CHAPTER XVIII.
THE PRESCRIPTION.
Paris was as pleasant to return to as it had been to leave. The changeand rest in the country had put new life in all of the marchioness'sguests, and they were ready to go back to their duties with renewedinterest and vigor.
They found on their arrival, however, interruptions to their work morepotent than plain spring fever:--Professor Edwin Green and Kent Brownhad reached Paris the day before, intending to surprise their friends,and had been themselves both surprised and disappointed to find theapartment in Rue Brea closed. Miss Josephine Williams had come to thefore with information and kindly offers of tea and _brioche_. ProfessorGreen was thrown into the depths of despair when he learned that theabsent ones were visiting the d'Ochtes in Normandy, and Kent could notconceal his misery when Jo let out that Pierce Kinsella was one of theparty.
That young woman, with a feminine instinct that belied her masculineattire, understood the two men, and divining that they were both in loveand jealous, one of Philippe and the other of Pierce, exercised thegreatest tact and succeeded in sending them off to their hotel in a muchbetter frame of mind. She did a great deal of quiet talking about howboyish Pierce Kinsella was, and what a pet to the whole community, beingyears younger than any of the girls. As for Philippe she touched lightlyon his evident admiration for Elise O'Brien before her marriage andhinted that he seemed equally pleased with Frances Andrews now thatElise was off the carpet.
As the young men walked toward their student hotel on the BoulevardeMont Parnesse, they agreed that Jo Bill was a pretty nice sort. They hadbeen so impressed by the quality of her tea and _brioche_ and her kindlytact in telling them exactly what they wanted to hear about their ladyloves and their feared rivals, that they had forgotten to notice hertrousers and her tousled red hair and spoke only of her honest mouth andgood teeth, friendly eyes and shapely feet.
Professor Green had been threatened with a nervous breakdown andPresident Walker had at the eleventh hour been able to procure asubstitute. The wise President understood very well that there was acure to his nervous breakdown, but that it had to be taken on the otherside of the Atlantic; so she was delighted to hasten his departure.Edwin had telegraphed Kent of his intended sailing, and that young manhad joyously made preparations to join him in New York. He had the greatpleasure of paying a visit of condolence to his Aunt Sarah Clay, who hadat last lost her suit against the Oil Trust. He also had the pleasure ofdepositing in the safety vault a goodly number of bonds for his belovedmother, enough to insure a comfortable income to her and the certaintythat her financial worries were over forever.
"This is what I call an anticlimax," said Edwin to Kent the next morningas they lounged on the Pont Carrousel. "We got ourselves ready for theexcitement of surprising the ladies yesterday and nothing came off, andnow this hanging around waiting has taken all the life out of me. MissWilliams insisted we could not miss them if we guarded the PontCarrousel, and of course this would be the natural way for them to comefrom the Gare du Nord; but things don't seem to be happening in thenatural way here, lately."
Kent looked narrowly at his friend. He did look tired and depressed, butthe voyage had done him good. He was better than he had been atWellington when Dr. McLean had given him a thorough going over and,after a consultation with his wise partner (Mrs. McLean), had prescribedan immediate sea trip as the only cure for his malady.
"Oh, buck up, old man, the worst is yet to come!" Kent gave him anaffectionate push just as a taxicab came lumbering on the far end of thebridge and he saw a blue scarf floating in the breezes, a blue scarfthat could belong to no one but his dear sister Molly. "What did I tellyou? There they are now. Now get ready for the anticlimax that you soscorn. I bet it will out-climax the climax!"
Judy was the first to see the young men. "Stop, stop!" she called to thechauffeur.
"Extra charge if I stop, Mademoiselle," warned the man, slowing down hiscar.
"Oh, these Frenchies!" wailed the excited girl. "They part mother andson for three sous; and--and----" but she did not finish about whom elsethey would part.
Edwin and Kent crowded in on the front seat with the greedy chauffeur,and the happy crowd was quickly taken to the Rue Brea.
As Professor Green gazed over his shoulder into the sweet eyes of MollyBrown, he knew that the sea trip was just exactly what he needed torestore his failing health and that his old friend Dr. McLean was a wisephysician.
Molly, on the back seat with her mother and Judy, felt very happy. Hadshe not cause to feel so? Was not her beloved brother on the seat infront of her after being parted from them for months and months? Was nother mother's face a picture of maternal joy to be once again near herboy? Did not her dear friend Julia Kean frankly show her delight atKent's proximity? And last, and Molly tried to make herself think it theleast reason, was not her friend Professor Green rattling along in thetaxi with them with an expression in his kind eyes as they gazed intohers that made her drop her own, fearing that hers might have the sametelltale look to him that his had to her?
Kent overpaid the chauffeur in spite of Judy's protestations and thenProfessor Green came back and gave him an extra _pourboire_.
