Then suddenly Lexie caught a glimpse of Bluebell’s puckered lip, and came over with a soft old napkin snatched quickly from the sideboard linen drawer, dipped it in a glass of water from the table, and gently wiped the bruised cheek that distinctly bore the red imprint of heavy fingers, with a wide bleeding scratch where a sharply manicured fingernail had ripped the delicate skin.
Elaine watched with jealous eyes.
“Oh yes,” she sneered mockingly, “you’re making a great show of trying to be kind and gentle, now that you’ve slapped her! Even brought the blood! That’s you all over, Lexie! Slap an innocent little baby till the blood comes and then pretend to be so sorry for her! Slap a baby! How could you? For what, I’d like to know? And then pet her up in the presence of others! I’ll teach you to slap my child! How dare you!”
Suddenly Angelica spoke up shrilly.
“Aunt Lexie didn’t slap Bluebell! It was that man who slapped her.” She pointed an accusing finger at Bettinger Thomas. “Aunt Lexie was standing over on the other side of the table, and that man was trying to make her go in the other room. Bluebell reached over to snatch Gerry’s cookie and knocked her glass of milk over on his pants, and it made him mad. He slapped her hard, and scratched her. I saw him! He’s a bad old man! That neighbor-lady told me he was. She said you oughtn’t to have him come here, he was a bad man! She said your muvver wouldn’t like it!”
“Be still, Angelica! You’re a naughty girl to say things like that! I’ve told you not to repeat things the neighbors say. The neighbors are bad people to talk that way! And of course it was your aunt Lexie that slapped Bluebell. You mustn’t contradict me!”
“No, it wasn’t Aunt Lexie that slapped her. I saw it. It was that bad old man. He was mad because his pants got all milky.”
Bettinger Thomas lifted a very red face and angry eyes. There was no apology in his glance, only annoyance.
“This is a new and very expensive suit!” he declared in furious explanation. “I am attending an important luncheon at the country club this morning, and now my suit is ruined! It is all that girl’s fault, too. If she had come into the other room when I told her you wanted her, this never would have happened. I am sorry. I shall have to put the price of this suit on your account. It was quite expensive!”
“Well, if it was Lexie’s fault she will of course want to pay for it.”
“Yes, and it won’t be the only thing she has to pay for if she keeps on in the way she has started. It may be that we shall have to resort to having her arrested and put under charge if she continues to refuse to tell what she knows.”
Lexie caught her breath softly and closed her trembling lips. Then she remembered what her friend the judge had said. She must not talk. And certainly she must not cry.
She closed her lips tight in a think line. She put her mind on the effort not to look angry. Anger at present, and in this company, could not help. Neither must she look frightened. She wasn’t frightened now that Judge Foster was her friend and was going to help her through this trouble.
The trembling that was in her fingers came from her frightened heart. It was crying out to God to help her, to show her what to do, to save the situation for her, since she did not know what to do herself. Crying out to God as she would have cried to Judge Foster if he had been there. She was glad that God was always present. She could call to Him when she had not time to reach her father’s friend the judge.
And then, most unexpectedly, Lawyer Thomas stopped mopping his elegant clothes and gave a quick glance at his watch.
“I shall have to ask you to excuse me,” he said looking at Elaine. “I must go home at once and change to another suit. I shall have to hurry, as it is most important that I should be on time. You will excuse me, won’t you? I’ll try to return tomorrow morning, or at the latest the next day. Meantime get all the evidence together that you can find, and put the pressure on your sister. She is the key to it all, you know. But I’ll have to say good-bye now.”
“Oh, but I can’t possibly wait till tomorrow!” wailed Elaine in distress.
“Sorry, my dear lady, but tomorrow will be the very first moment I can spare, if indeed I can come then. I’ll bear you in mind, however, and come as soon as possible. And now brace up and get your evidence. I can’t do anything without that, you know. Good morning!” And hastily the obnoxious lawyer went out the door and down to his car.
