CHAPTER XXIII.
THAT SETTLES MANY THINGS.
"It's perfectly dreadful," cried Alexia Rhys, wrinkling her brows, "totry to get up anything with Polly away. If we only had Joel to help us,that would be something"--
"Well, it's got to be done," said Clem Forsythe, in a matter-of-factway.
"Of course it has," cried Alexia gustily. "Dear me," in a tone ofhorror, "did you suppose that we'd let Polly Pepper go on year afteryear getting up perfectly elegant things for us, and then we notcelebrate for her, when she comes home, and with a broken arm, too? Theidea, Clem!"
"Well, then I think we much better set to work to think up something,"observed Clem wisely, "if we are going to do anything."
"We can't think of a single thing--not one," bemoaned Alexia; "it willbe a perfectly horrid fright, whatever we get up. Oh, dear! what shallwe do, girls?"
"Alexia, you are enough to drive anybody wild," cried Sally Moore; "it'sbad enough to know there isn't an idea in all our heads put together,without having you tell us of it every minute. Cathie Harrison, whydon't you say something, instead of staring that wall out ofcountenance?"
"Because I haven't anything to say," replied Cathie, laughing grimly andleaning back in her chair resignedly. "Oh, dear! I think just as Alexiadoes, it will be utterly horrid whatever we do."
"Don't you be a wet blanket," cried two or three of the girls, "ifAlexia is. Oh, dear! Miss Chatterton, you are the only one of sense inthis company. Now do give us an idea," added one.
"I don't know in the least how to help," said Charlotte Chattertonslowly, and leaning her elbows on her knees she rested her head in herhands. "I never got up a play or tableau, nor anything of the kind in mylife; and we never celebrated anything either; there was never anythingto celebrate--but I should think perhaps it would be better not to tryto do great things."
"Why, Miss Chatterton," exclaimed Alexia Rhys, in great disapproval, andstarting forward in the pretty pink-trimmed basket chair. "I'm perfectlysurprised at you--nothing can be too good for Polly Pepper. We must getup something perfectly magnificent, or else I shall die!" she criedtragically.
"Nothing can be too good for Polly," repeated Charlotte, taking her headout of her hands and looking at Alexia, "but isn't it better not to tryto be too grand, and have something simple, because, whatever we do,Polly must always have had things so much nicer."
"In other words, it's better to hit what you aim at, than to shoot atthe clouds and bring down nothing," said Clem sententiously.
"Yes--yes, I think so," cried Cathie, clapping her hands; "it's awfullyvulgar to try to cut a dash--that is, if you can't do it," she addedquickly.
"NOTHING CAN BE TOO GOOD FOR POLLY PEPPER!" CRIED ALEXIA,STARTING FORWARD.]
"Don't say 'awfully,'" corrected Alexia, readjusting herself in herpink-and-white chair. "Well, I suppose you are right, Miss Chatterton;you're always right; being, as I said, a person of sense."
Charlotte gave a short laugh, but with a little bitter edge to it. Whywould the girls who now seemed to be so glad to have her in the centerof all their plans, persist in calling her Miss Chatterton? It gave hera chill every time, and she fairly hated the name.
"And now since we are going to follow your advice," went on Alexia, "beso good as to tell us a little bit more. Now what shall we do in the wayof a simple, appropriate fandango--a perfect idyl of a thing, you know?"
"Well," said Charlotte quietly, "you know in the olden time atChristmas"--
"But this isn't Christmas," cried Alexia, interrupting with an uneasygesture.
"Do be still," cried the other girls, pulling at her, "and let MissChatterton finish"--
"At Christmas ages ago, when special honor was done to entertain theKing wherever he was lodged," went on Charlotte, "there was a Lord ofMisrule, who gathered together a company of ladies and gentlemen, whorummaged the old castles for grotesque costumes and furbelows. And thenmasked, they all came in and marched before the King, and danced,oh--everything--we might have Minuets and Highland Flings, and all therest. And they did everything the Lord of Misrule directed, and"--
"Charlotte Chatterton, you are a jewel!" cried Alexia, tumbling out ofher chair, and flying at her, which example was followed by all theother girls.
