CHAPTER IV
THE PORCH PARTY
This first afternoon was followed by many others quite as happy.Shelly Beach came to be a familiar spot, the grove was more than onceexplored, the drives up and down the coast became old acquaintances,while Cap'n Si grew to be as well known as any member of Jennie'sfamily. The little girls were never allowed to go out in a sail boatand never were permitted to go too far in the rowboat though Mr. Ramseypromised that some day they should all go on a sailing party, evenMiss Eloise. The salt baths and the fine air were doing Miss Eloiseso much good that one might expect almost anything would be possiblefor her before the summer was over. She was a great favorite witheverybody, and with none more than the three little girls to whom shegave confidences she withheld from older persons, and they came to knowa great deal about the circumstances of herself and sister.
"I wish we could do something about it," said Jennie, one day where thethree children were sitting in a row on the warm sands.
"About what?" asked Dorothy.
"About Miss Eloise. You know she told us about the mortgage on theirlittle house. I asked papa to tell me what a mortgage was. At firstI thought it was something that had been built on and that had to belifted off in some way, but it isn't that at all; it is money thathas to be paid before they can own the house all themselves. I askedpapa if he couldn't give them the money, but he said it would neverdo to offer it, for both Miss Eloise and Miss Newman were very proudand would much rather earn the money themselves even if it took a longtime."
"But Miss Eloise can't earn money; she is an invalid," put in Edna.
"I know, but I wish she could: Papa said I needn't worry about it, asthe mortgage was not so very big, and the money they had to pay on itevery year did not amount to such a great deal, but I know from whatMiss Eloise said that she would like it to be paid; she said she wouldfeel ever so much more comfortable."
"Oh, dear, how in the world can anyone ever understand about suchthings as interest and mortgages and all that?" said Dorothy. "I don'tbelieve I ever shall get through fractions, let alone interest."
"You see," Jennie went on, "Miss Eloise isn't like a Home for theFriendless or anything like that, or we could have a bazar for her."
"Of course she isn't a Friendless," said Edna with indignation.
"That's just what I said she wasn't, and that is what makes it hardto do things. I am so fond of her that I would like to have her getanything she wants."
"She tells the most lovely stories," said Edna thoughtfully, "but thetrouble is, she hasn't the strength to write them down."
"Yes, but maybe she can some day," Dorothy spoke up. "Don't youremember when we first saw her she couldn't even sit up in her chair,and had to be wheeled everywhere."
"Yes, I know that, but the doctor says she must be very careful andmust never do anything to tire her back, and writing does tire it; shesaid so." Edna gave this last word.
They were all very thoughtful for a little while after this. Ednaemployed herself in making little piles of sand, scooping it up witha purple mussel shell. Dorothy merely let the sand slide through herfingers, while Jennie amused herself by covering up one hand with sandand suddenly pulling it out of its covering.
It was while they were thus occupied that Emma came down the beach tofind them.
"Your mother says you are to come up to the house and bring the otherswith you," she said to Jennie.
"What does she want us for, Emma?"
"To see some company that has come."
"Oh, very well, I suppose we shall have to go. Come on girls."
They all arose and followed Emma to the house to find that a neighborhad driven over with her two children, a little girl somewhat youngerthan either of the three, and a little boy somewhat older. Jennie hadnever met them before, but at her mother's suggestion she bore them offto a corner of the porch, leaving the ladies to talk together. In spiteof there being a company of five, the children did not seem to getalong very comfortably, for the visitors were shy and had very littleto say.
Miss Eloise from her chair watched them all for awhile. She could seethat very little headway was made, though Jennie as hostess was doingher best to entertain. Billy Potter with round eyes stared straightahead, taking interest only in the passing of an occasional vessel;Mallie, with drooping head responded yes or no to the questions put toher, and both visitors refused to leave their chairs to go anywhereor see anything. Presently Miss Eloise called Jennie softly and sheimmediately responded.
"You're having rather a hard time of it, aren't you dear?" said MissEloise.
"Oh, Miss Eloise, you don't know what sticks they are. I can't makethe little girl say anything but yes and no, and the boy won't even saythat much; we have all tried him."
Miss Eloise laughed. "Do you think you could wheel me up closer?"
"Why, of course I shall be delighted to."
