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+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Peggy Stewart at School, by Gabrielle E.
+Jackson
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Peggy Stewart at School
+
+
+Author: Gabrielle E. Jackson
+
+
+
+Release Date: July 20, 2007  [eBook #22113]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEGGY STEWART AT SCHOOL***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 22113-h.htm or 22113-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/1/1/22113/22113-h/22113-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/1/1/22113/22113-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+PEGGY STEWART AT SCHOOL
+
+by
+
+GABRIELLE E. JACKSON
+
+Author of "Peggy Stewart at Home," "Silver Heels,"
+"Three Graces" Series, "Capt. Polly" Series, etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+The Goldsmith Publishing Co.
+New York N. Y.
+Made in U.S.A.
+
+Copyright, 1918 by Barse & Hopkins
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                                                PAGE
+
+I.    THE BAROMETER FALLING                               1
+II.   RECONSTRUCTION                                     16
+III.  HOSTILITIES SUSPENDED                              32
+IV.   HOSTILITIES RESUMED                                48
+V.    RUCTIONS!                                          64
+VI.   A NEW ORDER OF THINGS                              81
+VII.  COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL                            97
+VIII. A RIDING LESSON                                   114
+IX.   COMMON SENSE AND HORSE SENSE                      131
+X.    TZARITZA AS DISCIPLINARIAN                        149
+XI.   BEHIND SCENES                                     167
+XII.  CHRISTMAS AT SEVERNDALE                           184
+XIII. YULETIDE                                          202
+XIV.  AT SEVERNDALE                                     221
+XV.   IN SPRING TERM                                    239
+XVI.  A MIDNIGHT SENSATION                              256
+XVII. A SEND-OFF WITH FIREWORKS                         274
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE BAROMETER FALLING
+
+
+The September morning was warmer and more enervating than September
+mornings in Maryland usually are, though the month is generally conceded
+to be a trying one. Even at beautiful Severndale where, if at any point
+along the river, a refreshing breeze could almost always be counted
+upon, the air seemed heavy and lifeless, as though the intense heat of
+the summer had taken from it every particle of its revivifying
+qualities.
+
+In the pretty breakfast room the long French windows, giving upon the
+broad piazza, stood wide open; the leaves upon the great beeches and
+maples which graced the extensive lawn beyond, hung limp and motionless;
+the sunlight even at that early hour beat scorchingly upon the dry
+grass, for there had been little rain during August and the vegetation
+had suffered severely; every growing thing was coated like a dusty
+miller. But within doors all looked most inviting. The room was
+scrupulous; its appointments indicated refined taste and constant care;
+the breakfast table, laid for two, was dainty and faultless in its
+appointments; our old friend, Jerome, moved about noiselessly, giving
+last lingering touches, lest any trifle be omitted which might add to
+the comfort and sense of harmony which seemed so much a part of his
+young mistress's life. As he straightened a fruit knife here, or set
+right a fold of the snowy breakfast cloth, he kept up a low-murmured
+monologue after the manner of his race. Very little escaped old Jerome's
+sharp eyes and keen ears, and within the past forty-eight hours they had
+found plenty to see or hear, for a guest had come to Severndale. Yes, a
+most unusual type of guest, too. As a rule Severndale's guests brought
+unalloyed pleasure to its young hostess and her servants, or to her
+sailor father if he happened to be enjoying one of his rare leaves, for
+Captain Stewart had been on sea-duty for many successive years,
+preferring it to land duty since his wife's death when Peggy, his only
+child, was but six years of age. Severndale had held only sad memories
+for him since that day, nearly ten years ago, in spite of the little
+girl growing up there, cared for by the old housekeeper and the
+servants, some of whom had been on the estate as long as Neil Stewart
+could remember.
+
+But nine years had slipped away since Peggy's mother's death, and the
+little child had changed into a very lovely young girl, with whom the
+father was in reality just becoming acquainted. He had spent more time
+with her during the year just passed than he had ever spent in any one
+of the preceding nine years, and those weeks had held many startling
+revelations for him. When he left her to resume command of his ship, his
+mind was in a more or less chaotic state trying to grasp an entirely new
+order of things, for this time he was leaving behind him a young lady of
+fifteen who, so it seemed to the perplexed man, had jumped over at least
+five years as easily as an athlete springs across a hurdle, leaving the
+little girl upon the other side forever. When Neil Stewart awakened to
+this fact he was first dazed, and then overwhelmed by the sense of his
+obligations overlooked for so long, and, being possessed of a lively
+sense of duty, he strove to correct the oversight.
+
+Had he not been in such deadly earnest his efforts to make reparation
+for what he considered his inexcusable short-sightedness and neglect,
+would have been funny, for, like most men when confronted by some
+problem involving femininity, he was utterly at a loss how to set about
+"his job" as he termed it.
+
+As a matter of fact, a kind fate had taken "his job" in hand for him
+some time before, and was in a fair way to turn out a pretty good one
+too. But Neil Stewart made up his mind to boost Old Lady Fate along a
+little, and his attempts at so doing came pretty near upsetting her
+equilibrium; she was not inclined to be hustled, and Neil Stewart was
+nothing if not a hustler, once he got under way.
+
+And so, alack! by one little move he completely changed Peggy's future
+and for a time rendered the present a veritable storm center, as will be
+seen.
+
+But we will let events tell their own story.
+
+Old Jerome moved about the sunny breakfast-room; at least it would have
+been sunny had not soft-tinted awnings and East-Indian screens, shut out
+the sun's glare and suffused the room in a restful coolness and calm, in
+marked contrast to the vivid light beyond the windows.
+
+Jerome himself was refreshing to look upon. The old colored man was
+quite seventy years of age, but still an erect and dignified major-domo.
+From his white, wool-fringed old head, to the toes of his white canvas
+shoes, he was immaculate. No linen could have been more faultlessly
+laundered than Jerome's; no serviette more neatly folded. All was in
+harmony excepting the old man's face; that was troubled. A perplexed
+pucker contracted his forehead as he spoke softly to himself.
+
+"'Taint going to do _no_ how! It sure ain't. She ain't got de right
+bran', no she ain't, and yo' cyant mate up no common stock wid a
+tho'oughbred and git any sort of a span. No siree, yo' cyant. My Lawd,
+what done possess Massa Neil fer ter 'vite her down hyer? _She_ cyant
+'struct an' guide _our_ yo'ng mist'ess. Sho! She ain' know de very fust
+_rudimints_ ob de qualities' ways an' doin's. Miss Peggy could show her
+mo' in five minutes dan she ever is know in five years. She ain't,--she
+ain't,--well I ain't jist 'zackly know how I'se gwine speechify it, but
+she ain't like _we_ all," and Jerome wagged his head in deprecation and
+forced his tongue against his teeth in a sound indicating annoyance and
+distaste, as he moved his mistress' chair a trifle.
+
+Just then Mammy Lucy stuck her white-turbaned head in at the door to
+ask:
+
+"Whar dat chile at? Ain't she done come in fer her breckfus yit? It's
+nine o'clock and Sis Cynthia's a-stewin' an' a steamin' like her own
+taters."
+
+"She say she wait fer her aunt, an' her aunt say she cyant breckfus
+befo' half-pas' nine, no how," answered Jerome.
+
+"Huh, huh! An' ma chile gotter wait a hull hour pas' her breckfus time
+jist kase Madam Fussa-ma-fiddle ain't choose fer ter git up? I bait yo'
+she git up when she ter home, and I bait yo' she ain't gitting somebody
+ter dress her, an' wait on her han' an' foot like Mandy done been
+a-doin' sense yistiddy; ner she ain' been keepin' better folks a-waiting
+fer dey meals. I'se pintedly put out wid de way things is been gwine in
+dis hyer 'stablishmint fer de past two days, an' 's fur 's _I_ kin see
+dey ain' gwine mend none neider. No, not fer a considerbul spell lessen
+we has one grand, hifalutin' tornader. Yo' hyar me!"
+
+"I sho' does hyar yo' Mis' Lucy, an' I sho' 'grees wid yo' ter de very
+top notch. Dere's gwine ter be de very dibble--'scuse me please, ma'am,
+'scuse me, but ma feelin's done got de better of ma breedin'--ter pay ef
+things go on as dey've begun since de Madam--_an' dat dawg_--invest
+deyselves 'pon Severndale. But yonder comin' our yo'ng mistiss," he
+concluded as a clear, sweet voice was heard singing just beyond the
+windows, and quick decisive footsteps came across the broad piazza, and
+Peggy Stewart, only daughter and heiress of beautiful "Severndale,"
+entered the room. By her side Tzaritza, her snowy Russian wolfhound,
+paced with stately mien; a thoroughbred pair indeed.
+
+"Oh, Jerome, I am just starved. That breakfast table is irresistible.
+Mammy, is Aunt Katherine ready?"
+
+"I make haste fer ter inquire, baby," answered the old nurse, hurrying
+from the room.
+
+"I trus' she is," was Jerome's comment, adding: "Sis Cynthia done make
+de sallylun jist ter de perfection pint, an' she know dat pint too."
+
+Peggy made no comment upon the implied reproach of her guest's
+tardiness, but crossing the room to a big chair, whither Tzaritza had
+already preceded her to rub noses with a magnificent white Persian cat,
+she stooped to stroke Sultana, who graciously condescended to purr and
+nestle her beautiful head against Peggy's hand. Sultana had only been a
+member of the Severndale household since July, Mr. Harold having sent
+her to Peggy as "a semi-annual birthday gift," he said. She had adapted
+herself to her new surroundings with unusual promptitude and been
+adopted by the other four-footed members of the estate as "a friend and
+equal." The trio formed a picturesque group as they stood there.
+
+The dark-haired, dark-eyed young girl of fifteen, with her rich, clear
+coloring, her cheeks softly tinted from her brisk walk in the morning
+sunshine was very lovely. She wore a white duck skirt, a soft nainsook
+blouse open at the throat, the sailor collar knotted with a red silk
+scarf. Her heavy braids were coiled about her shapely head and held in
+place with large shell pins, soft little locks curling about her
+forehead.
+
+The past year had wrought wonderful changes in Peggy Stewart. The little
+girl had vanished forever, giving place to the charming young girl
+nearing her sixteenth milestone. The contact with the outer world which
+the past three months had given, when she had made so many new friends
+and seen so much of the service and social world, had done a great deal
+towards developing her. Always exceptionally well poised and sure of
+herself, the summer at Navy Bungalow in New London, at Newport, Boston,
+and at other points at which the summer practice Squadron had touched,
+had broadened her outlook, and helped her gauge things from a different
+and wider viewpoint than Severndale or Annapolis afforded. Though
+entirely unaware of the fact, Peggy had few rivals in the world of young
+girls.
+
+Presently a step sounded upon the polished floor of the broad hall and
+Mrs. Peyton Stewart, Peggy's aunt by marriage, stood in the doorway.
+Under one arm she carried her French poodle. Stooping she placed it upon
+the floor with the care which suggested a degree of fragility entirely
+belied by the bad-tempered little beast's first move, for as Peggy
+advanced with extended hand to greet her aunt, Toinette made a wild dash
+for the Persian cat, which onset was met by one dignified slap of the
+Sultana's paw, which left its red imprint upon the poodle's nose and
+promptly toppled the pampered thing heels-over-head. Tzaritza stood
+watching the entire procedure with dignified surprise, and when the
+yelping little beast rolled to her feet, she calmly gathered her into
+her huge jaws and stalking across the room held her up to Peggy, as
+though asking:
+
+"What shall I do with this bad-mannered bit of dogdom? Turn her over to
+your discipline, or crush her with one snap of my jaws?"
+
+"Oh you horrible, savage beast! You great brute! Drop her! Drop her!
+Drop her instantly! My precious Toinette. My darling!" shrieked
+Toinette's doting mistress. "Peggy, how _can_ you have such a savage
+creature near you? She has crushed every bone in my pet's body. Go away!
+Go away!"
+
+The scorn in Tzaritza's eyes was almost human. With a low growl, she
+dropped the thoroughly cowed poodle at Peggy's feet and then turned and
+stalked from the room, the very picture of scornful dignity. Mrs.
+Stewart snatched the poodle to her breast. There was not a scratch upon
+it save the one inflicted by Sultana, and richly deserved, as the tuft
+of the handsome cat's fur lying upon the floor testified.
+
+"I hardly think you will find her injured, Aunt Katherine. Tzaritza
+never harms any creature smaller than herself unless bidden to. She
+brought Toinette here as much for the little dog's protection as for
+Sultana's."
+
+"Sultana's! As though she needed protection from _this_ fairy creature.
+Horrible, vicious cat! Look at poor Toinette's nose."
+
+"And at poor Sultana's fur," added Peggy, pointing to the tuft upon the
+floor and slightly shrugging her shoulders.
+
+"She deserved it for scratching Toinette's nose."
+
+"I'm afraid the scratch was the second move in the onslaught."
+
+"We will not argue the point, but in future keep that great hound
+outside of the house, and the cat elsewhere than in the dining-room, I
+beg of you--I can't have Toinette's life endangered, or my nerves
+shocked in this manner again."
+
+For a moment Peggy looked at her aunt in amazement. Keep Tzaritza out of
+the house and relegate the Sultana to the servant's quarters? What had
+become of the lady of smiles and compliments whom she had known at New
+London, and who had been at such infinite pains to ingratiate herself
+with Neil Stewart that she had been invited to spend September at
+Severndale? And, little as Peggy suspected it, with the full
+determination of spending the remainder of her days there could she
+contrive to do so. Madam Stewart had blocked out her campaign most
+completely, only "the best laid plans," etc., and Madam had quite
+forgotten to take Mrs. Glenn Harold, Peggy's stanchest champion and
+ally, into consideration. Mrs. Harold had been Peggy's "guide,
+philosopher and friend" for one round year, and Mrs. Harold's niece,
+Polly Howland, was Peggy's chum and crony.
+
+Mrs. Stewart felt a peculiar sensation pass over her as she met the
+girl's clear, steady gaze. Very much the sensation that one experiences
+upon looking into a clear pool whose depth it is impossible to guess
+from merely looking, though one feels instinctively that it is much
+deeper, and may prove more dangerous than a casual glance would lead one
+to believe. Peggy's reply was:
+
+"Of course if you wish it, Aunt Katherine, Tzaritza shall not come into
+the house during your visit here. I do not wish you to be annoyed, but
+on the contrary, quite happy, and, Jerome, please see that Sultana is
+taken to Mammy, and ask her to keep her in her quarters while Mrs.
+Stewart remains at Severndale. Are you ready for your breakfast, Aunt
+Katherine?"
+
+"Quite ready," answered Mrs. Stewart, taking her seat at the table.
+Peggy waited until she had settled herself with the injured poodle in
+her lap, then took her own seat. Jerome had summoned one of the maids
+and given Sultana into her charge, while Tzaritza was bidden "Guard"
+upon the piazza. Never in all her royal life had Tzaritza been elsewhere
+than upon the rug before the fireplace while her mistress' breakfast was
+being served, and it seemed as though the splendid wolfhound, with a
+pedigree unrivalled in the world, stood as the very incarnation of
+outraged dignity, and a protest against insult. Perhaps some vague sense
+of having overstepped the bounds of good judgment, if not good breeding,
+was beginning to impress itself upon Mrs. Peyton Stewart. Certainly she
+had not so thoroughly ingratiated herself in the favor of her niece, or
+her niece's friends during that visit in New London the previous summer,
+as to feel entirely sure of a cordial welcome at Severndale, and to make
+a false start at the very outset of her carefully formed plans was a far
+cry from diplomatic, to say the least. During those weeks at New
+London, when a kind fate had brought her again in touch with her
+brother-in-law after so many years, Mrs. Stewart had done a vast deal of
+thinking and planning. There was beautiful Severndale without a mistress
+excepting Peggy, a mere child, who, in Madam's estimation, did not
+count. Neil Stewart was a widower in the very prime of life and, from
+all Madam had observed, sorely in need of someone to look after him and
+keep him from making some foolish marriage which might end in--well, in
+_not_ keeping Severndale in the family; "the family" being strongly in
+evidence in Mrs. Peyton. Her first step had been to secure an invitation
+to visit there. That done, the next was to remain there indefinitely
+once she arrived upon the scene. To do this she must make herself not
+only desirable but indispensable.
+
+Certainly, the preceding two days had not promised much for the
+fulfillment of her plan. So being by no means a fool, but on the
+contrary, a very clever woman in her own peculiar line of cleverness,
+she at once set about dispelling the cloud which hung over the horizon,
+congratulating herself that she had had sufficient experience to know
+how to deal with a girl of Peggy's age. So to that end she now smiled
+sweetly upon her niece and remarked:
+
+"I am afraid, dear, I almost lost control of myself. I am so attached to
+Toinette that I am quite overcome if any harm threatens her. You know
+she has been my inseparable companion in my loneliness, and when one is
+so utterly desolate as I have been for so many years even the devotion
+of a dumb animal is valued. I have been very, very lonely since your
+uncle's death, Peggy, dear, and you can hardly understand what a
+paradise seems opening to me in this month to be spent with you. I know
+we are going to be everything to each other, and I am sure I can relieve
+you of a thousand burdens which must be a great tax upon a girl of your
+years. I do not see _how_ you have carried them so wonderfully, or why
+you are not old before your time. It has been most unnatural. But now we
+must change all that. Young people were not born to assume heavy
+responsibilities, whereas older ones accept them as a matter of course.
+And that's just what _I_ have come way down here to try to do for my
+sweet niece," ended Mrs. Stewart smiling with would-be fascinating
+coyness. The smile would have been somewhat less complacent could she
+have heard old Jerome's comment as he placed upon the pantry shelf the
+fingerbowls which he had just removed from the table.
+
+"Yas, yas, dat's it. Yo' needn't 'nounce it. We knows pintedly what yo's
+aimin' ter do, an' may de Lawd have mussy 'pon us if yo' _suc_ceeds. But
+dere's shorely gwine be ructions 'fore yo' does, er my name ain't Jerome
+Randolph Lee Stewart."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+RECONSTRUCTION
+
+
+"I have to ride into Annapolis, this morning, Aunt Katherine. Would you
+like to drive in?" asked Peggy, when the unpleasant breakfast was ended.
+
+"I should be delighted to, dear," answered Mrs. Stewart sweetly,
+striving to recover lost ground, for she felt that a good bit had been
+lost. "At what time do you start?"
+
+"Immediately. I will order the surrey."
+
+She left the room, her aunt's eyes following her with a half-mystified,
+half-baffled expression: Was the girl deeper than she had given her
+credit for being? Had she miscalculated the depth of the pool after all?
+
+All through the breakfast hour Peggy had been a sweet and gracious young
+hostess, anticipating every want, looking to every detail of the
+service, ordering with a degree of self-possession which secretly
+astonished Mrs. Stewart, who felt that it would have been difficult for
+her, even with her advantage of years, to have equaled the girl's
+unassuming self-assurance and dignity, or have rivaled her perfect
+ability to sit at the head of her father's table. A moment later Mrs.
+Stewart went to her room to dress for the drive into town, her breakfast
+toilet having been a most elaborate silk negligee. Twenty minutes later
+the surrey stood at the door, but, contrary to Mrs. Stewart's
+expectations, her niece was not in it: she was mounted upon her
+beautiful black horse Shashai, at whose feet Tzaritza lay, her nose
+between her paws, but her ears a-quiver for the very first note of the
+low whistle which meant, "full speed ahead." On either side of Shashai,
+a superb bodyguard, stood Silver Star, Polly Howland's saddle horse,
+though he was still quartered at Severndale, and Roy, the colt that
+Peggy had raised from tiny babyhood, and which had followed her as he
+would have followed his dam, ever since the accident that had made him
+an orphan.
+
+Perhaps the reader of "Peggy Stewart" will recall Mrs. Stewart's horror
+upon being met at the railway station by "the wild West show," as she
+stigmatized her niece's riding and her horses, for rarely did Peggy
+Stewart ride unless accompanied by her two beautiful horses and the
+wolfhound, and her riding was a source of marvel to more than one, her
+instructor having been Shelby, the veteran horse-trainer, who had been
+employed at Severndale ever since Peggy could remember, and whose early
+days had been spent upon a ranch in the far West where a man had to ride
+anything which possessed locomotive powers. At the present moment a more
+appreciative observer would have thrilled at the sight, for rarely is it
+given to mortal eyes to look upon a prettier picture than Peggy Stewart
+and her escort presented at that moment.
+
+Given as a background a beautiful, carefully preserved estate, which for
+generations has been the pride of its owners, a superb old mansion of
+the most perfect colonial type, a sunny September morning, and as the
+figures upon that background a charming young girl in a white linen
+riding-skirt, her rich coloring at its best, her eyes shining, her seat
+in her saddle so perfect that she seemed a part of her mount, and you
+have something to look upon. To this add three thoroughbred horses and a
+snowy dog, an old colored servitor, for Jerome had come out with a
+message from Harrison, and it is a picture to be appreciated. Had the
+tall woman standing upon the broad piazza been able to do so, many
+things which happened later might never have happened at all.
+
+Mrs. Stewart was elaborately gowned in a costume better suited for a
+drive in Newport than Annapolis, especially Annapolis in September. It
+was a striking creation of pale blue linen and Irish point lace, with a
+large lace hat, heavy with nodding plumes and a voluminous white lace
+veil floating out about it. She was a handsome woman in a certain
+conspicuous way, and certainly knew how to purchase her apparel, though,
+not above criticism in her selection of the toilet for the occasion, as
+the present instance evinced. She now walked to the piazza steps, and
+had anyone possessing a sense of humor been a witness of it, the
+transformation which passed over the lady's face en transit would have
+well nigh convulsed him, for the smile which had illumined her
+countenance at the door had gradually faded as she advanced until, when
+the steps were reached, it had been transformed into a most disapproving
+frown.
+
+To Peggy the reason was a mystery, for she had not overheard her aunt's
+comments upon the occasion of the drive from the railway station three
+days before. Of course Jess had, and they had been freely circulated and
+keenly resented in the servants' quarters, but no whisper of them had
+been carried to the young mistress. Nevertheless, Peggy was beginning to
+discover that a good many of her actions, and also the order of things
+at Severndale, had brought a cloud to her Aunt's brow, and a little
+sigh escaped her lips as she wondered what the latest development would
+prove. It seemed so easy for things to go amiss nowadays, when
+heretofore nearly everything had seemed, as a matter of course, to go
+right. Then the self-elected dictator spoke:
+
+"Peggy, dear, are you not to drive with me?"
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Katherine, but I always ride, and I have several
+errands to do which I can better attend to if I am mounted."
+
+"Well, it can hardly be necessary for you to have _three_ saddle horses
+at once. It seems to me unnecessarily conspicuous, and in very bad taste
+for a young girl to go tearing about the country, and especially into
+Annapolis--the capital City of the State--in the guise of a traveling
+circus."
+
+A slight smile curved Peggy's lips as she answered:
+
+"Annapolis is _not_ New York, Aunt Katherine. What might be out of place
+in such a city would be regarded as a matter of course in a little town
+where everybody knows everybody else, and they all know me, and the
+Severndale horses. Nobody ever gives us a thought. Why should they? I'm
+nothing but a girl riding into town on an errand."
+
+"You are extremely modest, I must say. Is it quite native or well--we'll
+dismiss the question, but I must ask you to do me the favor of leaving
+your bodyguard behind today; it may not seem conspicuous for you to play
+in a Wild West Show, but I must decline to be an actor. You are growing
+too old for such mad pranks, and are far too handsome a girl to invite
+observation."
+
+Peggy turned crimson.
+
+"Why, Aunt Katherine, I never regarded it as a prank in the least. I
+have ridden this way all my life and no one has ever commented upon it.
+Daddy Neil knows of it--he has ridden with me hundreds of times
+himself--and never said one word against it. And you surely do not think
+I do it to invite observation? Why, there isn't anything to _observe_. I
+am certainly no better looking than hundreds of other girls; at least,
+you are the only one who has ever commented upon my personal appearance.
+But I beg your pardon; you are my guest. I am sorry. Bud, please call
+Shelby to take Star and Roy back; I don't dare trust them to you."
+
+The little negro boy who had brought Shashai to the doorstep, and who
+had been staring popeyed during the conversation, dashed away toward the
+paddock, to rush upon Shelby with a wild tale of "dat lady f'om de norf
+was a-sassin' Missie Peggy jist scan'lous and orderin' Shelby fer to
+come quick ter holp her."
+
+"What you a-talking about, you little fool nigger?" demanded Shelby.
+Then gathering that something was amiss with the little mistress whom
+all upon the estate adored, he hastened to the house, his face somewhat
+troubled, for hints of the doings up there had penetrated even to his
+quarters.
+
+"Shelby, please take Star and Roy back to the paddock and be sure to
+fasten them in."
+
+"Ain't they a-goin' with you, Miss Peggy?"
+
+"Not this morning, Shelby."
+
+The man looked from the girl to the lady now settling herself in the
+carriage. Toinette still stood upon the piazza waiting to be lifted up
+to her mistress, too fat and too foolish to even go down the steps
+alone. As Shelby stepped toward the horses Mrs. Stewart waved her hand
+toward the dog and said to him:
+
+"Lift Toinette into the surrey."
+
+Shelby paid no more attention to her than he paid to the quarreling jays
+in the holly trees, and the order was sharply repeated.
+
+"Oh, are you a-speakin' to me, ma'am?" he then said.
+
+"Certainly. I wish my dog handed to me."
+
+Shelby looked at the pampered poodle and then at its mistress. Then with
+a guileless smile remarked:
+
+"Now you don't sesso? Well, when I git back to the paddock with these
+here horses what can't go 'long with Miss Peggy, I'll send a little
+nigger boy up here for ter boost your dog up to you, but _I_ tend
+_horses_ on this here place."
+
+The man's dark skin grew several shades darker owing to the blood which
+flooded his cheeks, and his eyes narrowed as he looked for one second
+straight into Mrs. Stewart's. What possessed the woman to antagonize
+everyone with whom she came in touch? Shelby had never laid eyes upon
+her until that moment, but that moment had confirmed his dislike
+conceived from the reports which had come to him. He now went up to the
+horses. Knowing that neither of them had halters on, he had brought two
+with him and now slipped them over his charges' heads, saying as he did
+so:
+
+"You've got to come 'long back with me and keep company manners, do you
+know that, you disrepu'ble gad-abouts? You ain't never had no proper
+eddicatin' an' now it's a-goin' to begin for fa'r. You-all are goin' ter
+be larnt citified manners hot off the bat. So come 'long back to the
+paddock an' git your fust lesson."
+
+The horses toyed and played with him like a couple of children, but went
+pacing away beside him, now and again pulling at his sleeve, poking at
+him with their soft muzzles or mumbling at his cheeks with their velvety
+lips, a pair of petted, peerless creatures and as beautiful as any God
+had ever created. Now and again they stopped short to neigh a peremptory
+call, as though asking the reason of this surprising conduct.
+
+"Are you ready, Aunt Katherine?" asked Peggy.
+
+"As soon as Jerome takes your hound in charge. I don't care to have
+Toinette driven frantic with fear by the sight of her. She will grow so
+excited that I shall be unable to hold her."
+
+Now the past two hours had held a good many annoyances for Peggy Stewart
+to whom annoyances had been almost unknown. Perhaps they constitute the
+discipline of life, but thus far Peggy Stewart had apparently gotten on
+pretty well without any radical chastening processes. Her life had been
+simply, but well, ordered, and her naturally sunny soul had grown sweet
+and wholesome in her little world. If correction had been necessary
+Mammy's loving old heart had known how to order it during Peggy's
+babyhood; Harrison had carefully watched her childhood, and her young
+girlhood had been most beautifully developed by her guardian, good Dr.
+Llewellyn, who loved her as a grand-daughter. Then had come Mrs. Harold,
+who had done so much for the young girl. Why could it not have gone on?
+
+Perhaps the ordering of Peggy's life had been too smooth to develop the
+best in her character, so Kismet, or whatever it is which shapes the odd
+happenings of our lives, had stepped in to lay a hurdle or two to test
+her ability to meet obstacles. Since seven-thirty that morning she had
+met little else in one form or another, and had taken them rather
+gracefully, all things considered. Her breakfast had been delayed an
+hour; the breakfast itself had been far from the pleasant meal it
+usually proved; she had been needlessly criticised for her habit of
+riding with her beloved horses; and now poor Tzaritza, after being
+banished the house, was to be debarred from following her young
+mistress; something unheard of, since the hound had acted as Peggy's
+protectress ever since she could follow her. The blood flooded into the
+girl's face, as turning to her Aunt she said very quietly, but with a
+dignity which Mrs. Stewart dared not encroach upon:
+
+"I am very sorry to seem in any way discourteous or disobliging, Aunt
+Katherine, but Daddy Neil and Compadre, have always wished Tzaritza to
+accompany me when I ride. I have never felt any fear but they feel
+differently, as there are, of course, some undesirable characters
+between Severndale and Annapolis, and they consider Tzaritza a great
+protection against any possible annoyance. We will ride on ahead, since
+it is likely to annoy you, but I must go into Annapolis this morning.
+Another time I shall drive with you, but I can't ask you to drive where
+I must ride today. When you see some of the Annapolitan streets you will
+understand why. They have not been re paved since the first pavements
+were laid generations ago, and you would be most uncomfortable. Be
+careful where you drive, Jess. I will meet you at the Bank."
+
+There was a graceful bow to Mrs. Stewart, a slight pressure of the knee
+against Shashai, a low whistle to Tzaritza and she had whirled and was
+away like the wind.
+
+Madam Stewart drew a quick breath and compressed her thin lips until
+they formed barely a line, and during that drive into Annapolis did some
+rapid thinking. Evidently she had made another mistake.
+
+As Peggy rode along the highway which led to Annapolis, the usual merry,
+lilting songs, to which Shashai's hoofbeats kept time, were silenced,
+and the girl rode in deep thought. Shashai tossed his head impatiently
+as though trying to attract her attention, and now and again Tzaritza
+bounded up to her with a deep, questioning bark. Peggy smiled a little
+abstractedly and said:
+
+"Your Missie is doing some hard thinking, my beauties and doesn't feel
+songful this morning." Then after a moment she resumed:
+
+"O Shashai, what _is_ the matter with everything? Am _I_ all wrong, or
+is Aunt Katherine different from everybody else? I have never met anyone
+just like her before, and I feel just exactly as though someone had
+drawn a file across my teeth, and I dare say that's all wrong too. If
+the Little Mother and Polly were only here they'd know how to make me
+see things differently, but I seem to get in wrong at every turn. Aunt
+Katherine has been here only two days, but what days they have been! And
+ten times more to follow before the month ends!"
+
+Shashai had gradually slowed down until he was walking with his own
+inimitably dainty step, his hoofs falling upon the leaf-strewn road with
+the lightness of a deer's. Presently they came to a pretty wood-road
+leading almost at angles to the highway, but Peggy was again too
+occupied to notice that Tzaritza had turned into it and that Shashai, as
+a matter of course, had followed her. Annapolis could be reached by this
+less frequented way but it made a wide detour, leading past Nelly
+Bolivar's home. As they struck the refreshing coolness of the byway
+Shashai broke into what Peggy called his "rocking-chair gait," though
+she was so much a part of him that she was hardly aware of the more
+rapid motion. Her first clear intimation that her route had changed
+occurred when a cheerful voice called out:
+
+"And she wandered away and away into the land o' dreams, my princess."
+
+Peggy raised her head quickly and the old light flashed back into her
+eyes, the old smile curved her lips as she cried:
+
+"Why, Nelly Bolivar! How under the sun came I here?"
+
+"In the usual way, I reckon, Miss Peggy. I don't often see you come in
+any other. But this time you sure enough look as though you had been
+dreaming," laughed Nelly, coming close to Shashai, who instantly
+remembered his manners and neighed his greeting, while Tzaritza thrust
+her head into the girl's arms with the gentlest insinuation. Nelly held
+the big head close, rested her face against it a second, then took
+Shashai's soft muzzle in both hands and planted a kiss just where it was
+most velvety, saying softly:
+
+"I can't imagine you three separated. The picture would not be complete.
+But what is wrong, Miss Peggy? You look so sober you make me feel
+queer," for the smile had gone from the girl's face and Nelly was quick
+to feel the seriousness of her expression.
+
+"Perhaps I'm cross and cranky, Nelly. At any rate I've no business to be
+here this minute. I started for Annapolis, but my wits got
+wool-gathering, I reckon, and I let Shashai turn in here without
+noticing where he was going. Aunt Katherine will reach Annapolis before
+I do and--then--" and Peggy stopped and wagged her head as though
+pursuit of the subject would better be dropped. Nelly's face clouded. It
+had not required the two days of Mrs. Stewart's visit to circulate a
+good many reports concerning her. Indeed both Jerome and old Mammy had
+described her at length, and the description had lost nothing upon their
+African tongues, nor had the experiences of the three months spent up
+north: Madam Stewart had figured rather conspicuously in their pictures
+of the "doin's up yander." Had she suspected how accurately the old
+colored people had gauged her, or how great an influence their gauging
+was likely to have upon the plans she had so carefully laid, she might
+have been a little more circumspect in her conduct toward them. But to
+her they were "just black servants" and she was entirely incapable of
+weighing their influence in the domestic economy, or of understanding
+their shrewd judgment as to the best interests of the young girl whom
+each, in common with all the other old servants upon the estate, loved
+with a devotion absolutely incomprehensible to most northern-born
+people. And another potent fact, entirely absent from the
+characteristics of the northern negro, is the fact that the southern
+negro servants' "kinnery" instantly adopts and maintains the viewpoint
+of those "nearest the throne." It is a survival of the old feudal
+system, unknown in the cosmopolitan North, but which even in this day,
+so remote from the days of slavery, makes itself very distinctly felt in
+many parts of the South.
