CHAPTER VIII THE AFTERMATH
Christmas day, at dusk, the boys were stretched lazily before the hugefire in the grate, when Dorothy jumped up excitedly:
"Boys, here's Tavia! And I declare, Bob Niles is with her!"
"Good for Bob!" sang out Ned.
"'Rah! 'Rah!" whooped Ted, and all rushed for the door.
Gaily Tavia hugged them all. Bob stood discreetly aside.
"Father was called away, and it was so dreary--I just ran over to seeeveryone," gushed Tavia.
"Well, we're glad to see you," welcomed Aunt Winnie.
"Oh, Tavia," whispered Dorothy, "how did you manage to get Bob?"
"Get whom?" Tavia tried to look blank. Dorothy spoiled the blankness bystuffing a large chocolate cream right into Tavia's mouth before her chumcould close it.
"Thought you'd find Tavia interesting," grinned Ned, helping Bob take offhis great ulster, at which words the lad addressed flushed to histemples.
"Say, fellows, that yarn about the hose----" began Nat.
"Nat no longer believes in Santa and the stockings," chimed in Ned, "hehung up all his socks last night and----"
Nat glared at Ned, then calmly proceeded: "About the hose, as I wassaying, is nonsense! I own some pretty decent-looking socks, as you'venoticed--I hung 'em all up and nary a sock remained on the line thismorning. Santa stole them!"
"It's the funniest thing about Nat's socks," explained Dorothy, hastily,"he thought one pair would not hold enough, and so strung them all overthe fireplace, and this morning they were gone!"
Ted hummed a dreamy tune, and stared at the beamed ceiling, with afaraway look in his eyes. Nat, with sudden suspicion, grabbed Ted's leg,and there, sure enough, was one pair of his highly-prized, andhighly-colored, socks, snugly covering Ted's ankles.
A rough and tumble fight followed, and Tavia, with high glee, jumped intoit. Finally, breathless and panting, they stopped, and demurely Tavia,for all the world like a prim little girl in Sunday School, sank to a lowstool, with Bob at her feet. Nothing could be quieter than Tavia, whenTavia decided on quietness.
"We came over in the biggest sleigh we could find," said Bob, "so thatall could take a drive--Mrs. White and Major Dale too, you know."
"Oh, no, the young folks don't want an old fellow like me," protestedMajor Dale.
"We just do!" Dorothy replied, resting her head against her father's armaffectionately. "We simply won't go unless you and Aunt Winnie come."
"Why, of course, dear, we'll go," answered Aunt Winnie, who was neverknown to stay at home when she could go on a trip. As she spoke shesniffed the air. "What is that smell, boys?"
"Something's burning," yawned Ted, indifferently, just as if thingsburning in one's home was a commonplace diversion from the daily routine.
Noses tilted, the boys and girls sniffed the air.
Suddenly Bob and Nat sprang to Tavia's side and quickly beat out, withtheir fists, a tiny flame that was slowly licking its way along the hemof her woollen dress. With her reckless disregard of consequences, Taviahad joined in the rough and tumble fight with the boys, and, exhausted,had rested too near the grate. A flying spark had ignited the dress,which smouldered, and only the quick work of the boys saved Tavia frompossible burns. For once she was subdued. Mrs. White soothed her withmotherly compassion. She was always in dread lest Tavia's reckless spiritwould cause the girl needless suffering.
"You see," said Bob, smiling at Tavia, as they piled into the sleigh andhe carefully tucked blankets about the girls, "you can't entirely takecare of yourself--some time you'll rush into the fire, as you did justnow."
For an instant Tavia's cheeks flamed. He was so masterful! She yearned toslap him, but considering the fire escapade, she couldn't, quite.
The major was driving, with Dorothy snuggled closely to his side, and Tedcurled up on the floor. Nat took care of Aunt Winnie on the next seat andBob and Tavia were in the rear.
On they sped over snow and ice, the bitter wind sharply cutting theirfaces, until all glowed and sparkled at the touch of it.
