CHAPTER IV--THE TOUR OF GREAT BRITAIN
Early the following morning, the two large cars were in front of OsgoodHouse, ready for the start. Jimmy managed to get Ruth to occupy thefront seat beside him, as he preferred her company to that of the othergirls. His car was to lead the way, because he knew the roads quitewell; the second car would follow with Mr. Alexander driving it.
They drove through the suburbs of London to Guildford, and thensouthward. As they went, the English Channel could be glimpsed from theknolls, every now and then, with the lovely rolling country on all sidesexcept in front.
"Jimmy," called Mr. Fabian at one of the stops made to allow the girlsto admire the view, "if it will not take us too far out of the way, I'dlike to visit Hastings where the historical ruins can be seen. Mystudents will there see several unique lines of architecture that cannever be found elsewhere in these modern days."
"All right, Prof.; and after that I can take you to see Pevensky Castle,another historic ruin," returned Jimmy.
So they turned off, just before coming to Brighton, and visited theruins of the castle said to have been built by William the Conqueror.Cameras were brought forth and pictures taken of the place, and thenthey all climbed back into the automobiles.
"Now for Pevensky Castle, near which William is said to have landed in1066," announced Jimmy, starting his car.
Fortunately, this day happened to be one of the visiting days at the oldruins, and they had no trouble in securing an entrance. Mr. Fabian andhis interested friends found much to rejoice their hearts, in this oldplace; but Jimmy had persuaded Ruth to remain in the car with him, sothat he could have her companionship to himself.
As Mrs. Alexander was the last adult to leave her new car, she saw Jimmyhold to Ruth's hand and beg her to stay with him. This was contrary toher scheme of things, but she had to follow the rest of the party at thetime. While she went, she planned how to get back immediately andfrustrate any tete-a-tete of Jimmy's, unless Dodo was the girl.
Mr. Alexander had settled himself down in his car for a nice littlesmoke with his pipe, as per agreement with his spouse, so he was notinterested in the lover-like scene Jimmy was acting in the other car.But all this was changed when Mrs. Alexander suddenly returned from theruins, and joined the two young people in Jimmy's car.
"It's so very tiresome to climb over tumbled down walls and try to takean interest in mouldy interiors," sighed she, seating herself on therunning-board of Jimmy's car.
That ended Jimmy's dreams of love for the time being, but in his heartthe youthful admirer heartily cursed Dodo's mother. She satunconcernedly dressing her face with powder and rouge, then she lined upher eye-brows, and finally touched up her lips with the red stick. Whenthe toilet outfit was put away in her bag, she sat waiting for theothers to reappear from the castle, feeling that she had done her dutyby her family.
At Chichester, the next stopping place on the route, Mr. Fabian led hisfriends to the old cathedral; as before, Jimmy had Ruth wait with himwhile the others went to inspect the old place. This time, Mrs.Alexander made no pretence of leaving, but remained on guard beside theyoung people. Jimmy gritted his teeth in baffled rage, but he could saynothing to the wily chaperone.
After the tourists got back in the motor-cars, Portsmouth, Porchester,Southampton and Christ Church were reeled off speedily. At Christ Churchthey stopped long enough to see the carved Gothic door at the northentrance, and the Norman architecture of the interior of the Priory--afamous place for lovers of the antique and ancient.
Ruth jumped out and went with her friends when they visited the Priory,and Jimmy had to console himself with a cigarette. Mrs. Alexanderendeavored to enter into conversation with him, but he was too surly foranything.
That evening they reached Exeter, and stopped for the night at the NewLondon Inn, a veritable paradise for the decorators of the party. Itspublic-room and bed-rooms were furnished with genuine old mahoganypieces centuries old. Settles, cupboards, and refectory tables stood inthe main room downstairs, while old Sheraton tables, Chippendale chairs,ancient, carved four-posters, and highboys or lowboys, furnished theguest-chambers.
"Nolla, did you ever see so many lovely old things!" exclaimed Polly, asthey admired one thing after another.
"I wish we could steal some of them," ventured Eleanor, laughingly.
"Maybe the owner will sell some," suggested Polly.
But Mr. Fabian learned later, that the inn-keeper was as great anenthusiast and collector of antiques as the Americans, and would notpart for love or money, with any piece in his collection.
In the morning Mr. Fabian escorted his friends to the cathedral ofExeter, explaining everything worth while, as he went.
