CHAPTER VI
POSTPRANDIAL CONVERSATIONS
It was a wonderful night. The sun had set in a glory of clouds whileOscar was still endeavoring to fill 'em up. The moon was full and"round as the shield of my fathers." It was very warm with not a breezestirring. Jeffry Tucker drew Nan down on the first fallen log they cameto out of reach of the noise from the pavilion.
"It is fine to be able to leave the city for a while," he said, drawingin deep breaths of mountain air. "And now, Miss Nan Carter, I want youto tell me what was the reason for the S. O. S. that you sent out tome as plain as one pair of eyes can speak to another. I am a very oldfriend of your father, have known him ever since I was a little boy atschool where I looked up to him and admired him as only a little boycan a big one. I see he is in poor health, at least in a nervous state,and I am wondering if there isn't something I can do. I don't want tobutt in--you understand that, don't you? But if I can help, I want to."
And then Nan Carter did just exactly what everybody always did: she tookJeffry Tucker into her confidence and told him all of the troubles ofthe family. He listened attentively.
"I see! The rent from the house in Richmond is the only income you candepend upon just now, and your mother wants to live at home again andhave Miss Douglas make her debut in state. She has given up college forlack of funds, but she is to make her debut instead--a much moreexpensive pastime, I fancy. What does your father say?"
"Oh, that is the terrible part of it! We don't want anyone to appeal tofather--he is sure to say that mother must do just as she chooses. Healways has said that and he thinks that he is put on earth just togratify mother's every wish. Mr. Tucker, please don't think mother isselfish--it isn't that--she is just inexperienced."
"Certainly not! Certainly not!" But that gentleman crossed his fingersand quickly possessed himself of a bit of green leaf, which was theTucker twins' method, as children, when they made a remark with a mentalreservation, the remark for politeness and the mental reservation fortruth.
"You see, if father begins to think that mother wants things that itwill take more money to buy, he will go back to work, and Dr. Wrightsays that nothing but a complete rest will cure him--rest and noworries."
"Can't Dr. Wright have a plain talk with your mother and explain mattersto her?"
"Ye-e-s, but there is a kind of complication there, too. You see, Dr.Wright had a horrid time at first trying to beat it into us that fatherwas in a bad way. Helen kicked against his diagnosis like I don't knowwhat, treated Dr. Wright mighty badly. He was fine about it and sopatient that by and by Helen came to her senses, and began toappreciate all he had done for father, and she and Dr. Wright are realgood friends. Now Helen is siding with mother and thinks that whatevermother wants to do she should do. She even wants Douglas to go to WhiteSulphur with mother for several weeks, right now in our very busiestseason."
Mr. Tucker could not help laughing at the child by his side, soseriously discussing the trials of her family and now talking abouttheir busiest season like some veteran hotel keeper.
"White Sulphur would mean an added expense, too," he suggested.
"Of course, and Helen says she will take her share of the summer'searnings and send mother. Helen is very generous and very impulsive,with no more idea of saving for winter than a grasshopper."
"This is what I take it you want me to do: make your mother change hermind about going to White Sulphur and decide of her own accord that thiswinter it would be a mistake to bring Miss Douglas out to make her bowbefore Richmond society."
"Exactly! Oh, Mr. Tucker, if you only could without having father evenknow that mother is not having everything she wants!"
"I'll do my best. I may have to take Dr. Wright into consultation beforeI get through. Already a plan is surging in my brain."
"Let's fly back to the pavilion then and you start to work!"
Nan forgot to be shy in her eagerness to thank Mr. Tucker for hisinterest in their affairs and her hurry to get him launched in theundertaking of coercing her mother without that little lady's knowledge.She wondered if she had spoken too plainly about Dr. Wright and Helen.Nan was sentimental, as one of her poetic nature would be apt to be, andthe budding romance that she thought she could spy springing up betweenDr. Wright and her sister, far be it from her to blight. She felt sureDr. Wright would feel it to be his duty to protect his patient frommental worry, but she was also sure that Helen would be quite impatientif Dr. Wright ventured to criticize her mother. What a relief it was tohave unbosomed herself to this dear, kind Mr. Tucker, who understood herso readily and still did not seem to think her poor little mother wasselfish or silly! (The crossing of fingers and holding something greenhad escaped her notice.)
"I won't tell Douglas I have said anything to him," she promisedherself. "It would be difficult to explain that I caught his eye at thesupper table and he divined that I was in trouble. That is the truth,though, no matter how silly it sounds."
She wondered what the plan was that had begun to surge but shedetermined to leave it to Mr. Tucker. That gentleman, whatever his ideaof attack, did not immediately approach her mother but made his way tothe middle of the pavilion where he awaited his chance to break in on adance with Page Allison, his daughters' friend.
"She may be part of his plan! Who knows? At any rate, I believe he isgoing to get us out of the trouble somehow."
As Douglas and Lewis left the pavilion they took the path straight upthe mountain. "Let's go this way and shake the crowd for a littlewhile," suggested Lewis.
"But we mustn't be long. Helen will have too much entertaining to do.We can't get it out of our heads that we must treat these boarders asthough we were having a house-party."
