CHAPTER XI
BORROWED PLUMES
"Uncle David, I was never so sorry to come to the end of any visit as Iam this one," said Jeannette Crofton. She was holding Mr. Warne's frailhand in both her own, and looking straight into the young gray-blue eyeswhich looked affectionately back at her. She was dressed for herdeparture, and the great closed town car which had brought her waswaiting at the door.
Near her stood Georgiana and James McKenzie Stuart. Mr. E.C. Jeffersonhad just appeared in the background, come to bid the guest farewell.
"You have given us much pleasure, my dear," responded Mr. Warne, "and ifyou have received it as well, the balance is pretty evenly struck."
"I might have stayed two days longer," declared Jeannette with evidentlonging, "if it hadn't been for that sister of mine. I'm sure she couldhave had a birthday dance without me--but no! How I wish I were takingyou all with me--even you, Mr. Jefferson," she added with one of heradorable smiles, as she turned to him; "you, whom I can't possiblyimagine caring to dance a step, not even with the prettiest girl I couldfind for you."
"You almost make me wish I knew how to dance a step," said Mr.Jefferson, advancing to take her hand. "As it is, I can at least wishthat prettiest girl a partner worthy of her grace."
"While I am wishing," exclaimed Jeannette with characteristicimpulsiveness, "why in the world don't I bring about my own wishes? Oh,where have my wits been! Georgiana, darling, run and dress and go withme! I'll send you back to-morrow in the car. And you, too, Mr. Stuart!Oh, come, both of you, and dance at Rosalie's birthday fete to-night!Please--please do!" She turned to Mr. Warne. "Mayn't she, Uncle David?Couldn't you manage to spare her just for twenty-four hours?"
They looked at one another, smiling, hardly believing that the gaysuggestion was a serious one.
But by Jeannette, accustomed to having her own way once a way hadoccurred to her, all objections were thrust aside. "Oh, but you mustcome!" she cried. "I'll not take no!"
"Come and talk it over a minute with me, crazy child," bade Georgiana;and she drew her cousin out of the room, where she could state the greatdifficulty which, being a woman, had instantly assailed her. "Jean, Ihate to quash such a glorious idea, but--I shall have to befrank--clothes!"
"With loads of frocks hanging in my wardrobe at home? And half of themtoo trying for me to wear at all, while they would suit you perfectly.Nonsense! Oh, hurry and make ready. James Stuart will go if you will; Isaw it in his eyes."
It could not be refused, this tempting invitation, with such a lovelytyrant to enforce her will. One word, however, did James Stuart andGeorgiana Warne exchange in a corner before they capitulated.
"George, my evening togs--they've been put away for the four years sinceI left college. They must be about the most hopelessly ancient cutconceivable to eyes like hers. Shall I risk looking like a rustic insuch a house as that?" But Stuart's eyes were eager as a boy's.
"I'll not go if you won't, Jimps. As for rusticity, I can keep youcompany. Can you bear to lose such a frolic? I can't."
"Neither can I, hang it! All right, I'll be a sport if you will," agreedStuart with a laugh, and rushed away to pack a bag in short order, allthe zest of irrepressible youth, in one who had been forced bycircumstance to foreswear most of the joys of youth for stern labour,coming uppermost to bid him make merry once more at any cost of afterfall of spirits.
"Thank goodness I've had the sense always to keep the latest ofJeannette's 'Semi-Annual' tailored suits pressed and trim," thoughtGeorgiana as she dressed. "This is a year behind the extreme style, butI know perfectly well I look absolutely all right in it, and my hat,having once been hers, is mighty becoming and smart, if it is amake-over. It's lucky I can do those things; that's one benefit of goingto college, anyhow."
A few other "make-overs" in the way of dress accessories, all ofexquisite material, on account of their source, and daintily preservedbecause of their frailty after having served two owners, went into hertraveling bag. For the dance itself, since there was no other way, shewas not loath to accept Jeannette's generous offer, and, being a veryhuman creature, could not help looking forward with delight to theprospect of finding herself arrayed in such apparel as wouldsuccessfully sustain any scrutiny which might be brought to bear uponthe country cousin. As for Stuart, she had no fears for him, for hisyears of college life had made him an acceptable figure upon anyoccasion, and she was confident his broad shoulders and fine carriagecould atone for any slightly antique cut of lapel or coat-tail.
