles the biggest."</p> + +<p>She looked at him and tried to frown, but only +blushed again instead. He put out his hand and +took hers into its clasp.</p> + +<p>"I'm everlasting glad to shake college," he +declared gayly; "it never was my favorite alley. +I've made up my mind to go to work just as soon +as I get these pastry strips off my head."</p> + +<p>"Where?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know. Anywhere. I don't care."</p> + +<p>"But you'll come to my house when Bob comes +<pb n="113" /><anchor id="Pg113" />next week, won't you?" she asked suddenly. +"I can see now why you wouldn't before, but—but +it's different now. Isn't it?"</p> + +<p>"Is it?" he said, asking the question chiefly of +her pretty eyes. "Is it honestly different now?"</p> + +<p>"I think it is," she answered.</p> + +<p>A door banged below.</p> + +<p>"That's Burr!" he exclaimed, remembering +suddenly the proximity of their chairs, and making +haste to place himself farther away.</p> + +<p>Burnett's step was heard on the stair.</p> + +<p>"You never said anything to him, did you?" +she questioned quickly.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not."</p> + +<p>The next instant Burnett was in the room, and +his sister was in his arms. (Astonishing how coolly +he accepted the fact, too.)</p> + +<p>"Mr. Denham is coming to me with you, +Bob," she said when he released her. "I've persuaded +him."</p> + +<p>"How did you do it?" she was asked.</p> + +<p>"By undertaking to reconcile him with his aunt, +dear," she replied, blandly. "It's a contract that +we've drawn up between us. You know that I was +always rather good in the part of the peacemaker."</p> + +<p>As she spoke, her eyes fell warningly on the +manifest astonishment of Aunt Mary's nephew.</p> + +<p>"You don't know what you're undertaking, +<pb n="114" /><anchor id="Pg114" />Betty," said her brother. "You never had a +chance to take Aunt Mary for better, for worse—I +have."</p> + +<p>"I'm not alarmed," said she, "I'm very +courageous. I'm sure I'll succeed."</p> + +<p>"Can the mender of ways—other people's +ways—come in?" asked a voice at the door.</p> + +<p>It was Mitchell's voice, and he came in without +waiting for an invitation.</p> + +<p>"Is it time that I went?" Mrs. Rosscott asked +him, anxiously.</p> + +<p>"Half an hour yet."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I say Jack," cried Burnett, "let's boil +some water in the witch-hazel pan, and make a +rarebit in the poultice pan, and have some tea +here."</p> + +<p>"Sure," said Jack, suddenly become his blithe +and buoyant self again. "You just take off your +hat and look the other way, Mrs. Rosscott, and +we'll have you a lunch in a jiffy."</p> +</div> +<pb n="115" /><anchor id="Pg115" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter Twelve - A Trap For Aunt Mary</head> + + +<p>In Aunt Mary's part of the country the skies +had been crying themselves sick for the last six +weeks. The cranberry bog was a goner forever, +it was feared, and a little house, very handy +for sorting berries in, had had its foundations +undermined, and disappeared beneath the face of +the waters also.</p> + +<p>Under such propitious circumstances, Aunt +Mary sat by her own particular window and looked +sternly and severely out across the garden and +down the road. Lucinda sat by the other window +sewing. Lucinda hadn't changed materially, but +her general appearance struck her mistress as more +irritating than ever. Everything and everybody +seemed to have become more and more irritating +ever since Jack had been disinherited. Of course, +it was right that he should have been disinherited, +but Aunt Mary hadn't thought much beforehand +as to what would happen afterward, and it was too +aggravating to have him turn out so well just when +she had lost all patience with him and so cast him +<pb n="116" /><anchor id="Pg116" />off forever, and for him to develop such a beautiful +character, all of a sudden too—just as if education +and good advice had been his undoing and +seclusion and illness were the guardian angels +arrived just in time to save him from the evil +effects thereof.</p> + +<p>It hadn't occurred to Aunt Mary that people +keep on living just the same even after they have +been cut out of a will. And she never had counted +on Jack's taking his bitter medicine in the spirit he +was manifesting. She had not calculated any +of the possible effects of her hasty action very +maturely, but she certainly had not anticipated a +lamblike submission to even the harshest of her +edicts, nor had she expected Jack to be one who +would strictly observe the Bible regulations and +so return good for evil—in other words, write her +now when he had never written her in the bygone +years (unless under sharpest financial stress of +circumstances).</p> + +<p>Yet such was the case. Jack had become a +"ready letter-writer" ever since his removal to the +city, whither some kind friends had invited him +directly he could leave his sick-room. Aunt Mary +did not know who the friends were and had hesitated +somewhat as to opening the first letter. But +it had borne no sting—being instead most sweetly +pathetic, and since then, others had followed with +<pb n="117" /><anchor id="Pg117" />touching frequency. Their polished periods fell +upon the old lady's stony hardness of heart with +the persistent frequency of the proverbial drop of +water. After the second she had ceased to regard +the instructions given Lucinda as to mentioning her +nephew's name, and after the third he became +again her favorite topic of conversation.</p> + +<p>It seemed that the poor boy had had the misfortune +to contract measles, and in his weakened +state the disease had nearly proved fatal. You can +perhaps divine the effect of this statement on the +grand-aunt, and the further effect of the words: +"But never mind, Aunt Mary," with which he concluded +the brief narration.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary had tried to snort and had sniffed +instead; she had turned back to the first page, read, +"All my head has been shaved, but I don't care +about having any more fun, anyhow," and had +let the letter fall in her lap. Every time that she +had thought since of "our boy," her anger had +fallen hotter upon whoever was handiest. Lucinda +(who was used to it) lived under a figurative rain +of cinders, and thrived salamander-like in their +midst; but Arethusa—who had come up for a +week—found herself totally unable to stand the +endless lava and boiling ashes, and fled back to the +bosom of Mr. Arethusa the third morning after +her arrival. +<pb n="118" /><anchor id="Pg118" /></p> + +<p>"I've got to go, I find," she had yelled the night +before her departure.</p> + +<p>"I certainly wish you would," replied her aunt. +"I'm a great believer in married women paying +attention at home before they begin to pry into +their neighbors' affairs. It's a good idea. Most +generally—most always."</p> + +<p>This was bitterly unkind, since Arethusa was in +the habit of taking the long journey purely out of a +sense of duty and to keep Lucinda up to the mark; +but grateful appreciation is rarely ever a salient +point in the character of an autocrat.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad she's gone," Aunt Mary told +Lucinda, when they were left together once more. +"She puts me beyond all patience. She chatters +gibberish that I can't make out a word of for +an hour at a time, and then, all of a sudden, +she screams, 'Dinner's ready,' or something +equally silly, in a voice like a carvin' knife. +It's enough to drive a sane person stark, raving +mad. It is."</p> + +<p>Lucinda acquiesced with a nod. Lucinda herself +was glad that Arethusa had gone. She resented +the manner in which the latter always looked over +the preserve closet and counted the silver. Nothing +was ever missing, because Lucinda was as honest +as a day twenty-five hours long, but the more +honest those of Lucinda's caliber are, the more +<pb n="119" /><anchor id="Pg119" />mad they get if they feel that they are being +watched. So Lucinda acquiesced with a nod.</p> + +<p>The mistress and maid were sitting alone together, +with the June rain falling without, and it +was that pleasantly exciting hour which comes only +in the country and is known as "about mail-time."</p> + +<p>"There's Joshua now," Aunt Mary exclaimed, +presently, "I see him turnin' in the gate. He'll be +at the door before you get there, Lucinda,—he +will. There, he's twistin' his wheel off. He's +tryin' to hold Billy an' hold the letters an' whistle, +all at once. Why don't you go to him, Lucinda? +Can't you hear a whistle that I can see? Or, if +you can't hear the whistle, can't you hear me? Do +you think whoever wrote those letters would be +much pleased if they could see you so slow about +gettin' them? Do—"</p> + +<p>Just here the old lady, turning toward Lucinda, +perceived that she had been gone—Heaven knew +how long. She felt decidedly vexed at finding herself +to be in the wrong, rubbed her nose impatiently, +and waited in a temper to match the +rubbing.</p> + +<p>"My Lord! how slow she is!" she thought. +"Well, if I don't die of old age first, I presume +I'll get my letters some time. Maybe."</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, the door had blown shut +behind Lucinda, and the latter personage was making +<pb n="120" /><anchor id="Pg120" />her way, with well-hoisted skirts, around the +house to the back door. She didn't pass the window +where the Argus-eyed was looking forth; +because that lady had strong opinions of those who +let doors bang behind them without their own +volition.</p> + +<p>Five minutes later the maid did finally appear +with one letter.</p> + +<p>"I thought you was waitin' to bring to-morrow's +mail at the same time," said Aunt Mary, +icily.</p> + +<p>Then she found that the letter was from Jack, +and Lucinda was completely forgotten in the +pleasure of opening and reading it.</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Dear Aunt Mary</hi>:</p> + +<p>It seems so strange how I'm just learning the +pleasure of writing letters. I enjoy it more every +day. When I see a pen I can hardly keep from +feeling that I ought to write you directly. I think +of you, then, because I'm thinking of you most +always. It seems as if I never appreciated you +before, Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>I want to tell you something that I know will +make you happy. I've never made you very happy +Aunt Mary, but I'm going to begin now. I've got +a place where I can earn my own living, and I'm +going to work just as soon as I am strong enough. +I'm as tickled as a baby over it. I'll lay you any +odds I get to be a richer man than the other John +Watkins. I reckon money was bad for me, Aunt +<pb n="121" /><anchor id="Pg121" />Mary, and I can see that you've done just the right +thing to make a man of me. That isn't surprising, +because you always did do just the right thing, +Aunt Mary; it was I that always did just the wrong +thing, but I'm straightened out now and this time +it's forever—you just wait and see.</p> + +<p>There's one thing bothers me some, and that is +I don't get strong very fast. They want me to +take a tonic, but I don't think a tonic would help +me much. I feel so sort of blue and depressed, and +perhaps that's natural, for Bob's away most of the +time and I'm here all alone. It's a big house and +sort of lonely and sometimes I find myself imagining +how it would seem to have someone from +home in it with me, and I find myself almost crying—I +do, for a fact, Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>Next week, Bob is going to be away more than +usual, and I'm dreading it awfully; but never mind, +Aunt Mary, I don't want to make you blue, because +honestly I don't think I'm going into a decline, +even if the doctor does. And, after all, if I did +sort of dwindle away it wouldn't matter much, for +I'm not worth anything, and no one knows that as +well as myself—except you, Aunt Mary. +I must stop because it's nine o'clock and time I +was in bed. I've got some socks to wash out first, +too; you see, I'm learning how to economize just +as fast as I can. It's only two miles to my work, +and I'm going to walk back and forth always—that'll +be between fifty cents and a dollar saved +each week. I'm figuring on how to live on my +salary and never have a debt, and you'll be proud +of me yet, Aunt Mary—if I don't die first.</p> + +<p>Think of me all alone here next week. If I +wasn't steadfast as a rock I believe I'd do something +<pb n="122" /><anchor id="Pg122" />foolish just to get out of myself. But never +mind, Aunt Mary, it's all right.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Your afft. nephew,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">John Watkins, Jr., Denham.</p> +</quote> + +<p>When Lucinda returned from drying her feet, +Aunt Mary had her handkerchief in one hand and +spectacles in the other.</p> + +<p>"Saints and sinners!" cried the maid, in a +voice that grated with sympathy. "He ain't writ +to say he's dead, is he?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Aunt Mary; "but he isn't as well +as he makes out. There's no deceivin' me, +Lucinda!"</p> + +<p>"Dear! dear!" cried the Trusty and True; "is +that so? What's to be done? Do you want +Joshua to run anywhere?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary suddenly regained her composure.</p> + +<p>"Run anywhere?" she asked, with her usual +bitter intonation. "If you ain't the greatest fool +I ever was called upon to bed and board, Lucinda! +Will you kindly explain to me how settin' Joshua +trottin' is goin' to do any mortal good to my poor +boy away off there in that dreadful city?"</p> + +<p>"He could telegraph to Miss Arethusa," +Lucinda suggested. The suggestion bespoke the +superior moral quality of Lucinda's make-up—her +own feeling toward Arethusa being considered. +<pb n="123" /><anchor id="Pg123" /></p> + +<p>"I don't want her," said Aunt Mary with a +positiveness that was final. "I don't want her. +My heavens, Lucinda, ain't we just had enough +of her? Anyhow, if you ain't, I have. I don't +want her, nor no livin' soul except my trunk; an' +I want that just as quick as Joshua can haul it down +out of the attic."</p> + +<p>"You ain't thinkin' of goin' travelin'!" the +maid cried in consternation; "you can't never be +thinkin' of <hi rend="font-style: italic">that?</hi>"</p> + +<p>"No," said her mistress with fine irony; "I +want the trunk to make a pie out of, probably."</p> + +<p>Lucinda was speechless.</p> + +<p>"Lucinda," her mistress said, after a few +seconds had faded away unimproved, "seems to +me I mentioned wantin' Joshua to get down a +trunk—seems to me I did."</p> + +<p>The maid turned and left the room. She felt +more or less dazed. Nothing so startling as Aunt +Mary's wanting a trunk had happened in years. +Disinheriting Jack was not in it by comparison. +She went slowly away to find Joshua and found +him in the farther end of the rear woodhouse—John +Watkins, like several of his ilk, having +marked each forward step in the world by a back +extension of his house.</p> + +<p>Joshua was chopping wood; his ax was high in +the air. He also was calm and unsuspecting. +<pb n="124" /><anchor id="Pg124" /></p> + +<p>"She's goin' to the city all alone!" Lucinda's +voice suddenly proclaimed behind him.</p> + +<p>The ax fell.</p> + +<p>"Who says so?" its handler demanded, facing +about in surprise.</p> + +<p>"She says so."</p> + +<p>Joshua picked up the ax and poised it afresh. +He was himself again.</p> + +<p>"She'll go then," he said calmly.</p> + +<p>Lucinda marched around in front of him, and +planted herself firmly among the chips.</p> + +<p>"Joshua Whittlesey!"</p> + +<p>"We can't help it," said Joshua stolidly. +"We're here to mind her. If she wants to go to +New York, or to change her will, all we've got +to do is to be simple witnesses."</p> + +<p>"She don't want Miss Arethusa telegraphed," +said Lucinda.</p> + +<p>"I don't blame her," said Joshua; "if I was +her and if I was goin' to New York I wouldn't +want no one telegraphed."</p> + +<p>"She wants her trunk out of the attic."</p> + +<p>"Then she'll get her trunk out of the attic. +When does she want it?"</p> + +<p>"She wants it now."</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image03" /> +<figure rend="w95" url="images/image03.png"> +<head rend="text-align: center">"She's goin' to the city all alone!' Lucinda's voice +suddenly proclaimed behind him."</head> +<figDesc>Illustration 3</figDesc></figure></p><p></p> + +<p>"Then she'll get it now," said Joshua. From +the general trend of this and other remarks of +Joshua the reader will readily divine why he had +<pb n="125" /><anchor id="Pg125" />been in Aunt Mary's employ for thirty years, and +had always been characterized by her as "a most +sensible man," and anyone who had seen the +alacrity with which the trunk was brought and the +respectful attention with which Aunt Mary's further +commands were received would have been +forced to coincide in her opinion.</p> + +<p>The packing of the trunk was a task which fell +to Lucinda's lot and was performed under the +eagle eye of her mistress. Aunt Mary's ideas of +what she would require were delightfully unsophisticated +and brought up short on the farther-side +of her tooth brush and her rubbers. Nevertheless +she agreed in Lucinda's suggestions as to +more extensive supplies.</p> + +<p>Late that afternoon Joshua drove into town +(amidst a wealth of mud spatters) and dispatched +the answer to Jack's letter. Aunt Mary was urged +to haste by several considerations, some well +defined, and others not so much so. To Lucinda +she imparted her terrible anxiety over the dear +boy's health, but not even to herself did she admit +her much more terrible anxiety lest Arethusa or +Mary should suddenly appear and insist on accompanying +her. She wanted to go, but she wanted +to go alone.</p> + +<p>Jack telegraphed a response that night, and his +aunt left by the Monday morning train. She had +<pb n="126" /><anchor id="Pg126" />a six o'clock breakfast, and drove into town at a +quarter of nine so as to be absolutely certain not +to miss the train. Joshua drove, with the trunk +perched beside him. It was a small and unassuming +trunk, but Aunt Mary was not one who +believed in putting on airs just because she was +rich. Lucinda sat on the back seat with her +mistress.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I hope you'll enjoy yourself," she +said.</p> + +<p>"Of course he's nothing but a boy," Aunt Mary +replied,—"an' I've told you a hundred times that +boys will be boys and we mustn't expect otherwise."</p> + +<p>They arrived on time, and only had an hour +and three-quarters to wait in the station. Toward +the last Aunt Mary grew very nervous for fear +something had happened to the train; but it came +to time according to the waiting-room clock. +Joshua put her aboard, and she soon had nothing +left to worry over except the wonder as to whether +Jack would be on hand to meet her or not.</p> + +<p>Joshua drove back home, let Lucinda out at the +door, and put the horse up before going in to where +she sat in solitary glory.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what <hi rend="font-style: italic">he's</hi> up to?" she said with a +pleasant sense of unlimited freedom as to the subject +and duration of the conversation. +<pb n="127" /><anchor id="Pg127" /></p> + +<p>"Suthin', of course," was the answer.</p> + +<p>"Do you s'pose he's really sick?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't."</p> + +<p>"Do you s'pose she thinks he's really sick?"</p> + +<p>"Mebbe."</p> + +<p>"Ain't you goin' to sit down, Joshua?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see nothin' to make me sit down here +for."</p> + +<p>"What do you think of her going?" she said, +as he walked toward the door.</p> + +<p>"I think she'll have a good time."</p> + +<p>"At her age?"</p> + +<p>"Havin' a good time ain't a matter o' age," said +Joshua. "It's a matter o' bein' willin' to have a +good time."</p> + +<p>Lucinda screwed her face up mightily.</p> + +<p>"If I was sure she'd be gone for a week," she +said, "I'd go a-visitin' myself."</p> + +<p>"She'll be gone a week," said Joshua; and the +manner and matter of his speech were both those +of a prophet.</p> + +<p>Then he went out and the door slammed to +behind him.</p> +</div> +<pb n="128" /><anchor id="Pg128" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> +<head>Chapter Thirteen - Aunt Mary Entrapped</head> + + +<p>Aunt Mary's arrival in the city just coincided +with the arrival of that day's five +o'clock. Five o'clock in early June is very +bright daylight, therefore she was rather bewildered +when the train pulled up in the darkness and +electricity of the station's confusion. The change +from sunlight to smoke blinded her somewhat and +the view from the car window did not restore her +equanimity. When the porter, to whom she had +been discreetly recommended by Joshua, came for +her bags, she felt woefully distressed and not at +all like her usual self.</p> + +<p>"Oh, do I have to get out?" she said. "I ain't +been in this place for twenty-five years, and I was +to be met."</p> + +<p>The porter's grin hovered comfortingly over +her head.</p> + +<p>"You can stay here jus' 's long as you like, +ma'am," he yelled, in the voice of a train dispatcher. +"I'll send your friends in when they +inquiahs."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary eyed him gratefully, and gave him +<pb n="129" /><anchor id="Pg129" />the nickel which she had been carefully holding in +her hand for the last hour.</p> + +<p>Then she looked up, and saw Jack!</p> + +<p>A perfectly splendid Jack, in resplendent attire, +handsome, beaming, with a big bouquet of violets +in his hand!</p> + +<p>"For you, Aunt Mary," he said, and dropped +them into her lap, and hugged her fervently. She +clung to him with a cling that forgot the immediate +past, disinheriting and all. Oh! she was so +glad to see him!</p> + +<p>The porter approached with a beneficent look.</p> + +<p>"Has he taken good care of you, Aunt Mary?" +Jack asked, as the man gathered up the things and +they started to leave the car.</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," Aunt Mary declared.</p> + +<p>So Jack gave the porter a dollar.</p> + +<p>Then they left the train.</p> + +<p>"I was so worried," Aunt Mary said, as she +went along the platform hanging on her nephew's +arm. "I thought you'd met with an accident."</p> + +<p>"I couldn't get on until the rest got off," he +said, gazing down on her with a smile; "but I was +on hand, all right. My, but it's good to think that +you're here, Aunt Mary! Maybe you think that +I don't appreciate your taking all this trouble for +me, but I do, just the same."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary smiled all over. Everyone who +<pb n="130" /><anchor id="Pg130" />passed them was smiling, too, and that added to +the general joy of the atmosphere. Aunt Mary +felt proud of Jack, and rejoiced as to herself. Her +content with life in general was, for the moment, +limitless. She did not stop to dissect the sources +of her delight. She was not in a critical mood just +then.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you stick those flowers in your +belt, Aunt Mary?" her nephew asked, as they +penetrated the worst of the human jungle, and the +preservation of the violets appeared to be the main +question of the day. "That's what the girls do."</p> + +<p>His aunt looked vaguely down at herself. She +had no belt to stick her violets in. She wore no +belt. She wore a basque. A basque is a beltless +something that you can't remember, but that +females did, once upon a time, cover the upper half +of their forms with. Basques buttoned down the +front with ten to thirty buttons, and may be studied +at leisure in any good collection of daguerreotypes. +Ladies like Aunt Mary are apt to scorn +such futilities as waning styles after they pass +beyond a certain age, and for that reason there +was no place for Jack's violets.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," he said cheerfully, having +followed her dubiousness with his understanding. +"Just hang on to them a minute longer, and we'll +be out of all this." +<pb n="131" /><anchor id="Pg131" /></p> + +<p>His words came true, and they finally did +emerge from the seething mass and found a carriage, +the door of which happened to be standing +mysteriously open. Within, upon the small seat, +some omniscient hands had already deposited Aunt +Mary's bags. It did not take long to stow Aunt +Mary, face to her luggage, and she was barely +established there before her trunk came, too; and, +although the coachman looked so gorgeous, he +was nevertheless obliging enough to allow it to +couch humbly at his feet.</p> + +<p>Then they rolled away.</p> + +<p>Jack sat sideways and looked at his aunt, holding +her hand. His eyes were unfeignedly happy, +and his companion matched his eyes. Neither +seemed to recollect that one was bitterly angry, +and that the other was on the verge of melancholia. +Instead, Jack declared fervently:</p> + +<p>"Aunt Mary, I've made up my mind to give +you the time of your life!"</p> + +<p>And Aunt Mary drew a sigh of relief in his +words and anticipation of their fulfillment.</p> + +<p>"I'll be happy takin' care of you," she said, +benevolently. "My!—but your letter scared me. +An' yet you look well."</p> + +<p>He laughed.</p> + +<p>"It's the knowing you were coming that's done +that, Aunt Mary. You ought to have seen me +<pb n="132" /><anchor id="Pg132" />when I got your telegram. I almost turned a +somersault."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary smiled rapturously and patted his +hand.</p> + +<p>And just then they drew up in front of the +house. She looked out, and her face fell a +trifle.</p> + +<p>"It's awful high and narrow," she said.</p> + +<p>"They all are," Jack replied, opening the carriage +door and jumping out to receive her.</p> + +<p>The door at the top of the steps opened, and a +man came down for the bags. In the hall above, +a pretty maid waited with a welcoming smile.</p> + +<p>Jack piloted his aunt, first up the entrance steps, +and then up the staircase within, and led her to the +lovely room which had been vacated for her. The +maid followed with tea and biscuits, and the man +brought the luggage and ranged it unobtrusively +in a corner. There was a lavish richness about +everything which made Aunt Mary and her trunk +appear as gray and insignificant as a pair of mice, +by contrast; but she didn't feel it, and so she didn't +mind it.</p> + +<p>Jack kissed her tenderly.</p> + +<p>"Welcome to town, Aunt Mary," he said heartily, +"and may you never live to look upon this day +as other than the luckiest of your life!" Then, +turning to the servant, he said: +<pb n="133" /><anchor id="Pg133" /></p> + +<p>"Janice, you see that you do all that money can +buy for my aunt."</p> + +<p>The maid courtesied. She had arranged the tray +upon a little table and the spout of the tea pot and +the round hole in the middle of the toast-cover were +each pouring forth a pleasant suggestion.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary began at once to haul forth her +keys.</p> + +<p>"Why, Aunt Mary," Jack cried, wondering if +her nose was deaf, too, or whether she didn't feel +hungry, "don't you see your tea? Or don't you +want any?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary thumbed her trunk key.</p> + +<p>"I want a nightgown," she said; "maybe I'll +want something else later. Maybe."</p> + +<p>"You're not going to <hi rend="font-style: italic">bed</hi>!"</p> + +<p>She drew herself up.</p> + +<p>"I guess I can if I want to; I guess I can. +There's the bed and here's me."</p> + +<p>"Whatever are you saying? It isn't half-past +six o'clock."</p> + +<p>"I'm not <hi rend="font-style: italic">prayin</hi>' about anything," said the +old lady. "I don't pray about things. I do +'em when needful. And when I'm tired I go +to bed."</p> + +<p>"All right, Aunt Mary," with sugary sweetness +and lamb-like submissiveness. "I thought we'd +dine out together, but if you don't want to, we +<pb n="134" /><anchor id="Pg134" />needn't. And if you feel like it when you waken, +we can."</p> + +<p>"Dine out," said Aunt Mary, blankly; "has the +cook left? I never was a great approver of goin' +and eatin' at boarding houses."</p> + +<p>"Well, never mind," Jack said in a key pitched +to rhyme with high C. "I'll leave you now—and +we can see about everything later."</p> + +<p>He kissed her, and retired from the room.</p> + +<p>"Did he say we're goin' out to dinner?" Aunt +Mary asked, when she was left alone with the maid, +who hurried to take her bonnet and shawl, and get +her into juxtaposition with the tea-tray as rapidly +as possible.</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am," the girl screamed, nodding.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to," said the old lady firmly. +"Lots of trouble comes through gettin' out of +house habits. I've come here to take care of a +sick boy and not to go gallivantin' round myself. +I've seen the evils of gallivantin' a good deal +lately and I don't want to see no more. Not here +and not nowhere."</p> + +<p>Then she began to eat and drink and reflect, all +at the same time.</p> + +<p>"By the way, what's your name?" she asked, +suddenly. "Jack didn't tell me."</p> + +<p>"Janice, ma'am."</p> + +<p>"Granite?" said Aunt Mary. "What a funny +<pb n="135" /><anchor id="Pg135" />idea to name you that! Did they call you for the +tinware or for the rocks?"</p> + +<p>"I don't know," shrieked Janice, who was busily +occupied in unpacking the traveler's trunk.</p> + +<p>Her new mistress watched her with a critical eye +at first, but it became a more or less sleepy eye as +the warmth of the tea meandered slowly through +its owner. There was a battle within Aunt Mary's +brain; she wanted to please Jack, and she was +almost dead with sleep.</p> + +<p>"Do you think that I ought to try and go out +with my nephew to-night?" she asked Janice.</p> + +<p>"If it was me, I should go," cried the maid.</p> + +<p>"I never was called slow before," Aunt Mary +said, bridling. "I'll thank you to remember your +place, young woman."</p> + +<p>Janice explained.</p> + +<p>"Oh! I didn't hear plainly," said Aunt Mary. +"I don't always. Well go or not go, I've got to +sleep first. I'm dreadfully sleepy, and I've always +been a great believer in sleepin' when you're +sleepy."</p> + +<p>The fact of the sleepiness was so evident that no +attempt was made to gainsay it. Janice brought +down a quilt from the closet and tucked her charge +up luxuriously on the great bed. Five minutes +later she was in dreamland.</p> + +<p>Jack came in about seven and looked at her. +<pb n="136" /><anchor id="Pg136" /></p> + +<p>"She mustn't be disturbed," he said thoughtfully. +"If she wakes up before ten we'll go out +then."</p> + +<p>She awoke about nine, and when she opened her +eyes the first thing that she saw was Janice, sitting +near by.</p> + +<p>"I feel real good," said Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad," yelled Janice, and smiled, too.</p> + +<p>The old lady sat up.</p> + +<p>"I believe I could have gone out, after all," +she said. "Only I don't want to take dinner +anywhere."</p> + +<p>Then she paused and reflected. It was surprising +how good she felt and how she did want to +make Jack happy. "After all boys will be boys," +she thought, tenderly, "an' I ain't but seventy, so I +don't see why I shouldn't go out with him if he +wants to. I'm a great believer in doin' what you +want to—I mean, in doin' what other folks want +you to. At any rate I'm a great believer in it +sometimes. To-day—this time."</p> + +<p>"Your nephew is waiting," the maid howled. +"Shall I tell him you want to go after all?"</p> + +<p>"Is it late?" the old lady inquired.</p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, no!"</p> + +<p>"Wouldn't you go if you was me?" asked the +old lady.</p> + +<p>Janice smiled. +<pb n="137" /><anchor id="Pg137" /></p> + +<p>"Indeed I would."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary rose. A flood of metropolitan fever +suddenly surged up and around and over and +through her.</p> + +<p>"Tell him I'll be down in five minutes," she said.</p> + +<p>"Can you change in that time?" Janice stopped +to shriek.</p> + +<p>"What should I change for?" Aunt Mary demanded +in astonishment. "Ain't I all dressed +now?"</p> + +<p>Janice did not attempt to shriek any counter-advice, +and while she was gone to find Jack, her +mistress brushed herself in some places, soaped herself +in others, and considered her toilet made. +When Janice returned she caught up a loose lock +of hair, and put the placket-hole of her skirt square +in the middle of Aunt Mary's back, and dared go +no further. There was an air even about the back +of Jack's influential aunt which forbade too much +liberty to those dealing with her.</p> +</div> +<pb n="138" /><anchor id="Pg138" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Fourteen - Aunt Mary En Fête</head> + + +<p>Aunt Mary descended the stairs about +half-past nine; she thought it was about a +quarter to eight, but the difference between +the hour that it was and the hour that she thought +that it was will be all the same a hundred years +from now.</p> + +<p>Jack came out of the Louis XIV. drawing room +when he heard her step in the hall. There was +another young man with him.</p> + +<p>"This is my friend Burnett, Aunt Mary," her +nephew roared. "You must excuse his not bowing lower, +but you know he broke his collarbone +recently."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary shook hands warmly; she knew all +about the ribs and the collarbone, because they had +formed big items in the testimony which had momentarily +and as momentously relegated Jack to +the comradeship of the devil himself, in her eyes. +However, she recalled them merely as facts now—not +at all in a disagreeable way—and gave Burnett +an extra squeeze of good-fellowship, as she said:</p> + +<p>"You had a narrow escape, young man." +<pb n="139" /><anchor id="Pg139" /></p> + +<p>"I didn't have any escape at all," said Burnett. +"The escape went down at the back, and I had to +jump from a cornice."</p> + +<p>"Burnett is going out to dine with us, Aunt +Mary," said Jack. "There's so little he can eat +on account of his ribs that he's a good dinner guest +for me."</p> + +<p>Jack's aunt felt vaguely uncomfortable over this +allusion to her grand-nephew's circumstances, and +coughed in slight embarrassment.</p> + +<p>Burnett opened the door, and the carriage lamp +shone below. (Is there ever anything more +delightfully suggestive than a carriage lamp shining +down below?) They took her down and +put her in, and the carriage rolled away.