Jimmy had ascertained, the night previous, that Ruth purposed going withher friends, so he refused to get up in the morning, sending down wordinstead, that he felt bad. He hoped this might induce Ruth to remain andcomfort him, but he learned later that she had gone gayly with theothers, when they started out for the old edifice.
Shortly after the party left, a knock came upon Jimmy's door and hegruffly called out: "Come in!"
Mrs. Alexander tip-toed in and immediately began to condole with him."Poor Jimmy! I feel so concerned over you. Just let me mother you, ifyou are ill!"
Jimmy growled: "I'm not ill--just sleepy!"
"All the same, you dear boy, something must be troubling you to make youfeel so ill-natured," said she, pointedly.
"I should think it would!" snapped he, the patch-work quilt drawn upclose about his chin so that only his face showed.
"Then do tell me if I can help in any way. My purse and heart are bothwide open for you to help yourself, whenever you like."
Jimmy was young, and had not yet realized that independence was a greatprivilege. But he had learned that poverty was not the virtue peoplecalled it. It meant doing without pleasant things, and constantlysacrificing what seemed most desirable. He knew Mrs. Alexander would buyher way into his good graces if she could, and he was just angry enough,and sulky at fate, to tempt him to take advantage of her offer. Eventhough he might regret it shortly after.
"Well, to confess--as I would to my own mother--I'm broke! And it's nopleasant state of affairs on a long trip like this one, with a lot ofpretty girls wanting to be treated to candy, and other things," growledJimmy.
"Poor dear boy!" sighed Mrs. Alexander, seating herself on the edge ofthe great antique bed, and patting his head. "Don't I understand? Nowlet me be your other mother, for a while, and give you a little spendingmoney. When it is gone, just wink at me and I will know you need more.If there were a _number_ of young men to assume the expenses of treatingthe crowd of girls with you, I wouldn't think of suggesting this. But Iremember that you are but one with a galaxy of beauties who look forentertainment from you."
Thus Mrs. Alexander cleverly managed to induce Jimmy to believe he wasjustified in taking her money, and as she got up to go out, she said:"I'll leave a little roll on the dresser. If you feel able to get up andcome out, you will see that you will feel better for the effort and theair."
So saying, she left a packet under the military brushes on the dresserand, smiling reassuringly at the youth, went out. But she did not leavethe closed door at once; she waited, just outside, until she heard himspring from the bed and rush over to the place where the money had beenleft. Then she nodded her head satisfactorily, and crept downstairs.
Jimmy counted out the notes left for him, and gasped. He hadn't seen somuch money at one time, since the war began! And he felt a sense ofgratitude, then repulsion, to the ingratiating person who thus paid himfor his good-will.
Mr. Fabian and his party were examining the old cathedral, with its twoNorman towers and the western front rich with carvings, without athought of the two they had left at the Inn. Having completed the visitto the edifice, they all returned to see the old inn known as "Moll'sCoffee-house."
"It was at this famous place that many of England's noted people used togather," said Mr. Fa
bian, as they crossed the green. "Sir Walter Raleighwas a frequent visitor here, as well as many historical men."
As they came to the place, they found Mrs. Alexander and Jimmy seated ona worm-eaten bench, chatting pleasantly about the ancient room they werein. But no one knew that the conversation had been suddenly switchedfrom a personal topic, the moment the sight-seers appeared to interruptthe tete-a-tete.
Mrs. Alexander got up and crossed the room to meet the other members inthe party, saying as she came: "I hear how folks used to come here anddrink coffee--and a record is kept of who they were. It must be nice tohave folks remember you after you are gone. I wish someone would say,years after I am dead, 'Mrs. Alexander was in this house, once'."
"A lot of good that would do you, then!" laughed Dodo.
"I was just telling Jimmy that it would be a lot of satisfaction to usall if he became famous and this trip of ours was spoken of in years tocome. He's got a title in the family, you know, and the English think somuch of that! The inn-keeper across the green might be glad to rememberhow Sir Jimmy stopped here when he toured England with his friends fromAmerica."
Everyone laughed at the silly words but Mrs. Alexander was really inearnest. Her imagination had jumped many of the obstacles placed in herway, and she saw herself as Jimmy's mother-in-law and revered as such bythe English public.
During their tete-a-tete at Old Moll's Coffee-house, she had impressedit upon Jimmy's mind, that not a soul was to know about the money. Andshe extracted a promise that he would call upon her for more if heneeded it. Feeling like a cad, still he promised, for he was in direneed of money to be able to appear like a liberal host.
