CHAPTER II--DODO MEETS POLLY'S FRIENDS
Dorothy Alexander was a good type of the healthy western girl. She wastall, well-built, and the picture of splendid health. Her hair was of aruddy hue, with copper glints in it. Her complexion was like "peachesand cream," and needed no cosmetic to enhance its charm. Her form waslithe and supple, and her features were good. Her bright eyes sparkledwith good-humor, and her smile was contagious in its sweetness. When shewas well-dressed, she would be a beauty, thought Eleanor, but herpresent overdressing depreciated her genuine good looks.
"Prof., we bring you a new convert," laughed Eleanor, as the three girlsapproached Mr. Fabian.
"Dorothy Alexander, Mr. Fabian," added Polly.
The two acknowledged the introduction and the girl thought: "What a fineface he has! Such wonderful expression and forehead."
And Mr. Fabian thought: "There's a great deal under all that sham."
Shortly after the introduction, Mr. Fabian spoke of the flauntingmistakes some so-called decorator had made in the selection andfurnishings of the salon. So they turned their attention to thatinteresting subject. Dodo stood by and listened to it all, as shewondered what these two good-looking girls could find to interest themin such a dry subject? But she confessed that both girls seemed morebeautiful and attractive, when they were thoroughly interested andanimated with the ideas they were exchanging with Mr. Fabian.
As they left the room, Mr. Fabian turned his attention to Dodo,particularly. And soon she was telling him freely, all about her life inDenver, and how hard her father had worked and suffered at CrippleCreek, to amass the fortune they now enjoyed. When Dodo described herfather's character and how simple and blunt he was in everything, herhearers fell in love with the unknown. She told how generous he was toevery one, and how no one was left in need if he could help it.
"But he has one awful sin that Ma can't forgive him," added Dodo,glancing covertly around to make sure no one could hear.
Mr. Fabian shivered at what she was about to say, and he wished Dodo wasnot _quite_ so frank as to reveal family skeletons. But she was launchedand nothing could check her.
"Pa has a pet old pipe that's as black as ink. He just won't smoke anyof the imported cigars Ma buys for him, and he won't let her throw theold pipe away. He gets away by himself and smokes it until he feelshappy--no matter what Ma says or does."
All three of her audience bent double in merriment at what they justheard. Mr. Fabian was so relieved at the "sin" he feared to hear about,that he laughed louder than the two girls.
"S-sh!" warned Dodo, hurriedly. "Here comes Pa, now!"
Instantly they hushed and turned to watch the "grand being" they hadjust heard about. The shock of beholding the actual man who was theopposite of what Dodo had pictured him caused them to mumble confusedlywhen Mr. Alexander was introduced.
He was a little wiry man of about fifty years. The top of his head wasbald, with a fringe of grey all about the crown. Right in front, on top,grew a stiff lock of stubborn hair that generally stood upright. Thisgave him the funny appearance that is often portrayed in the comicsection of the Sunday papers. His hands were knotted with hard work, andhis legs were bowed just enough to make him walk awkwardly. His eyeswere small and merry, and his ears large and fan-like. But his mouth wasthe feature that attracted instant attention and held it wonderingly. Itwas a wide, good-natured mouth, and when he smiled he literallydemonstrated that saying: "His head opened from ear to ear." He wore ahuge ulster of checks and a tourist cap with ear-tabs tied on top.
"Hello, Dodo! Who's your friends?" called he cheerily, as he came up tothem.
He was introduced, and Dodo followed up the introduction by saying: "Iwas just talking about you--telling my friends what a fine man you are."
Mr. Alexander smiled happily. "It ain't every man what has a gal thatsays that, eh?"
"You're right there, Mr. Alexander," agreed Mr. Fabian, glad to speakand express something worthy of himself.
"And Dodo is sure one fine gal, too. I wonder why she ain't sp'iled likeother gals I see."
"Perhaps her father's example is before her," ventured Eleanor. Andforever after that, Dodo swore allegiance to Eleanor.