</p> + +<p>It was that June when "Bedelia" covered nearly +the whole of the political horizon; it was the date of +June when West Point, Vassar, the Blue, the Red, +the Black and Yellow and every known device for +getting rid of young and growing-up America are +all cast loose at once on our fair land. The streets +were a scene of glorious confusion, and but for +Aunt Mary no considerations could have kept Burnett's +collarbone and Jack's melancholia cooped +up in a closed carriage. As it was, they were both +fidgeting like two youthful Uncle Sams in a European +railway coupe, when the latter suddenly exclaimed: +"Here we are!" and threw open the +<pb n="140" /><anchor id="Pg140" />door as he spoke. Then he got out and Burnett +got out and between them they got Aunt Mary out.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary regarded the awning and carpet and +general glitter with a more or less appalled gaze.</p> + +<p>"Looks like—" she began; and was interrupted +by a voice at her side:</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jack!"</p> + +<p>"Hello, Clover!"</p> + +<p>She turned and saw him of the pale mustache +whom we once met in Mrs. Rosscott's drawing +room. He was in no wise altered since that occasion +except that his attire was slightly more resplendent +and he had on a silk hat.</p> + +<p>Jack shook hands warmly and then he turned +to his relative.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Mary, this is my friend Clover; he's +often heard me speak of you."</p> + +<p>"Glad to meet you, Mr. Rover," said Aunt +Mary, cordially, and she, too, shook hands with +that cordiality that flourishes beyond city limits.</p> + +<p>Her nephew bent over her ear-trumpet.</p> + +<p>"Clover!" he howled, with all the strength he +owned.</p> + +<p>"I heard before," said Aunt Mary, somewhat +coldly.</p> + +<p>"Come on and dine with us, Clover," said Jack; +"that'll make four." (By the way, isn't it odd +how many people ask their friends to dinner for +<pb n="141" /><anchor id="Pg141" />the simple reason that, arithmetically considered, +each counts as one!)</p> + +<p>"All right, I will," said Clover, in his languid +drawl.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary saw his lips.</p> + +<p>"It's no use my deceivin' you as to my bein' a +little hard of hearin'," she said to him, "because +you can see my ear-trumpet; so I'll trouble you to +say that over again."</p> + +<p>"All right, I will," Clover wailed, good-humoredly.</p> + +<p>"What?" asked Aunt Mary. "I didn't—"</p> + +<p>Jack cut her short by leading the party inside.</p> + +<p>The scene within was as gorgeous with golden +stucco as the dining-room of a German liner. Aunt +Mary was so overcome that she traversed half the +room before she became aware of the mighty attention +which she and her three escorts were attracting. +In truth, it is not every day that three +good-looking young men take a tiny old lady, a +bunch of violets and an ear-trumpet out to dine +at ten o'clock.</p> + +<p>"Everyone's lookin'," she said to Jack.</p> + +<p>"It's your back, Aunt Mary," he replied, in a +voice that shook some loose golden flakes from the +ceiling. "I tell you, not many women of your age +have a back like yours, and don't you forget it."</p> + +<p>The compliment pleased Aunt Mary, because +<pb n="142" /><anchor id="Pg142" />she had all her life been considered round-shouldered. +It also pleased her because she never had +received many compliments. The Aunt Marys of +this world love flattery just as dearly as the Mrs. +Rosscotts; the sad part of life is that they rarely +get any. The women like Mrs. Rosscott know +why the Aunt Marys go unflattered, but the Aunt +Marys never understand. It's all sad—and +true—and undeniable.</p> + +<p>They went to a table, and were barely seated +when another man came up.</p> + +<p>"Hello, Jack!"</p> + +<p>"Hello, Mitchell!"</p> + +<p>It was he of Scotch ancestry. Jack sprang up +and greeted him with warmth, then he turned to +Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Mary," he screamed, "this is my +friend"—he paused, put on all steam and +ploughed right through—"Herbert Kendrick +Mitchell."</p> + +<p>"I didn't catch that at all," said Aunt Mary, +calmly, "but I'm just as glad to meet the gentleman."</p> + +<p>Mitchell clasped her hand with an expression +as burning as if it was real.</p> + +<p>"I declare," he yelled straight at her, "if this +isn't what I've been dreaming towards ever since +I first knew Jack." +<pb n="143" /><anchor id="Pg143" /></p> + +<p>Aunt Mary fairly shone.</p> + +<p>"Dear me," she began, "if I'd known—"</p> + +<p>"You'd better dine with us, Mitchell," said +Jack; "that'll make five."</p> + +<p>"It won't make but three for me," said Mitchell. +"I haven't had but two dinners before +to-night."</p> + +<p>Clover smiled because he heard, and Aunt Mary +smiled because she didn't, but was happy anyway. +She had altogether forgotten that she had +demurred at dining out. They all sat down and +shook out their napkins. Mitchell and Clover +shook Aunt Mary's for her and gave it a beautiful +cornerways spread across her lap.</p> + +<p>Then the waiter laid another plate for Mitchell, +and brought oyster cocktails for everyone. Aunt +Mary eyed hers with early curiosity and later suspicion; +and she smelled of it very carefully.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe they're good oysters," she +said.</p> + +<p>"Yes, they are," cried Mitchell reassuringly. +His voice, when he turned it upon her, was pitched +like a clarionet. The blind would surely have seen +as well as the deaf have heard had there been any +candidates for miracles in his immediate vicinity. +"They're first-class," he added, "you just go at +them and see."</p> + +<p>The reassured took another whiff. +<pb n="144" /><anchor id="Pg144" /></p> + +<p>"You can have mine," she said directly afterwards; +and there was an air of decision about her +speech which brooked no opposition. Yet Mitchell +persisted.</p> + +<p>"Oh, no," he yelled; "you must learn how. +Just throw your head back and take 'em quick—after +the fashion that they eat raw eggs, don't +you know?"</p> + +<p>"But she can't," said Clover. "There's too +much, particularly as she isn't used to them. I'll +tell you, Miss Watkins," he cried, hoisting his own +voice to the masthead, "you eat the oysters, and +leave the cocktail. That's the way to get gradually +trained into the wheel."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary thought some of obeying; she fished +out one oyster, wiped it carefully with a bit of +bread, regarded it with more than dubious countenance, +and then suddenly decided not to.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather be at home when I try experiments," +she said, decidedly; and the waiter carried off her +cocktail and gave her food that was good beyond +question thereafter.</p> + +<p>The dinner went with zest. It was an enlivening +party that consumed it, and what they consumed +with it enlivened them still more. The +gentlemen soon reached the point where they could +laugh over jokes they could not understand, and +the one lady member became equally merry over +<pb n="145" /><anchor id="Pg145" />wit that she did not hear. She forgot for the +nonce that there were any phases of life in which +she was not a believer, and whether this was owing +to the surrounding gayety or to the champagne +which they persuaded her to taste it is not my +province to explain.</p> + +<p>"Now we must lay our lines for events to come," +Jack said, when they advanced upon the dessert +and prepared to occupy an extensive territory of +ices, fruit, and jellied something or other. "It +would be a sin for Aunt Mary to leave this famous +battlefield without a few honorable scars! We +must take her out in a bubble for one thing +and—"</p> + +<p>"In mine!" cried Clover. "To-morrow! +Why can't she?—I held up my hand first?"</p> + +<p>"All right," said Jack; "to-morrow she's +your's. At four o'clock."</p> + +<p>"She must have goggles," cried Mitchell. +"She must have goggles and be all fixed up, and +when you have got her the goggles and she has +been all fixed up, I ask, as a last boon, that I may +go along, just so as to see everyone who sees her."</p> + +<p>"We'll all go," Clover explained. "I'll 'chuff' +her myself and then there'll be room for everyone."</p> + +<p>"To the auto and to to-morrow!" cried Burnett, +hastily pouring out a fresh toast, which even +<pb n="146" /><anchor id="Pg146" />Aunt Mary applauded, not at all knowing what +she was applauding.</p> + +<p>"And now for the next day," said Jack. "I +think I'll give her a box-party. Don't you want +to go to the theater in a box, Aunt Mary?"</p> + +<p>"Go where in a box?" said Aunt Mary, starting +a little. "I didn't quite catch that."</p> + +<p>"To the theater," Jack yelled.</p> + +<p>"To the theater," repeated his aunt a trifle +blankly, "I—"</p> + +<p>"And the next day," said Mitchell suddenly (he +had been reflecting maturely), "I'll take you all +up the sound in my yacht."</p> + +<p>"Oh, hurrah," cried Burnett, "that'll be bully! +And the day after I'll give her a picnic."</p> + +<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack shrieked +in her ear-trumpet; "time of your life!"</p> + +<p>"Dear me!" said Aunt Mary, "I don't +just—"</p> + +<p>"Aunt Mary! glasses down!" cried Clover; +"may she live forever and forever."</p> + +<p>"To Aunt Mary, glasses up," said Mitchell. +"Glasses up come before glasses down always. +It's one of the laws of Nature—human nature—also +of good nature. Here's to Aunt Mary, and if +she isn't the Aunt Mary of all of us here's a hoping +she may get there some day; I don't just see how, +but I ask the indulgence of those present on the +<pb n="147" /><anchor id="Pg147" />plea that I have indulged quite a little myself to-night. +Honi soit qui mal y pense; ora pro nobis, +Erin-go-Bragh. Present company being present, +and impossible to except on that account, we will +omit the three cheers and choke down the tiger."</p> + +<p>They all drank, and the dinner having by this +time dwindled down to coffee grounds and cheese +crumbs a vote was taken as to where they should +go next.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary suggested home, but she was over-ruled, +and they all went elsewhere. She never +could recollect where she went or what she saw; +but, as everyone else has been and seen over and +over again, I won't fuss with detailing it.</p> + +<p>The visitor from the country reached home in +a carriage in the small hours in the morning, +and Janice received her, looking somewhat +nervous.</p> + +<p>"This is pretty late," she ventured to remind the +bearers; but as they didn't seem to think so, and she +was a maiden, wise beyond her years, she spoke no +further word, but went to work and undressed the +aged reveller, got her comfortably established in +bed, and then left her to get a good sleep, an occupation +which occupied the weary one fully until +two that afternoon.</p> + +<p>When she did at last open her eyes it was several +minutes before she knew where she was. Her +<pb n="148" /><anchor id="Pg148" />brain seemed dazed, her intellect more than +clouded. It is a state of mind to which those who +habitually go about in hansoms at the hour of dawn +are well accustomed, but to Aunt Mary it was painfully +new. She struggled to remember, and felt +helplessly inadequate to the task. Janice finally +came in with a glass of something that foamed and +fizzed, and the victim of late hours drank that and +came to her senses again. Then she recollected.</p> + +<p>"My! but I had a good time last night!" she +said, putting her hand to her head. "What time +is it now, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"Breakfast time," cried the handmaiden. +"You'll have just long enough to eat and dress +leisurely before you go out."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Aunt Mary blankly; "where 'm +I goin'? Do you know?"</p> + +<p>"Mr. Denham told me that you had promised +to attend an automobile party at four."</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes," said Aunt Mary hastily. "I +guess I remember. I guess I do. I saw Jack +wanted to go, so I said I'd go, too. I'm a great +believer in lettin' the young enjoy themselves."</p> + +<p>She looked sharply at Janice as she spoke, but +Janice was serene.</p> + +<p>"I didn't come to town to do anything but make +Jack happy," continued Aunt Mary, "and I see +that he won't take any fresh air without I go along—so +<pb n="149" /><anchor id="Pg149" />I shall go too while I'm here. Mostly. As +a general thing."</p> + +<p>"Mr. Mitchell called and left these flowers with +his card," Janice said, opening a huge box of roses; +"and a man brought a package. Shall I open it?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's wrinkles fairly radiated.</p> + +<p>"Well, did I ever!" she exclaimed. "Yes; +open it."</p> + +<p>Janice proceeded to obey, and the package was +found to contain an automobile wrap, a pair of +goggles and a note from Clover.</p> + +<p>"My gracious me!" cried Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Denham sent the violets," Janice said, +pointing to a great bowl of lilac and white +blossoms.</p> + +<p>Just then the doorbell rang, and it was a ten-pound +box of candy from Burnett.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary collapsed among her pillows.</p> + +<p>"I <hi rend="font-style: italic">never</hi> did!" she murmured feebly, and then +she suddenly exclaimed: "An' to think of me livin' +up there all my life with plenty of money—" +she stopped short. I tell you when you come to +New York on a mission and stay for the Bacchanalia +it is hard to hold consistently to either +standard.</p> + +<p>But Janice had gone for her lady's breakfast, and +after the lady had eaten it and had herself dressed +for the day's joys, Jack knocked at the door. +<pb n="150" /><anchor id="Pg150" /></p> + +<p>"Well, Aunt Mary," he roared, when he was +let in, "if you don't look fine! You're the freshest +of the bunch to-day, sure. You'll be ready for +another night to-night, and you've only to say +where, you know."</p> + +<p>"Granite did my hair," said his aunt; "you +must praise her, not me."</p> + +<p>"And you've got your goggles all ready, too," +he continued. "Who sent 'em?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shan't wiggle," said Aunt Mary +"although I can't see how it could hurt if I did."</p> + +<p>"Come on and let's dress her up," said Jack to +the maid, "Glory! what fun!"</p> + +<p>Thereupon they went to work and rigged the old +lady out. She was certainly a sight, for she stood +by her own bonnet, and that failed to jibe with the +goggles.</p> + +<p>Burnett was summoned in to view the proceedings, +but just as he caught the first glimpse he was +taken with a fearful cramp in his broken ribs and +was forced to beat the hastiest sort of a retreat.</p> + +<p>"I hope he'll get over it and be able to go out +with us," said Aunt Mary anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I guess he'll recover," Jack yelled cheerfully. +"Oh, there's Clover!"</p> + +<p>A sort of dull, ponderous panting sounded in the +street without, and let all the neighbors know that +"The Threshing Machine" (as Clover had christened +<pb n="151" /><anchor id="Pg151" />his elephantine toy) was waiting for someone.</p> + +<p>Its owner came in for a stirrup cup; Mitchell +was with him. Both were togged out as if entered +for the annual Paris-Bordeaux.</p> + +<p>Burnett brought out the cut-glass jugs.</p> + +<p>"Ye gods and little fishes! Sapristi! Sacre +bleu!" he said to his friends. "Just you wait +till you see our Aunt Mary!"</p> + +<p>"Has she got 'em all on?" Clover asked.</p> + +<p>"Has she got 'em all on!" said Burnett. "She +has got 'em all on; and how Jack held his own in +the room with her I cannot understand. I took +one look, and if mine had been a surgical case of +stitches the last thread would have bust that instant. +I don't believe I dare go out with you. This is a +life and death game to Jack, and I won't risk +smashing his future by not being able to keep sober +in the face of Aunt Mary."</p> + +<p>"Oh, come on," Clover urged in his wiry voice. +"You needn't look at her; or, if you do look at her, +you can look the other way right afterwards, you +know."</p> + +<p>"I'll sit next to her," Mitchell explained. "As +a sitter by Aunt Mary's side I shone last night; and +where a man has sat once, the same man can surely +sit again."</p> + +<p>Burnett hesitated, and just then voices were heard +<pb n="152" /><anchor id="Pg152" />in the hall. Jack and Janice were convoying Aunt +Mary below.</p> + +<p>Mitchell went out into the hall.</p> + +<p>"Well, Miss Watkins," he said, in a tone such +as one would use to call down Santos-Dumont, +"I'm mighty glad to see you looking so well."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary turned the goggles full upon him.</p> + +<p>"A present from Mr. Clover," she said smiling.</p> + +<p>"I never knew him to take so much trouble for +any lady before," said Mitchell; and as she arrived +just then at the foot of the staircase he pressed her +proffered hand warmly and forthwith led her in +upon the two men in the library.</p> + +<p>She looked exactly like a living edition of one of +the bug pictures, and Clover had to think and swallow +fast and hard to keep from being overcome. +But he was true blue, and came out right side up. +Aunt Mary was acclaimed on all sides, and escorted +to the "bubble."</p> + +<p>Burnett couldn't resist going, too, at the last +moment; but, as his ribs were really tender yet, he +sat in front with Clover. Jack and Mitchell sat +behind, and deftly inserted the honored guest between +them.</p> + +<p>"It's an even thing as to which is the ear-trumpet +side," Mitchell said, as they all stood +about preparatory to climbing in. "Of course, +that side don't need to holler quite so loud; but +<pb n="153" /><anchor id="Pg153" />then, to balance, he may get his one and only pair +of front teeth knocked out any minute."</p> + +<p>"I'll take that side," said Jack. "I'm used to +fighting under the inspiration of the trumpet."</p> + +<p>"And God be with you," said his friend piously. +"May he watch over you and bring you out safe +and whole—teeth, eyes, etc."</p> + +<p>"Come on," said Clover impatiently; "don't +you know this thing's getting up power and you're +wasting it talking."</p> + +<p>"Curious," laughed Burnett. "I never knew +that it was gasolene that men were consuming when +they kept an automobile waiting."</p> + +<p>And then they got in and were off—a merry +load, indeed.</p> + +<p>"Dear me, but it's a-goin'!" Aunt Mary exclaimed, +as the thing began to whiz and she felt +suddenly impelled to clutch wildly at her flanking +escorts. "Suppose we met a dog."</p> + +<p>"We'd leave a floor mat," shrieked Mitchell. +"Oh, but isn't this great—greater—greatest?"</p> + +<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary!" Jack howled, +as they went over a boarded spot in the pavement, +and the old lady nearly went over the back in +consequence. "You're in for the time of your +life!"</p> + +<p>"How do you like it?" yelled Clover, throwing +a glance over his shoulder. +<pb n="154" /><anchor id="Pg154" /></p> + +<p>Aunt Mary started to answer, but they came to +four car tracks one after another, and the successive +shocks rendered her speechless.</p> + +<p>"Where are we going?" Burnett asked.</p> + +<p>"Nowhere," said Clover. "Just waking up +the machine." And he turned on another million +volts as he spoke.</p> + +<p>"Oh, my bonnet!" cried poor Aunt Mary, and +that bit of her adornment was in the street and had +been run over four times before they could slow +up, turn around, and get back to the scene of its +output.</p> + +<p>It speaks volumes for the permeating atmosphere +of "having the time of your life" that its +owner laughed when the wreck was shown to her.</p> + +<p>"I don't care a bit," she said. "I can go down +to Delmonico's an' get me another to-morrow +mornin', easy."</p> + +<p>"What a trump you are, Aunt Mary!" said +Jack admiringly. "Here, Burnett, fish her out +that extra cap from the cane rack; there's always +one in the bottom. There—now you won't take +cold, Aunt Mary."</p> + +<p>The cap, with its fore-piece, was the crowning +glory of Aunt Mary's get-up. The brain measurements +of him who had bought the cap being to its +present wearer's as five is to three, the effect of its +proportions, in addition to the goggles and the +<pb n="155" /><anchor id="Pg155" />ear-trumpet, was such as to have overawed a survivor +of Medusa's stare.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, "it's a sin to keep as +good a joke as this in the family! We must drive +her around town until the night falls down or the +battery burns out."</p> + +<p>"I say so too," said Burnett. "This is more +sport than oiling railroad tracks and seeing old +Tweedwell brought up for it. Say, set her a-buzzing +again. It's a big game, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>Clover thought so, with the result that they +speeded through tranquil neighborhoods and +churned leisurely where the masses seethed until +countless thousands were wondering what under +the sun those four young fellows had in the back +of their car.</p> + +<p>The sad part about all good fun is that it has to +end sooner or later; and about six o'clock the whole +party began to be aware that, if refreshments were +not taken, their end was surely close at hand. +They therefore called a brief halt somewhere to +get what is technically known as a "sandwich," +and the results were thoroughly satisfactory to +everyone but Aunt Mary. She took one bite of +her sandwich, and then opened it with an abruptness +which merged into disgust when it proved to +be full of fish eggs.</p> + +<p>"Why didn't you tell me what it was made of?" +<pb n="156" /><anchor id="Pg156" />she asked in annoyance. "I feel just as if I'd +swallowed a marsh—a green one!"</p> + +<p>"That's a shame!" said Clover indignantly. +"I'll get you something that will take that taste +out of your mouth double quick. Here!" he +called to a waiter, and then he gave the man certain +careful directions.</p> + +<p>The latter nodded wisely, and a few minutes +later brought in a tiny glass containing a pousse-café +in three different colors.</p> + +<p>"It's a cocktail. Drink it quick," Clover +directed.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary demurred.</p> + +<p>"I never drank a cocktail," she began.</p> + +<p>"No time like the present to begin," said Clover, +"you'll have to learn some day."</p> + +<p>"Cocktails," said Mitchell, "are the advance +guard of a newer and brighter civilization. +They—"</p> + +<p>"If she's going to take it at all she must take it +now," said Clover authoritatively. "The green +and the yellow are beginning to run together. +Quick now!"</p> + +<p>His confiding guest drank quick and became the +three different colors quicker yet.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Jack asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary was speechless.</p> + +<p>"He mixed it wrong," said Clover in a sad, +<pb n="157" /><anchor id="Pg157" />discouraged tone. "What she ought to have got +first she got last, that's all. The cocktail is upside +down inside of her, and the effect of it is upside +down on the outside of her."</p> + +<p>"Feel any better now, Aunt Mary?" Jack +yelled.</p> + +<p>"I can't seem to keep the purple swallowed," +said the poor old lady. "I want to go home. +I've always been a great believer in going home +when you feel like I do now. In general—as a +rule."</p> + +<p>"I would strongly recommend your obeying her +wishes," said Mitchell, with great earnestness. +"There's a time for all things, and, in my opinion, +she's had about all the queer tastes that she can +absorb for to-day. Things being as they are and +mainly as they shouldn't be, I cast my vote in with +what looks as if it would soon become the losing +side, and vote to bubble back for all we're +worth."</p> + +<p>There was a general acquiescence in his view of +the case, which led them all to pile into "The +Threshing Machine" with unaffected haste and +rush Aunt Mary bedward as rapidly as was possible +considering the hour and the policemen.</p> + +<p>Janice received her mistress with the tender welcome +that every prodigal may count on and was +especially expeditious with tea and toast and a +<pb n="158" /><anchor id="Pg158" />robe de nuit. Aunt Mary sighed luxuriously when +she felt herself finally tucked up.</p> + +<p>"After all, Granite," she said dreamily, "there's +nothin' like gettin' stretched out to think it over—is +there?"</p> + +<p>But Janice was turning out the lights.</p> +</div> +<pb n="159" /><anchor id="Pg159" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Fifteen - Aunt Mary Enthralled</head> + + +<p>Jack's aunt slept long and dreamlessly again. +That thrice-blessed sleep which follows +nights abroad in the metropolis.</p> + +<p>When, toward four o'clock, Aunt Mary opened +her eyes, she was at first almost as hazy in her +conceptions as she had found herself upon the previous +day.</p> + +<p>"I feel as if the automobile was runnin' up my +back and over my head," she said, thoughtfully +passing her hand along the machine's imaginary +course. Then she rang her bell and Janice appeared +from the room beyond.</p> + +<p>"I guess you'd better give me some of that +that you gave me yesterday," the elderly lady suggested; +"what do you think?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed," said Janice—and went at once +and brought it in separate glasses on a tray, and +mixed it by pouring, while Aunt Mary looked on +with an intuitive understanding that passed instinct +and bordered on a complete comprehension of +things to her hitherto unknown. +<pb n="160" /><anchor id="Pg160" /></p> + +<p>"They'd ought to advertise that," she said, as +she set down the empty glass a few seconds later. +"There'd be a lot of folks who'd be glad to know +there was such a thing when they first wake up +mornin's after—after—well, mornin's after anythin'. +It's jus' what you want right off; it sort of +runs through your hair and makes you begin to +remember."</p> + +<p>"Yes, ma'am," said Janice, turning to put down +the tray, and then crossing the room to seek something +on the chimney-piece.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary gave a sudden twist,—as if the drink +had infused an effervescing energy into her frame. +"Well what am I goin' to do to-day?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Denham has written out your engagements +here," said Janice, handing her a jeweler's +box as she spoke.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary tore off the tissue paper with trembling +haste—lifted the cover—and beheld a tiny +ivory and gold memoranda card.</p> + +<p>"Well, that boy!" she ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"Shall I read the list aloud to you?" the maid +inquired.</p> + +<p>"Yes, read it."</p> + +<p>So Janice read the dates proposed the night before +and Aunt Mary sat up in bed, held her ear-trumpet, +and beamed beatifically.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I ever can do all that," she said +<pb n="161" /><anchor id="Pg161" />when Janice paused; "I never was one to rush +around pell-mell, but I've always been a great +believer in lettin' other folks enjoy themselves an' +I shall try not to interfere."</p> + +<p>Janice hung the tiny memoranda up beside its +owner's watch and stood at attention for further +orders.</p> + +<p>"But I d'n know I'm sure what I can wear to-night," +continued the one in bed; "you know my +bonnet was run over yesterday."</p> + +<p>"Was it?"</p> + +<p>"Yes,—it was the most sudden thing I ever saw. +I thought it was the top of my head at first."</p> + +<p>"Was it spoiled?"</p> + +<p>"Well, it wouldn't do for me again and I don't +really believe it would even do for Lucinda. We +didn't bring it home with us anyhow an' so its no +use talkin' of it any more. I'm sure I wish I'd +brought my other with me. It wasn't quite as +stylish, but it set so good on my head. As it is I +ain't got any bonnet to wear an' we're goin' in a +box, Jack says,—I should hate to look wrong in a +box."</p> + +<p>"But ladies in boxes do not wear anything," +cried Janice reasuringly.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary jumped.</p> + +<p>"Not <hi rend="font-style: italic">anything?</hi>"</p> + +<p>"On their heads." +<pb n="162" /><anchor id="Pg162" /></p> + +<p>"Oh!—Well, then the bonnet half of me'll +be all right, but what <hi rend="font-style: italic">shall</hi> I wear on the rest of +me? I don't want to look out of fashion, you +know. My, but I wish I'd brought my Paisley +shawl. I've got a Paisley shawl that's a very rare +pattern. There's cocoanuts in the border and a +twisted design of monkeys and their tails done in +the center. An' there ain't a moth hole in it—not +one."</p> + +<p>Janice looked out of the window.</p> + +<p>"I've got a cameo pin, too," continued Aunt +Mary reflectively. "My, but that's a handsome +pin, as I remember it. It's got Jupiter on it holdin' +a bunch of thunder and lightnin' an' receivin' the +news of somebody's bein' born—I used to know the +whole story. But, you see, I expected to just be +sittin' by Jack's bed and I never thought to bring +any of those dress-up kind of things," she sighed.</p> + +<p>Janice returned to the bed side.</p> + +<p>"Hadn't you better begin to dress?" she howled +suggestively. "They are going to dine here before +going to the theater and dinner is ordered in an +hour."</p> + +<p>"Maybe I had," said Aunt Mary, "but—oh +dear—I don't know what I <hi rend="font-style: italic">will</hi> wear!" She +began to emerge from the bedclothes as she spoke.</p> + +<p>"How would my green plaid waist do?" she +asked earnestly. +<pb n="163" /><anchor id="Pg163" /></p> + +<p>"I think it would be lovely," shrieked the maid.</p> + +<p>"Well, shake it out then," said Aunt Mary, "it +ought to be in the fashion—all the silk they put in +the sleeves. An' if you'll do my hair just as you +did it yesterday—"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I will."</p> + +<p>Then the labor of the toilette began in good +earnest, and three-quarters of an hour later Aunt +Mary was done, and sitting by the window while +Janice laced her boots.</p> + +<p>A rap sounded at the door.</p> + +<p>"Come in," cried the maid.</p> + +<p>It was Jack with a regular fagot of American +Beauties.</p> + +<p>"Well, Aunt Mary," he cried with his customary +hearty greeting. "How!"</p> + +<p>"How what?" asked Aunt Mary, whose knowledge + of Sioux social customs had been limited by +the border line of New England.</p> + +<p>Jack laughed. "How are you?" he asked in +correction of his imperfect phrasing. And then he +handed over the rose wood.</p> + +<p>"I'm pretty well," said his aunt; "but, my goodness + you mustn't bring me so many presents—you—"</p> + +<p>Jack stopped her words with a kiss. "Now, +Aunt Mary, don't you scold, because you're my +company and I won't have it. This is my treat, +<pb n="164" /><anchor id="Pg164" />and just don't you fret. What do you say to your +roses?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked a bit uneasy.</p> + +<p>"They're pretty big," she hesitated.</p> + +<p>"That's the fashion," said Jack; "the longer +you can buy 'em the better the girls like it. I tried +to get you some eight feet long but they only had +two of that number and I wanted the whole bunch +to match—"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by another rap on the door.</p> + +<p>"Hallo!" he cried. "Come in."</p> + +<p>It was Mitchell with several dozen carnations, +the most brilliant yet prized—or priced.</p> + +<p>"Well, I declare!" exclaimed Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"For you, Miss Watkins," cried the newcomer, +gracefully offering his homage, "with the assurance +of my sincere regret that I came on the scene +too late to have been making a scene with you fifty +years ago."</p> + +<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary, +rapturously. But never mind,—Granite, get a tin +basin or suthin' for these flowers."</p> + +<p>"Where's Burnett?" Jack asked the newcomer,—"isn't +he dressed? It's getting late."</p> + +<p>"He's all right," said Mitchell; "he and Clover +are—here they are!"</p> + +<p>The two came in together at that second. +Clover's mustache just showed over the top of the +<pb n="165" /><anchor id="Pg165" />largest bunch of violets ever constructed, and Burnett +bore with assiduous care a bouquet of orchids +tied with a Roman sash.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary leaned back and shut her eyes. If +it hadn't been for her smile, they might possibly +have feared for her life.</p> + +<p>But she was only momentarily stunned by surpassing +ecstasy.</p> + +<p>"You'd better put some water in the bath-tub, +Granite," she said, recovering, "nothing else will +be big enough."</p> + +<p>The four young men drew up chairs and rivalled +her smiles with theirs.</p> + +<p>"I d'n know how I ever can thank you," said +the old lady warmly. "I've always had such a +poor opinion o' life in cities, too!"</p> + +<p>"Life in cities, my dear Miss Watkins," +screamed Mitchell, "is always pictured as very +black, but it's only owing to the soft coal—not to +the people who burn it."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary smiled again.</p> + +<p>"I guess the bath-tub will be big enough to keep +'em fresh," she said simply, and Mitchell gave +up and dried his forehead with his handkerchief.</p> + +<p>They dined at home upon this occasion and afterwards +took two carriages for the theater. Aunt +Mary, Jack, Clover, the American Beauties and +<pb n="166" /><anchor id="Pg166" />the violets went in the first, and what remained of +the party and the floral decorations followed in +the second.</p> + +<p>"I mean to smoke," said that part of the second +load which habitually answered to the name of +Mitchell. "There is nothing so soothing when you +have thorns in your legs as a cigarette in your +mouth."</p> + +<p>"Too—too;" laughed his companion. "Jimmy! +but our aunt is game, isn't she?"</p> + +<p>"To my order of thinking," said Mitchell +thoughtfully scratching a match, "Aunt Mary +has been hung up in cold storage just long enough +to have acquired the exactly proper gamey flavor. +It cannot be denied that to worn, worldly, jaded +mortals like you and me, the sight of fresh, ever +bubbling, youthful enthusiasm like hers is as thrilling +and trilling and rilling as—as—as—" he +paused to light his cigarette.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image04" /> +<figure rend="w95" url="images/image04.png"> +<head rend="text-align: center">Aunt Mary and Her Escorts.</head> +<figDesc>Illustration 4</figDesc></figure></p><p></p> + +<p>"Yes, you'd better stutter," said Burnett. "I +thought you were running ahead of your proper +signals."</p> + +<p>"It isn't that," said Mitchell, puffing gently. +"It is that I suddenly recollected that I was alone +with you, and my brains tell me that it is a waste +of brains to use them in the sense of a plural noun +with you. The word in your company,—my dear +boy—only comes to me as a verb—as an active +<pb n="167" /><anchor id="Pg167" />verb—and dear knows how often I have itched to +apply it forcibly."