"Well, I reckon that's the reason you have been so successful. I haveheard some of the fellows say that they never hear the chink of coinhere. It really seems like a house-party."
"I am so glad, but I am glad of the chink of coin, too."
"But, Douglas, I did not bring you out here to talk about boarders andcoin--I have got something else to say. Bill and I have just beenwaiting until Cousin Robert and Cousin Annette got back because wecouldn't leave you without any protection----"
"Leave us! Oh, Lewis!"
"Do you mind really, Douglas?"
"Mind? Why, I can't tell you how much I mind!"
"We know we have no business staying here indefinitely and we feel wemust get to work. We are going to enlist for the Mexican border. We havegot over our grouch against Uncle Sam for firing us from West Point andnow that he needs us, we are determined to show him we are ready toserve him in any capacity. You know we are right, don't you?"
"Ye-e-s, but----"
By that time Lewis had taken possession of Douglas' hands and with avoice filled with emotion, he said:
"I can't bear to leave you, but now Cousin Robert is here he will makeit safe for you. I have tried to help some----"
"Oh, and you have! We couldn't have done a thing without you and Bill."
"I don't know about that. I believe there is no limit to what you Cartergirls can do--but, Douglas--honey--before I go to Mexico--I--I justhave to tell you how much I love you. I don't mean like a cousin--I'mnot such close kin to you after all--I mean I love you so much that thethought of leaving you is agony. You knew all the time that it was nocousin business, didn't you, Douglas?"
"Why, Lewis, I never thought of such a thing. You are almost like mybrother," and Douglas devoutly wished the moon would hurry up and getbehind a big black cloud that was coming over the mountain.
"Brother much! I'm not the least little bit like a brother. Bill's gotsisters and I don't believe he is bothering about leaving them one-tenthas much as he is leaving Tillie Wingo. Why, honey, ever since I canremember I have been meaning to get you to marry me when we both grewup. Of course, I can't ask you to marry me now as I haven't a piece ofprospect and will have to enlist in the ranks and work up, but I mean towork up fast and be so steady that I'll be a lieutenant before Carranzaa
nd Villa can settle their difficulty. Won't you be engaged to me soI'll have something to work for until I can see you again?"
"Engaged to you! Why, Lewis, I--I--how can I be when it is so sudden?You never told me before that you cared for me the least little bit."
"Told you before! Ye Gods and little fishes! I've been telling you forpretty near eighteen years."
"Well, I never heard you!"
"Why don't you say you don't give a hang for me and let me go?"
"But, Lewis, I give a whole lot of hangs for you and I don't want you togo."
"Oh, I know the kind of hangs you give: just this brother and sisterbusiness," and the young man dropped the girl's hands.
Douglas felt like crying, but Lewis was so absurd she had to laugh. Whattime had she to think about getting engaged? She felt as though thewhole world rested on her young shoulders. Here was her mother wantingher to make a debut, and Helen wanting to spend on a silly trip thepitiful little money they had begun to save from their boarding camp.And now Lewis Somerville and Bill Tinsley, the brawn and sinew of theirundertaking, suddenly deciding that they must enlist and hike out forthe Mexican border!
"We must go back to the pavilion," she said wearily. Her voice soundedvery tired and she stumbled a little as she turned to go down the path.
"Now, Douglas, I have distressed you," and Lewis was all thoughtfulnessand consideration. "I didn't mean to, honey--I just want you to say youlove me the way I love you."
"And I can't say it, because I never thought of your caring for me inany different way. You are the best friend I have in the world."
"Well, that is something and I am going to keep on being it. Maybe whenI come back from Mexico you will think differently. You will write tome, won't you?"
"Why, of course I will, Lewis! Haven't I always written to you?"
"Douglas, don't you think you could love me a little?"
"But, Lewis, I do love you a whole lot!"
"But I mean be engaged to me?"
"Lewis Somerville, would you want me to be engaged to you when you knowperfectly well that I have never thought of you except as the very bestfriend I've got in the world, and if not as a brother, at least as acousin who has been almost like a brother? If I did engage myself toyou, you wouldn't have the least bit of respect for me and you know youwouldn't; would you?"
But Lewis would not answer. He just drew her arm in his and silently ledher back to the pavilion. The big cloud had made its way in front of themoon and he took advantage of the darkness to kiss her hand, but he wasvery gentle and seemingly resigned to the brother business that he hadso scorned. His youthful countenance was very sad and stern, however, ashe turned and made his way to the tent that he shared with Bill andBobby.
Bill Tinsley and Tillie Wingo, too, were walking on the mountainside,Bill as silent as the grave but in a broad grin while Tillie kept up heraccustomed chatter. It flowed from her rosy lips with no more effortthan water from a mountain spring.