"I'm right glad you-all met Dodo, 'cause I was fearin' the missus mightget her to give in to them foolish notions about gettin' a furriner. Didyou tell 'em, Dodo?" said her father.
"Yes, Pa, and the girls are going to help me cure Ma of that fad."
"That's the best news, yet! I hope you kin do it!" said he, slapping hisknee. "You must be real gals, too, like mine, here."
Polly laughed, and Eleanor said: "We like to ride and hike, and havegood times, but we're not out hunting for husbands. If we ever reachthat place where we want to marry, we'll take a man we know by heart,and not one who is buying a doll made up at a hair-dresser andbeauty-doctor's."
"You're the right sort, all right!" chuckled the little man,transferring the slap from his knee to Eleanor's back.
Eleanor gasped for breath but she considered the sharp commendation acompliment that any _man_ might be glad to get. Mr. Fabian had to smileat Eleanor's sudden gasp and instant recovery, but Polly laughedoutright, for she was accustomed to such pleasantries from the ranchersat home.
"Poor Pa. He's so glad to meet some sensible folks, that he doesn't stopto think how hard his hand is, with all the mining and picking at goldore, out west," added Dodo, smiling sympathetically at Eleanor, and thenat her father.
"Right again! This traipsing to U-rope fer a title, isn't my kind ofwork. But I jus' couldn't let Ma run off with Dodo and all my cash, whenI knew Dodo diden' want to. So I says, 'Onless you lug me along whereveryou go, my cash stays behind in America.' You-all know, 'cash makes themare go,' so I was included in the trip."
The little man chuckled and caused the others to laugh at his amusingexpression. Then he leaned forward and said confidentially: "But I'llconfess, all this tight-fittin' clothes, and a boiled shirt with stiffcollars and cuffs ain't to my likin'! I have to pinch my feet into shinytight shoes, and use a tie that has to be knotted every day, 'stead of aready-made one that I can hook on to my collar-button."
At that admission, the girls laughed merrily and Mr. Fabian simplyroared, for he understood collar-buttons and the agony Mr. Alexandermust endure.
The little man felt that he was making fine headway in hisconversational powers, so he continued to practice the art.
"But say! let me tell you-all--when Ma carted me to Noo York and made metake dancing lessons to get graceful, I tried it twicet--then I balked!'No more of them monkey-shines for an old miner,' says I. And I neverdid it again, did I, Dodo?"
Dodo laughed and shook her head, and the others renewed their mirth. Mr.Alexander was now encouraged to proceed.
"Ma went to a Madam Something-er-other fer to learn how to act in politesociety and how to not do the wrong things at the right time, and viceversy, but she coulden get _me_ to go there! I spent that time at theMovies or ridin' on the Fifth Avenoo bus, and laughin' at folks--the waythey rushed around like ants.
"But here I am, mixin' in as good comp'ny as I want, and it ain'tcostin' me a cent to sit in a little room and listen to a fat old womanwho charges a dollar a throw." As he concluded his speech, a group ofpeople standing directly back of Mr. Fabian and the girls, joined thecircle.
Mr. Alexander instantly froze up and felt uncomfortable lest they hadheard him speak. Then Mr. Fabian eased his mind by saying: "Now you canmeet the Ashbys, Mr. Alexander. Miss Dodo, this is Mrs. Ashby, and Ruth,and Mr. Ashby. And this is a new friend, Mr. Ashby, but an oldacquaintance of Polly and Eleanor's from Denver--Mr. Alexander and MissDodo."
The introductions over, Mr. Ashby quickly smoothed the way for thenervous little man from the west; but Dodo wondered why her mother hadthe impression that these people were inferior because they were inbusiness in New York. She had never met any one more refined, or whoshowed truer gentility than these people.
After an exchange of words, Mr. Alexander
whispered to his daughter:"Dodo, do you think we'd better go out to Ma? She might get huffy, youknow, when she finds out we've been meetin' all the nice people andleavin' her in the cold."