+
+And many of the servants upon the Severndale estate had been there for
+three generations. Hence Peggy was their "chile," and her joys or
+sorrows, happiness or unhappiness, were theirs, and all their kin's, to
+be talked over, remedied if possible, but shared if not, or made a part
+of their own delight in living, as the case might demand. And the
+ramifications of their kinship were amazing. No wonder the report that
+"an aunt-in-law ob de yo'ng mistress yonder at Severndale, had done come
+down an' ondertuck fer ter run de hull shebang _an'_ Miss Peggy inter de
+bargain, what is never been run by nobody," had circulated throughout
+the whole community, and met with a resolute, though carefully concealed
+opposition--subtle, intangible, but sure to prove overwhelming in the
+end--the undertow, so hidden but so irresistible. All this had stolen
+from one pair of lips to another and, of course, been related with
+indignant emphasis to Jim Bolivar, Nelly's father, one of the tenants of
+Severndale's large estate. And he, in turn, had discussed it with Nelly,
+who worshipped the very ground Peggy chose to stand upon, for to Peggy
+Stewart Nelly owed restored health, her home rescued when ruin seemed
+about to claim everything her father owned, and all the happiness which
+had come into her lonely life.
+
+No wonder she now looked up to the deep brown eyes with her own blue
+ones troubled and distressed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+HOSTILITIES SUSPENDED
+
+
+During her drive into Annapolis Madam Stewart did more deep thinking
+than it was generally given to her shallow brain to compass. Like most
+of her type, she possessed a certain shrewdness, which closely touched
+upon cunning when she wished to gain her ends, but she had very little
+real cleverness, and practically no power of logical deduction.
+
+Today, however, she had felt antagonism enveloping her as a fog, and
+would have been not a little surprised to realize that its most potent
+force lay in Peggy's humble servitors rather than in Peggy herself. From
+the old darkey driving her, so deferentially replying to her questions,
+and at such pains to point out everything of interest along the way, she
+felt it radiate with almost tangible scorn and hostility, and yet to
+have saved her life she could not have said: "He is remiss in this or
+that."
+
+They drove into Annapolis by the bridge which crosses the Severn just
+above the Naval Hospital, and from which the whole Academy is seen at
+its best, with the wide sweep of the beautiful Chesapeake beyond. Jess
+pointed out everything most carefully. Then on they went across College
+Creek bridge, up College Avenue, by historic old St. Ann's and drew up
+at the Bank to meet Peggy. Mrs. Stewart looked about her in undisguised
+disappointment and asked:
+
+"Is _this_ the capital city of the State of Maryland? _This_ little
+town?"
+
+Jess' mouth hardened. He loved the quaint old town and all its
+traditions. So did his young mistress. It had always meant home to her,
+and to many, many generations of her family before her. The old "Peggy
+Stewart" house famous in history, though no longer occupied by her own
+family, still stood, a landmark, in the heart of the town and was
+pointed to with pride by all.
+
+"Dis sho' is de capital city ob de State, Ma'am. Yonder de guv'nor's
+mansion, jist over dar stan' de co't house, an' yonder de Cap'tal an'
+all de yether 'ministrashum buildin's, an' we'all's powerful proud ob
+'em."
+
+Mrs. Stewart smiled a superior smile as she replied:
+
+"I have heard that the South is not progressive and is perfectly
+apathetic to conditions. It _must_ be. Heavens! Look at these streets!
+They are perfectly disgusting, and the odor is horrible. I shall be
+glad to drive home."
+
+"De town done been pave all mos' all new," bridled Jess. "Dis hyar
+pavement de bes' ob brick. Miss Peggy done tole me ter be keerful whar I
+drive yo' at, an' I tecken yo' on de very be's."
+
+"And what, may I inquire, is your very worst then? Have you no street
+cleaning department in your illustrious city?"
+
+"We suttenly _has_! Dey got six men a-sweeping de hull endurin' time."
+
+"What an overwhelming force!" and Mrs. Stewart gave way to mirth.
+
+It was fortunate that Peggy should have arrived at that opportune
+moment, for there is no telling what might have occurred: Jess's
+patience was at the snapping-point. But Peggy's talk with Nelly Bolivar
+had served to restore her mental equilibrium to a certain degree--and
+her swift ride into Annapolis had completed the process. It was a sunny,
+smiling face which drew up to the surrey and greeted Mrs. Stewart. Peggy
+had made up her mind that she would not let little things annoy her, and
+was already reproaching herself for having done so. She had resolved to
+keep her temper during her aunt's visit if a whole legion of tormenting
+imps were let loose upon her.
+
+Three weeks of Mrs. Stewart's visit passed. Upon her part, three weeks
+of striving to establish a firmer foothold in the home of her
+brother-in-law; to obtain the place in it she so ardently coveted--that
+of mistress and absolute dictator. But each day proved to her that she
+was striving against some vaguely comprehended opposition. It did not
+lie in Peggy, that she had the grace to concede, for Peggy had complied
+with every wish, which she had graciously or otherwise, expressed,
+except the one debarring Tzaritza from following Shashai when she rode
+abroad, and be it said to Peggy's credit that she had held to her
+resolution in spite of endless aggravations, for Madam was a past
+mistress of criticism either spoken or implied. Never before in all her
+sunny young life had Peggy been forced to live in such an atmosphere.
+
+Little by little during those weeks Mrs. Stewart had pre-empted Peggy's
+position as mistress of the household; a position held by every claim of
+right, justice and natural development, for Peggy had grown into it, and
+its honors and privileges rested upon her young shoulders by right of
+inheritance. She had not rushed there, or forced her claim to it, hence
+had it been gradually given into her hands by old Mammy, her nurse,
+Harrison, the trusty housekeeper, and at length, as she had more and
+more clearly demonstrated her ability to hold it, by Dr. Llewellyn, her
+guardian, who regarded it as an essential part of a Southern
+gentlewoman's education.
+
+Then had come Mrs. Harold, whose tact and affection seemed to supply
+just the little touch which the young girl required to round out her
+life, and fit her to ultimately assume the entire control of her
+father's home.
+
+But all this was entirely beyond Mrs. Stewart's comprehension. Her own
+early life had been passed in a small New Jersey village in very humble
+surroundings. She had been educated in the little grammar school, going
+later to an adjoining town for a year at high-school. In her home,
+domestic help of any sort had been unknown, she and her mother, an
+earnest, hard-working woman, having performed all the household work.
+There were no traditions connected with that simple home; it was just an
+everyday round of commonplace duties, accepted as a matter of course.
+Then Mrs. Stewart, at that time "pretty Kitty Snyder," went as a sort of
+"mother's helper" to a lady residing in Elizabeth, whose brother was in
+a New Jersey College. Upon one of his visits to his sister he had
+brought Peyton Stewart home for a visit: Peyton, the happy-go-lucky,
+irresponsible madcap. Kitty Snyder's buxom beauty had turned all that
+was left to be turned of his shallow head and she had become Mrs. Peyton
+Stewart within a month.
+
+The rest has been told elsewhere. For a good many years she had "just
+lived around" as she expressed it, her income from her husband's share
+of the very comfortable little fortune left him by his father, being a
+vast deal more than she had ever dreamed of in her youthful days. She
+felt very affluent. All things considered, it was quite as well that
+Peyton had quit this earthly scene after two years of married life for
+"Kitty" had rapidly developed extravagant tastes and there were many
+"scenes." Her old associates saw her no more, and later the new ones
+often wondered why the dashing young widow did not marry again.
+
+They did not suspect how often her plans laid to that end had
+misscarried, for her ambitions were entirely out of proportion to her
+qualifications.
+
+Now, however, chance had brought her once more in touch with her
+husband's family, and she was resolved to make hay while the sun shone.
+If Neil Stewart had not been an odd mixture of manly strength and
+child-like simplicity, exceptional executive ability and credulity,
+kindliness and quick temper, he would never in the wide world have
+become responsible for the state of affairs at present turning his old
+home topsy-turvy, and in a fair way to undo all the good works of
+others, and certainly make Peggy extremely unhappy.
+
+But he had "made a confounded mess of the whole job," he decided upon
+receiving a letter from Peggy. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say
+upon reading between the lines, because it was not so much what Peggy
+had _said_ as that which she left unsaid, which puzzled him, and to
+which puzzle Harrison supplied the key in her funny monthly report.
+Never in all the ten years of her stewardship had she failed to send her
+monthly letter.
+
+Harrison was a most conscientious old body if somewhat below par in
+educational advantages. Nevertheless, she had filled her position as
+nurse, maid and housekeeper to Peggy's mother for over thirty years,
+and to Peggy for ten more and her idea of duty was "Peggy first, Martha
+Harrison second." Her letter to Neil Stewart, which he read while his
+ship was being overhauled in the Boston Navy Yard, set him thinking. It
+ran:
+
+     Severndale, Maryland.
+     September 21, 19--
+
+     Captain Neil Stewart,
+     U. S. N.
+
+     Respected Sir:--
+
+     As has been my habit these many years, I take my pen in hand to
+     make my monthly report concerning the happenings and the events of
+     the past month. Most times there isn't many of either outside the
+     regular accounts which, praises be, ain't never got snarled up none
+     since I've had the handling of them.
+
+     As to the past three weeks considerable has took place in this
+     quiet, peaceful (most times, at least) home, and I ain't quite sure
+     where I stand at, or am likely to. Things seem sort of stirred
+     round. Like enough we-all are old-fashioned and considerable sot in
+     our ways and can't rightly get used to new-fangled ones. Then, too,
+     we--I speak for everybody--find it kinder hard to take our orders
+     from anybody but Miss Peggy, who has got the right to give them,
+     which we can't just see that anybody else _has got_. Howsoever,
+     some folks seem to think they have, and what I am trying to get at
+     is, _have they_? If I have got to take them from other folks, why,
+     of course I have got to, but it has got to be _you_ that tells me I
+     must.
+
+     Up to the present time I seem to have been pretty capable of
+     running things down here, though I am free to confess I was right
+     glad when Mrs. Harold come along as she done, to give me a hint or
+     two where Miss Peggy was concerned, for that child had taken to
+     growing up in a way that was fair taking the breath out of my body,
+     and was a-getting clear beyond _me_ though, praises be, she didn't
+     suspicion the fact. If she had a-done it _my_ time would a-come for
+     sure. But the good Lord sent Mrs. Harold to us long about that time
+     and she was a powerful help and comfort to us all. _He_ don't make
+     no mistakes as a rule and I reckon we would a done well to let well
+     enough alone and not go trying to improve on his plans for us. When
+     we do that the _other one_ is just as likely as not for to take a
+     hand in the job and if he ain't a-kinder stirring round on these
+     premises right this very minute I'm missing my guess and sooner or
+     later there is going to be ructions.
+
+     Cording to the way _we_-all think down here Miss Peggy's mighty
+     close to the angels, but maybe we are blinded by the light o'love,
+     so to speak. Howsoever and nevertheless, we have got along pretty
+     comfortable till _lately_ when we have begun to discover that our
+     educasyons has been terribl neglected and we have all got to be
+     took in hand. _And we are being took powerful strong, let me tell
+     you!_ It is some like a Spanish fly blister: It may do good in the
+     end but the means thereto is some harrowing to the flesh and the
+     spirit.
+
+     I don't suppose there is no hope of your a-visiting your home
+     before the ship is ordered South for the fall target practice, more
+     is the pity. Tain't for me to name nothing but I wish to the Lord
+     Mrs. Harold was here. SHE is a lady--Amen.
+
+                                Your most humble and obedient housekeeper,
+                                        Martha Harrison.
+
+The day after this letter was written Dr. Llewellyn 'phoned to Peggy
+that he would return at the end of the week and if quite agreeable would
+like to pass a few days at Severndale with her, as his own housekeeper
+had not yet returned from her holiday.
+
+Peggy was in an ecstasy of joy. To have Compadre under her own roof from
+Saturday to Monday would be too delightful. Brimful of her pleasurable
+anticipations, and more like the natural, joyous girl of former days
+than she had been since leaving Mrs. Harold and Polly, she flew to the
+piazza where her aunt, arrayed in a filmy lingerie gown, reclined in one
+of the big East India chairs. For a moment she forgot that she did not
+hold her aunt's sympathies as she held Mrs. Harold's, and cried:
+
+"Oh, Aunt Katherine, Compadre will be here on Friday evening and will
+remain until Monday! Isn't that too good to believe?"
+
+"Do you mean Dr. Llewellyn?" asked Mrs. Stewart, coldly.
+
+"Yes, Aunt Katherine, you had no chance to know him before he went away,
+but you will just love him."
+
+"Shall I?" asked Mrs. Stewart with a smile which acted like a wet
+blanket upon poor Peggy.
+
+"But why do you call him by that absurd name? Why not call him Dr.
+Llewellyn?"
+
+"Call him Dr. Llewellyn?" echoed Peggy. "Why, I have never called him
+anything else since he taught me to call him by that dear name when I
+was a wee little thing."
+
+"And do you expect to cling to childish habits all your days, Peggy
+dear? Isn't it about time you began to think about growing up? Sit here
+upon this cushion beside me. I wish to have a serious talk with you and
+this seems a most opportune moment. I have felt the necessity of it ever
+since my arrival, but have refrained from speaking because I feared I
+might be misjudged and do harm rather than good. Sit down, dear."
+
+Mrs. Stewart strove to bring into her voice an element of deep interest,
+affection was beyond her,--and Peggy was sufficiently intuitive to feel
+it. Nevertheless, if anything could have appealed to this self-centered
+woman's affection it ought surely to have been the young girl who
+obediently dropped upon the big Turkish cushion, and clasping her hands
+upon the broad arm of the chair, looked up into the steely, calculating
+eyes with a pair so soft, so brown, so trustful yet so perplexed, that
+an ordinary woman would have gathered her right into her arms and
+claimed all the richness and loyalty of affection so eager to find an
+outlet. If it could only have been Mrs. Harold, or Polly's mother, how
+quick either would have been to comprehend the loving nature of the girl
+and reap the reward of it.
+
+Mrs. Stewart merely smiled into the wild-rose face in a way which she
+fondly believed to accentuate her own charms, and tapping the pretty
+brown hands with her fan, said:
+
+"I am growing extremely proud of my lovely niece. She is going to be a
+great credit to me, and, also, I foresee, a great responsibility."
+
+"A responsibility, Aunt Katherine?" asked Peggy, a perplexed pucker upon
+her forehead. "Have I been a responsibility to you since you came here?
+I am sorry if I have. Of course I know my life down here in the old home
+is quite different from most girls' lives. I didn't realize that until I
+met Mrs. Harold and Polly and then, later, went up to New London and saw
+more of other girls and the way they live. But I have been very happy
+here, Aunt Katherine, and since I have known Mrs. Harold and Polly a
+good many things have been made pleasanter for me. I can never repay
+them for their kindness to me."
+
+Peggy paused and a wonderfully sweet light filled her eyes, for her love
+for her absent friends was very true and deep, and speaking of them
+seemed to bring them back to the familiar surroundings which she knew
+they had grown to love so well, and where she and Polly had passed so
+many happy hours.
+
+Mrs. Stewart was not noted for her capacity for deep feeling and was
+more amused than otherwise affected by Peggy's earnest speech,
+classifying it as "a girl's sentimentality." Finer qualities were wasted
+upon that lady. So she now smiled indulgently and said:
+
+"Of course I can understand your appreciation of what you consider Mrs.
+Harold's and her niece's kindness to you, but, have you ever looked upon
+the other side of the question? Have you not done a great deal for them?
+It seems to me you have quite cancelled any obligation to them. It must
+have been some advantage to them to have such a lovely place as this to
+visit at will, and, if I can draw deductions correctly, to practically
+have the run of. It seems to me there was considerable advantage upon
+_their_ side of the arrangement. You, naturally, can not see this, but
+I'll venture to say Mrs. Harold was not so unsophisticated," and a pat
+upon Peggy's hand playfully emphasized the lady's charitable view.
+
+Peggy felt bewildered and her hands fell from the arm of the chair to
+her lap, though her big soft eyes never changed their gaze, which proved
+somewhat disconcerting to the older woman who had the grace to color
+slightly. Peggy then rallied her forces and answered:
+
+"Aunt Katherine, I am sure neither Mrs. Harold nor Polly ever had the
+faintest idea of any advantage to themselves in being nice to me. Why in
+this world should they? They have ten times more than _I_ could ever
+give to them. Why think of how extensively Mrs. Harold has traveled and
+what hosts of friends she has! And Polly too. Goodness, they let me see
+and enjoy a hundred things I never could have seen or enjoyed
+otherwise."
+
+Mrs. Stewart laughed a low, incredulous laugh, then queried:
+
+"And you the daughter of Neil Stewart and a little Navy girl? Really,
+Peggy, you are deliciously _ingenue_. Well, never mind. It is of more
+intimate matters I wish to speak, for with each passing day I recognize
+the importance of a radical reconstruction in your mode of living. That
+is what I meant when I said I foresaw greater responsibilities ahead.
+You are no longer a child, Peggy, to run wild over the estate,
+but--well, I must not make you vain. In a year or two at most, you will
+make your _début_ and someone must provide against that day and be
+prepared to fill properly the position of chaperone to you. Meantime,
+you must have proper training and as near as I can ascertain you have
+never had the slightest. But it can not be deferred a moment longer. It
+is absolutely providential that I, the only relative you have in this
+world, should have met you as I did, though I can hardly understand how
+your father overlooked the need so long. Perhaps it was from motives of
+unselfishness, though he must have known that I stood ready to make any
+sacrifice for my dear dead Peyton's brother." Just here Mrs. Peyton's
+feelings almost overcame her and a delicate handkerchief was pressed to
+her eyes for a moment.
+
+Ordinarily tender and sympathetic to the last degree, Peggy could not
+account for her strange indifference to her aunt's distress. She simply
+sat with hands clasped about her knees and waited for her to resume the
+conversation. Presently Madam emerged from her temporary eclipse and
+said:
+
+"Forgive me, dear, my feelings quite overcame me for a moment. To
+resume: I know dear Neil would never ask it of me, but I have been
+thinking very seriously upon the subject and have decided to forget
+self, and my many interests in New York, and devote my time to you. I
+shall remain with you and relieve you of all responsibility in this
+great household, a responsibility out of all proportion to your years.
+Indeed, I can not understand how you have retained one spark of girlish
+spontaneity under such unnatural conditions. Such cares were meant for
+older, more experienced heads than your pretty one, dear. It will be a
+joy to me to relieve you of them and I can not begin too soon. We will
+start at once. I shall write to your father to count upon me for
+everything and, if he feels so disposed, to place everything in my
+hands. Furthermore, I shall suggest that he send you to a fine school
+where you will have the finishing your birth and fortune entitle you to.
+You know absolutely nothing of association, with other girls,--no,
+please let me finish," as Peggy rose to her feet and stood regarding her
+aunt with undisguised consternation, "I know of a most excellent school
+in New York, indeed, it is conducted by a very dear friend of mine,
+where you would meet only girls of the wealthiest families" (Mrs.
+Stewart did not add that the majority had little beside their wealth to
+stand as a bulwark for them; they were the daughters of New York City's
+newly rich whose ancestry would hardly court inspection) "and even
+during your school days you would get a taste of New York's social
+advantages; a thing utterly impossible in this dull--ahem!--this remote
+place. I shall strongly advise dear Neal to consider this. You simply
+cannot remain buried here. _I shall_, of course, since I feel it my duty
+to do so, but I can have someone pass the winter with me, and can make
+frequent trips to Washington."
+
+Mrs. Stewart paused for breath. Peggy did not speak one word, but with a
+final dazed look at her aunt, turned and entered the house.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+HOSTILITIES RESUMED
+
+
+As Peggy left the piazza her aunt's eyes followed her with an expression
+which held little promise for the girl's future happiness should it be
+given into Mrs. Stewart's keeping. A more calculating, triumphant one,
+or one more devoid of any vestige of affection for Peggy it would have
+been hard to picture. As her niece disappeared Mrs. Stewart's lips
+formed just two words, "little fool," but never had she so utterly
+miscalculated. She was sadly lacking in a discrimination of values.
+Peggy had chosen one of two evils; that of losing her temper and saying
+something which would have outraged her conception of the obligations of
+a hostess, or of getting away by herself without a moment's delay. She
+felt as though she were strangling, or that some horrible calamity
+threatened her. Hurrying to her own room she flung herself upon her
+couch and did that which Peggy Stewart was rarely known to do: buried
+her head in the cushions and sobbed. Not the sobs of a thwarted, peevish
+girl, but the deeper grief of one who feels hopeless, lonely and
+wretched. Never in her life had she felt like this. What was the meaning
+of it?
+
+Those who were older and more experienced, would have answered at once:
+Here is a girl, not yet sixteen years of age, who has led a lonely life
+upon a great estate, remote from companions of her own age, though
+adored by the servants who have been upon it as long as she can
+remember. She has been regarded as their mistress whose word must be law
+because her mother's was. Her education has been conducted along those
+lines by an old gentleman who believes that the southern gentlewoman
+must be the absolute head of her home.
+
+About this time there enters her little world a woman whose every
+impulse stands for motherhood at its sweetest and best, and who has
+helped all that is best and truest in the young girl to develop, guiding
+her by the beautiful power of affection. All has been peace and harmony,
+and Peggy is rapidly qualifying in ability to assume absolute control in
+her father's home.
+
+Then, with scarcely a moment's warning, there is dropped into her home
+and daily life a person with whom she cannot have anything in common,
+from whom she intuitively shrinks and cannot trust.
+
+Under such circumstances the present climax is not surprising.
+
+Peggy's whole life had in some respects been a contradiction and a cry
+for a girl's natural heritage--a mother's all-comprehending love. The
+love that does not wait to be told of the loved one's needs and
+happiness, but which lives only to foresee what is best for her and to
+bring it to pass, never mind at what sacrifice to self. Peggy had missed
+_that_ love in her life and not all the other forms combined had
+compensated.
+
+Until the previous year she had never felt this; nor could she have put
+it into words even at the present moment. She only knew that in Polly's
+companionship she had been very, very happy and that she was terribly
+lonely without her. That in Mrs. Harold she had found a friend whom she
+had learned to love devotedly and trust implicitly, and that in the
+brief time Mrs. Howland, Polly's mother, had been in Annapolis and at
+New London, she had caught a glimpse of a little world before undreamed
+of; a world peculiarly Polly's and her mother's and which no other human
+being invaded. Mrs. Howland had just such a little world for each of her
+daughters and for the son-in-law whom she loved so tenderly. It was a
+world sacred to the individual who dwelt therein with her. There was a
+common world in which all met in mutual interests, but she possessed the
+peculiar power of holding for each of her children their own "inner
+shrine" which was truly "The Holy of Holies."
+
+Although Peggy had known and loved Mrs. Harold longest, there was
+something in Mrs. Howland's gentle unobtrusive sweetness, in her hidden
+strength, which drew Peggy as a magnet and for the first time in her
+life she longed for the one thing denied her: such a love as Polly
+claimed.
+
+But it seemed an impossibility, and her nearest approach to it lay in
+Mrs. Harold's affection for her.
+
+Peggy was not ungrateful, but what had befallen the usual order of
+things? Was this aunt, with whom, try as she would, she could not feel
+anything in common, about to establish herself in the home, every turn
+and corner of which was so dear to her, and utterly disrupt it? For this
+Peggy felt pretty sure she would do if left a free hand. Already she had
+most of the old servants in a state of ferment, if not open hostility.
+They plainly regarded her as an interloper, resented her assumption of
+rule and her interference in the innumerable little details of the
+household economy. Her very evident lack of the qualities which,
+according to their standards, stood for "de true an' endurin' quality
+raisin'," made them distrust her.
+
+Now the "time was certainly out of joint" and poor little Peggy began to
+wonder if she had to complete the quotation.
+
+All that has been written had passed like a whirlwind through Peggy's
+harassed brain in much less time than it has taken to put it on paper.
+It was all a jumble to poor Peggy; vague, yet very real; understood yet
+baffling. The only real evidences of her unhappiness and doubt were the
+tears and sobs, and these soon called, by some telepathic message of
+love and a life's devotion, the faithful old nurse who had been the
+comforter of her childish woes. For days Mammy had been "as res'less an'
+onsettled as a yo'ng tuckey long 'bout Thanksgivin' time," as she
+expressed it, and had found it difficult to settle down to her ordinary
+routine of work during the preceding two weeks. She prowled about the
+house and the premises "fer all de 'roun worl' like yo' huntin'
+speerits," declared Aunt Cynthia, the cook.
+
+"Huh!" retorted Mammy, "I on'y wisht I could feel dat dey was frien'ly
+ones, but I has a percolation dat dey's comin' from _below_ stidder
+_above_."
+
+So perhaps this explains why she went up to Peggy's room at an hour
+which she usually spent in her own quarters mending. Long before she
+reached the room she became aware of sounds which acted upon her as a
+spark to a powder magazine, for Mammy's loving old ears lay very close
+to her heart.
+
+With a pious "Ma Lawd-God-Amighty, what done happen?" she flew down the
+broad hall and, being a privileged character, entered the room without
+knocking. The next second she was holding Peggy in her arms and almost
+sobbing herself as she besought her to tell "who done hurt ma baby? Tell
+Mammy what brecken' yo' heart, honey-chile."
+
+For a few moments Peggy could not reply, and Mammy was upon the point of
+rushing off for Harrison when Peggy laid a detaining hand upon her and
+commanded:
+
+"Stop, Mammy! You must not call Harrison or anyone else. There is really
+nothing the matter. I'm just a silly girl to act like this and I'm
+thoroughly ashamed of myself." Then she wiped her eyes and strove to
+check a rebellious sob.
+
+"Quit triflin'! Kingdom-come, is yo' think I'se come ter ma dotage? When
+is I see you a cryin' like dis befo'? Not sense yo' was kitin' roun' de
+lot an' fall down an' crack yo' haid. Yo' ain' been de yellin',
+squallin' kind, an' when yo' begins at dis hyar day an' age fer ter
+shed tears dar's somethin' pintedly wrong, an' yo' needn' tell me dar
+ain't. Now out wid it."
+
+Mammy was usually fiercest when she felt most deeply and now she was
+stirred to the very depth of her soul.
+
+"Why, Mammy, I don't believe I could tell you what I'm crying for if I
+tried," and Peggy smiled as she rested her head upon the shoulder which
+had never failed her.
+
+"Well, den, tell me what yo' _ain't_ cryin' fo', kase ef yo' ain't
+cryin' fer somethin' yo' _want_ yo' shore mus' be a-crying fo' somethin'
+yo' _don't_ want," was Mammy's bewildering argument. "An' I bait yo' I
+ain't gotter go far fer ter ketch de thing yo' _don'_ want neither," and
+the old woman looked ready to deal with that same cause once it came
+within her grasp.
+
+Peggy straightened up. This order of things would never do. If she acted
+like a spoiled child simply because someone to whom she had taken an
+instinctive dislike had come into her home, she would presently have the
+whole household demoralized.
+
+"Mammy, listen to me."
+
+Instinctively the blood of generations of servitude responded to Peggy's
+tone.
+
+"I have been terribly rude to a guest. I lost my temper and I'm ashamed
+of myself."
+
+"What did you say to her, baby?"
+
+"I didn't say anything, I just acted outrageously."
+
+"An' what _she_ been a-sayin' ter yo'?"
+
+Peggy only colored.
+
+Mammy nodded her bead significantly. "Ain't I _know_ dat! Yo' cyant tell
+_me_ nothin' 'bout de Stewart blood. No-siree! I know it from Alphy to
+Omegy; backards an' forrards. Now we-all kin look out fer trouble ahead.
+But I'se got dis fer ter say: Some fools jist nachelly go a-prancin' an'
+a-cavortin' inter places whar de angils outen heaven dassent no mo'n
+peek. If yo' tells me I must keep ma mouf shet, I'se gotter keep it
+shet, but Massa Neil is allers a projectin' 'bout ma safety-valve, an'
+don' yo' tie it down too tight, honey, er somethin' gwine bus' wide open
+'fore long. Now come 'long an' wash yo' purty face. I ain' like fer ter
+see no tears-stains on _yo'_ baby. No, I don'. Den yo' go git on Shashai
+an' call yo' body-gyard and 'Z'ritza an' yo' ride ten good miles fo' yo'
+come back hyer. By _dat_ time yo' git yo' min' settle down an' yo'
+stummic ready fo' de lunch wha' Sis' Cynthia gwine fix fo' yo'. I seen
+de perjections ob it an' it fair mak' ma mouf run water lak' a dawg's.
+Run 'long, honey," and Mammy led the way down the side stairs, and
+watched Peggy as she took a side path to the paddock.
+
+As she was in and out of her saddle a dozen times a day she wore a
+divided skirt more than half the time--another of Mrs. Stewart's
+grievances--and upon reaching the paddock her whistle soon brought her
+pets tearing across it to her. Their greeting was warm enough to banish
+a legion of blue imps, and a joyous little laugh bubbled to her lips as
+she opened the paddock gate and let the trio file through. Then in the
+old way she sprang upon Shashai's back and with a gay laugh cried:
+
+"Four bells for the harness house."
+
+Away they swept, as Peggy's voice and knees directed Shashai, Tzaritza,
+who had joined Peggy as she stepped from the side porch, bounding on
+ahead with joyous barks.
+
+Peggy called for a bridle, which Shelby himself brought, saying as he
+slipped the light snaffle into Shashai's sensitive mouth and the
+headstall over his ears:
+
+"So you've bruck trainin', Miss Peggy, an' are a-going for a real
+old-time warm-up? Well, I reckon it's about time, an' the best thing you
+can do, for you look sort o' pinin' an' down-in-the-mouth. Light out,
+little girl, an' come back lookin' like you uster; the purtiest sight
+God ever created for a man, woman or child ter clap eyes on. Take good
+care of her, Shashai, and you too, Tzaritza, cause you won't get
+another like her very soon."
+
+Shelby's eyes were quick to discern the traces of Peggy's little storm,
+and he was by no means slow in drawing deductions. Peggy blushed, but
+said:
+
+"I guess Daddy was right when he said I'd better go to school this year.
+You-all will spoil me if I stay here. Good-by, dear old Shelby, I love
+everyone on the place even if they do spoil me," and away she swept, as
+bonny a little bareback rider as ever sat a horse.
+
+Meanwhile, up at the house events were shaping with the rapidity of a
+moving picture show.
+
+When Peggy left her so abruptly Madam Stewart sat still for a few
+moments, pondering her next step. She had arrived at some very definite
+conclusions and intended carrying them out without loss of time. Her
+first move in that direction led her into the library where she wrote a
+letter to her brother-in-law. It was while she was thus occupied that
+Mammy had found Peggy and sent her for her ride. Then Mammy sought
+Harrison. Ordinarily, Mammy would have died before consulting Harrison
+about anything concerning Peggy, but here was a common issue, and if
+Mammy did not know that a house divided against itself must fall, she
+certainly felt the force of that argument. In Harrison she found a
+sympathetic listener, for the old housekeeper had been made to feel
+Mrs. Stewart's presence in the house in hundreds of irritating little
+ways. Mammy told of finding Peggy in tears, though she could not, of
+course, tell their cause. But Harrison needed no cause: the tears in
+themselves were all the cause she required to know.
+
+Their conversation took place in the pantry and at the height of
+Harrison's protest against the new order of things a footfall was heard
+in the dining-room beyond. Thinking it Jerome's and quite ready to add
+one more to their league of defenders of Peggy's cause, Harrison pushed
+open the swinging door and stepped into the dining-room with all of her
+New England-woman's nervous activity. Mrs. Stewart stood in the room
+surveying with a critical, calculating eye, every detail of its stately,
+chaste appointments, for nothing had ever been changed.
+
+Mrs. Stewart looked up as Harrison bounced in.
+
+"O Harrison, you are exactly the person I wished to speak with," she
+said. "There are to be a few changes made in Mr. Stewart's domestic
+arrangements. In future I shall assume control of his home and relieve
+Miss Peggy of all responsibility. You may come to me for all orders."
+
+She paused, and for the moment Harrison was too dumbfounded to reply,
+while Mammy in the pantry, having overheard every word, was noiselessly
+clapping her old hands together and murmuring: "Ma Lawd! Ma Lawd! _Now_
+I knows de sou'ce ob dat chile's tears." Before Harrison could recover
+herself Mrs. Stewart continued:
+
+"Dr. Llewellyn will be here tomorrow for the weekend, and as I am to be
+mistress of the household it is more seemly that I preside at the head
+of the table. Tell Jerome that I shall sit there in future. And now I
+wish you to take me through the house that I may know more of its
+appointments than I have thus far been able to learn."
+
+Without a word Harrison led the way into the hall, and up the beautiful
+old colonial stairway.
+
+Peggy's sitting-room and bed-room were situated at the south-east corner
+of the house overlooking the bay. Back of her bath and dressing-rooms
+were two guest rooms. A broad hall ran the length of the second story
+and upon the opposite side of it had been Mrs. Neil Stewart's pretty
+sitting-room, which corresponded with Peggy's and her bed-room separated
+from her husband's by the daintiest of dressing and bath-rooms. Neil
+Stewart's "den" was at the rear. Beyond were lavatories, linen-room,
+house-maid's room and every requirement of a well-ordered home.
+
+Mrs. Peyton began by entering Peggy's sitting-room, a liberty she had
+not hitherto taken, but she felt pretty sure Peggy was not in the house.
+At any rate she had made her plunge and did not mean to be diverted from
+her object now. Martha Harrison was simply boiling with wrath at the
+intrusion.
+
+"You are a wonderfully capable woman, Martha. I see I shall have very
+light duties," was Mrs. Peyton's patronizing comment.
+
+"_Harrison_, if you please, ma'am," emphasized that person.
+
+"Oh, indeed? As you prefer. Now let me see the rooms on the opposite
+side of the hall."
+
+Perhaps had Mrs. Peyton asked Harrison to lead her into the little
+mausoleum, built generations ago in the whispering white pine grove upon
+the hill back of the house, it could not have been a greater liberty or
+sacrilege. Not so great, possibly. In all the nine years nothing had
+been changed. They were sacred to the entire household and especially
+sacred to Harrison who had held it her especial privilege to keep them
+immaculate. In the bed-room the toilet and dressing tables held the same
+articles Mrs. Neil had used; her work-table stood in the same sunny
+window. In the sitting-room the books she loved and had read again and
+again were in the case, or lying upon the tables where she had left
+them. It seemed as though she might have stepped from the room barely
+ten minutes before. There was nothing depressing about it. On the
+contrary, it impressed upon the observer the near presence of a sweet,
+cultivated personality. The sitting-room was a shrine for both Peggy and
+her father, and it was his wish that it be kept exactly as he had known
+and loved it during the ideal hours he had spent in it with wife and
+child. He and Peggy had spent many a precious one there since its
+radiant, gracious mistress had slept in the pine grove. Harrison crossed
+the hall and opened the door, still mute as an oyster. Mrs. Stewart
+swept in, Toinette, who had followed her, tearing across the room ahead
+of her and darting into every nook and corner. At that moment the
+obnoxious poodle came nearer her doom than she had ever come in all her
+useless life, for Harrison was a-quiver to hurl her through the open
+window.
