VIII
THE GARDEN PARTY
And so, after all, it turned out to be the very best thing that the gardenparty did not take place until two days after, for all was then as sweetand fresh as a rose--all but one thing. And that was, on the very morningof the eventful day, Mrs. Chatterton drove up.
But then, as Jasper observed to Polly when this dire news was announced,"Cousin Eunice was always turning up when least wanted." And Polly had, asusual, to keep back her own thoughts on the subject, to comfort him. Itwould never do to add to his dismay.
"Why she can't stay in Europe when she's everlastingly saying that there isno place in America to compare with it, I don't, for my part, see," hecried, in a pet.
"I suppose she wants to be with her relations, Jasper," said Polly, with asigh.
"Relations?"--Jasper turned suddenly on his heel and thrust his handsdeeply in his pockets--"well, she fights with every single one of them,"he said savagely.
"Oh, Jasper--fights!" exclaimed Polly, in horror, whose great grief hadalways been at having no relations, so to speak. "Dear me, how verydreadful!"
"Well, you know she does," said Jasper gloomily, and squaringround--"always picking and carping at something or somebody; and now Fatherwill be all upset by her. If she had only waited till to-morrow!"
Polly felt such a dreadful sinking of her heart just then, that for aminute she didn't speak. There didn't seem to be any comfort for this.
"And just think how good Father has been," went on Jasper, too miserable tokeep still, "and all those flowers he had ordered, for of course hecouldn't let the florists suffer, and that he sent to the hospitals when itpoured so."
"I know it," said Polly, swallowing hard.
"And now he has ordered another lot, and everything else--why, you know,Polly, there isn't anything Father hasn't done to make this fair a success,and now she has come!" Jasper flung himself into a chair and buried hisface in his hands.
"Oh, Jasper," cried Polly, running over to him in the greatest distress,"don't! Oh, dear me! What can we do?"
"Nothing," said Jasper, in the depths of gloom; "nothing will do any goodso long as she has come."
"Oh, there must something be done," declared Polly quite wildly, andfeeling equal to anything. If she only knew what would avail! "_Hush,here comes Grandpapa!_"
"Oh, he mustn't see us feeling badly." Jasper sprang from his chair. "Come,Polly," and they flew out into the side hall.
"Now where are those two, Polly and Jasper?" said old Mr. King to himself,coming to the library in a great state of irritation. "I've searched thishouse for them, and nobody seems to have the least idea where they havegone. Polly! Jasper!" he cried loudly, and it wasn't a very pleasant voice,either.
"Oh, dear!" Jasper seized Polly's hands in a corner of the hall. "He'scalling us, and we've got to go, Polly, and how we look, you and I!Whatever shall we do!"
"But we must go," breathed Polly. Then she looked up into Jasper's face."Let's ask him to go out and help us fix the flowers," she cried suddenly.
Jasper gave her a keen glance. "All right," he said. "Come on," and beforetheir resolution had time to cool itself, they rushed into the library.
"Oh, Grandpapa," they both cried together, "do come out and tell us how tofix the flowers."
"Hey?" The old gentleman whirled around from the table, where he had begunto throw the papers about. "Did you know Mrs. Chatterton had come back?" Heglared at them over his spectacles, which he had forgotten to remove whenhe had been interrupted with the unwelcome news while peacefully readingthe morning paper.
"Yes--oh, yes," said Jasper.
"Oh, yes, we know it," cried Polly cheerfully, "but, Grandpapa, we wantyou"--tugging at his hand.
"Hey? you knew it?" The old gentleman's tone softened, and he sufferedhimself to be led toward the door. "And you want me, eh?"--feeling withevery step as if life, after all, might be worth living.
"Yes, we do indeed, Father," cried Jasper affectionately, possessinghimself of the other hand.
"And oh, the flowers you sent are just too lovely for anything!" criedPolly, dancing away along by his side. "They're gorgeous, Grandpapa dear."
"Are they so?" Grandpapa beamed at her, all his happiness returned. "So youwant me to tell you how to arrange them, eh?" And his satisfaction in beingappealed to was so intense that he held his head high. "Well, come on," andhe laughed gayly.