"Thank you," cried Charlotte, with glistening eyes.
"Thank you? I guess we do thank you," cried Sally Moore heartily, "forgetting us out of this scrape."
"Oh! I don't mean that," said Charlotte indifferently, "I mean becauseyou called me by my first name, the same as you girls always talk toeach other."
There was a little pause. "Oh! we didn't know as you'd like it," brokein Alexia hastily, "you are so tall, and you never seem in a hurry, noras if you cared a straw about being like a girl, and we didn't dare. Butnow, oh, Charlotte--Charlotte!" And she gave her a hug that well repaidCharlotte for all the past.
"That's a regular bear-hug," she cried at last, releasing her and takinga long breath, "and equal to a few dozen common every-day ones."
"If Charlotte can breathe after that," said Clem, turning on Charlotte apair of glowing eyes, "she'll do well. We are just as glad to call youCharlotte, aren't we, girls," whirling around on the group, "as Alexia,for all her bear-hug."
"Yes--yes," cried the whole bevy.
"Well, now, girls," said Alexia, running over to give Clem a smallshake, "let's to business. There isn't any time to waste. CharlotteChatterton, will you tell us the rest of it, and who will be the Lord ofMisrule?--dear me, if we only had Joel here!"
"I think Doctor Fisher would be the Lord of Misrule," said Charlotte;"he said he'd do anything we wanted of him, to help out."
The girls one and all gave a small howl, and clapped their hands,crying, "Capital--capital!"
"Let's go and ask him now!" cried Alexia, who wasn't anything if notenergetic; and running to her closet, she picked off her hat from theshelf and tossed it on her head. "Oh, how slow you are, girls--dohurry!" as the others flew to the bed where their different head-gearhad been thrown.
"But it's his office hours," said Charlotte, hating in her new-foundhappiness at being one with the girls, to put a damper on their plan.
"Bother! supposing it is," exclaimed Alexia, in front of herpink-and-white draped mirror, while she ran the long hat pins throughher fluffy hair, "it's as important to take care of us girls, as if wewere a lot of patients. We shall be, if we don't get this fixed. Comeon, girls!" she seized a lace scarf from some mysterious corner, andpranced to the door, shaking her gloves at the group.
"I don't think we ought to go, now," said Charlotte distinctly, notoffering to join the merry scramble for the wearing apparel on the bed.
"Charlotte Chatterton!" cried Alexia, thoroughly annoyed, "aren't youashamed of yourself? Don't listen to her, girls, but come on," and sheran out to the head of the stairs.
The other girls all stopped short.
"I don't think Polly would like it, and it isn't right," said Charlotte,hating to preach, but standing her ground. At this Alexia, out in thehall, came running back.
"Oh! dear--dear, it's perfectly dreadful to be with such good people!There, now, Charlotte, don't look like that," rushing up to the tallgirl and standing on tiptoe to drop a kiss on the sallow cheek--"wewon't go; we'll stay at home and be martyrs," and she began to tear offher hat with a tragic air.
"Why not go to Madam Dyce's and ask her to loan us some of her oldbrocades and bonnets?" proposed Cathie Harrison suddenly. "She's got aperfect lot of horrible antiques."
"The very thing!" cried Alexia, the others coming in as chorus.
Charlotte Chatterton rushed as happily as any of them for her walkingthings. "And then Doctor Fisher's office hours may be over, and we maystop there on our way home," she cried.
Doctor Fisher's office hours were not only over, but the little doctorassured one and all of the eager group that precipitated themselves uponhim, that nothing would give him greater delight than to be a Lord ofMisrule at the celebration to be gotten up fo
r the home-coming.
"And it's a very appropriate way to celebrate, my dears," he said,beaming at them over his large spectacles; "for it will be for thecoming of the King; King by name as well as nature," and he laughedenjoyably at his own pun. "And I'm sure nobody ever did rule his kingdomso well as our Grandpapa. So let's have a splendid mummery, or masquing,or whatever you call it; and in my opinion, you were very smart to thinkit up."
