CHAPTER XX
AT THE SUBSIDENCE OF THE WATERS
THANKSGIVING day was a white day. It had rained in the night, freezingas it rained, and in the morning the sun came up glorious behind thelow-lying line of the most distant mountains, turning the world ofice-incrusted boughs and fields into a prismatic land of marvelouscolor and brilliancy.
Long before the sun came to work the transformation of an every dayland into fairyland, Happie was restlessly awake, longing for risingtime. Her thoughts flew to Rosie, who had taken the tidings of thenight before with such gravity that Happie suspected that the returnof her employers to town meant more serious trouble to that goodwoman than they had dreamed--indeed they had all expected her ratherto rejoice in their good fortune as she had heretofore rejoiced andsympathized with whatever happened to them.
Happie had not lain long awake before she heard Rosie moving about inthe kitchen, getting ready for the inevitable cleaning without whichshe could not have kept a feast, and for which she was undoubtedlygoing to get her baking out of the way before day had fairly begun. Thelast stars were still visible and the world was dark, but Happie creptout from sleeping Margery's side to go down and join Rosie, with theintent to find out, if she could, why she had looked so troubled at theidea of "the Archaics" going away.
"My days, Happie, you scared me!" Rosie said, facing about with a jumpas the girl came softly into the kitchen. "I sent Mahlon out to do hisbarn work; I thought I'd git him out from under foot, and I'd have hisbreakfast ready till he got through."
"How did you manage to wake up so early?" asked Happie. "I heard youdown here, I believe while I was half awake and half asleep, and it'sonly five now."
"I've been awake since two," said Rosie. "I got to sleep, then I wokeup and went to thinkin', and I hain't been able to git to sleep again."
"What is it, Rosie? You seem troubled," said Happie going close to thegaunt woman and lifting her pretty face coaxingly. "Won't you tellme--just me?"
Rosie looked at her favorite, and her hard, work-worn face softened;she was not used to wheedling, but she found it pleasant.
"My days, Happie," she said. "It's nothin' new! Only what you told melast night kinder showed it to' me over again."
"Please tell me, Rosie," coaxed Happie, catching a discouraged notein brisk Rosie's voice. She drew one arm over the bony shoulders asshe spoke, and laid her blooming cheek close to Rosie's drab one. Thelamplight fell on her hair, bringing out its reddish tints, and Rosielooked at her uncertainly, and then looked away. It was most unnaturalfor Rosie to be uncertain, and Happie drew her a little closer."Please, Rosie!" she whispered.
"Well, you see what Mahlon is!" Rosie said violently, as if somethinghad given way within her and she must speak. "You kin see just what heis. I hain't never had no help keepin' things together, and it has binsleddin' uphill on bare ground--with a good load on yet!--ever sinceI got married--like a ninny! I had to farm, and do housework, and doeverything else, inside and out, and lose my children----"
She stopped with a sob, and Happie kissed her. "Don't, Rosie!" shebegged. "You must be happy on Thanksgiving Day!"
"Yes, and I have been kinder takin' heart lately, thinkin' I wasgittin' on good here, makin' money easier than I had to work when I waslosin' it, yet! And here the other day I had an offer fer my place,good offer too. I was ready to jump at it, but it don't do to let folksknow you're willin' to sell right off when they want to buy, or they'llthink there's somethin' wrong. So I told the man I'd see once and lethim know after I'd thought it over a good bit. This was 'most a monthsince, and I was thinkin' maybe I'd tell him I'd sell--he sent overto know if I hadn't about made up my mind, and of course I knew rightoff I'd be lucky to git eight hundred dollars fer that there place,which was what he offered. I'd got it all planned how I'd put it outto interest somewheres and live on here with your folks, and when theygot sick of keepin' Mahlon, he could go off somewheres else to work,but I'd stay with them as long's they'd have me. And I felt pretty surethat'd be quite a spell, because we git along good together. And nowthis has happened yet, and you're all goin' off next week!"
"I don't see why that makes you so discouraged," Happie began.
"You don't? Well, I do," said Rosie almost fiercely. "There hain't manyplaces up here to be had to work out. I can't sell my place now; I'vegot to go back and work it. I hain't complainin' nor blamin' nobody;it's the same kinder luck I've had right along, and I mighter knowed itwasn't goin' to change so sudden."
Happie's face had brightened as she listened, while Rosie's had flushedand grown more cloudy. She turned away as she ceased speaking, drew theback of her hand across her eyes and said snappishly: "I can't foolaway any more time, Happie. What's the use of gittin' up by dark andfoolin' away the whole mornin' yet?"
Happie paid no attention to these last remarks. She got both armsaround poor discouraged Rosie and held her fast, forcing her to look inher face.