</p> + +<p>Then they drew up in front of the theater and +saw Aunt Mary being unloaded just beyond.</p> + +<p>"Great Scott, I feel as if I was a part of a +poster!" said Burnett, diving into the carriage +depths for the last lot of flowers.</p> + +<p>"I feel as if I were a part of the Revelation," +said Mitchell, "I mean—the Revel-eration."</p> + +<p>They rapidly formed on somewhat after the +plan of the famous "Marriage under the Directoire." +Aunt Mary commanded the center-rush, +leaning on Jack's arm, and the rest acted as +half-backs, left wings, or flower-bearers, just as the +reader prefers.</p> + +<p>They made quite a sensation as they proceeded +to their box and more yet when they entered it. +They were late—very late—as is the privilege of +all box parties and their seating problem absorbed +the audience to a degree never seen before or since.</p> + +<p>Jack put Aunt Mary and her green plaid waist +in the middle and flanked her with purple violets +and red carnations. The ear-trumpet was laid upon +the orchids just where she could reach it easily. +Then her escorts took positions as a sort of half-moon +guard behind and each held two or three +American Beauties straight up and down as if they +were the insignia of his rank and office. +<pb n="168" /><anchor id="Pg168" /></p> + +<p>The effect was gorgeous. The very actors saw +and were interested at once. They directed all +their attention to that one box, and at the end of +the act the stage manager got the writer of the +topical song on the wire and had a brand new and +very apropos verse added which brought down the +house.</p> + +<p>Jack and his party caught on and clapped like +mad, Aunt Mary beat the front of the box with her +ear-trumpet, and when Clover suggested that she +throw some flowers to the heroine she threw the +orchids and came near maiming the bass viol for +life. Burnett rushed out between acts and bought +her a cane to pound with, Jack rushed out between +more acts and bought her a pair of opera glasses, +Mitchell rushed out between still further acts and +procured her one of those Japanese fans which they +use for fire-screens, and agitated it around her during +the rest of the evening.</p> + +<p>"Time of your life, Aunt Mary," Jack vociferated +under the cover of a general chorus; "Time +of your life!"</p> + +<p>"Oh, my," said Aunt Mary, heaving a great +sigh, "seems if I'd <hi rend="font-style: italic">die</hi> when I think of Lucinda."</p> + +<p>They got out of the theater somewhat after +eleven and Clover took them all to a French café +for supper, so that again it was pretty well along +into the day after when Janice regained her charge. +<pb n="169" /><anchor id="Pg169" /></p> + +<p>"Granite," said Aunt Mary very solemnly, +as she collapsed upon her bed twenty minutes later +yet, "put it down on that memoranda for me never +to find no fault with nothing ever again. Never—not +ever—not never again."</p> + +<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" /> + +<p>The second day after was that which had been +set for Mitchell's yachting party. They allowed +a day to lapse between because a yachting party has +to begin early enough so that you can see to get on +board. Mitchell wanted his to begin early enough +so that they could see the yacht too.</p> + +<p>"A yacht, Miss Watkins," he said into the ear trumpet, +"is a delight that it takes daylight to +delight in. If my words sound somewhat mixed, +believe me, it is the effect of what is to come +casting its shadow before. I speak with understanding +and sympathy—you will know all later."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary smiled sweetly. Sometimes she +thought that Mitchell was the nicest of the three—times +when she wasn't talking to Clover or Burnett.</p> + +<p>Jack took his aunt out to drive on the afternoon +of the intervening day and bought her a blue suit +with a red tape around one arm, and some rubbersoled +shoes, and a yachting cap and a mackintosh. +There was something touching in Aunt Mary's +joyful confidence and anticipation—she having +never been cast loose from shore in all her life. +<pb n="170" /><anchor id="Pg170" /></p> + +<p>"When do you s'pose we'll get home?" she +asked Jack.</p> + +<p>"Oh, some time toward night," he replied.</p> + +<p>She smiled with a trust as colossal as Trusts +usually are.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I shall have a good time," she said. +"I always liked to see pictures of waves."</p> + +<p>"You'll see the real things now, Aunt Mary," +cried her nephew heartily. He was not a bit malicious, +possessing a stomach whose equilibrium could +not conceive any other anatomical condition.</p> + +<p>Janice, however, had doubts, and on the morning +of the next day her doubts deepened. She +looked from the window and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Feel a fly?" inquired Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"No, I see some clouds," yelled her maid.</p> + +<p>"I didn't ask you to speak loud," said the old +lady. "I always hear what you say. Always."</p> + +<p>Janice went out of the room and voiced her views +of the weather to the proprietors of the expedition. +The proprietors were having an uproarious breakfast +on ham and eggs—all but Mitchell, who sat +somewhat aloof and contented himself with an old +and reliable breakfast food long known to his +race.</p> + +<p>"Are you really going to take her up the Sound +to-day?" the maid demanded of the merry mob.</p> + +<p>"I'm not," said Burnett; "it's the yacht that's +<pb n="171" /><anchor id="Pg171" />going to take her. Pass the syrup, Jack, like the +jack you are."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't she feel well?" Jack asked, passing +the syrup as requested. "If she doesn't feel well, +of course, we won't go."</p> + +<p>"I like that," said Mitchell, "when it's my +day for my party and my cook all provisioned with +provisions for provisioning us all. How long do +you suppose ice cream stays together in this month +of roses, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>"She is very well," said the maid quietly, "but +it's blowing pretty fresh here in the city and I +thought that out on the Sound—"</p> + +<p>"Blowing fresh, is it?" laughed Burnett; "well, +it'll salt her fast enough when we get out. Don't +you fuss over what's none of your business, my +dear girl; just trot along upstairs and dress dolly, +and when she's dressed we'll take her off your +hands."</p> + +<p>Jack appeared unduly quiet.</p> + +<p>"Do you think it is going to storm?" he asked +Mitchell. Mitchell was scraping his saucer with +the thrift that thrives north of the Firth of Forth +and hatches yachts on the west shores of the +Atlantic.</p> + +<p>"I don't think at all during vacation," he said +mildly. "I repose and reap 'Oh's'—from other +people." +<pb n="172" /><anchor id="Pg172" /></p> + +<p>"If there was any chance of a storm——?" +said the nephew, thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Fiddle-dee-dee," said Burnett impatiently, +"what do you think yachts are for, anyhow? To +let alone?" He looked at the maid as he spoke +and pointed significantly to the door. She went out +at once and returned upstairs to her mistress whom +she found quite restless to "get-a-goin'" as she +expressed it.</p> + +<p>The boxes filled with yesterday's purchases were +brought out at once and Janice proceeded to rubber-sole +and blue-serge Aunt Mary. The latter regarded +every step of the performance in the huge +three-fold cheval glass which had been wont to tell +Mrs. Rosscott things that every woman longs to +know.</p> + +<p>When her toilette was complete it must be admitted +that as a yachtswoman Aunt Mary fairly +outshone her automobile portrait. She surveyed +herself long and carefully.</p> + +<p>"I expect it'll be quite an experience," she said +with many new wrinkles of anticipation.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Janice, with a glance at the fluttering +window curtains, "I expect it will be."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary went downstairs and was greeted +with loud acclamations. The breakfast party +broke up at once and, while Janice phoned for cabs, +Aunt Mary's quartette of escorts sought hats, coats, +<pb n="173" /><anchor id="Pg173" />etcetera. After that they all sallied forth and +took their places as joyfully as ever.</p> + +<p>It was quite a long drive to where "Lady +Belle" had been brought up, and they had to stop +once to lay in two or three pounds of current +literature.</p> + +<p>"Do you read mostly?" asked Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"It's best to be on the safe side," said Clover +vaguely.</p> + +<p>Then they entered the tangle of docks and +express wagons and obstacles in general and Mitchell +had great difficulty in finding where his launch +had been taken to meet them.</p> + +<p>But at last they got Aunt Mary down a flight of +very slippery steps and into a boat whose everything +was labeled "Lady Belle," and Mitchell +said something and they cast loose and +were off.</p> + +<p>"Seems rather a small yacht," said Aunt Mary, +glancing cheerfully about. "I ain't surprised that +you'd rather come in nights."</p> + +<p>"Bless your heart, Aunt Mary," shrieked Jack, +"this isn't the yacht, this is the way we get to +her."</p> + +<p>"Oh," said Aunt Mary blankly.</p> + +<p>"That's the yacht," yelled Burnett, "that white +one with the black smoke coming out and the +sail up." +<pb n="174" /><anchor id="Pg174" /></p> + +<p>"What are they getting up steam for?" asked +Clover. "The time to get up steam is when you +get down sails generally."</p> + +<p>"They aren't getting up steam," said Mitchell, +"they're getting up dinner. It looks like a lot of +smoke because of the shadow on the sail. And, +speaking of getting up dinner, reminds me that the +topic before us now is, how in thunder are we to get +up Aunt Mary?"</p> + +<p>"Put a rope around her and board her as if she +was a cavalry horse," suggested Burnett.</p> + +<p>"I scorn the suggestion," said their host; "if +the worst comes to the worst I can give her a back +up, but I trust that Aunt Mary will rise to the +heights of the sail and the situation all at once and +not make me do any vertebratical stunts so early in +the day."</p> + +<p>They were running alongside of "Lady Belle" +as he spoke, and the first thing Aunt Mary knew +she and her party were attached to the former by +some mysterious and not altogether solid connection.</p> + +<p>"What do we do now?" she asked uneasily.</p> + +<p>"I'll show you," laughed Burnett, and seizing +two flapping ropes he went skipping up a sort of +stepladder and sprang upon the deck above.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary started to emulate his prowess and +stood up at once. But the next second she sat +<pb n="175" /><anchor id="Pg175" />down extremely hard without knowing why she +had done so.</p> + +<p>"Hold on, Miss Watkins," Mitchell cried hastily; +"just you hold on until I give you something +to hold on to, and when you've got something to +hold on to, please keep holding on to it, until I tell +you that the hour has come in which to let go +again."</p> + +<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said Aunt Mary, +"but I'm ready to do anythin' you say if you +only—" and again she sprang up and again was +thrown down as hard as before.</p> + +<p>"Look out," cried Jack, springing to her side; +and he got hold of his valuable relative and held +her fast while Mitchell grasped the ladder and a +sailor strove to keep the launch still.</p> + +<p>"Now, Aunt Mary," cried the nephew, "hang +on to me and hang on to those ropes and remember +I'm right back of you—"</p> + +<p>"My Lord alive," cried Aunt Mary, turning her +gaze upwards, "am I expected to go alone all that +way to the top?"</p> + +<p>"It'll pay you to keep on to the top," screamed +Clover; "you'll have, comparatively speaking, very +little fun if you hang on to the ladder all day—and +you'll get so wet too."</p> + +<p>"There's more room at the top," cried Mitchell, +"there's always room at the top, Miss Watkins. +<pb n="176" /><anchor id="Pg176" />Put yourself in the place of any young man entering +a profession and struggle bravely upwards, +bearing ever in—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I never can," said Aunt Mary, recoiling +abruptly; "I never could climb trees when I was +little—I never had no grip in my legs—and I just +know I can't. It's too high. An' it looks slippery. +An' I don't want to, anyhow."</p> + +<p>"What rot!" yelled Jack, "the very idea! +Why, Aunt Mary, you know you can skin up there +just like a cat if you only make up your mind to it. +Here, Mitchell, give her a boost and I'll plant +her feet firmly. Now—have you got hold of +the ropes, Aunt Mary?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, mercy—on—me!" wailed Aunt Mary, +"the yacht is turnin' a-round an' the harder I pull +the faster it turns."</p> + +<p>"Catch her from above, Burr," Clover called +excitedly; "hook her with anything if you can't +reach her with your hand."</p> + +<p>"Oh, my cap!" shrieked poor Aunt Mary, and +the cap went off and she went on up and was landed +safe above.</p> + +<p>"How on the chart do you suppose we'll ever +unload her?" Jack asked, wide-eyed, as he swung +himself quickly after her.</p> + +<p>"What man hath done man can do," quoted +Mitchell sententiously, following his lead. +<pb n="177" /><anchor id="Pg177" /></p> + +<p>"But no man ever unloaded Aunt Mary," +Clover reminded him, as they brought up the rear.</p> + +<p>Then they were all on deck, a chair was brought +for the honored guest, and Mitchell introduced his +sailing-master who had been drawn to gaze upon +the rather novel manner in which she had been +brought aboard.</p> + +<p>"I want Miss Watkins to have the sail of her +life, Renfew," said Mitchell. "We aren't coming +back until night."</p> + +<p>"We'll have sail enough sure, sir," said Renfew, +touching his cap, and then he walked away and the +work of starting off began. A tug had been +engaged to tow them out into the breeze and Jack +thought it would be nice to show Aunt Mary +around while they were being meandered through +coal barges, etc. They went below and Aunt Mary +saw everything with a most flattering interest.</p> + +<p>"I d'n know but what I'd enjoy a little yacht +of my own," she said to Mitchell. "I think it's +so amusin' the way everythin' turns over into +suthin' else. I suppose Joshua could learn to sail +me—I wouldn't want to trust no new man, I +know."</p> + +<p>"Why, of course," said Jack, "and we could +all come and visit you, Aunt Mary."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary smiled hospitably.</p> + +<p>"I'd be glad to see you all any day," she said +<pb n="178" /><anchor id="Pg178" />cordially; "and I shall have a hole in the bottom +of the boat for people to go in and out of, and a +nice staircase down to it, so you needn't mind the +notion of how you'll get on and off."</p> + +<p>They all laughed and continued the tour below +and Aunt Mary grew more and more enthusiastic +for quite a while. She liked the kitchen and she +liked the dining-room. She thought the arrangement +for keeping the table level most ingenious. +Mitchell took her into the main cabin and told her +that that was hers for the day. On the dresser +was a photograph of the "Lady Belle" framed in +silver, which the young host presented to his guest +as a souvenir of the "voyage."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's pleasure was at its height. Oh, +the pity of Fate which makes the apex of everything +so very limited as to standing room! +Three minutes after the presentation and acceptation +of the photograph Aunt Mary's glance +became suddenly vague, and then especially +piercing.</p> + +<p>"What makes this up and down feeling?" she +asked Mitchell.</p> + +<p>"What up and down feeling?" he asked, secure +in the good conscience and pure living of an oatmeal +breakfast. "I don't feel up and down."</p> + +<p>"I do," said Aunt Mary abruptly; "I want to +be somewhere else." +<pb n="179" /><anchor id="Pg179" /></p> + +<p>"You want to be on deck," said Burnett, suddenly +emerging from somewhere; "I know the +symptoms. I always have 'em. Come on. And +when we get up there, I'll collar Jack for urging +those six last griddle cakes on me this morning."</p> + +<p>"I ain't sure I want to be on deck," said Aunt +Mary; "dear me—I feel as if I wasn't sure of +anythin'."</p> + +<p>"What did I tell you?" said Burnett to +Mitchell; "it's blowing fresh and neither she nor +I ought to have come. You know me when it +blows."</p> + +<p>"Shut up," said Mitchell, hurrying Aunt Mary +up the companion-way and shoving her into one +chair and her feet into another; "there, Miss +Watkins, you're all right now, aren't you?"</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" said Jack, coming from +somewhere aloft or astern. "Heaven bless me, +what ails you, Aunt Mary?"</p> + +<p>"I don't wonder I'm pale," said Aunt Mary +faintly, "oh—oh—"</p> + +<p>"We must put our heads together," said Burnett, +taking a drink from a flask that he took out +of his pocket; "I must soon put my head on something, +and your aunt looks to me to feel the same +way. Mitchell, why did you let me forget that +vow I made last time to never come again?"</p> + +<p>"Your vows to never do things again are about +<pb n="180" /><anchor id="Pg180" />as stable as your present hold on an upright position," +said Clover, laying a steadying hand upon +his friend's waveringness. "Sit down, little boy, +sit down."</p> + +<p>Burnett sat down, Mitchell smiled, Jack +laughed, and Aunt Mary groaned.</p> + +<p>The boat was rising and falling rapidly now, +and as she ran further and further out into the +ever freshening wind she kept on rising and falling +yet more rapidly. The more motion there was +the more Aunt Mary seemed to sift down in her +two chairs.</p> + +<p>"We'd better put back," said Jack; "this won't +do, you know. How do you feel now, Aunt +Mary?" he added, leaning over her.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary opened her eyes and looked at him +but made no reply.</p> + +<p>"Ask me how I feel, if you dare," said Burnett, +from where his chair was drawn up not far away. +"I couldn't kill you just now, but I will some day +I promise you."</p> + +<p>He was very white and had a look about his +mouth that showed that he meant what he said.</p> + +<p>Some bells rang somewhere.</p> + +<p>"That's dinner," exclaimed Clover.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary gave a piercing cry.</p> + +<p>"Oh, take me somewhere else," she said, throwing +her hands up to her face; "somewhere where +<pb n="181" /><anchor id="Pg181" />there'll never be nothin' to eat again. I—I can't +bear to hear about eatin'."</p> + +<p>"I'm going to take her down into one of the +cabins," said Jack hastily, "she belongs in bed."</p> + +<p>"No, turn back the carpet and lay me in the +bath-tub," almost sobbed the poor victim. "I +don't feel like I could get flat enough anywhere +else."</p> + +<p>"She has the proper spirit," said Burnett +faintly, "only I don't feel as if I could get flat +enough anywhere at all. What in the name of +the Great Pyramid ever possessed me to come?"</p> + +<p>Mitchell rose quickly to his feet.</p> + +<p>"You put your aunt to bed, Jack," he said, +"and I'll put my yacht to backing. This expedition +is expeditiously heading on to what might be +termed a failure. I can see that, even if we're only +in a Sound."</p> + +<p>"When do you suppose we'll get back?" the +nephew asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>"About four o'clock, if we don't lose time by +having to tack."</p> + +<p>"I didn't quite catch all that," said Aunt Mary, +"but I knew suthin' was loose all along. I felt it +inside of me right off at first. And ever since, +too."</p> + +<p>Jack gathered her up in his arms and bore her +tenderly away to the beautiful main cabin. +<pb n="182" /><anchor id="Pg182" /></p> + +<p>"I wanted to live to change my will," she said +sadly, as he laid her down, "but somehow I don't +seem to care for nothin' no more."</p> + +<p>He kissed her hand.</p> + +<p>"They say being seasick is awfully <hi rend="font-style: italic">good</hi> for +people, Aunt Mary," he yelled contritely.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary opened her eyes.</p> + +<p>"John Watkins, Jr., Denham," she said, "if +you say 'food' to me again <hi rend="font-style: italic">ever</hi>, I'll never leave +you a penny—so there!"</p> + +<p>Jack went away and left her.</p> + +<p>"Come on to dinner, Burnett," Clover called +hilariously, "there's liver with little bits of bacon—your +favorite dish."</p> + +<p>Burnett snarled the weakest kind of a snarl.</p> + +<p>"I thought I'd suffered enough for one year +last month," he murmured in a voice too low to be +heard, and then he knew himself to be alone on +deck.</p> + +<p>Down in the little dining-saloon the dishes were +hopping merrily back and forth and an agreeable +odor of agreeable viands filled the air. Clover +and Jack sat down opposite their host and they all +three ate and drank with a zest that knew no breaking +waves nor sad effects.</p> + +<p>"Here's to our aunt," said Clover gayly, as the +first course went around; "of course, we all love +her for Jack's sake, but at the same time I offer +<pb n="183" /><anchor id="Pg183" />two to odds that it is a pleasure to converse in +under tones occasionally. Who takes?"</p> + +<p>"Aunt Mary being laid upon her bed," said +Mitchell, "we will next proceed to lay the motion +of our honorable friend upon the table. We +regret Aunt Mary's ill-health while we drink to +her good—quotation marks under the latter word. +Aunt Mary!—and may she arise and prosper all +the way down into the launch again."</p> + +<p>"I'm troubled about her, really," said Jack +soberly; "we ought to have brought someone to +look out for her."</p> + +<p>"The maid," cried Mitchell, "the dainty, adorable +maid! Here's to Janice and—" his speech +was brought to a sudden end by his two guests +nearly disappearing under the table.</p> + +<p>Jack started up.</p> + +<p>"Ginger! Did you feel that?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"That's nothing," said Mitchell, calmly +replacing the water-carafe which in the excitement +of the moment he had clasped to his bosom; "it's +the waves which are rising to the occasion—that's +all." But Jack had hurried out.</p> + +<p>He found poor Aunt Mary writhing in an +agony of misery. "Oh—oh—" she cried, "I want +to be still—I'm too much tipped—and all the +wrong way! I want to lay smooth—and I stand +on my head—all the—" +<pb n="184" /><anchor id="Pg184" /></p> + +<p>"We're going back," said Jack, striving to +soothe her; "lie still, Aunt Mary, and we'll soon +get there. Do you want some camphor to smell?"</p> + +<p>"I don't feel up to smellin'," wailed Aunt +Mary, "I don't feel up to anythin'. Go 'way. +Right off."</p> + +<p>Jack went on deck. He found Burnett +stretched pale and green upon the chairs their +lady guest had vacated.</p> + +<p>"If you speak to me again," he said, in halting +accents, "I'll never speak to you again. Get +out."</p> + +<p>Jack went back to his place at dinner.</p> + +<p>"How are they?" asked Clover.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," he said quietly, "but there's +a big storm coming up. The sky's all dark blue +and it looks bad."</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Mitchell, sawing into the +game with vigor; "if we go down we go down +with Aunt Mary and if I were Uncle Mary I +wouldn't feel happier and safer as to all concerned. +The ship that bore Cæsar and his fortune had +nothing at all to bear compared to this which bears +Jack and his. Here's to Jack and his fortune, +and may we all survive the dark blue sky."</p> + +<p>"I tell you it's serious," said Jack. As he spoke +another ominous heaving set the bottles tipping +and nearly sent Clover backwards. +<pb n="185" /><anchor id="Pg185" /></p> + +<p>"And I'm serious," exclaimed Mitchell. "I'm +always serious only I never can get any girl to +believe it. Here's to me, and may I grow more +and more serious each—"</p> + +<p>A tremendous wave bore the yacht upright and +then let her fall on her forelegs again. Clover +went over backwards and the dish of peas to which +he had just been helping himself followed after.</p> + +<p>"You didn't say 'excuse me' when you left the +table," said Mitchell, whom the law of gravitation +had suddenly raised to a pinnacle from which he +viewed his friends with mirthful scorn; "and if +you've hurt yourself it must be a judgment on you +for leaving the table without saying 'excuse me.' +Here's to Clover, who has a judgment and a dish +of peas served on him at the same time for leaving +the table without saying 'excuse me.'"</p> + +<p>The sailing-master appeared at the door, his +cap in his hand.</p> + +<p>"I beg your pardon, sir," he said respectfully, +"but I fear it's impossible to put back. We can't +turn without getting into the trough of the sea."</p> + +<p>"All right, go ahead then," said Mitchell; "go +where we must go, and do what you've got to do. +My motto is veni, vidi, vici, which freely translated +means I can sleep asea when I can't sleep +ashore."</p> + +<p>"But Aunt Mary?" cried Jack blankly. +<pb n="186" /><anchor id="Pg186" /></p> + +<p>"She's all right," said Mitchell; "she'll soon +reach the cold burnt toast stage and when she +reaches the stage we'll all welcome her into any +chorus. Here's to choruses in general and one +chorus girl in particular. I haven't met her yet, +but I shall know her when I do, for she will look +at me. Up to now they've all looked elsewhere +and at other men. If my fortune was only in my +face it might draw some interest, but—"</p> + +<p>"Lady Belle" careened violently and Clover +went over backwards for the second time with +much in his wake.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I say," said Mitchell, rising in disgust, +"if you want everything on the table at once why +take it. Only I'm going on deck. After you've +bathed in the gravy you can have it. Ditto the +other liquids. Jack and I are going up to dance +a hornpipe and sing for Burnett. He looked +rather ennuyéd to me when we came down."</p> + +<p>Along toward eight o'clock that night "Lady +Belle" anchored somewhere in the Sound and +tugged vigorously at her cables all night.</p> + +<p>With the dawn she headed back towards New +York.</p> + +<p>"As a success my entertainment has been a failure," +said Mitchell to Jack as they walked up and +down the deck after breakfast; "but into each life +some rain must fall, and I offer myself as a sacrificial +<pb n="187" /><anchor id="Pg187" />background to Aunt Mary's glowing, living +pictures of New York."</p> + +<p>"I wish you hadn't, though," said Jack; "she'll +never want a yacht of her own now. And how +under Scorpion are we ever going to land her?"</p> + +<p>"In a sheet, my able-bodied young friend, in a +sheet," said Mitchell clapping him on the back. +"Don't you know the 'Weigh the Baby' game? +It may double her up a bit, but the redoubtable +Janice will straighten her out again. Here's to +the sheet, be it a wet sheet, a main sheet, or a sheet +with your Aunt Mary tied up in it."</p> + +<p>Mitchell was as good as his word and they +landed Aunt Mary in a sheet. The very harbor-tugs +stopped puffing and stood open-mouthed to +stare at the performance, but it was an unalloyed +success, and Aunt Mary was gotten onto dry land +at last.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to do nothin' for a day or two," +she said, as they drove to the house.</p> + +<p>Janice had the bed open, and a hot-water bottle +down where Aunt Mary's feet might be expected, +and all sorts of comfort ready to hand.</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad to see you safe back," she said, +almost weeping.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe it's broke," said Aunt Mary, +"but you might look and see. Oh, Granite—I—" +she stopped and looked an unutterable meaning. +<pb n="188" /><anchor id="Pg188" /></p> + +<p>"It stormed, didn't it?" said the maid.</p> + +<p>"Stormed!" said Aunt Mary. "I guess it did +storm. I guess it hurricaned. I know it did. +I'm sure of it."</p> + +<p>"But you're safe now," said the girl, tucking +her up as snugly as if she had been an infant in +arms.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'm safe now," said Aunt Mary, +"but—" she looked very earnest—"but, oh, my +Granite, how I did need that white fuzzy stuff to +drink this morning. I never wanted nothin' so +bad in all my life afore."</p> + +<p>Janice stood by the bed, her face full of regret +that Aunt Mary had known any aching void.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary grew yet more earnest.</p> + +<p>"Granite," she said, "you mind what I tell +you. That ought to be advertised. I sh'd think +you could patent it. Folks ought to know about +it."</p> + +<p>Then she laid herself out in bed. "My +heavens alive!" she sighed sweetly, "there's +nothin' like home. Not anywhere—not nowhere!"</p> +</div> +<pb n="189" /><anchor id="Pg189" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Sixteen - A Reposeful Interval</head> + + +<p>The next date upon the little gold and ivory +memorandum card which hung beside Aunt Mary's +watch was that set for Burnett's picnic, but its +dawning found both host and guest too much +attached to their beds to desire any fêtes champêtre +just then.</p> + +<p>Burnett was in that very weak state which follows in +the immediate wake of only too many yachts,—and +Aunt Mary was sleeping one of her +long drawn out and utterly restorative sleeps.</p> + +<p>Jack went in and looked at her.</p> + +<p>"It did storm awfully," he said to Janice, who +was sitting by the window. The maid just smiled, +nodded, and laid her finger on her lip. She never +encouraged conversation when her charge was +reposing.</p> + +<p>Jack went softly out and turned his steps toward +the room of the other wreck.</p> + +<p>"Well, how are stocks to-day?" he asked +cheerfully on entering.</p> + +<p>Burnett was stretched out pillowless and looked +black under his hollow eyes. But he appeared to +be on the road to recovery. +<pb n="190" /><anchor id="Pg190" /></p> + +<p>"Jack," he said seriously, "what in thunder +makes me always so ready to go on the water? +I should think after a while I'd learn a thing or +two."</p> + +<p>Jack leaned his elbows on the high carved footboard +and returned his friend's look with one of +equal seriousness.</p> + +<p>"What makes all of us do lots of things?" he +asked. "Why don't we all learn?"</p> + +<p>Burnett sighed.</p> + +<p>"That's a fact; why don't we?" he said weakly. +And then he shut his eyes again and turned his +back to his caller.</p> + +<p>Jack went down to lunch. Clover and Mitchell +were playing cards in the library.</p> + +<p>"Well, how is the hospital?" Clover asked, +looking up while he shuffled the pack.</p> + +<p>"Never mind about Burnett," said Mitchell, +"but do relieve my mind about Aunt Mary. Is +the one sheet still taking effect, or has she begun to +rally on a diet of two?"</p> + +<p>"She's asleep," said the nephew.</p> + +<p>"God bless her slumber," declared Clover +piously. "I very much approve of Aunt Mary +asleep. When our dearly beloved aunt sleeps we +know we've got her and we don't have to yell. +Shall I deal for three?"</p> + +<p>"They are bringing up lunch," said the latest +<pb n="191" /><anchor id="Pg191" />arrival,—"no time to begin a hand. Better +stack guns for the present."</p> + +<p>"So say I," said Mitchell, "with me everything +goes down when lunch comes up. It's quite the +reverse with Burnett, isn't it?" He laughed +brutally at his own wit.</p> + +<p>"To think how enthusiastic Burr was," said +Clover, evening the cards preparatory to slipping +them into their holder on the side of the table. +"He's always so enthusiastic and he's always so +sick. In his place I should feel that, if a buoyant +nature is a virtue, I didn't get much reward."</p> + +<p>The gong sounded just then, and they all went +down to lunch, not at all saddened by the sight +of their comrade's empty chair.</p> + +<p>"Now, what are we going to do next?" Clover +demanded as they finished the bouillon.</p> + +<p>"Have a meat course, I suppose," said Mitchell.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean that; I mean, what are we going +to do next with Aunt Mary?"</p> + +<p>"She hasn't but two days more," said Jack meditatively. +"Of course—even if she was all chipper—this +storm has knocked any picnic endways."</p> + +<p>"I am not an ardent upholder of picnics, +anyhow," said Mitchell. "They require a constant +sitting down on the ground and getting up from +the ground to which I find our respected aunt very +far from being equal. Burnett mentioned that we +<pb n="192" /><anchor id="Pg192" />should go to the scene on a coach. That also did +not meet my approval. Going anywhere on a coach +requires a constant getting up on the coach and +getting down from the coach to which I also consider +the lady unequal. The events of yesterday +have left a deep impression on my mind. I—"</p> + +<p>"Go on and carve," interrupted Clover, "or +else shove me the platter. I'm hungry."</p> + +<p>"So'm I," said a voice at the door. A weak +voice—but one that showed decision in its tone.</p> + +<p>They looked up and saw Burnett, dressed in a +pink silk negligée with flowing sleeves.</p> + +<p>"I'm ravenous," he exclaimed explanatorily. +"I haven't had anything since day before yesterday +at breakfast. I didn't know I wanted anything +till I smelt it,—then I dressed and came +down."</p> + +<p>"How sweet you look," said Clover. "The +effect of your pajama cuffs and collar where one +greedily expects curves and contour is lovely. +Where did you find that bath-robe?"</p> + +<p>"In the bureau drawer," said Burnett. "It +appeared to have been hastily shoved in there +some time. I would have thought that it was a +woman's something-or-other, only I found one of +Jack's cards in the pocket."</p> + +<p>They all began to laugh—Clover and Mitchell +more heartily than the owner of the card. +<pb n="193" /><anchor id="Pg193" /></p> + +<p>"Sit down," said Mitchell finally with great +cordiality. "You may as well sit down while they +mess you up some weak tea and wet toast."</p> + +<p>"Tea and toast?" cried the one in pink. "I'm +good for dinner. <hi rend="font-style: italic">Um Gotteswillen</hi>, what do you +suppose I came down for?"</p> + +<p>"I wasn't sure," said his friend mildly; "you +must admit yourself that your attire is misleading. +My book on social etiquette says nothing as to +when it is correct to wear a pink silk robe over blue +and white striped pajamas. However, there's no +denying your presence, and what can't be denied +must be supplied, so what will you have?"