Mrs. Chatterton, newly arrived in the handsome suite of apartments CousinHoratio's hospitality always allowed her, looked out of the window, and,having no one else to confide her opinions to, was not averse to chattingwith her French maid.
"Isn't it perfectly absurd, Hortense, to see that old man?--and to thinkhow particular and aristocratic he used to be! Why, I can remember when hewould hardly let Jasper speak to him in some of his moods, and now just seethat beggar girl actually holding his hand, and he laughing with her."
"A beggaire, is it?" cried Hortense, dropping the gown she was brushing, torun to the window. "I see no beggaire, madame"--craning her neck.
"You needn't drop your work," said Mrs. Chatterton, with asperity, "justbecause I made a simple remark. You know quite well whom I mean, Hortense.It's that Polly Pepper I'm speaking of."
"She is not a beggaire, madame," declared Hortense pertly, opening herblack eyes very wide. "Oh!" She extended her hands and burst into a seriesof shrill cackles. "Why, she's like all de oder children in dis house, andI think truly, madame, de best."
"Go back to your work, I say," commanded Mrs. Chatterton, in a fury,forgetting herself enough to stamp her foot. So Hortense picked up thegown, but she continued to cackle softly to herself, with now and then afurtive glance at her mistress.
Outside, with all the sunny influence of the summer morning upon him, oldMr. King, and Polly, and Jasper went about, superintending the placing ofthe flowers. For there seemed to be a great many in the pots, with fernsand palms, to distribute where they would best show off and be persuaded toswell the poor children's fund.
"Oh, Grandpapa dear! what richness!" sighed Polly, clasping her hands inecstasy. "I do think I never saw so many, and such beauties. Only look,Jasper, at that azalea!"
"I know it," said Jasper, his eyes sparkling, "and those orchids, Polly!"
"Oh, I know--I know," said Polly, spinning about to take it all in. Old Mr.King put back his head and laughed to see her.
"I'm so glad you like it, Polly, my girl," he said, heartily pleased.
"Like it, Grandpapa!" repeated Polly, standing quite still. "Oh, it's justtoo beautiful!" and she clasped her hands tightly together.
"Well, I think we'd best get to work," said Jasper, bursting into a laugh."Come on, Polly, let's set about it."
"I think so, too," said Polly, coming out of her rapture. Thereupon ensuedsuch a busy time!--especially as old Turner and two of his under-gardenerscame up for directions, and Mr. King went off with them. So for the nexthour Polly seemed to be on wings, here, there, and everywhere, andbreathing only the sweet fragrance of the flowers.
"How Phronsie would enjoy it--the fixing and all!" she mourned, in themidst of it, as the transforming of the flower-tables into veritable bowersof beauty went on.
"But you know she had to take a long nap, else she would be all tired out.And the afternoon is going to be a long one, Polly."
"Oh, I know," said Polly, flying on with her work faster than ever, "andMamsie was right to make her go to sleep."
"Mrs. Fisher is always right," said Jasper decidedly, "ever and always."
"Isn't she!" cried Polly, in a glow. "Well, Jasper, do you think thatsmilax ought to be trained up there?" She twisted her head to view theeffect, and looked up at him anxiously.
"Yes--no," said Jasper critically; "I don't believe I'd put it there. Itlooks too much, Polly; there are so many vines about."
"So it does," said Polly, in great relief. "Heigh-ho! when one is workingover any thing it looks so different, doesn't it?"
"I should say so," cried J
asper. "Oh, Polly, it can't ever in all thisworld be twelve o'clock."
"It can't!" exclaimed Polly, in dismay. But there was one of thewhite-capped maids coming across the lawn, with the summons to go in toluncheon, which was to be served at an earlier hour than usual.
And after that, no one had more than a moment in which to think, for atthree o'clock the garden party was to open, and the fair to be in fullprogress.
Long before that time, the avenues and streets leading out to the HoratioKing estate were thronged with children of all ages and sizes; most of themwith their nurse-maids, all bound to the scene of the garden party, theirsmall purses dangling by chains from their arms, or carried carefully intheir hands. For wasn't this to help poor children who didn't have anypleasant homes, but lived in stuffy tenement houses, to go out into thebroad, beautiful country, where they could race in the fields and play withthe chickens, and pick all the flowers they wanted to? And so, ever sincethe announcement had been made that such a fund was to be raised, there hadbeen much hoarding of pennies, and no slight self-denial on the part of theyounger element, who would naturally be drawn into the plan.