+
+"What charming rooms," exclaimed Madam, trailing languidly from one to
+the other, touching a book here, some exquisite curio there, the carved
+ivory toilet articles on the dresser. The morning sunlight, tempered by
+the green and white awnings at the great bowed-windows filled the
+tastefully decorated rooms with a restful glow. They were beautiful
+rooms in every sense of the word.
+
+"Very charming indeed and very useless apparently. They seem not to have
+been occupied in months. They are far more desirable than those assigned
+to me at the North side of the house. The view of the bay is perfect. As
+I am to be here indefinitely, instead of one month only, you may have my
+things moved over to this suite, Harrison. I shall occupy it in future."
+
+"Occupy _this_ suite?" Harrison almost gasped the words.
+
+"Certainly. Why not? You need not look as though I had ordered you to
+build a fire in the middle of the floor," and Mrs. Peyton laughed half
+scornfully.
+
+"Excuse me, ma'am, but when _Mr. Neil_ gives the order to move your
+things into this suite, I'll move them here. These was his wife's rooms
+and his orders to me was never to change 'em and I never shall 'till
+_he_ tells me to. There's some things in this world that can't be
+tampered with. Please call your dog, ma'am; she's scratchin' that couch
+cover to ribbons."
+
+The enemy's guns were silenced for the time being. She picked up her
+poodle and swept from the room. Harrison paused only long enough to
+close all the doors, lock them and place the keys in her little hand
+bag. Then she departed to her own quarters to give vent to her pent-up
+wrath.
+
+Mrs. Stewart retired to her own room.
+
+The next evening Dr. Llewellyn arrived and when he took his seat at the
+table his gentle face was troubled: Mrs. Peyton had usurped Peggy's
+place at the head. Peggy sat opposite to him. She had accepted the
+situation gracefully, not one word of protest passing her lips and she
+did her best to entertain her guests. But poor old Jerome's soul was so
+outraged that for the first time in his life he was completely
+demoralized. Only one person in the entire household seemed absolutely
+and entirely satisfied and that was Harrison, and her self-satisfaction
+so irritated Mammy that the good old creature sputtered out:
+
+"Kingdom come, is yo' gittin' ter de pint when yo' kin see sich
+gwines-on an' not r'ar right spang up an' _sass_ dat 'oman?"
+
+"Just wait!" was Harrison's cryptic reply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+RUCTIONS!
+
+
+Jerome had just passed a silver platter to Madam Stewart, his hands
+trembling so perceptibly as to provoke from her the words: "Have you a
+chill, Jerome?" as she conveyed to her plate some of Cynthia's
+delicately fried chicken.
+
+Jerome made no answer, but started toward Peggy's chair. He never
+reached it, for at that moment a deep voice boomed in from the hall:
+
+"Peggy Stewart, ahoy!"
+
+With the joyous, ringing cry of:
+
+"Daddy Neil! Oh, Daddy Neil!" Peggy sprang from the table to fling
+herself into her father's arms, and to startle him beyond words by
+bursting into tears. Never in all of his going to and fro, however long
+his absences from his home, had he met with such a reception as this.
+Invariably a smiling Peggy had greeted him and the present outbreak
+struck to the very depth of his soul, and did more in one minute to
+reveal to him the force of Harrison's letter than a dozen complaints.
+The tears betrayed a nervous tension of which even Peggy herself had
+been entirely unaware, and for Peggy to have reached a mental condition
+where nerves could assert themselves was an indication that chaos was
+imminent. For a moment she could only sob hysterically, while her father
+held her close in his arms and said in a tone which she had never yet
+heard:
+
+"Why, Peggy! My little girl, my little girl, have you needed Daddy Neil
+as much as this?"
+
+Peggy made a gallant rally of her self-control and cried:
+
+"Oh, Daddy, and everybody, please forgive me, but I am so surprised and
+startled and delighted that I don't know what I'm doing, and I'm so
+ashamed of myself," and smiling through her tears she strove to draw
+away from her father that he might greet the others, but he kept her
+close within his circling left arm, as he extended his hand in response
+to the effusive greeting of his sister-in-law.
+
+With what she hoped would be an apologetic smile for Peggy's untoward
+demonstration, Mrs. Stewart had risen to welcome him.
+
+"We must make allowances for Peggy, dear Neil. You came so very
+unexpectedly, you know. I hardly thought my letter would be productive
+of anything so delightful for us all."
+
+"I fear it was not wholly, Katherine. I had several others also. How
+are you, Doctor? I see you haven't quite abandoned the ship. Well, I'm
+glad of that; I need my executive officer and my navigator also."
+
+At the concluding words Mrs. Peyton smiled complacently. Who but she
+could fill that office? But Captain Stewart's next words dissipated that
+smile as the removal of a lantern slide causes the scene thrown upon the
+screen to vanish.
+
+"Yes, indeed, my navigator must get busy. She's had a long leave, but I
+need her now and she's never failed me in heavy weather. She'll report
+for duty on the thirtieth, thank the powers which be. Hello, Jerome!
+What's rattled you like this? Next time I set my course for home I'd
+better send a wireless, or I'll demoralize the whole personnel," and
+Neil Stewart's hearty laugh brought a sympathetic smile to Dr.
+Llewellyn's and Peggy's lips.
+
+And well it might, for in the background the minor characters in the
+little drama had filled a rôle all their own. In the doorway stood
+Harrison, bound to witness the outcome of her master-stroke and
+experiencing no small triumph in it. Behind her Mammy, with
+characteristic African emotion, was doing a veritable camp-meeting song
+of praise, though it was a _voiceless_ song, only her motions indicating
+that her lips were forming the words, "Praise de Lawd! Praise Him!" as
+she swayed and clasped her hands.
+
+But Jerome outdid them all: At his first glimpse of the master he was so
+flustered that he nearly collapsed where he stood, and his platter had a
+perilous moment. Then, crying, "Glory be!" he beat a hasty retreat
+intending to place it upon his serving table, but growing bewildered in
+his joy, inadvertently set it upon a large claw-foot sofa which stood at
+the end of the dining-room, where Toinette, ever upon the alert, and
+_not_ banished from the dining-room as poor Tzaritza had been, promptly
+pounced upon the contents, and in the confusion of the ensuing ten
+minutes laid the foundation for her early demise from apoplexy.
+
+"Brace up, Jerome, I'm too substantial to be a ghost, and nothing short
+of one should bowl you over like this," were Captain Stewart's hearty
+words to the old man as he shook his hand.
+
+"Asks yo' pardon, Massa Neil! I sho' does ask yo' pardon fer lettin'
+mysef git so flustrated, but we-all's so powerful pleased fer ter see
+yo', an' has been a-wanting yo' so pintedly, that--that--that--but, ma
+Lawd, I--I--I'se cla'r los' ma senses an', an--Hi! look yonder at dat
+cusséd dawg _an'_ ma fried chicken!"
+
+For once in her useless life Toinette had created a pleasing diversion.
+With a justifiable cry of wrath Jerome pounced upon her and plucked her
+from the platter, in which for vantage she had placed her fore feet.
+Flinging her upon the floor, he snatched up his dish and fled to the
+pantry, Neil Stewart's roars of laughter following him. Toinette rolled
+over and over and then fled yelping into her mistress' lap to spread
+further havoc by ruining a delicate silk gown with her gravy-smeared
+feet. Tzaritza, who had followed her master into the room, looked upon
+the performance with a superior surprise. Neil Stewart laid a caressing
+hand upon the beautiful head and said laughingly:
+
+"You'd blush for that little snippin-frizzle if you could, wouldn't you,
+old girl? Well, it's up to you to teach her better manners. She's young
+and flighty. The next time she starts in on any such rampage, just pick
+her up and carry her out, as any naughty child should be carried.
+Understand?"
+
+"Woof-woof," answered Tzaritza, deep down in her throat.
+
+"She's wise all right. After this you can leave that midget of yours in
+her care, Katherine. But now let's get busy. I'm upon the point of
+famishing. Come, Peggy, honey; rally your forces and serve your old
+Daddy."
+
+Peggy turned toward her aunt. Not until that moment had her father been
+aware of the change made at his table. Then it came to him in a flash,
+and Mrs. Peyton was hardly prepared for the change which overspread his
+countenance as he asked:
+
+"Peggy, why have you allowed your aunt to assume the obligations of
+hostess? Have you lost your ability to sit at the head of my table,
+daughter?"
+
+Poor Peggy! It was well she understood or she would have been nearly
+heartbroken at the rebuke. Mrs. Peyton answered for her:
+
+"Little Peggy had far too much upon her young shoulders, dear Neil. So I
+have volunteered to relieve her of some of her duties. I am happy to be
+able to do so."
+
+"Indeed, Katherine, we are all under deep obligation to you, I am sure,
+but Peggy hardly seems overborne by her burdens, and it is my wish that
+my daughter shall preside in her mother's place at my table. Jerome,
+Mrs. Stewart is to be relieved of this obligation after this meal. You
+are to be quite free of all responsibility during your visit with us,
+Katherine. And now, little girl, let me look at you. July, August, and,
+let me see, twenty-five days of September since I left you? Nearly
+three months. You manage to do remarkable things in a brief time,
+little daughter. But I fancy by the time I get back here again they will
+be more remarkable. Great plans are simmering for you; great plans," and
+her father nodded significantly across at her.
+
+Peggy was too happy to even ask what they were. She could only smile and
+nod back again.
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Stewart had used her napkin to scrub off her besmirched
+poodle's feet and had then surreptitiously thumped her down upon her lap
+where the table-cloth would conceal her. At Captain Stewart's concluding
+words she felt her hopes revive a trifle. She was a fair actress when it
+served her turn. So now smiling across the table she said:
+
+"So you have decided to consider my suggestion, Neil?"
+
+"In one respect, yes, Katherine. I see plainly that things can no longer
+go on as they have been going. Llewellyn concurs in that." He glanced
+toward the Doctor, who nodded gravely.
+
+"I do most fully. Our halcyon days must end, I fear, as all such days do
+eventually, and we must meet the more prosaic side of life. Let us hope
+it will assume a pleasing form. I am loth to hand in my resignation as
+Dominie Exactus, however," he ended with a smile for Peggy.
+
+Peggy looked puzzled, and glanced inquiringly from one to the other. Her
+father stretched forth a hand and laid it over hers which rested upon
+the edge of the table:
+
+"Smooth out the kinks in your forehead, honey. Nothing distressing is to
+happen."
+
+"Hardly," agreed Mrs. Stewart. "On the contrary, if your father acts
+upon my suggestion something very delightful will be the outcome, I am
+sure. I feel intuitively that you approve of my plan regarding the
+school, Neil."
+
+Peggy started slightly, and looked at her father. He nodded and smiled
+reassuringly, then turning toward his sister-in-law, replied:
+
+"Your letter, Katherine, only served to convince me that Peggy must now
+have a broader horizon than Severndale, or even Annapolis affords. Dr.
+Llewellyn and I talked it over when I was home over a year ago, and
+again last June. When we first discussed it we were about as much at sea
+as the 'three wise men of Gotham' who launched forth in a tub. We needed
+a better craft and a pilot, and we needed them badly, I tell you, and at
+that time we hadn't sighted either. Then the 'Sky Pilot' took the job
+out of our hands and He's got it yet, I reckon. At any rate, indications
+seem to point that way, for on my way down here He ran me alongside my
+navigator and it didn't take her long to give me my bearings. She got
+on board the limited at Newark, N. J., and we rode as far as Philly
+together. She had three of her convoys along and they're all to the
+good, let me tell you."
+
+"Oh, Daddy, did you really meet Mrs. Harold and Polly, and who was with
+them?" broke in Peggy eagerly.
+
+"I surely did, little girl; Mrs. Harold, Polly, Ralph and Durand. She
+was on her way for a week's visit with some relatives just out of
+Philly--in Devon, I believe, a sort of house-party, she's
+chaperoning--and a whole bunch of the old friends are to be there. Well,
+I got the 'Little Mother' all to myself from Newark to Philly and we
+went a twenty-knot clip, I tell you, for big as I am, I was just
+bursting to unload my worries upon someone, and that little woman seems
+born to carry the major portion of all creation's. She gets them, any
+way, and they don't seem to feaze her a particle. She bobs up serene and
+smiling after ever comber. But I've yet to see the proposition she
+wouldn't try to tackle. Oh, we talked for fair, let me tell you, and in
+those two hours she put more ideas into this wooden old block of mine
+than it's held in as many months. Did your ears burn this afternoon,
+Peggy? You are pretty solid in _that_ direction, little girl, and you'll
+never have a better friend in all your born days, and don't you ever
+forget _that_ fact. Well, the upshot is, that next Friday, one week from
+today, Middie's Haven will have its tenant back and, meantime, she is to
+write some letters and lay a train for _your_ welfare, honey. That
+school plan is an excellent plan, Katherine, but not a New York school:
+New York is too far away from home _and_ Mrs. Harold. Peggy will go to
+Washington this winter. Hampton Roads is not far from Washington and
+the ---- will put in there a number of times this winter. That gives _me_
+a chance to visit my girl oftener and also gives Peggy a chance to visit
+Mrs. Harold, and run out here now and again if she wishes, though the
+place will be practically closed up for the winter. It was very good of
+you to offer to remain here but I couldn't possibly accept that
+sacrifice; for all your interests lie in New York, as you stated in your
+letter to me. You still have your apartments there, you tell me, and to
+let you bury yourself down here in this lonely place would be simply
+outrageous. Even Peggy has been here too long, without companions."
+
+Neil Stewart paused to take some nuts from the dish which Jerome, now
+recovered and beaming, held for him. Mrs. Stewart could have screamed
+with baffled rage, for, now that it was too late, she saw that she had
+quite overshot the mark, and given her brother-in-law a complete
+advantage over her designs. "And that hateful, designing cat!" as she
+stigmatized Mrs. Harold "had completed her defeat." She had gauged her
+brother-in-law as "a perfect simpleton where a woman was concerned," and
+never had she so miscalculated. He _was_ easygoing when at home on
+leave, or off on one of his outings, as he had been when she met him in
+New London. Why not? When he worked he worked with every particle of
+energy he possessed, but when he "loafed," as he expressed it, he cast
+all care to the winds and was like an emancipated school-boy. It was the
+school-boy side of his nature she had gauged. She knew nothing of Neil
+Stewart the Naval Officer and man; hadn't the very faintest conception
+of his latent force once it was stirred. And she little guessed how she
+_had_ stirred it by her letter written the morning she had made Peggy so
+unhappy. It was the one touch needed to bring the climax and it had
+brought it with a rush which Mrs. Peyton had little anticipated. What
+the outcome might have been had Neil Stewart not met Mrs. Harold on that
+train is impossible to surmise further than that he had fully decided to
+free himself of all connection with Peyton's widow. He had always
+disliked and distrusted her, but now he detested her. Peggy's letters
+had revealed far more than she guessed, though they had not held one
+intended criticism. She had written just as she had written ever since
+she promised him when he visited her the previous year, to send "a
+report of each day, accurate as a ship's log." But she could not write
+of the daily happenings without giving him a pretty graphic picture of
+Mrs. Stewart's gradual usurpation, and Harrison had felt no compunction
+in expressing _her_ views.
+
+And so the "best laid plans o' mice and (wo)men" had "gone agley" in a
+demoralizing manner, and Neil Stewart had come down to Severndale "under
+full headway," and wasted no time in "laying hold of the helm." That
+talk upon the train had been what he termed "one real old
+heart-to-hearty," for Mrs. Harold had foreseen just such a crisis and
+felt under no obligation to refrain from speaking her mind where Mrs.
+Stewart was concerned. She had seen just such women before. Captain
+Stewart had asked her to read the letters sent to him. She nearly had
+hysterics over Harrison's, but Peggy's brought tears to her eyes, for
+she loved the girl very dearly and understood her well. Mrs. Stewart's
+letter made her eyes snap and her mouth set firmly, as she said:
+
+"Captain Stewart, you have asked my advice and I shall give it exactly
+as though Peggy were my daughter, for I could hardly love her and Polly
+more dearly if they were my own children. I am under every obligation of
+affection to Peggy but not the slightest to Mrs. Stewart, and from all I
+observed in New London she is by no means the woman to have control over
+a girl like Peggy. She is one of the most lovable girls I have ever
+known, but at the same time has one of the most distinct personalities
+and the strongest wills. She can be easily guided by combined wisdom and
+affection, but she would be ruined by association with a calculating,
+unrefined, or capricious nature, and, pardon my frankness, I consider
+Mrs. Peyton Stewart all of these. Peggy needs association with other
+girls--that is only natural--and we must secure it at once for her."
+
+Neil Stewart laid her words to heart, and the ensuing week brought to
+pass some radical changes.
+
+On the thirtieth of September the whole brigade of midshipmen came
+pouring back to Annapolis, the academic year beginning on October first.
+
+On the thirtieth also came Mrs. Glenn Harold and her niece Polly
+Howland, brown, happy and refreshed by their summer's outing, and Polly
+eager to meet her old friends at the Academy and her chum Peggy.
+
+October first falling upon Sunday that year the work at the Academy
+would not begin until Monday, and, although the midshipmen had to report
+on September thirtieth, Sunday was to a certain extent a holiday for
+them and on that afternoon a rare treat was planned for some of them by
+Captain Stewart.
+
+On Sunday morning Neil Stewart, with Mrs. Stewart and Peggy drove into
+Annapolis to attend service at the Naval Academy Chapel where their
+entrance very nearly demoralized Polly Howland, no hint of their
+intention having been given her. They were a little late in arriving and
+the service had already begun. As Polly was rising from her knees after
+the first prayer Peggy was ushered into the pew, and Polly, _Polly_
+under all circumstances, cried impulsively:
+
+"Oh, lovely!" her voice distinctly audible in the chancel. Whether the
+Chaplain felt himself lauded for the manner in which he had read the
+prayer, or was quick to guess the cause of that unusual response, it is
+not necessary to decide. Certain, however, were two or three distinct
+snickers from some pews under the gallery, and Polly nearly dove under
+the pew in front of her.
+
+There was no chance for the thousand and one topics of vital importance
+to be even touched upon while the service was in progress, but once the
+recessional rolled forth Peggy's and Polly's tongues were loosened and
+went a-galloping.
+
+"Oh, Daddy has a plan for the afternoon which is the dearest ever,"
+announced Peggy, the old light back in her eyes, and the old enthusiasm
+in her voice.
+
+"Tell it right off then. Captain Stewart's plans are the most wonderful
+ever. I'll never forget New London," cried Polly.
+
+"Why, he wants you and the Little Mother and Durand and Ralph and Jean
+and Gordon--"
+
+"Gordon?" echoed Polly, a question in her eyes.
+
+Peggy nodded an emphatic little nod, her lips closing in a half-defiant,
+half who-dares-dispute-his-judgment little way, then the smile returned
+to the pretty mouth and she continued, "Yes, Gordon Powers and his
+room-mate, great, big Douglas Porter, and Durand's new room-mate, Bert
+Taylor, he comes from Snap's old home, so Daddy learned, to come out to
+Severndale this afternoon for a real frolic."
+
+She got no further for they had reached the terrace in front of the
+Chapel by that time where greetings were being exchanged between many
+mutual friends and the two girls, so widely known to all connected with
+the Academy were eagerly welcomed back.
+
+Meanwhile, out on the main walk the Brigade had broken ranks and the
+midshipmen were hurrying up to greet their friends. Captain Stewart was
+a favorite with all, and one of the very few officers who could recall
+how the world looked to him when _he_ was a midshipman. Consequently, he
+was able to enter into the spirit and viewpoint of the lads and was
+always greeted with an enthusiasm rare in the intercourse between the
+midshipmen and the officers. Mrs. Harold was their "Little Mother," as
+she had been for the past five years, and Peggy and Polly the best and
+jolliest of companions and chums, their "co-ed cronies," as they called
+them.
+
+Mrs. Stewart they had met in New London, but there was a very
+perceptible difference in their greeting to that lady: It was the
+formal, perfunctory bow and handclasp of the superficially known
+midshipman; not the hearty, spontaneous one of the boy who has learned
+to trust and love someone as Mrs. Harold's boys loved and trusted her.
+
+The crowd which had poured out of the Chapel was soon dispersed, as
+everybody had something to call him elsewhere. Our group sauntered
+slowly toward the Superintendent's home where Captain Stewart left them
+and went in to make his request for the afternoon's frolic. It was
+promptly granted and orders were given to have a launch placed at his
+disposal at two-thirty P.M.
+
+Such a treat, when least expected, sent the boys into an ecstatic frame
+of mind, and when the bugle sounded for dinner formation they rushed
+away to their places upon old Bancroft's Terrace as full of enthusiasm
+as though averaging eight and ten instead of eighteen and twenty years
+of age.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A NEW ORDER OF THINGS
+
+
+That Sunday afternoon of October first, 19-- was vital with portent for
+the future of most of the people in this little story.
+
+It took but a short time to run out to Severndale, and once there Neil
+Stewart made sure of a free hour or two by ordering up the horses and
+sending the young people off for a gallop "over the hills and far away."
+Shashai, Silver Star, Pepper and Salt for Peggy, Polly, Durand and
+Ralph, who were all experienced riders, and four other horses for
+Douglas, Gordon, Jean and Bert, of whose prowess he knew little. He need
+not have worried, however, for Bert Taylor came straight from a South
+Dakota ranch, Gordon Powers had ridden since early childhood and Douglas
+Porter had left behind him in his Southern home two hunters which had
+been the joy of his life. But Jean Paul Nicholas, Ralph's little
+pepper-pot of a room-mate, had never ridden a horse in his life, and the
+running he would come in for at the hands of his fellow midshipmen if
+they suspected that fact might have made almost any other lad hesitate
+before taking his initial spin in the company of experts. Not so little
+Jean Paul with his broad shoulders, the brace of an Admiral and his
+five-feet-six-inches; a veritable little bantam-cock, and game to the
+finish.
+
+As the happy cavalcade set off, waving merry farewells to the older
+people gathered upon the piazza, Tzaritza bounding on ahead, their route
+led them past the paddock where Shelby and old Jess, with several others
+connected with the estate, stood watching them. Shelby as an old hand
+and privileged character, took off his hat and waved it hilariously, as
+he called out:
+
+"Well _that_ is one sight worth while, Miss Peggy. We've got our _own_
+girl back again, praises be!" while old Jess echoed his enthusiasm by
+shouting:
+
+"Praise de Lawd we _has_, an' we got de boss yander, too!"
+
+"Sure thing, Shelby!" answered Durand.
+
+"He's all right, Shelby!" cried Ralph.
+
+"Nicest Daddy-Neil in the world," was Polly's merry reply, then added,
+"Oh, Peggy, look at Roy! He's crazy to come with us," for Roy, the
+little colt Peggy had raised, was now a splendid young creature though
+still too young to put under the saddle.
+
+Peggy looked toward the paddock where Roy was running to and fro in the
+most excited manner and neighing loudly to his friends.
+
+"Let him come, Shelby, please," she called, and the foreman opened the
+gate. Roy darted through like a flash, giving way to all manner of mad
+antics, rushing from one four-footed companion to another, with a
+playful nip at one, a wild Highland-fling-of-a-kick at another, a
+regular rowdy whinny at another, until he had the whole group infected,
+but funniest of all, Jean Paul's mount, the staid, well-conducted old
+Robin Adair, whose whole fifteen years upon the estate had been one long
+testimony to exemplary behavior, promptly set about demonstrating that
+when the usually well-ordered being does "cut loose" he "cuts loose for
+fair."
+
+Jean Paul was essentially a sailor-laddie, the direct descendant of many
+sailor-laddies, and he was "built upon nautical lines," so said Ralph.
+On the summer cruise just ended he had demonstrated his claim to be
+classed among his sire's confrères, for let the ship pitch and toss as
+it would, his legs never failed him, his stomach never rebelled and his
+head remained as steady and clear as the ship's guiding planet.
+
+But he found navigating upon land about as difficult as a duck usually
+finds it, and was about as well qualified to bestride and ride a horse
+as that waddling bird is. Consequently, he had "heaved aboard" his
+mount with many well concealed misgivings, but up to the present moment
+none of his friends had even suspected his very limited experience as a
+horseman, but truth to tell, never before in his life had Jean Paul's
+legs crossed anything livelier than one of the gymnasium "side horses."
+Now, however, the cat was about to escape from the bag, for Robin Adair,
+flinging decorum and heels behind him, set forth on a mad gallop to
+overhaul Roy, who had elected to set the pace for the others. Whinnying,
+prancing, cavorting, away Roy tore in the lead, Robin Adair hot-foot
+upon him, Jean Paul striving manfully to keep his pitching seat, which
+he felt to out-pitch any deck ever designed by man. In about two minutes
+the pair were a hundred yards in the lead, Jean's cap had sailed airily
+from his head, and after flaunting into Silver Star's face, had roosted
+upon a near-by shrub. Jean himself promptly decided that reins were a
+delusion and a snare (Robin's mouth _was_ hard) and let them go to grasp
+the pommel of his Mexican saddle. But even that failed to steady him in
+that outrageous saddle, nor were stirrups the least use in the world;
+his feet were designed to stick to a pitching deck, not those senseless
+things. In a trice both were "sailing free" and--so was Jean. As Robin's
+hind legs flew up Jean pitched forward to bestride the horse's neck; as
+he bounded forward Jean rose in the air to resume his seat where a
+horse's crupper usually rests.
+
+Oh it was one electrifying performance and not a single move of it was
+lost upon his audience which promptly gave way to hoots and yells of
+diabolical glee, at least the masculine portion of it did, while Polly
+and Peggy, though almost reduced to hysterics at the absurd spectacle,
+implored them to "stop yelling like Comanches and _do_ something."
+
+"_Aren't_ we doing something? Aren't we encouraging him and helping on a
+good show?" "Oh, get onto that hike!" "Gee whiz, Commodore, if you jibe
+over like that you'll go by the board." "Put your tiller hard a-port."
+"Haul in on your jib-sheet," "Lash yourself to the main-mast or you'll
+drop off astern," were some of the encouraging words of advice which
+rattled about Jean's assailed ears, as the space grew momentarily wider
+between him and his friends, those same friends wilfully holding in
+their mounts to revel in "the show."
+
+But Jean's patience and endurance were both failing. He could have slain
+Robin Adair, and he was confident that his spine would presently shoot
+through the crown of his head. So flinging pride to the four winds, he
+shouted:
+
+"Hi, come on here one of you yelling chumps, this craft's
+steering-gear's out of commission! Overhaul her and take her in tow. I'd
+rather pay a million salvage than navigate her another cable's length."
+
+"'Don't give up the ship!'" "'Never say die!'" "Belay, man, belay!" were
+the words hurled back until Peggy crying:
+
+"You boys are the very limit!" pressed one knee against Shashai's side
+and said softly: "Four Bells, Shashai."
+
+Robin Adair was no match for Shashai. Robin was as good a hackney as
+rider ever bestrode, but Shashai was a thoroughbred hunter with an Arab
+strain. Ten mighty bounds took him to Robin's head and for Peggy to
+swing far out of her saddle, grasp the dangling reins, speak the word of
+command which all her horses knew, loved and obeyed, took less time than
+it has taken to write of it.
+
+"One Bell, Shashai. Robin, halt! Steady!" and Jean Paul's mount came to
+a standstill with Jean Paul sitting upon its haunches, and Jean Paul's
+eyes snapping, and Jean Paul's teeth biting his tongue to keep from
+uttering words "unbecoming an officer and a gentleman;" for "being
+overhauled by a girl" after he had "made a confounded fool of himself
+trying a land-lubber's stunt" was not a rôle which seemed in any degree
+an edifying one to him.
+
+To her credit be it said, Peggy managed to keep a straight face as she
+turned to look at her disgruntled guest, which was more than could be
+said of his companions who came crowding upon him, even Polly's
+self-control being taxed beyond the limit.
+
+"Why didn't you tell me you'd never ridden?" asked Peggy, her lips sober
+but her eyes dancing.
+
+"Because it would have knocked the whole show on the head," answered
+Jean, yanking himself forward into the saddle which only a moment before
+had seemed to be in forty places at once.
+
+"So you decided to be the whole show yourself instead! You're a dead
+game sport, Commodore. Bully for you!" cried Durand, slipping from his
+mount to examine the "rigging of the Commodore's craft."
+
+"Do you want to try it again?" asked Polly.
+
+"Will a fish swim?" answered Jean. "Do you think I'm going to let this
+side-wheeler shipwreck me? Not on your life, Captain. Clear out, the
+whole bunch of you chumps. If I've got to cross the equator I'll have
+the escort of ladies, not a bunch of rough-necks. Beat it! You let a
+_girl_ overhaul and slow down this cruiser and now you're all ready to
+come in for a share of the salvage. Get out! Clear out! Beat it! Take
+'em away, Captain, and leave me the Admiral. She can give everyone of
+you the lead by a mile and then overhaul you on the first tack. Get out,
+for I'm going to take a riding lesson and I'm going to pay extra and
+have a private one."
+
+"Yes, do go on ahead, and, Polly, call Roy. He is responsible for
+Robin's capers but he will behave if you take him in charge."
+
+"Come on, Roy--and all other incorrigibles," laughed Polly, unsnapping
+her second rein and slipping it around Roy's silky neck. Roy loved and
+obeyed Polly almost as readily as Peggy, and cavorted off beside her as
+gay as a grig.
+
+"We'll report heavy weather and a disabled ship, messmate," called
+Ralph.
+
+"Report and hanged. You'll see us enter port all skee and ship-shape, and
+don't you fool yourself, my cock sure wife (Bancroft Hall slang for a
+room-mate), so so-long. Now come on, Peggy, and put me wise to
+navigating this craft, for it has me beat to a standstill."
+
+"Go on, people; we'll follow presently and when we overhaul you you'll
+be treated to a demonstration of expert horsemanship," called Peggy
+after the laughing, joking group, her own and Jean's laughs merriest of
+all.
+
+"Now get busy in earnest," she said to the half-piqued lad, whose face
+wore an expression of "do or die" as he again mounted his steed.
+
+"You can just bet your last nickel I'm going to! Great Scott, do you
+think I'm going to let _this_ beat me out, or that yelling mob out
+yonder see me put out of commission? Now fire away. Show me how to keep
+my legs clamped and to sit in the saddle instead of on this beast's left
+ear."
+
+As Peggy was a skilled teacher and Jean an apt pupil the combination
+worked to perfection, and when in a half-hour's time they joined the
+main body of the cavalcade, Jean had at least learned where a saddle
+rests and had trained his legs to "clamp" successfully.
+
+Meanwhile, back on Severndale's broad piazza Peggy was the subject of a
+livelier discussion than she would have believed possible, and the
+upshot of it was a decision which carried Neil Stewart, Mrs. Harold,
+herself, and Polly off to Washington early the following morning to
+visit a school of which Mrs. Harold knew. Mrs. Stewart was very
+courteously asked to accompany the party of four, which was to spend
+three or four days in the Capital, but Mrs. Stewart was distinctly
+chagrined at her failure to carry successfully to a finish the scheme
+which she felt she had so carefully thought out. Alas, she could not
+understand that she sorely lacked the most essential qualities for its
+success--unselfishness, disinterestedness, the finer feeling of the
+older woman for the younger, and all that goes to make womanhood and
+maternal instinct what they should be. She felt that her reign at
+Severndale was ended and nothing remained but to make as graceful a
+retreat as possible. So she declined the invitation, stating that she
+was very anxious to visit some friends in Baltimore and would take this
+opportunity to do so, going by a later train.
+
+Neil Stewart did not press his invitation. He wanted Mrs. Harold and the
+girls to himself for a time and knowing that it would be his last
+opportunity to see them for many months, resolved to make the most of
+it. Not by word or act had he expressed disapproval of Mrs. Stewart's
+rather extraordinary line of conduct since her arrival at Severndale,
+though evidences of it were to be seen at every turn, and both
+Harrison's and Mammy's tongues were fairly quivering to describe in
+detail the experiences of the past month.
+
+Harrison was wise enough not to criticise, but she lost no opportunity
+for asking if she were to carry out this, that, or some other order of
+Mrs. Stewart's, until poor Neil lost his temper and finally rumbled
+out:
+
+"Look here, Martha Harrison, how long have you been at Severndale?"
+
+"Nigh on to twenty years, sir, and full fifteen years with that blessed
+child's mother before she ever heard tell of this place. I took care of
+her, as right well you know, long before she was as old as Miss Peggy."
+
+"And have I ever ordered any changes made in her rules?"
+
+"None to my knowledge, sir. They was pretty sensible ones and there
+didn't seem any reason to change them."
+
+"Well, you're pretty long-headed, and until you _do_ see reason to
+change 'em let 'em stand and quit pestering _me_. You're the Exec. on
+this ship until I see fit to appoint a new one and when I think of doing
+that I'll give you due notice."
+
+But Mammy would have exploded had she not expressed her views. Harrison
+had chosen the moment when Captain Stewart had gone to his room just
+before supper that eventful Sunday evening, but Mammy spoke when she
+carried up to him the little jug of mulled cider for which Severndale
+was famous and which, when cider was to be had, she had never failed to
+carry to "her boy," as Neil Stewart, in spite of his forty-six years,
+still seemed to old Mammy.
+
+Tapping at the door of his sitting-room, she entered at his "Come in."
+She found him standing before a large silver-framed photograph of
+Peggy's mother. It had been taken shortly before her death and when such
+a tragic ending to their ideal life had least been dreamed possible. A
+fancy-dress ball had been given by the young officers stationed at the
+Academy and Mrs. Stewart had attended it gowned as "Marie Stuart,"
+wearing a superb black velvet gown and the widely-known "Marie Stuart
+coif and ruff" of exquisite Point de Venice lace. She had never looked
+lovelier, or more stately in her life, and that night Neil Stewart was
+the proudest man on the ballroom floor. Then he had insisted upon a
+famous Washington photographer taking this beautiful picture and--well,
+it was the last ever taken of the wife he adored, for within another
+month she had dropped asleep forever.
