CHAPTER VIII A VISITOR
Supper at the mansion was always a rather stiff and formal affair, but onthis evening the tension was somewhat relaxed. The Misses Gates chattedpleasantly with the girls, making them feel entirely at their ease.
The table had been laid with an elaborately embroidered tablecloth, ofgood quality but slightly yellowed with age. The dishes, the cut glass,and the silver were of the best. Two tall candles in pewter holderslighted the room. Cora Sully, fairly presentable in white cap and apron,brought the food in from the kitchen, but she served it in an indifferentfashion.
"Cora really is an excellent cook," Iris said half apologetically, whenthe woman had returned to the kitchen.
"Yes, indeed," Doris agreed quickly.
She had no fault to find with the supper, for the creamed chicken wasdelicious, the biscuits light, the salad crisp and fresh. It was onlythat she had taken a dislike to Cora and wondered why the Misses Gateskept such a slouchy, sullen woman.
"Mrs. Sully has been with us for some time," Iris continued. "She was thedaughter of our former dressmaker, but she married a man that was nogood. Undoubtedly he means well but he is shiftless, and finds it hard toobtain work. We took them both in."
"I see," Doris murmured.
She scarcely knew what to reply, and Kitty was leaving the burden of theconversation to her.
Mrs. Sully cleared away the dishes and appeared with the dessert, asteaming rich pudding which she placed before Azalea, who served it uponindividual plates.
"Iris and I seldom indulge ourselves when we are here alone," Azalearemarked, "but we remember how young girls like sweets."
"I'm afraid you have gone to a great deal of trouble on our account,"Doris said.
"Not at all," Azalea assured her. "It is a pleasure to have you here. Wehave so few visitors."
It seemed to Doris, who chanced to be watching Mrs. Sully, that anirritated expression passed over her face.
"_She_ doesn't like it because we are here," Doris thought. "Probablythinks we'll make her more work!"
She picked up her dessert spoon, but before she could start eating herpudding, there came an unexpected interruption. A loud barking andgrowling grated upon the ears of the diners.
Doris and Kitty exchanged guilty glances. It was Wags!
"Gracious!" Iris murmured. "What can be the matter?"
Embarrassed, Kitty looked down at her plate.
"I'm so sorry," Doris apologized, "but I'm afraid it must be Wags."
"Wags?" Azalea asked, a glimmer of amusement in her eyes.
Doris nodded unhappily.
"He's the cutest little brown dog you ever saw--I know you'll just lovehim! Kitty and I picked him up on the road this afternoon and brought himalong. We didn't want to leave him out in the storm, so we tied him upunder the porch. I don't know what set him off like that."
Before either of the women could reply, Wags again let out a series ofsavage yelps and Doris heard the sound of a man's voice. Hastily, shepushed back her chair.
"I'll see what is the matter," she said, excusing herself.
Hurrying to the door, she opened it and stared straight into the face ofthe man who had made such a disturbance at the aviation meet! Wags, stillsecurely tied under the porch, had taken exception to the appearance ofthe stranger and continued to bark excitedly.
"Be quiet, Wags!" Doris commanded.
"So that's your mutt, eh?" the stranger asked unpleasantly. "Vicious dogsshouldn't be at large!"
Doris stifled a sharp retort. Now that she saw the man at close range shewas more unfavorably impressed than before. He was dressed in a new suitof loud pattern, and carried a cane. His face was hard and cold and hiseyes had an unpleasant way of boring into one.
Before Doris could recover from her surprise, the Misses Gates camerushing into the hall.
"I thought I recognized your voice," Iris murmured, self-consciously.
"We were wondering if you would come tonight," Azalea added, a tell-taleblush creeping over her pale cheeks.
The stranger bestowed upon each a smile which to Doris seemed to fairlydrip sentiment.
"Did you think I could stay away from two such charming young ladies?" heasked in a strangely softened voice.
Kitty, who had followed the Misses Gates into the hall, looked at herchum in disgust. Azalea and Iris saw nothing amiss. One of them took hishat and stick, the other his dripping coat.
Miss Azalea gazed admiringly at the cane which he bestowed upon her withall the grace of a sleight-of-hand performer.
"How's that?" he asked in self-satisfied tones as he twirled the stickjauntily before handing it to the enraptured hostess.
"Oh, aren't you clever, Ronald?"
"Well," he shrugged his shoulders as if to appear very modest, "they dosay I'm a good entertainer."
Iris shook the raindrops from his topcoat solicitously and hung it up todry on the antique coat rack in the corner.
"You know, I brought that cane over with me from Monte Carlo. That was mylucky day. My side of the argument was right, as usual, so the cane fellto my lot. I told the chap at the Casino how the play of a friend of minewould come out, and of course it came out as I said it would. Youunderstand, ladies, that it was just a friendly little bet, nothing todisturb one's conscience," hoping that these last words of his wouldvindicate any doubts in their minds as to his moral standing. "A friendlylittle wager," he concluded, as with a wave of his hand he dismissed thesubject entirely.
For a minute or two they were so excited and flustered that they entirelyforgot the presence of the two girls. Recovering herself, Azalea turnedto introduce them.
"Doris," she said, beaming happily, "I am sure this will be a pleasantsurprise for you. May I present Ronald Trent, the son of your long-lostuncle?"
"Pleased to meet 'chu,'" the stranger mumbled.
Doris managed a perfunctory reply, but she really was too stunned toconsider what she was saying. She could not believe that she had heardcorrectly, and after Kitty had acknowledged the introduction, she turnedto Azalea.
"Did I understand you to say Mr. Trent is a relative of mine?"
"Sure, your cousin," the man broke in, before Azalea could answer. "Don'tworry, kid. You and me will hit it off together."
Doris could not trust herself to reply. She glanced toward Kitty and sawthe puzzled look in her eyes. What must her chum think!
"That man my cousin!" she thought dismally. "Oh, dear, I wish I hadn'tfound it out."
"Well, we had a heavy shower, girlies," boomed the new arrival as headjusted his glaring tie carefully, "but I found a chummy roadhouse witha big welcome during the heaviest thunder. I certainly enjoy goodcompany." He smacked his lips thoughtfully.
Kitty carefully kept her eyes turned away from her embarrassed chum. Thiswas an unexpected turn to events. She was more surprised and worried atmeeting this flashy stranger than she cared to have the group know.Reared in a refined and cultured environment, she feared her family mightcall her away at once, if they should become aware of the fact that sucha man as this one were to spend any time in the company of the girls. Shepictured the faculty at Barry Manor as being highly shocked and amazedshould anybody tell them that these two pupils were spending theirvacation in a place where they were obliged to associate with a person ofthe type of Ronald Trent. Would she have to desert her friend and leavefor home on account of the sudden appearance of this relative of Doris?
Kitty pondered this matter seriously in her mind.
Doris was equally worried in her own way.