CHAPTER II.
NAN'S SHIP ARRIVES.
"I wonder why we couldn't have a swim this morning, Jean?" Nathaliestood before her mirror, arranging her pretty brown tresses which, inspite of vigorous efforts with brush and comb, would curl, and refuseto be orderly. "Of course, Aunt Helen will say it is too early in theseason."
"Well, I think that is absurd. It is warm enough. 'Afric's sunnyclime' is not a circumstance to it. Look out, Jean, at the sunlight onthe lawn. When it has that pinkish tinge, you may be sure it's hot."
Jean peeped through the half-open shutters.
"Oh! what a sweet day. Yes, it is going to be hot, and, unless AuntHelen objects seriously, we will surely go in."
She crossed the room and, opening the wardrobe door, took out a prettystriped cotton gown. "Warm enough for this, isn't it?"
Nathalie nodded.
In a few minutes more the girls were both in the dining room. Helenand the children were already at breakfast.
"How late you are," cried Helen, looking up from an open letter. "Iwish you----"
"Never mind, dear," interrupted Nathalie. "It will all be the same ahundred years hence."
"Oh, yes, I suppose so," sighed Helen. "Gladys, don't beat on thetable with your spoon. The noise is distracting."
"And although your tones are dulcet, my love, suppose you give us thatlittle song after breakfast," and Jean slipped into her place at herlittle sister's side.
Gladys turned and threw her arms around her.
"I didn't see you come in, Jeanie."
"That is because you have not eyes in the back of your head, pet."
"Of course I haven't. Nobody has, 'cept fairies and princesses, Is'pose," and Gladys straightened herself up, and, in so doing,overturned her glass of milk into her lap.
"Gladys," cried Helen sharply, "look at your nice, clean frock. It isa shame."
The little girl's lips trembled, and her bright blue eye overflowedwith tears.
"You don't s'pose I did it a-purpose--for nothing."
"No, no, dear. Of course not. Don't cry. I didn't mean to scold you.There, get down and run up to Mary, like a good little girl, and haveyour frock changed," for the sight of tears always put an end toHelen's best efforts at severity.
But Gladys' feelings had been hurt, and now that she was mistress ofthe situation, she had no intention of drying her eyes.
"I think you were unkind, Helen," she began plaintively.
"Don't be a baby, Gladys," interposed Nathalie irritably. "I declare,I think it a perfect nuisance to have our breakfast spoiled in thisway. If you can't behave, you had better have yours in the nursery."
The child's tears were about to begin afresh when a pleasant voice washeard at the door.
"Good-morning. Can I come in?" And without awaiting permission MissHill crossed the room. In her pretty flannel gown and garden hat shemade a very pleasing picture. "How are you, puss?" And she stooped andkissed little Gladys' tear-stained cheek, smiling meanwhile at thegirls, as she divined the situation.
"All right," said the little girl, her face brightening perceptibly,for she dearly loved Miss Hill.
"Helen, here is a rose," said Eleanor, "and when you smell it you willrealize that June is here."
Helen smiled her thanks.
"Well, Eleanor, what started you so early?" asked Jean, as shebuttered her roll.
"Early? You girls don't know what early means. Why it is after nineand I had my breakfast a good hour ago."
"Horror!" shuddered Nathalie. "The very thought is pain."
"They are spoiled," spoke Helen, "and even I am getting into badhabits. I simply gave up struggling, and set the breakfast hour a halfhour later, with the desperate hope that it might bring them down ontime."
"Girls, you ought to be ashamed," said Eleanor, with well-feignedreproach in her tone.
"What nonsense! You would do exactly the same yourself if Mrs. Moffinswere not such a disciplinarian. You can't make me think you are sosuperior," laughed Nathalie.
Helen rose, and, pushing open the blind door, stepped out on theveranda. It was a beautiful June morning, bright and sunshiny. The airwas soft and warm, and the gentle south wind felt like a caress. Thefragrance of roses and honeysuckles was almost intoxicating. Every nowand then the delicious stillness was broken by the soft plaintive songof a bird. The old manor looked more beautiful than ever to Helen, wholoved every nook and cranny of it. She stood for a moment, shading hereyes with her hand from the sun.
"What a pretty day," she murmured to herself. "Oh, I wish----" butthen a voice called her, and she went back into the house.
"Helen," said Jean, coming out from the dining room, "ask Auntie if wecan go in bathing. It is so warm, and we are wild to go in."
"Very well," nodded Helen, as she went upstairs.
Mrs. Dennis was in her chair by the window, with her breakfast tray ona small table at her side.
"Good-morning, darling," she said cheerily. "Where did these deliciousstrawberries come from?" glancing at the pretty cut-glass dish whichwas filled with them.
"They are the first out of the garden, Auntie, and I was determinedthat no one should have them but your own dear self."
"Thank you, my dear, it was just like you to think of Auntie first. Ishall indeed enjoy them."
"Do please; and oh, Auntie! the girls want to go bathing to-day. Areyou willing they should?"
"I am afraid the water will be cold."