"Well, Jimmy--are you ready to start along the road?" asked Angela,suspicious of this sudden change of front in Jimmy for the obnoxiousrich woman.
"Yes, if Mrs. Alex and everyone else is," agreed he.
"Mrs. Alex?" queried his sister, pointedly.
"Oh yes, folks! Dodo's mother says 'Alexander' is such a lot to say,that she prefers us to cut it to Mrs. Alex. Every one else hasnicknames, so why not nick Alexander?" said Jimmy.
The others laughed, and Mr. Alexander said quaintly: "I always likedthat name Alexander 'cause it made me feel sort of worth while. I mightbe no account in looks, but 'Alexander' gives me back-bone, 'cause Ionly have to remember 'Alexander the Great'!"
His friends laughed heartily and Mr. Fabian said: "What's in a name,when you yourself are such a good friend?"
"Mebbe so, but all the same, I'll miss that name. 'Alex' looks too muchlike a tight fit for my size. But I s'pose it's got to be as the missussays!"
Now the cars sped through the charming country of rural England, withits ever-changing scenes, than which there is nothing more beautiful andpeaceful. Cattle browsed upon the hillocks, tiny hamlets were spotlesslyneat and orderly, the roads were edged with trimmed hedges, and even inthe woods, where wild-plants grew, there was no debris to be found. Itwas all a picture of neatness.
On this drive, the girls were made happy by being able to buy severalpieces of old Wedgwood from the country people. Polly also secured achubby little bowl with wonderful medallions upon its sides, and Eleanorfound a "salt-glaze" pitcher.
"I believe lots of the people in the country, here, will gladly sell oddbits if we only have time to stop and bargain," said Polly, hugging herbowl.
"And lots of them will swear their furniture is genuine antique even ifthey bought it a year ago from an installment firm," laughed Jimmy.
"Oh, they wouldn't do that!" gasped Polly.
"Wouldn't they! Just try it, and see how they rook your pocket-book,"retorted Jimmy.
"Why James Osgood! Where ever did you learn such words--'rook' and thelike?" gasped his sister.
"Oh, I'm going to be a thorough American, now," laughed Jimmy,recklessly. "Mrs. Alex has agreed to take me West with her on herreturn, and let me run a ranch in Colorado."
"What will mother say to that?" wailed Angela, as this was not what shehad hoped for.
"Don't worry, Angela dear," quickly said Mrs. Alexander, soothingly."Jimmy is only joking. I told him about our ranches but I have no ideaof taking him away from England." Neither had she.
At Glastonbury the tourists stopped to see the "Inne of ye Pilgrims"which proved to be very old and most interesting. Here King Henry theVIII and Abbot Whiting's rooms are maintained with the old furnishingsas in that long-past day.
Pictures were taken of the quaint Gothic carving on the front of thebuilding, and then Mr. Fabian led them to inspect the ruined abbey whichKing Arthur favored above all other spots.
As the cars sped over the good hard roads, past little cottages with themost attractive thatched-roofs whose dormer windows were set deep backin the thatch, the tourists were delighted.
"Such lovely little places," sighed Ruth, as she admired the rose-vinesclimbing high upon the roof of a place.
"Just big enough for two!" whispered Jimmy, for his "heart's desire" wasbeside him on the front seat, once more.
"I wonder why American architects do not copy these lovely thatchedroofs for us, more generally," wondered Polly.
"Our climate would not permit them," explained Mr. Fabian. "In England,the damp warm climate seldom changes to bitter cold, and the inmates ofthese cottages live in comparative comfort in the winter. In the States,they'd be frozen out in no time."
Bath was the next stop, and Mr. Fabian sought out the famous Abbey, atonce. But Ruth had come under the spell of Jimmy's ardor again, andremained with him when the others walked away. Mrs. Alexander sensed theplot and also remained behind. But Mr. Alexander called to her when shewould have joined the two young ones.
"See here--don't you go interferin' there. If them two want to keepcomp'ny why should you care?" whispered he.
"They won't, that's all. That young man is for Dodo!"
"Huh! Is that so? Well, don't you think _I_ got something to say in thatcase? Dodo takes who she wants, and no one else!"
"Don't say a word! All you've got to do is to pay the bills! I'm doingthis match-making and you needn't help!" snapped his wife.
As she walked away, the little man nodded his head briskly and muttered:"We'll see! We'll see, missus!"