All the society people were to drive up later; and until the early eveninghours it was to be the function of the town, which every one was anxious toattend. But everybody in Mr. King's household was to be ready to receive,exactly at three o'clock.
Phronsie was in the highest of spirits, having Grandpapa's hand to clingto, trying to welcome all the guests, and keeping one eye out to see thatRachel was enjoying herself, attired in a pretty, pink cambric gown, herblack hair--which now seemed, oh, so soft and pretty!--tied back withlittle pink bows. And Rachel's eyes--well, there! no one would ever havesuspected that they had only been accustomed to the squalor of Gran'sapartment, and Gran herself, but one short week ago. They now looked on theworld in general, and this fair scene in particular, with all thenonchalance of one born and brought up in the midst of such conditions ascould bring about a state of affairs like the present that surrounded her.And many asked, "Who is that child?" for it was clearly seen that shewasn't of the set that was thronging the grounds.
Rachel herself was wholly unconscious of the remarks that were being made,so she devoted her heart and soul to the duty assigned to her, that ofwaiting on Polly and her bevy of school friends in one of theflower-bowers. And she never bothered about any curious glances, or asides,until a chance remark struck her ear as she was hurrying across the lawn,which she thought needed attention; then she raised her head, and her blackeyes grew sharp and intent. It was Mrs. Chatterton who was speaking.
"Yes, it's a little beggar girl he took in," and the cackle was unpleasantthat accompanied the words. "Dear me! I expect she'll rob us all; suchcreatures are so sly." She was pointing out Rachel to one of her friendslately arrived from Europe, and who had exerted herself to come early andsee the children.
"Do you mean me?" demanded Rachel, her black eyes, like gimlets, on thelong, cynical face. "'Cause if you does, I can tell you that what I does, Idoes right out on top; an' I guess by the looks o' you, that ain't yourstyle."
"You impertinent creature!" exclaimed Mrs. Chatterton, her long facecrimson with passion, not allayed by seeing that her friend could withdifficulty control her amusement. "She'll tell this everywhere," she fumedwithin. "I shall go and speak to my cousin, Mr. King, about you, girl." Shemoved her arm and shapely hand, both very beautiful still, and wellexhibited on every occasion, and started off with great dignity.
"I would," said Rachel scornfully. Then she laughed, "Oh, me! oh, my!you're such a favor_ite_, you are!" and she doubled up her thinfigure, and went off in a little gust of merriment.
"Come with me." Mrs. Chatterton darted back and seized her friend's arm todrag her away. "That detestable creature makes me feel quite faint."
As soon as they had disappeared down a winding path, Rachel's amusementquite left her. She drew herself up stiffly, and hurried back to Polly, tobe the same quiet, attentive, deft little maiden as before.
"You do tie flowers up so beautifully," cried Polly, handing her anotherbig spool of baby ribbon. "Doesn't she, girls?"
"Yes, indeed," cried ever so many.
"I can't tie a bow to save myself," declared Alexia; "it all snarls up, andit looks for all the world, when I get through, as if my dog had chewed it.Oh, dear me! Yes, that basket is two dollars."
"I'll take it," said the little tot who had to stand on tiptoes to peerover the table with its blooming beauty. "I want it for my mamma," and hegave his smart little cane to the nursemaid to hold, while he opened hispurse.
"Well, it's a beauty, Rick," said Alexia, picking up the basket; "theviolets are so sweet," and she sniffed them two or three times as shepassed them over.
"Here's Rick Halliday," called Clem, at the other end of the table. "NowI'm going to make him buy something of me. We must all make him, girls; hisfather's given him oceans of money to spend, of course."
It was loud enough for Polly to hear, and she dropped the box of ribbonunder the table.
"No, no," she said decidedly, hurrying over, "Grandpapa said we were not toask a single person to buy. That's the rule, you know, Clem."
"We could make ever so much more," grumbled Clem; "it's for the poorchildren, you know, Polly."
"Grandpapa said not," repeated Polly, her cheeks like a rose, and back sheflew again to her post.