</p> + +<p>"Everything."</p> + +<p>Mitchell dived into the edibles generally and +Burnett's void was provided with fulfillment.</p> + +<p>"We were talking about Aunt Mary," Clover +said presently. "We were saying that neither you +nor she would be up to a coach or down to a picnic +for one while."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't know," said Burnett. "I feel up +to pretty nearly anything now that I can eat again. +Pass over the horseradish, will you?"</p> + +<p>"You're one thing, my sweet pink friend," said +Clover gently, "but Aunt Mary's another. I'm +not saying that New York has not had a wonderfully +Brown-Sequardesque effect on her, but I am +saying that if she is to be raised and lowered +<pb n="194" /><anchor id="Pg194" />frequently, I want to travel with a portable +crane."</p> + +<p>"Hum, hum, hum!" cried Jack. "May I just +ask who did most of the heavy labor of Aunt Mary +yesterday?—As the man in the opera sings twenty +times with the whole chorus to back him—''Twas +I, 'twas I, 'twas I, 'twas I—'"</p> + +<p>"Hand over the toast, Clover," said Burnett. +"I don't care who it was—it was a success anyhow, +for she's upstairs and still alive, and I say +she'd enjoy coaching out Riverside way, and—" +he choked.</p> + +<p>"Slap him anywhere," said Mitchell. "On his +mouth would be the proper place. Such poor +manners,—coming down to a company lunch in +another man's bath-robe and then trying to preach +and eat dry toast at once."</p> + +<p>Burnett gasped and recovered.</p> + +<p>"There," said Clover, who had risen to administer +the proposed slap, "he's off our minds and +we may again pick up Aunt Mary and put her +back on."</p> + +<p>"We want to send her home in a blaze of +glory," said Jack thoughtfully. "I want her to +feel that the fun ran straight through."</p> + +<p>"That's just what I mean," interposed his particular +friend; "we want her to go home on the +wings of a giant cracker, so to speak." +<pb n="195" /><anchor id="Pg195" /></p> + +<p>"How would it do," said Clover suddenly, "to +just make a night of it and take her along? Stock +up, stack up, and ho! for it. You all know the +kind of a time I mean."</p> + +<p>"Clover," said Jack gravely, "does it occur to +you that Aunt Mary belongs to me and that I +have a personal interest in keeping her alive?"</p> + +<p>"Nothing ever occurs to him," said Mitchell. +"Occasionally an idea bangs up against him inadvertently, +and as it splinters a sliver or two penetrate +his head—that's all."</p> + +<p>"I don't see why the last sliver he felt wasn't +to the point," said Burnett, turning the cream jug +upside down as he spoke. "I think she'd enjoy it +of all things. She enjoys everything so. I'll guarantee +that when she gets back home she'll even +enjoy the yachting trip. Lots of people are made +like that. In the winter I always enjoy yachting, +myself. Pass me the hot bread."</p> + +<p>"Burnett," said Mitchell warmly, "I wish that +you would remember that a collapse invariably +follows an inflated market."</p> + +<p>"Is it Aunt Mary who is on the market, or +myself?"</p> + +<p>"You."</p> + +<p>"Oh, the rule is reversed in my case—the collapse +went first. I'm only inflating up to the usual +limit again. Is there any gravy left?" +<pb n="196" /><anchor id="Pg196" /></p> + +<p>"No, there isn't," said Clover, looking in the +dish, "there isn't much of anything left."</p> + +<p>"Let's go to the library," said Mitchell, rising +abruptly. "It always makes me ill to see goose-stuffing +before Thanksgiving. Come on."</p> + +<p>"I'm done," said Burnett, springing up and +winding his lacey draperies about his manly form. +"Come on yourself; and once settled and smoking, +let us canvass the question and agree with +Clover."</p> + +<p>"You know there are nights about town and +nights about town," said Clover, as they climbed +the staircase. "I do not anticipate that Aunt +Mary will bring up with a round turn in the police +station, as her young relative once did."</p> + +<p>"Well, that's some comfort," said Mitchell. +"I did not feel sure as to just where you did mean +her to bring up. You will perhaps allow me to +remark that making a night of it with Aunt Mary +in tow is a subject that really is provocative of +mature reflection. Making a night of it is a frothy +sort of a proposition in which our beloved aunty +may not beat up to quite the buoyancy of you +and me."</p> + +<p>As he finished this sage remark they all re-entered +the library and grouped themselves around +the table of smoking things.</p> + +<p>"That's what I say," said Jack. "I think she's +<pb n="197" /><anchor id="Pg197" />much more likely to beat out than to beat up—I +must say."</p> + +<p>"I'll bet you she doesn't," cried Burnett +eagerly. "I'll bet five dollars that she doesn't."</p> + +<p>"I declare," said Clover, "what a thing a +backer is to be sure. I feel positive that Aunt +Mary will go through with it now. I had my +doubts before, but never now. Six to five on Aunt +Mary for the Three-year-old Stakes."</p> + +<p>"The best way is to hit a happy medium," said +Mitchell thoughtfully, scratching a match for the +lighting of his new-rolled cigarette. "I think the +wisest thing would be for us just to take Aunt +Mary and sally forth and then keep it up until she +must be put to bed. What say?"</p> + +<p>"Well," said Jack, reflectively, "I don't suppose +that taking it that way, it would really be any +worse than the other nights—"</p> + +<p>"Worse!" cried Clover. "Hear him!—slandering +those brilliant occasions, everyone of which +is a jewel in the crown of Aunt Mary's bonnet."</p> + +<p>"We'll begin by dining out," said Burnett. +"I'll give the dinner. One of the souvenir kind of +affairs. A white mouse for every man and a canary +bird for the lady. We'll have a private room and +speeches and I'll get megaphones so we can make +her hear without bustin'."</p> + +<p>"My dear boy," said Mitchell, "where is this +<pb n="198" /><anchor id="Pg198" />private room to be in which the party can converse +through megaphones? I had two deaf uncles once +who played cribbage with megaphones, but they +were influential and the rest of the family were +poor. Circumstances alter cases. I ask again +where you can get a private dining-room for the +use of five people and four megaphones?"</p> + +<p>"I'll see," said Burnett; "I wish," he added +irritably, "that you'd wait until I finished before +beginning to smash in like that, you knock everything +out of my head."</p> + +<p>"It'll do you good to have a little something +knocked out of you," said Mitchell gently. "It +may enlarge your premises, give you a spare room +somewhere, so to speak. I should think that you'd +need some spare room somewhere after such a +breakfast."</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what I think;" said Clover. "I +think it's a great scheme. It's a sort of pull-in-and-out, +field-glass species of idea. We can develop +it or we can shut it off; in other words, we +can parade Aunt Mary or bring her home just +when we darn please."</p> + +<p>"That's what I said," said Burnett. "Begin +with my dinner, white mice and all, and when all +is going just let it slide until it seems about time +to slide off."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mitchell dryly, "it's always a good +<pb n="199" /><anchor id="Pg199" />plan to slide on until you slide off. It would be so +easy to reverse the game."</p> + +<p>"And then, too,—" began Burnett.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me," said a voice at the door,—a +woman's voice this time.</p> + +<p>It was Janice, very pretty in her black dress and +white decorations, hands in pockets, smile on lips.</p> + +<p>"What's up now?" the last speaker interrupted +himself to ask, "Aunt Mary?"</p> + +<p>"No, she's not up," said the maid; "but she's +awake and wants to know about the picnic."</p> + +<p>"There, what did I say!" cried Burnett; +"isn't she a hero? I tell you Aunt Mary'd fight +in the last ditch—she'd never surrender! She's +one of those dead-at-the-gun chaps. I'm proud to +think we have known the companionship of joint +yachting results."</p> + +<p>"She says she feels as well as ever," said Janice, +opening her eyes a trifle as she noted Burnett's pink +silk negligée, "and wishes to know when you want +to start."</p> + +<p>"Bravo," said Mitchell; "I, too, am fired by +this exposition of pluck. I like spirit. She reminds +me of the horse who was turned out to grass and +then suddenly broke the world's record."</p> + +<p>"What horse was that?" asked Burnett.</p> + +<p>"Pegasus," said Mitchell cruelly; "I didn't +say what kind of a record he broke, did I?" +<pb n="200" /><anchor id="Pg200" /></p> + +<p>"What shall I tell Miss Watkins?" asked the +maid.</p> + +<p>Jack, who had risen at her entrance and gone to +the window, faced around here and said:</p> + +<p>"Tell her that if she'll dress we'll go out +bonnet-shooting and afterwards drive in the +park."</p> + +<p>Janice hesitated.</p> + +<p>"She will surely ask where you are to dine," +said she, half-smiling.</p> + +<p>Jack looked at the crowd.</p> + +<p>"Fellows," he said, "we must save up for to-morrow's +blow-out; suppose you let Mitchell and +me dine Aunt Mary somewhere very tranquilly to-night +and we'll get her home by eleven."</p> + +<p>"Yes, do," said Janice, with sudden earnest +entreaty. "Honestly, there is a limit."</p> + +<p>"Of course, there is a limit," said Mitchell. +"Even cities have their limits. This one tried to +be an exception, but San Francisco yelled 'Keep +off' and she drew in her claws again. Aunt Mary, +possessing many points in common with New York, +also possesses that. She has limits. Her limits +took in more than we bargained for,—for they +have taken us into the bargain. Still they are there, +and we bow to necessity. A cheerful drive, a +quiet tea, early to bed. And <hi rend="font-style: italic">pax vobiscum</hi>."</p> + +<p>"No wonder," said Burnett, "it's easy for you +<pb n="201" /><anchor id="Pg201" />to agree when you're to be one of the dinner party." +"I don't mind being left out," said Clover contentedly. +"I shall sit on the sofa and whisper to +'the one behind.' Whispering is an art that I have +almost forgotten, but inspired by that pink—"</p> + +<p>"Then I'll tell Miss Watkins to dress for the +going out," said Janice, pointedly addressing herself +to Jack.</p> + +<p>"Yes, please do."</p> + +<p>The maid left the room and went upstairs. +Aunt Mary was tossing about on her pillow.</p> + +<p>"Well, what's it to be?" she asked instantly.</p> + +<p>"The storm has made it too wet to picnic," replied +Janice. "Mr. Denham wants to take you to +drive and afterwards you and Mr. Mitchell and he +are to dine—"</p> + +<p>"And Burnett and Clover?" cried Aunt Mary +in appalled interruption; "where are they goin'?"</p> + +<p>"Really, I don't know."</p> + +<p>"I don't like the idea," said Aunt Mary; +"we'd ought to all be together. I never did approve +of splittin' up in small parties. Did Jack +say anythin' about my gettin' another bonnet?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he thought that you would go to a milliner +first."</p> + +<p>"I don't know about lookin' sillier," said Aunt +Mary. "Strikes me a woman can't look more +foolish than she does without a bonnet. However, +<pb n="202" /><anchor id="Pg202" />I don't feel like makin' a fuss over anythin' +to-day. I've had a good rest and I feel fine. I'll +dress and go out with Jack, an' I know one thing, +I'll enjoy every minute I can, for this week is goin' +like lightnin' and when it's over—well, you never +saw Lucinda, so it's no use tryin' to make you +understand, but—" she drew a long breath and +shook her head meaningly.</p> + +<p>Janice did not reply. She busied herself with +the cares of the toilet of her mistress, and when that +was complete the carriage was summoned for the +shopping tour.</p> + +<p>Jack saw that the bonnet was attended to first +of all and then they went to another store and +purchased a scarf pin for Joshua and a workbox +for Lucinda. After that Aunt Mary decided that +she wanted her four friends each to have a souvenir +of her visit, so she insisted upon being conducted to +that gorgeous establishment which is lighted with +diamonds instead of electricity and ordered four +dressing-cases to be constructed, everything with +gold tops, to be engraved with the proper initials +and also the inscription, "from M.W. in memory +of N.Y." Jack rather protested at this, asking +her if she realized what the engraving would +come to.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Aunt Mary recklessly +and lavishly. "I don't care what it comes to either. +<pb n="203" /><anchor id="Pg203" />It's comin' to me, anyhow, ain't it? I rather think +so. Seems likely."</p> + +<p>The clerk took down the order, and then as he +was ushering them door-wards he fell by the wayside +and craved permission to show some tiaras of +emeralds and some pearl dog-collars. Jack +rebelled.</p> + +<p>"You don't want any of those," he exclaimed, +trying to propel her by.</p> + +<p>"I ain't so sure," said Aunt Mary. "I might +have a dog some day."</p> + +<p>But her nephew got her back into their conveyance, +and they drove away. It was so late that +they could not consider the park and so had to +make a tour of Fifth Avenue to use up the time +left before dinner. Then when they headed +toward the café they were delighted to observe +Mitchell awaiting them just where he was to have +been.</p> + +<p>"I see him," said Aunt Mary. "My! I'd know +him as far off as I'd know anybody." But then she +sighed. "I wish the others were there, too," she +said sadly; "seems awful—just three of us."</p> + +<p>The dinner which followed echoed her sentiment. +It was a very nice dinner, but painfully +quiet, and Aunt Mary grew very restless.</p> + +<p>"Seems like wastin' time, anyhow," she said +uneasily. "I don't see why the others didn't come. +<pb n="204" /><anchor id="Pg204" />Well, can't we go to Coney Island or the Statue +of Liberty or somewhere when we're through?"</p> + +<p>Mitchell looked at Jack.</p> + +<p>"Why, you see, Aunt Mary," the latter promptly +shrieked, "we thought we'd be good and go home +early and sort of rest up to-night so as to have +a high old time to-morrow."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's face, which had fallen during the +first part of their speech, brightened up at the last +words.</p> + +<p>"What are we goin' to do?" she inquired with +unfeigned interest.</p> + +<p>"Burnett's going to give us a dinner," Jack +answered, "and then afterwards we're going to +help you see the town."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Aunt Mary. A pleasant gleam +fled over her face.</p> + +<p>"I never was a great believer in bein' out +nights," she said, "but I guess I'll make an exception +to-morrow. I might as well be doin' that as +anythin', I presume. Maybe better—very likely +better."</p> + +<p>"Oh, very much better," said Mitchell. "It is +the exceptions that furnish all the oil in life's +machinery. The exceptions not only generally +prove too much for the rule, but they also generally +prevent the rule from proving too much for us. +They—" +<pb n="205" /><anchor id="Pg205" /></p> + +<p>"But I don't see why we couldn't go to two or +three vaudevilles to-night, too," said the old lady, +suddenly. "I feel so sort of ready-for-anythin'."</p> + +<p>"You always feel that way, Miss Watkins," +screamed Mitchell. "It is we that are the blind +and the halt. You are ever fresh, but we falter and +faint. You see it's you that go out, but it's we +that you get back. You—"</p> + +<p>"We could go to one vaudeville, anyway," said +Aunt Mary abstractedly; "an' if we saw any places +that looked lively we could stop a few minutes there +on our way back. I've never been into lots of +things here."</p> + +<p>Jack looked at Mitchell this time.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry, Miss Watkins," he roared, "but +<hi rend="font-style: italic">I'll</hi> have to go home, anyhow. You see, I'm not +used to the lively life which has been enlivening +us all this week and, being weakly in my knees, +needs must look out."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked very disappointed.</p> + +<p>"Then Jack and I'll go, too," she said, "but +oh! dear, I do hate to waste my stay in the city +sleepin' so much. I can sleep all I want after I +get home, but—" she paused, and then said +with deep feeling, "Well, you don't understand +about Lucinda an' so you don't understand about +anythin'."</p> + +<p>Both the young men felt truly regretful as they +<pb n="206" /><anchor id="Pg206" />put her into the carriage for the return trip. Her +deep enjoyment was so genuine and naive that they +sympathized with her feelings when cut off from it.</p> + +<p>But it was best that this one night should pass +unimproved, and so all five threw themselves into +their respective beds with equal zest and slept—and +slept—and slept.</p> +</div> +<pb n="207" /><anchor id="Pg207" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Seventeen - Aunt Mary's Night About Town</head> + +<p>The next day came up out of the ocean +fair and warm, and when it drew toward +later afternoon no more propitious night +for setting forth ever happened.</p> + +<p>It was undeniably a night to be remembered. +And Aunt Mary's entertainers drew in deep +breaths as they girded themselves for the conflict. +They certainly intended to do themselves proud +and on top of all the lesser "times of her life" +to pile the one pre-eminent which should rest pre-eminent +forever. Aunt Mary had been gay in the +first part of the week,—gayer and gayer as the +week progressed, but that final crowning night was +indubitably the gayest of all. If you doubt this +read on—read on—and be convinced.</p> + +<p>They began with Burnett's dinner in the private +room. No matter where the private room was, +for it really wasn't a private room at all—it was a +suite of rooms borrowed and arranged especially +for that one occasion. They gathered there at +eight o'clock and began with oysters served on a +large brass tray in a half-dim Turkish room where +<pb n="208" /><anchor id="Pg208" />incense sticks burned about and queer daggers held +up the curtains. The oysters were served on their +arrival and the megaphones stood like extinguishers +over each with the name cards tied to the small +end. The effect was really unique. Aunt Mary +had one, too, and they were all rejoiced at her delight +in the scheme, and a few seconds after they +were doubly rejoiced over its success for no one +had to speak loud—the megaphones did it all, +producing a lovely clamor which deafened all those +who could hear and caused Aunt Mary to feel that +she heard with the rest.</p> + +<p>Amidst the cheerful din they exchanged such +very wild remarks as oysters always inspire and +each and all were mutually content at the effect +thereof. Then they finished, and Burnett rose at +once, flung back the portières, and led them in +upon their soup which stood smoking on a large +card table in the next room. There were boutonnières +with the soup, and violets for Aunt Mary, +and again they used the megaphones and again the +conversation partook of the customary conversation +which soup produces.</p> + +<p>The soup finished, Burnett jumped up again and +threw back other portières and they all moved out +into a dining-room, with its table spread with a +substantial dinner. This time it was the real thing. +Candelabra, ice-pails, etc. +<pb n="209" /><anchor id="Pg209" /></p> + +<p>Aunt Mary had a parrot in a gilt tower, and all +the men had white mice in houses shaped like hat-boxes. +Mitchell's seat was flanked with wine coolers, +and Burnett's, too. There was all that they +could desire to eat and drink and more. The +feast began, and it was grand and glorious.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what," said Aunt Mary, in the +midst of the revel, "if this is what it means in +papers when it speaks of high livin', I don't blame +'em for bein' willin' to die of it young. One week +like this is worth ten years with Lucinda. Twenty. +A whole life."</p> + +<p>"Say, Jack," said Burnett in an undertone, +"let's have Lucinda come to town next and see the +effect on her."</p> + +<p>"Miss Watkins," said Clover through his +megaphone, "as a mark of my affection I beg to +offer you my white mouse. Do you accept?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't want to go back to the house yet," +said Aunt Mary, much disturbed. "It's too soon."</p> + +<p>"We won't go home till morning," said Burnett. +"Not by a long shot. Here, Mitchell, give us a +speech. Home! we don't want to drink <hi rend="font-style: italic">to</hi> it, but +we do want to drink to it <hi rend="font-style: italic">here</hi>."</p> + +<p>"Home!" said Mitchell, rising with his glass in +his hand. "Home! here's to home, and I'll drink +to it in anything but a cab. Home, Aunt Mary +and gentlemen, is the place where one may go +<pb n="210" /><anchor id="Pg210" />when every other place is closed. As long as any +other place is open, however, I do not recommend +going home. The contrast is always sharp and +bitter and to be avoided until unavoidable circumstances, +over which we possess but little control, +force us to give our address to the man who drives +and let him drive us to the last place on the map. +And so I drink to that last place—home; and here's +to it, not now, but a good deal later, and not then +unless what must be has got to result."</p> + +<p>Mitchell paused and they all drank.</p> + +<p>"Me next now," exclaimed Burnett, jumping to +his feet. "I'm going to make a speech at my own +dinner, and as a good speech is best made off-hand, +I've picked out an off-hand subject and arise to give +you 'Lucinda.' Having never met her I feel able +to say nothing good about her and I call the company +present to witness that I shall say nothing +bad either. I gather from what I have had a stray +chance of picking up that Lucinda is all that she +should be, and nothing frisqué. The latter quality +is too bad, but it's not my fault. Therefore, +I say again 'Lucinda', and here's to her very good +health. May she never regret that Fate has given +her no chance to have anything to regret."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary applauded this speech heartily even +if she hadn't quite caught the whole of it and had +no idea of whom it was about. +<pb n="211" /><anchor id="Pg211" /></p> + +<p>"Who's goin' to speak now?" she asked +anxiously.</p> + +<p>"I am," said Clover modestly. "I rise to +propose the health of our honored guest, Miss +Watkins. We all know what kin she is to one of +us, and we all weep that she didn't do as well by the +rest of us. Aunt Mary! Glasses down!"</p> + +<p>"You can't drink this, you know, Aunt Mary," +said Jack,—"it's bad taste to drink to yourself."</p> + +<p>"I don't want to drink," said Aunt Mary, +beaming,—"I like to watch you."</p> + +<p>"Here's to Aunt Mary's liking to watch us!" +cried Clover.</p> + +<p>"No," said Burnett rising, "don't. It's time +to go and get the salad now."</p> + +<p>"We'd ought to have the automobile for this +party," said Aunt Mary, and everyone applauded +her idea, as they rose and gathered up their belongings.</p> + +<p>It was a droll procession of men with mice and +a lady with a parrot that got under way and moved +in among the Japanese fans and swinging lanterns +of the next room in the suite of Burnett's friend. +Five little individual tables were laid there and on +each table lay a Japanese creature of some sort +which—being opened somewhere—revealed salad +within. +<pb n="212" /><anchor id="Pg212" /></p> + +<p>"Well, I never did!" exclaimed the guest; +"this dinner ought to be put in a book!"</p> + +<p>"We'll put it in ourselves first," said Mitchell. +"I never believe in booking any attraction until it +has been tried on a select few. Burnett having +selected me for one of this few, I vote we begin on +the salad."</p> + +<p>They began forthwith.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary suddenly stopped eating.</p> + +<p>"Some one called," she said.</p> + +<p>"It's the parrot," said Jack; "I heard him +before."</p> + +<p>"What does he say?" said Mitchell.</p> + +<p>"Listen and you'll find out," said Jack.</p> + +<p>They all listened and presently the parrot said +solemnly:</p> + +<p>"Now see what you've done!" and relapsed +into silence.</p> + +<p>"What does he mean?" Aunt Mary asked.</p> + +<p>"He's referring to his own affairs," said Burnett; +"come on—let's get coffee now!"</p> + +<p>They all adjourned to a tiny room lined with +posters and decorated with pipe racks, and there +had ice cream in the form of bulls and bears, +and coffee of the strongest variety. And then cordials +and cigarettes.</p> + +<p>"Now, where shall we go to first?" asked Burnett +when all were well lit up. No one would +<pb n="213" /><anchor id="Pg213" />have guessed that he had ever felt used up in +all his life before.</p> + +<p>"To a roof garden," said Mitchell. "We'll +go to a roof garden first, and then we'll go to more +roof gardens, and after that if the spirit moves +we'll go to yet a few roof gardens in addition. +We'll show our dear aunt what wonders can be +done with roofs, and to-morrow she'll wonder what +was done with her."</p> + +<p>"That's the bill," said Clover, "and let's go +now. I can see from the general manner of my +mouse that he's dying to get out and make his way +in the wide world."</p> + +<p>"Mine the same," said Mitchell; "by George, +it worries me to see such restless, feverish manners +in what I had supposed would be a quiet +domestic companion. It presages a distracted existence. +But come on."</p> + +<p>They all rose.</p> + +<p>"Where are we goin' now?" asked Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"To a roof garden," said Jack, "and we're +going to take the whole menagerie, Aunt Mary. +We're going to get put in the papers. That's the +great stunt,—to get put in the papers."</p> + +<p>"But we'll leave the megaphones," said Mitchell. +"I won't go about with a mouse and a +megaphone. People might think I looked silly. +People are so queer." +<pb n="214" /><anchor id="Pg214" /></p> + +<p>"Put the mouse in the megaphone," suggested +Burnett. "That's the way my mother taught me +to pack when I was a kid. You put your tooth +brush in a shoe, and the shoe in a sleeve and then +turn the sleeve inside out. Oh, I tell you—what is +home without a mother?—Put the mouse in the +megaphone and stop up both ends. What are your +hands and your mouth for?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mitchell, "I think I see myself so +handling a megaphone that the mouse doesn't run +out either end or into my mouth. My mouth is a +good mouth and it's served me well and I won't +turn it over to a mouse at this late day."</p> + +<p>"Let's keep the mice in their cages," said +Clover, and as he spoke he dropped his.</p> + +<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p> + +<p>"I didn't hurt it," said Clover. "Come on +now."</p> + +<p>"Yes, come on," said Burnett. "It's long after +ten o'clock. You want to remember that even roof +gardens are not eternally on tap."</p> + +<p>"Well, I'm trying to hurry all I can," said +Mitchell. "I'm the picture of patience scurrying +for dear life only unable to lay hands on her +gloves."</p> + +<p>"I don't catch what's the trouble," said Aunt +Mary to Jack.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image05" /> +<figure rend="w95" url="images/image05.png"> +<head rend="text-align: center">"The carriage stopped three hundred feet below the level of a roof-garden."</head> +<figDesc>Illustration 5</figDesc></figure></p><p></p> + +<p>"Nothing's the trouble," said Jack, "everything's +<pb n="215" /><anchor id="Pg215" />fine and dandy. We're going out now. +Time of your life, Aunt Mary, time of your +life!"</p> + +<p>They telephoned for a carriage and all got in. +Then Clover slammed the door.</p> + +<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p> + +<p>"Is he going to keep saying that?" Burnett +asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Jack. "It comes in pretty +pat, don't it?"</p> + +<p>"Makes me think of my mother," said Clover. +"I wish it wouldn't."</p> + +<p>"I don't catch who's sayin' what," said Aunt +Mary.</p> + +<p>"Nobody's saying anything, Miss Watkins," +roared Mitchell; "we are all talking airy nothings +just to pass the time o' day."</p> + +<p>The carriage stopped three hundred feet below +the level of a roof garden.</p> + +<p>"We get out here," said Burnett.</p> + +<p>They all got out and went up in an elevator.</p> + +<p>"Seems to be a good many goin' to the same +place," said Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mitchell, "a good many people +generally go to places that are great places for a +good many people to go to."</p> + +<p>"You ought not to end with a preposition," +said Clover. +<pb n="216" /><anchor id="Pg216" /></p> + +<p>"There, I left my ear-trumpet in the carriage!" +said Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>There was a pause of consternation. No one +spoke except the parrot.</p> + +<p>"We know what she's done without your telling +us," said Clover, addressing the bird. "The +question is what to do next?"</p> + +<p>Jack went back downstairs and found the carriage +waiting in hopes of picking up another +load. He lost no time in personally picking up the +ear-trumpet and returning to his friends.</p> + +<p>Then they all proceeded above and bought a +table and turned their chairs to the stage, where +the attraction just at that moment was a quartette +of pretty girls.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you what we'll do," said Burnett the +instant the girls began to sing. "Let's each tie +a card to a mouse and present them to the girls!"</p> + +<p>The suggestion found favor and was followed +out to the letter. But when the girls were through +and the Chinaman who followed them on the programme +was also over, the pleasures of life in that +spot palled upon the party.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come," said Burnett, "let's go somewhere +else. Let's go out in the air."</p> + +<p>His suggestion found favor. And they sallied +forth and visited another roof garden, a theater +where they saw the last quarter of the fourth act, +<pb n="217" /><anchor id="Pg217" />a place where Aunt Mary was given a gondola +ride, and a place where she was given something +in the shape of light refreshments.</p> + +<p>Then, becoming thirsty, they ordered a few +White Horses and Red Horses and the Necks of +yet other horses, but Aunt Mary declined the horses +of all colors and Mitchell upheld her.</p> + +<p>"That's right," he said, "I'm a great believer +in knowing when you've had enough, and I'm sure +you've all had so much too much that I know that +I must have had enough and that she's better +off with none at all."</p> + +<p>"I reckon you're right," said Clover. "I've +had enough, surely. I can't see over my pile of +little saucers, and when I can't see over my pile of +little saucers I'm always positive that I've had +enough."</p> + +<p>Jack laughed and then ceased laughing and drew +down the corners of his mouth.</p> + +<p>"Why do people sit on chairs?" Clover asked +just then. "Why don't everyone sit on the +floor? You never feel as if you might slip off +the floor."</p> + +<p>"Ah," said Mitchell, "if we were not always +trying to rise above Nature we should all be sitting +where Nature intended,—when we weren't swinging +by our tails and picking cocoanuts."</p> + +<p>"Come on and let's go somewhere else," said +<pb n="218" /><anchor id="Pg218" />Burnett. "Every time I look at somebody it's +someone else and that makes me nervous."</p> + +<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot.</p> + +<p>"Did you know his long suit when you bought +him?" Clover asked Burnett.</p> + +<p>"No," said Burnett; "they told me that he +didn't use slang and that was all."</p> + +<p>It was well along in the evening—or night—and +a brisk discussion arose as to where to go next.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," said Clover, "we'll take a ride. +Let me see what time is it?—12.30. Just the +time for a drive. We'll take three cabs and sally +forth and drive up and down and back and forth +in the cool night air."</p> + +<p>"And jews-harps!" cried Burnett. "Oh, I +say, there's a bully idea! We'll go to a drug +store and buy some jews-harps and play on them +as we drive along. We'll each sing our own tune, +and the effect will be so novel. Let's do it."</p> + +<p>"Jews-harps—" said Clover thoughtfully, +"jews-harps for three cabs—that'll make—let me +see—that'll make—" he hesitated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the driver will make the change," said +Burnett impatiently. "Come on. If we're going +to have the cabs and jews-harps it's time to +get out and take the stump in the good cause."</p> + +<p>"Where's my ear-trumpet?" said Aunt Mary, +blankly,—"it's been left somewhere." +<pb n="219" /><anchor id="Pg219" /></p> + +<p>"No, it hasn't," said Mitchell. "It's here! +I'm holding it for you. It's much easier holding it +than picking it up. It seems so slippery to-night."</p> + +<p>"I'm not going out to get the cabs," said Clover. +"I thought of the idea and someone else must +work it out. I'm opposed to working after time +and I call time at midnight."</p> + +<p>Mitchell rose with a depressed air.</p> + +<p>"I'll go," he said. "I feel the need of a walk. +When I feel the need of anything I always take it +and I've needed and taken so freely to-night that +I need to take a walk to—"</p> + +<p>"I don't think it funny to talk that way," said +Burnett a little heatedly. "If you want to get the +cabs why get the cabs. I'm going to get them, too, +and I reckon we can get them combined just as easy +as alone."</p> + +<p>"I will go with you," said his friend solemnly. +"I will accompany you because I feel the need—" +He stopped and turned his hat over and +over. "I know there's a hole to put my head +into," he declared, "but I can't just put my hand—I +mean my head—on to—I mean, into—it."</p> + +<p>"Do you expect to find a brass hand pointing to +it?" said Burnett testily. "Come on!"</p> + +<p>"Three cabs and five—or was it six?—jews-harps?" +continued Mitchell dreamily. "It must +have been six, five for we five, and one for Lord +<pb n="220" /><anchor id="Pg220" />Chesterfield—but where is Lord Chesterfield?" +he asked suddenly with a disturbed glance around. +"I hope he hasn't deserted and gone home."</p> + +<p>"Come on, come on!" said Burnett. "There +won't be a sober cab left if we don't hurry while +everything is still able to stand up."</p> + +<p>This reasoning seemed to alarm Mitchell and +he went out with him at once.</p> + +<p>"My head feels awfully," said Clover to Jack. +"It sort of grinds and grates—does yours?"</p> + +<p>Jack stared straight ahead and made no reply.