+
+Good old Mammy's eyes were very tender as she looked at her boy, and
+instead of saying what she had come to say: "ter jist nachelly an'
+pintedly 'spress her min'," she went close to his side and looking at
+the lovely face smiling at her, said:
+
+"Dar weren't never, an' dar ain' never gwine ter be no sich lady as dat
+a-one, Massa Neil, lessen it gwine be Miss Peggy. She favor her ma mo'
+an' mo' every day she livin', an' I wisht ter Gawd her ma was right
+hyer dis minit fer ter _see_ it, dat I do."
+
+"Amen! Mammy," was Captain Stewart's reply. "Peggy needs more than we
+can give her just now, no matter how hard we try. The trouble is she
+seems to have grown up all in a minute apparently while we have been
+thinking she was a child."
+
+Neil Stewart placed the photograph back upon the top of the bookshelf
+and sighed.
+
+"No, sir, _dat_ ain't it. Deed tain't. She been a-growin' up dis long
+time, but we's been dozin' like, an' ain't had our eyes open wide
+'nough. An' now we's all got shook wide awake by _somebody else_."
+
+Mammy paused significantly. Neil Stewart frowned.
+
+"Just as well maybe. But don't light into me. I'm all frazzled out now.
+Harrison's hints are like eight inch shells; Dr. Llewellyn's like a
+highly charged electric battery; Jerome fires a blunderbuss every ten
+minutes and even Shelby and Jess use pop-guns. Good Lord, are you going
+to let drive with a gatling? Clear out and let me drink my cider in
+peace, and quit stewing, for I tell you right now the fire-brand which
+has kept the kettles boiling is going to be removed."
+
+"Praise de Lawd fo' _dat_ blessin' den. It was jist gwine ter make some
+of dem pots bile over if it had a-kep' on, yo' hyer me? Good-night,
+Massa Neil, drink yo' cider an' thank de Lawd fo' yo' mercies."
+
+"Good-night, Mammy. You're all right even if I do feel like smacking
+your head off once in a while. Used to do it when I was a kid, you know,
+and can't drop the habit."
+
+The following morning the party of four set off for Washington, Polly
+sorely divided in her mind regarding her own wishes. To have Peggy
+elsewhere than at Severndale was a possibility which had never entered
+into her calculations. How would it seem to have no Severndale to run
+out to? No Peggy to pop into Middie's Haven? No boon companion to ride,
+walk, drive, skate with, or lead the old life which they had both so
+loved? Polly did some serious thinking on the way to the big city, and
+wore such a sober face as they drew near the end of their journey that
+Captain Stewart asked, as he tweaked a stray lock which had escaped
+bonds:
+
+"What's going on inside this red pate? You look as solemn as an
+ostracized owl."
+
+"I'm trying to think how it is going to seem without Peggy this winter
+and I don't like the picture even a little bit," and Polly wagged the
+"red pate" dubiously.
+
+"Better make up your mind to come along with your running-mate. By Jove,
+that's a brain throb, Peggy! How about it? Can't you persuade this girl
+of ours to give up the co-ed plan back yonder in Annapolis,--she knows
+all the seamanship and nav. that's good for her already,--and you'll
+need a room-mate up here at Columbia Heights School if we settle upon
+it," and Captain Stewart looked at Polly half longingly, half teasingly.
+Polly had grown very dear to the bluff, sincere man during her
+companionship with Peggy, and had crept into a corner of his heart he
+had never felt it possible for anyone but Peggy herself to fill.
+Somehow, latterly when thinking and planning for Peggy's well-being or
+pleasure, visions of Polly's tawny head invariably rose before him, and
+Polly's happy, sunny face was always beside the one he loved best of
+all. The two young girls had become inseparable in his thoughts as well
+as in reality.
+
+"Oh, Polly, will you? Will you?" begged Peggy, instantly fired with the
+wildest desire to have Polly enter the school which it had been decided
+she should enter if at closer inspection it proved to be all the
+catalogues, letters and dozens of pamphlets sent to Mrs. Harold
+represented it to be.
+
+"If I go to the Columbia Heights School what will Ralph say? And all
+the others, too? They'll say I've backed down on my co-ed plan and will
+run me half to death. Besides, Ralph needs me right there to let him
+know I'm keeping a lookout."
+
+"He doesn't need you half as much as this girl of mine needs you. You
+just let Ralph do a little navigating for himself and learn that it's up
+to him to make good on his own account. He's man enough to; all he needs
+now is to find it out. Will you let him do so by coming down here with
+Peggy?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL
+
+
+As Captain Stewart asked the question which ended the last chapter the
+W. B. & A. electric car came to a standstill in the heart of Washington
+and as he assisted his charges to descend the steps, Polly was the last.
+As she placed her hand in his she looked straight into his kind eyes and
+said:
+
+"I'm just ready to fly all to bits. I love Peggy and want to be with
+her; I love Aunt Janet and old Crabtown and everything connected with
+it; I've always kept neck-and-neck with Ralph in his work and I hate the
+thought of dropping out of it, but, oh, I do want to be with Peggy."
+
+"Come along out to the school and see what you think of it before you
+decide one way or the other; then talk it all over with your aunt and
+you won't go far amiss if you follow _her_ advice, little girl."
+
+"I'll do it," answered Polly, with an emphatic wag of her head, and
+Peggy who overheard her words nearly pranced with joy.
+
+Hailing a taxicab Captain Stewart directed the chauffeur to drive them
+to an address in the outskirts of the city and away they sped. It was
+only a short run in that whirring machine over Washington's beautiful
+streets and when the school was reached both Peggy and Polly exclaimed
+over the beauty of its situation, for Columbia Heights School was in the
+midst of spacious grounds, the buildings were substantial and
+attractive, giving the impression of ample space, all the fresh air
+needed by vigorous, rapidly developing bodies, and the sunshine upon
+which they thrive. Beautiful walks and drives led in every direction and
+not far off lovely Stony Brook Park lay in all the beauty of its golden
+October glow.
+
+Mrs. Harold and Captain Stewart were graciously welcomed by its charming
+principal who promptly led the way to her study, a great room giving
+upon a broad piazza, where green wicker furniture, potted plants and
+palms suggesting a tropical garden. When Polly's eyes fell upon it she
+forgot all else, and cried impulsively:
+
+"Oh, how lovely! Can't we go right out there?" And then colored crimson.
+
+Mrs. Vincent smiled as she slipped an arm across Polly's shoulder and
+asked:
+
+"Are you to be my newest girl? If so, I think we would find something
+in common."
+
+Polly raised her big eyes to the sweet, strong face smiling upon her and
+answered:
+
+"I hadn't even thought of coming until an hour ago. It was all planned
+for Peggy, but, oh, dear, if I _only_ could be twins! How am I ever to
+be a co-ed in Annapolis and a pupil here at the same time? Yet I want
+dreadfully to be both, I'm so fond of Peggy."
+
+"I fear we cannot solve that problem even in Columbia Heights School,
+though we try pretty hard to solve a good many knotty ones. Suppose I
+talk it over with the grown-ups and meantime arrange for your
+entertainment by two or three of the girls. We think they are rather
+nice girls too," and Mrs. Vincent pressed an electric button which
+promptly brought a neat maid to the door.
+
+"Hilda, ask Miss Natalie and Miss Marjorie to step to my study."
+
+Within a few moments two girls appeared in the doorway, the taller one
+asking:
+
+"Did you wish to see us, Mother?"
+
+Introductions followed, whereupon the Principal said:
+
+"Natalie, please take Miss Stewart and Miss Howland for a walk through
+the grounds. It is recreation period and they will like to meet the
+other girls and see the buildings also, I think. And remember, you are
+to picture everything in such glowing colors, and be so entertaining
+that they will think there is no other place in all the land half so
+lovely, for I have fully decided that we must have sweet P's in our posy
+bed. We have a Rose, a Violet, a Lily, Myrtle, Hazel, Marguerites,--oh,
+a whole flower garden already--but thus far no sweet-peas."
+
+"We will, Mrs. Vincent. Please come with us," said Marjorie cheerily, no
+trace of self-consciousness or the indefinable restraint so much oftener
+the rule than the exception between teacher and pupil. Mrs. Harold had
+been observing every word and action as it was a part of her nature to
+observe--yes, intuitively _feel_--every word and action of the young
+people with whom she came in touch, and the older ones who were likely
+to bring any influence to bear upon their lives, and this little scene
+did more to confirm her in the belief that she had not been amiss when
+she selected Columbia Heights School for Peggy than anything else could
+have done. Next to her husband, her sister and her nieces, Peggy was the
+dearest thing in the world to her, and the past year had shown her what
+tremendous possibilities the future held for the young girl if wisely
+shaped for her. The two ensuing hours were pleasant and profitable for
+all concerned and when they ended and Captain Stewart and his party
+re-entered the taxicab to return to their hotel in Washington, it was
+decided that Peggy should come to Columbia Heights School on October
+fifteenth, but Polly's decision was still in abeyance. She wished to
+have one of her long, quiet talks with her aunt before "shifting her
+holding ground," she said, and that could only be up in Middie's Haven,
+cuddled upon a hassock beside Mrs. Harold's easy chair, with the logs
+lazily flickering upon the brass andirons. So the ensuing two days in
+Washington were given over to sightseeing and "a general blow-out," as
+Captain Stewart termed it, insisting that he could not have another for
+months and meant to make this one "an A-1 affair." Then back they went
+to Severndale where Mrs. Stewart, to their surprise, had returned the
+previous day, having failed to find her friend in Baltimore. As she had
+already overstayed the length of time for which her invitation to
+Severndale had been extended, she had no possible excuse for prolonging
+it, and deciding that her schemes had met with defeat largely owing to
+her own impolitic precipitation in forcing the situation, she did not
+mean to make an ignominious retreat. So, with well assumed suavity she
+told her brother-in-law that some urgent business matters claimed her
+attention in New York, and asked if he could complete his arrangements
+for Peggy's departure without her aid, as she really ought to go North
+without delay.
+
+If Neil Stewart was amused by this sudden change in the lady's tactics,
+to his credit be it said that he did not betray any sign of it. He
+thanked her for her kind interest in Peggy and his home, for all she had
+done for them, and left nothing lacking for her comfort upon her
+homeward journey, even shipping to the apartment in New York enough
+fruit, game and various other good things from Severndale to keep her
+larder well supplied for weeks, and supplementing all these with a gift
+which would be the envy of all her friends. But when he returned to
+Severndale after bidding the lady farewell at the station, he breathed
+one mighty sigh of relief. He had escaped a situation of which the
+outcome was a good deal more than problematical for everyone concerned,
+and most vital for Peggy.
+
+Then came busy days of preparation for Peggy and Polly, for the outcome
+of that fireside powwow had been a decision in favor of Columbia Heights
+School for Polly also, for that winter at least, and when the fifteenth
+dawned bright and frosty, Mrs. Harold accompanied the girls to
+Washington, Captain Stewart's leave having meantime expired. But he had
+gone back to his ship in a very different frame of mind from that in
+which he had returned to it in July, and with a comforting sense of
+security in the outcome of his present plans for Peggy. The longer he
+knew Mrs. Harold the greater became his confidence in her judgment, and
+she had assured him that Peggy should be her charge that winter exactly
+as Polly was. Moreover, Mrs. Harold had persuaded Mrs. Howland to close
+her house in Montgentian for the winter and come to Annapolis, bringing
+Gail with her, for Constance had decided to follow the _Rhode Island_
+whenever it was possible for her to do so, and this decision left Mrs.
+Howland and Gail alone in their home. So to Wilmot Hall came Polly's
+mother and pretty sister, the former to spend a delightfully restful
+winter with her sister and the latter to take her first taste of the
+good times possible for a girl of twenty-one at the Naval Academy.
+
+The first breaking away from Severndale was harder for Peggy than anyone
+but Mrs. Harold guessed. Somehow intuition supplied to her what actual
+words could never have conveyed, even had they been spoken, but Peggy,
+once her resolution had been taken to go away to school, was not a girl
+to bewail her decision. And now she was a duly registered pupil at
+Columbia Heights with Polly for her room-mate in number 67, her
+next-door neighbor Natalie Vincent, Mrs. Vincent's daughter, a jolly,
+honest, happy-go-lucky girl, who looked exactly as her mother must have
+looked at fifteen. A long line of rooms extended up and down, both sides
+of the corridor, the end one, No. 70, with its pretty bay-window
+overlooking the lawn and Stony Brook beyond, was occupied by Stella
+Drummond, a tall, striking brunette of eighteen. To the hundred-fifty
+girls in Columbia Heights School this story can only allude in a brief
+way but of those who figure most prominently in Polly's and Peggy's new
+world we'll let Polly give the general "sizing-up." These girls were all
+about the same age, and, excepting Stella, juniors, as were Peggy and
+Polly, whose previous work under tutors and in high school had qualified
+them to enter that grade at Columbia Heights.
+
+It was their first night at the school, and "lights-out" bell had rung
+at ten o'clock, but a glorious October moon flooded the room with a
+silvery light, almost as bright as day. Peggy in one pretty little white
+bed and Polly in the one beside it were carrying on a lively whispered
+conversation.
+
+"Well, we're _here_," was Polly's undisputable statement as she snuggled
+down under her bed-covers, "and now that we are what do you think of
+it?"
+
+"I'm glad we've come. It will seem a lot different, and rather queer to
+do everything by rules and on time, but, after all, we had to do almost
+everything by rule up home."
+
+"Yes, but they were nearly always our _own_ rules; yours, anyway. Why,
+Peggy, I don't believe there is a girl in this school who ever had
+things as much her own way as you have had them."
+
+"Maybe that's the reason I didn't get along with Aunt Katherine,"
+answered Peggy whimsically.
+
+"Aunt Katherine!" Polly's whisper suggested italics. "Do you know Miss
+Sturgis, the math. teacher, makes me think of her a little. Miss Sturgis
+is strong-minded, I'll bet a cookie. Did you hear what she said when she
+was giving out our books on sociology--doesn't it seem funny, Peggy, for
+us to take up sociology?--'She hoped we would become good American
+citizens and realize woman's true position in the world.' Somehow I've
+thought Tanta has always had a pretty clear idea of 'woman's position in
+the world.' At any rate she seems to have plenty to do in her own quiet
+way and I've an idea that if anyone ever hinted that she ought to go to
+the polls and vote she'd feel inclined to spell it pole and use it to
+'beat 'em up' with, as Ralph and the boys would say. Oh, dear, how we
+are going to miss 'the bunch,' Peggy."
+
+"We certainly are," was Peggy's sympathetic reply, and for a moment
+there was silence in the moonlit room as the girls' thoughts flew back
+to Annapolis. Then Peggy asked: "What do you think of the girls? You've
+been to school all your life, but it is all new to me."
+
+Polly laughed a low, little laugh, then replied:
+
+"They are about like most school-girls, I reckon. Let's see, which have
+we had most to do with since we came here twenty-four hours ago? There's
+Rosalie Breeze. She's named all right, sure enough, and if she doesn't
+turn out a hurricane we'll be lucky. We had one just like her up at
+High. And Lily Pearl Montgomery. My gracious, what a name to give a
+girl! She needs stirring up. She's just like a big, fat, spoiled baby. I
+feel like saying 'Goo-goo' to her."
+
+"Don't you think Juno Gibson is handsome?" asked Peggy.
+
+"Just as handsome as she can be, but I wish she didn't look so
+discontented all the time. Why, she hasn't smiled once since we came."
+
+"I wonder why not?" commented Peggy.
+
+"Maybe we'll find out after we've been here a while. But I tell you one
+thing, I like her better without any smiles than that silly Helen
+Gwendolyn Doolittle with her everlasting affected giggling at nothing.
+She is the kind to do some silly thing and make us all ashamed of her."
+
+"How about Stella Drummond?"
+
+"She is a puzzle to me. Doesn't she seem an awful lot older than the
+rest of us? Rosalie says she is eighteen and that's not so much older,
+but she seems about twenty-five. I wonder why?"
+
+"Maybe she has lived in cities all her life and gone out a lot. You know
+most of the girls we met up at New London seemed so much older too, yet
+they really were not. They looked upon us as children, though the Little
+Mother said we were years older in common sense while they were years
+older in worldly experience,--I wonder what she meant?"
+
+"Tanta meant that we had stayed young girls and could enjoy fun and
+frolic as much as ever, but those girls were not satisfied with anything
+but dances and theatres and all sorts of grown-up things. We have our
+fun with our horses, dogs and the nonsense with the boys up home. We
+want our skirts short and our hair flying and to romp when we feel like
+it."
+
+"Picture Helen or Lily Pearl romping," and Peggy dove under the covers
+to smother her laughter at the thought of the fat, pudgy Lily Pearl
+attempting anything of the sort. Polly snickered in sympathy and then
+said in her emphatic way:
+
+"I tell you, Peggy, which girls I _do_ like and I think they will like
+us: Marjorie Terry and Natalie Vincent. Marjorie is awfully sober and
+quiet, I know, but _I_ believe she's sort of lonely, or homesick or
+something. Natalie seems more like our own kind than any girl in the
+school and I'll wager my tennis racquet she'll be lots of fun if she is
+the Principal's daughter. But we'd better go to sleep this minute. We've
+made a sort of hash of seven girls, and if we try to size up the whole
+school this way it will be broad daylight before we finish. Good-night.
+It's sort of nice to be here after all, and nicer still to have you for
+a room-mate, old Peggoty."
+
+An appreciative little laugh was the only answer to this and five
+minutes later the moon was looking in upon a picture hard to duplicate
+in this great world: Two sweet, unspoiled, beautiful girls in the first
+flush of untroubled slumber.
+
+The following morning being Saturday and Peggy's and Polly's belongings
+having arrived, the girls set about arranging their room, half a dozen
+others having volunteered assistance. For convenience in reaching "up
+aloft" Peggy and Polly had slipped off their waists and were arrayed in
+kimonos which aroused the envy of their companions. Captain Stewart had
+given them to his "twins" as he now called the girls. Peggy's was the
+richest shade of crimson embroidered in all manner of golden gods and
+dragons; Polly's pale blue with silver chrysanthemums.
+
+"Oh, _where_ did they come from?" cried Natalie.
+
+"Daddy Neil brought them to us," answered Peggy, as she stepped toward
+the door to take an armful of pictures and pillows from old Jess who had
+followed his young mistress to Washington to care for Shashai and Silver
+Star, the horses having been sent on also, for Columbia Heights School
+had large stables for the accommodation of riding or driving horses for
+the use of its pupils, or they could bring their own if they preferred.
+So Shashai and Silver Star had been ridden down by Jess, taking the
+journey in short, easy stages, and arriving the previous evening.
+Tzaritza, to her astonishment had not been allowed to accompany them,
+and Roy was inconsolable for days. Peggy's departure from Severndale had
+left many a grieving heart behind.
+
+"What I gwine do wid all dis hyer truck, Missie-honey?" asked Jess,
+coming in from the corridor with a second armful: riding-crops, silver
+bits, a fox's brush, books and what not.
+
+"Just plump it down anywhere, Jess. We'll get round to it all in due
+time," laughed Peggy from her perch upon a small step-ladder where she
+was fastening up some hat-bands of the _Rhode Island_, _New Hampshire_,
+_Olympia_ and the ships which had comprised the summer practice
+squadron, the girls all gathered about her asking forty questions to the
+minute and wild with curiosity and excitement. Never before had two
+"really, truly Navy girls" been inmates of Columbia Heights and it sent
+a wild flutter through many hearts. What possibilities might lie at the
+Annapolis end of the W. B. & A. Railroad!
+
+Jess's white woolly head was bent down over the armful of books he was
+placing upon the floor; Peggy had returned to her decorating; Polly had
+draped her flag upon the wall and was standing her beloved bugle and a
+long row of photographs upon book-shelves beneath it, several girls
+following her with little squeals of rapture, when a pandemonium of
+shrieks and screams arose down the corridor and the next second a huge
+creature bounded into the room, tipping Jess and his burden heels over
+head, and flinging itself upon Peggy. Down came ladder, Peggy, and the
+white mass in a heap, the girls scattering in a shrieking panic to
+whatever shelter seemed to offer, confident that nothing less than a
+wolf had invaded the fold.
+
+But Tzaritza was no wolf even if her beautiful snowy coat was
+mud-bedraggled and stuck full of burrs, nor was Peggy being "devoured
+alive," as Lily Pearl, who had actually _run_ for once in her life, was
+hysterically sobbing into Mrs. Vincent's arms.
+
+No, Peggy, rather promiscuous as to ladder, hammer, hat-bands and
+general paraphernalia, was lying flat upon her back, her arms around
+Tzaritza, half-sobbing, half-laughing her joy into the beautiful
+creature's silky neck, while Tzaritza whimpered and whined for joy and
+licked and dabbed her mistress with a moist tongue.
+
+"It is a wolf! A wolf!" shrieked Lily Pearl, who had returned to the
+scene, "and he is killing her."
+
+"It is a horrid, dirty dog! Why doesn't that man drive him out?"
+demanded Miss Sturgis, who had followed Tzaritza hot foot, having been
+in the main hall when the great hound went tearing through and up the
+stairs, nose and ears having given her the clue to her mistress'
+whereabouts.
+
+"No, it's only a wolf_hound_!" laughed Polly, dropping her pictures to
+fly across the room and fall upon Tzaritza.
+
+Then explanations followed. Tzaritza had been left in Shelby's care, but
+finding it impossible to restrain her when Jess was about to leave with
+the horses, he had tied her in the barn. The rope was bitten through as
+clean as a thread and Tzaritza's coat told of the long journey on the
+horses' trail.
+
+After her wild demonstrations of joy had calmed down, Tzaritza stood
+panting in the middle of the wreck which her cyclonic entrance had
+brought about, her great eyes pleading eloquently for restored favor.
+
+Polly still clasped her arms about the big shaggy neck, while Miss
+Sturgis alternately protested and commanded Jess to "remove that dirty
+creature at once." Happily, Mrs. Vincent entered the room at this
+juncture and it must have been the god of animals, of which Kipling
+tells us, which inspired Tzaritza's act at that moment. Or was it
+something in the fine, strong face which children and animals in common
+all trust with subtle intuition? At all events, Tzaritza looked at Mrs.
+Vincent just one moment and then greeted her exactly as at home she
+would have greeted Dr. Llewellyn or Captain Stewart; by rising upon her
+hind legs, placing her forepaws upon Mrs. Vincent's shoulders and
+nestling her magnificent head into the amazed woman's neck as
+confidingly as a child would have done. A less self-contained woman
+would have been frightened half to death. Miss Sturgis came near
+swooning but Mrs. Vincent just gathered the great dog into her arms as
+she would have gathered one of her girls and said:
+
+"Without the power of human speech you plead your cause most eloquently,
+you beautiful creature. Peggy, has she ever been separated from you
+before, dear?"
+
+"Never, Mrs. Vincent. She has slept at my door since she was a wee
+puppy."
+
+"She shall be appointed guardian of the West Wing of Columbia Heights,
+and may turn out a guardian for us all. Now, Jess, take her to the
+stables and make her presentable to polite society. Poor Tzaritza, your
+journey must have been a long, hard, dusty one, for your silken fringes
+have collected many souvenirs of it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A RIDING LESSON
+
+
+In spite of the Sturgeon's protests that "it was _most_ impolitic to
+establish a precedent in the school," Tzaritza became a duly enrolled
+member of the establishment, and from that moment slept at Peggy's door,
+a welcome inmate of Columbia Heights. Welcome at least, to all but one
+person. Miss Sturgis loathed all animals.
+
+In the ensuing weeks Peggy and Polly slipped very naturally into their
+places. In her own class and in the West Wing Natalie Vincent had always
+been the acknowledged leader, for, even though the daughter of the
+Principal, not the slightest partiality was ever shown her and she was
+obliged to conform as strictly to the rules as any girl in the school.
+She was full of fun, eternally in harmless mischief, and, of course,
+eternally being taken to task for her misdeeds.
+
+By the usual order of the attraction of opposites Marjorie Terry and
+Natalie had formed a warm friendship. Marjorie the quiet, reserved,
+rather shrinking girl from Seattle. She never joined in any of Natalie's
+wild pranks, but on the other hand was a safe confidant, and if she
+could not follow her more spontaneous friend's lead, she certainly never
+balked or betrayed her. The other girls had christened them Positive and
+Negative and they certainly lived up to their names.
+
+The girls whom Peggy and Polly had discussed so frankly the night after
+their arrival all roomed in the West Wing. Stella in her own large,
+handsome room, for her father was manager of an immense railroad system
+in the middle West. Rosalie Breeze and oh "cursed spite!" Isabel
+Boylston--"_Is_-a-bel," as she pronounced it,--roomed together and
+squabbled incessantly. At least, Rosalie did the squabbling, _Is_-a-bel
+affected the superior, self-righteous air which acted upon Rosalie's
+peppery temper as a red rag upon a bull. It was Miss Sturgis, of course,
+who had advised placing them together. Isabel was a great favorite of
+Miss Sturgis, and Rosalie was the reverse.
+
+Mrs. Vincent had not entirely approved the arrangement, but the school
+was unusually crowded this year and two of the girls' parents had
+insisted upon single rooms for their daughters. Juno Gibson, from New
+York, had announced very positively that unless she could have a room
+to herself in Columbia Heights School she would pack her three trunks
+and go elsewhere, and Papa Gibson was not in the habit of disputing his
+daughter's will or wishes unless they conflicted with his own. In this
+matter he didn't care a straw, so Miss Juno was not compelled to have "a
+dozen girls eternally under foot and ruining my clothes by crowding the
+closets full of theirs."
+
+Lily Pearl, "Tootsy-wootsy," as her companions had dubbed her, roomed
+with Helen Gwendolyn Doolittle, "Cutie," and a sweet, sentimental pair
+they made, though Helen spent every possible moment with the latest
+object of her adoration, Stella Drummond, for whom she had instantly
+conceived an overwhelming infatuation; a pronounced school-girl "crush."
+
+Of the other girls in the school only a passing glimpse need be given.
+
+Saturday afternoons were always perfectly free at Columbia Heights, and
+the girls could do practically as they chose. There was one rule, or
+rather the absence of it, which had appealed very strongly to Mrs.
+Harold and gone a long way toward biasing her choice in favor of the
+school. If the girls wished to go into the city--that is, the girls in
+the Sophomore, Junior and Senior grades--to do shopping or make calls,
+they were entirely at liberty to do so unattended by a teacher, though
+Mrs. Vincent must, of course, know where they were going. With very rare
+exceptions this rule had always worked to perfection. The very fact that
+they might do as they chose, and were put upon their honor to uphold the
+reputation and dignity of the school, usually acted as an incentive to
+them to do so, whereas the eternal surveillance and suspicion of the
+average school acts as a mighty inspiration to circumvent all
+regulations.
+
+Another pleasant feature of Saturday afternoons were the long riding
+excursions through the beautiful surrounding country, with a groom
+accompanying the party and with one of the girls acting as riding
+mistress. Besides Peggy and Polly, Stella was the only girl who had her
+own horse at Columbia Heights, the others riding those provided by the
+school. They were good horses and the riding-master, Albert Dawson, was
+supposed to be a good man, conscientious, painstaking, careful. He was
+conventional to a degree. He taught the English seat, the English rise,
+the English gait, and his horses were all docked and hogged in the
+English fashion. Dawson would doubtless have taught them to drop their
+H's as he himself did, had he been able to do so.
+
+When Shashai and Silver Star arrived upon the scene, manes and forelocks
+long and silky as a girl's hair, tails almost sweeping the ground and
+flowing free, poor Dawson nearly died of outraged conventions, though he
+was forced to admit that the Columbia Heights stables held no horseflesh
+to compare with these thoroughbreds.
+
+"But oh, my 'eart, look at that mess o' 'air and mind their paces. They
+lopes along for all the world like them blooming little jackals we used
+to 'ave bout in Hindia when I was in 'is Lordship's service. They'd ruin
+my reputation if they was to be seen in the Row," he deplored to Jess,
+who was grooming his pets as carefully as old Mammy would have brushed
+Peggy's hair.
+
+Jess gave a derisive snort. He had lived a good many more years than
+Dawson and his experience with horseflesh was an exceptionally wide one.
+
+"Well, yo'-all needn't be a troublin' yo' sperrits 'bout de gait ob dese
+hyer horses. Dey kin set de pace fo' all dat truck yonder, an' don' yo'
+fergit dat fac'. Yo's got some fairly-middlin'-good ones hyer," and Jess
+nodded toward the stalls, "but dey's just de onery class, not de
+quality. No-siree. Now, honey, don' yo' go fer ter git perjectin' none
+cause I'se praisin' yo' to yo' face. Tain't good manners fer ter take
+notice when yo's praised. Yo' mistiss 'll tell yo' dat," admonished
+Jess, as Shashai reached forward and plucked his cap from his head. "Yo'
+gimme dat cap, yo' hyer me!"
+
+But Shashai's teeth held it firmly as he tossed it playfully up and
+down, to Jess' secret delight in his pet's cleverness, though he
+outwardly affected strong disapproval, after the manner of his race.
+
+The horses were like playful, fearless children with him, and Jess was
+bursting with pride at the result of his handiwork. And certainly, it
+was worth looking upon, for no finer specimens of faultlessly groomed
+horseflesh could have been found in the land.
+
+"Yes, but think of the figure I'll be cutting when I take my young
+ladies for a turn in the park or on the havenue," protested Dawson.
+"Couldn't ye just knot hup them tails a bit, and mebbe braid that
+fly-away mane down along the crest? If I'm bordered to take my young
+ladies into the park or the city this hafternoon, I swear I'll hexpire
+of mortification with them 'orses."
+
+But this was too much for Jess. Dawson had at last touched the match,
+and he caught the full force of Jess's wrath:
+
+"Sp-sp-spire ob--ob mortification! Shamed ob dese hyer hosses! Frettin'
+cause yo's gotter 'scort a pair of animals what's got pedigrees dat
+reach back ter Noah's Ark eanemost! Why, dey blood kin make you-all's
+look lak mullen sap, an' dey manners, even if dey ain' nothin' but
+hosses, jist natchelly mak' yo' light clean outer sight. Sho'! Go long,
+chile! Yo' gotter live some. Dar, it done struck five bells--_dat_ mean
+ten-thirty, unerstan'--an' you's gotter git half-a-dozen ob yo'
+bob-tailed nags ready fo' de ridin' lessons yo' tells me yo' gives de
+yo'ng ladies at _six_ bells,--_dat's_ eleben o'clock,--Sattidy mawnin's.
+I's pintedly cur'us fer ter see dem lessons, _I_ is. Lak 'nough befo' de
+mawnin's ober _yo'll_ take a lesson yo'-self," and Jess ended his tirade
+by throwing an arm across each silky neck and saying to his charges:
+
+"Now, come 'long wid ole Jess, honeys. Yo's gwine enter high sassiety
+presen'ly, and yo's gotter do Severndale credit. Yo' hyer me?"
+
+Poor Dawson was decidedly perturbed in his mind. Hitherto he had been
+the autocrat of "form and fashion," the absolute dictator of the proper
+style. Under his ordering, horses had been bought for the school,
+cropped, docked and trimmed on the most approved lines, until nothing
+but a hopeless, forlorn stubble indicated that they had once boasted
+manes or forelocks, and poor little affairs like whisk-brooms served for
+tails, or rather did not serve, especially in fly-time. But that was a
+minor consideration. Fashion's dictates were obeyed.
+
+With the aid of his grooms Dawson soon had five horses saddled and
+bridled, curbs rattling and saddles creaking. There were only two cross
+saddles. Then he turned to Jess.
+
+"Ye'd better be gettin' them hanimals ready, for I dare say I've to give
+the young ladies their lessons too."
+
+"Hi-ya!" exploded Jess. Then added: "Come 'long, babies, an' git dressed
+up. Yo' all's gwine git yo' summons up yonder presen'ly."
+
+Shashai and Star obediently walked over to the bar upon which their
+light headstalls hung, sniffed at them with long audible breaths, then
+each selecting his own carried it to Jess in his teeth.
+
+"Well, Hi'll be blowed!" murmured Dawson.
+
+Jess pretended not to notice, but saying unconcernedly: "Dat's all
+right. Now put 'em on lak gentlemen," he held one in each hand toward
+his pets. They took the bits in their mouths, slipped their heads into
+the headstalls and then waited for Jess to buckle the throat-latches,
+for that was a trifle beyond them. "Now fotch yo' saddles," ordered
+Jess, pleased to the point of foolishness. The horses went to the saddle
+blocks, selected their saddles, lifted them by the little pommel and
+carried them to Jess like obedient children.
+
+No mother was ever more gratified than Jess. "Now honeys, yo' stan'
+right whar yo's at twell yo' summons come from over yander. Yo's gwine
+hyar it all right," and with this parting admonition to good behavior,
+Jess went unconcernedly about his business of putting away the articles
+of his pets' toilets.
+
+"They'll be a-boltin' and raisin' the very mischief if you leave them
+alone," warned Dawson.
+
+"What dat yo' say? I reckons yo' ain' got _yo'_ horses trained like
+we-all back yonder got _ours_. Paht ob dey eddications must a-been
+neglected ef dey gotter be tied up ter keep 'em whar yo' wants 'em fer
+ter _stay_ at. Yo' need'n worry 'bout Shashai and Star. _Dey's_ got
+sense."
+
+Dawson vouchsafed no reply. One must be tolerant with garrulous old
+niggers, but he'd keep an "hey on them 'orses" all the same.
+
+The riding school used in stormy weather and the circle for fine, were
+not far from the house. At five minutes before eleven the girls who were
+to have their Saturday morning lessons prior to the ride in the
+afternoon, went over to the school and an electric bell notified Dawson
+that his young ladies awaited their mounts. With due decorum and
+self-importance he and Henry, the groom, led the horses from the stable,
+Dawson calling over his shoulder:
+
+"You'd better come on with your Harabs, I can't be waitin' with my
+lessons."
