CHAPTER XIII
AN UNWELCOME LETTER
The week at the Dorrance Domain passed all too quickly, in the opinionof the happy young people.
There was so much to do, and every day seemed to bring new pleasures.The weather was of the most beautiful June variety, and the lake was assmooth as glass and most pleasant to ride upon.
One day they all went out in rowboats, and called themselves a regatta.Another day, Captain Kane took them all for a sail in the _Mamie Mead_.
But perhaps the nicest outing of all, was the day they had a picnic onthe floating bridge. They carried their luncheon, and camped out on thebridge to eat it. Mr. Bill Hodges was delighted to grant them permissionto do this, and brought them some fruit from his store as an addition totheir feast.
"It's the strangest thing," said Edith Putnam, "to be on the land and onthe water at the same time. Here we are, sitting on what seems to begood solid grass and earth; and yet if you dug a hole in it, you'dstrike the lake right away."
"You'd strike logs first," corrected Jack Harris; "but if you boredthrough the logs you'd come to the water."
"It's perfectly lovely to feel the little swaying motion," said MayLewis, who in her quiet way was greatly enjoying the novel experiences."I shall hate to go back to the city. How I envy you, Lilian, with awhole summer of this before you."
"But you're going away with your mother, next month, aren't you?"
"Yes; but we'll be cooped up in one or two little rooms at some seashoreplace; it is very different from having a whole hotel all to yourself."
"Indeed it is," said Dorothy; "we certainly did the wisest thing when wecame up here this summer. And now that Kathleen is here, I have almostnothing to do in the kitchen, and the rest of the housework that I dohave to look after is so light that I don't mind it a bit."
"That's because you're so clever," said Edith, sighing; "you'resystematic and orderly, and have everything arranged just so. I don'tsee how you do it. I should forget half the things, and get the otherhalf all mixed up."
"I believe you would," said Dorothy, laughing. "And I did get somewhatmixed up at first. But I learned by experience, and besides I was just_determined_ that I would succeed. Because I proposed the whole scheme,and of course, I wanted it to be a success."
"And it is a success," returned Edith; "and you have made it so. Youhave lots of perseverance in your nature, Dorothy."
"It's nice of you to call it by that name," said Dorothy; "but I thinkit's just stubbornness. I've always been stubborn."
"We all are," said Leicester; "it's a Dorrance trait. Grandmother hasn'tmuch of it, but Grandfather Dorrance was a most determined oldgentleman."
"There's only one thing that's bothering me, about our good times," saidDorothy. "And that is, that grandma can't enjoy them as much as we do.She doesn't care about going in the boats, and she can't take the longwalks that we can."
"It would be nice if you had a horse," said May; "then she could go fora drive sometimes."
"That would be lovely," agreed Dorothy; "but I know we couldn't affordto buy a horse. We haven't very much money. That's the main reason wecame up here, because grandma said we couldn't afford to go to theplaces we used to go to."
"But you might hire a horse," suggested Jack; "you have a barn."
"Yes, there is a small barn," said Leicester. "I think it would be greatto hire a horse; that wouldn't cost much, Dot."
"No," said Dorothy, "I don't believe it would. But who'd take care ofthe horse, and who'd drive grandma around?"
"Why, I can drive," said Leicester, "or if grandma wouldn't trust me,Mr. Hickox could drive her. He could take care of the horse, too."
"It's a good idea," said Dorothy; "let's go and ask Mr. Hodges about itnow; he always knows about things of that sort."
The whole crowd scrambled to their feet, and ran gaily towards Mr.Hodges' place. They were not surprised, when he declared he had just thething for them. A fat, amiable old horse, who was well accustomed to thesteep mountain roads, and guaranteed perfectly safe; also a lightroad-wagon that would hold four, and that was very easy and comfortable.He would rent them this turn-out for ten dollars a week, and he declaredthat they would find it most convenient; not only for pleasure drives,but for going to market or other errands. Indeed, he said, that theproprietor who had last tried to run the hotel, had engaged that horsefor the season.
It struck Dorothy as a good plan; and being always quick at decisions,she agreed then and there to take the horse and carriage for a week,saying she felt sure that Grandma Dorrance would approve.
Leicester said he would drive it home, and any of the girls who wishedto, could go with him, the rest going back in the boats. Dorothy saidshe would go with him, as she wanted to tell grandma about it herself.
As Fairy expressed a great desire to ride behind the new horse, she andGladys were tucked in the back seat, and they started off.
Such a ride as it was. The hills were very steep, "perfectlyperpendickle," Fairy called them, and if the old horse had not knownjust how to walk on the mountain roads, accidents might very easily havehappened.
As it was they reached home safely, and drove up triumphantly to theDorrance Domain where grandma and Mrs. Thurston were sitting on theveranda.
As the children had surmised, grandma was delighted with the opportunityto drive about, but said that she would feel safer if Mr. Hickox heldthe reins.
As Mr. Hickox was never very far away, he had observed the horse'sarrival, and came over to inquire into the matter.
The explanation pleased him, and he said amiably, "Don't worry.Hickox'll look after the horse; it'll be all right."