Edna seeing what was taking place, ran to help. "Oh, Miss Eloise," shecried, "are you coming to help us out?"
"I am going to try," she said smiling. And presently the strangerslooked up to see a sweet face smiling at them from a nest of silkenpillows.
It would be a rare child whom Miss Eloise could not entertain, and ina few moments Billy's round eyes removed their gaze from the passingships while Mallie was a delighted listener to one of Miss Eloise'sfascinating stories.
Time passed so rapidly under this treatment that when, in the course ofhalf an hour, Mrs. Potter and Mrs. Ramsey came over to where the groupsat, they found no one ready to move until the tale was done, so bothladies sat down to hear its close.
"Gee! but that was a fine story," said the hitherto silent Billy,when the end of the story came. "I wish you could tell 'em like that,Mother."
"Oh, my dear, I wish I could," returned Mrs. Potter. "What a giftyou have, Miss Newman. I wish more children could have the privilegeof hearing you. I quite envy Mrs. Ramsey such an institution as aself-working reciter of tales."
The ladies all laughed and Mrs. Ramsey said that her neighbors neednot think they could send over and borrow this new institution, thoughshe was sure the institution was much more entertaining than anyphonograph. They were all quite merry over it, and all the time Ednawas thinking very hard, and was the most sober one of the company.
After the visitors had departed, the two younger of them quite thawedout, and promising with great readiness to come again, the three littlegirls returned to their place on the sands.
They were discussing the two Potter children when suddenly Edna sangout: "I see a boat coming."
"There are always boats coming and going," remarked Dorothy; "I don'tthink that is anything very unusual."
"But they don't often come so close to the shore, as if they weremaking right for this little landing," protested Edna.
Jennie sprang to her feet. "I do believe it is someone coming here,"she declared, "but I don't know who it is. I think it is one of theboats from the hotel. There are two pretty big boys in it and a smallerboy. Yes, they are going to land. Shall we stay here or go to thehouse? I am sure I don't know them."
The other two were standing up by now. They watched the boat till itcame up to the little landing, saw one of the boys, the smaller one,scramble ashore and then the others row off. The smaller boy came ondirectly to where the little girls were standing. As soon as he caughtsight of them he took off his hat and walked faster.
Then Edna recognized him: "Why it's Louis, my cousin Louis," she cried,and ran to meet him. "Why, Louis Morrison," she greeted him as he cameup, "where in the world did you come from?"
"From the hotel," responded Louis. "Mother and I are staying there andmother had a letter from your mother telling her that you were hereand where you were staying, so when Al and Phil Haines said they werecoming out in a boat I got them to leave me here. I say, it's fine,isn't it?"
Just what was fine, Edna did not stop to inquire, but turned to herfriends to say, "This is my cousin Louis Morrison; Louis, this isJennie Ramsey
and this is Dorothy Evans, my dearest friends."
"What were you doing when I came up?" asked Louis.
"We weren't doing anything in particular. It is Jennie's afternoon tochoose--we take turns in choosing how we will spend our afternoons, yousee--and she hadn't made up her mind exactly." Edna looked inquiringlyat Jennie as if to ask what the program was to be.
Jennie, like the little lady she was, turned to Louis. "What would youlike to do?" she asked.
"Oh, I don't know." Louis looked a little embarrassed at being thusappealed to. "What do you generally do?"
"Sometimes we get Cap'n Si to take us out rowing, sometimes we go for adrive, and if no one else is going to use the automobile, mother willlet Mack take us out in that, but I am afraid she is going to use itthis afternoon. We could take the pony, though, or we could go out inthe boat."
"Have you a boat of your own? I can row," Louis returned.
"No, I haven't a boat of my own, but papa says I shall have one when Iam old enough. He never lets anyone take me out but Cap'n Si."
"Ho," exclaimed Louis, "I could take you as well as not."
Here Jennie became quite dignified and drew herself up to her smallheight. "I believe it is my afternoon to choose," she said turning tothe two girls; "I think we'd better go to drive. I will tell Peter tobring up the pony and cart in half an hour." She walked away toward thestables, Dorothy joined her and Edna was left with her cousin feelinghalf indignant with Louis and half miffed with the girls. Why couldn'tthey have asked her and Louis to go to the stables? They might haveknown Louis, being a boy, would be interested in the horses.