Mrs. Alexander found she could not beguile the two young folks intodoing anything that included her, so she went towards the Abbey to meetDodo upon her return. When they all came out, Dodo was with Polly andEleanor, but her mother drew her away to one side and had her say.
"What do you s'pose I brought you over here for, Dodo? Not to gaze attumbled down churches or to go nosing about musty old places where queerthings are stuck up for folks to admire. No sir! I brought you here tofind a peer, and now, with the one all ready-made and at hand, you leavehim to Ruth Ashby--a girl not half as good-looking, or rich, as you!"
"See here, Ma," retorted Dodo angrily; "I told you, before, that Ididn't want to marry anyone. Now that I've met Polly and Eleanor, and Iknow how fine a career will be, I am going to go in business, too."
"Not if I know it! And your Pa worth a million dollars!" exclaimed theirate woman.
"Polly and Eleanor are worth a lot of money, too, but that makes workall the pleasanter. You don't have to worry about bread and butter; andyou can travel, or do all the things necessary to perfect yourself inyour profession," explained Dodo.
At that, the mother threw up her hands despairingly, and wailed: "Tothink I should live to see this day! An only child turning against herfond mother!"
"Pooh! You're angry because I won't toddle about and do exactly as yousay about Jimmy and his title," Dodo said, scornfully.
"But he loves you, Dodo, and you are breaking his heart."
Dodo laughed. "He acts like it, doesn't he? Now if you go on this way,Ma, I'll run away and go back to the States. Once I am in New York, I'llstay there and earn my own living."
That silenced her mother. "Oh, Dodo! I never meant you to feel likethat. I'll never mention Jimmy again, if you'll promise me you won'tspeak of business in front of a
nyone else?"
"I'll only promise to do what any sensible girl would do under the samecircumstances, so there!" agreed Dodo. And her mother had to be contentwith that crumb of comfort.
After a good dinner at Bristol, Mr. Fabian sat poring over a road-map,deciding where next to go. While the elders in the party listened tohim, the young folks followed Jimmy's beckoning hand and crept away.They all jumped into the car and he drove off to celebrate the runaway.
That evening Jimmy spent money lavishly, and Angela's suspicions wereconvinced: he had borrowed or taken it from Mrs. Alexander at one oftheir tete-a-tetes. But the girl said nothing; she was sorry for herselfand James, and felt that these despicable rich westerners could easilypart with some of their wealth.
It was past midnight when the merry party returned to the hotel, wheremothers sat up to scold their daughters for such an escapade. Youthlaughed at all such corrections, however, and then ran off to bed.
In the morning, no young member of the party was willing to get up andstart on the road. Hence it was quite late when they got into the carspreparatory to touring again. Just as the signal was given for Jimmy tolead off, an old man ran up, wildly gesticulating.
"E'en hear'n say you folks like odd bits of old stuff. Coom with me andsee my shaup daown in the lane."
Mr. Fabian conversed with the old man for a few moments, and then askedthe others if they cared to stop at the shop as they drove past.Everyone agreed, and the old man was asked to step up on the car anddirect them where to go.
Finally they drew up before a place in the outskirts of Bristol--averitable picture of a place. The one-story structure had its wallspanelled in sections and the plaster of these sections was white-washed.The usual thatched roof and dormer windows topped the building, but theroses rambled so riotously up over the thatch, and greenish moss grew inspots, that the old place had a beautiful appearance.
Mr. Maxton rubbed his hands in delight, as he stood by and heard thecries of admiration from his visitors. He loved the old place and took agreat pride in keeping it looking well.
Then they went indoors, leaving Jimmy and Mr. Alexander in the cars. Thefront room was crowded full of old china, lamps, silver and othercurios, but Mr. Maxton led them directly to the rear room where thefurniture was kept.
"Here be a rale Windsor chair you'll like," said he, moving forward apiece of furniture.
"My, Fabian! It must date back as early as 1690 to 1700," whispered Mr.Ashby, as he examined the crown center of the flat head-rest thatfinished the comb-top at the back.
"It has the twisted upright rails at the back, and the turned rungs thatgo with that period," admitted Mr. Fabian, down upon his knees toexamine the chair.
"Girls, see that seat--scooped out to fit the body, but it is worn thinwith age along its front edge; and even the arms and legs are splintereddown from centuries of hard usage," remarked Mr. Ashby.
While the two men and the dealer were bargaining over the chair, Mrs.Alexander wandered back to the front room. There she found Ruth upon herknees examining a wonderful, old carved chest.
"Isn't this a darling, Mrs. Alex?" exclaimed the girl.
