Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Charles Franks and theOnline Distributed Proofreading Team.
TWO LITTLE WOMEN ON A HOLIDAY
BY
CAROLYN WELLS
Author Of The Patty Books, The Marjorie Books, Two Little Women Series,Etc.
FRONTISPIECE BY E. C. CASWELL
Made in the United States of America 1917
TO MY VERY DEAR CHILD FRIEND
FRANCES ALTHEA SPRAGUE
CONTENTS
CHAPTER
I A WONDERFUL PLAN
II A FAVOURABLE DECISION
III THE ARRIVAL
IV A MERRY QUARTETTE
V GOING ABOUT
VI A MATINEE IDOL
VII GREAT PREPARATIONS
VIII THE CALLER
IX FINE FEATHERS
X A SKATING PARTY
XI THE COLLECTIONS
XII THE LOST JEWEL
XIII SUSPICIONS
XIV AT THE TEA ROOM
XV DOLLY'S RIDE
XVI WAS IT ALICIA?
XVII A CLEVER IDEA
XVIII FOUR CELEBRATIONS
XIX ALICIA'S SECRET
XX UNCLE JEFF'S FOUR FRIENDS
CHAPTER I
A WONDERFUL PLAN
"Hello, Dolly," said Dotty Rose, over the telephone.
"Hello, Dot," responded Dolly Fayre. "What you want?"
"Oh! I can't tell you this way. Come on over, just as quick as you can."
"But I haven't finished my Algebra, and it's nearly dinner time,anyway."
"No it isn't,--and no matter if it is. Come on, I tell you! You'd comefast enough if you knew what it's about!"
"Tell me, then."
"I say I can't,--over the telephone. Oh, Dolly, come on, and stopfussing!"
The telephone receiver at Dotty's end of the wire was hung up with aclick, and Dolly began to waggle her receiver hook in hope of gettingDotty back. But there was no response, so Dolly rose and went for hercoat. Flinging it round her, and not stopping to get a hat, she rannext door to Dotty Rose's house.
It was mid January, and the six o'clock darkness was lighted only bythe street lights. Flying across the two lawns that divided the houses,Dolly found Dotty awaiting her at the side door.
"Hurry up in, Doll," she cried, eagerly, "the greatest thing you everheard! Oh, the very greatest! If you only CAN! Oh, if you ONLY can!"
"Can what? Do tell me what you're talking about." Dolly tossed her coaton the hall rack, and followed Dotty into the Roses' living-room. Thereshe found Dotty's parents and also Bernice Forbes and her father. Whatcould such a gathering mean? Dolly began to think of school happenings;had she cut up any mischievous pranks or inadvertently done anythingwrong? What else could bring Mr. Forbes to the Roses' on what was veryevidently an important errand? For all present were eagerlyinterested,--that much was clear. Mr. and Mrs. Rose were smiling, yetshaking their heads in uncertainty; Bernice was flushed and excited;and Mr. Forbes himself was apparently trying to persuade them tosomething he was proposing.
This much Dolly gathered before she heard a word of the discussion.Then Mrs. Rose said, "Here's Dolly Fayre. You tell her about it, Mr.Forbes."
"Oh, let me tell her," cried Bernice.
"No," said Mr. Rose, "let her hear it first from your father. You girlscan chatter afterward."
So Mr. Forbes spoke. "My dear child," he said to Dolly, "my Bernice isinvited to spend a week with her uncle, in New York City. She isprivileged to ask you two girls to accompany her if you care to."
Dolly listened, without quite grasping the idea. She was slow ofthought, though far from stupid. And this was such a sudden andstartling suggestion that she couldn't quite take it in.
"Go to New York, for a week. Oh, I couldn't. I have to go to school."
Mrs. Rose smiled. "That's just the trouble, Dolly. Dot has to go toschool, too,--at least, she ought to. Bernice, likewise. But thisinvitation is so delightful and so unusual, that I'm thinking you threegirls ought to take advantage of it. The question is, what will yourparents say?"