She was roused from her thoughts by Louis who said, "I say, Edna, youdon't want to go to drive, do you? It's stupid to just go driving upand down the roads; it's lots more exciting to go out in a boat. I likea sail-boat, don't you?"
"I've never been in one," said Edna truthfully. "Mr. Ramsey doesn'tthink they are very safe, but he says we shall all go on a sailingparty some day soon."
"I hope I can go, too," returned Louis. Then, realizing that it wouldbe best for himself if he tried to be more gracious to Edna's friends,he said, "I reckon after all, it will be nice to take a drive. Perhapsthe driver will let me drive a little."
"The driver is Jennie," Edna told him. She began to be a littletroubled about this new element which had suddenly come in to disturbthe harmony of the days. She knew that Jennie was rather tenacious ofher rights in the matter of her pony, though she was generosity itselfin other things. She wished that they were going out with Cap'n Siinstead of in the pony-cart. She wasn't sure whether the girls wantedherself and cousin to follow them, and yet she did not like to stand asif waiting. "Let's go up to the house," she said suddenly.
This proved an excellent move, for they met Mrs. Ramsey just as theywere going up the steps, and when Edna explained who her companion was,Mrs. Ramsey said, "Why, that is very nice. I must go and call on Mrs.Morrison. I was going to the hotel anyhow. Where are the others, Edna?"
"They went to the stable to order Peter to get out the pony and cart sowe could all go to drive."
"Wouldn't you rather go in the motor-car? There is plenty of room,for Miss Newman thinks it better Miss Eloise should not give up herafternoon rest, and will not leave her by herself. I can have Mackleave me at the hotel, and while I am making my calls he can take youchildren around by the Cape, and you can pick me up on the way back.How do you like that plan?"
"I think it would be lovely," said Edna looking at Louis forconfirmation.
"Suits me down to the ground," said Louis.
"Then I'll telephone down to the stables and tell Peter never mindabout the pony, and I'll ask him to send Jennie and Dorothy up to me."
Edna was much relieved at this outcome of the difficulty, for she knewthere could be no attempt made to drive the motor-car whatever Louismight want to do in the matter of driving the pony. He was an onlychild and rather a spoiled one, having had his way at home, and beingseldom thwarted by his over-indulgent parents. Edna was fond of him ina way, but she feared he would prove a marplot if he spent much timeat the Ramsey's, and she began to wonder how long he and his motherwere to be at the hotel. She did not like to ask, and just then theautomobile appeared with the other two in it.
"We're not going in the pony cart after all," explained Jennie. "Didyou know, Edna?"
"Yes," she replied, "your mother said so." She felt that the situationwas relieved of its awkwardness because Mrs. Ramsey would be with them,and while she wasn't exactly offended with Jennie and Dorothy, she feltthat she ought to be loyal to Louis, and now there would be no needof straining a point either one way or the other. Therefore when sheand Louis settled down on the seat by Mrs. Ramsey all promised mostfavorably, and since Louis was bound to enjoy himself there was nofriction.
Leaving Mrs. Ramsey at the big hotel some distance beyond, they enjoyeda spin of half an hour and then returned. Mrs. Morrison came out togreet Edna and to tell Louis he had best remain instead of continuingthe drive to the Ramseys.
"Oh, bother," exclaimed Louis, "I don't see why I can't go back. Idon't have to hang around here all the time."
"No, but Louis, you will have a long way to return, and besides youhave been away all the afternoon."
"Oh, but that doesn't make any difference," Louis continued to parley."I haven't seen Edna for ages."
"But you can see her again to-morrow. Come in, dear, and I will tellyou about a nice plan Mrs. Ramsey has been arranging."
This brought Louis to a sense of propriety, for if he showed himselfunpleasant he might not be included in all the nice plans, so out heclambered.
"Thank Mrs. Ramsey for inviting you to go in her automobile," whisperedhis mother, and Louis gave his thanks heartily, calling out as theautomobile started off, "Good-bye, Edna, I'll see you to-morrow."
Jennie and Dorothy glanced at one another meaningly as he said this,and Mrs. Ramsey perceiving the look said, "I have thought of a niceplan, children."
"Tell us, tell us," they clamored.
"I am going to let you give a porch party to-morrow."
"What is that, Mother?" asked Jennie.
