CHAPTER XIV
It was a bright, cheerful party that gathered about the Viamedebreakfast table the next morning.
"Southern air seems to agree finely with my young patient thus far,"remarked Dr. Harold, looking smilingly at Ned, who was partaking of thegood fare provided with an appetite such as he had not shown beforesince the beginning of his illness.
"Yes, uncle doctor, I'm hungry this morning, and everything tastesgood," laughed Ned. "But Viamede victuals always were ever so nice."
"And home victuals poor and tasteless?" queried the lad's mother,feigning a look of grieved surprise.
"Oh, no, mamma; home victuals are good--very good--when one is well, soas to have a good appetite," returned Ned reassuringly.
"Very true, son," said his father; "and you used to show fullappreciation of them. So mamma need not feel hurt that you so greatlyenjoy your present fare."
"And p'raps his good appetite will make the little chap strong enoughfor a row on the bayou a bit arter gittin' done his breakfast," said arough voice, seemingly coming from an open doorway into the outer hall.
"Now, who are you talking that way about me?" queried Ned, turning halfway round in his chair in an effort to catch sight of the speaker.
"Who am I? Somebody that knows a thing or two 'bout boys an' what theycan do, an' what they like; an' I guess you're not much different fromother fellows o' your age an' sect. Be ye now?"
"No, I guess not," laughed Ned. "I don't belong to any sect, though.But I suppose you mean sex. I'm of the male kind."
"Oh, you are. Then I s'pose you're brave enough to venture a row onthe bayou without fear o' bein' drowned?"
"Yes, indeed, with all these grown-up folks along to take care of me,"laughed Ned. Then looking across the table at Mr. Lilburn, "Now thatwas just you talking, Cousin Ronald, wasn't it?"
"Why, Neddie boy, do you think that is the kind of English I speak?"queried Mr. Lilburn in a hurt tone, as if he felt insulted by such asuspicion in regard to his knowledge and use of the English tongue.
"No, Cousin Ronald, I didn't mean any harm; but haven't you differentkinds of voices for different times and occasions?" returned Ned. "Andweren't you kindly trying to make a bit of fun for me?"
"Ah, little chap, you seem to be good at guessing," laughed Mr.Lilburn; "a bit of a Yankee, aren't you?"
"No, sir; I'm a whole one," cried Ned, echoing the laugh. "But, papa,"turning to his father, "can't we get in a boat and have a row on thebayou?"
"Well, Ned, I suppose that might be possible," was the smilingrejoinder. "Suppose we take a vote on the question. All in favor of theproposition say aye."
At that there was a simultaneous aye from the voice of each one at thetable.
Then Grandma Elsie said, "I think it would be enjoyable, but probablythe cousins may be coming in to make their party calls before we getback."
"I think not, mamma, if we start early and do not go too far," saidViolet; "and we can leave word with the servants that our absence willbe short, so that any one who comes will be encouraged to wait a bit."
"I should think they well might," smilingly added Mrs. Lilburn, "seeingwhat a delightful place they would have to wait in, and plenty ofinteresting reading matter at hand."
"Yes, I think we really might venture it," said Dr. Harold,"especially as the little jaunt will probably be for the health of alltaking part in it."
So it was decided upon, and the plan carried out shortly after leavingthe table.
Every one, especially the younger folk, seemed delighted with the ideaand eager for the start. Ned was well wrapped up under the supervisionof his mother and uncle, and seated in a part of the boat where therecould not be any danger for him of even a slight wetting.
All found it a delightful trip, and returned refreshed andstrengthened, the younger ones full of mirth and jollity.
It so happened that they were just in time to greet an arrival ofcousins from Magnolia Hall and the Parsonage, presently followed bythose from Torriswood. Cordial greetings were exchanged and an houror two spent in pleasant intercourse, in which plans were laid forexcursions here and there through the lovely surrounding country andentertainments at one and another of their homes.