"Oh, they'll never let me go!" exclaimed Dolly, decidedly. "They don'twant anything to interfere with my lessons."
"No, and we feel the same way about Dotty. But an exceptional case mustbe considered in an exceptional manner. I think your people might bepersuaded if we go about it in the right way."
"I don't believe so," and Dolly looked very dubious. "Tell me moreabout it."
"Oh, Doll, it's just gorgeous!" broke in Bernice. "Uncle Jeff,--he'sfather's brother,--wants me to spend a week with him. And he's going tohave my cousin, Alicia, there at the same time. And he wants us tobring two other girls, and Alicia can't bring one, 'cause she's atboarding school, and none of the girls can get leave,--that is, nonethat she wants. So Uncle said for me to get two, if I could,--and Iwant you and Dot."
"A whole week in New York! Visiting!" Dolly's eyes sparkled as thetruth began to dawn on her. "Oh, I WISH I could coax Mother into it.I've never been to New York to stay any time. Only just for the day.How lovely of you, Bernie, to ask us!"
"There's no one else I'd rather have, but if you can't go, I'll have toask Maisie May. I must get two."
"Are you going anyway, Dots?"
"I don't know. I want to go terribly, but I don't want to go withoutyou, Dolly. Oh, WON'T your mother let you?"
"The only way to find out is to ask her," said Mr. Forbes, smiling."Suppose I go over there now and ask. Shall I go alone, or take youthree chatterboxes along?"
"Oh, let us go," and Dotty sprang up; "we can coax and you can tellabout the arrangements."
"Very well," agreed Mr. Forbes, "come along, then."
So the four went across to the Fayre house, and found the rest ofDolly's family gathered in the library.
"Here is Mr. Forbes, Daddy," said Dolly, as they entered.
Mr. and Mrs. Fayre and Trudy, Dolly's older sister, greeted the visitorcordially, and looked with smiling inquiry at the eager faces of thethree girls.
Dolly went and sat on the arm of her mother's chair, and, putting anarm around her, whispered, "Oh, Mumsie, please, PLEASE do say yes! Oh,please do!"
"Yes to what?" returned Mrs. Fayre, patting her daughter's shoulder.
"Mr. Forbes will tell you. Listen."
"It's this way, my dear people," began Mr. Forbes. He was a man with animpressive manner, and it seemed as if he were about to make a speechof grave importance, as, indeed, from the girls' point of view, he was."My brother Jefferson, who lives in New York, has invited my daughterto spend a week in his home there. He has asked also another niece,Miss Alicia Steele. He wants these girl visitors to bring with them twofriends, and as Alicia does not wish to avail herself of thatprivilege, Bernice may take two with her. She wants to take Dotty andDolly. There, that's the whole story in a nutshell. The question is,may Dolly go?"
"When is this visit to be made?" asked Mrs. Fayre.
"As soon as convenient for all concerned. My brother would like thegirls to come some day next week, and remain one week."
"What about school?" and Mrs. Fayre looked decidedly disapproving ofthe plan.
"That's just it!" exclaimed Dotty. "We knew you'd say that! But, Mrs.Fayre, my mother says this is the chance of a lifetime,--almost,--andwe ought, we really OUGHT to take advantage of it."
"But to be out of school for a whole week,--and what with getting readyand getting home and settled again, it would mean more than a week--"
"But, mother, we could make up our lessons," pleaded Dolly, "and I DOwant to go! oh, I do want to go, just AWFULLY!"
"I should think you would," put in Trudy. "Let her go, mother, it'll bean education in itself
,--the visit will. Why, the girls can go to themuseums and art galleries and see all sorts of things."
"Of course we can," said Bernice, "and my uncle has a beautiful houseand motor cars and everything!"