</p> + +<p>"I'm goin' home no more to roam," said Aunt +Mary slowly and sadly,—"I'm goin' home no +more to roam, no more to sin an' sorrow. I'm +goin' home no more to roam—I'm goin' home +to-morrow. O hum!" She heaved a heavy sigh.</p> + +<p>"Now see what you've done!" said the parrot +with emphasis.</p> + +<p>"Never mind," said Clover bitterly. "Better +people than you have gone home before now; I +used to do it myself before I was old enough to +know worse. Will you excuse me if I say, 'Damn +this buzzing in my head?'"</p> + +<p>"I know how you feel," said Aunt Mary sympathetically. +"Don't you want me to ring for the +porter and have him make up your berth right +away?"</p> + +<p>Clover didn't seem to hear. His eyes were +<pb n="221" /><anchor id="Pg221" />roving moodily about the room; they looked +almost as faded as his mustache.</p> + +<p>"Seems to me they're gone a long time," said +Jack presently, twisting a little in his seat. "It +never takes me so long to get a cab. I hold up my +hand—the man stops—and I get in—what's the +matter, Aunt Mary?" He asked the question in +sudden alarm at seeing Aunt Mary bury her face +hastily in her handkerchief.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" he repeated loudly.</p> + +<p>"Don't mind me," said Aunt Mary sobbing. +"It's just that I happened to just think of Lu—Lu—Lucinda—and +somehow I don't seem to have +no strength to bear it."</p> + +<p>"Split the handkerchief between us," said +Clover. "I want to cry, too, and there's no time +like the present for doing what you want to do."</p> + +<p>"Rot!" said Jack, "look here—"</p> + +<p>He was interrupted by the return of the embassy, +Mitchell bearing the jews-harps.</p> + +<p>"What's the matter?" Burnett asked.</p> + +<p>"Nothing," said Clover; "we were so worried +over you, that's all." Burnett called for the bill +and found that he had run out of cash; "Or maybe +I've had my pocket picked," he suggested. "I'm +beginning to be in just the mood in which I always +get my pocket picked."</p> + +<p>Jack produced a roll of bills and settled for the +<pb n="222" /><anchor id="Pg222" />refreshments. Then they all started down stairs +as Aunt Mary wouldn't risk an elevator going +down.</p> + +<p>"It's all right comin' up," she said, "but if it +broke when you were going down where'd +you be?"</p> + +<p>"In the elevator," said Clover. "I'd never +jump, I know that."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I've left my ear-trumpet," said Aunt +Mary.</p> + +<p>"Let's draw lots to see who goes back?" Burnett +suggested.</p> + +<p>They drew and the lot fell to Clover.</p> + +<p>"I'm not going back," he said coldly. "I +haven't got the energy. Let her apply the megaphone."</p> + +<p>Jack went back.</p> + +<p>Then they all got into the street and into the +cabs. Aunt Mary and Jack went first, Mitchell +and Burnett second, and Clover brought up the +rear alone.</p> + +<p>They set off and it must be admitted that the +effect of the three cabs going single file one after +another with their five occupants giving forth a +most imperfect version of his or her favorite tune, +was at once novel and awe-inspiring. But like all +sweet things upon this earth the concert was not of +long endurance. It was only a few minutes before +<pb n="223" /><anchor id="Pg223" />the duos ceased utterly to duo and the soloist in the +rear fell sound asleep. For several blocks there +was a mournful and tell-tale lack of harmony upon +the air and then the three young men seemed to +have exhausted their mouths and all lapsed into a +more or less conscious state of quietude.</p> + +<p>Only Aunt Mary was indefatigable. Like Cleopatra, +age seemed to have no power to stale her +infinite variety, and leaning back in her own corner +she continued to placidly and peacefully intone with +disregard for time and tune which never ruffled +a wrinkle. She hadn't played on a jews-harp in +sixty years, and being deaf she was pleasantly astonished +at how well she still did it. Jack leaned in +his corner with folded arms; he was deeply conscious +of wishing that it was the next day—any +day—any other day—for the week had been a +wearing one and he could not but be mortally glad +that it was so nearly over. The task of fitting +the plan of Aunt Mary's revelries to the measure +of her personal capacity had been a very hard one +and his soul panted for relief therefrom. It is +one thing to undertake a task and another thing +to persevere to its successful completion. Aunt +Mary's nephew was tired—very tired.</p> + +<p>A little later he felt a weight against him; he +looked; it was Aunt Mary's head,—she was oblivious +there on his bosom. +<pb n="224" /><anchor id="Pg224" /></p> + +<p>He heard a voice; it was the parrot.</p> + +<p>"Now see what you've done," it said in sepulchral +tones.</p> + +<p>They reached the house, bore the honored guest +within, and delivered her to Janice.</p> + +<p>"You can have that parrot," Jack called back +to the cabman. "He's guaranteed against slang."</p> + +<p>The cabman drove away.</p> + +<p>Janice received them with a look which might +have been construed in many ways, but they were +all far past construing and the look fell to the +ground unheeded.</p> + +<p>And again Aunt Mary was tucked carefully up +to dream herself rested once more.</p> +</div> +<pb n="225" /><anchor id="Pg225" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Eighteen - A Departure And A Return</head> + + +<p>The next day poor Aunt Mary had to +undergo the ordeal of being obliged to +turn her face away from all those joys +which had so suddenly and brilliantly altered the +hues of life for her. It pretty nearly used her up. +She took her reviving decoction with tears standing +in her eyes,—and sat down the glass with a bursting +sigh. "My, but I wish I knew when I'd be +taking any more of this?" she said to Janice.</p> + +<p>"Oh, you'll come back to the city some day," +said the maid hopefully.</p> + +<p>"Come back!" said Aunt Mary. "Well, I +should say that I would come back! Why—I—?" +she stopped suddenly, "never mind," she said +after a minute, "only you'll see that I'll come +back. Pretty surely—pretty positively."</p> + +<p>Janice was folding her dresses into the small +trunk. Aunt Mary contemplated the green plaid +waist with an air of mournful reflection.</p> + +<p>"I believe I'll always keep that waist rolled +away," she murmured. "I shall like to shake it +out once in a while to remind me of things." +<pb n="226" /><anchor id="Pg226" /></p> + +<p>"Hand me my purse," she said to the maid five +minutes afterwards. "Here's twenty-five dollars +an' I want you to take it and get anythin' you +like with it."</p> + +<p>"But that's too much," Janice cried, putting her +hands behind her and shaking her head.</p> + +<p>"Take it," said Aunt Mary imperiously; +"you're well worth it."</p> + +<p>"I don't like to—truly," said the girl.</p> + +<p>"Take it," said Aunt Mary sternly.</p> + +<p>So Janice took it and thanked her.</p> + +<p>The train went about 4 p.m., and it seemed +wise to give the traveller a quiet luncheon in her +own room and rally her escort afterwards.</p> + +<p>When she had eaten and drank she sighed again +and thoughtfully folded her napkin.</p> + +<p>"I've had a nice time," she said, gazing fixedly +out of the window. "I've had a nice time, and I +guess those young men have enjoyed it, too. I +rather think my bein' here has given them a chance +to go to a good many places where they'd never +have thought of goin' alone. I'm pretty sure +of it."</p> + +<p>Janice made no reply.</p> + +<p>"But it's all over now," said Aunt Mary with +something that sounded suspiciously like a sob in +her voice, "an' I haven't got only just one consolation +left an' that's—" again she paused. +<pb n="227" /><anchor id="Pg227" /></p> + +<p>Janice carried the tray away and the next minute +they all burst in bearing their parting gifts in +their arms.</p> + +<p>The gifts were an indiscriminate collection of +flowers, candy, magazines, books, etc.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary opened her closet door and showed +the four dressing-cases. Everyone but Jack was +mightily surprised and everyone was mightily +pleased. The room looked like Christmas, and the +faces, too.</p> + +<p>"I shall die with my head on the hair brush," +Clover declared, and Mitchell went down on his +knees and kissed Aunt Mary's hand.</p> + +<p>"You must all come an' see me if you ever go +anywhere near," said the old lady. "Now +promise."</p> + +<p>"We promise," they yelled in unison, and then +they asked in beautiful rhythm "What's the matter +with Aunt Mary?" and yelled the answer +"She's all right!" with a fervor that nearly blew +out the window.</p> + +<p>"I declare," Aunt Mary exclaimed, as the +echoes settled back among the furniture, "when +I think of Lucinda seems as if—" she paused; +further speech was for the nonce impossible.</p> + +<p>"The carriages are ready," Janice announced +at the door, and from then until they reached the +train all was confusion and bustle. +<pb n="228" /><anchor id="Pg228" /></p> + +<p>Only the train whistle could drown the farewells +which they poured into her ear-trumpet, and +when they could hover in her drawing-room no +longer they stood outside the window as long as +the window was there to stand outside of. And +then they watched it until it was out of sight, and +after that turned solemnly away.</p> + +<p>"By grab!" said Burnett, "I think she ought +to leave us all fortunes. I never was so completely +done up in my life."</p> + +<p>"My throat's blistered," said Clover feebly; +"I'm going to stand on my head and gargle with +salve until my throat's healed."</p> + +<p>"I shall never shine on the team again," said +Mitchell. "I shall hire out for bleacher work. +He who has successfully conversed with Aunt +Mary need not fear to attack a Wagner Opera +single-handed."</p> + +<p>Jack did not say anything. His heart was +athirst for Mrs. Rosscott.</p> + +<p>She was back in her own library the next night, +and he rushed thither as soon as his first day's +labor was over. She was prettier and her eyes +were sweeter and brighter than ever as she rose +to meet him and held out—first one hand, and +then both. He took the one hand and then the +two and the longing that possessed him was so +overwhelming that only his acute consideration +<pb n="229" /><anchor id="Pg229" />for all she was to him kept him from taking more +yet.</p> + +<p>"And the week's over," she said, when she had +dragged her fingers out of his and gone and nestled +down upon the divan, among the pillows that +rivaled each other in their attempts to get closer +to her, "the week's all over and our aunt is +gone."</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, rolling his favorite chair up +near to her seat, "all is over and well over."</p> + +<p>She smiled and he smiled too.</p> + +<p>"She must have enjoyed it," she said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"Enjoyed it!" said Jack. "She won't like Paradise +in comparison."</p> + +<p>"And you've been a good boy," said Mrs. Rosscott, +regarding him merrily. "You've played +your part well."</p> + +<p>He rose to his feet and put his hand to his +temple.</p> + +<p>"I salute my general," he said. "I was well +trained in the maneuver."</p> + +<p>"It's odd," said Mrs. Rosscott thoughtfully. +"It was really so simple. We are only women +after all, whether it is I—or Aunt Mary—or all +the rest of the world. We do so crave the knowledge +that someone cares for us—for our hours—for +our pleasures. It isn't the bonbons—it's that +<pb n="230" /><anchor id="Pg230" />someone troubled to buy the bonbons because he +thought that they would please <hi rend="font-style: italic">us</hi>."</p> + +<p>"Doesn't a man have the same feeling?" Jack +asked. "It isn't the tea we come for—it's the +knowledge that someone bothers to make it and +sugar it and cream it."</p> + +<p>"I wasn't laughing," said she.</p> + +<p>"I wasn't laughing either," said he.</p> + +<p>"But it's true," she went on, "and I think the +solution of many unhappy puzzles lies there. Don't +forget if you ever have a wife to pay lots of attention +to her."</p> + +<p>"I always have paid lots of attention to her, +haven't I?" he demanded.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott shook her head.</p> + +<p>"We won't discuss that," she said. "We'll +stick to Aunt Mary. Aunt Mary is a rock whose +foundation is firm; when it comes to your relations +toward other women—" she stopped, +shrugging her shoulders, and he understood.</p> + +<p>"But it's going to come out all right now, I'm +sure," she went on after a minute, "and I'm so +glad—so very glad—that the chance was given +to me to right the wrong that I was the +cause of."</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image06" /> +<figure rend="w95" url="images/image06.png"> +<head rend="text-align: center">"'And now the fun's all over and the work begins,' she said, looking down."</head> +<figDesc>Illustration 6</figDesc></figure></p><p></p> + +<p>He looked at her and his eyes almost burned, +they were so strong in their leaping desire to fling +himself at her feet and adore her goodness and +<pb n="231" /><anchor id="Pg231" />sweetness and worldliness and wisdom from that +vantage-ground of worship.</p> + +<p>She choked a little at the glance and put her +hands together in her lap with a quick catching at +self-control.</p> + +<p>"And now the fun's all over and the work +begins," she said, looking down.</p> + +<p>"I know that," he asseverated.</p> + +<p>She lifted up her eyes and looked at him so very +kindly. And then—after a little pause to gain +command of word and thought she spoke again, +slowly.</p> + +<p>"Listen," she said, this time very softly, but +very seriously. "I want to tell you one thing and I +want to tell it to you now. I had a good and sufficient +reason for helping you out with Aunt Mary; +but—" She hesitated.</p> + +<p>"But?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"But I've no reason at all for helping your Aunt +Mary out with you, unless you prove worthy of +her, and—"</p> + +<p>"And?"</p> + +<p>She looked at him, and shook her head slightly.</p> + +<p>"I won't say 'and of me,'" she said finally.</p> + +<p>"Why not?" he asked, a storm of tempestuous +impatience raging behind his lips. "Do say it," +he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"No, I can't say it. It wouldn't be right. +<pb n="232" /><anchor id="Pg232" />I don't mean it, and so I won't say it. I'll only +tell you that I can promise nothing as things +are, and that unless you go at life from now on +with a tremendous energy I never shall even dream +of a possible promising."</p> + +<p>He rose to his feet and towered above her, tall +and straight and handsome, and very grave.</p> + +<p>"All right," he said simply. "I'll remember."</p> + +<p>Ever so much later that evening he rose to bid +her good-night.</p> + +<p>"Whatever comes, you've been an angel to me," +he said in that hasty five seconds that her hand was +his.</p> + +<p>"Shall I ever regret it?" she asked, looking up +to his eyes.</p> + +<p>"Never," he declared earnestly, "never, +never. I can swear that, and I shall be able to +swear the same thing when I'm as old as my Aunt +Mary."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott lowered her eyes.</p> + +<p>"Who could ask more?" she said softly.</p> + +<p>"I could," said Jack—"but I'll wait first."</p> +</div> +<pb n="233" /><anchor id="Pg233" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Nineteen - Aunt Mary's Return</head> + + +<p>Joshua was at the station to meet his +mistress, and Lucinda, full to the brim with +curiosity, sat on the back seat of the carryall.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary quitted the train with a dignity +which was sufficiently overpowering to counteract +the effect of her bonnet's being somewhat awry. +She greeted Joshua with a chill perfunctoriness +that was indescribable, and her glance glided completely +over Lucinda and faded away in the open +country on the further side of her.</p> + +<p>Lucinda did not care. Lucinda was of a hardy +stock and stormy glances neither bent nor broke +her spirit.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad to see you come back looking so +well," she screamed, when Aunt Mary was in and +they were off.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary raised her eyebrows in a manner +that appeared a trifle indignant, and riveted her +gaze on the hindquarters of the horse.</p> + +<p>"I thought it was more like heaven myself," +she said coldly. "Not that your opinion matters +any to me, Lucinda." +<pb n="234" /><anchor id="Pg234" /></p> + +<p>Then she leaned forward and poked the +driver.</p> + +<p>"Joshua!" she said.</p> + +<p>Joshua jumped in his seat at the asperity of her +poke and her tone.</p> + +<p>"What is it?" he said hastily.</p> + +<p>"Jus' 's soon as we get home I want you to take +the saw—that little, sharp one, you know—and +dock Billy's tail. Cut it off as close as you can; +do you hear?"</p> + +<p>"I hear," was the startled answer.</p> + +<p>"Did you have a good time?" Lucinda had the +temerity to ask, after a minute.</p> + +<p>"I guess I could if I tried," the lady replied; +"but I'm too tired to try now."</p> + +<p>"How did you leave Mr. Jack?"</p> + +<p>"I couldn't stay forever, could I?" asked the +traveler impatiently. "I thought that a week was +long enough for the first time, anyhow."</p> + +<p>Lucinda subsided and the rest of the drive was +taken in silence. When they reached the house +Aunt Mary enveloped everything in one glance of +blended weariness, scorn and contempt, and then +made short work of getting to bed, where she slept +the luxurious and dreamless sleep of the unjust until +late that afternoon.</p> + +<p>"My, but she's come back a terror!" Lucinda +cried to Joshua in a high whisper when he brought +<pb n="235" /><anchor id="Pg235" />in the trunk. "She looks like nothin' was goin' +to be good enough for her from now on."</p> + +<p>"Nothin' ain't goin' to be good enough for +her," said Joshua calmly.</p> + +<p>"What are we goin' to do, then?" asked +Lucinda.</p> + +<p>"We'll have enough to do," said Joshua, in a +tone that was portentous in the extreme, and then +he placed the trunk in its proper position for +unpacking and went away, leaving Lucinda to +unpack it.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary awoke just as the faithful servant +was unrolling the green plaid waist, and the instant +that she spoke it was plain that her attitude +toward life in general was become strangely and +vigorously changed, and that for Lucinda the rack +was to be newly oiled and freshly racking.</p> + +<p>This attitude was not in any degree altered by +the unexpected arrival of Arethusa that evening. +Strange tales had reached Arethusa's ears, and she +had flown on the wings of steam and coal dust to +see what under the sun it all meant. Aunt Mary +was not one bit rejoiced to see her and the glare +which she directed over the edge of the counterpane +bore testimony to the truth of this statement.</p> + +<p>"Whatever did you come for?" she demanded +inhospitably. "Lucinda didn't send for you, did +she?" +<pb n="236" /><anchor id="Pg236" /></p> + +<p>Arethusa screamed the best face that she could +onto her visit, but Aunt Mary listened with an +inattention that was anything but flattering.</p> + +<p>"I don't feel like talkin' over my trip," she said, +when she saw her niece's lips cease to move. "Of +course I enjoyed myself because I was with Jack, +but as to what we did an' said you couldn't understand +it all if I did tell you, so what's the use of +botherin'."</p> + +<p>Arethusa looked neutral, calm and curious. But +Aunt Mary frowned and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"S'long as you're here, though, I suppose you +may as well make yourself useful," she said a few +minutes later. "Come to think of it, there's an +errand I want you to do for me. I want you to go +to Boston the very first thing to-morrow morning +an' buy me some cotton."</p> + +<p>Arethusa stared blankly.</p> + +<p>"Well," said the aunt, "if you can't hear, you'd +better take my ear-trumpet and I'll say it over +again."</p> + +<p>"What kind of cotton?" Arethusa yelled.</p> + +<p>"Not <hi rend="font-style: italic">stockin's!</hi>" said Aunt Mary; "Cotton! +Cotton! C-O-T-T-O-N! It beats the Dutch +how deaf everyone is gettin', an' if I had your ears +in particular, Arethusa, I'd certainly hire a carpenter +to get at 'em with a bit-stalk. Jus's if you didn't +know as well as I do how many stockin's I've got +<pb n="237" /><anchor id="Pg237" />already! I should think you'd quit bein' so heedless, +an' use your commonsense, anyhow. I've +found commonsense a very handy thing in talkin' +always. Always."</p> + +<p>Arethusa launched herself full tilt into the ear-trumpet.</p> + +<p>"What—kind—of—cotton?" she asked in that +key of voice which makes the crowd pause in a +panic.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked disgusted.</p> + +<p>"The Boston kind," she said, nipping her lips.</p> + +<p>Arethusa took a double hitch on her larynx, and +tried again.</p> + +<p>"Do you mean thread?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's disgust deepened visibly.</p> + +<p>"If I meant silk I guess I wouldn't say cotton. +I might just happen to say silk. I've been in the +habit of saying silk when I meant silk and cotton +when I meant cotton, for quite a number of +years, and I might not have changed to-day—I +might just happen to not have. I might not have—maybe."</p> + +<p>Arethusa withered under this bitter irony.</p> + +<p>"How many spools do you want?" she asked +in a meek but piercing howl.</p> + +<p>"I don't care," said Aunt Mary loftily. "I +don't care how many—or what color—or what +number. I just want some Boston cotton, and I +<pb n="238" /><anchor id="Pg238" />want to see you settin' out to get it pretty promptly +to-morrow morning."</p> + +<p>"But if you only want some cotton," Arethusa +yelled, with a force which sent crimson waves all +over her, "why can't I get it in the village?"</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary shot one look at her niece and the +latter felt the concussion.</p> + +<p>"Because—I—want—you—to—get—it—in—Boston," +she said, filling the breaks between her +words with a concentrated essence of acerbity such +as even she had never displayed before. "When +I say a thing, I mean it pretty generally. Quite +often—most always. I want that cotton and it's +to be bought in Boston. There's a train that goes +in at seven-forty-five, and if you don't favor the +idea of ridin' on it you can take the express that +goes by at six-five."</p> + +<p>Arethusa pressed her hands very tightly together +and carried the discussion no further. She went to +bed early and rose early the next morning and +Joshua drove her in town to the seven-forty-five.</p> + +<p>"It doesn't seem to me that my aunt is very +well," the niece said during the drive. "What do +you think?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think anything about her," said Joshua +with great candor. "If I was to give to thinkin' +I'd o' moved out to Chicago an' been scalpin' +Indians to-day." +<pb n="239" /><anchor id="Pg239" /></p> + +<p>"I wonder if that trip to New York was good +for her?" Arethusa wondered mildly.</p> + +<p>Joshua flicked Billy with the whip and refused to +voice any opinion as to New York's effect on his +mistress.</p> + +<p>Arethusa was well on her way to Boston when +Aunt Mary's bell, rung with a sharp jangle, summoned +Lucinda to open her bedroom blinds. While +Lucinda was leaning far out and attempting to +cause said blinds to catch on the hooks, which +habitually held them back against the side of the +house, her mistress addressed her with a suddeness +which showed that she had awakened with her wits +surprisingly well in hand.</p> + +<p>"Where's Joshua? Is he got back from Arethusa? +Answer me, Lucinda."</p> + +<p>Lucinda drew herself in through the open window +with an alacrity remarkable for one of her +years.</p> + +<p>"Yes, he's back," she yelled.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked at her with a sort of incensed +patience.</p> + +<p>"Well, what's he doin'? If he's back, where is +he? Lucinda, if you knew how hard it is for me to +keep quiet you'd answer when I asked things. Why +in Heaven's name don't you say suthin'? Anythin'? +Anythin' but nothin', that is."</p> + +<p>"He's mowin'," Lucinda shrieked. +<pb n="240" /><anchor id="Pg240" /></p> + +<p>"Sewin'!" exclaimed Aunt Mary. "What's he +sewin'? Where's he sewin'? Have you stopped +doin' his darnin'?"</p> + +<p>Lucinda gathered breath by compressing her +sides with her hands, and then replied, directing her +voice right into the ear-trumpet:</p> + +<p>"He's mowin' the back lawn."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary winced and shivered.</p> + +<p>"My heavens, Lucinda!" she exclaimed, +sharply. "I wish't there was a school to teach outsiders +the use of an ear-trumpet. They can't seem +to hit the medium between either mumblin' or +splittin' one's ear drums."</p> + +<p>Lucinda was too much out of breath from her +effort to attempt any audible penitence. Her mistress +continued:</p> + +<p>"Well, you find him wherever he is, and tell +him to harness up the buggy and go and get Mr. +Stebbins as quick as ever he can. Hurry!"</p> + +<p>Lucinda exited with a promptitude that fulfilled +all that her lady's heart could wish. She found +Joshua whetting his scythe.</p> + +<p>"She wants Mr. Stebbins right off," said +Lucinda.</p> + +<p>"Then she'll get Mr. Stebbins right off," said +Joshua. And he headed immediately for the barn.</p> + +<p>Lucinda ran along beside him. It did seem to +Lucinda as if in compensation for her slavery to +<pb n="241" /><anchor id="Pg241" />Aunt Mary she might have had a sympathizer in +Joshua.</p> + +<p>"I guess she wants to change her will," she +panted, very much out of breath.</p> + +<p>"Then she'll change her will," said Joshua. +And as his steady gait was much quicker than poor +Lucinda's halting amble, and as he saw no occasion +to alter it, the conversation between them dwindled +into space then and there.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later Billy went out of the drive +at a swinging pace and an hour after that Mr. +Stebbins was brought captive to Aunt Mary's +throne.</p> + +<p>She welcomed him cordially; Lucinda was +promptly locked out, and then the old lady and her +lawyer spent a momentous hour together. Mr. +Stebbins was taken into his client's fullest confidence; +he was regaled with enough of the week's +history to guess the rest; and he foresaw the outcome +as he had foreseen it from the moment of the +rupture.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary was very sincere in owning up to her +own past errors.</p> + +<p>"I made a big mistake about the life that boy +was leadin'," she said in the course of the conversation. +"He took me everywhere where he was in +the habit of goin', an' so far from its bein' wicked, +I never enjoyed myself so much in my life. There +<pb n="242" /><anchor id="Pg242" />ain't no harm in havin' fun, an' it does cost a lot of +money. I can understand it all now, an' as I'm a +great believer in settin' wrong right whenever you +can, I want Jack put right in my will right off. I +want—" and then were unfolded the glorious +possibilities of the future for her youngest, petted +nephew. He was not only to be reinstated in the +will, but he was to reign supreme. The other four +children were to be rich—very rich,—but Jack was +to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi> heir.</p> + +<p>Mr. Stebbins was well pleased. He was very +fond of Jack and had always been particularly +patient with him on that account. He felt that this +was a personal reward of merit, for it cannot be +denied that Jack had certainly cashed very large +checks on the bank of his forbearance.</p> + +<p>When all was finished, and Joshua and Lucinda +had been called in and had duly affixed their signatures +to the important document, the buggy was +brought to the door again and Mr. Stebbins stepped +in and allowed himself to be replaced where they +had taken him from.</p> + +<p>Joshua returned alone.</p> + +<p>"There, what did I tell you!" said Lucinda, +who was waiting for him behind the wood-house,—"she +did want to change her will."</p> + +<p>"Well, she changed it, didn't she?" said +Joshua. +<pb n="243" /><anchor id="Pg243" /></p> + +<p>"I guess she wants to give him all she's got, +since that week in New York," said Lucinda.</p> + +<p>"Then she'll give him all she's got," said +Joshua.</p> + +<p>Lucinda's eyes grew big.</p> + +<p>"An' she'll give it to you, too, if you don't look +out and stay where you can hear her bell if she +rings it," Joshua added, with his usual frankness, +and then he whipped up Billy and drove on to the +barn.</p> + +<p>Arethusa returned late in the afternoon, very +warm, very wilted. Aunt Mary looked over the +cotton purchase, and deigned to approve.</p> + +<p>"But, my heavens, Arethusa," she exclaimed +immediately afterwards, "if you had any idea how +dirty and dusty and altogether awful you do look, +you wouldn't be able to get to soap and water fast +enough."</p> + +<p>At that poor Arethusa sighed, and, gathering up +her hat, and hat-pins, and veil, and gloves, and +purse, and handkerchief, went away to wash.</p> +</div> +<pb n="244" /><anchor id="Pg244" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Twenty - Jack's Joy</head> + + +<p>About the first of July many agreeable things +happened.</p> + +<p>One was that Mr. Stebbins found it advisable +to address a discreet letter to John Watkins, +Jr., Denham, conveying the information that although +he must not count unduly upon the future, +still, if he behaved himself, he might with safety +allow his expenditures to mount upward monthly to +a certain limit. This was the way in which Aunt +Mary salved her conscience and saved her pride all +at once.</p> + +<p>"I don't want him to think that I don't mean +things when I say 'em," she had carefully explained +to Mr. Stebbins, "but I can't bear to think that +there's anybody in New York without money +enough to have a good time there."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stebbins had made a note of the sum which +the allowance was to compass and had promised to +write the letter at once.</p> + +<p>"What did you do the last time you were in the +city?" Aunt Mary asked.</p> + +<p>"I was much occupied with business," said the +<pb n="245" /><anchor id="Pg245" />lawyer, "but I found time to visit the Metropolitan +Museum of Art and—"</p> + +<p>"Good gracious!" exclaimed Aunt Mary, +"who was takin' you 'round! I never had a second +for any museums or arts;—you ought to have seen +a vaudeville, or that gondola place! I was ferried +around four times and the music lasted all +through." She stopped and reflected. "I guess +you can make that money a hundred a month +more," she said slowly. "I don't want the boy +to ever feel stinted or have to run in debt."</p> + +<p>Mr. Stebbins smiled, and the result was that Jack +began to pay up the bills for his aunt's entertainment +very much more rapidly than he had anticipated +doing.</p> + +<p>Another pleasant thing was that a week or so +later—very soon after Mrs. Rosscott had given +up her town house and returned to the protection +of the parental slate-tiles—Burnett's father, a +peppery but jovial old gentleman (we all know +the kind), suddenly asked why Bob never came +home any more. This action on the part of the +head of the house being tantamount to the completest +possible forgiveness and obliviousness of the +past, Burnett's mother, of whom the inquiry had +been made, wept tears of sincerest joy and wrote +to the youngest of her flock to return to the ancestral +fold just as soon as he possibly could. He +<pb n="246" /><anchor id="Pg246" />came, and as a result, a fortnight later Jack came, +and Mitchell came, and Clover came. Mrs. Rosscott, +as we have previously stated, was already +there, and so were Maude Lorne and a great many +others. Some of the others were pretty girls and +Burnett and two of his friends found plenty to +amuse them, but Burnett's dearest friend, his +bosom friend, his Fidus Achates, found no one to +amuse him, because he was in earnest, and had eyes +for no feminine prettiness, his sight being dazzled +by the radiance of one surpassing loveliness. He +had worked tremendously hard the first month of +daily laboring, and felt he deserved a reward. Be +it said for Jack that the reward of which Aunt +Mary had the bestowing counted for very little +with him except in its relation to the far future. +The real goal which he was striving toward, the +real laurels that he craved—Ah! they lay in +another direction.</p> + +<p>Middle July is a lovely time to get off among the +trees and grass, and lie around in white flannels or +white muslins, just as the case may be. It was too +warm to do much else than that, and Heaven knows +that Jack desired nothing better, as long as his goddess +smiled upon him.</p> + +<p>It was curious about his goddess. She seemed to +grow more beautiful every time that he saw her. +Perhaps it was her native air that gave her that +<pb n="247" /><anchor id="Pg247" />charming flush; perhaps it was the joy of being at +home again; perhaps it was—no, he didn't dare +to hope that. Not yet. Not even with all that she +had done for him fresh in his memory. The +humility of true love was so heavy on his heart that +his very dreams were dulled with hopelessness, the +majority of them seeming too vividly dyed in Paradise +hues for their fulfillment in daily life to ever +appear possible. But still he was very, very happy +to be there with her—beside her—and to hear her +voice and look into her eyes whenever the trouble +some "other people" would leave them alone together. +And she did seem happy, too. And so +rejoiced that the tide of Aunt Mary's wrath had +been successfully turned. And so rejoiced that he +was at work, even in the face of her hopes as to his +college career. And also so rejoiced to take up +the gay, careless thread of their mutual pleasure +again.</p> + +<p>The morning after the gathering of the party +was Saturday and an ideal day—that sort of ideal +day when house parties naturally sift into pairs and +then fade away altogether. The country surrounding +our particular party was densely wooded and +not at all settled, the woods were laid out in a +fascinating system of walks and benches which in +no case commanded views of one another, and the +shade overhead was the shade of July and as propitious +<pb n="248" /><anchor id="Pg248" />to rest as it was to motion. Mitchell took a +girl in gray and two sets of golf clubs and started +out in the opposite direction from the links, Clover +took a girl in green and a camera and went another +way, Burnett took a girl in a riding habit and two +saddle horses and followed the horses' noses +whither they led, and Jack—Jack smoked cigarettes +on the piazza and waited—waited.