+
+"We-all'll come 'long when we's bid," was Jess' cryptic retort.
+
+Dawson scorned to reply, but mounted on his big dapple-gray horse, Duke,
+body bent forward and elbows out, creaked away. When he reached the big
+circle where a group of girls stood upon the platform for mounting,
+Peggy and Polly, in their trim little divided skirts, looked inquiringly
+for Shashai and Silver Star. Peggy asked:
+
+"Are our horses ready, Dawson?"
+
+"Yes, Miss, I believe so, Miss, but your man seemed to think I'd best
+let you ring, or do--well, I don't rightly know _what_ 'ee hexpected you
+to do, Miss. But 'ee didn't let me bring the 'orses, beggin' your
+pardon, Miss."
+
+"Oh, that's all right, Dawson; Jess is just silly about the horses and
+us. You mustn't mind his little ways. It's only because he loves us all
+so dearly. Besides it isn't necessary for anyone to bring them. I'll
+call them," and placing a little silver bo's'n's whistle to her lips
+Peggy "piped to quarters." It was instantly answered by two loud neighs
+and the thud of rapid hoofbeats as Shashai and Silver Star came
+sweeping up the broad driveway from the stables, heads tossing, manes
+waving and tails floating out like streamers. The girls with Peggy and
+Polly clapped their hands and shrieked with delight.
+
+"One bell, Shashai! Halt, Star!" cried Peggy and Polly in a breath.
+
+The splendid animals came straight to them, stopped instantly, dropped
+to their knees and touched the ground with their soft muzzles in sign of
+obeisance. The girls all scrambled off the platform as one individual,
+riding lesson and everything else utterly forgotten; here was a new
+order of things hitherto utterly undreamed of in the school. It had been
+a case of "pigs is pigs" or "horses is horses" with them. That the
+animals they were learning to ride _à la mode_ might be something more
+than mere delightful machines of transportation had never entered their
+heads.
+
+"Oh, how did you make them do it? Will you show us? Will any horse come
+if you know how to call him? Can they all do that? Didn't it take you
+forever and ever to teach them? Aren't they beauties! What are they
+trying to do now?" were the questions rattling like hail about Peggy's
+and Polly's ears.
+
+For answer Peggy opened a little linen bag which she carried, handing
+to Polly three lumps of sugar and taking three out for her own pet. The
+horses crunched them with a relish, their light snaffle bits acting as
+only slight impediments to their mastication.
+
+"Do you always give them sugar? Oh, please give us some for our horses,"
+begged the girls.
+
+"Young ladies, I don't 'old with givin' the 'orses nothin' while in
+'arness and a-mussin' them up. They'll be a-slobberin' themselves a
+sight," expostulated Dawson.
+
+"But Miss Stewart's and Miss Howland's horses are not slobbered up,"
+argued Natalie.
+
+"They've not got curb bits. Just them snaffles which is as good as none
+whatever," was Dawson's scornful criticism.
+
+"Well, why must ours have curbs if theirs don't," argued Juno Gibson,
+whose habitual frown seemed to have somewhat lessened during the past
+five minutes. If Juno had a single soft spot in her heart it was touched
+by animals. She did not have a horse of her own, though she insisted
+upon always having the same mount, to Dawson's opposition, for he
+contended that to become expert horsewomen his pupils must change their
+mounts and become accustomed to different horses. In the long run the
+argument was a good one, but Miss Juno did not yield readily to
+arguments. Therefore she invariably rode Lady Belle, a light-footed
+little filly, with a tender mouth and nervous as a witch. Her big gentle
+eyes held a constant look of appeal, she was chafed incessantly by the
+heavy chain curb, and if anyone approached her suddenly she started
+back, jerking up her head as though in terror of a blow. But with Juno
+she was tractable as a lamb, and the pretty creature's whole expression
+changed when the girl was riding her. Juno had a light, firm hand upon
+the bit and in spite of Dawson's emphatic orders to "'old 'er curb well
+in 'and perpetual," she rarely used it, and Lady Belle obeyed her
+lightest touch.
+
+"Our 'orses are 'arnessed as they had orter be, Miss Gibson, and as the
+Queen 'erself rides them in the hold country. 'Hi'm doing my best to
+teach you young ladies proper, and I can't 'old with some of these loose
+Hamerican 'abits. They wouldn't be 'eld with for a minute in the Row."
+
+"Oh, a fig for your old Row, Dawson! _We're_ all American girls and
+there's more snap-to in us in one of your 'minutes' than in all the
+English girls I've ever seen in my life, and I've seen a good
+many--_too_ many for my peace of mind. I lived there two years," broke
+in Rosalie Breeze. "I'll bet Miss Howland and Miss Stewart can show you
+some stunts in riding which would make your old queen's eyes pop out.
+Why don't you quote Helen Taft to us instead of Queen Mary? We don't
+care a whoop for the queen of England, but Helen Taft is just a Yankee
+girl like ourselves and we can see her ride almost any day if we want
+to. She is big enough for us to see, goodness knows. But come on, girls.
+Let's do our stunts," and Rosalie scrambled upon the platform once more,
+ready to mount Jack-o'-Lantern, the horse she was to ride.
+
+Meanwhile Lady Bell sniffing something eatable, had drawn near Peggy,
+half doubtful, half trustful. At that instant Peggy turned rather
+quickly, entirely unaware of the filly's approach. With a frightened
+snort the pretty creature started back. Peggy grasped the situation
+instantly. She made a step forward, raised her arm, drew the silky neck
+within her embrace, whispered a few words into the nervously alert ear,
+and the hour was won. Lady Belle nestled to her like a sensitive,
+frightened child.
+
+"'Ave a care, Miss Stewart! 'Ave a care! She's a snappy one," warned
+Dawson with bristling importance as he turned from settling _Is_-a-bel
+Boylston upon a big, white, heavy-footed horse, where she managed to
+keep her place with all the grace of outline and poise of a meal sack.
+
+Now Peggy had been sizing things up pretty thoroughly during the past
+fifteen minutes, and her conclusions were not flattering to Dawson.
+There was a cut upon Lady Belle's sensitive nostril which told its
+little story to her. Jack-o'-Lantern's hoofs were varnished most
+beautifully, but when he lifted them one glimpse told Peggy the
+condition of the frogs. The silver mounting upon "The Senator's,"
+Isabel's horse's harness were shining, but his bit was rusty and untidy.
+A dozen little trifles testified to Dawson's superficiality, and Peggy
+had been mistress of a big paddock too long to let this popinjay lord it
+over one whom he sized up as "nothin' but a school girl." Consequently,
+her reply to his warning slightly upset his equanimity.
+
+"You need not be alarmed, Dawson, but if Lady Belle turns fractious I'll
+abide the consequences."
+
+"Yes, Miss, yes, Miss, but _'Hi'm_ responsible, you understand."
+
+"What for? The horse's well-being or mine? I'll relieve you of mine, and
+give you more time to care for the horses. Lady Belle's muzzle seems to
+have suffered slightly. Jack-o'-Lantern's hoofs need your attention, and
+at Severndale a bit like the Senator's would mean a bad quarter of an
+hour for _some_body. So, you'd have a hard time 'holding down your job'
+there. That's pure American slang. Do you understand it?" and shrugging
+her shoulders slightly, Peggy cried: "Come on, girls! We're wasting
+loads of time. Attention, Shashai! Right dress! Right step! Front!
+Steady!"
+
+As Peggy spoke, Shashai and Silver Star sprang side by side, then stood
+like statues. At "right dress" they turned their heads toward the group
+of horses. At "right step," they closed up until they stood in perfect
+line beside them. At "front," "steady" they stood facing the two girls,
+waiting the next command.
+
+"Come up to the platform. Come up and be ready to mount, young ladies,"
+ordered Dawson.
+
+"We'll mount when you give the word," answered Polly, her hand, like
+Peggy's, upon her horse's withers.
+
+"You'll never be able to from the ground, Miss."
+
+A ringing laugh from the girls, sudden springs and they were in their
+saddles. "Four bells!" they cried and swept away around the ring, their
+gay laughter flung behind them to where their companion's horses were
+fidgeting and chafing under Dawson's highly conventional restraint,
+while that disconcerted man whose veneer had so promptly been
+penetrated by Peggy's keen vision, forgot himself so far as to mutter
+under his breath:
+
+"These Hamerican girls are the limit, and I'm in for a ---- of a time if
+I don't mind my hey. And she Miss Stewart of Severndale, and I not hon
+to that before! 'Ere's a go and no mistake."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+COMMON SENSE AND HORSE SENSE
+
+
+As has no doubt already been suspected, Alfred Dawson, Riding Master at
+the Columbia Heights School, was such a complete impostor that he
+actually imposed upon himself. He is by no means the only one on record.
+Oddly enough we are all more or less impostors, blind to our own pet
+foibles, deluded as to our own little weaknesses. Dawson's methods with
+his charges, both two-footed and four, were the methods of thousands of
+others, whether they have the directing of young people, or the training
+of animal's entrusted to them. Like grains of corn--pour them into a
+hopper and they come out at the other end meal--of some sort--good--bad
+or indifferent as it happens--that was not _his_ concern; his job was to
+pour in the grains and he knew of but one way to pour--just as someone
+else had poured before him. That he might devise new and better methods
+of pouring never entered his square-shaped head. It was left for a
+fifteen-year-old girl, and an old darky, whom in his secret heart he
+regarded as no better than the dirt beneath his feet, to start volcanic
+eruptions destined to shake the very foundations of his
+self-complacence. Hitherto he had simply been lord of his realm. He had
+come to Columbia Heights highly recommended by the father of one of its
+pupils and had assumed undisputed control. Mrs. Vincent, like hundreds
+of other women who own horses, but who know about as much concerning
+their care and well-being as they know of what is needful for a Rajah's
+herd of elephants, judged wholly by the outward evidences. The horses
+came to the house in seemingly faultless condition: their coats shone,
+their harness seemed immaculate; they behaved in a most exemplary
+manner. Nor had anything ever happened to the young ladies while they
+were in Dawson's care. What more could a conscientious school Principal
+ask of her riding master? It had never occurred to her to appear in the
+stables when least expected; to examine harness, saddles, stalls, feed
+mangers, bedding; to study the expressions of her horses' faces as she
+would have studied her girls. How many women ever think of doing so? It
+never entered her head to argue that there was more reason for it. Few
+of her girls would have hesitated to express their minds had any one
+misused them, or to insist upon comfortable conditions should
+uncomfortable ones exist for them.
+
+Yet Mrs. Vincent, sweet, strong, kind, and just to everyone, was as
+blind as a babe to the impositions practiced by the oily-tongued,
+deferential Dawson. True, he did 'get upon her nerves' now and again,
+but she secretly reproached herself for what she felt to be her American
+prejudices, and by way of self-discipline overlooked in Dawson many
+little aggravating peculiarities which she would have felt it her duty
+to instantly correct in the other servants.
+
+And no doubt things would have gone on in exactly the same way
+indefinitely had not a little lassie who loved horses and animals as she
+loved human beings, and whose understanding of them and their
+understanding of her was almost uncanny, chosen Columbia Heights School
+for her Alma Mater.
+
+That was a red letter hour for Dawson. He had a vague feeling that some
+influence, perhaps his evil genius, was bestirring itself. At all
+events, he was ill at ease, something of his accustomed self-conceit was
+lacking and he was, as the result, somewhat irritable, though he dared
+not manifest open resentment.
+
+Now it need hardly be stated that Peggy had no premeditated intention of
+antagonizing the man. He meant no more to her than dozens of other
+grooms, for after all he was merely an upper servant, but her quick eyes
+had instantly made some discoveries which hurt her as a physical needle
+prick would have hurt her. Peggy had employed too many men at Severndale
+under Shelby's wonderful judgment and experience of both men and
+animals, not to judge pretty accurately, and _most_ intuitively, the
+type of man mounted upon big, gray "Duke." Duke's very ears and eyes
+told Peggy and Polly a little story which would have made Dawson's pale
+blue eyes open wider than usual could he have translated it.
+
+As Peggy and Polly went cavorting away across the ring, Dawson called
+rather peremptorily:
+
+"Young ladies, you will be good enough to come back and take your places
+beside the others. This is a riding lesson, not a circus show, _hif_ you
+please."
+
+Polly shot a quick glance at Peggy. There was the slightest possible
+pressure of their knees and Shashai and Silver Star glided back to their
+places beside the other four horses.
+
+"Now you will please 'old your reins and your bodies as the other young
+ladies do," commanded Dawson.
+
+"Never could do it in this world, Dawson. I'd have a crick in my back
+in two minutes. Besides, we're not out here for lessons, Miss Stewart
+and I, but just as spectators. We'll look on and see the other girls
+learn the proper caper," laughed Polly.
+
+"Then I can't for the life of me hunderstand why you came hout at all.
+Hit's just a-stirrin' hup and a-fidgeting the other 'orses. They're not
+used to the goin's hon of 'alf broke hanimals."
+
+"Half broken! It seems to me, Dawson, that most horses are _wholly_
+broken but very few wholly _trained_. If we disturb the others, however,
+we'll go off for a spin by ourselves. Come, Polly. Full speed, Tzaritza!
+Four bells, Shashai!" and away sped the trio, Tzaritza, like the
+obedient creature she was, bounding from the platform where Peggy had
+bidden her "charge," lest she startle the horses.
+
+"I'll hopen the gate for you, Miss," Dawson hastened to call, a trifle
+doubtful as to whether he had not been just a little too dictatorial.
+
+"No need. This gate is nothing," called Peggy and as one, they skimmed
+over the four-foot iron gate as though it were four inches, hands
+waving, eyes alight, lips parted in gay laughter. Tzaritza's joyful bark
+mingling with their voices as she rushed away.
+
+The girls' cries of admiration or amazement drowned Dawson's:
+
+"Well, 'Hi'll be blowed! Hi couldn't a done hit like that to save me
+'ead," which was quite true, for very few could ride as these young
+girls rode.
+
+Meanwhile back in the circle two of Dawson's pupils were expressing
+themselves without reserve.
+
+"I mean to learn to ride like _that_," announced Rosalie Breeze. "The
+idea of bouncing up and down in a stupid old side-saddle when we could
+just as well sit as Polly and Peggy do. Why, I never saw anything as
+graceful as those two girls in my life. Can't _you_ show me how, Dawson?
+If you can't you can just make up your mind I am going to find someone
+who _can_. Jack-o'-Lantern's sure enough disgusted with _this_ show-down,
+and I believe that's the reason he has no more spirit than a bossy-cow."
+
+"I'm going to speak to Mrs. Vincent," announced Juno. "This may be all
+very conventional and correct, but all I can do is rise and fall in a
+trot; I'm petrified if Lady Belle breaks into a canter, and if she were
+to leap over that fence, I'd break my neck. Yet did you ever _see_
+anything so graceful as those two girls and that magnificent dog when
+they went over? I tell you, girls, we've got something worth while in
+this school now, believe me. And just you wait!" and with this cryptic
+ending Juno jockeyed ahead of her companions.
+
+"I wish mother could have seen and heard it all," whispered Natalie.
+
+"Then why don't you tell her, and ask her to come out and see those
+girls ride," demanded Rosalie.
+
+"That's exactly what I mean _to_ do," replied Natalie, with an emphatic
+little nod. "I'm beginning to believe we don't know half we should know
+about the stables."
+
+"I should imagine that Mrs. Vincent would be a far better judge of what
+was proper for young ladies than a couple of perfectly lawless girls who
+have been brought up on a Southern ranch or something. _I_ call them
+perfect hoydens and they would not be countenanced a moment in the Back
+Bay," was Isabel's superior opinion.
+
+"A Southern ranch?" echoed Rosalie, "You're mixed in your geography,
+Isabel. They have plantations and estates in the South, but the ranches
+are out West. But I don't wonder you prefer bumping along as you do on
+the old Senator. You match him all right, all right. But just you wait
+until we leave you behind when we've learned to ride like Peggy and
+Polly, for we're going to do it, you can just bet your best hat."
+
+"Thank you, I never indulge in betting or slang. Both are vulgar in the
+extreme. And as to riding like a circus performer, I have higher aims in
+life."
+
+"Going in for the trapeze? They say it's fine to reduce embonpoint."
+
+No reply was made to Rosalie's gibe and the lesson went on in its usual
+uneventful manner. Meanwhile Peggy and Polly were having a glorious game
+of tag, for the Columbia Heights grounds were very extensive, and drives
+led in every direction. When pursued and pursuer were in a perfect gale
+of merriment, and Tzaritza giving way to her most joyous cavortings, a
+sudden turn brought them upon Mrs. Vincent. She was seated upon a rustic
+bench in one of the cosy nooks of the grounds and Tzaritza, bounding
+ahead, was the first to see her, and Tzaritza never forgot a kindness.
+The next second she had dropped upon the ground at Mrs. Vincent's feet,
+her nose buried in her forepaws--Tzaritza's way of manifesting her
+allegiance and affection. Then up she rose, rested her feet upon the
+bench and for the second time laid her head upon Mrs. Vincent's
+shoulder. Before that gratified lady had time to do more than place an
+arm about the big dog's neck, Peggy's and Polly's chargers had come to
+a halt in front of her and at word of command stood as still as statues.
+The girls slipped from the horses' backs, as bonny a pair as ever
+thrilled an older woman's soul.
+
+"Oh, Mrs. Vincent, we've had such a race!" cried Polly, smiling into
+Mrs. Vincent's face with her irresistible smile.
+
+"Isn't it good just to be alive on such a day?" smiled Peggy, turning to
+her as she would have turned to Mrs. Harold, her face alight. Aunt
+Katherine had been Peggy's only "wet blanket" and, it had not been
+wrapped about her long enough to destroy her absolute confidence in
+grown-ups. Perhaps Miss Sturgis would threaten it, but all that lay in
+the future.
+
+"And to be just fifteen with all the world before you, and such animals
+beside you," answered Mrs. Vincent, stroking Tzaritza and nodding toward
+the horses.
+
+"Yes, aren't they just the dearest ever? Who could help loving them?"
+
+"Will they stand like that without being tied?"
+
+"Oh, yes, they have always obeyed me perfectly. I wish you could see Roy
+and the others. Some day you must come out to Severndale, Mrs. Vincent,
+and see my four-footed children. I've such a lot of them."
+
+"Tell me something of your home and home-life, dear. We are not very
+well acquainted, you know, and that is a poor beginning."
+
+It was a subject dear to Peggy's heart, and she needed no urging. Seated
+beside Mrs. Vincent, for half an hour she talked of her life at
+Severndale, Polly's interjections supplying little side-lights which
+Mrs. Vincent was quick to appreciate, though Polly did not realize how
+they emphasized Peggy's picture of her home.
+
+"And you really raised those splendid horses yourself? I have never seen
+their equal."
+
+"But if you only knew how wonderfully intelligent they are, Mrs.
+Vincent! Of course, Silver Star is now Polly's horse, but she has
+learned to understand him so perfectly, and ride so beautifully, that he
+loves her as well as he loves me and obeys her as well."
+
+For a moment or two Mrs. Vincent's face wore an odd expression.
+
+"Understand" a horse? To be "loved" by one? Did she "understand" those
+in her stable? Did they "love" her? She almost smiled. It was such a new
+viewpoint. Yet, why not? The animals upon her place were certainly
+entirely dependent upon her for their happiness and comfort. But had she
+ever given that fact a serious thought?
+
+Slipping an arm about each girl as they sat beside her she asked:
+
+"What do you think of our horses, and of Dawson? For a little
+fifteen-year old lassie you seem to have had a remarkable experience."
+
+Peggy colored, but Polly blurted out:
+
+"I think he's a regular old hypocrite and so does Peggy. Why, Shelby
+would have forty fits if any of our horses' feet were like
+Jack-o'-Lantern's, or their bits as dirty as the Senator's."
+
+"Oh, Polly, please don't!" begged Peggy. But it was too late. "What is
+this?" asked Mrs. Vincent quickly.
+
+"Well, I dare say I've made a mess of the whole thing. I generally do,
+but Peggy and I do love animals so and hate to see them abused."
+
+"Are _ours_ abused, Polly?"
+
+"I don't suppose that generally speaking people would say they were.
+Most everybody would say they were mighty well cared for, but that's
+because people don't stop to think a thing about it. My goodness, _I_
+didn't till Peggy made me. A horse was just a horse to me--any old
+horse--if he could pull a wagon or hold somebody on his back. That he
+could actually _talk_ to me never entered my head. Have you ever seen
+one _do_ it?" asked Polly, full of eager enthusiasm.
+
+"I can't say that I ever have," smiled Mrs. Vincent, and Polly quickly
+retorted, though there was no trace of disrespect in her words:
+
+"Now you are laughing at us. I knew you would. Well, no wonder, most
+people would think us crazy for saying such a thing. But truly, Mrs.
+Vincent, we're not. Peggy, make Shashai and Star talk to you. I'd do it,
+only I'd sort of feel as though I were taking the wind out of your
+sails. You are the teacher and I'm only your pupil."
+
+"Do you really wish me to show you something of their intelligence, Mrs.
+Vincent? I feel sort of foolish--as though I were trying to show off,
+you know."
+
+"Well, you are _not_, and I've an idea that for a few moments we can
+exchange places to good advantage. It looks as though I had spent a vast
+deal of my time acquiring a knowledge of higher mathematics and modern
+languages, at the expense of some understanding of natural history and
+now I'll take a lesson, please."
+
+"Of course I don't mean to say that every animal can be taught all the
+things _our_ horses have learned any more than all children, can be
+equally taught. You don't expect as much of the child who has been,
+misused and neglected as you do of the one who has been raised properly
+and always loved. It depends a whole lot on that. Our horses have never
+known fear and so we can do almost anything with them. Shashai, Star,
+come and make love to Missie."
+
+As one the two beautiful creatures came to the seat and laid their soft
+muzzles upon Peggy's shoulders. Then raising their heads ran their
+velvety lips over her cheeks with as gentle, caressing a touch as a
+little child's fingers could have given, all the time voicing the soft,
+bubbling whinney of a trustful, happy horse. Peggy reached an arm about
+each satiny head. After a moment she said:
+
+"Attention!"
+
+Back started both horses to stand as rigid as statues.
+
+"Salute Mrs. Vincent."
+
+Up went each splendid head and a clear, joyous neigh was trumpeted from
+the delicate nostrils.
+
+"Call Shelby!"
+
+What an alert expression filled the splendid eyes as the horses,
+actually a-quiver with excitement, neighed again, and again for the
+friend whom they loved, and looked inquiringly at Peggy when he failed
+to appear.
+
+"Where's Jess?"
+
+Eager, impatient snorts replied.
+
+Peggy rose to her feet and carefully knotting, the reins upon the
+saddles' pommels to safeguard accidents, said:
+
+"Go fetch him!"
+
+Tzaritza was alert in an instant. "No, not you, Tzaritza. Charge. Four
+bells, Shashai,--Star!" and away swept the horses.
+
+"Do you mean to say they understand and will really bring Jess here?"
+asked Mrs. Vincent incredulously.
+
+"Oh, yes, indeed. They have done so dozens of times at home."
+
+"Well, they are wonders!"
+
+The rapid hoofbeats were now dying away in the distance. Perhaps ten
+minutes elapsed when their rhythmic beat was again audible, each second
+growing more distinct, then down the linden-bordered avenue came Shashai
+and Star, Jess riding Shashai. The horses moved as swiftly as birds fly.
+As they caught sight of Peggy they neighed loudly as though asking her
+approbation. A lump of sugar awaited each obedient animal, and Jess
+asked:
+
+"What yo' wantin' ob Jess, baby-honey?"
+
+"Just to prove to Mrs. Vincent that the horses would bring you here if I
+told them to."
+
+"Co'se dey bring me if Miss Peggy bidden 'em to," answered Jess as
+though surprised that she should ask such a needless question.
+
+"But how did you know she wished you?"
+
+"How'd I know, Mist'ss? Why dem hawses done _tol'_ me she want me. Yas'm
+dey did. Dey done come t'arin' back yonder ter de stable an' dey cotch
+holt ob my sleefs wid dey teefs, and dey yank and tug me 'long outen de
+do'. Den dis hyer Shashai, he stan' lak a statyer twell I hike me up on
+his back, den he kite away like de bery debbil--axes yo' pardon,
+ma'am!--an' hyer we-all _is_. Dat's all de _how_ dar is ob it. _Dey_
+knows what folks 'specs ob 'em. Dey's eddicated hawses. Dey's been
+_raised_ right."
+
+"I think they have been. Peggy, I want to walk back to the stables with
+you and Polly. I'd like to see with my own eyes some of the things you
+have spoken about."
+
+"O Mrs. Vincent, I am so afraid it will make a whole lot of trouble!
+Dawson knows I criticised him--indeed, I lost my temper and said he
+couldn't 'hold down a job' at Severndale. Excuse the slang, please, but
+he rubbed me the wrong way with all his fuss, when he really doesn't
+know, or doesn't want to know--I don't know which--one thing about
+horses."
+
+Mrs. Vincent paused a moment. "Perhaps you are right," she said. "At all
+events, your sense of justice seems to be one of your strong points. Go
+back to the house and let Jess take your 'children' to the stables. A
+little diplomacy can do no harm. And Jess, you need not mention seeing
+me with the young ladies. Your little mistress has begun my _horse_
+education. I haven't been very wise about them, I fear, but now I am
+going to make amends."
+
+"Yas'm. Amens does help we-all a powerful lot when we's wrastlin' wid
+we-all's sperrits. I hopes dey fotch yo' froo yo' doubtin's. I'se done
+had ter say many an amen in ma day."
+
+Jess' face was full of solicitude. He had not the remotest idea of the
+source of Mrs. Vincent's turmoil of spirit, but if she found it
+necessary to say "amen," Jess instantly concluded that his sympathies
+were demanded. At all events he was now a part of Columbia Heights and
+all within it's precincts came within his kindly solicitude. Tradition
+was strong in old Jessekiah. Mrs. Vincent had much ado to keep her
+countenance. She had come to Washington from a Western city and had but
+slight understanding of the real devotion of the old-time negro to his
+"white folks." Alas! few of the old-time ones are left. It was with a
+sense of still having considerable to learn that she parted from the
+girls and Jess and made her way toward the stables, reaching there some
+time after Jess had unsaddled his horses and was performing their
+toilets with as much care as a French maid would bestow upon her
+mistress, though no French maid would ever have kept up the incessant
+flow of affectionate talk to the object of her attentions that Jess was
+maintaining. He took no notice of Mrs. Vincent, but _she_ did not miss
+one shadow or shade of the absolute understanding existing between Jess
+and his "babies," as he called them.
+
+"Dar now, honeys," he said, as he carefully blanketed them. "Run 'long
+back yander to yo' boxes. Yo' dinner's all a-ready an' a-waitin', lak de
+hymn chune say, an' yo's ready fo' it. Dem children ain' never gwine
+send yo' back to de stable, so het up, yo' cyant eat er drink fo' an
+hour. No siree! Not _dem_."
+
+At that moment Dawson and his assistant appeared with the horses the
+girls had ridden. Notwithstanding the cool crispness of the morning,
+Lady Belle was in a lather where her harness rested. The Senator was
+blowing like a grampus; Jack-o'-Lantern's bit was foam-flecked and
+Natalie's pretty little "Madam Goldie" looked fagged.
+
+Mrs. Vincent instantly contrasted the condition of Shashai and Star with
+the others. Yet Peggy and Polly had been riding like Valkyrie.
+
+As Dawson espied the lady of the manor his face underwent a change which
+would have been amusing had it not been entirely too significant. Mrs.
+Vincent made no comments whatever concerning the horses but a veil had
+certainly fallen from her eyes. She asked Dawson how his young ladies
+were coming on with their riding lessons, how many had arranged to ride
+in the park that afternoon, and one or two trivial questions. Then she
+returned to the house a much wiser woman than she had left it an hour
+earlier.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+TZARITZA AS DISCIPLINARIAN
+
+
+Several days had passed since the riding lesson. It was Saturday evening
+and study period, which began at five and lasted until six-thirty, was
+ended. Dinner was served at seven on Saturdays and from eight until ten
+o'clock the girls were perfectly free. A group was gathered in Stella
+Drummond's big room and preparations for a fudge party, after the hearty
+dinner had "somewhat shaken down," were under way. Stella's chafing dish
+was the most up-to-date one in the school, and Stella's larder more
+bountifully supplied than the other girls. Indeed, Stella never lacked
+for anything so far as the others could discover and had a more liberal
+supply of pocket money than is generally allowed. Mrs. Vincent had
+expressed doubts as to the wisdom of it when Stella's father mentioned
+the sum she was to have, but he had laughed and answered:
+
+"Oh, nonsense, my dear Madam! At home she would have double if she
+wished it. She knows how to use it, and remember she is all I have to
+spend my income upon. Don't let that little matter worry you. Just give
+all your attention to polishing her up a bit and teaching her the newest
+fol-de-rols. Living all over the country is not the best thing for a
+young lady, I have found out. It may be conducive to physical
+development, but it leaves something to be desired in educational
+lines."
+
+So Stella, though eighteen, and supposed to be a senior, was really
+taking a special course in which junior work predominated. She had
+selected her own room, it had been furnished exactly as she wished, and
+it certainly resembled a bridal apartment more than a school-girl's
+bed-room. A large alcove and private bath opened from it, and a balcony
+which commanded a beautiful view of Stony Brook Park made it luxurious
+to a degree. In this room, lighted by softly shaded electric drop
+lights, a cheery log fire blazing upon the shining brass andirons, the
+girls had gathered. Stella was arranging her electric chafing dish upon
+its little marble stand. Peggy was opening a box of shelled pecan nuts,
+Polly measuring out the chocolate, and the other girls were supplying
+all needful, or needless, advice concerning the _modus operandi_.
+Tzaritza, now a most privileged creature indeed, had stretched her huge
+length before the hearth, looking for all the world like a superb white
+rug, and Rosalie Breeze was flat upon her stomach, her arms around the
+dog's neck, her face nestled in the silky hair. Juno Gibson reclined
+gracefully in a luxurious wicker chair, its gorgeous pink satin cushions
+a perfect background for her dark loveliness--which no one understood
+better than Juno herself. Helen Doolittle (most aptly named) was gazing
+in simpering adoration upon Stella from a pillow-laden couch, and now
+commented:
+
+"Oh, Stella, what adorable hands you have. How do you keep them so
+ravishingly white and your nails so absolutely faultless? I could cover
+them with kisses, sweetheart."
+
+Stella's laugh held wholesome ridicule of this rhapsody and she replied:
+
+"Don't waste your emotion upon _my_ hands. Just save it until somebody
+comes along who wished to cover _your_ hands with kisses--I mean some
+one in masculine attire. For my part, I don't think I'd care to have a
+girl try that experiment with me."
+
+"Have you ever had a _boy_ cover your hands with kisses?" asked Helen
+eagerly, starting from her position.
+
+Stella, raised her head, looked at the simple, inconsequent, little
+doll-faced blonde and with an odd smile said:
+
+"Well, I could hardly have called him a boy."
+
+"Oh, was he a man? A real _man_? Did he wear a moustache? Just think,
+girls, of having a man's moustache brush the back of your hand as he
+covered it with kisses. Oh, how terribly thrilling. Do tell us all about
+it, Stella! I knew the moment I met you you must have had a romantic
+history. Did your father find it out, and what did he say?"
+
+"Yes, I told him all about it and he laughed at me," and again Stella
+laughed her mystifying laugh.
+
+"Oh, I'd just _adore_ having such a ravishing experience as that," said
+Lily Pearl Montgomery from the window seat, "but how can one have any
+thrilling experiences in a stupid old school! Now there are Polly and
+Peggy; think of all they could tell us if they only would. You girls
+must be fairly bursting with the most wonderful stories if you'd only
+come down off your pedestals and tell us. _I_ think you're both too
+tight for words. And all those darling cadets' photographs in your room.
+You needn't try to make _me_ believe that 'Faithfully yours, Bubbles'
+and 'Your chum, Ralph,' and 'For my Pilot, Captain Polly, Wheedles,' and
+'For Peggy Stewart, Chatelaine, Happy,' don't mean a whole lot more."
+
+"What's that?" asked Peggy, catching her name and looking up from her
+occupation. She caught Polly's eyes which had begun to snap. Polly had
+also been too busy to pay much attention at first, but she had heard the
+concluding sentences. She turned and looked at Lily with exactly the
+expression upon her sixteen-year-old face which had overspread it years
+before when the thirteen-year-old Polly had surprised the sentimental
+"Thusan Thwingle" exchanging osculatory favors with "one of thothe
+horrid boyths" in the basement of the high school at Montgentian. Then
+she said with repressed vehemence:
+
+"I only wish our boys could have heard you say that. If you wouldn't
+come in for the running of your life my name's not Polly Howland. You'd
+suit some of the boys back yonder, but not our bunch. Of all the hot
+air! Stella, is your chafing-dish ready?"
+
+Peggy had colored a rosy pink. She lacked Polly's experience with other
+girls.
+
+Piqued by Polly's superior rebuff, Helen came to the inane Lily Pearl's
+support in a manner she knew would hit loyal Polly's most vulnerable
+spot:
+
+"Look at Peggy's face! Look at Peggy's face! Which is the particular He,
+Peggy? Polly may be able to put up a big bluff, but your face is a dead
+giveaway."
+
+"I don't think you would be able to understand if I told you. Middie's
+Haven and the 'bunch' are just a degree too high up for you to reach,
+I'm afraid, and there's no elevator in Wilmot Hall," answered Peggy
+quietly.
+
+Polly laid down the things she was holding for Stella, dusted her hands
+of chocolate crumbs by lightly rubbing her fingers together, and walked
+quietly over to the couch. Helen looked somewhat alarmed and drew back
+among her pillows.