"That's another point," said Mr. Fayre, gravely. "You must realise, Mr.Forbes, that my little girl is not accustomed to grandeur and wealth. Idon't want her to enjoy it so much that she will come back discontentedwith her own plain home."
"Oh, nonsense, my dear sir! A glimpse of city life and a taste offrivolity will do your girl good. Dolly is too sensible a sort to be aprey to envy or discontent. I know Dolly fairly well, and I can vouchfor her common sense!"
"So can I," said Bernice. "Doll will enjoy everything to the limit, butit won't hurt her disposition or upset her happiness to see the sightsof the city for a short time. Oh, please, Mr. Fayre, do let her go."
"Just as her mother thinks," and Mr. Fayre smiled at the insistentBernice.
"Tell me of the household," said Mrs. Fayre. "Is your brother's wifeliving?"
"Jeff has never been married," replied Mr. Forbes. "He is an elderlybachelor, and, I think is a bit lonely, now and then. But he is also alittle eccentric. He desires no company, usually. It is mostextraordinary that he should ask these girls. But I think he wants tosee his two nieces, and he fears he cannot entertain them pleasantlyunless they have other companions of their own age."
"And who would look after the girls?"
"Mrs. Berry, my brother's housekeeper. She is a fine noble-hearted andcompetent woman, who has kept his house for years. I know her, and I amperfectly willing to trust Bernice to her care. She will chaperon theyoung people, for I doubt if my brother will go to many places withthem. But he will want them to have the best possible time, and willgive them all the pleasure possible."
"That part of it is all right, then," smiled Mrs. Fayre; "it is, to mymind, only the loss of more than a week of the school work thatpresents the insuperable objection."
"Oh, don't say insuperable," urged Mr. Forbes. "Can't you bringyourself to permit that loss? As Dolly says, the girls can make uptheir lessons."
"They can--but will they?"
"I will, mother," cried Dolly; "I promise you I will study each daywhile I'm in New York. Then I can recite out of school hours after Iget back, and I'll get my marks all the same."
"But, Dolly dear, you can't study while you are in New York. Therewould be too much to distract you and occupy your time."
"Oh, no, Mrs. Fayre," observed Bernice, "we couldn't be all the timesightseeing. I think it would be fine for all us girls to study everyday, and keep up our lessons that way."
"It sounds well, my dear child," and Mrs. Fayre looked doubtfully atBernice, "and I daresay you mean to do it, but I can't think you couldkeep it up. The very spirit of your life there would be all againststudy."
"I agree with that," said Mr. Forbes, decidedly. "I vote for the girlshaving an entire holiday. Lessons each day would spoil all their fun."
"They couldn't do it," Trudy said. "I know, however much they tried,they just COULDN'T study in that atmosphere."
"Why not?" asked Bernice. "We're not young ladies, like you, Trudy. Wewon't be going to parties, and such things. We can only go to the shopsand the exhibitions and for motor rides in the park and such things. Wecould study evenings, I'm sure."
"It isn't only the lessons," Mrs. Fayre said; "but I can't feel quitewilling to let my little girl go away for a week without me." Herpleasant smile at Mr. Forbes robbed the words of any reflection theymight seem to cast on his brother's invitation. "I'm sure Mrs. Berrywould do all that is necessary in the way of a chaperon's duties, butthese girls are pretty young even for that. They need a parent'soversight."
Mrs. Fayre was about to say a mother's oversight, when she rememberedthat Bernice had no mother, and changed the words accordingly.
There was some further discussion, and then Mrs. Fayre said she musthave a little time alone to make up her mind. She knew that if Dollydid not go, Maisie May would be asked in her place, but she still feltundecided. She asked for only an hour or two to think it over, andpromised to telephone directly after dinner, and tell Mr. Forbes herfinal decision. This was the only concession she would make. If notacceptable then her answer must be no.
"Please do not judge my wife too harshly," said Mr. Fayre as heaccompanied Mr. Forbes and Bernice to the door. "She still looks uponDolly as her baby, and scarcely lets her out of her sight."