"Did you hear from the girls?" asked Dorothy, turning to Tavia.
"Just got Christmas cards," answered Tavia.
"I fared better than that. Cologne wrote a fourteen page letter----"
"All the news that's worth printing, as it were," laughed Tavia.
"Underlined, Cologne asked whether I had heard the news about Mingle, andprovokingly ended the letter there. I'm still wondering. Her departure atsuch an opportune moment was a blessing, but we never stopped to thinkwhat might have caused it," said Dorothy, thoughtfully.
"Well, whatever it was, it saved us," contentedly responded Tavia. "Bythe way, Maddie sent me the cutest card--painted it herself!"
"Who wants to ride across the lake?" demanded Major Dale, slowing up thehorses, "that will save us climbing the hill, you know, and the ice isplenty thick enough; don't you think so, Winnie?"
"Yes, indeed," Aunt Winnie answered, ready for anything that meantadventure, and as they all chorused their assent joyfully, away theydrove over the snow-covered ice.
The horses galloped straight across the lake, up the bank, and then camea smash! The steeds ran into a drift, dumped over the sleigh; and ashivering, laughing mass of humanity lay on the new, white snow.
"Such luck!" cried Tavia, "out of the fire into the snow!"
While Major Dale and the boys righted the overturned sleigh, Bob tookcare of the ladies.
"You and the girls leave for New York to-morrow, Tavia tells me," saidBob.
"Yes," replied Aunt Winnie, with a sigh, "a little pleasure trip, andsome business."
"Business?" cried Dorothy, closely scrutinizing her aunt's worried face.
Quick to scent something that sounded very much like "family matters,"Tavia turned with Bob, and deliberately started pelting with snow thehard-working youths at the sleigh.
"Aw! Quit!" scolded Ted.
"There, you've done it! That one landed in my ear! Now, quit it!" Natstopped working long enough to wipe the wet snow from his face.
But Tavia's young spirits were not to be squelched by mere words; Bobmade the snow balls for Tavia to throw, which she continued to do withunceasing ardor.
"Why, yes, Dorothy," Aunt Winnie replied, watching Tavia. "I'm afraidthere will be quite a bit of business mixed with our New York trip. I'mhaving some trouble. It's the agent who has charge of the apartment houseI am interested in--you remember, the man whom I did not like."
"The apartment you've taken for the Winter?" questioned Dorothy,shivering.
"You're cold, dear." Aunt Winnie, too, shivered. "Run over with Tavia andjump around, it's too chilly to stand still like this. How unfortunate weare! The sun will soon dip behind those hilltops, and the air be almosttoo frosty for comfort."
"Tell me," persisted Dorothy, "what is it that's worrying you, AuntWinnie? I've noticed it since I came home. I want to be all theassistance I can, you know."
"You couldn't help me, Dorothy, in fact, I do not even know that I amright about the matter. I do not trust the agent, but he had the rentcollecting before I took the place, so I allowed him to continue underme. I can only say, Dorothy, that something evidently is wrong. My incomeis not what it should be."
"Oh, I'm so sorry! But, I'm glad you told me. Wait until we reach NewYork--we'll solve it," and Dorothy pressed her lips together firmly.
Aunt Winnie laughed. "Don't talk foolishly, dear. It takes a man of wideexperience and cunning to deal with any real estate person, I guess; andmost of all a New York agent. My dear, let us forget the matter. There,the sleigh seems to be right side up once more."
"Tavia," whispered Dorothy, as she held her friend back, "we're in forit! Aunt Winnie has a mystery on her hands! In New York City! Let us seeif you and I and the boys can solve it!"
"Good! We'll certainly do it, if you think it can be done," said Tavia."Oh, good old New York town! It makes me dizzy just to think of thewhir
ling mass of rushing people and the autos and 'buses, and shops andtea-rooms! Doro, you must promise that you won't drag me into more thanten tea-rooms in one afternoon!"
"I solemnly promise," returned Dorothy, "if you'll promise me to keep outof shops one whole half-hour in each day!"