Altogether, it was a very happy young person who embraced Mr. DavidWarne, shook hands with Mr. Jefferson, and ran down the path to thegreat car in the wake of Jeannette, and followed by James Stuart lookingextremely personable. Well-cut clothes were the one extravagance Stuartallowed himself now that he was immured for at least the early half ofhis life, as he expected, upon the farm of his inheritance.
"Well, well, I'm glad to have my little girl run away for a few hours,"said Father Davy, from the window where, with Mr. Jefferson at hisshoulder, he stood watching for the final wave of Georgiana's hand. "Shehas enjoyed her cousin's visit, but it has meant considerable extralabour for her. This seems a fitting return for Jeannette to make."
"One can hardly blame Miss Crofton for wanting to prolong her enjoymentof your daughter's society," observed Mr. Jefferson, his eyes watchingclosely the laughing faces behind the glass as the travelers settledthemselves. "I can imagine one's feeling a very decided emptiness in aplace which she had left."
"There, they're off!" announced Mr. Warne, waving his slender arm witheagerness, his delicate features alight with pleasure in this unexpectedhappening. "Emptiness, you say, Jefferson?" he added as the two turnedaway, with the car out of sight down the snowy road. "That quiteexpresses it. Even for a few hours I am conscious of a distinct sense ofloneliness without Georgiana. Her personality is one which makes itselffelt; it has individuality, audacity; even--I think--that curiousquality which for want of a better name we call 'charm.' Am I tooprejudiced?"
He placed himself upon his couch, plainly very weary with the flurry ofthe last hour. He lay looking up at Mr. Jefferson, who had lingered alittle before going back to the work which loudly called to him. It wasquite possible for the younger man to comprehend how desolate was thegentle invalid's feeling at being left, if only for a day and a night,in the care of the friendly neighbour who was to minister to his needsand who was already to be heard bustling about the dining-room, layingthe table for the coming meal.
"You may be prejudiced," admitted his companion, "but it is a prejudicewhich can be readily forgiven--and even shared," he added, smiling.
"Her cousin," pursued Mr. Warne slowly, "would outshine her in beautyand in sweetness of disposition, perhaps, though I doubt if Jeannettehas ever had a fraction of the tests of character and endurance my girlhas had."
"She surely never has," agreed the other. "And as for mere sweetness ofdisposition, there are other qualities which make their own appeal."
A whimsical smile appeared upon the pale face resting against one ofGeorgiana's crimson couch pillows. "How she would make me signals ofdistress and warning," he mused, "if she could hear me carrying on anantiphonal service in her praise with our lodger, who, she wouldconsider, knows her not at all. Well, well----
"'Man, she is mine own, And I as rich in having such a jewel, As twenty seas, if all their sand were pearl, The water nectar, and the rocks pure gold.'
You'll forgive an old man's romanticism, Mr. Jefferson, I hope?"
"You are one of the youngest men I know. And if you may quoteShakespeare to your purpose, I may quote good old Doctor Holmes," saidMr. Jefferson, drawing the pillow into an easier position as he spoke:
"'He doth not lack an almanac Whose youth is in his soul.'"
To Georgiana Warne, a year out of college, and during that year havingsorely missed the many gayeties of the life she had known for four happyyears, the present experience was delightful. She enjoyed every minuteof the swift dr
ive over the sixty miles to her cousin's home, enjoyedthe arrival there, the meeting with the family and their house guestsassembled for afternoon tea, the installment in a luxuriously furnishedroom where Jeannette presently brought her an armful of gowns to choosefrom for the evening. A small dinner was to precede the dance, and allsorts of scheming for Georgiana's pleasure had been fermenting inJeannette's brain on the way home.
"I've arranged with Rosalie to put you next her special prize--the mostwonderful man she knows. All her set are crazy over him, though hebelongs in ours fast enough. It's Miles Channing, just home after ayear's travel, and as good looking as any illustrator ever drew. You seeyou simply must be your most brilliant self. And here's the way to doit--wear this!"
She held up before Georgiana's disconcerted gaze such a marvel of colourand cunning as brought a gasp of astonishment and a quick denial: "Oh,my dear! Not that--for me. It's bad enough to wear your things at all,but don't give me something that will make everybody look at me, likethat!"