"Why, it is just this: I have been thinking how very hard it must befor those mothers who are boarding at the hotel with restless childrenand who must find it difficult to entertain them. Many of these mothersdo not get a moment's rest, and would be so glad of a little time whenthey knew their children were safe somewhere, and were having a goodtime as well, so I thought I would gather up some of these childrento-morrow for a porch party and let Miss Eloise tell them some of herstories. You know there is nothing she loves so well as to get a parcelof children around her, and the way she keeps them as still as miceis a perfect marvel to me. I want to do something of the kind for herbefore she goes, and I am sure she would like this better than anygrown-up affair. What do you think of it?"
"It would be fine," cried the little girls in chorus.
"But what do you mean, Mother, by saying before Miss Eloise goes. Shesurely isn't going soon?"
"Why, I am afraid she and her sister have made up their minds that theymust."
"Just as she is getting along so nicely. What a shame!" cried Jennie."Can't you possibly persuade her to stay?"
"I have tried my best, my dear, but you know they are very proud, andhave said that while they are very grateful for the invitation to staylonger that they could not impose upon me to the extent of more thanthe original time for which I invited them; that was for a month, andthe month was up last week."
"Oh, Mother, why didn't you say all summer while you were about it?"
"Why didn't I? I think it was because I was afraid if I made it sowholesale they would decline to come at all, and I thought once theydid come it would be easy to persuade them to extend their visit, if itproved to be the best place for Miss Eloise."
"Oh, dear," sighed Jennie, "I just hate to think of her going back tothat hot city. Isn't there some way we could manage to make them staysomewhere, even if it
were not at our house? Why couldn't they take alittle cottage or bungalow or something and stay till school begins?"
"Even little cottages and bungalows cost something, and I am afraidthey could not afford even the smallest of those."
"Oh, dear," Jennie sighed again. "I never before wanted school insummer time, but now I wish there were one that Miss Newman could teachin so they would have to stay."
"Why, my dear," exclaimed Mrs. Ramsey and then stopped suddenly.
"What were you going to say, Mother?"
"Nothing, only you have given me an idea. Mack, how much time have we?"
Mack glanced at the clock in front of him. "About half an hour, Mrs.Ramsey. It is just six."
"Then you can take me to the Point. Do you children want to go? I shallbe making a business call only. Perhaps you'd better go home, for MissNewman and Miss Eloise will think we have deserted them. I will be backto dinner. Just go as far as the gate, Mack. The children won't mindwalking the rest of the way."
So the children were set down at the gate and the motor-car went off ina rush. This latest talk had driven all thoughts of Louis out of mind,and the three little girls began to discuss the porch party with greateagerness. "I wonder if we may tell Miss Eloise," said Edna.
Jennie thought they would better not, but they could speak of theirregret in her leaving.
They found the two sisters settled in their favorite corner of the wideporch. "Oh, Miss Eloise," cried Jennie, "we think it is just dreadfulfor you to think of going so soon. Why, I never dreamed but that youwere going to stay all summer."
"But, my dear, think of how long we have been here. Nothing we couldever do would repay your dear mother for all her kindness, and wecertainly would prove ourselves very ungrateful if we imposed ourselvesupon her to such an extent."
"It wouldn't be imposing," protested Jennie.
"It might not be if we could return the hospitality, but that we cannotdo, and so, you see--"
"I don't see at all," Jennie persisted.
"But we do," put in Miss Newman. "We feel very much gratified that youdon't want us to go, and we shall never forget how happy a season wehave had here."
"It will be something to treasure for the rest of my days," said MissEloise, her eyes fixed on the glittering sea, now gathering radiancefrom the evening sky. "Isn't it lovely?" she said. "Don't you want tosit down here and enjoy it with us?"
"We must go and dress for dinner," Jennie told her, "but we will hurry."
However, they were not ready till dinner was announced and Mrs. Ramseyhad returned. Her eyes were bright and there was a little excitedflush on her cheeks. The talk at the table was of the porch party, theprospect of which delighted Miss Eloise, but after dinner, Mrs. Ramseysaid: "Miss Newman, I want to have a talk with you." So she and MissNewman took themselves to the further corner of the porch while thelittle girls gathered around Miss Eloise till the stars came out and itwas too cool to sit out longer.