Thereupon Alexia pulled Charlotte Chatterton unwillingly into the centerof the group that surrounded the little doctor. "We didn't; it was allCharlotte," she said.
Doctor Fisher took a long look at the pink spot on Charlotte's sallowcheek, and into her happy eyes, then he turned and surveyed the bevy.
"We'll have a good time, my dears," he said.
* * * * *
"Now, Polly," exclaimed old Mr. King, drawing her back an instant beforestepping into Farmer Higby's big carryall, waiting at the station as thetrain came in, "you mustn't even look as if you had any secret on yourmind--oh, come now, that won't do, my dear," turning her around tostudy the dancing eyes and rosy cheeks. "I can't take you home lookinglike that, I really can't, my dear."
Polly tried to pull down her face, but with such poor success that theold gentleman sighed in dismay.
"Well, you must be careful to keep away from everybody as much as youcan," he whispered, as he helped her into the ancient vehicle, "andwhatever you do, don't say much to Jasper, or you'll surely let thewhole thing out," and he got in beside her. "There, drive on, do, Mr.Higby."
"You'll tell Jasper that he is to go back to Mr. Marlowe?" Polly leanedover and was guilty of whispering behind Farmer Higby's broad back. "Oh,Grandpapa! you won't keep him waiting to know that, will you?" she beggedanxiously.
"No; that shall be at once, as soon as I see my boy," replied the oldgentleman; "but, the rest, Polly; how Mr. Marlowe is coming to look inupon us at our own home, and to meet us the very evening wearrive--that's to be kept as dark as possible."
"Yes, indeed," cried Polly, getting back into her own corner with ahappy little wriggle, all unconscious of Grandpapa's conspiracy withMother Fisher in regard to the home-coming.
"For if I can't have the surprise party I started for," declared the oldgentleman to himself, "I'll have a jollification at the other end." Sohe had telegraphed to Mrs. Fisher an additional message to his manyletters, all on the same subject--"Have what celebration you like, andinvite whom you like. And let it be gay, for the College boys have gotleave, and they bring a friend."
And at such intervals when he could take his mind from Jasper and hisaffairs, it afforded Mr. King infinite delight to tap a certain letterin his breast pocket, that opened, might have revealed in boldcharacters, a great deal of gratitude for his kindness in inviting thewriter on with Joel, which was gladly accepted and signed RobertBingley.
"Where's Jasper?" said Mr. King, as he and Polly got out of the carryallinto the bustle of the farmhouse delight over their return.
"He's gone fishing with Phronsie," said Mrs. Cabot; "we didn't any of usexpect you till this afternoon."
"Goodness me! couldn't they go fishing any other day?" cried the oldgentleman irascibly. "Well, I suppose there's no help for it. Ah!Loughead, that you?" extending a cordial hand to the tall figure waitingat the end of the porch till the family greetings were over; "glad tosee you."
But Jack Loughead had no eyes for anybody but Polly's happy face; and hebarely touched the extended palm, while he mumbled something about beingglad to be there; then awkwardly stood still.
Mrs. Cabot, who evidently did not regard him in the friendliest oflights, turned her back upon him, keeping her arm around Polly."Pickering is waiting to see you," she said, and trying to draw her off.
"I'll come in a minute," said Polly, breaking away from her, and takinga step toward Jack Loughead.
"How do you do?" she said, putting out her hand.
Jack Loughead seized it eagerly. "May I see you--just now?" he asked ina quick, low voice. "I have your mother's permission to tell yousomething"---
"From Mamsie," cried Polly, her beaming face breaking into fresh smiles;"yes, indeed, Mr. Loughead."
"About--myself," stumbled Jack truthfully, "but your mother gave mepermission to speak to you. Will you go down the lane, Miss Pepper,while I can tell you?"