"Do you know, Mr. Tinsley, that I have danced out five dresses thissummer? As for shoes! If Helen had not given me some of her slippers, Iwould be barefooted this minute. I don't mind this rough dressing in theday time, but I must say when evening comes I like to doll up. I believeMrs. Carter feels the same way. Isn't that a lovely dress she has onthis evening? There is no telling what it cost. If their mother can buysuch a frock as that, I think it is absurd for the girls to be workingso hard--and believe me, they are some workers. Now, I'm real practicaland know how to dress on very little and, if I do say it that shouldn't,I bet there is not a girl in Richmond who makes a better appearance onas little money as I spend, but I know what things cost--you can't foolme--and I'm able to tell across the room that that filmy lace effectthat Mrs. Carter is sporting set her back a good seventy-five."
"Whew!" from Bill.
"Easy, seventy-five, I say, and maybe more! It would take a lot ofweek-enders to pay for it and I bet she no more thinks about it thanshe does about the air she breathes. Now she wants to bring Douglasout and you know she wouldn't be willing to let her come out like apoor girl--no sirree! Douglas would have to have all kinds of clothesand all kinds of parties. She would have to come out in a blaze ofglory if her mother has a finger in it. Girls who come out that waydon't have such a lot on the ones who just quietly crawl out--like Idid, f'instance. I just quietly crawled--you could not call itcoming----"
Here Bill gave one of his great laughs, breaking his vow of silence. Atleast it seemed as though he must have made such a vow as through all ofTillie's chatter he had uttered not one word more than the "Whew" overMrs. Carter's extravagance. The picture of Tillie's quietly crawlinggot the better of his risibles.
"You needn't laugh! I can assure you I came out in home-made clothes andduring the entire winter I had not one thing done for me to push me insociety--not a cup of tea was handed in my name. One lady did put mycard in some invitations she got out, trying to relaunch a daughterwho had been out for three seasons and gone in again, but she had aninconvenient death in the family and had to recall the invitations; soI got no good of it after all. Not that I cared--goodness no! I had allthe fun there was to have and I'm still having, although I'm not able tokeep in the swim, giving entertainments and what not. Of course, I wasnot included in select luncheons and dinner dances and the like. Thoseexpensive blowouts are given with a view of returning all kinds ofobligations or of putting people in your debt so you are included intheirs--but I got to all the big things and got there without the leastwire-pulling or working. Of course, I did get to some of the smallthings because I was run in a lot as substitute when some girl droppedout. I wasn't proud and did not mind in the least being second or thirdchoice. People who never entertain need not expect to be on the originallist. I just took a sensible view of the matter. I tell you, if a girlwants to have a good time she's got no business with a chip on hershoulder. Society is a give-and-take game and if you are poorish andwant to get without giving, you've got to be willing to do a lot in theway of swallowing your pride. At least, I had no slights offered mewhere the dancing men were concerned. I made every german and that issomething many a rich debutante can't say for herself."
Tillie paused for breath and then Bill opened his mouth to speak, butthe loquacious Tillie got in before he could begin and he had to wait.
"Now I believe Douglas would have lots of attention even if her motherdid nothing to help on, but Mrs. Carter would enjoy having a daughter insociety more than a daughter would enjoy being there, I believe, andshe would be entertaining and spending money from morning until night.Of course, Lewis Somerville would be lots of help as he would standready to take Douglas anywhere that she did not get a bid from someother man----"
"But Lewis'll be gone," broke in Bill.
"Gone! Nonsense! Now that he is out of West Point I'll be bound he willjust dance attendance on Douglas. He is dead gone on her. That helps alot in a girl's first year: to have a devoted--that is, if he is notsilly jealous."
"He'll be gone."
"Gone where?"
"Mexican border!"
"But he is out of soldiering."
"Both of us enlisting!" Tillie was absolutely silenced for a moment andBill went on: "See here, Miss Wingo, Tillie! I'd be glad if youwould--if--I'm stuck on you for sure."
"Oh, come off! You know you think I'm the silliest ever."
"I think you are about the prettiest, jolliest ever. I wish you wouldlet me go off to Mexico engaged to you. It would make it lots easier towork and I mean to work like a whole regiment and make good. Won't you,Tillie?"
"Well, I don't care if I do. You are a fine dancer and I think a heap ofyou, Bill. I'd rather keep it dark, though, if you don't mind, as itqueers a girl's game sometimes if she gets engaged."
"Lord, no! I don't mind just so I know it myself," and the happy Billenfolded his enamorata in his arms, although she carefully admonishedhim not to crush her new dress.
"I never dreamed you were thinking about me seriously," she confesse
d asshe emerged from his embrace.
"Honest? Been dotty about you ever since you took me for a jitney driverand tipped me a quarter. Got it yet."
"Look how dark it is! I believe we are going to have a storm. What agreat black cloud! Let's hurry, as I have no idea of getting my frockwet."
Hurry they did and reached the pavilion just as great drops began tofall. Bill was in a state of happy excitement over his engagement,although it was something he must keep to himself. He felt like shoutingit on the housetops, but instead he gave one of his great laughs thatstartled Mrs. Carter so she stopped dancing and hunted up Bobby.
"It sounded like bears and lions," she declared, "and I felt uneasyabout my baby."
She found that youngster fast asleep cuddled up in his father's arms,the father looking very happy and peaceful. Robert Carter felt quitelike a little child himself with his great girls taking care of him.