Chapter 8
Elaine stood appalled and angry as he vanished, and then she turned her fury on Lexie: “Well, now I suppose you think you’ve done it! You hateful, cruel thing, you! Torment a poor, sick sister this way! Come up with little trifling, silly devices to have your own way and get rid of my nice, kind lawyer. Spoil his wonderful new suit for him, and send him off before we were done with our business! I hadn’t told him half the things I wanted him to know. And you intended this to happen, of course. I know you! You always did work against me whenever you could. I remember that since you were a mere baby! You and your mother before you! Oh, why did my poor mistaken father ever marry that scheming, determined woman?”
Lexie stood there for a moment and listened aghast while Elaine rattled on. Long ago she had formed the habit of letting Elaine finish entirely whatever she had to say on a subject, for she had found by bitter experience it was the only way ever to get done a matter. If you interrupted her she would only go back and say it all over again. So, remembering, she stood quite still and waited until Elaine had talked herself out. And then suddenly Elaine, troubled by Bluebell’s low wail that kept on bleating from her cookie-crumbed lips, turned toward her baby.
“You poor child! Poor little baby! Her own auntie slapped her when she hadn’t done anything at all! Naughty auntie! Aunt Lexie doesn’t love you. She doesn’t care how much she hurts you.”
Lexie winced at that, telling the baby lies about her, but she knew if she tried to speak, her indignation would come to the front and take control of her, and that must not be. So she kept still, until finally Elaine turned toward her again with a direct question.
“Tell me, Lexie, just why did you slap the child so unmercifully? I can’t understand it. I thought you were always kind to children. That was the reason I felt perfectly safe in coming to you while I was so sick. I couldn’t look after the children myself. Why did you do it?”
“But I didn’t slap her,” said Lexie quietly. “I wasn’t even near her. I was trying to get away from that man. He had hold of my arm and was dragging me across the room. What made you think I slapped her, Elaine?”
“Of course you slapped her, Lexie. There is no use in lying about it, even if you are angry. Have a little sense.”
“No, Aunt Lexie didn’t slap Bluebell, Elaine,” Gerald said. “That old man slapped her. I saw him! He was mad ’cause his pants got all milky.”
“Yes, I see you have bribed those children to side with you. I call that pretty rank for you not only to slap the baby but bribe my children to lie for you!”
“Stop!” said Lexie. “Elaine, you must be crazy to say such things. Now, I’m not going to talk any more about this. I have told you the truth. I didn’t slap her, and if you won’t believe it, I can’t help it. Suppose we just forget it all and try to get this family straightened out. Would you like some lunch, Elaine? Why don’t you go and lie down again and I’ll bring you a tray?”
“No, thanks! I don’t want you to bring me a tray. I’m sure I couldn’t eat anything you brought. Where is that nurse you were going to get?”
“She will be here in a little while, as soon as she can get packed. Do you feel able to sit down here at the table and take just a bite? How about a glass of milk?”
“No!” said Elaine sharply. “I detest milk. You know it always disagrees with me. I want some coffee. Where is that nurse? Where did you locate her? At one of the hospitals or an agency?”
“No,” said Lexie quietly, “there wasn’t one to be had at any hospital or agency. The hospitals are suffering for lack of nurses themselve
s. But I finally found a woman who was about to take another job. She is an elderly woman and doesn’t mind being where there are children. I think perhaps she’ll be willing to stay if you are all very pleasant to her.”
“Pleasant to her! The idea! Really, I don’t care to have a nurse like that! I want a regular trained nurse, a graduate nurse! A young, strong woman! I can’t endure an elderly woman with set ways that has to be coddled.”
“Well, I’m sorry, Elaine, I tried every place on your list, and there wasn’t one. They all gave me the same story. The young, strong nurses have all gone to war, and the hospitals are suffering for lack of them. I think for the present everybody will have to put up with what they can get, or get on without help.”
“Oh fiddlesticks!” said Elaine angrily. “I’m quite sure I can find a regular nurse if I try myself. And as for this woman, if I don’t like her, I shan’t stand her for a minute, do you hear?”