"Don't wait for the coming of the rest of your party of relatives,"said Dr. Percival. "We will look forward to the pleasure of having youall again, with that agreeable addition to the company."
"Thank you, Dick," returned Grandma Elsie with her own sweet smile, "wecan hardly have more than would be agreeable of these lovely excursionsor the delightful visits to the hospitable homes of our kith and kinin this region. And the oftener any or all of you visit us here atViamede, the better."
"And please understand that we all echo in our hearts the sentimentsjust expressed by our mother," supplemented Violet in her sprightly way.
"Yes," laughed the captain; "I can vouch for the correctness of mywife's strange and strong assertion."
"And I," added Harold, "join with my brother physician in recommendingfor the health, as well as present enjoyment of us all, the taking ofan unlimited number of these delightful excursions by land and water."
"Now let's follow that good prescription," laughed Elsie Dinsmore, andthe other young people received the suggestion with clapping of handsand words of most decided approval.
A merry, enjoyable fortnight followed before the expected increasein their numbers, during which Cousin Ronald often entertained themwith exhibitions of his skill as a ventriloquist. It did not mystifyand puzzle them as it had done when they first made his acquaintance,but, nevertheless, was the exciting cause of much mirth and hilarity.Especially when there happened to be some neighbor present who wasignorant of the old gentleman's peculiar talent; and that often madethe call of such casual acquaintances the more desirable and welcome.The relatives from Magnolia Hall, Torriswood and the Parsonage wereoften visitors at Viamede, sitting with its family on the veranda inthe afternoons and evenings, and quite frequently callers, more or lessintimate, would be there with them; and if Mr. Lilburn felt in the moodor was urged by one or more of the young folks of the family to try hisskill, he would kindly do so.
Early one evening, when the gathering was larger than usual, Ned creptto Cousin Ronald's side and whispered in his ear an urgent request fora bit of the fun he alone could make. "Perhaps, sonny boy, if an ideacomes to me," replied the old gentleman in the same low key. "Go backnow to your mother and be quiet and easy for your health's sake."
Ned obeyed, and leaning on his mother's lap, with her arm around him,listened eagerly for he hardly knew exactly what.
Presently a voice was heard, seemingly coming from a clump of bushesnot far away, "Ladies and gentlemen, young folks too, what good timesyou're having! While I'm but a poor fellow, wandering and homeless in astrange land, no roof to cover me, no bed to sleep in, and nothing toeat. Ah, woe's me! What can I do but lie down and die?"
"No, you needn't," called out Ned. "Go round to the kitchen and askpolitely for something to eat, and you'll get it."
"I don't believe they'd give me a bite. I'm not a beggar, either,an' to take to that trade wad be worse nor dying an honest, upright,self-supporting man."
"Why, who is it, and what does he want?" queried one of Viamede'svisitors in tones of surprise and disgust.
"Let's go down and see; give him some money, if he'll take it, to buyhimself some supper and pay for a night's lodging," said another guest,jumping up and moving toward the veranda steps.
"Tell him we will give him something to eat--send it out there to him,if he wishes," said Grandma Elsie, speaking very soberly, though shefelt pretty certain they would find no one there.
The lads hurried down to the bushes that seemed to hide the stranger,and Ned clapped his hands in ecstasy over the idea that they had beenso easily and completely duped.
"They'll be greatly surprised and disappointed," said Elsie Dinsmore,"and it's almost too bad, for they seem very kind-hearted and ready tohelp one in distress."
> The other young folks were laughing in an amused way.
"And it was just you, Cousin Ronald, wasn't it?" asked Elsie Raymond.
"Why, what a strange idea!" exclaimed the old gentleman. "I haven'tbeen down there on the lawn for hours."
"But maybe your voice has," laughed Elsie.
"Oh, here they come to tell us about it," exclaimed Alie Leland, as thelads were seen hurrying back in a very excited way.
"There's nobody there!" cried one. "We searched all about and couldn'tfind a soul."