"Well, we have had a good deal of warm weather, and I think it can'tbe very frigid. I suppose we might as well say 'yes,' Auntie?"
"Of course," replied Aunt Helen laughingly. "Past experience hastaught us that when Jean and Nathalie have set their hearts on athing, we might as well surrender at once. You won't go in, dear?"
"No, indeed," and Helen shivered at the idea. "I must go and tell thegirls, for they will want to know."
When the roomy buckboard came to the door, Nathalie jumped into thefront seat and gathered up the reins.
"Hurry and get in, girls," she called. "The horses are very fresh thismorning," and in a moment more they were bowling down the avenue.
"Stop at the inn, Nat," said Jean, "and we will get the letters, andask Mollie to go down to the beach with us."
As they pulled up before the inn, Mollie Andrews came running out onto the porch, with a package of letters in her hand.
"Don't get out, Jean; I have your mail. Have you got room enough forme?"
"Certainly. Jump right in," cried Nathalie. "The tide is just rightnow, so we must hurry. Oh! isn't this jolly? I love the delicioussense of excitement one always feels at the first swim of the season.Say, Moll, will you go in?"
"I don't know. Yes, I think I will."
It was quite a pretty scene, this bright June morning, down on thelittle stretch of sands which Hetherford dignified by the name of "TheBeach."
Little children were digging in the sand and filling their pails, andsome of the small boys were running up and down, now in the water, andnow out. The girls were in a group in front of the bathing houses, allchattering at once, and discussing the momentous question as towhether to make the plunge or not.
In a brief time Jean and Nathalie were swimming far out, and Molliecame creeping timidly to the water's edge.
"Oh! how I dread it," she laughed.
"Nonsense, Moll; go ahead. It will do you good."
Mollie walked off, and Helen and Eleanor, who had found a shelterednook, watched the bathers for a while in silence. By and by Helen'sgaze strayed from the bathers to the stretch of blue water beyond, anda slightly troubled look crept into her eyes. A sudden, deep sighrecalled Eleanor's thoughts to her companion.
"Why, Helen, what world of melancholy does that sigh proclaim?"
"Oh, I don't know," evasively. "I am low-spirited this morning,somehow or other."
"Can't you tell me the reason, dear?"
Helen did not answer, and for a moment Eleanor watched her closely.Something in the delicate face
and in the eyes, in which, of late, ashadow always lurked, touched her.
"I would love your confidence, Helen," she said at last; "but unlessyou can give it to me freely, I would not wish to ask it of you."
Helen stirred uneasily.
"Ah, well, for a moment I thought to speak to you of somethingtroublesome, but be glad, dear, that I have changed my mind. I amgoing to speak of something pleasant instead. Do you remember myfriend Miss Stuart? She has visited me several times, but always inthe winter."
"Oh, yes! I remember Jean's writing me about her."
Helen turned a questioning glance on Eleanor, but the girl'sexpression was perfectly non-committal.
"Yes? Well, she is coming here to visit me later. The time is not setas yet, but I hope it will be early next month."
"Indeed. How nice. But, Helen, I thought she was very gay and devotedto society. What will she do in this colony of girls, with scarcely aman to say a pretty thing to her?"
"I don't know," replied Helen, a shade of annoyance crossing her face."I think, perhaps, the girls may be mistaken about her. I feel quitesure she will be happy here."
Just then Nan Birdsall came rushing down over the sands, warm butradiant.
"Going in, Nan?" called Eleanor in greeting.
"No, indeed," breathlessly. "I hate the water more than a cat does,"and Nan dropped down on the sand at Eleanor's side, and, taking offher hat, fanned her flushed face.
"Where is Em this morning?" queried Helen.
"What a superfluous question," laughed Nan. "Don't you see that the_Sylph_ is in the harbor? Of course, Em has Mr. Churchill in tow."
"How will Nathalie like that?" asked Eleanor with an amused smile.
"Oh, Nat won't care," replied Nan, picking up a pebble and sending itskimming across the water. "She is far too sensible."
"Look over your shoulder, Nan, and see your prediction verified;" andsurely enough, strolling across the beach, in their direction, cameEmily Varian, with Wendell Churchill at her side.
"Isn't Em in her element?" said Nan, lowering her voice.
Nothing could have been more characteristic than the welcome the threegirls gave Mr. Churchill. Into Eleanor Hill's courteous greeting wasthrown just enough of personal interest as to be slightly flattering.Helen's "How do you do" was both shy and reserved, and Nan just noddedindifferently, and continued her occupation of skipping stones.
"We ought to be going home," announced Helen presently.
"I wonder if the girls are not ready yet? Oh, yes! there they come!"as the three girls came down from the bathing house and joined thelittle group. Suddenly Nan dropped her pebbles and sprang to her feetwith an exclamation:
"Oh, girls, what fun! My ship has come in at last!"
"Why, Nan, are you going out of your mind?" cried Jean. "What ship?"
"Look, girls, look! Don't you see that big schooner just rounding thepoint?"
"Yes, but what of it?"