"That's precisely what I want," laughed Jeannette. "And this is a thingI haven't ventured to wear and never shall, though I'm wild to do it.But I couldn't carry it off; you can. Those orange shades will beglorious with your eyes and hair. Besides, as for making you conspicuousabove the rest, on account of any gorgeousness of colour or eccentricityof style, it simply can't be done these days. So put this on and see foryourself. You needn't wear it, of course, if you don't like it; but youwill."
Reluctantly Georgiana allowed a slim French maid to slip the marvel ofher country's art over the bared shoulders, and the next minute she wasstaring at herself in a long mirror, while Susette clasped her hands,and gay young Rosalie, passing the door at the moment and summoned tothe private view, cried joyously:
"Oh, Georgiana, you're perfectly stunning! Of course you must wear it,and you'll be the star of the evening."
Rosalie rushed on, having settled the questions out of hand, after themanner of the youthful. Jeannette was laughing as she called her motherin to confirm the decision.
Mrs. Crofton, languidly interested, surveyed her niece with approval.She was an impressive lady, was Aunt Olivia, and was accustomed to haveher opinion carry weight. "It suits you, my dear," was her verdict."Those who can wear such daring effects should do it, for every sceneneeds points of light and intensity."
"And these other frocks," Jeannette declared, pointing to them whereSusette had spread them out upon the bed, "are just colourless babythings that anybody can wear."
"They look exquisite to me," regretted Georgiana, eying them wistfully.
Somehow, now that she was here, she did not so much enjoy the thought ofappearing in borrowed finery, and, since it must be done, would havepreferred the simplest white frock in Jeannette's wardrobe. But this wasnot to be without displeasing her hostesses, and she reluctantlysubmitted. Susette begged leave to arrange her hair, Jeannette huntedout silk stockings and slippers to match the frock, and Rosaliecontributed the long white gloves which completed the costuming.
When Georgiana was ready to descend she took one last look at the girlin the long mirror, and turned to Jeannette, herself a picture in thedelicate colourings which she affected and which set off her goldenbeauty. "I feel like the old woman in the nursery song," she said,"doubtful of my identity."
"But you must admit you're simply glorious," cried Jeannette. "I knewyou were a beauty, but I didn't know you were such a raving one asthis."
"I'm no beauty," denied Georgiana with spirit. "It's just the clothes.But you--I never saw anything so enchanting as you to-night."
"Delightful! I'm so glad, for--there's somebody I want to enchant. Comeon," and Jeannette led the way.
At the foot of the great staircase, about a wide fireplace, Georgianasaw James Stuart with a group of other young men, and noted swiftly thatthere was no too-striking contrast to be noted between her friend andhis faultlessly attired companions, except that his face and hands worea deeper coat of winter tan than theirs, and he looked stronger and morevirile than any of them. And even in his outdoor colouring, there wasamong them one who rivalled him, the one who, as Georgiana instantlyguessed, was the lately arrived traveler. A moment later she metStuart's eyes and saw his look of astonishment as he gazed at her.
Presently, when those whom she had not already met had been made knownto her, she found Stuart at her elbow. "Am I dreaming?" said his voicein her ear, "or is this my chum? I'm almost afraid to speak to you!"
"You look awfully nice, Jimps," she returned under her breath. "Yes,isn't it absurd for me to be peacocking like this? But they made me doit."
"You take my breath away."
"Look at Jean," she whispered. "Isn't she the loveliest thing you eversaw in your life?"
He looked. "You and she are a pair," he admitted.
Jeannette came up to them with the tall traveler, and Georgiana foundherself looking up into a pair of dark eyes whose glance told her thattheir owner found her worth studying intently. Miles Channing was of thesort who waste no time in preliminaries. By the time she had sat outhalf the dinner by his side she felt as if she had been under fire forhours. All her youth and wit responded to his sallies, and she enjoyedthe encounter as keenly as a girl might be expected to do, who for ayear had seen no men but the slow village swains--always excepting JamesStuart, who was her one reliance in time of famine.
Channing made no attempt to disguise his preoccupation with the mostattractive of the few strangers in the set of young people whom he hadknown for years. Between the dinner and the dance, Jeannette, who hadbeen observing without seeming to observe, dropped a word in Georgiana'sear:
"You've done it, dear. I never saw him lose his head so completely.You'll have to be careful or you'll have all the girls down on you.They're crazy over him, you know--including Rosalie."
"Absurd! I shall never see him again, so what does it matter?" retortedGeorgiana.