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott came out after a while and asked +him why he didn't go to walk also.</p> + +<p>"Just what I was thinking as to yourself," he +said, very boldly as to voice, and very beseechingly +as to eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I'm so busy," she said, laughing up into +his eyes and then laughing down at the ground—"you +see I'm the only married daughter to help +mamma."</p> + +<p>"But you've been helping all the morning," he +complained, "and besides how can you help? One +would think that your mother was beating eggs or +turning mattresses."</p> + +<p>"I have to work harder than that," said Mrs. +Rosscott; "I have to make people know one another +and like one another and not all want to +make love to the same girl."</p> + +<p>"You can't help their all wanting to make love +to the same girl," said Jack; "the more you try +to convince them of their folly the deeper in love +<pb n="249" /><anchor id="Pg249" />they are bound to fall. I'm an illustration of +that myself."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott looked at him then and curved her +mouth sweetly.</p> + +<p>"You do say such pretty things," she said. "I +don't see how you've learned so much in so little +time. Why, General Jiggs in there is three times +your age and he tangles himself awfully when he +tries to be sweet."</p> + +<p>"Perhaps his physician has recommended gymnastics," +said Jack.</p> + +<p>"Perhaps," said Mrs. Rosscott laughing, and +then she turned as if to go in.</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't," said her lover, barring the way +with great suddenness; "you really mustn't, you +know. I've been patient for so long and been good +for so long and I must be rewarded—I really +must. Do come out with me somewhere—anywhere—for +only a half-hour,—please."</p> + +<p>She looked at him.</p> + +<p>"Won't Maude do?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"No, she won't," he said beneath his breath; +"whatever do you suggest such a thing for? You +make me ready to tell you to your face that you +want to go as bad as I want you to go, but I shan't +say so because I know too much."</p> + +<p>"You do know a lot, don't you?" said she, with +an expression of great respect; "why, if you were +<pb n="250" /><anchor id="Pg250" />to dare to hint to me that I wanted to go out with +you instead of staying in and talking Rembrandt +with Mr. Morley, I'd never forgive you the longest +day I live."</p> + +<p>"I know you wouldn't," said he, "and you may +be quite sure that I shall not say it. On the contrary +I shall merely implore you to forget your own +pleasure in consideration of mine."</p> + +<p>"I really ought to devote the morning to Mr. +Morley," she said meditatively; "it's such an +honor his coming here, you know."</p> + +<p>"A little bit of a whiskered monkey," said Jack +in great disgust; "an honor, indeed!"</p> + +<p>"He's a very great man," said Mrs. Rosscott; +"every sort of institution has given him a few +letters to put after his name, and some have given +him whole syllables."</p> + +<p>"You must get a straw hat, you know, or a sun-shade; +it will be hot in half an hour."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I couldn't stay out half an hour; fifteen +minutes would be the longest."</p> + +<p>"All right, fifteen minutes, then, but do hurry."</p> + +<p>"I didn't say that I would go," she said, opening +her eyes; "and yet I feel myself gone." She +laughed lightly.</p> + +<p>"Do hurry," he pleaded freshly; "oh, I am so +hungry to—"</p> + +<p>She disappeared within doors and five minutes +<pb n="251" /><anchor id="Pg251" />later came back with one of those charming floppy +English garden hats, tied with a muslin bow beneath +her dimpled chin.</p> + +<p>"This is so good of me," she said, as they went +down the steps.</p> + +<p>"Very good, heavenly good," said Jack; and +then neither spoke again until they had crossed the +Italian garden and entered the American wood. +She looked into his eyes then and smiled half-shyly +and half-provokingly.</p> + +<p>"You are such a baby," she said; "such a baby! +Do ask me why and I'll tell you half a dozen whys. +I'd love to."</p> + +<p>The path was the smoothest and shadiest of +forest paths, the hour was the sweetest and sunniest +of summer hours, the moment was the brightest and +happiest of all the moments which they had known +together—up to now.</p> + +<p>"Do tell me," he said; "I'm wild to know."</p> + +<p>He took her hand and laid it on his arm. For +that little while she was certainly his and his alone, +and no man had a better claim to her. "Go on +and tell me," he repeated.</p> + +<p>"There is one big reason and there are lots of +little ones. Which will you have first?"</p> + +<p>"The little ones, please."</p> + +<p>"Then, listen; you are like a baby because you +are impatient, because you are spoilt, because when +<pb n="252" /><anchor id="Pg252" />you want anything you think that you must have +it, and because you like to be walked with."</p> + +<p>"Are those the little reasons," he said when she +paused; "and what's the big one?"</p> + +<p>"The big one," she said slowly; "Oh, I'm +afraid that you won't like the big one!"</p> + +<p>"Perhaps it will be all the better for me if I +don't," he laughed; "at any rate I beg and pray +and plead to know it."</p> + +<p>"What a dear boy!" she laughed. "If you +want to know as badly as that, I'd have to tell +you anyhow, whether I wanted to or not. It's +because I'm so much the oldest."</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said Jack, much disappointed. "Is +that why?"</p> + +<p>"And then too," she continued, "you seem even +younger because of your being so unsophisticated."</p> + +<p>"So I am unsophisticated, am I?" he asked +grimly.</p> + +<p>"Yes," she said nodding; "at least you impress +me so."</p> + +<p>"I'm glad of that," he said after a little pause.</p> + +<p>She looked up quickly.</p> + +<p>"Truly?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, indeed."</p> + +<p>"Oh," she laughed, "if you say that, then I +shall know that you are less unsophisticated than +I thought you were." +<pb n="253" /><anchor id="Pg253" /></p> + +<p>"Why so?" he asked surprised.</p> + +<p>"Don't you know that meek, mild men always +try to insinuate that they are regular fire-eaters, +and vice versa? Well, it's so—and it's so every +time. There was once a man who was kissing me, +and he drew my hands up around his neck in such +a clever, gentle way that I was absolutely positive +that he had had no end of practice drawing arms +up in that way and I just couldn't help saying: +'Oh, how many women you must have kissed!' +What do you think he answered?—merely smiled +and said: 'Not so many as you might imagine.' +He showed how much he knew by the way he +answered, for oh! he had. I found that out +afterwards."</p> + +<p>"What did you do then?" he asked, frowning. +"Cut him?"</p> + +<p>"No; I married him. Why, of course I was +going to marry him when he kissed me, or I +wouldn't have let him kiss me. Do you suppose +I let men kiss me as a general thing? What are +you thinking of?"</p> + +<p>"I was thinking of you," he said. "It's a +horrible habit I've fallen into lately. But, never +mind; keep on talking."</p> + +<p>"I don't remember what I was saying," she said. +"Oh, yes, I do too. About men, about good and +bad men. Now, even if I didn't know how much +<pb n="254" /><anchor id="Pg254" />trouble you'd made in the world, I'd divine it all +the instant that you were willing to admit being +unsophisticated. People always crave to be the +opposite of what they are; the drug shops couldn't +sell any peroxide of hydrogen if that wasn't so."</p> + +<p>He laughed and forgot his previous vexation.</p> + +<p>"Now, look at me," she continued. "Oh, I +didn't mean really—I mean figuratively; but +never mind. Now, I'm nothing but a bubble and a +toy, and I ache to be considered a philosopher. +Don't you remember my telling you what a philosopher +I was, the very first conversation that we +ever had together? I do try so hard to delude +myself into thinking I am one, that some days I'm +almost sure that I really am one. Last night, for +instance, I was thinking how nice it would be for +my Cousin Maude to marry you."</p> + +<p>"Ye gods!" cried Jack.</p> + +<p>"She's so very rich," Mrs. Rosscott pursued +calmly; "and you know the law of heredity is an +established scientific fact now, so you could feel +quite safe as to her nose skipping the next +generation."</p> + +<p>Jack was audibly amused.</p> + +<p>"It's not anything to laugh over," his companion +continued gravely. "It's something to ponder +and pray over. If I were Maude I should +be on my knees about it most of the time." +<pb n="255" /><anchor id="Pg255" /></p> + +<p>"Nothing can help her now," said Jack. "Her +parents have been and gone and done it, as far as +she's concerned, forever. Prayer won't change her +nose, although age may broaden it still more."</p> + +<p>"Don't you believe that nothing can help her +now. A good-looking husband could help her lots. +I've seen homelier girls than she go just everywhere—on +account of their husbands, you know. +That was where my philosophy came in."</p> + +<p>"I'd quite forgotten your philosophy." He +laughed again as he spoke. "I must apologize. +Please tell me more about it."</p> + +<p>She laughed, too.</p> + +<p>"I'm going to. You see, I was lying there, +looking out at the moon, and thinking how nice it +would be for Maude to marry you."</p> + +<p>"Did you consider me at all?" he interposed.</p> + +<p>"How you interrupt!" she declared, in exasperation. +"You never let me finish."</p> + +<p>"I am dumb."</p> + +<p>"Well, I thought how nice it would be for +Maude to marry you. You'd have a baron for a +papa-in-law, and an heiress to balance Aunt Mary +with. If you went into consumption and had to +retreat to Arizona for a term of years, the climate +could not ruin her complexion as it would m—most +people's. And she's so ready to have you that it's +almost pathetic. I can't imagine anything more +<pb n="256" /><anchor id="Pg256" />awful than to be as ready to marry a man who is'nt +at all desirous of so doing, as Maude is of marrying +you. But if you would only think about it. I +thought and thought about it last night and the +longer I thought the more it seemed like such a nice +arrangement all around; and then—all of a sudden—do +you know I began to wonder if I was +philosopher enough to enjoy being matron-of-honor +to Maude and really—"</p> + +<p>"At the wedding I could have kissed you!" he +exclaimed, and suddenly subsided at the look with +which she withered his boldness.</p> + +<p>"And really I wasn't altogether sure; and then, +it occurred to me that nothing on the face of the +earth would ever persuade you to marry Maude. +And I saw my card castle go smashing down, and +then I saw that I really am a philosopher, after all, +for—for I didn't mind a bit!"</p> + +<p>Jack threw his head back and roared.</p> + +<p>"Oh," he said after a minute, "you are so +refreshing. You ruffle me up just to give me the +joy of smoothing me down, don't you?"</p> + +<p>"I do what I can to amuse you," she said, +demurely. "You are my father's guest and my +brother's friend, and so I ought to—oughtn't I?"</p> + +<p>"Yes," he said, "I have a two-fold claim on +you if you look at it that way and some day I mean +to go to work and unfold still another." +<pb n="257" /><anchor id="Pg257" /></p> + +<p>They had come to a delightful little nook where +the trees sighed gently, "Sit down," and there +seemed to be no adequate reason for refusing the +invitation.</p> + +<p>"Let's rest, I know you're tired," the young +man said gently, and the next minute found his +companion down upon the soft grass, her back +against a twisted tree-root and her hands about her +knees.</p> + +<p>He threw himself down beside her and the hush +and the song of mid-summer were all about them, +filling the air, and their ears, and their hearts all at +once.</p> + +<p>Presently he took her hand up out of the grass +where its fingers had wandered to hide themselves, +and kissed it. She looked at him reprovingly when +it was too late, and shook her head.</p> + +<p>"Such a little one!" he said.</p> + +<p>"I call it a pretty big one," she answered.</p> + +<p>"I mean the hand—not the kiss," he said +smiling.</p> + +<p>"You really are sophisticated," she told him. +"Only fancy if you had reversed those nouns!"</p> + +<p>"I know," he said; "but I've kissed hands before. +You see, I'm more talented than you think."</p> + +<p>"Don't be silly," she said smiling. "I really +am beginning to think very well of you. You don't +want me to cease to, do you?" +<pb n="258" /><anchor id="Pg258" /></p> + +<p>"Why do women always say 'Don't be +silly'?" he queried. "I wish I could find one +who wanted to be very original, and so said, 'Do +be silly', just for a change."</p> + +<p>"Dear me, if women were to beg men to be silly +what would happen?" Mrs. Rosscott exclaimed. +"The majority are so very foolish without any +special egging on."</p> + +<p>"But it is so dreadfully time-worn—that one +phrase."</p> + +<p>"Oh, if it comes to originality," she answered, +"men are not original, either. Whenever they lie +down in the shade, they always begin to talk +nonsense. You reflect a bit and see if that isn't +invariably so."</p> + +<p>"But nonsense is such fun to talk in the shade," +he said, spreading her fingers out upon his own +broad palm. "So many things are so next to +heavenly in the shade."</p> + +<p>"You ought not to hold my hand."</p> + +<p>"I know it."</p> + +<p>"I am astonished that you do not remember +your Aunt Mary's teaching you better."</p> + +<p>"She never forbade my holding your hand."</p> + +<p>"Suppose anyone should come suddenly down +the path?"</p> + +<p>"They would see us and turn and go back."</p> + +<p>"To tell everyone—" +<pb n="259" /><anchor id="Pg259" /></p> + +<p>"What?"</p> + +<p>"A lie."</p> + +<p>Jack laughed, folded her hand hard in his, and +drew himself into a sitting posture beside her +knee.</p> + +<p>"Now, don't be silly," she said with earnest +anxiety. "I won't have it. It's putting false ideas +in your head, because I'm really only playing, you +know."</p> + +<p>"The shadow of love," he suggested.</p> + +<p>"Quite so."</p> + +<p>"And if—" He leaned quite near.</p> + +<p>"Not by any means," she exclaimed, springing +quickly to her feet. "Come—come! It's quite +time that we were going back to the house."</p> + +<p>"Why must we?" he remonstrated.</p> + +<p>"You know why," she said. "It's time we were +being sensible. When a man gets as near as you +are, I prefer to be <hi rend="font-style: italic">en promenade</hi>. And don't let us +be foolish any longer, either. Let us be cool and +worldly. How much money has your aunt, anyhow?"</p> + +<p>Jack had risen, too.</p> + +<p>"What impertinence!" he ejaculated.</p> + +<p>"Not at all," she said. "Maude has so much +money of her own that I ask in a wholly disinterested +spirit."</p> + +<p>"She's very rich," said Jack. "But if your +<pb n="260" /><anchor id="Pg260" />spirit is so disinterested, what do you want to know +for?"</p> + +<p>"This is a world of chance, and the main chance +in a woman's case is alimony; so it's always nice to +know how to figure it."</p> + +<p>"It's a slim chance for your cousin," said Jack. +"Do tell her that I said so."</p> + +<p>"No, I shan't," said she perversely. "I won't +be a go-between for you and her. Besides, as to +that alimony, there are more heiresses than Maude +in our family."</p> + +<p>"Yes," said he; "I know that. But I know, +too, that there is one among them who need never +figure on getting any alimony out of me. If I ever +get the iron grasp of the law on that heiress, I can +assure you that only her death or mine will ever +loosen its fangs."</p> + +<p>"How fierce you are!" said Mrs. Rosscott. +"Why do you get so worked up?"</p> + +<p>"Oh," he exclaimed, with something approaching +a groan, "I don't mean to be—but I do care +so much! And sometimes—" he caught her +quickly in his arms, drew her within their strong +embrace, and kissed her passionately upon the lips +that had been tantalizing him for five interminable +months.</p> + +<p>He was almost frightened the next second by her +stillness. +<pb n="261" /><anchor id="Pg261" /></p> + +<p>"Don't be angry," he pleaded.</p> + +<p>"I'm not," she murmured, resting very quietly +with her cheek against his heart. "But you'll have +to marry me now. My other husband did, you +know."</p> + +<p>"Marry you!" he exclaimed. "Next week? +To-morrow? This afternoon? You need only +say when—"</p> + +<p>"Oh, not for years and years," she said, interrupting +him. "You mustn't dream of such a thing +for years and years!"</p> + +<p>"For years and years!" he cried in astonishment.</p> + +<p>"That's what I said," she told him.</p> + +<p>He released her in his surprise and stared hard at +her. And then he seized her again and kissed her +soundly.</p> + +<p>"You don't mean it!" he declared.</p> + +<p>"I do mean it!" she declared.</p> + +<p>And then she shook her head in a very sweet but +painfully resolute manner.</p> + +<p>"I won't be called a cradle-robber," she said, +firmly; and at that her companion swore mildly but +fervently.</p> + +<p>"You're so young," she said further; "and not +a bit settled," she added.</p> + +<p>"But you're young, too," he reminded her.</p> + +<p>"I'm older than you are," she said. +<pb n="262" /><anchor id="Pg262" /></p> + +<p>"I suppose that you aren't any more settled than +I am, and that's why you hesitate," he said grimly.</p> + +<p>"Now that's unworthy of you," she cried; "and +I have a good mind—"</p> + +<p>But the direful words were never spoken, for she +was in his arms again—close in his arms; and, as +he kissed her with a delicious sensation that it was +all too good to be true, he whispered, laughing:</p> + +<p>"I always meant to lord it over my wife, so I'll +begin by saying: 'Have it your own way, as long +as I have you.'"</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott laid her cheek back against his +coat lapel, and looked up into his eyes with the +sweetest smile that even he had ever seen upon even +her face.</p> + +<p>"It's a bargain," she murmured.</p> +</div> +<pb n="263" /><anchor id="Pg263" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Twenty-One - The Peace and Quiet of the Country</head> + + +<p>Along in the beginning of the fall Aunt +Mary began suddenly to grow very feeble +indeed. After the first week or two it became +apparent that she would have to be quiet and +very prudent for some time, and it was when this +information was imparted to her that the family +discovered that she had been intending to go to +New York for the Horse-Show.</p> + +<p>"She's awful mad," Lucinda said to Joshua. +"The doctor says she'll have to stay in bed."</p> + +<p>"She won't stay in bed long," said Joshua.</p> + +<p>"The doctor says if she don't stay in bed she'll +die," said Lucinda.</p> + +<p>"She won't die," said Joshua.</p> + +<p>Lucinda looked at Joshua and felt a keen desire +to throw her flatiron at him. The world always +thinks that the Lucindas have no feelings; the +world never knows how near the flatirons come to +the Joshuas often and often.</p> + +<p>Arethusa came for two days and looked the +situation well over.</p> + +<p>"I think I won't stay," she said to Lucinda, +<pb n="264" /><anchor id="Pg264" />"but you must write me twice a week and I'll write +the others."</p> + +<p>Then Arethusa departed and Lucinda remained +alone to superintend things and be superintended +by Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's superintendence waxed extremely +vigorous almost at once. She had out her writing +desk, and wrote Jack a letter, as a consequence of +which everything published in New York was +mailed to his aunt as soon as it was off the presses. +Lucinda was set reading aloud and, except when +the mail came, was hardly allowed to halt for food +and sleep.</p> + +<p>"My heavens above," said the slave to +Joshua, "it don't seem like I can live with her!"</p> + +<p>"You'll live with her," said Joshua.</p> + +<p>"It's more as flesh and blood can bear."</p> + +<p>"Flesh and blood can bear a good deal more'n +you think for," said Joshua, and then he delivered +up two letters and drove off toward the barn.</p> + +<p>"If those are letters," said Aunt Mary from her +pillow the instant she heard the front door close, +"I'd like 'em. I'm a great believer in readin' my +own mail, an' another time, Lucinda, I'll thank you +to bring it as soon as you get it an' not stand out on +the porch hollyhockin' with Joshua for half an +hour while I wait."</p> + +<p>Lucinda delivered up the letters without demanding +<pb n="265" /><anchor id="Pg265" />what species of conversational significance +her mistress attached to the phrase, "holly-hocking."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary turned the letters through eagerly.</p> + +<p>"My lands alive!" she said suddenly, "if +here isn't one from Mitchell,—the dear boy. +Well, I never did!—Lucinda, open the blinds to +the other window, too—so I—can—see to—" her +voice died away,—she was too deep in the letter to +recollect what she was saying.</p> + +<p>Mitchell wrote:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">My Dear Miss Watkins</hi>:—</p> + +<p>We are sitting in a row with ashes on the heads +of our cigarettes mourning, mourning, mourning, +because we have had the news that you are ill. As +usual it is up to me to express our feelings, so I have +decided to mail them and the others agree to pay +for the ink.</p> + +<p>I wish to remark at once that we did not sleep any +last night. Jack told us at dinner, and we spent the +evening making a melancholy tour of places where +we had been with you. If you had only been with +us! The roof gardens are particularly desolate +without you. The whole of the city seems to realize +it. The watering carts weep from dawn to +dark. All the lamp-posts are wearing black. It +is sad at one extreme and sadder at the other.</p> + +<p>You must brace up. If you can't do that try a +belt. Life is too short to spend in bed. My +motto has always been "Spend freely everywhere +else." At present I recommend anything calculated +to mend you. I may in all modesty mention +<pb n="266" /><anchor id="Pg266" />that just before Christmas I shall be traveling +north and shall then adore to stop and cheer you +up a bit if you invite me. I have made it an +invariable rule, however, not to stay over night +anywhere when I am not invited, so I hope you will +consider my feelings and send me an invitation.</p> + +<p>My eyes fill as I think what it will be to sit +beside you and recall dear old New York. It will +be the next best thing to being run over by an automobile, +won't it?</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Yours, with fondest recollections,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">HERBERT KENDRICK MITCHELL.</p> +</quote> + +<p>Aunt Mary laid the letter down.</p> + +<p>"Lucinda," she said in a curiously veiled tone, +"give me a handkerchief—a big one. As big a +one as I've got."</p> + +<p>Lucinda did as requested.</p> + +<p>"Now, go away," said Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>Lucinda went away. She went straight to +Joshua.</p> + +<p>"She's had a letter an' read it an' it's made her +cry," she said.</p> + +<p>"That's better'n if it made her mad," said +Joshua, who was warming his hands at the stove.</p> + +<p>"I ain't sure that it won't make her mad later," +said Lucinda. "Say, but she is a Tartar since she +came back. Seems some days's if I couldn't +live."</p> + +<p>"You'll live," said Joshua, and, as his hands +were now well-warmed, he went out again. +<pb n="267" /><anchor id="Pg267" /></p> + +<p>After a while Aunt Mary's bell jangled violently +and Lucinda had to hurry back.</p> + +<p>"Lucinda, did the doctor say anythin' to you +about how long he thought I might be sick?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, he did."</p> + +<p>"What did he say? I want to know jus' what +he said. Speak up!"</p> + +<p>"He said he didn't have no idea how long you'd +be sick."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary threw a look at Lucinda that ought +to have annihilated her.</p> + +<p>"I want to see Jack," she said. "Bring my +writin' desk. Right off. Quick."</p> + +<p>She wrote to Jack, and he came up and spent the +next Sunday with her, cheering her mightily.</p> + +<p>"I wish the others could have come, too," she +said once an hour all through his visit. Mitchell's +letter seemed to have bred a tremendous longing +within her.</p> + +<p>"They'll come later," said Jack, with hearty +good-will. "They all want to come."</p> + +<p>"I don't know how we could ever have any fun +up here though," said his aunt sadly. "My +heavens alive, Jack,—but this is an awful place to +live in. And to think that I lived to be seventy +before I found it out."</p> + +<p>Jack took her hand and kissed it. He did sympathize, +even if he was only twenty-two and longing +<pb n="268" /><anchor id="Pg268" />unutterably to be somewhere else and kissing someone +else at that very minute.</p> + +<p>"Mitchell wrote me a letter," continued Aunt +Mary. "He said he was comin'. Well, dear me, +he can eat mince pie and drive with Joshua when +he goes for the mail, but I don't know what else I +can do with him. Oh, if I'd only been born in the +city!"</p> + +<p>Jack kissed her hand again. He didn't know +what to say. Aunt Mary's lot seemed to border +upon the tragic just then and there.</p> + +<p>The next day he returned to town and Lucinda +came on duty again. She soon found that the +nephew's visit had rendered the aunt harder than +ever to get along with.</p> + +<p>"I'm goin' to town jus''s soon as ever I feel well +enough," she declared aggressively on more than +one occasion. "An' nex' time I go I'm goin' to +stay jus''s long as ever I'm havin' a good time. +Now, don't contradict me, Lucinda, because it's +your place to hold your tongue. I'm a great believer +in your holding your tongue, Lucinda."</p> + +<p>Lucinda, who certainly never felt the slightest +inclination toward contradiction, held her tongue, +and the poor, unhappy one twisted about in bed, +and bemoaned the quietude of her environment by +the hour at a time.</p> + +<p>"Did you say we had a calf?" she asked suddenly +<pb n="269" /><anchor id="Pg269" />one day. "Well, why don't you answer? +When I ask a question I expect an answer. Didn't +you say we had a calf?"</p> + +<p>Lucinda nodded.</p> + +<p>"Well, I want Joshua to take that calf to the +blacksmith and have him shod behind an' before +right off. To-day—this minute."</p> + +<p>"You want the calf shod!" cried Lucinda, suddenly +alarmed by the fear lest her mistress had gone +light-headed.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary glared in a way that showed that +she was far from being out of her usual mind.</p> + +<p>"If I said shod, I guess I meant shod," she said, +icily. "I do sometimes mean what I say. Pretty +often—as a usual thing."</p> + +<p>Lucinda stood at the foot of the bed, petrified +and paralyzed.</p> + +<p>Then the invalid sat up a little and showed some +mercy on her servant's very evident fright.</p> + +<p>"I want the calf shod," she explained, "so's +Joshua can run up an' down the porch with him."</p> + +<p>So far from ameliorating Lucinda's condition, +this explanation rendered it visibly worse. Aunt +Mary contemplated her in silence for a few seconds, +and she suddenly cried out, in a tone that was full +of pathos:</p> + +<p>"I feel like maybe—maybe—the calf'll make +me think it's horses' feet on the pavement." +<pb n="270" /><anchor id="Pg270" /></p> + +<p>Lucinda rushed from the room.</p> + +<p>"She wants the calf shod!" she cried, bursting +in upon Joshua, who was piling wood.</p> + +<p>For once in his life Joshua was shaken out of +his usual placidity.</p> + +<p>"She wants the calf shod!" he repeated blankly.</p> + +<p>"Yes."</p> + +<p>"You can't shoe a calf."</p> + +<p>"But she wants it done."</p> + +<p>Joshua regained his self-control.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well," he said, turning to go on with his +work, "the calf's gone to the butcher, anyhow. +Tell her so."</p> + +<p>Lucinda went back to Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"The calf's gone to the butcher," she yelled.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary frowned heavily.</p> + +<p>"Then you go an' get a lamp and turn it up too +high an' leave it," she said,—"the smell'll make +me think of automobiles."</p> + +<p>Lucinda was appalled. As a practical housekeeper +she felt that here was a proposition which +she could not face.</p> + +<p>"Well, ain't you goin'?" Aunt Mary asked +tartly. "Of course if you ain't intendin' to go I'd +be glad to know it; 'n while you're gone, +Lucinda, I wish you'd get me the handle to the ice-cream +freezer an' lay it where I can see it; it'll help +me believe in the smell." +<pb n="271" /><anchor id="Pg271" /></p> + +<p>Lucinda went away and brought the handle, but +she did not light the lamp. The Fates were good +to her, though, for Aunt Mary forgot the lamp in +her disgust over the appearance of the handle.</p> + +<p>"Take it away," she said sharply. "Anybody'd +know it wasn't an automobile crank. I don't want +to look like a fool! Well, why ain't you takin' it +away, Lucinda?"</p> + +<p>Lucinda took the crank back to the freezer; +but as the days passed on, the situation grew +worse. Aunt Mary slept more and more, and +awoke to an ever-increasing ratio of belligerency.</p> + +<p>Before long Lucinda's third cousin demanded +her assistance in "moving," and there was nothing +for poor Arethusa to do but to take up the burden, +now become a fearfully heavy one.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary was getting to that period in life +when the nearer the relative the greater the dislike, +so that when her niece arrived the welcome +which awaited her was even less cordial than ever.</p> + +<p>"Did you bring a trunk?" she asked.</p> + +<p>"A small one," replied the visitor.</p> + +<p>"That's something to be grateful for," said +the aunt. "If I'd invited you to visit me, of +course I'd feel differently about things."</p> + +<p>Arethusa accepted this as she accepted all +things, unpacked, saw Lucinda off, assumed charge +of the house, and then dragged a rocking chair to +<pb n="272" /><anchor id="Pg272" />her aunt's bedside and unfolded her sewing. Ere +she had threaded her needle Aunt Mary was +sound asleep, and so her niece sewed placidly for an +hour or more, until, like lightning out of a clear +sky:</p> + +<p>"Arethusa!"</p> + +<p>The owner of the name started—but answered +immediately:</p> + +<p>"Yes, Aunt Mary."</p> + +<p>"When I die I want to be buried from a roof +garden! Don't you forget! You'd better go +an' write it down. Go now—go this minute!"</p> + +<p>Arethusa shook as if with the discharge of a +contiguous field battery. She had not had Lucinda's +gradual breaking-in to her aunt's new trains +of thought.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Mary," she said feebly at last.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary saw her lips moving; she sat up in +bed and her eyes flashed cinders.</p> + +<p>"Well, ain't you goin'?" she asked wrathfully. +"When I say do a thing, can't it be done? I +declare it's bad enough to live with a pack of +idiots without havin' 'em, one an' all, act as if I +was the idiot!"</p> + +<p>Arethusa laid aside her work and rose to quit +the room. She returned five minutes later with +pen and ink, but Aunt Mary was now off on +another tack. +<pb n="273" /><anchor id="Pg273" /></p> + +<p>"I want a bulldog!" she cried imperatively.</p> + +<p>"A bulldog!" shrieked her niece, nearly dropping +what she held in her hands. "What do you +want a bulldog for?"</p> + +<p>"Not a bullfrog!" the old lady corrected; "a +bulldog. Oh, I do get so sick of your stupidity, +Arethusa," she said. "What should I or any +one else want of a bullfrog?"</p> + +<p>Arethusa sighed, and the sigh was apparent.</p> + +<p>"I'd sigh if I was you," said her aunt. "I certainly +would. If I was you, Arethusa, I'd certainly +feel that I had cause to sigh;" and with that +she sat up and gave her pillow a punch that was +full of the direst sort of suggestion.</p> + +<p>Arethusa did not gainsay the truth of the sighing +proposition. It was too apparent.</p> + +<p>The next day Aunt Mary slept until noon, and +then opened her eyes and simultaneously declared:</p> + +<p>"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile!"</p> + +<p>Then she looked about and saw that she had +addressed the air, which made her more mad than +ever. She rang her bell violently, and Arethusa +left the lunch table so hastily that she reached the +bedroom half-choked.</p> + +<p>"Next summer I'm goin' to have an automobile," +said the old lady angrily. "Now, get me +some breakfast." +<pb n="274" /><anchor id="Pg274" /></p> + +<p>Her niece went out quickly, and a maid was +sent in with tea and toast and eggs at once. Their +effect was to brace the invalid up and make the lot +of those about her yet more wearing.</p> + +<p>"I shall run it myself," she vowed, when Arethusa +returned; "an' I bet they clear out when +they see me comin'."</p> + +<p>It did seem highly probable.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how I can live if I don't get +away from here soon," she declared a few minutes +later. "You don't appreciate what life is, Arethusa. +Seems like I'll go mad with wantin' to be +somewhere else. I can see Jack gets his disposition +straight from me."</p> + +<p>There was a sigh and a pause.</p> + +<p>"I shall die," Aunt Mary then declared with +violence, "if I don't have a change. Arethusa, +you've got to write to Jack, and tell him to get +me Granite."</p> + +<p>"Granite!" screamed the niece in surprise.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Granite. She was a maid I had in +New York. I want her to come here. She must +come. Tell him to offer her anything, and send +her C.O.D. If I can have Granite, maybe I'll +feel some better. You write Jack."</p> + +<p>"I'll write to-night," shrieked Arethusa.</p> + +<p>"No, you won't," said Aunt Mary; "you'll +get the ink and write right now. Because I've +<pb n="275" /><anchor id="Pg275" />been meeker'n Moses all my life is no reason why +I sh'd be willin' to be downtrodden clear to the +end. Folks around me'd better begin to look +sharp an' step lively from now on."</p> + +<p>Arethusa went to the desk at once and wrote:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p><hi rend="font-variant: small-caps">Dear Jack</hi>:</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary wants the maid that she had when +she was in New York. For the love of Heaven, +if the girl is procurable, do get her. Hire her if +you can and kidnap her if you can't. Lucinda has +played her usual trick on me and walked off just +when she felt like it. I never saw Aunt Mary in +anything like the state of mind that she is, but I +know one thing—if you cannot send the maid, +there'll be an end of me.