Lexie turned hopelessly away from her sister and went toward the kitchen.
“Suit yourself,” she said with a sigh. “I’ve done the best I could. Now I’ll go and make you another cup of coffee. There is just a little left in the canister. We’ll have to use it carefully, for we can’t get any more till someone goes to the ration board.”
“Oh, how utterly silly!” said Elaine, walking languidly into the living room and flinging herself on the couch. “I certainly wish I had stayed in the West. I never had any trouble like this there. My housekeeper looked after all such annoying questions. I wish I had stayed there!”
And Lexie, in the kitchen, could not fail to hear, and echoed in her heart with a sigh: I certainly wish you had! But she faithfully shut her lips tight and did not let the words out.
By the time Lexie had the coffee ready and took it in to her sister, Elaine was settled on her couch again with a handkerchief in her hand and great tears rolling down her cheeks. She paused in her grief long enough to announce again to her sister that if she didn’t like the new nurse, she didn’t intend to keep her, and Lexie needn’t think she would.
“Well, that’s all right, Elaine,” said Lexie, “but, you see, I have to go away at least for a few days, and wouldn’t it be well for you to have somebody who could at least get you something to eat while I am gone?”
“You have to go away! How can you? You wouldn’t leave me in this helpless condition, would you?”
“That’s it, Elaine,” said Lexie trying to be patient. “I shall probably have to go. If there was any way to avoid it for the present, or to put it off a few days, I certainly would. I’m not sure I can. But while I’m gone, there ought to be somebody here with you—that is, if you intend staying.”
“Staying?” yelled Elaine. “What else can I do? I’m here, and I’ve spent practically all the money I have to get here. Of course I’m staying. I never thought you would dare go away and leave me alone.”
“I’m not leaving you alone, Elaine. I’ve got a woman who is entirely able to make you comfortable if you will let her, and I’m just suggesting that you’ll have to put up with her, even if she doesn’t happen to take your fancy, at least for a little while.”
“Well, I like that! Talking to your poor sick sister that way! What would your precious mother think of that kind of talk, I’d like to know.”
“I’m sorry, Elaine, but this seems to be necessary. Even if I don’t finish college I’ve got to go back and get my things, settle up my bank account, report about the job I have, and the job I’m supposed to get after I’m through.”
“Oh, that’s all nonsense!” said Elaine petulantly. “That’s just an excuse. That could all be done by mail or telephone.”
“Elaine, I have no money to telephone until I go back and get it. There are people for whom I have been doing things who owe me, and I would likely never get it at all until I went. It may be that I won’t have to stay long, but while I am gone there must be somebody here with you. So please don’t antagonize her.”
“Oh indeed! Well, I’ll just let you know that I don’t intend to toady to anybody if I don’t like them. And as for your jobs, you can send them postcards that you can’t come back. I can lend you money enough for that myself.”
Lexie gave her sister a steady look, but said no more, and began to tremble for the meeting of Lucinda with Elaine. Would Elaine remember her? If she only wouldn’t, perhaps they could get by for a little while, but probably there was no such luck as that.
Lexie made short work of her own lunch, and putting the kitchen to rights after it. Meanwhile, she tried to think her way through the rest of the day, though she ought not to make any definite plans until she had talked with Judge Foster.
It was just as she was putting away the last dishes that a little boy came to the back door and peered in.
“That you, Miss Lexie?” he said in a low tone. “Say, Mr. Maitland sent me over from the drugstore to tell you there’s someone on the telephone wants to speak to you. Name’s Foster.”
“Oh!” said Lexie softly. “All right, I’ll come right away.”
She wiped her hands on the roller towel and dashed softly out the door, running her hands through her soft brown, curly hair as she ran, for she knew it was awry. She wasn’t vain, but she knew the neighbors would probably be looking out their windows, and she hated to look disheveled.
It was Judge Foster.
“Lexie, I find I have to drive out your way at three o’clock to see a business friend who is very ill. It is important that I talk with him before tomorrow’s court session. Could I pick you up somewhere near your home and take you along? Then we could talk. It isn’t a long drive, but it’s about the only time I can possibly spare today. Will that be all right with you?”