"Rosie, listen!" she cried. "After we left you last night, and Pollyand Penny were asleep, all we old folks sat around the fire ratherlate talking over our plans. Ralph and Snigs say that their motherwould be glad to let us take back our apartment, if we would, forshe doesn't need it any more, and Aunt Keren has found our roomfor the great experiment. So on the first of the month--no, that'sSaturday,--but next week, the first week in December, we are all goingback, we Scollards, to our Patty-Pans, and Aunt Keren to her house.It is really wonderful, when you think of it, that Gretta owns thisfarm, that we found the will, for though of course our plans wouldinclude her in any case, still having this she is able to do somethingin return for Aunt Keren--and through her for us--and that makes her alot happier, and everything better all 'round. We all agreed last nightthat we had grown tremendously fond of the Ark, and that we should feeldreadfully not to come back to it. We've got to go back to New York,because, you see, we have to earn our living just as much as you have,but we are coming up here every summer, Aunt Keren and all of us--weScollards. Aunt Keren says wild horses shouldn't drag her back to herhotel life summers since she has tasted the independence and privacyof her--or what was her--old farm. Of course we may not be able tocome too, but that's the plan. We're going to open a tea-room--but youknow all about that! We may not be able to leave town, but I guess weshall--in instalments, anyhow. Now don't you see, you dear, worryingRosie you, that there will have to be some one here to take care ofthe Ark, 'put out the garden,' as you say up here, and farm the place,not to mention having the house open and the dear Ark dry and sweetand clean when we all come home in the summer? Aunt Keren--and Gretta,because it is her house and she had to consent--that's a joke, Rosie,because Gretta's half crazy with joy over the whole thing!" Happieinterrupted herself to say hastily, lest Rosie be hurt--"Aunt Keren isgoing to ask you if you would be willing to stay on here at the samepay as now, taking care of the place summers and winters, with andwithout us; you and Mahlon too, of course. Then, if you really can sellyour place, why I know Aunt Keren will get her business man to investyour money for you at the best interest, and you'll be better off thanif we had not gone away--though I really don't see what you'll do withno children to bother you, for you won't have any excuse for so muchcleaning! I suppose I ought to have left this for Aunt Keren to tellyou, but I couldn't let you fret one moment longer, when a word wouldstop it--though I have said more than one word, now haven't I? Kissme, Rosie, and tell me that you think you have good reason to keepThanksgiving Day in its full meaning after all!" Happie ended her long,breathless speech with a gay little laugh into Rosie's face, as shethrust her own forward insinuatingly.
"I guess!" said Rosie, and she kissed Happie with a warmth thatnothing had called forth in the lonely woman since the last littlegrave had been made in the Methodist churchyard. Then she turned away,unaccustomed to betrayal of feeling, and embarrassed by it.
"My days, Happie! look how light it's gittin'!" she said. "I don'thardly need that lamp. And if there don't come Mahlon
back already! Itold him I'd have his breakfast ready till he got through, and I hain'thardly started it. Why, you're all shiverin' cold, child! This kitchenhain't been as cold a mornin' this season as 'tis this one. You hain'tused to bein' up so early. You go back to bed and take a nap; it wantstwo good hours till breakfast. Or would you rather go into the room andlie down? I'll make a fire there if you want me to."
"I couldn't go back to bed; I couldn't sleep much last night myself,but not because I was worrying like you; because I was so excited andhappy," said Happie. "You needn't stop to make a fire for me; I'm sowarm inside I don't feel the cold, even if I do shiver. So are you allwarm and happy inside, aren't you, Rosie?" she added wishing to befully assured of Rosie's holiday state of mind.
"I guess!" Rosie said again, but with a smile so cheerful that Happiewas satisfied. "As to the fire," continued philosophic Rosie, "it'sgot to be made, so you might as well have the good of it as to waitaround shiverin' for a particular time to be comfortable."
Right after breakfast the Scollards bore off Ralph and Snigs to thesmall skating pond which had been made by damming the brook. Gretta,who could skate far better than the Scollard girls, begged to beallowed to stay at home to help with the preparation of dinner. "Ifit's my house, and the boys are my first guests I think I belong here,"she argued. And nobody could gainsay her argument.
The skaters came home cold and glowing and ravenously hungry fromtheir sport, and from a walk over roughened fields and roads, in whichalternate thawing and freezing had made ruts that lifted one foot up ona ridge while its mate came down emphatically in a hole that gave itsowner a jarring surprise. But the air was so bright, the long vistas ofcountry revealed by the bare trees so splendid that it was well worthwhile "tramping on the bias," as Ralph said.
How pretty the low-ceiled library looked as the party came into it!The fire crackled on the hearth, warming one through the sense ofsight almost as much as through the sense of feeling. Pictures, prettycasts, books--which seemed to follow the inmates of the Ark into everyroom, like faithful favorites, not relegated to one special place--allcontributed to make this a totally different room from the dreary,musty one into which Bob and Happie had despondently peered on thatnight of their arrival, half a year ago.