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Your loving sister,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">ARETHUSA.</p> +</quote> + +<p>Jack was much perturbed upon receipt of this +letter. He whistled a little and frowned a great +deal. But at last he decided to be frank and tell +the truth to Mrs. Rosscott. To that end he wrote +her a lengthy note. After two preliminary pages +so personal that it would not be right to print them +for public reading, he continued thus:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p>I've had a letter from my sister, who is with +Aunt Mary at present. She says that Aunt Mary +is not at all well and declares that she must have +Janice. What under the sun am I to answer? +Shall I say that the girl has gone to France? I'm +willing to swear anything rather that put you to +<pb n="276" /><anchor id="Pg276" />one second's inconvenience. You know that, don't +you? etc., etc., etc. [just here the letter abruptly +became personal again].</p> +</quote> + +<p>Jack thought that he knew his fiancée well, but +he was totally unprepared for such an exhibition +of sweet +ness as was testified to by the letter which +he received in return.</p> + +<p>It's first six pages were even more personal than +his own (being more feminine) and then came this +paragraph:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p>Janice is going to your aunt by to-night's train. +Now, don't say a word! It is nothing—nothing—absolutely +nothing. Don't you know that I am +too utterly happy to be able to do anything for anyone +that you—etc., etc., etc.</p> +</quote> + +<p>Jack seized his hat and hurried to where his +lady-love was just then residing. But Janice had +gone!</p> +</div> +<pb n="277" /><anchor id="Pg277" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Twenty-Two - "Granite"</head> + + +<p>Joshua was despatched to drive through +mud and rain to bring Aunt Mary's solace +from the station.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary had herself propped up in bed to be +ready for the return before Billy's feet had ceased +to cry splash on the road outside of the gate. Her +eagerness tinged her pallor pink. It was as if the +prospect of seeing Janice gave her some of that +flood of vitality which always seems to ebb and +flow so richly in the life of a metropolis.</p> + +<p>"My gracious heavens, Lucinda" (for Lucinda +was back now), she said joyfully, "to think that I +needn't look at you for a week if I don't want to! +You haven't any idea how tired I am of looking at +you, Lucinda. If you looked like anything it would +be different. But you don't."</p> + +<p>Lucinda rocked placidly; hers was what is called +an "even disposition." If it hadn't been, she +might have led an entirely different life—in fact, +she would most certainly have lived somewhere +else, for she couldn't possibly have lived with Aunt +Mary. +<pb n="278" /><anchor id="Pg278" /></p> + +<p>The hour that ensued after Joshua's departure +was so long that it resulted in a nap for the invalid, +and Lucinda had to wake her by slamming the +closet door when the arrival turned in at the +gate.</p> + +<p>"Has he got her?" Aunt Mary cried breathlessly. +"Has he got someone with him? Run, +Lucinda, an' bring her in. She needn't wipe her +feet, tell her; you can brush the hall afterwards. +Well, why ain't you hurryin'?"</p> + +<p>Lucinda was hurrying, her curiosity being as +potent as the commands of her mistress, and five +seconds later Janice appeared in the door with her +predecessor just behind her—a striking contrast.</p> + +<p>"You dear blessed Granite!" cried the old lady, +stretching out her hands in a sort of ecstasy. "Oh, +my! but I'm glad to see you! Come right straight +here. No, shut the door first. Lucinda, you go +and do 'most anything. An' how is the city?"</p> + +<p>Janice came to the bedside and dropped on her +knees there, taking Aunt Mary's withered hand +close in both of her own.</p> + +<p>"You didn't shut the door," the old lady whispered +hoarsely. "I wish you would—an' bolt it, +too. An' then come straight back to me."</p> + +<p>Janice closed and bolted the door, and returned +to the bedside. Aunt Mary drew her down close +to her, and her voice and eyes were hungry, indeed. +<pb n="279" /><anchor id="Pg279" />For a little she looked eagerly upon what she had +so craved to possess again, and then she suddenly +asked:</p> + +<p>"Granite, have you got any cigarettes with +you?"</p> + +<p>The maid started a little.</p> + +<p>"Do you smoke now?" she asked, with interest.</p> + +<p>"No," said Aunt Mary sadly, "an' that's one +more of my awful troubles. You see I'm jus' achin' +to smell smoke, an' Joshua promised his mother +the night before he was twenty-one. You don't +know nothin' about how terrible I feel. I'm empty +somewhere jus' all the time. Don't you believe't +you could get some cigarettes an' smoke 'em right +close to me, an' let me lay here, an' be so happy +while I smell. I'll have a good doctor for you, +if you're sick from it."</p> + +<p>The maid reflected; then she nodded.</p> + +<p>"I'll write to town," she cried, in her high, clear +tones. "What brand do you like best?"</p> + +<p>"Mitchell's," said Aunt Mary. "But you can't +get those because he made 'em himself an' sealed +'em with a lick. Oh!" she sighed, with the accent +of a starving Sybarite, "I do wish I could see him +do it again! Do you know," she added suddenly, +"he wrote me a letter and he's goin' to come here."</p> + +<p>"When?" asked Janice.</p> + +<p>"After a while. But you must take off your +<pb n="280" /><anchor id="Pg280" />things. That's your room in there," pointing +toward a half-open door at the side. "I wanted +you as close as I could get you. My, but I've +wanted you! I can't tell you how much. But a +good deal—a lot—awfully."</p> + +<p>Janice went into the room that was to be hers, +and hung up her hat and cloak.</p> + +<p>When she returned Aunt Mary was looking a +hundred per cent, improved already.</p> + +<p>"Can you hum 'Hiawatha'?" she asked immediately. +"Granite, I must have suthin' to amuse +me an' make me feel good. Can you hum 'Hiawatha' +an' can you do that kind of 'sh—sh—sh—'that +everybody does all together at the end, you +know?"</p> + +<p>Janice smiled pleasantly, and placing herself in +the closest possible proximity with the ear trumpet, +at once rendered the desired <hi rend="font-style: italic">morceau</hi> in a style +which would have done credit to a soloist in a <hi rend="font-style: italic">café +chantant</hi>.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's lips wreathed in seraphic bliss.</p> + +<p>"My!" she said. "I feel just as if I was back +eatin' crabs' legs and tails again. No one'll ever +know how I've missed city life this winter but—well, +you saw Lucinda!"</p> + +<p>The glance that accompanied the speech was +mysterious but significant. Janice nodded sympathetically. +<pb n="281" /><anchor id="Pg281" /></p> + +<p>"I hope you brought a trunk. I ain't a bit sure +when I'll be able to let you go," pursued the old +lady. "I don't believe I can let you go until I go, +too. I've most died here alone."</p> + +<p>"I brought a trunk," Janice cried into the ear +trumpet.</p> + +<p>"I'm glad," said Aunt Mary. She paused, and +her eyes grew wistful.</p> + +<p>"Granite," she asked, "do you think you could +manage to do a skirt dance on the footboard? I'm +'most wild to see some lace shake."</p> + +<p>Janice looked doubtfully at the footboard. It +was wide for a footboard, but narrow—too narrow—for +a skirt dance.</p> + +<p>"But I can do one on the floor," she cried.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's features became suffused with +heavenly joy.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Granite!" she murmured, in accents of +greatest anticipation.</p> + +<p>The maid stood up, and, going off as far as the +limits of the spacious bedroom would allow, executed +a most fetching and dainty <hi rend="font-style: italic">pas seul</hi> to a tune +of her own humming.</p> + +<p>"Give me suthin' to pound with!" cried her +enthusiastic audience. "Oh, Granite, I ain't +been so happy since I was home! Whatever you +want you can have, only don't ever leave me alone +with Lucinda again." +<pb n="282" /><anchor id="Pg282" /></p> + +<p>Janice was catching her tired breath, but she +answered with a smile.</p> + +<p>"Can't you get my Sunday umbrella out of the +closet now an' do a parasol dance?" the insatiate +demanded; "one of those where you shoot it open +an' shut when people ain't expectin'."</p> + +<p>The maid went to the closet and brought out the +Sunday umbrella; but its shiny black silk did not +appear to inspire any fluffy maneuvres, so she utilized +it in the guise of a broadsword and did something +that savored of the Highlands, and seemed +to rebel bitterly at the length of her skirt. Aunt +Mary writhed around in bliss—utter and intense.</p> + +<p>"I feel like I was livin' again," she said, heaving +a great sigh of content. "I tell you I've suffered +enough, since I came back, to know what it +is to have some fun again. Now, Granite, I'll tell +you what we'll do," when the girl sat down to rest; +"you write for those cigarettes while I take a little +nap and afterwards we'll get the Universal Knowledge +book and learn how to play poker. You don't +know how to play poker, do you?"</p> + +<p>"A little," cried the maid.</p> + +<p>"Well, I want to learn how," said the old lady, +"an' we'll learn when—when I wake up."</p> + +<p>Janice nodded assent.</p> + +<p>"Excuse me shuttin' my eyes," said Aunt +Mary—and she was asleep in two minutes.</p> +</div> +<pb n="283" /><anchor id="Pg283" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Twenty-Three - "Granite" - Continued.</head> + + +<p>Mary and Arethusa—Aunt Mary's two +nieces—were not uncommonly mercenary; +but about three weeks after the new +arrival they became seriously troubled over the +ascendancy that she appeared to be gaining over +the mind of their aunt. Lucinda's duties had included +for many years the writing of a weekly letter +which contained formal advices of the general +state of affairs, and after Janice's establishment, +these letters became so provocative of gradually increasing +alarm that first Mary, and then Arethusa +thought it advisable to make the journey for the +purpose of investigating the affair personally. +They found the new maid apparently devoid +of evil intent, but certainly fast becoming absolutely +indispensable to the daily happiness of +their influential relative. Mary feared that a +codicil for five thousand dollars would be the +result; but Arethusa felt, with a sinking heart, +that there was another naught going on to the sum, +and that, unless the tide turned, the end might not +be even then. +<pb n="284" /><anchor id="Pg284" /></p> + +<p>Aunt Mary was so cool that neither niece stayed +long, and Lucinda's letters had to be looked to +for the progress of events. Lucinda's letters were +frequent and not at all reassuring. After the sisters +had talked them over, they sent them on to +Jack.</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p>She [thus Lucinda invariably began] is the same +as ever. It's cross the heart and bend the knee, +an' then you ain't down far enough to suit her. +But she's gettin' so afraid she'll go that she's wax +in her hands. It would scare you. She won't +let her out of her sight a minute. I must say that +whatever she's giving her, she certainly is earning +the money, for she works her harder every day. +The poor thing is hopping about, or singing, or +playing cards, from dawn to dark, and unless it's +a provision in her will I can't see what would pay +her enough for working so. Lord knows I considered +I earned my wages without skipping around +with my legs crossed like she does, and she has no +end of patience too, even if she won't ever let her +take a walk. She's getting as pale as she is herself. +Seems like something should be done.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p> +</quote> + +<p>Three days later Lucinda wrote again:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p>She does seem to be getting worse and worse. +She makes her sleep on a sofa beside her, and +she begins to look dreadfully worn out. I do +believe she'll kill her, before she dies herself. I +told her so to-day, but she only smiled. It's funny, +<pb n="285" /><anchor id="Pg285" />but I like her even if I am bolted out all the time. +I ain't jealous, and I'm glad of the rest. I should +think her throat would split with talking so much, +but she certainly does hear her better than anyone +else. I think something must be done, though. +She's getting as crazy as she is herself. They +play cards and call each other "aunty" for two +hours at a stretch some days.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p> +</quote> + +<p>At the end of the week Lucinda wrote again:</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p>I think if you don't come, she will surely die. +She is very feeble herself, but that don't keep her +from wearing her to skin and bone. She keeps +her doing tricks from morning to night. Every +minute that she is awake she keeps her jumping. +It's a mercy she sleeps so much, or she +wouldn't get any sleep at all. I can't do nothing, +but I can see something has got to be done. +She's killing her, and she's getting where she don't +care for nobody but her, and if she's to be kept in +trim to keep on amusing her she'll have to have +some rest pretty quick.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p> +</quote> + +<p>If the sisters were perturbed by the general +trend of these epistles, Jack was half wild over the +situation. He swore vigorously and he tramped +up and down his room nights until the people underneath +put it in their prayers that his woes might +suggest suicide as speedily as possible. In vain he +wrote to Mrs. Rosscott to restore Janice to her +proper place in town; Mrs. Rosscott answered that +<pb n="286" /><anchor id="Pg286" />as long as Aunt Mary desired Janice at her side, +at her side Janice should stay. Jack knew his lady +well enough to know that she would keep her word, +and although he longed to assert his authority he +was man enough to feel that he had better wait +now and settle the debt after marriage.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless the whole affair was unbearably +vexatious and at last he felt that he could endure +it no longer.</p> + +<p>"I'm a fool," he said, in a spirit of annoyance +that came so close to anger that it led to an utter +loss of patience. "I'll take the train for Aunt +Mary's to-day, and straighten out that mess in +short order."</p> + +<p>It was Saturday, and he arranged to leave by +the noon train. He laid in a heavy supply of bribes +for his aged relative and of reading matter for +himself, and went to the station with a heart +divided 'twixt many different emotions. It was +an unconscionably long ride, but he did get there +safely about ten o'clock.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant night—not too cold—even suggestive +of some lingering Indian summer intentions +on the part of Jack's namesake. The young man +thought that he would walk out to his childhood's +home, and his decision was aided by the +discovery that there was no other way to get +there. +<pb n="287" /><anchor id="Pg287" /></p> + +<p>So he took his suit-case in his hand and set off +with a stride that covered the intervening miles in +short order and brought him, almost before he +knew it, to where he could see Lucinda's light in the +dining-room and her pug-nosed profile outlined +upon the drawn shade. Everyone else was evidently +abed, and as he looked, she, too, arose and +took up the lamp. He hurried his steps so that she +might let him in before she went upstairs, but in +the same instant the light went out and with its +withdrawal he perceived a little figure sitting alone +upon the doorstep.</p> + +<p>His heart gave a tremendous leap—but not with +fright—and he made three rapid steps and spoke +a name.</p> + +<p>She lifted up her head. Of course it was Janice, +and although she had been weeping, her eyes were +as beautiful as ever.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Jack!" she exclaimed, and happy the man +who hears his name called in such a tone—even if +it be only for once in the whole course of his +existence.</p> + +<p>He pitched his suit-case down upon the grass +and took the maid in his arms.</p> + +<p>What did anything matter; they both were +lonely and both needed comforting.</p> + +<p>He kissed her not once but twenty times,—not +twenty times but a hundred. +<pb n="288" /><anchor id="Pg288" /></p> + +<p>"It's abominable you're being here," he said +at last.</p> + +<p>"I am very, very tired," she confessed.</p> + +<p>"And you'll go back to the city when I go?" +he asked.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," she said, doubtfully. "I don't +know whether she'll let me."</p> + +<p>Jack laughed.</p> + +<p>"To-morrow I will beard Aunt Mary in her +den," he declared; "now let's go in and—and—"</p> + +<p>The hundred and first!</p> +</div> +<pb n="289" /><anchor id="Pg289" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Twenty-Four - Two Are Company</head> + + +<p>To the large square room where he had +slept (on and off) during a goodly portion +of his boyhood life, Jack went to repose +from his journey, there to meditate the situation +which he had come to comfort, and to try and devise +a way to better its existing circumstances.</p> + +<p>It was a pleasant room, one window looking +down the driveway, and the other leading forth +to a square balcony that topped the little porch of +the side entrance. There were lambrequins of dark +blue with fringe that always caught in the shutters, +and a bedroom suite of mahogany that had come +down from the original John Watkins's aunt, and +had been polished by her descendants so faithfully +that its various surfaces shone like mirrors. Over +the bed hung a tent drapery of chintz; over the +washstand hung a crayon done by Arethusa in her +infancy—the same representing a lady engaged in +the pleasant and useful occupation of spinning +wheat with a hand composed of five fingers, and no +thumb. In the corner stood a cheval-glass which +<pb n="290" /><anchor id="Pg290" />Jack had seen shrink steadily for years until now it +could no longer reflect his shoulders unless he +retired back for some two yards or more. There +was a delectable closet to the room, all painted +white inside, with shelves and cupboards and little +bins for shoes and waste paper and soiled clothes.</p> + +<p>Oh! it was really an altogether delightful place +in which to abide, and the pity was that its owner +had spent so little time therein of late years.</p> + +<p>To-night—returning to the scene of many childish +and boyish meditations—Jack placed his lamp +upon the nightstand at the head of the bed and +sat himself down on a chair near by.</p> + +<p>It was late—quite midnight—for he and Aunt +Mary's new maid had talked long and freely ere +they separated at last. From his room he could +hear the little faint sounds below stairs, that told +of her final preparations for Lucinda's morning +eye, and he rested quiet until all else was quiet and +then leaned back upon the chair's hind legs and, +tipping slowly to and fro in that position, tried +to see just what he had better do the first thing on +the following day.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image07" /> +<figure rend="w95" url="images/image07.png"> +<head rend="text-align: center">"'Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know a blue chip from a white one.'"</head> +<figDesc>Illustration 7</figDesc></figure></p><p></p> + +<p>It was a riddle with a vengeance. It is so easy +to say "I'll cut that Gordian knot!" and then +pack one's tooth-brush and start off unknotting, +but it is quite another matter when one comes face +to face with the problem and is met by the "buts" +<pb n="291" /><anchor id="Pg291" />of those who have previously been essaying to disentangle +it.</p> + +<p>"She won't let me go," Mrs. Rosscott had declared, +"she won't consider it for a minute."</p> + +<p>"But she must," Jack had declared on his side. +"My dearest, you can't stay and play maid to Aunt +Mary indefinitely, and you know that as well as +I do."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know that," the whilom Janice then +murmured. "It's getting to be an awful question. +They want me to come home for Thanksgiving. +They think that I've been at the rest-cure long +enough."</p> + +<p>Jack had laughed a bit just there, and then he +suddenly ceased laughing and frowned a good deal +instead.</p> + +<p>"You were crying when I came," he said. +"The truth is you are working yourself to death +and getting completely used up."</p> + +<p>"It is wearing, I must confess," she answered. +"Yesterday I played poker until I didn't know +a blue chip from a white one, and she won the +whole pot with two little bits of pairs while I was +drawing to a king. I begin to fear that my mind +will give way. And yet, I really don't see how to +stop. She is so sick and tired of life here and she +isn't strong enough to go to town."</p> + +<p>"I know a very short way to put an end to +<pb n="292" /><anchor id="Pg292" />everything," said Jack. "I see two ways in fact,—one +is to tell her the truth."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't do that," cried his fiancée affrightedly. +"The shock would kill her outright."</p> + +<p>"The other way,—" said Jack slowly, "would +be for me to marry you and let her think that you +<hi rend="font-style: italic">are</hi> Janice in good earnest."</p> + +<p>"Oh, that wouldn't do at all," said the pretty +widow. "In the first place she would go crazy at +the idea of her darling nephew's marrying her +maid,—and in the second place—"</p> + +<p>"Well,—in the second place?"</p> + +<p>"I wouldn't marry you,—I said I wouldn't and +I won't. You're too young."</p> + +<p>"But you've promised to marry me some day."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I know—but not till—not till—"</p> + +<p>"Not till when?"</p> + +<p>"I haven't just decided," said Mrs. Rosscott, +airily. "Not for a good while, not until you +seem to require marrying at my hands."</p> + +<p>"I never shall require marrying at anyone else's +hands," the lover vowed, "but if you are so set +about it as all that comes to, I shall not cut up +rough for a while. Aunt Mary is the main question +just now—not you."</p> + +<p>"I know," said his lady in anything but a jealous +tone, "and as she is the question, what are +we to do?" +<pb n="293" /><anchor id="Pg293" /></p> + +<p>"You will go to bed," he said, kissing her, "and +I will go to think."</p> + +<p>"Can you see any way?" she asked anxiously.</p> + +<p>Then he put his hands on either side of her face +and turned it up to his own.</p> + +<p>"You plotted once and overthrew my aunt," he +said. "It's my turn now."</p> + +<p>"Are you going to plot?"</p> + +<p>"I'm going to try."</p> + +<p>"I'll pray for your success," she whispered.</p> + +<p>"Pray for me," he answered, and shortly after +they had achieved the feat of saying good-night +and parting once more, and the result of it all had +been that Jack found himself tipping back and +forth on the small chair, in the big room, at half-past +midnight, puzzled, perturbed, and very much +perplexed as to what to do first when the next +morning should have become a settled fact. He +was not used to conspiring, and being only a man, +he had not those curious instinctive gifts of inspiration +and luminous conception which fairly radiate +around the brain of clever womankind.</p> + +<p>It was some time—a very long time indeed—before +any light stole in upon his Stygian darkness, +and then, when the light did come, it came in skyrocket +guise, and had its share of cons attached to +its very evident pros.</p> + +<p>"But I don't care," he declared viciously, as +<pb n="294" /><anchor id="Pg294" />he rose and began to undress; "something's got to +be done,—some chances have got to be taken,—as +well that as anything else. Perhaps better—very +likely better."</p> + +<p>Then he laughed over his unconscious imitation +of his aunt's phraseology, and made short work of +finishing his disrobing and getting to bed.</p> + +<p>It was when Lucinda crept forth to begin to unlock +the house at 6.30 upon the morning after, +that the fact of the nephew's arrival was first +known to anyone except Janice.</p> + +<p>Lucinda saw the coat and hat,—recognized the +initial on the handkerchief in the inside pocket, +threw out her arms and gave a faint squeak in utter +bewilderment, and then tore off at once to the barn +to tell Joshua.</p> + +<p>She found Joshua milking the cow.</p> + +<p>"What do you think!" she panted briefly, with +wide-open eyes and uplifted hands; "Joshua Whittlesey, +what do you think?"</p> + +<p>"I don't think nothin'," said Joshua. "I'm +milkin'."</p> + +<p>"What would you say if I told you as he was +come."</p> + +<p>"I'd say he was here."</p> + +<p>"Well, he is. He must 'a' come last night, an' +Lord only knows how he ever got in, for nothing +was left open an' yet he's there." +<pb n="295" /><anchor id="Pg295" /></p> + +<p>Joshua made no comment.</p> + +<p>"I wonder what he came for?"</p> + +<p>Joshua made no comment.</p> + +<p>"I wonder how long he'll stay?"</p> + +<p>Still Joshua made no comment.</p> + +<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, before you get your breakfast, +you're the meanest man I ever saw, and I'll +swear to that anywhere."</p> + +<p>"Why don't you get me my breakfast then?" +said Joshua calmly; and the effect of his speech +and his demeanor was to cause Lucinda to turn +and leave him at once—too outraged to address +another word to him.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary herself did not awake until ten +o'clock. She rang her bell vigorously then and +Janice flew to its answering.</p> + +<p>"I dreamed of Jack," said the old lady, looking +up with a smile. "I dreamed we was each ridin' +on camels in a merry-go-round."</p> + +<p>Janice smiled too, and then set briskly to work +to put the room in order and arrange its occupant +for the day.</p> + +<p>"Did there come any mail?" Aunt Mary inquired, +when her coiffure was made and her dressing-gown +adjusted. "I feel jus' like I might hear +from Jack. Seems as if I sort of can't think of +anythin' but him."</p> + +<p>"I'll go and see," said Janice pleasantly, and +<pb n="296" /><anchor id="Pg296" />she went to the dining room where the Reformed +Prodigal sat reading the newspaper with his feet +on the table—an action which convinced Lucinda +that he had not reformed so very much after +all.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you go to her—instead of me," +suggested the maid, pausing before the reader and +usurping all the attention to which the paper should +have laid claim.</p> + +<p>"Suppose I do," said Jack, jumping up, "and +suppose you stay away and let me try what I can +accomplish single-handed."</p> + +<p>"Only—" began Janice—and then she +stopped and lifted a warning finger.</p> + +<p>Jack listened and a stealthy creak betrayed +Lucinda's proximity somewhere in the vicinity.</p> + +<p>It was plain to be seen that there were many +issues to be kept in mind, and the young man grit +his teeth because he didn't dare embrace his +betrothed, and then walked away in the direction +of Aunt Mary's room.</p> + +<p>If she was glad to see him! One would have +supposed that ten years and two oceans had elapsed +since their last meeting the month before.</p> + +<p>She fairly screamed with joy.</p> + +<p>"Jack!—You dear, dear, dear boy! Well, if I +ever did!—When did you come?"</p> + +<p>He was by the bed hugging her. +<pb n="297" /><anchor id="Pg297" />"And how are they all? How is the city? Oh, +Jack, if I could only go back with you this time!"</p> + +<p>"Never mind, Aunt Mary; you'll be coming +soon—in the spring, you know."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary sank back on the pillows.</p> + +<p>"Jack," she said, "if I have to wait for spring, +I shall die. I ain't strong enough to be able to +bear livin' in the country much longer. I've pretty +much made up my mind to buy a house in town and +just keep this place so's to have somewhere to put +Lucinda."</p> + +<p>"Do you think you'd be happy in town, Aunt +Mary?" Jack yelled; "I mean if you lived there +right along?"</p> + +<p>"I don't see how I could be anythin' else. I +don't see how anyone could be anythin' else. +I want a nice house with a criss-cross iron gate in +front of it an' an automobile. An'—I don't want +you to say nothin' about this to her jus' yet—but +I'm goin' to keep Granite to look after everythin' +for me. I don't ever mean to let Granite go again. +Never. Not for one hour."</p> + +<p>Jack smiled. He felt as if Fate was playing into +his hands.</p> + +<p>"I want you to live with me," Aunt Mary continued, +"an' I want the house big enough so's Clover +an' Mitchell an' Burnett can come whenever +they feel like it and stay as long as they like. I +<pb n="298" /><anchor id="Pg298" />don't want any house except for us all together. +Oh, my! Seems like I can't hardly wait!"</p> + +<p>She leaned back and shut her eyes in a sort of +impatient ecstasy of joys been and to be.</p> + +<p>Jack reached forward to get a cigarette from +the box on the table at the bedside.</p> + +<p>"Do you smoke now, Aunt Mary?" he +inquired, as he took a match.</p> + +<p>"No, Granite does."</p> + +<p>"Janice does!" he repeated, quickly knitting +his brows.</p> + +<p>"Yes, she does it for me—I'm so happy smellin' +the smell. They made her a little sick at first but +she took camphor and now she don't mind. Not +much—not any."</p> + +<p>Jack arose and walked about the room. The +idea of his darling sickening herself to provide +smoke for Aunt Mary braced him afresh to the +conflict.</p> + +<p>"What do you do all day?" he asked, +presently.</p> + +<p>"Well, we do most everythin'. When Lucinda's +out she does Lucinda for me an' when Lucinda's in +she does Joshua. It's about as amusin' as anythin' +you ever saw to see her do Lucinda. I never found +Lucinda amusin', Lord knows, but I like to see +Granite do her. An' we play cards, an' she dances, +an'—" +<pb n="299" /><anchor id="Pg299" /></p> + +<p>"Aunt Mary," said Jack abruptly, "do you +know the people who had Janice want her back +again?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't quite catch that," said his aunt, "but +you needn't bother to repeat it because I ain't never +goin' to let her go. Not never."</p> + +<p>Jack came back and sat down beside the bed, and +took her hand.</p> + +<p>"Aunt Mary," he said in a pleading shriek, +"don't you see how pale and thin she's +getting?"</p> + +<p>"No, I don't," said his aunt, turning her head +away, "an' it's no use tellin' me such things because +it's about my nap-time and I've always been +a great believer in takin' my nap when it's my +nap-time. As a general thing."</p> + +<p>Jack sighed and watched her close her eyes and +go instantly to sleep. Janice came in a few minutes +later.</p> + +<p>"No—no," she whispered hastily, as he came +toward her,—"you mustn't—you mustn't. I don't +believe that she really is asleep and even if she is, +Lucinda is <hi rend="font-style: italic">everywhere</hi>."</p> + +<p>"Where can we go?" Jack asked in despair. +"It's out of all reason to expect me to behave <hi rend="font-style: italic">all</hi> +the time."</p> + +<p>"We can't go anywhere," said Mrs. Rosscott; +"we must resign ourselves. I've learned that it's +<pb n="300" /><anchor id="Pg300" />the only way. Dear me, when I think how long +I've been resigned it certainly seems to me that +you might do a little in the same line."</p> + +<p>"Well, but I haven't learned to resign myself," +said her lover, "and what is more, I positively decline +to learn to resign myself. You should do the +same, too. Where is the sense in humoring her so? +I wouldn't if I were you."</p> + +<p>Janice lifted up her lovely eyes.</p> + +<p>"Oh, yes, you would," she said simply. "If +somebody's future happiness depended upon her +you would humor her just as much as I do."</p> + +<p>Jack was touched.</p> + +<p>"You are an angel of unselfishness," he exclaimed, +warmly, "and I don't deserve such +devotion."</p> + +<p>"Oh, don't be too grateful," she replied, dimpling. +"The person to whose future happiness I +referred was myself."</p> + +<p>They both laughed softly at that—softly and +mutually.</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless," Jack went on after a minute, +"if to all the other puzzles is to be added the +torture of being unable to see you or speak +freely to you, I think the hour for action has +arrived."</p> + +<p>"For action!" she cried; "what are you thinking +of doing?" +<pb n="301" /><anchor id="Pg301" /></p> + +<p>"This," he said, and straightway took her +into his arms and kissed her as he had kissed her +on the night before.</p> + +<p>"Oh, if Lucinda has heard or your aunt has +seen!" poor Janice cried, extricating herself and +setting her cap to rights with a species of fluttered +haste that led Jack to wonder suddenly why men +didn't fall in love with maids even oftener than +they do. "I do believe that you have gone and +done it this time."</p> + +<p>"Nobody heard and nobody saw," he assured +her, but he didn't at all mean what he said, for his +prayers were fervent that his kiss had been public +property.</p> + +<p>And such was the fact.</p> + +<p>Lucinda bounced in on Joshua with a bounce that +turned the can of harness polish upside down, for +Joshua was oiling the harnesses.</p> + +<p>"He kissed her!" she cried in a state of tremendous +excitement.</p> + +<p>"Well, she's his aunt, ain't she?" Joshua demanded, +picking up the can and privately wishing +Lucinda in Halifax.</p> + +<p>"I don't mean her;—I mean Janice."</p> + +<p>"I don't see anythin' surprisin' in that," said +Joshua,—"not if he got a good chance."</p> + +<p>"What do you think of such goin's on?"</p> + +<p>"I think they'll lead to goin's offs." +<pb n="302" /><anchor id="Pg302" /></p> + +<p>"I never would 'a' believed it," said Lucinda; +"Well, all I can say is I wish he'd 'a' tried it +on me."</p> + +<p>"You'll wish a long time," said Joshua, +placidly; and his tone, as usual, made Lucinda +even more angry than his words; so she forthwith left him and tore back to +the house.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open, and in +this particular case it was impossible to have one's +eyes open without having one's eyes opened. So +Aunt Mary had both.</p> + +<p>She shut them at once and reflected deeply, and +when Janice went out of the room at last she immediately +sat up in bed and addressed her nephew.</p> + +<p>"Jack, what did you kiss her for?"