"No, indeed, we couldn't, and it's very mysterious, I think," added theother.
"Looks as if he'd run off before you got there," said Ned.
"He couldn't. There wasn't time," panted the foremost lad as they cameup the steps of the veranda.
"Well, then, it's his own fault if he misses getting something to eat,"said Ned, trying hard to keep from laughing.
"Strange how blind some folks are," remarked the same strange voice,seeming now close to the veranda, and followed by a profound sigh.
"Why, there he is again, and nearer than before!" cried one of thelads who had been trying to find him, and both peered eagerly over therailing; but to their evident astonishment, could see no one.
"Dear me, where in the world is he?" exclaimed again the boy who hadfirst spoken. "His voice sounded even nearer than before and yet he'snowhere to be seen."
"Oh, let's look under the veranda," suggested the other. "Perhaps hemay have crept in there."
"Oh, yes, if Mrs. Travilla is willing," returned his companion.
"I have no objection," she said pleasantly, and they proceeded to look,but soon announced that there was no one to be found there.
"And it certainly isn't worth your while to take such trouble to findso good for naught a scamp," returned Mr. Lilburn in his natural voice."I wadna try it any more, lads."
"Ha, ha, ha. I knew you couldn't find me!" laughed the invisiblespeaker, the voice this time apparently coming from the roof of theveranda.
"Well," cried Ned, "how in the world did he get up there? What a famousclimber he must be!"
At that the mystified stranger boys hurried down the veranda stepsagain and some little distance down the path leading across the groundsfrom the front of the dwelling, turned there and stood looking up atthe veranda's roof.
"Why, there's nothing and nobody there!" they exclaimed breathlessly asthey hurried back again.
"It certainly is a most mysterious thing," panted one. "How a fellowcould be so close by and then disappear so suddenly and completely Ican't imagine."
"Well, well, lads, such a slippery ne'er-do-weel isna worth worryingabout," said Mr. Lilburn. "And we needna trouble oursel's if he goeshungry."
"But I should be sorry indeed to have any of my guests do that," saidGrandma Elsie as just at that moment servants appeared carrying silversalvers laden with fruit and cakes.
That seemed a welcome interruption to even the sorely puzzled strangerboys, and when that feasting was over the captain called for music, andhis wife, going to the piano, played "Yankee Doodle" with variations,then "Star-Spangled Banner," in the singing of which all joinedheartily. Just as the last strain died away the strange voice was heardagain from the far end of the veranda.
"That's a grand old song. Just the kind for every American to sing,whether he's rich or poor."
"Oh, there he is again!" cried the stranger lads, springing to theirfeet and looking eagerly in the direction of the sounds.
"But just as invisible as ever," gasped one. "How on earth does hemanage to disappear so quickly?"
At that there was a half-suppressed titter among the young folks ofthe house, while Mr. Lilburn said in his own natural tones, "Tut, tut,young fellows; I'd pay no attention to him. He isn't worth minding."
"No, indeed," said Dr. Harold, "he isn't, and wouldn't attempt to harmany one of us, even if he wanted to, as we are so many and he but one."
"No," said the voice, "I'm not worth minding, not at all dangerous,for I wouldn't hurt anybody if I wanted to, and wouldn't dare do it ifI had sic a wicked inclination."
"Well, sir, it's very, very queer how you can be so plainly heard andnot seen at all," remarked one of the puzzled young fellows. Thenpulling out his watch, "But it's high time for me to go home now."
"For me, too," said his companion, and bidding good-night to theirhostess and the company, they went away together.
"Good! They didn't find out anything," chuckled Ned when they werebeyond hearing.
Then began plans for the next day's outing, and conjectures as to whenthey might look for the expected addition to this Viamede party fromtheir more northern homes. That was brought about in a few days, andadded pleasure to their picnics, excursions and family gatherings atTorriswood, Magnolia Hall, the Parsonage and Viamede itself.