"Let us squander our hard-earned wealth if we want to, Miss Judy,"begged Kent. "When I saw that man's round, red face looming up in frontof Molly and mother and you, it seemed to me that he looked like averitable cupid; and I should like to give him a good big tip just forbringing us all together again."
"All right, but Fate ought to be tipped instead of that red-faced,avaricious old Frenchy," laughed Judy.
What a talk they did have when they got themselves settled comfortablyin the studio, which the kindly Jo Williams and Polly Perkins had airedand freshened up for their arrival!
Kent had to tell all the Kentucky news first, as Mrs. Brown and Mollywere eager to hear every detail concerning the loved ones at home. Thereport was a good one: John and Paul were doing well in their chosenprofessions; Sue was happy as a lark with her Cyrus, who was having the"muddy lane" macadamized; a recent letter from Ernest said that he wouldtake his holiday in August, provided his mother and Molly would havereturned to Kentucky by that time; Aunt Clay was in a pleasant,chastened mood, seeming rather reconciled to losing her suit; Aunt Mary,the dear old cook, was lonesome and forlorn with "Ole Miss and MollyBaby done gone so fer away. Looks lak I ain't got the heart to put alivin' thing inter a pie sence they done gone an' lef' me. I cyarn't eatfer a thinkin' what kind er messes they is puttin' in they own innerds;an I cyarn't sleep fer thinkin' of the deep waters a rollin' betwixtus." Mrs. Brown and Molly had to wipe their eyes at Kent's descriptionof the dear old darkey.
"Speaking of innerds," laughed Kent, "where are we to have luncheon?This constant change of climate is giving me a powerful good appetite.My only regret in regard to our crossing was that we did not come on aGerman line. The French line is good enough except that they have onlyfour meals a day, while I am told the German has six."
"Oh, you greedy!" said Molly, giving him a little extra hug for luck."How would you like to have a spread in the studio? Judy and I willgladly show you what we can do. I'll go forage right now."
"The very thing!" exclaimed Judy. "You attend to the meat and dessert,and I'll hold up the salad end. Now, Mrs. Brown, you must rest and notdo one thing but entertain the gentlemen, while Molly and I hustlearound."
"I think the gentlemen had much better go with you and Molly and helpforage. I will lie down and take a real rest while all of you are gone,"said Mrs. Brown with a whimsical smile.
As they went out, Kent said to Judy: "What a brick Mumsy is, anyhow!"Edwin Green said nothing, but he thought: "Mrs. Brown's tact andkindness are never failing."
He was eager to see Molly alone, but when they were alone he found hehad not the courage to say to her the words that were in his heart. Theytalked of Wellington and their mutual friends. He had news to tell ofRichard Blount and Melissa Hathaway which gave Molly great delight.
"The mountain
would not go to Mohammed, so Mohammed is going to themountain. There is an excellent opening for Richard in a Kentuckymountain town, Pineville, as a railroad lawyer, and he has accepted.Melissa has been appointed supervisor of the schools for the district,and Miss Allfriend assures Melissa she can do more good to her belovedmountains in this way than by merely teaching, so she has accepted. MissAllfriend is very happy at this outcome. She has seen her own youth goin the uphill work and is so glad to know that Melissa is to have a lifeof her own. Melissa and Richard are to be married in June."
"How splendid!" exclaimed Molly, clasping her hands and thinking what asilly girl she had been to fancy that Professor Green might care for thebeautiful mountain girl otherwise than as a friend. "I know they will bevery happy, and I believe Melissa will not let matrimony interfere withwhat she considers her life work."
"Dicky Blount declares he will never be jealous of such small things asmountains. That is rather complimentary to me, as he did me the honor tobe jealous of me," laughed the professor.
"Why, how ridiculous!" and Molly plunged into the poultry shop, wherethe blazing fire accounted to her companion for her heightened color.The proprietor had an extra pullet on the spit roasting for a chancecustomer. He pronounced it "_charmante et tendre_," and the hungry crowddeclared he was right.
The luncheon was perfect. Everyone was happy and so much talk was theorder of the day that Jo Williams poked her head in to see what the rowwas about, and they made her stay to dessert; and then Polly Perkinscame to see where Jo was, and they invited him to stay to coffee.
"You have had a very successful winter, have you not?" said Edwin Greento Mrs. Brown, while Molly and Judy cleared the table and Kent went overto Polly's studio to see the portrait of Mrs. Pace.
"Yes, indeed, most delightful. I have been much disappointed in nothaving Kent with us, and now that he has come, I must soon leave himhere and go back to all the others. They need me, especially old AuntMary. I could never forgive myself if anything should happen to the oldwoman while I am away. She is getting very feeble. I fancy Kent will dowell enough without me. He makes friends so easily and then dear Judy isto be here for another year at least."
As Judy leaned over her to arrange the bowl of flowers on the table,Mrs. Brown smiled on her as though she were already her daughter.