And there by that cheery hearth sat Mrs. Scollard, safe and well!Polly and Penny beside her, plump as pigeons and hardily browned. AndDundee in holiday array of a big blue bow, and Jeunesse Doree, by thistime thoroughly reconciled to the collie, quite as magnificent in agrass green ribbon, setting off his yellow fur.
"My, but it's nice here; better even than in summer!" cried Ralph,dropping down in the chair opposite Mrs. Scollard and stretching outhis long legs in just the same sort of appreciation of the heat thatthe dog and the cat showed. "I don't believe I care about going back totown next week, and I don't see how you can look the Patty-Pan prospectcalmly in the face. I believe I'll get Gretta to sell me her farm andturn gentleman farmer after I finish college--if ever I do!"
"More than doubtful," agreed Bob. "See here, Ralph, you can't bask!We've been informed on the reliable authority of our hostess thatturkey's almost ready for the table, and our dressing isn't anythinglike done, though his is. You straighten up those long legs of yoursand stand up on them, and steer them straight up-stairs to wash up!"
"I wonder," began Polly thoughtfully, as Ralph obeyed the first twoof these four orders with a groan, "I wonder if your mother goes awayto-day, and you boys are here, if Whoop-la will have any Thanksgiving."
"Were you going down on the afternoon train to feed him, little LadyBountiful?" asked Ralph. Polly was his especial favorite of the lesserScollards. "Be at rest; mother was not going until noon, and Whoop-lais provided for, amply. I think mother would not have any Thanksgivingherself, rather than neglect her cat."
"I always liked your mother," said Polly seriously.
"You can bank on mother's taking care of the weak," assented Ralph, ashe joined Snigs and Bob in the hall.
"Boys, boys!" called Gretta ten minutes later, making herself heardwith difficulty above the shouts of laughter from Bob's room. "Boys!"
"M'am!" responded Bob leaning over the balustrade, his face scarletfrom the sharp winds of the morning, supplemented by a brisk rubbing.
"They told me to call you; dinner's ready," said Gretta.
"Told you! Who told you? What makes you take orders; aren't you theHead of the House? We'll be down with the speed of three, Gretta," saidBob disappearing.
"Mr. Gordon," said Happie, "you will please take in Miss Bradbury.Mr. Charles Gordon will take in Mrs. Scollard. Mr. Scollard will beso good as to offer his arm to the Head of the House. Miss Scollardescorts Miss Penelope, Miss Laura Scollard takes in Miss Mary, whileMiss Keren-happuch Scollard finds her way in as well as she can alone,following the trail. Mr. Gordon, Miss Bradbury, will please proceed."
"Doesn't the Honorable Keren-happuch mean precede?" suggested Ralphblandly.
"She means both; they will proceed to precede," said Happie. Which theydid at once.
Jake Shale's turkey, which nearly collided with the procession, bornealoft by Rosie, was a credit to the Keystone State. Its brownedbreast-bone arose from the snowy platter like a Pennsylvanian mountainridge from the snow. Miss Keren spanned it with the tines of hercarving fork, and laid off breast and side bone slices with a speed andskill that struck even the uncritical younger portion of her family aslittle less than marvellous.
"Gracious, Aunt Keren, how nice you can cut it up!" exclaimed Penny, inhungry appreciation.
"We call it carving, my dear," smiled Miss Keren. "My father had nosons, and he insisted that each of his daughters should learn to carvewithout a mistake. He taught us to carve the entire bird without onceremoving our fork, and when we were done there must not be any raggedplaces, nor torn joints. He considered carving, good whist playing,and a few other like accomplishments, part of the education of agentlewoman."
"Then I can never be a gentlewoman," said Polly, sadly. "My armswouldn't let me carve so well, and I'd be too fat to keep my fork inand reach all around it without moving it lots of times."
The others laughed. "Never mind, Polly; maybe you can feed the turkeys,while somebody else carves them," suggested Happie consolingly.
"I'd much rather," said Polly with her unfailing seriousness.
Such a turkey as it proved to be, so succulent, so toothsome, withsuch a flavor! Then Rosie's vegetables were so very good, and sointemperately abundant! Mrs. Scollard had made the mince pies after arecipe which had come down to her from a long line of colonial dames,her ancestors, and their crusts flaked and flew in a way that spokevolumes for the amount of butter the farm cows allowed her to use. Thenuts were hickory and chestnuts, grown and gathered on the farm--howcould the best intentioned help overeating? And that sort of indulgenceis more than excusable on the Day of Gratitude.
"I guess we're done for for the rest of the afternoon," observed Snigsat the end of the feast as he dropped his last nut shell, denuded ofmeat, on his plate. "I've got my watch out of my vest pocket--wanted tosee how long we'd been here--and now I can't get it back again."