+
+Polly, never uttering one word, bent over, swooped up Helen, pillows and
+all and holding her burden as she would have held a struggling baby,
+walked straight out of the room and down, the corridor to her own room,
+the shouts, screams and laughs of the girls following her. Helen was
+absolutely speechless at the audacity of the act. Bumping her door
+together by the only available means left her, since both arms were
+occupied, Polly then plumped Helen, now almost ready to resort to
+hysterical tears, upon a wooden shirt-waist box and placing herself in
+front of her, struck the attitude of a little red-headed goddess of
+vengeance as she said:
+
+"Helen Doolittle, you may run _me_ all you've a mind to--it doesn't mean
+a thing to me; I'm used to it; I've been teased all my life and I'm
+bomb-proof. But Peggy Stewart's made of different stuff. She hasn't been
+with girls very much, and never with a _silly_ one before. Give her
+time and she'll understand them a good sight better than they'll ever
+understand her. And the boys she has known are not the kind who are ever
+likely to want to know _you_. So there's not much use wasting time
+explaining things. But I tell you just this, I won't stand for Peggy
+being run even a little bit, and you can circulate that bit of
+information broadcast. She's the finest ever, and the girl who can call
+her friend is in luck up to her ears. So understand: let her alone or
+reckon with me."
+
+"Do you think we are a lot of crazy schoolboys and expect to settle our
+disagreements with a regular fist-a-cuff bout? You must come from a very
+queer place."
+
+"Where _I_ come from doesn't matter in the least. Peggy is the one under
+discussion and you know where she comes from and who she is. _What_ she
+is you'll never know."
+
+"I don't see why she should be so very hard to understand."
+
+"She isn't--for people with enough sense. Now just take one good look at
+those pictures. Is there a weak face among them? One of two things will
+happen to you if you ever happen to meet the originals: they'll either
+make you feel like a silly little kid or they won't take a bit of
+notice of you. It will depend upon how you happen to strike them."
+
+"Oh, are they such, wonders as all that?"
+
+"If you ever get an invitation down to Annapolis you'll have a chance to
+find out. Peggy and I have about made up our minds to have a house party
+during the holidays, but we haven't quite made up our minds which girls
+we are going to like well enough to ask to it. Tanta suggested it. She
+is anxious to know our friends, and we are anxious to have her. She
+sizes people up pretty quickly and we are always mighty glad to have her
+opinion."
+
+Polly spoke rapidly and the effect upon Helen was peculiar. From the
+pugnacious attitude of an outraged canary, ready to do battle, she was
+transformed into the sweetest, meekest love-bird imaginable. A veritable
+little preening, posing, oh-do-admire-me creature, and at Polly's last
+words she jumped from the box and clasping her hands, cried:
+
+"A house-party! You are planning a house-party? Oh, how perfectly
+adorable. Oh, which girls are you going to invite? Oh, I'll never, never
+tease Peggy again as long as I live. I'll be perfectly lovely to her and
+I'll make the other girls be nice too. To think of going up there and
+meeting all those darling boys. Oh please tell me all about it! The
+girls will be just crazy when I tell them. Which of these fellows will
+be there?"
+
+Helen had rushed over to Polly's dresser upon which in pretty silver
+frames were photographs of Ralph, Happy and Wheedles. On Peggy's dresser
+Shorty and Durand looked from their frames straight into her eyes, while
+several others not yet framed looked down from the top of the bookshelf.
+Silly little Helen was in an ecstasy. Her mamma had never believed in
+companions of the opposite sex for her "sweet little daughter" but had
+kept her in a figurative preserve jar which bore the label "you may look
+but you must not touch." Mamma's instructions to Mrs. Vincent upon
+placing Helen in the school had been an absolute ban upon any masculine
+visitors, or visits upon Helen's part where such undesirable, though
+often unavoidable, members of society might congregate. "She is so very
+innocent and unsophisticated, you know, and so very young," added mamma
+sweetly. Mrs. Vincent smiled indulgently, but made no comments: She had
+encountered such mammas and such sweetly unsophisticated daughters
+before and she then and there resolved to keep an extra watchful eye
+upon this innocent one. Thus far, however, nothing alarming had
+occurred, but Mrs. Vincent knew her material and was prepared for
+almost anything. She also knew Lily Pearl and felt pretty sure that if
+an upheaval ever took place it would turn out that Lily Pearl or Helen
+had touched off the mine. The foregoing scene gives some hint of the
+viewpoints of the young ladies in question.
+
+During this digression Helen had caught up Wheedle's picture and was
+pressing it rapturously to her fluttering bosom and exclaiming:
+
+"You're a perfect darling! If I could have just one dance with _you_ I'd
+be willing to _die_! Polly, how old is he!"
+
+But Polly had left the room and was on her way back to Stella's. As she
+reached it she came face to face with the Sturgeon and the Sturgeon's
+eyes held no "lovelight" for her.
+
+"Miss Howland, what was the cause of the wild shrieks which disturbed me
+a moment since? Miss Montgomery says you can tell if you will and since
+none of your companions seem inclined to do so, I will hear your
+explanation. I was on my way to inform Miss Stewart that Mrs. Vincent
+wished to see her in her study at once when this hideous uproar assailed
+my ears."
+
+Polly glanced quickly about the room. Sure enough, Peggy had left it.
+Some of the girls looked concerned, others quite calm; among the latter
+were Stella and Juno. Rosalie, with Tzaritza's head in her lap, looked
+defiant. She hated Miss Sturgis.
+
+Polly turned and looked squarely into Miss Sturgis' eyes.
+
+"The girls were screaming because I carried Helen out of the room," she
+answered quietly.
+
+"It seems to me you must be somewhat in need of exercise. I would advise
+you to go to the gymnasium to work off your superfluous energy. Why did
+you carry Helen from the room? Has she become incapable of voluntary
+locomotion?"
+
+"Not yet," answered Polly, a twinkle coming into a corner of the gray
+eyes.
+
+"_Not yet?_" emphasized Miss Sturgis. "Are you apprehensive of her
+becoming so?"
+
+"She needs more exercise than she gets," answered Polly, half smiling.
+
+That smile acted as salt upon a wound. Miss Sturgis' temper rose.
+
+"Please bear in mind that it does not devolve upon _you_ to decide that
+question."
+
+"I did not try to settle that question, Miss Sturgis. If you wish to
+know why I carried Helen out of the room I did it because she was
+running--"
+
+"Doing what? I don't think I understand your boyish slang."
+
+"Well, teasing Peggy, and I won't have Peggy teased by anybody if I can
+stop it. She doesn't understand girls' ways as well as I do because she
+hasn't been thrown with them. So when Helen teased her I picked her up
+and carried her down to our room and I don't reckon she will tease her
+any more."
+
+"So you have come into the school to set its standards and correct its
+shortcomings, have you? Are you so very superior to your companions--you
+and your protégée?"
+
+Polly looked straight into the narrow eyes looking at her, but made no
+reply.
+
+"Answer me, instantly."
+
+"I have never considered myself superior to anyone, but I _do_ consider
+Peggy Stewart superior to any girl I have ever known, and I think you
+will agree with me when you know her better," asserted Polly loyally.
+
+"You are insolent."
+
+"I do not mean to be. Any one who knows her will tell you the same
+thing."
+
+"I repeat you are insolent and you may go to your room."
+
+Polly made no reply, but started to leave the room. Tzaritza sprang to
+her side. Miss Sturgis interposed.
+
+"Leave that dog where she is. Go back, you horrible beast," and she
+raised her hand menacingly. Tzaritza was not quite sure whether the
+menace was intended for Polly or herself. In either case it was cause
+for resentment and a low growl warned against further liberties.
+
+"Be careful, Miss Sturgis. Tzaritza thinks you are threatening me," said
+Polly. It was said wholly in the interest of the teacher.
+
+Miss Sturgis' early training and forebears had not been of an order to
+develop either great dignity, or self-control. Her ability to teach
+mathematics was undisputed. Hence her position in Mrs. Vincent's school,
+though that good lady had more than once had reason to question the
+wisdom of retaining her, owing to the influence which she exerted over
+her charges. The grain beneath did not lend itself to a permanent, or
+high polish, and it took only the slightest scratch to mar it. Polly's
+words seemed to destroy her last remnant of self-control and she turned
+upon her in a fury of rage. As she seized her by the arm and cried,
+"Silence!" Polly whirled from her like a flash crying, "Charge,
+Tzaritza!"
+
+But it was too late, the 'hound had sprung to Polly's defense, only it
+was Polly's protecting arm into which Tzaritza's teeth sank. The girl
+turned white with pain. Instantly the beautiful dog relinquished her
+hold and whining and whimpering like a heartbroken thing began to lick
+the bruised arm. Then arose a hubbub compared to which the screams of
+which Miss Sturgis had complained had been infantile plaints. Lily Pearl
+promptly went into hysterics. Juno shrieked aloud and even the
+self-contained Stella cried out as she ran to catch Polly in her arms,
+for the girl seemed about to faint. But Miss Sturgis, now thoroughly
+terrified at the crisis she had brought to pass, called madly for help.
+Helen's screams mingled in the pandemonium, for Helen had been brought
+hack from her romantic air castle with a rush.
+
+Notwithstanding the fact that Mrs. Vincent's study was down one flight
+of stairs and at the other end of the building, she became aware of the
+uproar and her conversation with Peggy came to an abrupt pause. Then
+both hurried into the hall to see the tails of Horatio Hannibal
+Harrison's coat vanishing up the broad stairway and to hear Fräulein
+Hedwig wailing, "Oh ze house iss burning up _and_ down I am sure!"
+
+Meanwhile upon the scene of action Polly had been the first to recover
+her wits. The skin had not been broken, for Tzaritza had instantly
+perceived her error and released her grip almost as soon as it was
+taken. But Miss Sturgis would not have escaped so easily, as well she
+knew, and her hatred for Tzaritza increased tenfold. When Mrs. Vincent
+and the others arrived upon the scene she broke into a perfect torrent
+of invective against the dog, but was brought to her senses by the
+Principal's quiet:
+
+"Miss Sturgis, you seem to be a good deal overwrought. I will excuse
+you. You may retire to your room until you feel calmer."
+
+"Let me explain! Let me tell you what a horrible thing has happened!"
+cried Miss Sturgis.
+
+"When you are less excited I shall be glad to listen. Fräulein, kindly
+accompany Miss Sturgis to her room and call the housekeeper. Now, Polly,
+what is it?" asked Mrs. Vincent, for Polly was the center of the group
+of excited girls, though calmer than any of them.
+
+"Tzaritza made a mistake and caught my arm in her teeth, that is all,
+Mrs. Vincent. But she has done no harm. It doesn't hurt much now; she
+did not mean to do it any way."
+
+"What!" cried Peggy, aghast, "Tzaritza attacked _you_, Polly?"
+
+Polly nodded her head in quick negative, striving to keep Peggy from
+saying more. But Tzaritza had crawled to Peggy's feet and was literally
+grovelling there in abject misery.
+
+"Charge, Tzaritza!"
+
+The splendid creature lay motionless. "Polly, what happened?' demanded
+Peggy, once more the Peggy of Severndale and entirely forgetful of her
+present surroundings. Mrs. Vincent smiled and laying her hand gently
+upon Peggy's arm said:
+
+"Don't embarrass Polly, dear. Leave it to me."
+
+"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Vincent. I forgot," answered Peggy,
+blushing deeply. Mrs. Vincent nodded forgiveness, then turning to
+Stella, asked:
+
+"Were you here all the time, Stella?"
+
+"Yes, Mrs. Vincent."
+
+"Then please tell me exactly what happened."
+
+Stella told the story clearly and quietly. When she ended there was a
+moment's hush, broken by Rosalie Breeze crying:
+
+"And Tzaritza never, never would have done a single thing if Miss
+Sturgis hadn't lost her temper. She is forever scolding us about losing
+ours, but she'd just better watch out herself. I wish Tzaritza had
+bitten her!"
+
+"Rosalie!"
+
+"Well, I do, Mrs. Vincent. It was every bit her own fault. She hates
+Tzaritza, and I love her," was Rosalie's vehement if perplexing
+conclusion as she cast herself upon the big dog. Tzaritza welcomed her
+with a grateful whine and crept closer, though she never raised her
+head. She was waiting the word of forgiveness from the one she loved
+best of all, but Peggy was awaiting Tzaritza's exoneration. Mrs.
+Vincent, who had sent for the resident trained nurse, was examining
+Polly's arm and now said:
+
+"It is all very distressing, but I am glad no more serious for Polly.
+The arm is badly bruised and will be very painful for some time, but I
+can't discover a scratch. Miss Allen, will you please look after this
+little girl," she asked, as the sweet-faced trained nurse entered the
+room, her white uniform snowy and immaculate, her face a benediction in
+its sweet, calm repose.
+
+"Go with Miss Allen, dear, and have your arm dressed." Polly paused only
+long enough to stoop down and kiss Tzaritza's head, the caress being
+acknowledged by a pathetic whine, then followed the nurse from the room.
+
+Peggy was terribly distressed.
+
+"Do you think I would better send her back to Severndale, Mrs. Vincent?"
+she asked.
+
+"Has she ever attacked anyone before, Peggy?"
+
+"Never in all her life."
+
+"I hardly think she will again. She may remain. Come here, Tzaritza."
+
+Tzaritza did not stir.
+
+"Up, Tzaritza," commanded Peggy, and the affectionate creature's feet
+were upon her shoulders as she begged forgiveness with almost human
+eloquence.
+
+"Oh, my bonny one, how could you?" asked Peggy as she caressed the silky
+head. Tzaritza's whimpers reduced some of the girls to tears. "Now go to
+Mrs. Vincent," ordered Peggy, and the hound obediently crossed the room
+to lay her head in that lady's lap.
+
+"Poor Tzaritza, you did what you believed to be your duty, didn't you?
+None of us can do more. I wish some of my other problems were as easy to
+solve as the motives of your act. Go on with your fudge party, girls. It
+will prove a diversion. I must look to other matters now," and Mrs.
+Vincent sighed at the prospect of the coming interview with Miss
+Sturgis. It was not her first experience by any means.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+BEHIND SCENES
+
+
+The girls were hardly in a mood to return to their fudge-making, so
+Stella produced a box of Whitman's chocolates and the group settled down
+to eat them and discuss the events of the past exciting half hour. Polly
+squatted upon the rug and with her uninjured arm hauled about half of
+Tzaritza upon her lap. Tzaritza was positively foolish in her ecstatic
+joy at being restored to favor.
+
+"Poor Tzaritza, you got into trouble because I lost my temper, didn't
+you? It was a heap more my fault than yours after all."
+
+"Oh, there's nothing wrong with Tzaritza. It's the Sturgeon. Hateful old
+thing! I just hope Mrs. Vincent gives her bally-hack," stormed Rosalie.
+"Suppose we did shout and screech? It's Saturday night and we have a
+right to if we like. But what under the sun did Mrs. Vincent want of
+you, Peggy?"
+
+"Oh, nothing very serious," answered Peggy, smiling in a way which set
+Rosalie's curiosity a-galloping.
+
+"Yes, what _did_ she want?" demanded Polly, turning to look up at Peggy.
+
+"Can't tell anybody _now_. You'll all know after Thanksgiving," answered
+Peggy, wagging her head in the negative.
+
+"Oh, please tell us! Ah, do! We won't breathe a living, single word!"
+cried the chorus.
+
+"Uh-mh!" murmured Peggy in such perfect imitation of old Mammy that
+Polly laughed outright.
+
+"Aren't you even going to tell Polly?" asked Rosalie, who had arrived at
+some very definite conclusion regarding these friends, for Rosalie was
+far from slow if at times rather more self-assertive than the average
+young lady is supposed to be.
+
+For answer Peggy broke into a little air from a popular comic opera
+running just then in Washington and to which Captain Stewart had taken
+his little party only a few weeks before:
+
+"And what is right for Tweedle-dum is wrong for Tweedle-dee," sang Peggy
+in her sweet contralto voice, Polly following in her bird-like whistle.
+
+The little ruse worked to perfection. The girls forgot all about Peggy's
+"call down," as a summons to Mrs. Vincent's study was banned, and had a
+rapture over Polly's whistling and Peggy's singing, nor were they
+satisfied until a dozen airs had been given in the girl's very best
+style. Then came the story of the concerts at home, and Polly's
+whistling at the Masquerader's Show when Wharton Van Nostrand fell ill,
+and a dozen other vivid little glimpses of the life back in Severndale
+and up in "Middie's Haven" until their listeners were nearly wild with
+excitement.
+
+"And they are to have a house party there during the holidays, girls.
+Think of that!" cried Helen.
+
+"Honest?" cried Lily Pearl, leaning forward with clasped hands, while
+even Juno, the superior, became animated and remarked:
+
+"Really! I dare say you will choose your guests with extreme care as to
+their appeal to the model young men they are likely to meet at
+Annapolis, for I don't doubt your aunt, Mrs. Harold, is a most
+punctilious chaperon."
+
+"Juno's been eating hunks of the new Webster's Dictionary, girls. That's
+how she happens to have all those long words so near the top. They got
+stuck going down so they come up easy," interjected Rosalie.
+
+Juno merely tossed her head, but vouchsafed no answer. Rosalie's Western
+_gaucherie_ was beneath her notice. Juno's home was at the Hotel Astor
+in New York City. At least as much of "home" as she knew. Her mother
+had lived abroad for the past five years, and was now the Princess
+Somebody-or-other. Her father kept his suite at the Astor but lived
+almost anywhere else, his only daughter seeing him when he had less
+enticing companionship. A "chaperon" did duty at the Astor when Juno was
+in the city, which was not often. Consequently, Juno's ideas of domestic
+felicity were not wholly edifying; her conception of anything pertaining
+to home life about as hazy as the nebula.
+
+"Perhaps if you ever know Tanta you'll be able to form your own
+opinion," answered Polly quietly, looking steadily at Juno with those
+wonderfully penetrating gray eyes until the girl shrugged and colored.
+
+Stella laughed a low, odd little laugh and came over to drop upon the
+rug beside Polly, saying as she slipped her arm around her and
+good-naturedly dragged her down upon her lap:
+
+"You are one funny, old-fashioned little kid, do you know that? Some
+times I feel as though I were about twenty years your senior, and then
+when I catch that size-me-up, read-me-through, look in your eyes, I make
+up my mind _I'm_ the infant--not you. Where did you and Peggy catch and
+bottle up all your worldly wisdom?"
+
+"Didn't know _I_ had so much," laughed Polly, "but Peggy was born with
+hers, I reckon. If I have any it has been bumped into my head partly by
+mother, partly by Aunt Janet, and the job finished by the boys Juno has
+been referring to. It doesn't do to try any nonsense with _that_ bunch;
+they see through you and call your bluff as quick as a flash. We were
+pretty good chums and I miss them more than I could ever miss a lot of
+girls, I believe. Certainly, more than I missed the Montgentian girls
+when I left them."
+
+"Nothing like being entirely frank, I'm sure," was Juno's superior
+remark:
+
+"That's another thing the boys taught us," replied Polly imperturbably.
+Just then the bell rang for "rooms."
+
+"There's Tattoo!" cried Polly. "If I get settled down at Taps tonight
+I'll be doing wonders. Miss Allen has bandaged up my arm as though
+Tzaritza had bitten half of it off. Come on, 'Ritza. Peggy, you'll have
+to get me out of my dudds tonight. Good-night, girls. Sorry we didn't
+get our fudge made. Maybe if I'd let Helen alone you would have had it,"
+and with a merry laugh Polly ran from the room, all animosity forgotten.
+
+"What did she mean by 'Tattoo' and 'Taps,'" asked Natalie of Peggy.
+
+"The warning call sounded on the bugle for the midshipmen to go to their
+rooms, and the lights out call which follows. Have you never heard
+them? They are so pretty. Polly and I love them so, and you can't think
+how we miss them here. Polly always sounded them on her bugle at home.
+You've no idea how sweetly she can do it," answered Peggy as she walked
+toward her room beside Natalie.
+
+"Oh, I wish I _could_ hear them. I wonder if mother knows anything about
+them," cried Natalie enthusiastically. "Do you know, I think you and
+Polly are perfectly wonderful, you have so many original ideas. I am
+just crazy to know what mother wanted of you tonight. I'm going to ask
+her. Do you think she will tell me?"
+
+"Why not? The only reason I did not tell was because I felt I had no
+right to. If Mrs. Vincent wants the others to know she will tell them,
+but you are different. I reckon mothers can't keep anything from their
+own daughters. At least Polly and her mother seem to share everything
+and I know Mrs. Harold is just like a mother to me."
+
+The girls separated and Peggy and Polly were soon behind closed doors
+discussing Mrs. Vincent's private interview with the former.
+
+The following Tuesday was Hallow E'en and where is your school-girl who
+does not revel in its privileges? Mrs. Vincent, contrary to Miss
+Sturgis' preconceived ideas of what was possible and proper for a girls'
+school, though the latter never failed to quote the rigid discipline of
+the school which had profited by her valuable services prior to her
+engagement at Columbia Heights, was given to some departures which often
+came near reducing Miss Sturgis to tears of vexation.
+
+One of these rules, or rather the lack of them, was the arrangement of
+the tables in the two dining-rooms. In the dining-room for the little
+girls under twelve a teacher presided at each table as a matter of
+course, but in the main dining-hall covers were laid for six at each
+table, one of the girls presiding as hostess, her tenure of office
+depending wholly upon her standing in the school, her deportment,
+ability and general average of work. At the further end of the room Mrs.
+Vincent's own table was placed, and the staff of eight resident teachers
+sat with her. It was a far happier arrangement than the usual one of
+placing a teacher at each table and having her, whether consciously or
+unconsciously, arrogate the entire conversation, interests and viewpoint
+to herself. Of course, there are some teachers who can still recall with
+sufficient vividness their own school-girl life to feel keenly the
+undercurrent of restraint which an older person almost invariably
+starts when thrown with a group of younger ones, and who possesses the
+power and tact to overcome it and enter the girl-world. But these are
+the exceptions rather than the rule, and none knew this better than Mrs.
+Vincent. Consequently, she chose her own way of removing all possible
+danger of impaired digestion, believing that the best possible aid to
+healthy appetites and perfectly assimilated food were untrammeled
+spirits and hearty laughs. So she and her staff sat at their own table
+where they were free to discuss the entire school if they chose to do
+so, and the girls--for, surely, "turn-about-is-fairplay"--could discuss
+them. It worked pretty well, too, in spite of Miss Sturgis' inclination
+to keep one eye and one ear "batted" toward the other tables, often to
+Mrs. Vincent's intense, though carefully concealed amusement.
+
+And now came Hallow E'en, and with small regard for Miss Sturgis'
+prejudices, plump in the middle of the school week! At the end of the
+last recitation period that afternoon when the whole school of one
+hundred fifty girls, big and little, had gathered in the chapel, for the
+working day invariably ended with a few kindly helpful words spoken by
+Mrs. Vincent and the reading of the thirty-fourth Psalm and singing
+Shelley's beautiful hymn of praise, Mrs. Vincent paused for a moment
+before dismissing her pupils. Many of the older girls knew what to
+expect, but the newer ones began to wonder if their sins had found them
+out. Nevertheless, Mrs. Vincent's expression was not alarming as she
+moved a step toward them and asked:
+
+"Which of my girls will be willing to give up her afternoon recreation
+period and devote that time to the preparation of tomorrow's work!"
+
+The effect was amusing. Some of the girls gave little gasps of surprise,
+others, ohs! of protest, others distinct negatives, while a good many
+seemed delighted at the prospect. These had known Mrs. Vincent longest.
+
+"Those of you who are ready to return to the main hall at four o'clock
+and work until five-thirty may be released from all further obligations
+for the evening, and the attic, laundry and gymnasium will be placed at
+your disposal for a Hallow E'en frolic and--"
+
+But she got no further. Rosalie Breeze, sans ceremony, made one wild
+leap from her chair and rushed toward the platform. Miss Sturgis made a
+peremptory motion and stepped toward her, but Mrs. Vincent raised her
+hand. The next second Rosalie had flung herself bodily into Mrs.
+Vincent's arms, crying:
+
+"Oh, if every schoolmarm was just exactly like _you_ I'd never, never do
+one single bad thing to plague 'em and I'll let you use me for your
+doormat if you want to!"
+
+A less self-contained woman would have been staggered by the sudden
+onslaught and felt her rule and dignity jeopardized. Mrs. Vincent was of
+different fibre. She gathered the little madcap into her arms for one
+second, then taking the witch-like face in both hands kissed each
+flushed cheek as she said:
+
+"I sometimes think you claim kinship with the pixies,--you are half a
+witch. So you accept the bargain? Good! Have all the fun you wish but
+don't burn the house down."
+
+By this time the whole school had gathered around her, asking questions
+forty to the minute.
+
+Mrs. Vincent looked like a fly-away girl herself in her sympathetic
+excitement, for her soft, curly chestnut hair had somewhat escaped its
+combs and pins, and her cheeks were as rosy as the girls. Mrs. Vincent
+was only forty, and now looked about half her age.
+
+Polly and Peggy crowded close to her, Natalie shared her arms with
+Rosalie, quiet, undemonstrative Marjorie's face glowed with affection,
+while even Juno condescended to unbend, and Lily Pearl and Helen gave
+vent to their emotions by embracing each other. Stella, tall, stately
+and such a contrast to the others, beamed upon the group.
+
+But Isabel put the finishing stroke by remarking with, a most superior
+smile:
+
+"O Mrs. Vincent, what a perfect darling you are! Don't you perfectly
+dote on her girls? _I_ fell in love with her years ago when I first met
+her and I've simply worshiped at her shrine ever since."
+
+"Rats!" broke out Rosalie, and Mrs. Vincent had just about all she could
+manage for a moment. Her emotions were sadly at odds. Polly's laugh
+saved the day and deflected Isabel's scorn.
+
+"I really do not see what is amusing you, Miss Howland; I am sure I am
+only expressing the sentiments of my better poised schoolmates."
+
+"Oh, we all agree with you--every single one of us--though we are
+choosing different ways of showing it, you see. If Peggy and I had been
+down home we'd probably have given the Four-N yell. That's _our_ way of
+expressing our approbation. The boys taught us, and we think its a
+pretty good way. It works off a whole lot of pent-up steam."
+
+"What is it, Polly?" asked Mrs. Vincent.
+
+"I'm afraid you would have to hear the boys give it to quite understand
+it, Mrs. Vincent, but I tell you it makes one tingle right down to
+one's very toes--that yell!"
+
+"Can't you and Peggy give it to us on a small scale? Just as a sample of
+what we may hear some day? Perhaps if the girls hear it they can fall
+in. I'd like to hear it myself."
+
+Polly paused a moment, looking doubtfully at Peggy. That old Naval
+Academy Yell meant a good deal to these two girls. They had heard it
+under so many thrilling circumstances.
+
+"We will give it if you wish it, Mrs. Vincent, though it will sound
+funny I'm afraid from just Polly and me. Maybe though, the girls will
+try it too after we have given it."
+
+With more volume and enthusiasm than would have seemed possible from
+just two throats, Peggy and Polly began:
+
+                               "N--n--n--n!
+                                A--a--a--a!
+                                V--v--v--v!
+                                Y--y--y--y!
+                           Navy! Navy! Navy! Navy!
+                  Mrs. Vincent! Mrs. Vincent! Mrs. Vincent!"
+
+the ending being entirely in the nature of a surprise to that lady who
+blushed and laughed like a girl. But before she could escape, Polly had
+sprung to the platform and as a cheer leader who would have put Wheedler
+of old to shame was crying: "Come on!"
+
+The girls caught the spirit and swing with a will and the room rang to
+their voices.
+
+Clapping her hands and laughing happily Mrs. Vincent ran toward the door
+only pausing long enough to say:
+
+"Four P. M. sharp! Then from seven to ten 'the
+goblins will get you if you don't watch out!'"
+
+"Let Polly sound 'Assembly' at four. Please do, Mrs. Vincent. It will
+make us come double time," begged Peggy, running after her and detaining
+her by slipping her arm about her waist.
+
+"Assembly? I don't believe I quite understand."
+
+"On her bugle, you know. It's so pretty, and we did that way at home if
+we wanted to bring the bunch together in a hurry."
+
+"Well, I'm learning something new every minute, I believe. Yes, sound
+your bugle call, Polly, and be sure I shall be on the _qui vive_ to hear
+it. Before we know it we shall have a _girls'_ military school."
+
+"Oh, wouldn't it be perfectly splendid if we only could and all wear
+brass buttons!" cried Rosalie.
+
+"I think some of the discipline would be splendid for all of us, and
+especially the spirit of the thing," answered Stella. "The trouble with
+most girls lies in the fact that they don't know how to work together.
+There isn't much class spirit, or coöperation. Maybe if we tried some of
+the methods Peggy and Polly seem to know so much about we'd come closer
+together."
+
+"Team work, I guess you mean," said Polly quickly. "It means a whole
+lot."
+
+Sharply at four the staccato notes of "Assembly" rang across the terrace
+as Polly sounded the call upon her bugle. The girls came hurrying from
+every direction and the ensuing hour and a half, usually free for
+recreation, was cheerfully given over to study. Dinner was served at six
+and at seven-thirty the revels began.
+
+At Peggy's suggestion a part of the afternoon had been devoted to
+devising costumes out of anything at hand, for a fancy dress party had
+been hastily decided upon. As a result of this some unique and original
+Hallow E'en sprites, nymphs, dryads or witches foregathered in the big
+laundry, "cleared for action," Polly said, and two or three aroused
+little cries of admiration.
+
+Peggy was a dryad. She had rushed away to the woods on Shashai to return
+with her mount buried from sight in autumn leaves. The dark, rich reds
+of the oaks, the deep yellow of the beeches, the dogwood's and maple's
+gorgeous variations and the sweet-gums blood red mingled in a
+bewildering confusion of color. Stripping the leaves from the twigs she
+proceeded to sew them upon a plain linen gown, and the result was
+exquisite, for not a vestige of the fabric remained visible, and Peggy's
+piquant, rich coloring peeped from a garment of living, burning color.
+She herself was the only one who did not fully appreciate the picture
+she presented.
+
+Polly's costume was a character from one of the children's pages in a
+Sunday newspaper. The entire costume was made of newspapers, with "The
+Yellow Kid" much in evidence, Polly's tawny hair lending itself well to
+the color scheme.
+
+Natalie, who was fair as a lily, had chosen "sunlight," and was a bonny
+little sun goddess. Lily Pearl, after a great deal of fuss and fidgeting
+had elected to go as Titania, and Helen essayed Oberon. Juno, who was
+very musical, made quite a stately Sappho. Little, sedate Marjorie was
+an Alaskan-Indian Princess, and Rosalie rigged up a Puck costume which
+made her irresistible. Isabel chose to be Portia, though that erudite
+lady seemed somewhat out of place among the mythological characters. But
+Stella was a startling Sibyl, with book, staff, and a little crystal
+globe (removed from her paper-weight) in which to read horoscopes. The
+others went in all sorts of guises or disguises.
+
+In the laundry they found all properties provided. To tell of all which
+took place would crowd out too much which must follow. Of course apples
+were bobbed for, a hat pin was run through them to prod the seeds for
+the true lover's heart, and they were hung upon strings to be caught in
+one's teeth (the apples, _not_ the hearts) if luckily one did not get
+one's nose bumped as they swung back. Melted lead was poured through a
+key into cold water to take the mysterious form which would reveal the
+occupation, or profession, of the future _He_, and Lily Pearl was thrown
+into an ecstasy by having _her_ sputtering metal take very distinctly
+the form of a ship. _And that house party "bid" not even hinted at yet!_
+
+They walked downstairs backward, looking into a mirror to discover the
+particular masculine face which would fill their live's mirrors, though,
+unhappily some of the potency of the charm was lost because it could not
+be done upon the witching stroke of midnight.
+
+Dumb cakes were made, _his_ initials pricked in the dough, while in
+perfect silence the cakes were baked on the laundry steam dryer, joy and
+rapture descending upon the fortunate she if the initials did not vanish
+in the baking. A ball of twine was thrown out of the kitchen window,
+but when the thrower hurried out to find the ardent one who had so
+promptly snatched it up and fled, she discovered Horatio Hannibal
+Harrison beating a hasty retreat. He had been playing "Peeping Tom" and
+the ball had caught him squarely upon his woolly crown. A doubtful
+conscience did the rest.
+
+A dozen other tests followed until the girls' occult knowledge reached
+the limit. Then they danced in the Gym to music furnished by Mrs.
+Vincent, who ended the prancing by sending in a huge "fate cake," a big
+basket of nuts, a jug of sweet cider and some of Aunt Hippy's cookies.
+
+Cutting the fate cake ended the Hallow E'en frolic. Lily Pearl was
+thrown into a flutter by finding the ring in her slice. Juno turned
+scornful when a plump raisin fell to her share, Helen drew a tiny key
+from her piece, and the coin dropped into Rosalie's lap.
+
+"Rubbish! I don't want riches. I want a handsome husband," she cried
+with refreshing frankness.
+
+"I hardly think I would noise that fact abroad," was Isabel's superior
+criticism.
+
+"No, I wouldn't if I were you, it would be so perfectly preposterous,"
+retorted Rosalie.
+
+Isabel made no reply, but took care that no one else discovered who had
+found the thimble.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+CHRISTMAS AT SEVERNDALE
+
+
+By a lucky chance Christmas this year fell upon Monday, thus giving the
+midshipmen either liberty, or leave, according to their classes, or
+conduct grade, from Saturday at twelve-thirty to Monday at five-thirty,
+when those enjoying the latter rare privilege had to report for duty in
+Bancroft Hall. Christmas leave for the first class was an innovation,
+which only those on first conduct grade might hope to enjoy. That there
+was the ghost of a chance of any member of the lower classes coming in
+for such a rare treat not even the most sanguine dreamed. _But_, and
+that BUT was written in italics and capitals, when Captain Stewart made
+up his mind to do a certain thing it required considerable force of
+will, stress of circumstances, and concerted opposition to divert him.
+But the outcome lies in the near future.
+
+The excitement incident to the rescue of Columbine had barely subsided
+when a telegram brought Peggy the joyful news that Captain Stewart's
+ship, which had met with some slight accident to her machinery, was to
+be dry-docked at Norfolk and her father was to have two weeks' leave.
+The _Rhode Island_ was to be in port at the New York Navy Yard, and this
+meant the forgathering of all who were nearest and dearest to Peggy and
+Polly; a rare joy at the holiday season for those connected with the
+Navy.
+
+Consequently, this year's Yuletide was to be a red letter one in every
+sense, for Mrs. Howland and Gail, who had spent Thanksgiving in New
+York, would return to Annapolis for Christmas and, joy of joys!