"We'll all go out, Mr. Alexander," suggested Eleanor, seeing how muchbetter it would be for the two culprits if Mrs. Alexander had toentertain a number of new-comers instead of her own people.
They started to go on deck, but Mr. Alexander hastily surveyed himselfin a mirror as he passed. Then he pulled at Mr. Fabian's sleeve.
"I reckon I'd better take off the ulster before the Missus sees me init. She can't bear it, 'cause she thinks it looks like a workin'-man'scoat."
So saying, the wrap was slipped off and Mr. Alexander straightened thecap on his shiny head. He brushed a speck from his pale grey spats, andtugged at his tie to have it correctly placed. Then he hurried after theothers. In that time, Mr. Fabian saw how hen-pecked the poor little manmust be, and he resolved to stand by him in his troubles. Thus Dodo wontwo allies, and her father unconsciously acquired a splendid friend fortimes of need.
"Have you ever been abroad before?" asked Mr. Ashby, as Mr. Alexandercaught up with him.
"Not on your life! The States is good enough for me, but Dodo had to besaved, you see, and I come along."
Mr. Ashby knew nothing of Mrs. Alexander's hopes and aspirations, and hewas in the dark about the little man's words.
"You have a great treat awaiting you, if you have never visited thefamous old cities of Europe, before," added Mr. Ashby.
"Most folks go over for other things than to see the fine towns,"remarked Mr. Alexander.
"I hear the women-folk mostly go to get clothes in Paris."
Everyone laughed; then the group crossed the deck to the steamer-chairoccupied by Mrs. Alexander. Dodo introduced her mother to the strangers;she smiled loftily at the Ashbys, but was very effusive over Mr. Fabian.So much so, that he wondered at it.
But in a few moments she unconsciously showed her reason for it. "I hearyou are going to visit at an English Peer's, in London, Mr. Fabian."
"My wife and daughter are visiting at Sir James Osgood's, I believe, butmy visit there all depends on whether the Ashbys and my girls areincluded in the invitation. If they are not, of course I will have todecline, also."
"Oh, you wouldn't miss such a chance, would you?" cried the surprisedwoman.
"I'm missing nothing that I know of," replied Mr. Fabian; then Pollycame to his rescue and changed the conversation.
In the next few days, Mr. Alexander and Dodo became great favorites withthe Ashbys and Mr. Fabian, while Polly and Eleanor declared that thegirl was splendid! She had dropped all pretence and make-up, and haddonned the simplest gowns she had in the trunk, much to her mother'sdisapproval, and to the girls' smiling approval.
In constant association with the quiet Polly, the well-bred Ruth Ashby,and the thoroughbred Eleanor, Dodo soon acquired better form in everyway. She was quick and bright enough to recognise her shortcomings andeager to improve herself.
The last morning of the trip, after the English shore had been sighted,Mrs. Alexander suddenly changed her plans about going to Havre, anddecided to land in England when the others did. This change of plan sheconfided to no one at the time. But she awaited a chance.
"Have you really decided to leave us, Mr. Fabian?" said she coyly, whenshe met that gentleman in the morning at breakfast.
"Yes, we take the lighter that comes off shore at Dover, and takes onthose who wish to land."
"Dodo tells me that you got a wireless that your wife and daughter wouldmeet you at the wharf, in Dover," continued Mrs. Alexander.
"Yes, and the invitation from Sir James, includes my party, I hear, soit is all right. We are all going there for an informal dinner-party andto spend the night. Then we will hire an auto and continue on our tripin the morning," explained Mr. Fabian.
"Dear, dear! I am so upset," sighed the amateur actress. "I find _my_car--it was shipped over before we left Noo York--was left in Londoninstead of going on to France. So we have to get off when you do, and goto London just to get our car."
"Oh, really! I didn't know you had sent a car across," said Mr. Fabian.