HE WALKED OFF, LEAVING POLLY ALONE IN THE LANE]
So Polly, despite Mrs. Cabot's calls "Come, Polly," nodded to Grandpapa,who said, "All right, child, don't be gone long," and moved off withJack Loughead "down the lane," fresh with spring blossoms and gay withbird songs.
"I don't know how," said Jack Loughead, after a moment's pause, duringwhich Polly had lifted her face to look at him wonderingly, "to tellyou. I have never been among ladies, and my mother died when I wasfifteen; since that I have been working hard, and known no other life.You have been so kind to Amy," he said suddenly, as if there were arefuge in the words.
"Oh, don't put it that way," cried Polly, full of sympathy, "Amy is adear little thing; I am very fond of her."
He turned glad eyes on her. "Yes, I know. And when you spoke to me andshowed me my duty, I"--
"Oh!" cried Polly, with cheeks aflame, "don't make me think of thattime. How could I speak so, and to you, who know so much more of dutythan I ever could imagine? Pray forget it, Mr. Loughead," she begged.
"I can't," said Jack Loughead gravely, "for it was the kindest thing Iever supposed one could say to another--and then--I from thattime--loved you, Miss Pepper!"
Polly Pepper stopped short in the lane. "Oh, don't--don't!" she begged,and covered her face with her hands.
"I must tell you," said Jack Loughead, still gravely, and standingquietly to look at her; "and I have come to ask you to marry me."
"Oh!" cried Polly again, and not daring to look at him, "I am so sorry,"she cried, "I wouldn't hurt you for all the world, Mr. Loughead."
"I know it," he said, waiting for her to finish.
"For--for, I do like you so much--so very much," cried poor Polly,wishing the birds wouldn't sing so loud. "You have taught me so much,oh, so much, I can't tell you, Mr. Loughead, about being true and noble,and"--
He waited patiently till she began again.
"But I couldn't marry you; oh, I couldn't," here Polly forced herself tolook at him, but her head went down again at sight of his face.
"You sha'n't be troubled," said Jack Loughead gently, "I'll take myselfout of the way, and make all excuses at the house."
"MY! WHAT A SIGHT OF FISH! EXCLAIMED MRS. HIGBY, DROPPINGTO HER KNEES BESIDE THE BASKET.]
"Oh! do forgive me," Polly sprang after him, to call.
He turned and tried to smile, then walked off, leaving Polly standing inthe lane.
* * * * *
"Jasper," said Mrs. Cabot in great irritation, when Jasper and Phronsiewandered into Mrs. Farmer Higby's neat kitchen a half-hour later, withtorn garments and muddy shoes, "they got home while you were away, andthat tiresome Mr. Loughead came a little before them; and he made Pollygo to walk with him; actually made her!" Mrs. Cabot leaned her jeweledhands on Mrs. Higby's spotless pine table, and regarded him in greatdistress.
Jasper bent his broad straw hat over the basket of fish a minute.
"Oh!" screamed Phronsie, clapping grimy little hands and darting off,"have they come?"
"My! what a sight of fish," exclaimed Mrs. Higby, getting down on herknees before the basket. "Now I s'pose you want some fried for dinner,don't you, Mr. Jasper?"
"Yes," said Jasper, bringing his gaze off from the fish, "I think theybetter be, Mrs. Higby," and he went out of the kitchen without lookingat Mrs. Cabot.
Up at the head of the stairs he ran against Jack Loughead.
"It's all against me, King," said Jack unsteadily.
Jasper lifted heavy eyes, that, all at once, held a lightning gleam.Then he put his good right hand on Jack's shoulder.
"I'm sorry for you," he said.
<
br /> "One thing, King," said Jack gratefully, "will you have an eye to myuncle? He won't come with me now, but insists on going with your fatherwho kindly invited us both to go home with you all. And when he isready, just telegraph me and I will meet him at New York."
"I'll do it gladly," said Jasper, quite shocked at Jack's appearance;"anything more, Loughead? Do let me help you."
"Nothing," said Jack, without looking back.