+Constance, Snap, and Mr. Harold would come with them.
+
+The telegraph and telephone wires between New York, Norfolk, Washington
+and Annapolis were in a fair way to become fused.
+
+As many of the girls lived at great distances from Washington, the
+Christmas Recess began on the twenty-second. Captain Stewart had 'phoned
+to his party "Heavy marching orders, three P. M., Friday, Dec. 22,
+19--." A wild flutter ensued.
+
+The Thanksgiving holiday at Mrs. Harold's had been widely discussed at
+Columbia Heights and had stirred all sorts of emotions to their very
+centers. At Captain Stewart's request, Mrs. Harold had sent unique
+invitations to each of the girls soon after their return to school.
+They were couched in the formal wording of an official invitation from a
+battle ship of the fleet and created a sensation.
+
+Natalie, Stella, Nelly, Rosalie, Juno and Marjorie were invited. Lily
+Pearl's and Helen's attentions to Peggy and Polly having proved
+abortive, they contrived ways and means of their own to reach the Land
+o' Heart's Desire. Helen's old bachelor uncle, a queer, dull old
+gentleman, whose mind was certainly _not_ active, and whom Helen could,
+figuratively speaking, turn and twist about her little finger, was
+persuaded to pass the holidays at Wilmot Hall. He knew a number of
+people in Annapolis, so the path to a certain extent was cleared for
+Lily Pearl and Helen, though they would have given up all the uncles in
+Christendom to have been included in that house party. But half a loaf
+is certainly better than no bread, and once at Annapolis they meant to
+make the most of that half. So it was with no small degree of triumph
+that they announced the fact that they, too, would be at the Christmas
+hop. Just how they intended to manage it they did not disclose.
+Sufficient unto the hour was to be the triumph thereof.
+
+Captain Stewart arrived on Friday morning in time for luncheon and,
+guileless man that he has already shown himself to be, promptly
+offered to "convoy the two little cruisers to Annapolis." His offer was
+accepted with so many gushing responses that the poor man looked about
+as bewildered as a great St. Bernard which has inadvertently upset a
+cage of humming birds, and finds them fluttering all about him. Lily and
+Helen were of a different type from the girls he knew best, but he
+accepted the situation gracefully and enjoyed himself hugely with the
+others, even Marjorie blossoming out wonderfully under his genial
+kindliness.
+
+Isabel amused him immensely. Isabel was to spend her holiday in Boston,
+_of course_, but was to meet a friend in Baltimore who would chaperone
+the shrinking damsel safely to Mamma's protecting arms. Captain Stewart
+would escort her to the Naval Academy Junction, from which point it
+seemed perfectly safe to let her pursue the remaining half hour's
+journey to Baltimore unattended. In the course of the journey from
+Washington to the Junction Isabel elected to make some delayed notes in
+her diary, greatly to the secret amusement of Captain Stewart, who
+happened to be sitting just behind her.
+
+"Making a list of all your dances and Christmas frolicings,
+little-er-ahem--, Miss?"
+
+"Boylston, Captain Stewart. Oh, no, I rarely attend dances; there is so
+much that is instructive to be enjoyed while at home. I am making some
+notes in my diary."
+
+"Don't say so. Find the outlook inspiring?" Captain Stewart laughed as
+he looked out upon the dreary landscape, for the afternoon was lowery,
+and certainly, the cheerless flat landscape between Washington and the
+Junction was far from thrilling.
+
+"Oh, I am not depending upon my visual sight for my inspiration, Captain
+Stewart. Don't you think the study of one's fellow beings intensely
+interesting?'
+
+"Yes, it's a heap cheerier inside the car than outside on this
+confoundedly soggy day," answered Captain Stewart, preparing to withdraw
+from an even more depressing atmosphere than that beyond the car
+windows, by turning to Rosalie, whose eyes were commencing to dance. But
+Isabel had no idea of foregoing an opportunity to make an impression,
+little guessing the sort of one she was in reality making.
+
+"Yes, it is exceedingly damp today, but do you think we ought to allow
+externals to affect us?" she asked.
+
+"Eh? What? I'm afraid you're getting beyond my bearings. Lead won't
+touch bottom."
+
+Isabel smiled indulgently: One must be tolerant with a person forced to
+spend his life within the limited bounds of a ship.
+
+"Miss Sturgis, our instructor in sociology, advises us to be very
+observing and to take notes of everything unusual. You know we shall
+graduate next year and time passes _so_ swiftly. It seems only yesterday
+that I entered Columbia Heights School, and here Christmas is upon us. I
+have so little time left in which to accomplish all I feel I should, and
+I could not graduate after I'd passed seventeen. I'd _die_ of
+mortification. And, oh, that fact holds a suggestion. Pardon me if I
+make a note of it, and--and--_how_ do you spell accomplished, Captain
+Stewart? I really have so little time to give to etymology."
+
+For one second Captain Stewart looked at the girl as though he thought
+she might possibly be running him. He was more accustomed to the
+fun-loving, joking girl than to this "cellar-grown turnip" as he
+mentally stigmatized her. Then the little imps in Rosalie's eyes proved
+his undoing:
+
+"I'm afraid I'm no good as an English prof. Reckon I'd spell it
+akomplish. Sounds as good as any other way. You'll know what it means
+when you overhaul it anyhow. But here we are at the Junction. Pipe
+overside, bo's'n," he cried to Peggy.
+
+Good-bys were hastily spoken and Captain Stewart soon had his party
+hurrying across the platform to the Annapolis car. As he settled Rosalie
+in her seat he asked:
+
+"How many Miss Boylstons have you got at Columbia Heights?"
+
+"Only one, thank the powers!" answered Rosalie fervently.
+
+It was nearly six when the electric cars rolled up to the rear of Wilmot
+Hall and the girls saw Mrs. Harold, and a number of the midshipmen of
+the first class lined up and eagerly watching for the particular "she"
+who would spend the holidays in Annapolis.
+
+A mob of squabbling boys made a mad rush for the car steps in the hope
+of securing suitcases to carry into the hotel, and had not the
+midshipmen swept them aside, further progress for the car's passengers
+would have been barred. The hoodlums of the town seem to spring from the
+very ground upon the arrival of a car at Wilmot and certainly make life
+a burden for travelers trying to descend the car steps.
+
+There was only time for general greetings just then, as all hurried into
+Wilmot to meet old friends and new ones, Mrs. Howland, Constance, Snap,
+Gail and Mr. Harold having already arrived.
+
+Pending the departure for Severndale, Mrs. Harold had, at Captain
+Stewart's request, engaged three extra rooms, thus practically
+preempting her entire corridor for her guests, and a jollier party it
+would have been hard to find than the one escorted down to the big
+dining-room that evening by "The Executive Officer," as Captain Stewart
+called Mrs. Harold, who was acting as chaperone for his party.
+
+Directly dinner ended Captain Stewart and Commander Harold left upon
+some mysterious mission which threw the girls into a wild flutter of
+curiosity.
+
+"Oh, what is it all about?" demanded Rosalie.
+
+"Can't tell one single thing until Daddy Neil says I may," laughed
+Peggy.
+
+"Does Polly know?" asked Natalie.
+
+Peggy nodded.
+
+"You'll have to bottle up your impatience for an hour or two. Go to your
+rooms and shake out your pretties for tomorrow night's frolic, for I am
+going to 'pipe down' early tonight. When you have finished stowing your
+lockers come back to the sitting-room and we'll have a quiet, cozy time
+until our commanding officers return. Constance, Gail and Snap must make
+a call this evening, but I'm not going to let anyone claim my time. It
+all belongs to my girls," said Mrs. Harold gaily, as she and Mrs.
+Howland seated themselves before the open fire.
+
+The girls hurried away to do her bidding, for it had been decided to
+remain at Wilmot until after the Christmas hop, all going out to
+Severndale by a special car when the dance was over, Harrison, Mammy and
+Jerome, under Mrs. Harold's tactful generalship, having made all
+preparations for the big house party.
+
+In a few moments the girls returned from unpacking their suitcases.
+
+The Thanksgiving visit had removed all sense of reserve or strangeness
+with Mrs. Harold, but they did not know Mrs. Howland, and for a moment
+there seemed an ominous lull. Then Peggy crying:
+
+"I want my old place, Little Mother," nestled softly upon the arm of the
+big morris-chair in which Mrs. Harold sat, and rested her head against
+Mrs. Harold. The other girls had dropped upon chairs, but Mrs. Harold
+was minded to have her charges pro tem at closer range, so releasing
+herself from Peggy's circling arm for a moment, she reached for two
+plump cushions upon the couch near at hand and flopping them down, one
+at either knee said: "Juno on this one, Rosalie on the other; Marjorie
+beside me and Natalie, Stella and Nelly with Polly," for Polly had
+already cuddled down upon her mother's chair.
+
+Before the words had well left her lips, Rosalie had sprung to her coign
+of vantage crying:
+
+"Oh, Mrs. Harold, you are the dearest chappie I ever knew, and it's
+already been ten times lovelier than Polly and Peggy ever could describe
+it."
+
+With a happy little laugh, Natalie promptly seated herself upon the arm
+of Mrs. Howland's chair, but Juno hesitated a moment, looking doubtfully
+at the cushion. Juno was a very up-to-date young lady as to raiment. How
+could she flop down as Rosalie had done while wearing a skirt which
+measured no more than a yard around at the hem, and geared up in an
+undergarment which defied all laws of anatomy by precluding the
+possibility of bending at the waist line? She looked at Mrs. Harold and
+she looked at the cushion. As her boys would have expressed it "the
+Little Mother was not slow in catching on." She now laughed outright.
+Juno did not know whether to resent it or join in the laugh too. There
+was something about the older woman, however, which aroused in girls a
+sense of camaraderie rather than reserve, though Juno had never quite
+been able to analyze it. She smiled, and by some form of contortion of
+which necessity and long practice had made her a passed mistress,
+contrived to get herself settled upon the cushion.
+
+"Honey," said Mrs. Harold, patting her shoulder, "if you want to live up
+to your name you'll discard your coat of mail. Your namesake would have
+scorned its limitations, and your young figure will be far lovelier and
+more graceful, to say nothing of the benefit to yourself and future
+generations, if you heave your armor plate overboard."
+
+It was all said half-jestingly, half-seriously, but Juno gave her head a
+superior little toss as she answered:
+
+"And go looking like a meal sack? To say nothing of flinging away twenty
+perfectly good dollars just paid to Madam Malone."
+
+"I'm afraid I'm a very old-fashioned old lady, but I have no notion of
+letting any Madam Malone, or any other French lady from Erin dictate
+_my_ fashions, or curtail the development and use of my muscles; I have
+too much use for them. Do Peggy and Polly resemble 'meal sacks?' Yet no
+Madam Malone has ever had the handling of their floating-ribs, let me
+tell you. Watch out, little girl, for a nervous, semi-invalid womanhood
+is a high price to pay for a pair of corsets at seventeen. There, my
+lecture is over and now let's talk of earthquakes."
+
+At her aunt's question regarding Peggy and herself resembling "meal
+sacks," Polly laughed aloud and being in a position to practically
+demonstrate the freedom which a sensibly full skirt afforded, cried:
+
+"If I couldn't _run_ when I felt like it I'd _die_. I tell you, when I
+strike heavy weather I want my rigging ship-shape. I'd hate to scud
+under bare poles."
+
+The subject was changed but the words were not forgotten. The other
+girls had all gathered about the blazing logs upon cushions or hassocks,
+and a pretty group they formed as they talked eagerly of the coming hop,
+and tried to guess what Captain Stewart was planning, Mrs. Harold and
+Mrs. Howland joining enthusiastically in it all.
+
+"Tanta," asked Polly, "do you know that Lily Pearl Montgomery and Helen
+Doolittle are here at Wilmot with Helen's uncle? We have christened him
+'Foxy Grandpa.' Just wait till you see him. He looks the character
+exactly."
+
+"Are they to go to the hop?" asked Mrs. Harold, instantly interested,
+for even though she had heard amusing tales of the two girls, they were
+still young girls, and she was concerned for their happiness and
+pleasure.
+
+"We don't know and we didn't like to seem inquisitive," replied Polly.
+
+"Yes, they are going, Little Mother. Helen told me so. Foxy Grandpa
+knows somebody who knows somebody else, who knows the boys who are to
+take them, but they didn't tell us their names. I wonder if we know
+them," was Peggy's laughing explanation.
+
+"I hope they will have a happy time," said Mrs. Howland gently as she
+stroked back Polly's silky curls.
+
+"You trust them to have the time of their lives, Mumsey. But oh, _isn't_
+it good to be here!" and Polly favored her mother with an ecstatic hug.
+
+"What time are we to go to Severndale tomorrow, Little Mother?" asked
+Peggy.
+
+"Not until after the hop, dear. It will be very late, I know, but
+Christmas is a special day of days. That is the reason I'm going to send
+you all off early tonight. Nine-thirty gunfire will see you started for
+the Land o' Nod."
+
+"Aren't we to wait until Daddy Neil comes back?"
+
+"Not unless he gets back before three bells and it looks doubtful, two
+have already struck. But you'll learn the news the first thing in the
+morning."
+
+But at that moment Captain Stewart came breezing into the room. Peggy
+and Polly flew to him crying:
+
+"Did he say yes? Did he say yes? Oh, answer, quick! Do!" they begged,
+each clasping arms about him.
+
+"If I answer quick you'll both cast loose but the longer I keep you in
+suspense the longer you'll lay hold," was his quizzical retort.
+
+"We won't stir. We won't budge. Tell us."
+
+For answer Captain Stewart drew an official-looking document from his
+blouse pocket and waved it high above the girls' heads. A series of
+ecstatic squeals arose from them. Opening the carefully folded paper he
+read its stereotyped phrasing, all of which is too serious to be herein
+repeated. Suffice it to say that it secured for
+
+     Durand Leroux,     Second Class
+     Herbert Taylor,    Second Class
+     Ralph Wilber,      Third Class
+     Jean Paul Nichols, Third Class
+     Gordon Powers,     Third Class
+     Douglas Porter,    Third Class
+
+leave of absence under Captain Neil Stewart's orders from 6:30 P. M.,
+December 23rd, to 6 P. M., December 25th, 19--.
+
+When the excitement had somewhat subsided, Captain Stewart said:
+
+"Now that I'm sure of it, I must go 'phone out to Severndale or Jerome
+and Harrison will be throwing fits. We'll have to quarter that bunch in
+the old wing, but Lord bless my soul, I reckon they'd be willing to go
+out to the paddock. But mind, you girls, _not one whisper of it to those
+boys, until I give the word_, or it will be the brig for every mother's
+daughter of you," and with this terrifying threat he strode off down the
+corridor.
+
+Just then three bells struck in the tower and at the second stroke the
+nine-thirty gun boomed out its welcome "Release."
+
+As the sound died away Mrs. Harold walked over to the big window calling
+to the girls to join her.
+
+"Stand here a moment," she said, then going over to the electric switch
+turned off all the lights.
+
+"Why? What?" cried all the girls excepting Peggy and Polly.
+
+"Look at the windows on the third deck of Bancroft, southwest corner,"
+she said, unhooking a drop light from above her desk and crossing the
+room to the puzzled girls. "Those are Durand's and Bert's rooms. Next to
+them are Gordon's and Doug's. Watch closely."
+
+Presently from two of the windows lights were flashed three times in
+rapid succession. Then absolute darkness.
+
+Instantly Mrs. Harold turned the reflector of her drop light toward the
+academy in such a way that the light would be cast out across the
+night, then by turning the key on and off quickly she flashed its rays
+three times, paused a moment, then repeated the signal.
+
+Instantly from the rooms mentioned came the answering flashes, which
+after a brief interval were repeated, Mrs. Harold again giving her
+reply.
+
+"Oh, who does it? What is it for? What do they mean?" asked her
+visitors.
+
+"Just our usual good-night message to each other. My boys are all dear to
+me, but Durand and Gordon peculiarly so. Those rooms are theirs. Shall I
+tell you the message the flashes carry? It is just a little honor code.
+I want the boys to stand well this term, but, like most boys they are
+always ready for skylarking, and the work from seven-thirty to
+nine-thirty is easily side-tracked. So we have agreed to exchange a
+message at gunfire if 'all is well.' If they have been boning tomorrow's
+work my flash light is answered; if not--well, I see no answering
+flash."
+
+"Do you think they always live up to the agreement?" asked Rosalie.
+
+"I have faith to believe they do. Isn't it always better to believe a
+person honest until we prove him a thief, than to go the other way about
+it? Besides, they carry the Talisman."
+
+"What is it--Little Mother?" asked Juno, to the surprise of the others,
+slipping to Mrs. Harold's side and placing her arm about her.
+
+"Would you really like to know, dear? Suppose we throw on a fresh log
+and leave the lights turned off. Then we'll have a confidential ten
+minutes before you go to bed. You can all cuddle down in a pile on the
+big bearskin."
+
+A moment later the flames formed a brilliant background to a pretty
+picture, and Mrs. Harold was repeating softly, as the upspringing flames
+filled the room with, their light and rested lovingly upon the young
+faces upturned to here:
+
+     "Each night when three bells strike the hour
+     Up in the old clock's lofty tower,
+     A flashing beam, a darting ray
+     Their message of good faith convey.
+
+     "Those wavering, clear, electric beams,
+     Who'll guess how much their message means?
+     Or dream the wondrous tale they tell?
+     'Dear Little Mother, all is well.'
+
+     "Yes, out across the peaceful night,
+     By moon and stars made silvery bright,
+     This message comes in gleaming light:
+     We've kept the faith; Good-night! Good-night!
+
+     "Our token of a duty done,
+     An effort made, a victory won;
+     The bond on which we claim the right
+     To flash our message, our 'Good-night.'
+
+     "Dear Little Mother. Precious name!
+     None sweeter may a woman claim,
+     No greater honor hope to gain
+     Than this which three short words contain.
+
+     "To win and hold a love so pure,
+     A faith so stanch, so strong, so sure--
+     To gain a confidence so rare--
+     What honors can with these compare?
+
+     "No wonder as I flash my ray
+     Across the night's dividing way,
+     In deepest reverence I say:
+     God keep you true, dear lads, alway."
+
+The girls' good-nights were spoken very tenderly. The message of the
+lights had carried one to them as well.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+YULETIDE
+
+
+"We are one real old-timey family, sure enough," said Captain Stewart
+heartily, as he gathered his girls about him in Mrs. Harold's
+sitting-room Saturday morning. "But, my-oh, my! I wish I were that
+Indian-Chinese-Jap god, what's his name? who has about a dozen, arms.
+Two are just no account," he added laughingly as he held Peggy in one
+and Polly in the other, while all the other girls, Gail included,
+crowded around him, all talking and laughing at once, all demanding to
+know what would be the very first thing on the day's program.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Harold, Mrs. Howland, Constance and Snap were seated about
+the room, highly amused by the group in the center, for the girls had
+gathered about Captain Stewart as honeybees gather about a jar of
+sweets.
+
+"Come close! Come close, and I'll tell you. Can't talk at long range,"
+rumbled the kindly man, flopping his arms over Peggy's and Polly's
+shoulders like an amiable sea lion.
+
+Rosalie flew to snuggle beside Polly. Natalie by Peggy, the other girls
+drawing as close as possible, Stella excepted, who laughed, blushed
+prettily and said:
+
+"I think Captain Stewart has more than his arms full now, so I'll hover
+on the outskirts."
+
+"I used to be scared to death of him," confessed Gail, "but those weeks
+up in New London scared away my scare."
+
+"Well, what is it to be this morning?" asked Peggy.
+
+"Suppose we all go over and take a look around the yard. It may be
+rather slow with just two old fogies like Harold and me for escorts, but
+we'll leave the matrons at home and take Snap. That ensign's stripe on
+his sleeve makes him seem a gay young bachelor even if he is a staid old
+Benedic, and Constance can lend him to you girls for a little while,
+anyway."
+
+"I'm game! No telling which one will be responsible for an elopement,
+Connie," cried Snap, bending over his pretty young wife to rest his dark
+hair against hers for a second.
+
+She laughed a happy little laugh as she answered:
+
+"Go along, Sir Heartbreaker. People down here have not forgotten auld
+lang syne and I dare say the rocking chair fleet will at once begin to
+commiserate me. But you girls had better watch out; he is a hopeless
+flirt. So beware!" Nevertheless, the light in her eyes as she raised
+them to the handsome man whose hand rested upon her shoulders held
+little of apprehension.
+
+Ten minutes later the merry group had set forth. Mrs. Harold, Mrs.
+Howland and Constance were only too glad to have their lively charges
+out of the way for an hour or two, for a good bit must be attended to
+before they could leave for Severndale that evening. Captain Stewart and
+the girls would not return until twelve o'clock and the boys--who had
+been invited out for luncheon rather than to dine, former experiences
+having taught Mrs. Harold the folly of inviting dinner guests on a hop
+night--would arrive immediately after formation.
+
+At twelve o'clock the girls returned from the Yard, and when one bell
+struck were watching in undisguised eagerness for their luncheon guests.
+From Mrs. Harold's windows they could see the steady stream of men
+rushing from Bancroft toward the main gate, and in less time than seemed
+possible, footsteps were audible--yes, a trifle more than audible--as
+"the bunch" came piling up Wilmot's stairway; for the promptitude with
+which "the Little Mother's boys" responded to "a bid" to Middies' Haven
+was an unending source of wonder to most people and certainly to her
+school-girl guests.
+
+Eight midshipmen, came tramping up the stairs, eager to welcome old
+friends and ready to meet new ones upon the old ones' recommendations.
+
+To Peggy, Polly and Nelly the happy, laughing, joking lot of lads were
+an old story, but the influx came near turning some of the other girls'
+heads.
+
+Juno was sorely divided between Douglas Porter's splendid figure and
+Durand's irresistible charm, until Miss Juno began to absorb the full
+significance of "class rates" and gold lace. The "five-striper" or head
+of the entire brigade was a well set-up chap and rather good looking,
+though suffering somewhat from a bad attack of "stripitis," as it was
+termed in Bancroft Hall. He was fairly efficient, a "good enough fellow"
+but not above "greasing," that is, cultivating the officers' favor, or
+that of their wives and daughters, if thereby ultimate benefits accrued
+to himself.
+
+The three-striper of Ralph's, Jean's and Durand's company whom Mrs.
+Harold had asked to escort Stella, was an all-round popular man, and a
+great favorite of Mrs. Harold's for his irreproachable character, sunny,
+lovable disposition and unfailing kindness to the underclassmen.
+
+The others who crowded the room are old friends.
+
+Jean Paul and Rosalie chattered like a pair of magpies. Natalie was the
+happiest thing imaginable as she and Bert Taylor, who had found the
+little golden-head most enticing, laughed and ran each other like old
+chums. Peggy was everywhere, and although Durand strove to break away
+from Juno in order to "get in a few" with Peggy, he was held prisoner
+with "big Doug" until Guy Bennett the five-striper arrived and promptly
+appropriated her. Then Durand got away.
+
+Gordon Powers devoted himself to Nelly, while Ralph hovered over Polly,
+for they had endless interests in common.
+
+"And you made the crew, Ralph!" cried Polly. "Maybe I wasn't tickled
+nearly to death when you wrote me about it. And you're out for
+basketball too? How did you come out in Math and Mech? And who's taken
+Gumshoe's place this year? And you never wrote me a word about Class
+President Election, though I guess I've asked you in every letter. What
+makes you so tight with your news, any way? I write you every little
+thing about Columbia Heights. Come across with it."
+
+Ralph turned crimson. Polly looked first baffled then suddenly growing
+wise, jumped at him and shook him by the shoulders just as she used to
+do in the old days as she cried:
+
+"It's _you_! And you never told me! You good-for-nothing boy."
+
+"Hi! Watch out! The Captain's clearing for action," cried Jean Paul.
+"Told you you'd catch it when she found out."
+
+"Well, Tanta might have told me, anyhow," protested Polly.
+
+"Ralph wouldn't let me. Kept me honor bound not to. But if you are all
+ready for your luncheon, come down at once. There are--how many of us?
+Twenty-four? Merciful powers!"
+
+"No, Tanta, only twenty-three. Poor Gail's minus an escort," cried
+Polly, a shade of regret in her eyes, for Gail meant a great deal to
+this little sister.
+
+"Why, so she is. Now that's too bad of me," but something in her aunt's
+voice made Polly look at her keenly. A moment later she understood.
+
+As the merry, laughing, chattering group reached the last landing of the
+stairs leading down to the Assembly Hall, a tall, broad-shouldered man
+who stood at the foot looked eagerly upward. Polly gave one wild screech
+and nearly fell down the remaining steps, to fling herself into the
+arms outstretched to save her, as a deep voice said:
+
+"One bell, Captain Polly! You'll carry away your landing stage if you
+come head on at full speed."
+
+"Oh, Shortie! Shortie! Where did you come from?" cried Polly, nearly
+pumping his arm from its socket, while all the others crowded around to
+welcome the big fellow whom all had loved or esteemed during his
+undergraduate days.
+
+"Ask the Little Mother. She's responsible, and Gail needs looking after
+among all this bunch, I know. Come along, young lady. I've got to see
+you fed and cared for."
+
+And Gail seemed perfectly willing to "come along."
+
+With such an addition to her family, Mrs. Harold had made arrangements
+to have two large round tables reserved for her in the smaller of the
+two dining-rooms, the older people at one, with Gail, Stella, Juno,
+Shortie, Allyn and Guy to make the circle, the younger people with Peggy
+and Polly as hostesses at the adjoining table. In addition to her own
+regular waiter, the second head waiter and two assistants had been
+detailed to serve, but with the Christmas rush and the number of people
+at Wilmot for the holidays there was more or less delay between
+courses.
+
+"Where is John?" she demanded, as they were waiting for the salad.
+
+"Over yonder. Shall I hail him?" asked Durand, from the next table,
+promptly putting his fingers to his mouth as though to give one of the
+ear-splitting whistles which seem to carry for miles.
+
+"If you dare, you scape-grace, right here in this dining-room!" she
+warned.
+
+"Oh, do it!" cried Polly. "I want to learn how. Show me."
+
+"All right; stick out your tongue," directed Durand and Polly promptly
+fell into the trap, though unluckily she happened to be looking straight
+past Durand at the moment, and what proved more embarrassing, right at a
+table occupied by Foxy Grandpa, Helen and Lily Pearl, whom Mrs. Harold
+had not yet met, so, of course, did not recognize. (Helen and Lily did
+not mean to lose sight of Peggy and Polly if they could help it.)
+
+There are some situations where explanations only make matters worse.
+This was one of them. Polly was in everlasting disgrace and everyone at
+the table in shouts of laughter, as well as those at other tables near
+at hand, whose occupants could not have helped hearing and seeing if
+they would.
+
+But at that moment Rosalie diverted attention from Polly by trying to
+clap her hands regardless of the piece of luncheon roll she held, thus
+promptly launching it over her shoulder, where it went merrily bounding
+across the polished floor to be gravely rescued by the irreproachable
+John. But Rosalie was in the realms of the gods and far above such
+mundane matters as a luncheon roll's eccentricities.
+
+Mrs. Harold was no whit behind her girls in their fun, and was so well
+known to every guest in the hotel that her table was invariably looked
+upon as a source of amusement for most of the others, and the fun which
+flowed like an electric current came very near making them forget the
+good things before them, and the big dining-room full of people found
+themselves sympathetically affected, each gay bit of laughter, each
+enthusiastic comment finding an answering smile at some table.
+
+As nearly every member of the first class had gone on Christmas leave,
+the few who happened to be in Annapolis having remained as the guests of
+friends, there was a very perceptible thinning out of ranks over in
+Bancroft that afternoon. Nevertheless, Mrs. Harold had announced an
+informal tea from four to six and "general liberty" enabled all who
+chose to do so to attend it. And many chose! But in the interval
+between luncheon and four o 'clock Mrs. Harold "barred out the masculine
+population" and carried her girls upstairs to change their gowns for her
+tea. It was during the "prinking process" that some very characteristic
+comments were made upon the masculine guests now enjoying their
+post-prandial cigars, or cigarettes, in the smoking-room, below stairs.
+
+Mrs. Harold was in her element listening to the girls' frank comments.
+
+"Oh, I know I'm going to have the very time of my life, Mrs. Harold,"
+exclaimed Natalie, giving a little bounce of rapture.
+
+"Mr. Porter is certainly a remarkably handsome man," was Juno's
+complacent comment. "But, Mrs. Harold, aren't first classmen
+really--well--don't they come in for greater privileges? Rate more? Is
+that what you say down here?"
+
+"Of course. Especially a five-striper, Juno. You'd better cultivate Guy
+Bennett. It's a great distinction to profit by a five-striper's favors.
+There are three girls in Annapolis who have reduced that sort of
+cultivation to a science and if you manage to rival them you will have
+scored a point, sure enough."
+
+"How many five-stripers are there?" asked Stella.
+
+"Only one, happily, or the girls to whom I allude would have nervous
+prostration. But the four and three-stripers save the day for them.
+Nothing below is worth cultivating."
+
+"Don't Polly and Peggy 'cultivate' the stripers!" asked Rosalie.
+
+"That depends," was Mrs. Harold's cryptic answer as an odd smile caused
+her lips to twitch. "Last year's five-striper and a good many other
+stripers, were with us constantly, and I miss them more than I like to
+dwell upon. This year's? Well--I shall endeavor to survive their
+departure."
+
+"Oh, but don't you just love them all!" cried Rosalie.
+
+"Which, the midshipmen or the stripes?" asked Polly.
+
+"Why, the midshipmen, of course!"
+
+"I think a whole lot of some of the boys--yes, of a good many, but there
+are some whom I wouldn't miss much, I reckon."
+
+"Oh, I think you are perfectly heartless, Polly. They are just the
+darlingest men I ever met."
+
+With what unction the word "men" rolled from Rosalie's tongue. "Men" had
+not figured very largely in Rosalie's world, and Mrs. Harold chuckled
+inwardly at the thought of classing Rosalie's particular little Jean
+Paul, in the category of grown-ups; anything more essentially boyish,
+and full to the brim of madcap pranks, than the eighteen-year-old Jean
+Paul, it would have been hard to picture.
+
+Mrs. Harold had dispatched notes to Helen and Lily Pearl asking them in
+Peggy's and Polly's name to be present at her little tea that afternoon,
+to meet several of the midshipmen, and, if they cared to do so, to bring
+with them the men who were taking them to the hop. She did not know who
+these men were.
+
+Shortly after four Helen and Lily Pearl arrived in a flutter. Mrs.
+Harold had not felt it incumbent upon her to include Foxy Grandpa,
+concluding that he could find diversion for an hour or two while his
+charges were with their school-chums. When Helen and Lily arrived upon
+the scene, Mrs. Harold's face was a study. Foxy Grandpa was evidently
+too dull to be critical and Columbia Heights was at a safe distance.
+
+Both Lily Pearl and Helen were gotten up regardless. Each wore
+extravagant gowns, each had done up her hair and supplemented it by
+wonderful creations of false puffs. Each wore dangling ear-rings and the
+complexion of each girl had been "assisted."
+
+Poor Mrs. Harold felt as though a couple of chorus girls had invaded her
+little sanctum, and Peggy and Polly were furious. But it was too late
+then to retreat and a few moments later the midshipmen began to pour
+into the sitting-room, the two who were to take Helen and Lily being men
+whom Mrs. Harold had always avoided, feeling that they were no
+companions for the frank, unaffected girls she loved so dearly. She
+resolved to keep her eye piped.
+
+It was a merry afternoon. Rosalie scintillated, and her scintillation
+proved infectious for Jean Paul, upon whom she had made a deep
+impression at Thanksgiving; he instantly appropriated her, greatly to
+Mrs. Harold's amusement, for she was never too fully occupied to notice
+significant signs.
+
+Quiet, dignified Bert Taylor had promptly taken bonny Natalie under his
+serene protection. And Juno! Well she was sorely divided between Doug's
+towering seventy-four inches and Gordon's sixty-nine, though she strove
+to conceal the exaltation which her uniformed gallants stirred in her
+soul by bringing to bear upon them all the superlative superiority which
+she had studied as the acme of success in the habitues of the Hotel
+Astor. With Douglas it worked to a charm. He rose to the corresponding
+rôle as a trout to a fly, but poor Gordon was only too thankful when the
+companionship and conversation became more general. The superior young
+lady from the metropolis was beyond his ken. Little Nelly Bolivar's
+sweetness and quaint humor filled his ideals to far greater
+satisfaction. He had met Nelly first at Severndale and several times
+since with Mrs. Harold, who had often invited her to spend the weekend
+at Wilmot, where she had looked to the young girl's welfare, knowing how
+much she must miss Peggy this winter.
+
+Nelly was simply dressed in a gown which had once been Peggy's, for most
+of Peggy's garments went to Nelly, but were given so sweetly and with
+such evident love, that not even the most sensitive nature could have
+been wounded, and they were a real blessing to her. No one ever
+commented upon the fact and before going to Columbia Heights, Nelly had
+spent many a busy hour with Mrs. Harold remodeling and working like a
+little beaver under that good friend's guidance, for Nelly was a skilful
+little needlewoman. As a result, no girl in the school was more suitably
+gowned. The only girls who had eyed her critically were Lily Pearl,
+Helen and Juno. The first because she was too shallow to do aught but
+follow Helen's lead, and Juno from a naturally critical disposition.
+Juno meant to hold her favor somewhat in reserve. She intended first to
+see what Nelly's standing at Severndale proved. She might be Polly's and
+Peggy's friend--well and good--but who was she? Would she find a
+welcome among the Delacys, the Vanderstacks, the Dryers and heaven knows
+which-or-whats of New York's glitterers?
+
+Juno was hardly in a position to gauge her standards by those who
+represented the big city's finest and best. She saw the patrons of the
+great hotels and moved among them, but of New York's sterling worth, she
+was as ignorant as a babe. Its superficial glamour and glitter, as well
+as its less desirable contingent, which she was not sufficiently
+experienced in the world's ways to fully understand, made the strongest
+appeal to her. Poor little Nelly Bolivar would have been a modest, sleek
+little Junco compared with the birds of paradise (?), cockatoos, and
+pheasants of Juno's world, but of all this Nelly was quite unaware and
+too happy in her present surroundings to care.