"Dear yes! You might as well, when you have one, you know. But I expectto buy myself a new French car whiles I am in Paris. Just for myself,and a friend or two, to use, you know; and that lets Pa drive his owntouring car, 'cause he is crazy about motoring."
Mr. Alexander had not mentioned a car, nor had Dodo said anything aboutthe trouble in the delivery of a car to the wrong port, so Mr. Fabianmistrusted the truth of the statement made by Mrs. Alexander; but heforbore saying anything about the matter to any of his companions.
Evidently the lady's husband and daughter had just previously beenwarned about the car, also, for they looked troubled and made no commentwhen Mrs. Alexander surprised everyone by saying: "We find we have toland at Dover, also, as our car went astray during shipment and we haveto see about it in London."
"Oh, how nice! Then Dodo can remain with us a bit longer," said Ruth,guilelessly.
"And her mother, of course," said Mrs. Alexander pointedly, lifting hershoulders as well as her eye-brows.
"And her old man, too," chuckled Mr. Alexander, causing everyone whoheard him to laugh.
His spouse sent him a most disquieting look, however, and he subsided inhis chair. But Eleanor, who sat beside him at the table, nudged himencouragingly when Mrs. Alexander was not looking.
So, when the lighter touched at the Dover dock, the entire party gotoff, and soon Mr. Fabian was encircled by four arms, while two headswere pressed close to his face. A younger woman stood a bit aside,smiling sympathetically at the reunion.
Then she was introduced to the Americans as Angela Osgood, NancyFabian's friend. And in turn, Mr. Fabian introduced his two protegees,Polly and Eleanor, and the Ashbys, and the Alexanders.
When Mrs. Alexander really found herself face to face with the daughterof an English Baronet, she was speechless with joy. Now she could writehome and tell everyone she ever knew about meeting Sir James Osgood'sdaughter!
But Angela never dreamed of the disturbance she had caused in the breastof this unusual-looking woman.
"Now, how shall we dispose of all the passengers, Nancy?" laughedAngela, counting the heads of the party she expected to drive to thetown house for dinner.
"The car only holds seven, you see," explained she, turning to theAshbys. "I counted on Nancy's father and two girls driving with me, andthe three Ashbys taking the seat in the road-car where the luggage willbe placed. The groom drives that. Or we can rearrange it any way yousay."
Mrs. Alexander instantly pushed herself forward and said: "Oh, how verykind of you to include us in your party! I really can't accept a seat inthe car if anyone else must be crowded."
Dodo looked like a thunder-cloud and pulled at her mother's arm, but Mr.Alexander spoke out bluntly.
"I ain't invited to nobody's house, so I'm going on to London to getthat car you told me about. Dodo can come with me."
His spouse instantly silenced him with a glowering look, and Angelahoped to smooth matters out by what she now said.
"Mother and father will be delighted to have all of you come, and I'msure they will feel _dreadfully_, if anyone is left out. We never standon ceremony, you know, and this is an occasion where you all must comewithout formality."
"We're delighted, I assure you, Miss Osgood, and I will accept for myfamily and myself. The only question now, is, how shall we manage aboutthe cars. If only my seven-passenger car was here instead of in London!"exclaimed Mrs. Alexander, eagerly.
"Why, the ladies will use this car, of course," said Mr. Fabian, "whilewe men go in the baggage-car. You may be uncomfortably crowded, but Isee no other way."
So Mrs. Fabian, Mrs. Ashby and Mrs. Alexander sat in the back seat whilePolly, Eleanor, Ruth and Dodo had to crowd upon the folding seats in themiddle of the car. Nancy sat in front and Angela drove the car. Thegroom with the baggage and the three men f
ollowed directly after in hiscar.
Mrs. Alexander certainly was a general when she wanted to win a battleof wits, but it was a pity she had no better ambitions than the mereforcing a way into society and marrying her daughter to a title.