"That's all right," returned Mr. Forbes. "She's the right sort of amother for the girl. I hope she will decide to let Dolly go, but ifnot, I quite understand her hesitancy, and I respect and admire her forit. Bernice can take somebody else, and I trust you will not try overhard to influence Mrs. Fayre in Dolly's favour. If anything untowardshould happen, I should never forgive myself. I would far rather thechildren were disappointed than to have Mrs. Fayre persuaded againsther better judgment."
The Forbeses departed, and then Dotty Rose went home, too.
"Oh, Dollyrinda," she whispered as they stood in the hall, "do yous'pose your mother'll EVER say yes?"
"I don't believe so," replied Dolly mournfully. "But, oh, Dot, how I dowant to go! Seems 'sif I never wanted anything so much in all my life!"
"You don't want to go a bit more than I want to have you. Why, Dollops,I shan't go, if you don't."
"Oh, yes, you will, Dotty. You must. It would be silly not to."
"But I couldn't! I just COULDN'T. Do you s'pose I could have one singlebit of fun going to places without you? And knowing you were here athome, longing to be with us! No-sir-ee! I just couldn't pos-SIB-ly! Sojust you remember that, old girl; no Dolly,--no Dotty! And that's SURE!"
There was a ring in Dotty's voice that proclaimed an unshakabledetermination, and Dolly knew it. She knew that no coaxing of Berniceor even of Dolly herself, could make Dotty go without her chum.
For chums these two were, in the deepest sense of the word. They weretogether all that was possible during their waking hours. They studiedtogether, worked and played together, and occupied together theirlittle house, built for them, and called Treasure House.
Dolly knew she couldn't enjoy going anywhere without Dotty, and sheknew Dot felt the same way about her. But this was such a big, splendidopportunity, that she hated to have Dotty miss it, even if she couldn'tgo herself. The two girls said good-night, and Dolly went back to herfamily in the library.
"I hate terribly to disappoint you, Dolly darling," began her mother,and the tears welled up in Dolly's blue eyes. This beginning meant anegative decision, that was self evident, but Dolly Fayre was plucky bynature and she was not the sort that whines at disappointment.
"All right," she said, striving to be cheerful, and blinking her eyesquickly to keep those tears back.
"Now, look here, Edith," said Mr. Fayre, "I don't believe I can standthis. I don't differ with you regarding the children, but I do thinkyou might let Dolly go on this party. Even if it does take a week outof school, she'll get enough general information and experience from aweek in the city to make up."
"That's just it, Will. But the experiences she gets there may not bethe best possible for a little girl of fifteen."
"Oh, fifteen isn't an absolute baby. Remember, dear, Dolly is going togrow up some day, and she's getting started."
"And another thing. I asked Mr. Forbes a few questions while you weretalking to Bernice, and it seems this other girl, the niece, Alicia, isattending a very fashionable girls' boarding school."
"Well, what of that? You speak as if she were attending a lunaticasylum!"
"No; but can't you see if Dolly goes to stay a week with wealthyBernice Forbes and this fashionable Alicia, she'll get her head full ofall sorts of notions that don't belong there?"
"No, I won't, mother," murmured Dolly, who, again on her mother's armchair, was looking earnestly into the maternal blue eyes, so like herown. And very lovingly Mrs. Fayre returned the gaze, for she adored herlittle daughter and was actuated only by the best motives i
n making herdecisions.
"And, here's another thing," said Dolly, "Dot won't go, if I don't. Itseems too bad to spoil HER fun."
"Oh, yes, she will," said Mrs. Fayre, smiling. "She would be foolish togive up her pleasure just because you can't share it."
"Foolish or not, she won't go," repeated Dolly. "I know my Dot, andwhen she says she won't do a thing, she just simply doesn't do it!"
"I'd be sorry to be the means of keeping Dotty at home," and Mrs. Fayresighed deeply.