</p> + +<p>Jack was fairly wild with joy at the brilliant way +in which he had begun. Mrs. Rosscott had laid +one scheme for the overthrow of Aunt Mary and +her plan of attack had been absolutely successful. +Now it was his turn and he, too, was in it to win +undying glory or else—well, no matter. There +wouldn't be any "also ran" in this contest.</p> + +<p>"You don't deny that you kissed her, do you?" +said his aunt severely. "Answer this minute. +I'm a great believer in answerin' when you're +spoken to."</p> + +<p>"Yes, I kissed her," he said easily.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: center"><anchor id="image08" /> +<figure rend="w95" url="images/image08.png"> +<head rend="text-align: center">"Aunt Mary had also had her eyes open."</head> +<figDesc>Illustration 8</figDesc></figure></p><p></p> + +<p>"Well, what did you do it for?" +<pb n="303" /><anchor id="Pg303" /></p> + +<p>"I'm very fond of her;" the words came forth +with great apparent reluctance.</p> + +<p>"Fond of her!" said Aunt Mary with great +contempt.</p> + +<p>Jack lifted his eyes quickly at the tone of her +comment.</p> + +<p>"<hi rend="font-style: italic">Fond</hi> of her! Do you think a girl like that +is the kind to be fond of! Why ain't you in <hi rend="font-style: italic">love</hi> +with her?"</p> + +<p>The young man felt his brains suddenly swimming. +This surpassed his maddest hopes.</p> + +<p>"Shall I say that I am in love with her?" he +cried into the ear-trumpet.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary raised up in bed,—her eyes +sparkling.</p> + +<p>"Jack," she said, almost quivering with excitement, +"<hi rend="font-style: italic">are</hi> you in love with her?"</p> + +<p>"Yes, I am," he owned, wondering what would +come next, but feeling that the tide was all his way.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary collapsed with a joyful sigh.</p> + +<p>"My heavens alive," she said rapturously, +"seems like it's too good to be true! Jack," she +continued solemnly, "if you're in love with her you +shall marry her. If there's any way to keep a girl +like that in the family I guess I ain't goin' to let +her slip through my fingers not while I've got a +live nephew. You shall marry her an' I'll buy you +a house in New York and come an' live with you." +<pb n="304" /><anchor id="Pg304" /></p> + +<p>Jack sat silent, but smiling.</p> + +<p>"Do you think she will want to marry me?" +he asked presently.</p> + +<p>"You go and bring her to me," said the old +lady vigorously. "I'll soon find out. Just tell +her I want to speak to her—don't tell her what +about. That ain't none of your business an' I'm +a great believer in people's not interfering in what's +none of their business. You just get her and then +leave her to me."</p> + +<p>Jack went and found Janice. He was sufficiently +mean not to tell her what had happened, +and Janice—being built on a different plan from +Lucinda—had not kept near enough to the keyhole +to be posted anyway.</p> + +<p>"Mr. Denham says you want me," she said, +coming to the bedside with her customary pleasant +smile.</p> + +<p>"I do," said her mistress. "I want to speak +to you on a very serious subject and I want you to +pay a lot of attention. It's this: I want you to +marry Jack."</p> + +<p>Poor Janice jumped violently,—there was no +doubt as to the genuineness of her surprise.</p> + +<p>"Well, don't you want to?" asked Aunt Mary.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe I do."</p> + +<p>At this it was the old lady's turn to be astonished. +<pb n="305" /><anchor id="Pg305" /></p> + +<p>"Why don't you?" she said; "my heavens +alive, what are you a-expectin' to marry if you don't +think my nephew's good enough for you?"</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to marry!" cried poor Janice, +in most evident distress.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked at her severely.</p> + +<p>"Then what did you kiss him for?" she asked, +in the tone in which one plays the trump ace.</p> + +<p>Janice started again.</p> + +<p>"Kiss—him—" she faltered.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary regarded her sternly.</p> + +<p>"Granite," she said, "I ain't a-intendin' to be +unreasonable, but I must ask you jus' one simple +question. You kissed him, for I saw you; an' will +you kindly tell me why, in heaven's name, you ain't +willin' to marry any man that you're willin' to +kiss?"</p> + +<p>"There's such a difference," wailed the maid.</p> + +<p>"I don't see it," said her mistress, shaking her +head. "I don't see it at all. Of course I never +for a minute thought of doin' either myself, but if +I had thought of doin' either, I'd had sense enough +to have seen that I'd have to make up my mind to +do both. I'm a great believer in never doin' things +by halves. It don't pay. Never—nohow."</p> + +<p>Janice was biting her lips.</p> + +<p>"But I don't want to marry!" she repeated +obstinately. +<pb n="306" /><anchor id="Pg306" /></p> + +<p>"Then you shouldn't have let him kiss you. +You've got him all started to lovin' you and if he's +stopped too quick no one can tell what may happen. +I want him to settle down, but I want him to settle +down because he's happy an' not because he's +shattered. He says he's willin' to marry you an' +I don't see any good reason why not."</p> + +<p>Janice's mouth continued to look rebellious.</p> + +<p>"Go and get him," said Aunt Mary. "I can see +that this thing has got to be settled pleasantly right +off, or we shan't none of us have any appetite for +dinner. You find Jack, or if you can't find him tell +Lucinda that she's got to."</p> + +<p>Janice went out and found Jack in the hall.</p> + +<p>"Is this a trap?" she asked reproachfully.</p> + +<p>Jack laughed.</p> + +<p>"No," he said "it's a counter-mine."</p> + +<p>"Your aunt wants you at once," said Janice, putting +her hands into her pockets and looking out +of the window.</p> + +<p>"I fly to obey," he said obediently, and went +at once to his elderly relative.</p> + +<p>"Jack," she said, the instant he opened the door, +"I've had a little talk with Granite. She don' +want to marry you, but she looks to me like she +really didn't know her own mind. I've said all I +can say an' I'm too tired holdin' the ear-trumpet to +say any more. I think the best thing you can do is +<pb n="307" /><anchor id="Pg307" />to take her out for a walk an' explain things +thoroughly. It's no good our talkin' to her together; +and, anyway, I've always been a great +believer in 'Two's company—three's none.' That +was really the big reason why I'd never let Lucinda +keep a cat. You take her and go to walk and I +guess everything'll come out all right. It ought +to. My heavens alive!"</p> + +<p>Jack took the maid and they went out to walk. +When they were beyond earshot the first thing +that they did was to laugh long and loud.</p> + +<p>"Of all my many and varied adventures!" +cried Mrs. Rosscott, and Jack took the opportunity +to kiss her again—under no protest this time.</p> + +<p>"We shall have to be married very soon, now, +you know," he said gayly. "Aunt Mary won't be +able to wait."</p> + +<p>"Oh, as to that—we'll see," said Mrs. Rosscott, +and laughed afresh. "But there is one thing +that must be done at once."</p> + +<p>"What's that?" Jack asked.</p> + +<p>"We must tell Aunt Mary who I am."</p> + +<p>"Oh, to be sure," said the young man.</p> + +<p>"I hope she won't take it in any way but the +right way!" the widow said thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"My dearest, in what other way could she take +it? I think she has proved her opinion of you +pretty sincerely." +<pb n="308" /><anchor id="Pg308" /></p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott, with a little smile, +"I certainly have cause to feel that she loves me +for myself alone."</p> + +<p>When they returned to the house they went +straightway to Aunt Mary's room, and the first +glance through the old lady's eye-glasses told her +that her wishes had all been fulfilled. She sat up +in bed, took a hand of each into her own, and surveyed +them in an access of such utter joy as nearly +caused all three to weep together.</p> + +<p>"Well, I <hi rend="font-style: italic">am</hi> so glad," was all she said for the +first few seconds, and nobody doubted her words +forever after.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Rosscott removed her hat and jacket, +and when she returned to the bedside her future +aunt made her sit down close to her and hold one +of her hands while Jack held the other.</p> + +<p>"I'm <hi rend="font-style: italic">so</hi> glad you're to have the runnin' of Jack," +the old lady declared sincerely. "All I ask of you +is to be patient with him. I always was. That is, +<hi rend="font-style: italic">most</hi> always."</p> + +<p>"Dear Aunt Mary," said Mrs. Rosscott, slipping +down on her knees beside the bed, "you are +so good to me that you encourage me to tell you +my secret. It isn't long, and it isn't bad, but I have +a confession to make."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I say," cried Jack, "if you put it that way +let me do the owning up!" +<pb n="309" /><anchor id="Pg309" /></p> + +<p>"Hush," said his love authoritatively, "it's my +confession. Leave it to me."</p> + +<p>"What is it?" said Aunt Mary, looking +anxiously from one to the other; "you haven't +broke your engagement already, I hope."</p> + +<p>"No," said Mrs. Rosscott, "it's nothing +like that. It's only rather a surprise. But it's +a nice surprise,—at least, I hope you'll think that +it is."</p> + +<p>"Well, hurry and tell me then," said the old +lady. "I'm a great believer in bein' told good +news as soon as possible. What is it?"</p> + +<p>"It's that I'm not a maid," said the pretty +widow.</p> + +<p>"Not—a—" cried Aunt Mary blankly.</p> + +<p>"I'm a widow!" said Janice. "I'm Burnett's +sister."</p> + +<p>"Wh—a—at!" cried Aunt Mary. "I didn't +jus' catch that."</p> + +<p>"You see," screamed Jack, "she was afraid +to have me entertain you in New York,—afraid +you wouldn't be properly looked after, Aunt Mary, +so she dressed up for your maid and looked after +you herself."</p> + +<p>"My heavens alive!"</p> + +<p>"Wasn't she an angel?" he asked.</p> + +<p>"But whatever made you take such an interest?" +Aunt Mary demanded of Janice. +<pb n="310" /><anchor id="Pg310" /></p> + +<p>Janice rose from her knees and, leaning over +the bed, drew the old lady close in her arms.</p> + +<p>"I'll tell you," she screamed gently. "I loved +Jack, and so I loved his aunt even before I had ever +seen her."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary's joy fairly overflowed at that view +of things, and, putting her hands to either side of +the lovely face so close to her own, she kissed it +warmly again and again.</p> + +<p>"I always knew you were suthin' out of the ordinary," +she declared vigorously. "You know I +wouldn't have let him marry you if I hadn't been +pretty sure as you were different from Lucinda an' +the common run."</p> + +<p>And then she beamed on them both and Jack +beamed on them both and Mrs. Rosscott kissed +each of them and dried her own happy eyes.</p> + +<p>"Now I want to know jus' how an' where you +learned to love him?" the aunt asked next.</p> + +<p>"I loved him almost directly I knew him," she +answered, and at that Aunt Mary seemed on the +point of applauding with the ear-trumpet against +the headboard.</p> + +<p>"It was jus' the same with me," she said delightedly. +"He was only a baby then, but the first +look I took I jus' had a feelin'—"</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Mrs. Rosscott sympathetically, +"so did I." +<pb n="311" /><anchor id="Pg311" /></p> + +<p>They all laughed together.</p> + +<p>"An' now," said Aunt Mary, laying back and +folding her arms upon her bosom, "an' now comes +the main question,—when do you two want to be +married?"</p> + +<p>"Oh!" said the widow starting, "we—I—Jack—"</p> + +<p>"Well, go on," said Aunt Mary. "Say whenever +you like. An' then Jack can do the same."</p> + +<p>The two young people exchanged glances.</p> + +<p>"Speak right up," said Aunt Mary. "I'm a +great believer in not hangin' back when anythin' +has got to be decided. Jack, what do you think?"</p> + +<p>"I want to get married right off," said Jack +decidedly.</p> + +<p>"I think he's too young," put in Mrs. Rosscott +hastily.</p> + +<p>"I don't know," said Aunt Mary, looking at +her nephew reflectively. "Seems to me he's big +enough, an' I'm a great believer in never dilly-dallyin' +over what's got to be done some time. +Why not Thanksgiving?"</p> + +<p>"Thanksgiving!" shrieked Mrs. Rosscott.</p> + +<p>"Yes," said Aunt Mary. "I think it would be +a good time, an' then I can come and spend Christmas +with you in the city."</p> + +<p>"Great idea!" declared her nephew; "me for +Thanksgiving." +<pb n="312" /><anchor id="Pg312" /></p> + +<p>"What do you say?" said Aunt Mary to the +bride-to-be.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't see—" began the latter, wrinkling +her pretty forehead in a prettier perplexity and +looking helplessly back and forth between their +double eagerness.</p> + +<p>"Well, why not?" said the aunt. "It ain't as +if there was any reason for waitin'. If there was +I'd be the first to be willin' to do all I could to be +patient, but as it is—even if you an' Jack ain't in +any particular hurry, I am, an' I was brought up +to go right to work at gettin' what you want as +soon as you know what it is."</p> + +<p>"But this is so sudden," wailed Mrs. Rosscott.</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary glanced at her sharply.</p> + +<p>"That's what they all say, a'cordin' to the +papers," she said calmly, "an' it never is counted +as anythin' but a joke."</p> + +<p>"But I'm not joking," Janice cried.</p> + +<p>"Then you jus' take a little time an' think it +over," proposed the old lady,—"I'll tell you what +you can do. You can get me Lucinda because I +want to tell her suthin' and then you and Jack can +sit down together an' think it over anywhere an' +anyhow you like."</p> + +<p>"Do you really want Lucinda," said Janice, +rising to her feet, "or is it something that I can +do? You know I'm yours just the same as ever, +<pb n="313" /><anchor id="Pg313" />Aunt Mary. Next to being good to Jack, I want +to always be good to you."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked up with a light in her eyes +that was fine to see.</p> + +<p>"Bless you, my child," she said heartily. "I +know that, but I really want Lucinda, an' you an' +Jack can take care of yourselves for a while. Leastways, +I hope you can. I guess you can. I presume +so, anyway."</p> + +<p>It was late that afternoon that Lucinda, looking +as if she had been accidentally overtaken by a road-roller, +joined Joshua in the potato cellar.</p> + +<p>"Well, the sky c'n fall whenever it likes now!" +she said, sitting down on an empty barrel with a +resigned sigh.</p> + +<p>"That's a comfort to know," said Joshua.</p> + +<p>"She's got it all made up for 'em to marry each +other."</p> + +<p>"That ain't no great news to me," said Joshua.</p> + +<p>"Joshua Whittlesey, you make my blood boil. +Things is goin' rackin' and ruinin' at a great pace +here an' you as cold as a cauliflower over it all."</p> + +<p>Joshua sorted potatoes phlegmatically and said +nothing.</p> + +<p>"S'posin' I'd 'a' wanted to marry him?"</p> + +<p>Joshua continued to sort potatoes.</p> + +<p>"Or, s'posin' you wanted to marry her?"</p> + +<p>Joshua looked up quickly. +<pb n="314" /><anchor id="Pg314" /></p> + +<p>"Which one?" he said.</p> + +<p>"Janice!"</p> + +<p>"Oh," he said in a relieved tone.</p> + +<p>"Why did you say 'oh,'—did you think I meant +her?"</p> + +<p>"I didn't know who you meant."</p> + +<p>"Why, you wouldn't think o' marryin' her, +would you?"</p> + +<p>"No," said Joshua emphatically. "I'd as +soon think o' marryin' you yourself."</p> + +<p>Lucinda deliberated for a minute or so as to +whether to accept this insult in silence or not, and +finally decided to make just one more remark.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if she'll send any word to Arethusa +'n' Mary."</p> + +<p>"They'll know soon enough," said Joshua +oracularly.</p> + +<p>"How'll they know, I'd like to know?"</p> + +<p>"You'll write 'em."</p> + +<p>Lucinda was dumb. The fact that the letter +was already written only made the serpent-tooth of +Joshua's intimate knowledge cut the deeper.</p> +</div> +<pb n="315" /><anchor id="Pg315" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<index index="toc" /> +<index index="pdf" /> + +<head>Chapter Twenty-Five - Grand Finale</head> + + +<quote rend="display"> +<p>She has it all made up for him to marry her, and +she is certainly as happy as she is and he is themselves. +She is making plans at a great rate and +she has consented to have her wedding here because +she wants to be there herself. The day is set for +Thanksgiving and the Lord be with us for everything +has got to be just so and she is no more good +at helping now that he's come. They are all +going back to New York as soon as possible after +it's over and I hope to be forgiven for stating +plainly that it will be the happiest day' of my life.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">Respectfully,</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">L. COOKE.</p> +</quote> + +<p>Upon receipt of this astounding news Arethusa +took the train and flew to the scene where such +momentous happenings were piling up on one +another. Her arrival was unexpected and the +changes which she found ensued and ensuing were +of a nature bewildering in the extreme. Aunt +Mary had quit her regime of soup and sleep and +was not only more energetically vigorous as to +mind than ever, but strengthening daily as to bodily +force. It might have been the excitement, for Burnett +was there, Clover was <hi rend="font-style: italic">en route</hi>, and Mitchell +<pb n="316" /><anchor id="Pg316" />was expected within twenty-four hours. Other great +changes were visible everywhere. A corps of +servants from town had fairly swamped Lucinda +and twenty carpenters were putting up an extra +addition to the house in which to give the wedding +room to spread. Nor was this all, for Aunt Mary +had turned a furniture man and an upholsterer +loose with no other limit than that comprised by +the two words "<hi rend="font-style: italic">carte blanche</hi>."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott still continued to wait upon Aunt +Mary, but another maid had arrived to await upon +Mrs. Rosscott. The latter had shed her black uniform +and bloomed forth in rose-hued robes. Mr. +Stebbins was kept on tap from dawn to dark and +the checks flowed like water. Emissaries had been +despatched to New York to buy the young couple +a suitable house and furnish that also from top to +bottom.</p> + +<p>"Well, Arethusa," the aunt said to the niece +when they met the morning after her arrival, "I'm +feelin' better 'n I was last time you were here."</p> + +<p>"I'm so glad," yelled Arethusa.</p> + +<p>"They'll live in New York and I'll live with +them. As far as I've seen there ain't no other +place on earth to live. I'm goin' to get me a coat +lined with black-spotted white cat's fur and have +my glasses put on a parasol handle, and I'm going +to have the collars and sleeves left out of most of +<pb n="317" /><anchor id="Pg317" />my dresses an' look like other people. I'm a great +believer in doin' as others do, an' Jack won't ever +have no cause to complain that I didn't take easy +to city life."</p> + +<p>Arethusa felt herself dumb before these revelations.</p> + +<p>Later she was conducted to see the wedding +presents, which were gorgeous. Among them was +the biggest and brightest of crimson automobiles; +and Mitchell, who had presented it, had christened +it beforehand "The Midnight Sun." Aunt +Mary's gift was the New York house and money +enough for them to live on the income.</p> + +<p>"I know you're able to look out for yourself," +she told the bride, "but I don't want Jack to have +to worry over things at all, and, although I know +it's a good habit, still I shouldn't like to have him +ever work so hard that he wouldn't feel like goin' +around with us nights. Not ever. Not even +sometimes."</p> + +<p>Mitchell was overjoyed at the way things had +turned out.</p> + +<p>"My dear Miss Watkins," he screamed, when +he was ushered into Aunt Mary's presence, "who +could have guessed in the hour of that sad parting +in New York that such a glad future was held in +store for us all!"</p> + +<p>"I didn't quite catch that," Aunt Mary exclaimed, +<pb n="318" /><anchor id="Pg318" />rapturously, "but it doesn't matter—as +long as you got here safe at last."</p> + +<p>"Safe!" exclaimed the young man; "it would +have been the very refinement of cruelty if my train +had smashed me on this journey."</p> + +<p>Burnett was equally happy.</p> + +<p>"I suppose it will be up to me to give you away," +he said to his sister; "before all these people, too. +What a mean trick!"</p> + +<p>Jack had thought that he would like to have +Tweedwell marry him, as that young man had put +in the summer vacation getting ordained. Tweedwell +accepted—although he had just taken charge +of a living in Seattle and came through on a flyer +which arrived two hours before <hi rend="font-style: italic">the</hi> hour. Some +fifty or sixty of the guests came in on the same +train, and Burnett and Clover met them all at the +cars and made the majority comfortable in the different +hotels and honored the minority with Aunt +Mary's hospitality.</p> + +<p>The day was gorgeous. The addition to the +house was done and lined with white and decorated +in gold. An orchestra was ensconced behind palms +just as orchestras always covet to be and a magnificent +breakfast had been sent up from the city +in its own car with its own service and attendants +to serve it.</p> + +<p>There was only one hitch in the entire programme. +<pb n="319" /><anchor id="Pg319" />That was that when they got to the +church Tweedwell did not show up. Jack was distressed +even though Mrs. Rosscott laughed. +Mitchell wanted to read the ceremony, but Aunt +Mary was afraid it wouldn't be legal, and Mr. +Stebbins agreed with her. In the end the regular +clergyman married them; and just as they were all +filing out they met Tweedwell and Lucinda tearing +along, he in his surplice and she in the black silk +dress which Aunt Mary had given her in celebration +of the occasion. They were both too exhausted +to be able to explain for several minutes; +but it finally came out (of Lucinda) that Burnett, +whose place it was to have overseen officiating +Tweedwell, had forgotten all about him, and the +poor fellow, exhausted by his long journey, had +never awakened until Lucinda, going in to clear up +his room, had let forth a piercing howl of surprise.</p> + +<p>So far from dampening anyone's spirits this little +<hi rend="font-style: italic">contretemps</hi> only seemed to set things off at a +livelier pace. They had a brisk ride home, and +the wedding feast and the wedding cake were all +that could be desired. What went with it was the +finest that any of the guests ever tasted before or +since, and the champagne was all but served in +beer steins.</p> + +<p>When it came to the healths they drank to Aunt +Mary along with the bride and groom, and Mitchell +<pb n="320" /><anchor id="Pg320" />made a speech, invoking Heaven's blessings on the +triple compact and covering himself with glory.</p> + +<p>"Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride and her +groom," he cried, when they told him to rise and +proclaim. "Here's to Aunt Mary and her bride +and groom, and here's to their health and their +wealth and their happiness. Here's to their brilliant +past, their roseate present and their gorgeous +future. And here's to hoping that Fate, who is +ready and willing to deal any man a bride, may +some time see fit to deal some one of us another +such as Jack's Aunt Mary. So I propose her +health before all else. Aunt Mary, long may she +wave!"</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked as if words and actions were +poor things in which to attempt to express her +feelings, but no one who glanced at her could be in +two minds as to her state of approval as to everything +that was going on.</p> + +<p>The bridal pair drove away somewhere after +five o'clock, and about seven the main body of the +guests returned to the city.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Rosscott's mother and Mitchell and Burnett +remained a day or two to keep Aunt Mary +from feeling blue, but Aunt Mary was not at all +inclined that way.</p> + +<p>"If those two young people are lookin' forward +to anythin' like as much fun as I am," she said over +<pb n="321" /><anchor id="Pg321" />and over again, "well, all is they're lookin' forward +to a good deal."</p> + +<p>"Won't we whoop her up next summer!" said +Burnett; "well, I don't know!"</p> + +<p>"My dear Robert," said his mother gently.</p> + +<p>"Don't stop him," said Aunt Mary. "He +knows just how I feel an' I know jus' how he feels. +It isn't wrong, Mrs. Burnett, it's natural. We were +born to be happy, only sometimes we don't know +just how to set about it."</p> + +<p>"Miss Watkins has hit the nail on the head," +said Mitchell, rolling a cigarette. "She has not +only hit the nail on its own head, but she has succeeded +in driving its point well into all our heads. +She taught us many things during her short visit. +I, for one, am her debtor forever. Me for joy, +from now on!"</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary smiled. "My heavens!" she murmured; +"to think how nice it all come out, and +how really put out I was when Jack first began, +too."</p> + +<p>Burnett put his hand in his pocket and pulled out +some gum.</p> + +<p>"Robert!" cried his mother, "you don't chew +gum, do you?"</p> + +<p>"Of course he doesn't," said his friend quickly; +"that's why he had it in his pocket."</p> + +<p>Aunt Mary looked thoughtfully at him. +<pb n="322" /><anchor id="Pg322" /></p> + +<p>"Give me a little," she said, "maybe it's suthin' +I've been missin'."</p> + +<p>Mrs. Burnett left the next day, and Mitchell +went the day after.</p> + +<p>The carpenters took down the addition, and the +wedding presents were shipped to town.</p> + +<p>"She says she'll be goin' soon," said Lucinda to +Joshua.</p> + +<p>"Then she'll be goin' soon," said Joshua.</p> + +<p>"I'm sure I'll be glad," said Lucinda; "such +hifalutin sky-larkin'!"</p> + +<p>Joshua said nothing. Mr. Stebbins had apprised +him of Aunt Mary's arrangements in his behalf and +he felt no inclination to criticize any of her doings +and sayings.</p> + +<p>Toward the end of the next week this telegram +was received.</p> + +<quote rend="display"> +<p>Dear Aunt Mary: We're home and ready when +you are. Telegraph what train.</p> + +<p rend="text-align: right">J. and J.</p> +</quote> + +<p>The telegram was handed to Aunt Mary at ten +in the morning. Her fingers trembled as she +opened it.</p> + +<p>"My heavens alive, Lucinda," she cried, the +next minute, "I do believe, if you'll be quick, that +I can make the twelve-twenty! Run! Tell Joshua +to get my trunk down and harness Billy as quick +<pb n="323" /><anchor id="Pg323" />as he can. He can telegraph that I'm comin' after +I'm gone."</p> + +<p>Lucinda flew Joshua-wards.</p> + +<p>"She wants to make the twelve-twenty train!" +she cried. Joshua looked up.</p> + +<p>"Then she'll make it," he said.</p> + +<p>She made it!</p> +</div> +<pb n="325" /><anchor id="Pg325" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> + +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">Anne Warner's "Susan Clegg" Books</hi></p> + +<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND HER FRIEND MRS. LATHROP</p> + +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER<lb /> +With Frontispiece, $1.00</p> + +<p>Nothing better in the new homely philosophy style +of fiction has been written.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">San Francisco Bulletin</hi>.</p> + +<p>One of the most genuinely humorous books ever written.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">St. +Louis Globe-Democrat</hi>.</p> + +<p>Anything more humorous than the Susan Clegg stories +would be hard to find.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">The Critic</hi>, New York.</p> + +<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" /> + +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the Same Author</hi>:</p> + +<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND HER NEIGHBORS' AFFAIRS</p> + +<p>With Frontispiece, $1.00</p> + +<p>All the stories brim over with quaint humor, caustic +sarcasm, and concealed contempt for male and matrimonial +chains.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia Ledger</hi>.</p> + +<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" /> + +<p>SUSAN CLEGG AND A MAN IN THE HOUSE</p> + +<p>Illustrated by Alice Barber Stephens. $1.50</p> + +<p>Susan is a positive joy, and the reading world owes +Anne Warner a vote of thanks for her contribution to +the list of American humor.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York Times</hi>.</p> + +<p>LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., Publishers<lb /> +34 Beacon Street, Boston</p> +</div> + +<pb n="326" /><anchor id="Pg326" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">An exceedingly clever volume of stories</hi></p> + +<p>AN ORIGINAL GENTLEMAN</p> + +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER</p> + +<p>With frontispiece by Alice Barber Stephens</p> + +<p>Cloth. $1.50</p> + +<p>Exhibits her cleverness and sense of humor.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York +Times</hi>.</p> + +<p>Crisply told, quaintly humorous.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston Transcript</hi>.</p> + +<p>An "Original Gentleman" is truly also one of the most +entertaining and witty gentlemen that it has been our +fortune to run across in many a day, not to mention the +more original lady that he has to do with.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Louisville +Evening Post</hi>.</p> + +<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" /> + +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the same author</hi></p> + +<p>A WOMAN'S WILL</p> + +<p>Illustrated. 360 pages. Cloth. $1.50</p> + +<p>A deliciously funny book.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago Tribune</hi>.</p> + +<p>It is bright, charming, and intense as it describes the +wooing of a young American widow on the European +Continent by a German musical genius.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">San Francisco +Chronicle</hi>.</p> + +<p>As refreshing a bit of fiction as one often finds.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Providence +Journal</hi>.</p> + +<p>LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS<lb /> +34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p> +</div> + +<pb n="327" /><anchor id="Pg327" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">Anne Warner's Latest Character Creation</hi></p> + +<p>IN A MYSTERIOUS WAY</p> + +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ANNE WARNER</p> + +<p>Illustrated by J.V. McFall. Cloth. $1.50</p> + +<p>A story of love and sacrifice that teems with the +author's original humor.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Baltimore American</hi>.</p> + +<p>The humor peculiar to her pen is here in wonted +strength, but in a new guise; and set against it, or interwoven +with it, is a story of love and the strange sacrifice +of which a few loving hearts are capable.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">New York +American</hi>.</p> + +<milestone unit="tb" rend="stars: 5" /> + +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By the same author</hi></p> + +<p>YOUR CHILD AND MINE</p> + +<p>Illustrated. 12mo. Cloth. $1.50</p> + +<p>The child heart, strange and sweet and tender, lies open +to this sympathetic writer, and other human hearts—and +eyes—should be opened by her narratives.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago +Record-Herald</hi>.</p> + +<p>The literary charm of the stories is not the least of their +attractions. The interest is all the greater for the style +in which the story is told, and the author's sympathy with +her young friends lends a vital warmth to her narrative.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia +Public Ledger</hi>.</p> + +<p>LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS<lb /> +34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p> +</div> + +<pb n="328" /><anchor id="Pg328" /> + +<div rend="page-break-before: always"> +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic; font-size: large">By the Author of "Aunt Jane of Kentucky"</hi></p> + +<p>THE LAND OF LONG AGO</p> + +<p><hi rend="font-style: italic">By</hi> ELIZA CALVERT HALL</p> + +<p>Illustrated by G. Patrick Nelson and Beulah Strong +12mo. Cloth. $1.50</p> + +<p>The book is an inspiration.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston Globe</hi>.</p> + +<p>Without qualification one of the worthiest publications +of the year.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Pittsburg Post</hi>.</p> + +<p>Aunt Jane has become a real personage in American +literature.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Hartford Courant</hi>.</p> + +<p>A philosophy sweet and wholesome flows from the lips +of "Aunt Jane."—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Chicago Evening Post</hi>.</p> + +<p>The sweetness and sincerity of Aunt Jane's recollections +have the same unfailing charm found in "Cranford."—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Philadelphia +Press</hi>.</p> + +<p>To a greater degree than her previous work it touches +the heart by its wholesome, quaint human appeal.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Boston +Transcript</hi>.</p> + +<p>The stories are prose idyls; the illuminations of a lovely +spirit shine upon them, and their literary quality is as +rare as beautiful.—<hi rend="font-style: italic">Baltimore Sun</hi>.</p> + +<p>MARGARET E. SANGSTER says: "It is not often that an +author competes with herself, but Eliza Calvert Hall has +done so successfully, for her second volume centred about +Aunt Jane is more fascinating than her first."</p> + +<p>LITTLE, BROWN, & CO., PUBLISHERS<lb /> +34 BEACON STREET, BOSTON</p> +</div> + +</body> + <back> +<div rend="page-break-before: right"> + <divGen type="pgfooter" /> +</div> + </back> +</text> +</TEI.2> + +<!-- +A Word from Project Gutenberg + + +This file should be named 15775-0.txt or 15775-0.zip. + +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + + + http://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/1/5/7/7/15775/ + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one — the old editions will be +renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no one +owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation (and +you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without permission +and without paying copyright royalties. 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