As they started for London, she leaned back in the seat and said: "Ifonly the company hadn't mistaken the directions about my car. It is sucha great roomy affair, that everyone could have traveled in it with theutmost comfort."
"But it wouldn't have been here at all, for us to travel in, if they hadsent it as you directed--to Havre, instead of London," said Mrs. Ashby.
"Oh true! But I meant--if it had been left over at Dover instead ofgoing on to London," quickly corrected the lady.
The conversation drifted to other topics but was switched back againwhen Mrs. Alexander remarked: "I was just thinking how nice it would befor the Fabians and Ashbys to tour Great Britain first instead ofEurope; then they could use my big car whiles Dodo and I go in my newrunabout that I expect to buy immediately."
"Why, Ma! you know you're talking--" began Dodo, from the seat in frontof her mother, but Mrs. Alexander interrupted instantly.
"Oh yes, deary, I know what you would say! That I must try a new car,first, and get acquainted with it. But I can select a make similar toour big one, can't I? and that is quite familiar to me."
"Oh yes, if you want to duplicate our old car, you can do it. But yousaid you wanted an up-to-date car with all the latest equipment, thistime, and such a car won't seem familiar to you, be----"
"Never mind, Dodo! Our friends are not interested in our old cars, orwhat we have done with them," cut in Mrs. Alexander.
So Dodo subsided for the time, while her mother continued: "So therewill be ample room for you to tour in my large car, ladies, while Dodoand I use the roadster and follow you."
"We cannot say, one way or another, Mrs. Alexander, because nothing hasbeen said about a change in the itinerary. It all depends upon Mr.Fabian and Mr. Ashby," replied Mrs. Ashby, politely.
But Mrs. Alexander was satisfied with the progress she had made bymentioning the tour, and so she left the rest to time.
After a long drive through the highly cultivated countryside that spreadout between Dover and London, Angela drove up in front of an imposingmansion on one of the avenues of England's great city. As a uniformedman came down the wide marble steps to take orders from Angela, Mrs.Alexander sat breathless with pleasure at the success of hermaneuvering.
The baggage-car came up shortly after the ladies had alighted from thefirst automobile, and the servants carried the bags indoors, then waitedto be directed to the proper rooms.
Sir James and his wife welcomed the party of Americans, but Mrs.Alexander felt disappointed when she saw a plain little lady dressed ingrey taffeta, and found Sir James to be a short fat man with a genialexpression, but a horsy manner. The others seemed quite at home withthese English people and all were soon exchanging opinions about therecent problems in politics.
Not a word or look from either Sir James, or his lady, led anyone tothink that three extra visitors were thrust upon the hospitable family,nor did any hint escape them that the unexpected guests were other thansocially their equals. Mrs. Alexander was looking for some sign of thissuperiority in them because of the title, and felt most uneasy becauseshe detected none of it; but finding she and her family were accepted onthe same standard as the Fabians and Ashbys, she recovered her wontedhabit of pushing a way to the foreground in everything.
As the group separated to go to their separate suites, Sir Jamesreminded them: "Quite informal dinner, you know. We are only tarrying intown a few days, before going on to Osgood Hall, so we make no pretenceat dressing formally."
The Ashbys and Fabians knew this to be a courtesy extended them becauseof their lack of baggage, but Mrs. Alexander thought Sir James meantthat their own trunks had gone to the country and so they were not ableto dress in dinner clothes. But she determined to show how _she_ coulddress, with her money.
Before Dorothy could lock the door of her room, her mother entered andhanded her the dress she was to wear for dinner.
"Why, Ma! we were told _not_ to dress!" exclaimed she.
"That's only bluff. You put this on and show folks that we know what'swhat, even if we haven't a title!" declared her mother.
Reluctantly Dodo took the beaded georgette evening dress and then closedthe door after her mother's commanding figure. As she went to thetoilet-table she thought: "I wonder what poor Pa will have to weartonight!" But she was to learn about that sooner than she thought for.