"Why, that's the U. S. Coast Survey schooner _Vortex_, and she's goingto be stationed here for a long time, and Dick knows all the officersaboard. How is that for a piece of news?"
"This must be your secret," laughed Eleanor.
"Of course, and didn't I keep it well? Dick told me weeks ago thatthey were coming."
"I say, it is jolly. We will have some fun, won't we?" It was Nathaliewho spoke.
"It is a perfect god-send," declared Emily Varian, solemnly. "Nan, yoursecret is a success, and I congratulate you."
"I wonder," ruminated Jean, "who the men are, and whether we willreally like them."
"Time will tell," spoke Helen, a bit indifferently. "Come, girls, wemust be going. Here is the carriage."
Almost every evening the young people gathered together on theLawrences' broad veranda, and to-night was no exception to the rule.When the girls strolled out from the dining room, they found Nan andEmily sitting on the steps.
"Why, we never heard you at all," said Jean. "You must have come overthe lawn like--oh dear, I can't think of a comparison. The night istoo warm for one to exert one's brain unnecessarily."
Nathalie seated herself on the railing.
"Here come Eleanor and Wendell Churchill."
"Ah!" laughed Jean teasingly. Her sister looked around at her withheightened color.
"Don't be silly, Jean."
"Do you know I have hardly seen you to-day, Miss Nathalie," saidChurchill, finding a place on the railing at her side. "Where have youkept yourself?"
"Everywhere--anywhere. I have not been hard to find."
Nathalie's eyes were smiling wickedly into his, and his gave her backa smile.
"Now, let me explain," he began.
"Oh, don't let me put you to any unnecessary trouble," she interruptedwith mock formality.
"You are very cruel to-night," said Churchill laughing. "By the way,Dick and I went down to the _Vortex_ this afternoon, and there aresome awfully good fellows aboard. I hope you girls will give them agood time."
"It seems to me that the responsibility ought to rest with them,"interposed Eleanor Hill.
"Otherwise we should feel absolutely overwhelmed," said Nan comically.
"Here comes Dick now," exclaimed Nathalie, "and he has a strange manwith him."
In a moment more Dick Andrews gained the veranda, and introduced hisfriend Beverly Dudley, of the _Vortex_.
It was Jean who came forward and, extending her hand, bade himwelcome.
"Ah, Mr. Dudley, I fear you will feel yourself overwhelmed with such abevy of girls, but let me help you. This is my sister Nathalie--myfriends Miss Hill, Miss Birdsall, and Miss Varian. Unfortunately myelder sister is not here to receive you. She will join us presently.Emily, can't you make room for Mr. Dudley on the settle?" she addedglancing about her.
Emily smiled radiantly, and Dudley, who seemed to be a charming youth,made his way to her side.
Leaving Nathalie and Em each happy in a _tete-a-tete_, the other girlsformed a circle of which jolly Dick was the center, and muchgood-natured chaffing and light-hearted laughter were in order.
After a while Helen appeared in the doorway with two mandolins in herhands.
"What a good idea," exclaimed Eleanor enthusiastically. "Now we canhave some singing."
"I can't very well shake hands, Mr. Dudley," said Helen, in responseto Jean's introduction.
"Let me relieve you, Miss Lawrence."
"Thanks. Will you give this mandolin to my sister Nathalie?"
They all joined in a song, and their voices, with the mandolinaccompaniment, sounded wondrously sweet in the soft night air.
It was growing late when Nan at last jumped up.
"I am sorry to break up the party, but Emily and I must be going.Father will have the town crier out pretty soon."
There was a general move, and Mr. Dudley crossed to Helen's side.
"I have had a charming evening, Miss Lawrence. I hope you will honorus with your presence on the _Vortex_ very soon." He spoke with thesoft drawl peculiar to Southerners.
"It will be a great pleasure, and indeed we will."
"Won't you let me walk home with you, Miss Varian?" he asked. "It israther late for you to go alone."
Emily's answer was lost in a merry peal of laughter from Nan.
"Mr. Dudley evidently appreciates the dangers lurking in that desolatestretch of lawn between here and the parsonage," she said withgood-natured sarcasm.
The girls joined in a general laugh, in spite of themselves, but Emilyfrowned portentously.
After "good-night" had been said all around, and Helen found herselfalone in her room, she took out from between the leaves of a book theletter she had received in the morning. As she re-read it she glancedup from time to time at a likeness which stood on the table close athand. It was the face of a very beautiful woman--a face delicate, ovalin shape, with straight eyebrows, from under which looked out a pairof eyes with a world of witchery in their depths; the whole crowned bya halo of soft hair.
Helen dropped the lett
er in her lap, and folding her hands over it,fell into a deep reverie. Rousing herself at last, she slowly crossedthe room, and opened a little drawer in her writing desk. There,hidden among some papers, lay another photograph--a man's face thistime. As she looked at it steadily a heavy sigh escaped her lips, forit seemed to her that the grave eyes looked at her reproachfully. Witha half-impatient exclamation she tossed it back into its hiding-placeand closed the drawer sharply, and not until sleep claimed her didthese two faces fade entirely from her mental vision.