So Grandma Dorrance arranged with Mr. Hickox, by an addition to thepayment they made him for his various services, to take care of thehorse, and to drive them whenever they might require him to. Then sheand Mrs. Thurston planned to go for a drive that very afternoon.
As the Dorrance children were fond of all animals, the horse at oncebecame a great pet, and though the elder ladies never went out exceptwith Mr. Hickox, the young people went early and often, and both Dorothyand Leicester soon learned to be good and careful drivers.
With another diversion added to their catalogue of pleasures, the daysflew by faster than ever, and although the guests stayed a fortnightinstead of only a week, everybody was sorry when the day came for themto depart.
"It has been all pleasure," said Dorothy, "and not a bit of trouble; foryou all made yourselves so handy and helpful that it was just like onebig family."
"It has been a great treat to me," said Mrs. Thurston. "I have enjoyedevery minute of it, and I have improved wonderfully in health andstrength. I think you are a wonder, Dorothy; not many girls of sixteenhave your powers of management. It is a gift, just as other talents are,and you not only possess it, but you have appreciated and improved it."
Dorothy blushed at Mrs. Thurston's kind praise, and inwardly resolved,that since Mrs. Thurston considered her household capability a talent,she certainly would endeavor to cultivate and improve it.
So the guests all went away, except Kathleen.
She begged so hard to be allowed to stay for a time longer, that Mrs.Dorrance consented.
"Shure, it isn't the wages I do be afther wantin', mum, but I likes toshtay here, an' I'll do all the wurruk for me boord."
This seemed a fair arrangement, as Kathleen really wanted to stay withher daughter, and the Dorrances were very glad of the big woman'sservices. She was an indefatigable worker, and really seemed to enjoyall sorts of hard work. She would rise early in the morning, and washwindows or scrub floors before breakfast time. She was so capable andwilling, that it seemed as if she fairly took charge of the entirefamily; and she was so large and strong that no hard work baffled her,and no exertion tired her.
Although the Dorrances naturally missed their guests, yet when they werealone again they were by no means lonely. They were a host inthemselves; the children were congenial and thought there was nobodyquite s
o nice as each other.
The days went by happily, and each one only made them more glad thatthey owned the Dorrance Domain and that they had come to live in it.
It was the third week in June when Grandma Dorrance received a letterfrom Mr. Lloyd, the contents of which were far from pleasant.
She called the children together in the great parlor, which they hadcome to use as a living-room, and her pale face quite frightenedDorothy.
"What is the matter, grannymother dear?" she said. "Has Mr. Lloyd foundsome one who wants to rent the hotel, and must we vacate at once?"
"Oh, don't mention such a calamity as that," cried Leicester; "if a mancame up here to rent this hotel I should tell him to march rightstraight back again. The house is engaged for the season."
"It's far worse than that, children dear," said grandma; "Mr. Lloydtells me in his letter that a great deal of repairing is necessary inthe Fifty-eighth Street house. This will cost a great deal of money, andI have not enough to pay the bills."
Mrs. Dorrance looked so pathetically helpless as she made thisadmission, that Dorothy flew to her and kissed her, exclaiming, "Don'tworry, grandma dear, it must all come out right somehow, for you know weare saving money this summer."
"I'm not so sure of that, Dorothy; I'm afraid we've been ratherextravagant of late. Having so much company for a fortnight, was reallyvery expensive; and the horse is an added expense, and the twoservants,--and altogether I feel quite sure we have spent more moneythan we could well afford."
"I never once thought of it, grandma," said Dorothy; "I just ordered thethings that I thought it would be nice to have, and I didn't realize howthe bills would count up. Are they very big?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Dorrance. "Mr. Hodges' bill is quite three times asmuch as I had allowed for it; and I owe Mr. Hickox as much more. He hasdone a great deal of work for us, you know, and of course he must bepaid."
"Oh, isn't it dreadful," said Lilian, "to have our lovely summer spoiledby money troubles!"
At this Fairy began to cry. The Dorrances didn't often cry, but whenthey did, they did it quite as noisily as they did everything else; andFairy's manner of weeping, was to open her mouth as widely as possiblein a succession of loud wails, at the same time digging her fists intoher eyes.
She presented such a ridiculous picture that the children couldn't helplaughing.
"Do stop that hullaballoo, baby," implored Leicester, "or we'll be soanxious to get rid of you that we'll offer you to Mr. Bill Hodges insettlement of his account."
Fairy was not seriously alarmed by this awful threat, but she stoppedcrying, because she had suddenly thought of a way out of the difficulty.
"I'll tell you how we can get some money," she said earnestly; "sell thehorse!"
The other children laughed at this, but Grandma Dorrance said gently,"We can't do that, dear, for the horse isn't ours. We can't sell thehotel, for nobody seems to want it; so I can't see any way by which wecan get any money except to sell the Fifty-eighth Street house."
The children looked aghast at this, for it was their cherished dreamsome day to return to the big city house to live. They didn't quite knowhow this was to be accomplished, but they had always thought that whenLeicester began to earn money, or perhaps if Dorothy became an author,they would be able to return to the old home.
And so Grandma Dorrance's announcement fell on them like a sudden andunexpected blighting of their hopes.