"Don't be too sure of that. Nothing can stop him when he's interested.And you know you are a witch to-night; anybody would be caught in yoursnare. I didn't know you were such a clever thing at the game, though Imight have guessed it."
"If I weren't, I might take lessons of you," Georgiana gave back. "Youhave Jimps slightly delirious, I can see. Is he the one you wanted toenchant? I'm sure you've done it."
"Isn't he splendid? He looks so much stronger and more interesting thanhalf these boys I've known all my life. I do want him to have a goodtime."
"He's having it."
Georgiana was sure of this, but she was having so good a time herselfshe didn't mind. More than once she had caught Stuart's eyes across thetable, and had noted how they were sparkling. The glance the twoexchanged might have been interpreted to mean: "Fun, isn't it? You playup to your opportunities and so will I. This won't happen again in ourlives, perhaps."
Presently the dancing began, in great rooms cleared for the purpose anddecorated with every art of the florist. The music was all of a qualitymore perfect than any Georgiana had ever heard, and the strains whichassailed her ears made her wild to dance to every note. She was besiegedby invitations.
"But I haven't danced for more than a year, and I don't know one of thelatest steps," she said regretfully.
"We'll soon remedy that," promised Chester Crofton, her cousin, whocarried her off into an unoccupied room, where the music could yet beheard, and proceeded to teach her. She was easily taught, having all thefoundations after four years of practice among college girls, and shewas soon able to go upon the floor with young Crofton and the rest.
Miles Channing did not dance, but after watching for a time--whileGeorgiana was acutely conscious that his eyes constantly followedher--he claimed and bore her off before others could prevent. In apalm-shadowed corner well removed from observation he drew a long breathof content and settled down beside her.
"I hope you will not be too much bored at missing a round or two," hebegan in the slightly drawling speech which was somehow one of hischarms, it was so curiously accompanied by
his intent observation. "Ihaven't danced for so long I can't venture to attempt it, especiallywith you."
"I should be the most patient of partners, I'm so unaccomplishedmyself," declared Georgiana.
"Nevertheless I shouldn't want to try you. You dance like a sylph, Ilike an elephant."
"I don't believe it."
"You do grudge sitting out, then, do you?" he asked.
"Not a bit."
"It wouldn't really matter if you did, for I intend to hold my advantagenow I have it. I care more to talk with you than for all the dances onthe program. And the time is so short I must make the most of it. You goback to-morrow, I understand?"
"Yes, indeed."
"And you'll not be here soon again?"
"I don't expect to. I'm a very busy person at home and can seldom bespared."
"That means that whoever wants to know you must come to your home?"
Georgiana felt her pulse beats quickening. This was certainly losing notime. She assented to the interrogation, explaining that her father wasan invalid and she was his housekeeper. She felt no temptation torepresent things to Mr. Channing as other than they were. It was somehowan atonement for appearing in her borrowed attire that she should notallow appearances to deceive this new acquaintance into thinking herhome the counterpart of her cousin's. The news did not appear in theleast to disconcert him.
"I should like very much to meet your father," Channing said; andGeorgiana liked him for taking the trouble to put it in that way. Heinstantly added: "And I should like still more to see you in your ownhome. May I have that pleasure?"
"We shall be very glad to see you," she promised, careful of her manner.
"No matter how soon I come?"
"I suppose you will allow me to reach home first?" she questioned gayly.
"Barely. This is Wednesday night. You go home to-morrow--Thursday. May Icome Saturday?"
"You have been living on railway schedules so long you have acquired thehabit," she gave back with slightly heightened colour. In the course ofher experience she had seen more than one young man change his plansafter encountering her, but she had never known one to form new ones asquickly as this.
"I have discovered that when one wants to reach a place very much, hecan't start too soon," he said very low, with such obvious meaning thatshe had some difficulty in keeping her cool composure. It was not onlyhis words, but his looks and manner which spoke. She had never dreamedthat outside of stories men ever really did begin to fire on sight, likethis.
The matter settled, Channing began to talk of other things, but throughall his speech and acts ran the visible thread of his instant andpowerful attraction to her, so that she was conscious of the colour ofit. By the time two dances had gone by and she was sought and found byan eager claimant, the girl was quite ready to get away from this newand decidedly disturbing experience. And when, a little later, sheallowed James Stuart to try one of the new steps with her, she had acomfortable sense of having got back upon known and solid ground, afterhaving been swimming in a too-swift current.