"I shan't buy anything of you, Clem Forsythe," loudly declared small Rickover to her, taking his little cane from the nursemaid's hand, "anyway. Andbeside, my papa said if any one teased me to spend my money, I was to comeright away. But he didn't believe they would here." And with his basket offlowers for his mother, he moved off with great dignity across the lawn,swinging his cane as he had noticed the men did.
"Of all kids, I do think that Rick Halliday is the most detestable infant,"exclaimed Clem, in great discomfort. "Oh, yes, Mrs. Nunn"--her facebrightening--"we have heliotrope, ever so much of it." She thrust her handsinto a big vase overflowing with fragrance. "How many? Oh, three dozensprays. Yes, indeed."
"But this is ten dollars," said Joel]
And the bands--one at the end of the big lawn, and the other on the terraceat the farther side of the house--were playing their sweetest; and now thesociety folk began to put in an appearance among the throngs of children.Everybody was in gala attire, and the garden party was at its height.
"Joel," cried Mr. Cabot to that individual, rushing in and out among thelittle knots of gayly dressed visitors, "here, run over to the post office,will you, and see if there are any letters for me?"
"All right," Joel cried, as he flew along. And in an incredibly short spaceof time, back he rushed with three missives.
"How much?"
"Ten cents apiece," said Joel promptly. "I'll get change in a minute," andhe was flying off again with the bill thrust into his hand.
"I don't take any change here. I don't want any; I won't be bothered withit," declared Mr. Cabot, in his most decided fashion.
"But this is ten dollars," said Joel, aghast, and stopping short to flapthe bill.
"Never mind, that's my affair; go along, or I'll report you. Aren't you oneof the postmen?"--pointing sternly to his badge.
"Yes," said Joel, straightening up, and puffing out his chubby cheeks withpride.
"Well, then, you'll find yourself reported if you don't march," cried Mr.Cabot "So off with yourself to the postmaster."
"Come on, Joel," called another of the postmen, who happened to be Percy,rushing along. "I'm going to get my mail bag now, there's just a crowd offolks waiting over there for letters"--pointing over to the pine grove.
"So will I get mine," shouted Joel, "and see here"--waving his ten-dollarbill--"what Mr. Cabot sent to Jasper. I guess that'll send one poor childoff into the country, Percy Whitney! Won't that be prime!"
There was such a crowd around the Wistaria-arbor post office, that Percyand Joel, who much preferred being letter-carriers to helping Jasperwithin, had to crawl in under
the vines, to find the mail bags.
"Here, Jasper," cried Joel, "take it, do"--throwing the ten-dollar billdown in a flurry, to fling the strap of his mail bag over his head beforePercy should get his in order.
But Jasper, who was trying to satisfy the demands of a throng of people allclamoring at the small window for letters, didn't see it, or even hear hisname called. So the ten-dollar bill lay perfectly still where it fell,until it got all tired out, and a little puff of wind, sweeping through thearbor, blew it first to one side, and then to the other, until at last itfell down among a tangle of evergreen with which the posts of the arborwere wound. And presently, Van, who much preferred being assistant toJasper to running about as a letter carrier, came along and exclaimed, "Oh,that silly old green stuff! It takes up so much room!" And he twitched offa lot of it, and the ten-dollar bill, well crumpled up inside of the bunch,sighed and said to itself as it was flung under the counter, "Now I guessI'm dead and buried forever."
Meanwhile, Joel, as happy as a lark at the thought of Mr. Cabot'scontribution, went off on the wings of the wind, distributing letters,here, there, and everywhere, and receiving lots of orders.
It was, "Oh, Joel, get me a letter,"
And, "Joel, get me one; I can't get near the post office; there's a perfectmob there."
And, "Joel Pepper!"--from clear across the lawn--"come over here; Mrs.Singleton wants to see you about some letters," until Joel began to feelthat he was about running the whole post-office department, and it seemedas if every drop of blood was in his chubby face, he was so hot. But henever thought of being tired, he was so happy, plunging on.
"Oh, my gracious, honey! you done mos' knocked de bref out o' me!" It wasCandace, who had left her little shop on Temple Place to help forward thegarden party, against whom he had come up, careless where he was going.