"What is it?" asked the woman, hardly interested.
"Why, it's a fine old wedding-chest with exquisite panels on its frontand sides. The carving, alone, is unusual."
"A wedding chest, eh. What would you use it for?" asked Mrs. Alexander,taking a deeper interest in the article since the girl explained whatthe object was.
"Why, any girl would be glad to start a hope-chest with this," laughedRuth. "I'm going to ask Daddy to buy it for me, if it isn't too costly."
Mrs. Alexander's fears took fire at that suggestive word, "hope-chest,"from Ruth, and she turned instantly to rejoin the dealer in the backroom. He had just finished writing the directions for the shipping ofthe chair he had sold, when she hurried across the room.
"Mr. Maxton, you have a carved chest in the front room. I want to buyit--how much is it?" As she spoke, Mrs. Alexander took a purse out ofher bag and displayed a roll of bills.
The clever dealer saw this opportunity to drive a good bargain, and henamed his figure. Without demur, the lady counted down the money andasked for a receipt.
Meanwhile the others had gone to the front room to see the purchase Mrs.Alexander was making. She had shown no interest in antiques before, sothis must be an exceptional piece to lure her money from her.
"Daddy, do come here and tell me if I may have this old chest?" calledRuth, still waiting beside the carved piece.
Then it became apparent that Ruth had wanted it for herself, but thatMrs. Alexander secured it. Everyone wondered why?
Well pleased with her purchase, the new owner of the chest came from therear room and smiled complacently. Then she spoke to her daughter:"Dodo, when we go to Paris you can fill that old wedding chest with atrooso."
"Oh yes? Whose is it, Ma?" asked the girl.
"Why yours, of course! That's why I got it."
"My very own! for keeps? Or are you only _lending_ it to me?"
"Your very own, deary! I hope you'll pass it along to the noble childrenI long to call my grandchildren, some day," said Mrs. Alexander,sentimentally.
"I thank you, Ma, and I'll put it to the best use I can think of. AndI'll pass it along--oh yes! but I doubt if grandchildren of yours eversee it," laughed Dodo, with a queer look.
"I'm glad you got it, Dodo, because it is a lovely thing," said Ruth tothe fortunate owner, trying to hide her disappointment behind a smile.
"But you paid an outrageous price for it, Mrs. Alex," said Mr. Fabian.
"Twice as much as he would have taken," added Mr. Ashby.
"I don't care what it cost. I'd have given ten times the price to haveit for Dodo," snapped Mrs. Alexander, not feeling the delight she hadanticipated in the purchase.
Just then Mr. Alexander poked his bald head in at the doorway and said:"Ain't you folks most ready to go on?"
"Come here, Ebeneezer! I want you to give that address of the hotel inParis to this Mr. Maxton. I bought a chest for Dodo and he is to ship itthere, so's I can fill it when I arrive," said Mrs. Alexander.
"Have I got the address?" stammered her husband.
"Of course! In that red-covered leather memorandum book."
Mr. Alexander searched in his pockets and finally brought out a littlebook from his inside coat-pocket. He fumbled the pages as he sought forthe needed address, and murmured so that the others could distinctlyhear.
"H--um, what's this? 'Go to the barber's for a clean shave everyday--don't forget.' It ain't that." Then he turned to the next page, andsquinted at the writing.
"'Ne--ver use a knife at table when you eat--only to cut.' It ain't thatpage, nuther."
His wife remonstrated, and he suddenly said: "Wait now--here it 'tis:'Don't go in front of others unless you say 'excuse me.' Don't sit downwith ladies standing.' Wall now, it ain't on that page, either," heremarked, but Mrs. Alexander grew annoyed when she saw the sympatheticsmiles of their companions.
They recognized the "teacher's" rules for their friend, and they feltsorry for his lot in life. Then she snapped out: "Can't you find it inthere, Eben?"
"No, b' gosh! It ain't down. All's I can find is 'don'ts and do's' whatyou told me."
"Give me the book--I'll find it," demanded his wife. "You never _could_read your own writing." And she took the book and quickly turned to thelast page. Then she read off the address to the waiting dealer. Thisdone she thrust the book back at her meek spouse.
"Well now! I never thought to look backwards first! I begun in the frontof the book like I was taught at school," said Mr. Alexander to hiscompanions, in apology for his blunder.
The tourists finally got away from Bristol but they were too late tomake Birmingham that night. So they planned to stop at Gloucester orWorcester, which ever was most convenient.