Bob and Ralph shouted, but Snigs had not meant to be funny, merely tostate a fact proving how fully he had done his duty by the institutionsof his country--turkey and Thanksgiving Day.
Happie's lips were moving rapidly, and her face, already flushed, grewvery red.
"Hapsie's in the throes," announced Bob. "Let's have it, Hap! Shealways looks like that when the Muse has grappled with her."
"Wait a minute! No, I didn't mean that! I wasn't going to repeatanything; I was only----"
"Improvising! We know, and you don't mind us, Happie," said Ralph."Domesticated minor poets often put others in a less minor key--notthat we are not reasonably cheerful! Let her go, Happie!"
Thus elegantly encouraged, and at an imploring touch on her foot fromGretta, who dearly loved to display Happie's talents, Happie favoredthe company with the following effusion:
"I'd rather dine with Barmecide, Where food and drink were not supplied, Than have my belt so very tight, And black specks bobbing in my sight, And feel I never more could care For more than bread and water fare."
There was general applause for this humble poem, which Snigs feelinglyand briefly endorsed by the words: "Same here!"
"That's rather an ungrateful ode for Thanksgiving Day, Happie," saidMargery. "You ought to be thankful for all that you've received, andnot openly announce your preference for Barmecide feasts."
"I am thankful for all that I have received, but not for all that Ihave taken, Peggy," said Happie quickly, with her mischievous flash ofher eye.
"There certainly is a difference in that distinction," said Miss Keren,smiling affectionately at her namesake.
Dundee thrust his nose into Bob's hand, hitching up closer to theboy's side without rising, thumping the floor all the while with hisbeautiful tail.
"Dundee says he is ready to risk over-eating, just in honor of the dayand custom," said Bob. "Old beauty! He'll miss us."
"Only to be the more glad to see us when we come back," said MissKeren. "He and Don Dolor will be comfortable in Rosie's hands."
"But I'm glad we can take Jeunesse Doree back with us," said Polly,giving the golden cat an especially tender bit of turkey breast inresponse to his dainty paw-pat on her arm.
"Well regulated families don't feed their animals at table, so mymother's aunt always says when we feed Whoop-la. I've always been gladI wasn't a well regulated family," said Ralph. "Here, Penny; I savedthis piece for Doree." He offered Penny a bit of meat, seeing hercrestfallen expression that she had not saved anything for the kitten,as Polly had done.
"Ralph, you are a truly nice boy!" exclaimed Happie approvingly. Ralphhad grown tall and manly during these six months; the responsibility ofmaking his way through college, the plans for the future with whichhis mind was filled, were adding gravity and maturity to his manner,but he never forgot, nor failed to understand the feelings of thelittle children.
"A week from to-day we shall all be back in New York, each in our ownPatty-Pan," said Ralph, acknowledging Happie's remark with a low bow,its mock deference not concealing the pleasure he felt.
"Not all of us," said Miss Keren, looking up at Rosie with a smile thatconveyed her sense of that good woman's claim on remembrance.
Rosie swooped down on six plates which she gathered into a pile with anemphasis that meant emotion, but not disrespect.
"My days, it hain't worth talkin' about; you'll be back here in notime," she said. "Just see how quick the summer's went!"
With that she whisked herself out of the room; in reality the comingsix months appeared tedious to Rosie. She thrust her head into the roomagain, through a very small opening of the door. "You needn't think Ihain't goin' to miss you," she added. "But I guess I've got about themost to be thankful fer of any of you. Miss Bradbury, the coffee'salmost all; I've only got enough fer breakfast, so don't you fergit itto-morrow mornin', if I do." With which Rosie again disappeared.
"We have enough to be thankful for, all of us," said Mrs. Scollard,looking lovingly at Miss Bradbury.
"Indeed we have!" said Margery softly, with that new expression on herface, as if she had a secret too sweet to share.
"Motherums' health would be enough, if there were nothing else," saidHappie.
"But I have most of all!" said Gretta unexpectedly. "I have a home,and--best of all--I have Happie!"
"We all reckon her among our chief assets, Gretta," said Bob. "It willbe a jolly crowd that goes back to old Gotham next week. Only thinkwhat a difference from the way we came here!"
"Well, Bob," said Miss Keren, "I don't think any one has done more thanyou have towards the success of our experiment, and I'm thoroughlyappreciative of the fact."
"Patty-Pans and green fields!" cried Happie. "Take them alternatelyevery six months; health, happiness and wisdom guaranteed."
"Right you are, Hapsie!" cried Bob, flushed by Miss Bradbury's praise.
Penny leaned over the table, resting her elbows on it unblushingly, andpropping up her little brown dimpled face in her hands.
"I'm very, very glad," she said.
"What about, Pfennig?" asked Ralph, wondering.
"Everyfing," said Penny, in a true Thanksgiving spirit.