“Wonderful!” said Lexie. “I could meet you at the drugstore. Then Elaine needn’t know where I have gone. I’ll tell her later, but I don’t want to be questioned till I have talked with you.”
“That’s the best thing to do. Yes, I remember where that store is, corner of Main and Cooper Streets, isn’t it? Be there sharp at half past four, and I think I can promise to get you back in an hour.”
“All right. I’ll be there!” said Lexie with a ring of relief in her voice, and then she hurried back to the house again, wondering what she should do when she had to leave if Lucinda hadn’t come yet. But of course that would have to settle itself somehow. Perhaps it would be just as well for Lucinda to come while she was gone, although Elaine might send her off. There was no telling. But perhaps she would come before.
Back at the house she found Elaine had cried herself to sleep, which relieved the situation for the time being so that she could finish putting the kitchen in order. Then she sat down at the kitchen table and wrote a list of things she must attend to before she went away to college, if indeed she found she could get away at all.
It was just as she finished her list that she heard a truck drive up to the door, and hurrying out found that Lucinda had arrived. She could dimly hear the children’s voices across the street arguing with the neighbor’s children, and was thankful that for the moment they were absent.
The truck driver, who was an old friend of Lucinda’s, accommodatingly carried Lucinda’s trunk to the attic, and Lexie took Lucinda up and was glad that she was pleased with her simple little room.
“It isn’t much of a place to put you, Lucinda,” she apologized, “but I thought you would rather be up here by yourself. You would have more privacy. There’s nothing else up there but the big storeroom, and no chance for you to be interrupted when you want to rest.”
“Oh, it suits me fine!” said Lucinda. “I’m real pleased to have this much of a room over me so soon. It’s just Providence, I can’t help thinking. Somehow He always did look out for me when I got in a jam. At least it must be Providence, for there isn’t anybody else bothering about what becomes of me. So it must be Providence. And now, Miss Lexie, I’ll be changing my dress, and then ya can show me the ways about, and I’ll take over. You just tell what yo
u want of me and go on about your business. You’ll want supper got, and anything else you have in mind just write me a line on a paper. I can read real good, and then I needn’t trust to me forgettery.”
So Lexie told her briefly about the location of rooms and that there wasn’t very much in the house to eat until she could go to the ration board.
“Oh, we’ll make out,” said Lucinda. “I know more ways to get meals out o’ nothin’ than you can shake a stick at, and good enough for that Elaine one, too. Get me a lemon, an’ a mushroom, an’ a pimento an’ I’ll make out. Me hand’s right in it when the pocketbook and the pantry is low.”
“Oh Cinda! That sounds good!” said Lexie with relief. “I’ve been so worried. You see, I came down from college for just a day, and we haven’t any ration cards yet. I haven’t had time to find out where to go for them even, and I’ve got so many things to do. This afternoon I’ve got to see an old friend of Father’s and find out about some business matters, and I’m not sure whether I can get in touch with that ration board yet or not.”
“Don’t worry, little girl,” said Cinda. “Trust me! I’ll scare up some kind of a meal, and if she don’t like it, she can lump it. But I’ll risk but what I can make something she’ll like. What have you got on hand? Any canned goods?”
“There’s some fruit of Mother’s canning, a few cans of soup and vegetables, I guess, too. I haven’t looked them over very carefully. There’s been so much else to do. But there are eggs and potatoes, and a loaf of bread.”
“Well, I’ll make out with those for a time or two, and if worse comes to worst, there’s me own ration card. I been savin’ up a point or two, and a bit coupon fer coffee and sugar. You can take them down and cash ’em in. Being out on a case, and then having to move, I didn’t have any chance to cook. Get half a pound of butter and a bit of meat, even a quarter of a pound ground will go a good ways. I guess I could find me way to the stores if I got stuck whiles you are gone. But anyhow, where are the children you was telling about? Can’t they go on errands?”