+
+It was a merry afternoon for all, but a diversion was created by Polly,
+shortly before it ended.
+
+She was at the tea-table pouring, and talking to Ralph like a
+phonograph, when Mrs. Harold became aware of a horrible odor, and cried:
+
+"What under the sun smells so abominably? Why, Polly Howland, look at my
+perfectly good teakettle! It is red hot, and--horrors--there isn't one
+drop of water in it!"
+
+True enough, absorbed in her conversation with Ralph, Polly had
+completely overlooked the trifling detail of keeping her kettle filled,
+though the alcohol lamp beneath it was doing its duty most lampfully.
+
+Damages repaired and the kettle at length filled and singing merrily,
+the gay little gathering took slight note of time, but soon after four
+bells struck in the tower clock, Mrs. Harold began to "round up" her
+masculine guests, for she had no notion of their being late for
+formation.
+
+"Take your places in the 'firing line!'" she ordered.
+
+"Oh, there's loads of time, Little Mother!" came in protest from Jean
+Paul.
+
+"Time to burn," from Dick Allyn, who found Stella mighty entertaining.
+
+"Now, Little Mother, you're not going to be so hard-hearted as to turn
+us out early tonight! Why, it's weeks since we've had the girls here,"
+wheedled Durand.
+
+"Can't help it. Out you all go! There's too much at stake just now to
+risk any demerits."
+
+"At stake? What's at stake, Little Mother?" were the eager questions.
+
+"Can't tell you a single thing now. I'm tongue-tied until Captain
+Stewart passes the word."
+
+"Oh, what is it? Please come across with it, Little Mother. When may we
+know," begged Ralph.
+
+"At formation tonight perhaps. No use teasing! Join the firing line!"
+and with the command of a general Mrs. Harold shooed her brood out into
+the corridor, where overcoats and caps hung. They were used to these
+sudden dismissals, and so were Polly and Peggy, who were too familiar
+with all that which must be crowded into a limited amount of time not to
+appreciate what it meant to have "the decks cleared" when necessary. But
+Rosalie, Natalie, Juno, Marjorie, Stella and the other girls accepted
+the new order of things with divers emotions. Rosalie giggled, Natalie's
+face expressed wonder. Juno's was just a shade critical, Marjorie and
+Stella smiled.
+
+"Gee, if we obeyed all orders with as good grace as we obey the Little
+Mother's what models we'd be," was Jean Paul's jerky comment as he
+struggled into an overcoat, his eyes still fixed upon Rosalie's winsome
+face.
+
+Meanwhile, Doug Porter was clawing about among the coats to find his
+own, but happening to glance at Jean Paul, shouted:
+
+"Well, I'll be hanged! Say, how is it to get out of my coat, Bantam?"
+
+True enough, the garment into which the wee man was wriggling trailed
+upon the carpet, but Jean Paul was in a realm where overcoats 'never
+were or e'er had been.'
+
+At six-fifteen the lingering good-byes had been said and Mrs. Harold had
+dismissed those who constituted the "firing line," the name having been
+bestowed by Wheedles when he first witnessed the promptitude with which
+Mrs. Harold sent her boys to the right-about in order to avoid demerits
+for tardiness.
+
+"Why must they rush back on the very minute?" asked Rosalie, when all
+were gone, half inclined to resent an order of things which deprived her
+of her gallant Jean sans ceremony.
+
+"Discipline! Discipline! Little lady," laughed Mrs. Harold, coming up
+behind Rosalie and turning the piquant face up to hers.
+
+"I should think they'd feel like a lot of school boys to be ordered
+about so," was Juno's rather petulant comment.
+
+"Better feel 'like a lot of schoolboys' here, than like a lot of
+simpletons when they 'hit the tree,'" was Mrs. Harold's merry reply.
+"You've a whole lot to learn about regulations, my bonny lassie."
+
+It was all said so kindly and so merrily that Juno could not resent it.
+
+"But when will they learn about their leave? And if they are to go out
+to Severndale tonight how will they manage?" asked Rosalie eagerly.
+
+"Trust Daddy Neil to manage that. When they get back they'll be called
+to the office and the officer in charge will notify them of what has
+taken place and give them their orders."
+
+"Oh, I don't think I can possibly wait to hear what they'll say!" cried
+Polly. "I never, never knew such a lovely thing to happen before."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+AT SEVERNDALE
+
+
+"My goodness!" cried Rosalie, "I thought I knew Peggy Stewart, but the
+Peggy Stewart we know at Columbia Heights, and the Peggy Stewart we saw
+at Wilmot, and the Peggy Stewart we've found here are three different
+people!"
+
+"And if you stay here long enough you'll know still another Peggy
+Stewart," nodded Polly sagely.
+
+"She is a wonder no matter where you find her," said Nelly quietly, "and
+she grows to be more and more of a wonder the longer you know her."
+
+"How long have you been observing this wonderful wonder?" asked Juno.
+
+"I think Peggy Stewart has held my interest from the first moment we
+came to live at Severndale," was Nelly's perfectly truthful, though not
+wholly enlightening, answer. Juno thought the evasion intentional and
+looked at her rather sharply. She was more than curious to see Nelly's
+home and father, and wondered if the party would be invited there.
+
+The Christmas hop, which had been a paradise within flag-draped walls
+for Captain Stewart's guests, was numbered among delights passed, but so
+many more were in store and the grand climax of the year, the New Year's
+eve hop, though, alack! it had to be given on the night of December
+thirtieth instead of the thirty-first, was looked forward to with
+eagerness.
+
+The party had come out to Severndale by a special car at twelve-thirty,
+and a "madder, merrier" group of young people it would have been hard to
+find.
+
+Upon their return to Bancroft Hall after Mrs. Harold's summary dismissal
+from "Middie's Haven" the previous Saturday night, Ralph, Jean Paul,
+Durand, Bert, Gordon and Doug had been ordered to report at the office
+and had it not been for the hint given at the tea, would have gone in
+trepidation of spirit. But it so happened that the officer in charge was
+possessed of a flickering memory of his own midshipman days, and his
+twinkling eyes and cheerful grin were reassuring. The boys all openly
+adored him, and even though they had dubbed him _Hercules_ Hugh, would
+have formed a door mat of their bodies had he hinted a desire for it.
+
+When the lucky six finally grasped the fact that Captain Stewart had
+actually obtained forty-eight hours liberty for them, and they were to
+go out to Severndale with the house-party, some startling things came
+very near taking place right in the O C's office. Luckily the favored
+ones restrained themselves until they reached Durand's room on the third
+deck, where a vent promptly presented itself, and is too good a story to
+leave untold.
+
+Naturally at Christmas, innumerable boxes of "eats" are shipped to the
+midshipmen from all over the United States, their contents usually
+governed by the section of the world from which they are forwarded. New
+England invariably sends its quota of mince pies, roast turkeys and the
+viands which furnish forth a New England table at Yuletide. The South
+and West send their special dishes.
+
+Durand's Aunt Belle never failed him. Each holiday found a box at
+Bancroft addressed to the lad who was so dear to her, and it was always
+regarded as public property by Durand's friends, who never hesitated to
+open it and regale themselves, sure that the generous owner of the
+"eats" would be only too glad to share with them everything he owned.
+But like most generous souls, Durand was often imposed upon, and this
+year the imposition went to the very limit. While Durand and his friends
+were over in Wilmot Hall his box was rifled, but it could hardly have
+been said to have been done by his friends, several men who had counted
+upon "Bubbles being a good old scout" having made way with practically
+everything the box contained. When he returned to his room the turkey
+carcass, picked clean as though buzzards had fallen upon it, rested
+forlornly upon its back in the middle of his study table. It was well
+for him that the midshipman on duty in his corridor had been one of the
+marauders, otherwise he would have been speedily reported for that which
+followed.
+
+When the yelling, shouting bunch rushed into Durand's room they stopped
+short and a few expletives expressed their opinions of the pirates. But
+Durand's wits worked quickly. Catching up the denuded bird by its greasy
+neck and giving the yell of a Comanche, he rushed out into the corridor
+waving his weapon over his head like a war club. The man on duty at the
+table at the end of the corridor saw him coming and needed no further
+hint that his Nemesis was upon him. Regardless of duty or anything else,
+he bounded from his chair and fled around the corner of the corridor,
+the turkey carcass speeding after him with unerring aim.
+
+Had he remained within range he would have received all and more than
+his share of the bird. Unluckily, a divisional officer had chosen that
+moment to turn into the corridor, and the turkey whizzed over his head,
+for he was one very tiny man. Durand did not wait to make inquiries. He
+had not removed cap or overcoat, a window was close at hand, the window
+of the adjoining room was accessible to one as agile as Durand, and the
+next second he was out of one and through the other, leaving his friends
+to make explanations.
+
+Why it did not result in Durand and all the others losing those precious
+forty-eight hours of liberty, only their special guardian spirits were
+in a position to explain, but they kept discreetly silent. The men in
+Durand's room could truthfully declare that they had not had a thing to
+do with the launching of that extraordinary projectile and also that
+Durand was not in his room. It was not necessary to be too explicit,
+they felt, and twenty minutes later all were over at Middie's Haven, Guy
+Bennett and Richard Allyn, to Juno's secret disgust, having shifted into
+civilian clothes as was the privilege of the first classmen "on leave,"
+the difference between "leave" and "liberty" being very great indeed.
+Stella, although admiring the uniforms, was tantalizingly uncritical.
+The girls could never quite understand Stella's lack of enthusiasm over
+the midshipmen.
+
+And so had passed that joyful evening of the Christmas hop, the biggest
+surprise of all awaiting them up at Round Bay upon the arrival of the
+car at that station.
+
+Nearly every horse and vehicle at Severndale had been pressed into
+service to carry its guests from the station, and mounted on Shashai and
+Star, Jess having brought them home for the holidays, were Happy and
+Wheedles.
+
+They had been unable to leave their ships as soon as Shorty, so taking a
+later train had gone directly to Severndale. Their welcome by Peggy and
+Polly was a royal one. When the party arrived at Severndale another
+surprise greeted it as a very fat, very much-at-home Boston bull-terrier
+came tumbling down the steps to greet them. To all but Polly he was an
+alien and a stranger. Polly paused just one second, then cried as she
+gathered the little beast into her arms, regardless of the evening wrap
+she was wearing:
+
+"Oh, Rhody! Rhody! who brought you?"
+
+As though to answer her question, Rhody rolled his pop-eyes toward
+Wheedles.
+
+Of the happy Sunday and happier Christmas day space is too limited to
+tell. At five P. M. Durand, Ralph, Jean Paul, Bert, Gordon and Doug were
+obliged to bid their hostesses adieu and return to Annapolis, but each
+day of Christmas week held its afternoon informal dance at the
+auditorium, to which Mrs. Harold escorted her party, the mornings being
+given over to work by the midshipmen, and to all manner of frolicing out
+at Severndale by Happy, Wheedles, and Shortie, who seemed to have
+returned to their fun-loving, care-free undergraduate days.
+
+Yet how the boys had changed in their seven months as passed-midshipmen.
+Although full of their fun and pranks, running Peggy and Polly
+unmercifully, showing many little courtesies to Nelly whom all had grown
+to love during the old days, and playing the gay gallants to the other
+girls, there was a marked change from the happy-go-lucky Wheedles, the
+madcap Happy, and the quaint, odd Shortie of Bancroft days.
+
+But Shortie's interest was unquestionably centered on one golden-haired
+little lady, and many a long ride did they take through the lovely
+country about Severndale. Captain Stewart watched proceedings with a
+wise smile. Gail and Shortie were prime favorites of his.
+
+Happy and Wheedles had to do duty for many during the morning hours, but
+the girls' especial escorts were punctual to the minute when the launch
+from Severndale ran up to the Maryland Avenue float at three-forty-five
+each afternoon, and they had no cause to complain of a lack of
+attention, for many beside those who had been invited to Severndale were
+eager for dances with little gypsy Rosalie, tall, stately Stella,
+winsome Natalie, shy Marjorie or the scornful Juno, whose superiority
+was considered a big joke.
+
+During their week in Annapolis Helen and Lily Pearl had made tremendous
+strides in a certain way. Foxy Grandpa had met a gushing, gracious
+widow, who made Wilmot her home. That the lady's hair was of a shade
+rarely produced by nature, and her complexion as unusual as her
+innumerable puffs and curls, Foxy Grandpa was too dull of sight and mind
+to perceive. He had gone through life somewhat side-tracked by more
+brilliant, interesting people, and to find someone who flattered him and
+fluttered about him with the coyness of eighteen years, when three times
+eighteen would hardly have sufficed to number her milestones, went to
+the old gentleman's head like wine, and he became Mrs. Ring's slave to
+the vast amusement of everyone in Wilmot.
+
+And Mrs. Ring promptly took Helen and Lily Pearl under her chaperonage,
+introduced her son, a midshipman, to them, who in turn introduced his
+room-mate, and a charming sextet was promptly formed. Poor Mrs. Vincent
+was likely to have some lively experiences as the result of that
+Christmas holiday, for Paul Ring and Charles Purdy were one rare pair of
+susceptible simpletons, if nothing worse.
+
+And so passed the week at Severndale for Mrs. Harold's party, Peggy once
+more the gracious little chatelaine, sure of herself and entertaining
+her guests like a little queen, a perfect wonder to the other girls.
+Polly was happy as a grig, and all the others equally so. The older
+people rejoiced in this rare reunion, and Captain Stewart each day grew
+more devoted to his "Howland bunch" as he called them. The three girls
+openly adored him, and dainty, quiet little Mrs. Howland beamed upon
+everyone, little guessing how often the good Captain's eyes rested upon
+her when she was unaware of it, or how he was learning to esteem the
+mother of the three young girls whom he pronounced "jewels of the purest
+water."
+
+But that lies in the future. It is once more Saturday morning and once
+more a big dance is pending to which all are going.
+
+This time Shortie was taking Gail, Wheedles had asked Stella, Happy was
+looking after Juno, Polly would go with Ralph, Peggy with Durand,
+Rosalie would have cried her eyes out had any one save Jean Paul been
+her gay gallant, Natalie was Bert's charge, Marjorie and big Doug had
+become good chums, and, of course, Gordon Powers had made sure of
+Nelly's company.
+
+As this was to be the most magnificent affair of the holiday season, it
+had been decided to drive into Annapolis directly after luncheon, attend
+a matinee to be given at the one funny little theatre the town boasted,
+and for which Mrs. Harold had secured three stalls in order to include
+"the bunch," then to go to Wilmot to dine and dress, Mammy, Harrison and
+Jerome having been intrusted with the transportation of the suitcases
+containing the evening finery.
+
+All went merry as a marriage bell. When the matinee ended the boys were
+sent to the right about and the girls hurried to their rooms to make
+their toilets, for a six-thirty dinner had been ordered and everybody
+would be present.
+
+As the girls, excepting Stella and Gail, were all under seventeen, and
+still to make their formal bows to the big social world, their gowns
+were all of short, dancing length, Juno's excepted. Juno was a good deal
+of a law unto herself in the matter of raiment. Her father supplied her
+with all the spending money she asked for, and charge accounts at
+several of the large New York shops and at a fashionable modiste's,
+completed her latitude. There would be very little left for Juno to
+arrive at when she made her début.
+
+There was no time for comment or correction when the girls emerged from
+their rooms to accompany the older people to the dining-room, but at
+sight of Juno's gown Mrs. Harold's color grew deeper, and for a moment
+her teeth pressed her lower lip as though striving to hold back her
+words. Juno and Rosalie shared one room but Rosalie had known nothing of
+the contents of Juno's suitcase until it came time for them to dress,
+then her black eyes had nearly popped out of their sockets, for
+certainly Juno's gown was a startling creation for a school-girl.
+
+Needless to add, the one which she was supposed to have taken to
+Annapolis had been replaced by the present one at the last moment, and
+Mrs. Vincent was not even aware that Juno possessed such a gown as the
+one she was then wearing.
+
+It was a beautiful pearl white charmeuse, cut low in front and with a V
+in the back which clearly testified to the fact that the wearer was
+_not_ afflicted with spinal curvature. Its trimmings were of exquisite
+lace and crystals sufficiently elaborate for a bride, and the skirt was
+one of the clinging, narrow, beaver-tailed train affairs which render
+walking about as graceful as the gait of a hobbled-horse, and dancing an
+utter impossibility unless the gown is held up. It was a most advanced
+style, out-Parisianing the Parisian. When Juno prepared to get into it,
+even Rosalie, charming beyond words in a pink chiffon, had cried:
+
+"Why, Juno Gibson, it's lucky for you Mrs. Vincent isn't here. You'd
+never go to the hop in that dress."
+
+"Well, she isn't here, so calm yourself."
+
+But the climax came as they were crossing Wilmot's reception hall on
+their way up from dinner. Mrs. Harold was walking just behind her flock,
+Peggy with her, fully conscious of the tension matters had assumed, for
+modest little Peggy had been too closely associated with Polly and Mrs.
+Harold not to have stored away considerable rational worldly knowledge
+and some very sane ideas.
+
+As they were about to ascend the stairs Juno with well affected
+indifference caught up her train, thereby revealing the latest
+idiosyncrasy of the feminine toilet. She wore silver slippers and black
+silk tights and had quite dispensed with petticoats. The stage and the
+Hotel Astor had developed Juno's knowledge of _la mode en règle_ at a
+galloping pace.
+
+Some of the girls gave little gasps, and amused smiles flitted across
+the faces of the people within range. Mrs. Harold colored to her
+forehead.
+
+When they reached her corridor she said to Juno:
+
+"Little girl, will you come into my room a moment?'
+
+"Certainly, if you wish it, Mrs. Harold," was the reply in a tone which
+meant that Juno had instantly donned her armor of repulsion
+
+Seating herself upon a low chair, Mrs. Harold drew a hassock to her
+side, motioning Juno to it. The seat might have been accepted with a
+better grace. Mrs. Harold took the lovely, rebellious face in both her
+hands, pressed her lips to the frowning forehead, and said gently:
+
+"Honey, smoothe them out, please, and, remember that what I am about to
+say to you is said because Peggy's and Polly's friends are mine and I
+love them. Yes, and wish them to learn to love me if possible. Nothing
+is dearer to me than my young people and I long to see all that is best
+and finest developed in them. You have come to me as a guest, dear, but
+you have also come to me as my foster-daughter pro tem, and as such,
+claim my affectionate interest in your well-being. Mother and daughter
+are precious names."
+
+There was a slight pause, in which Juno gave an impatient toss of her
+handsome head and asked in a bitterly ironical voice:
+
+"Are they? I am afraid I'm not very well prepared to judge."
+
+Mrs. Harold looked keenly at the girl, a light beginning to dawn upon
+her, though she had heard little of Juno's history.
+
+"Dear heart, forgive me if I wounded you. It was unintentional. I know
+nothing of earlier experiences, you know. You are just Polly's friend to
+me. Perhaps some day, if you can learn to love and trust me, you will
+let me understand why I have wounded. That is for another time and
+season. Just now we have but a few moments in which to 'get near' each
+other, as my boys would say, and I am going to make a request which may
+displease you. My little girl, will you accept some suggestions
+regarding your toilet?"
+
+"I dare say you think it is too grown-up for me. I know I'm not supposed
+to wear a low gown or a train."
+
+"I'm afraid I should be tempted to say the gown had been sent to you
+before it had grown-up enough," smiled Mrs. Harold. "And certainly some
+of its accessories must have been overlooked or forgotten altogether."
+
+"Why, nobody wears anything but tights under a ball gown nowadays. How
+would it fit with skirts all bunched up under it? As to the neck, it is
+no lower than one sees at the opera at home. I know a dozen people who
+wear gowns made in exactly the same way, and Madam Marie would expire if
+I did not follow her dictates--why, she would never do a bit more work
+for me."
+
+"Then I beg of you, outrage the lady's ideas forthwith, for--" Mrs.
+Harold laid her hand upon Juno's--"no dressmaker living should have the
+power to place a refined, modest little girl in a false position, or
+lower her womanly standards and ideals. Not only hers, dear, but what is
+vastly more far-reaching, the ideals of the boys and men with whom she
+is thrown. You are too young to fully appreciate this; you could hardly
+interpret some of the comments which are sure to be made upon the
+ballroom floor from those who are somewhat lacking in finer feeling; nor
+can you gauge the influence a truly modest girl--I do not mean an
+ignorantly prudish one, for a limited knowledge of the facts of life is
+a dangerous thing--has over such lads as you meet."
+
+"You have a beautiful hand, dear," continued Mrs. Harold, taking Juno's
+tapering, perfectly manicured fingers in hers. "It is faultless. Make it
+as strong as faultless, for remember--nothing has greater power
+figuratively. You hold more in this pretty hand than equal franchise can
+ever confer upon you. See that right now you help to make the world
+purer--your sisters who would have the ballot are using this crying need
+as their strongest argument--by avoiding in word or deed anything which
+can dethrone you in the esteem of the other sex, whether young or
+mature, for you can never know how far-reaching it will prove. You think
+I am too sweeping in my assertion? That you never have and never could
+do anything to invite criticism? Dear heart, not intentionally, I know,
+but in the very fact that you are innocent of the influence which--say
+such a gown as you are now wearing, for an illustration--may have, lies
+the harm you do. If you fully understand you would sooner go to the hop
+tonight gowned in sackcloth; of this I am certain."
+
+For a moment Juno did not speak. This little human craft was battling
+with conflicting currents and there seemed no pilot in sight. Then she
+turned suddenly and placing her arms about Mrs. Harold, laid her head
+upon the shoulder which had comforted so many and began to sob softly.
+
+"My little girl! My dear, dear little girl, do not take it so deeply to
+heart. I did not mean to wound you so cruelly. Forgive me, dear."
+
+"You haven't wounded me. It isn't that. But I--I--don't seem to know
+where I'm at. No one has ever spoken to me in this way. I'm often
+scolded and lectured and stormed at, but no one cares enough to make me
+understand. Please show me how. Please tell me. It seems like a glimpse
+into a different world."
+
+"First let me dry the tears I have been the cause of bringing to your
+eyes--if my boys see traces of them I shall be brought to an account.
+Then we will remedy what might have done harm."
+
+As she spoke Mrs. Harold took a bit of absorbent cotton, soaked it in
+rose water and bathed the lovely soft, brown eyes. Juno smiled up at
+her, then nestled against her, again.
+
+"My new little foster-daughter," said Mrs. Harold, kissing the velvety
+cheeks.
+
+     "'It's beauty, truly blent, whose red and white,
+     Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.'
+
+Keep it so--it needs no aid--we shall learn to know each other better.
+You will come again--yes, often--and where I can help, count upon
+me--always? And now I'll play maid."
+
+Ten minutes later when Juno entered the living-room, an exquisite bit of
+Venetian lace filled in the V at the back of the bodice; the softest
+white maline edged the front, and when, she raised her train a lace
+petticoat which any girl would have pronounced "too sweet for words"
+floated like sea-foam about her slender ankles.
+
+No comments were made and all set forth for the hop. And was the
+experiment a red letter one? Well!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+IN SPRING TERM
+
+
+"Well, we all came back to earth with a thud, didn't we? But, was there
+ever anything like it while it lasted," ended Natalie with a rapturous
+sigh.
+
+"And do you suppose there can ever be anything like it again?" Rosalie's
+tone suggested funeral wreaths and deep mourning, but she continued to
+brush her hair with Peggy's pretty ivory-handled brush, and pose before
+Peggy's mirror. The girls were not supposed to dress in each other's
+rooms but suppositions frequently prove fallacies in a girl's school and
+these girls had vast mutual interests past and pending.
+
+Several weeks had passed since the Christmas holidays, but the joys of
+that memorable house-party were still very vivid memories and recalled
+almost daily.
+
+It was the hour before dinner. The girls were expected to be ready
+promptly at six-fifteen, but dressing hour might more properly have been
+termed gossiping hour, since it was more often given over to general
+discussions, Stella's pretty room, or Peggy's and Polly's, proving as a
+rule a rendezvous. All of the Severndale house party were assembled at
+the moment, and two or three others beside, among them Isabel, Helen and
+Lily Pearl.
+
+"I hope there may be a good many times like it again," said Peggy
+warmly. "It was just lovely to have you all down there and Daddy Neil
+was the happiest thing I've ever seen. I wish we could have him at
+Easter, but he will be far away when Easter comes."
+
+"Shall you go home at Easter?" asked Helen, flickering hopes of an
+invitation darting across her mind.
+
+"I hardly think so. You see it is only two weeks off and the Little
+Mother has not said anything about it, has she, Polly?"
+
+"No, in her last letter she said she thought she'd come down to
+Washington for Easter week and stop at the Willard, but it is not
+settled yet. I'd rather be in Annapolis at Easter and go for some of our
+long rides. Wasn't it fun to have Shashai and Silver Star back there
+during our visit! I believe they and Tzaritza and Jess had the very time
+of their young--and old--lives. And wasn't Tzaritza regal with Rhody?"
+
+"It was the funniest thing I've ever seen," laughed Stella. "That dog
+acted exactly like a royal princess entertaining a happy-go-lucky
+jackie. Rhody's life on board the _Rhode Island_ since you and Ralph
+rescued him seems to have been one gay and festive experience for a
+Boston bull pup."
+
+"It surely has," concurred Polly. "Snap says he's just wise to
+everything, and did you ever see anything so absurd as those clown
+tricks the jackies taught him?"
+
+"I think you are all perfectly wonderful people, dogs and horses
+included," was Rosalie's climax of eulogy, if rather peculiar and
+comprehensive.
+
+"Well, we had one royal good time and we are not likely to forget it
+either. Peggy, weren't you petrified when you struck 'eight bells' at
+the hop, for the death of the old year? Goodness, when those lights
+began to go out, and everybody stopped dancing I felt so queer. And when
+'taps' sounded little shivery creeps went all up and down my spine, and
+you struck eight bells so beautifully! But reveille drove me almost
+crazy. When the lights flashed on again I didn't know whether I wanted
+to laugh or cry I was so nervous," was Natalie's reminiscence.
+
+"It was the most solemn thing I ever heard and the most beautiful," said
+Marjorie softly. "It made me homesick, and yet home doesn't mean
+anything to me; this is the only one I have known since I was eight
+years old."
+
+"Eight years in one place and a school at that!" cried Juno. "Why, I
+should have done something desperate long before four had passed. Girls,
+think of being in a school eight years." Juno's tone implied the horrors
+of the Bastile.
+
+"If you had no other, what could you do?" Marjorie's question was asked
+with a smile which was sadder than tears could have been.
+
+Juno shrugged her shoulders, but Polly slipped over to Marjorie's side
+and with one of Polly's irresistible little mannerisms, laid her arm
+across her shoulder, as hundreds of times the boys in Bancroft
+demonstrate their good fellowship for each other. Another girl would
+probably have kissed her. Polly was not given to kisses. Then she asked:
+
+"Won't your father come East this spring for commencement? You said you
+hoped he would.
+
+"I've hoped so every spring, but when he writes he says it takes four
+whole months to reach Washington from that awful place in the Klondyke.
+I wish he had never heard of it."
+
+"I'm so glad you went to Severndale with us. We must never let her be
+lonely or homesick again, Peggy."
+
+"Not while Severndale has a spare hammock," nodded Peggy.
+
+Marjorie was more or less of a mystery to most of the girls, but the
+greatest of all to Mrs. Vincent to whom she had come the year the school
+was opened. Mrs. Vincent had more than once said to herself: "Well, I
+certainly have four oddities to deal with: _Who_ is Marjorie? She is one
+of the sweetest, most lovable girls I've ever met, but I don't really
+know a single thing about her. She has come to me from the home of a
+perfectly reliable Congregational minister, but even he confesses that
+he knows nothing beyond the fact that she is the daughter of a man lost
+to civilization in the remotest regions of the Klondyke. He says he
+believes her mother is dead. Heigho! And Juno? What is likely to become
+of _her_, poor child? What does become of all the children of divorced
+parents in this land of divorces? Oh, why can't the parents think of the
+children they have brought into the world but who did not ask to come?
+
+"And Rosalie? What is to become of that little pepper pot with all her
+loving impulses and self-will? I believe her father has visited her for
+about one hour in each of the four years she has been here, and I also
+believe his visits do more harm than good, they seem to enrage the child
+so. Of course, it is all wounded pride and affection, but who is to
+correct it? And this year comes Stella, the biggest puzzle of all. Her
+father? Well, I dare say it is all right, but he sometimes acts more
+like--" but at this point Mrs. Vincent invariably had paused abruptly
+and turned her attention to other matters.
+
+"Can't the boys ever get leave to visit their friends?" asked Lily Pearl.
+"I think it is perfectly outrageous to keep them stived up in that
+horrid place year in and year out for four years with only four months
+to call their own in one-thousand-four-hundred-and-sixty days!"
+
+"Lily's been doing the multiplication table," cried Rosalie.
+
+"Well, I counted and I think it's awful--simply awful!" lamented Lily.
+"I'd give anything to see Charlie Purdy and have another of those
+ravishing dances. I can just feel his arms about me yet, and the way he
+snuggles your head up against him and nestles his face down in your
+hair--m--m--m! Why, his clothes smell so deliciously of cigarette smoke!
+I can smell it yet!"
+
+A howl of laughter greeted this rhapsody from all but Helen, who bridled
+and protested:
+
+"Oh, you girls may laugh, but you had to walk a chalk line under the
+eyes of a half dozen chaperones every minute. Lily and I got acquainted
+with our friends."
+
+"Well, I hope we did have a chaperone or two," was Polly's retort. She
+had vivid memories of some of the scenes upon which she and Ralph had
+inadvertently blundered during the afternoon informals of Christmas
+week. The auditorium in the academic building where informals are held,
+has many secluded nooks. Upon one occasion she had run upon Helen and
+Paul Ring, the former languishing in the latter's arms. Perhaps mamma
+would not have been so ready to intrust her dear little daughter to Foxy
+Grandpa's protection had she dreamed of the existence of Mamma Ring and
+dear Paul.
+
+At all this sentimental enthusiasm Stella had looked on indulgently and
+now laughed outright, "What silly kids you two are," she said.
+
+"Well, I don't see that you had such a ravishing time, anyway," cried
+Helen.
+
+"Why, I'm sure Mr. Allyn was as attentive as anyone could be. He was on
+hand every minute to take me wherever I wanted to go." Stella's
+expression was quizzical and made Helen furious.
+
+"Oh, a paid guide could have done as much I don't doubt."
+
+"Father _is_ a little fussy at times, so perhaps it is just as well. You
+see I should not have been at Severndale at all if he had not been
+called to Mexico on business. So I'd better be thankful for what fun I
+did get. But there goes the first bell. Better get down toward the
+dining-room, girls," laughed Stella good-naturedly, and set the example.
+A moment later the room was deserted by all but Helen who lingered at
+the mirror. When the others were on their way down stairs she slipped to
+Nelly's room and took from her desk a sheet of the monogram paper and an
+envelope, which Mrs. Harold had given her at Christmas. As she passed
+her own room she hid them in her desk for future use. After dinner when
+the evening mail was delivered, Helen received a letter bearing the
+Annapolis postmark. Nelly had one from her father. As she read it her
+face wore a peculiar expression. The letter stated that her father was
+coming to Washington to consult with Shelby concerning a matter of
+business connected with Severndale's paddock. As Nelly ceased reading
+she glanced up from her letter to find Peggy watching her narrowly.
+Peggy had also received a letter from Dr. Llewellyn in which he
+mentioned the fact that Bolivar felt it advisable to run down to
+Washington. In an instant the whole situation flashed across Peggy's
+quick comprehension.
+
+During the girl's visit at Severndale Jim Bolivar had never come to the
+house. Nelly had many times slipped away for quiet little talks with her
+father in their own cottage and had asked him more than once why he did
+not come up to the big house to see her, and his reply had invariably
+been:
+
+"Honey, I don't belong there. No, 'tain't no use to argue,--I don't.
+Your mother would have; she come of quality stock, and what in the
+Lord's name she ever saw in me I've been, a-guessin' an' a-guessin' for
+the last eighteen year."
+
+"But Dad, Peggy Stewart has never, never made either you or me feel the
+least shade of difference in our stations. Neither has Polly Howland.
+They couldn't be lovelier to me, though I know you have never been at
+Severndale as guests have been there. But it has never seemed to strike
+me until now. And down at the school the girls are awfully nice to me;
+at least, most of them are. Those who are patronizing are that way
+because they are so to everybody. But the really nice girls are lovely,
+and I am sure they'd never think of being rude to you."
+
+"Little girl, listen to your old Dad: There are some things in this
+world not to be got around. I'm one of 'em. Peggy Stewart and Polly
+Howland are thoroughbreds an' thoroughbreds ain't capable of no low-down
+snobbishness. They know their places in the world and there's nothing
+open to discussion. An' they're too fine-grained to scratch other folks
+the wrong way. But, some of them girls up yonder are cross-breeds--oh,
+yes, I've been a-watchin' 'em an' I know,--tain't no use to argue. They
+kin prance an' cavort an' their coats are sleek an' shinin', but don't
+count on 'em too much when it comes right down to disposition an'
+endurance, 'cause they'll disappoint you. I ain't never told you honey,
+that your mother was a Bladen. Well, she was. Some day I'm going to tell
+you how she fell in love with a good-lookin' young skalawag by the name
+o' Jim Bolivar. He comes o' pretty decent stock too, only he hadn't
+sense enough to stay at St. John's where his dad put him, but had to go
+rampagin' all over the country till he'd clean forgot any bringin'-up
+he'd ever had, and landed up as a sort o' bailiff, as they call 'em over
+in the old country, on an estate down on the eastern shore. Then he met
+Helen Bladen and 's sure's you live she 'changed the name and not the
+letter and changed for a heap sight worse 'n the better' when she eloped
+with me. Thank the Lord she didn't live long enough to see the worst,
+and you hardly remember her at all. But that's my pretty history,--a
+no-count, ne'er do well, and if it weren't for Peggy Stewart, God bless
+her! you'd a been lyin' 'long side o' yo' ma out yonder this minute, for
+all I'd ever a-done to keep you here, I reckon, much less give you the
+education you're a-gettin' now. No, honey, I won't go up to the great
+house. If I'd a-done right when I was a boy I'd be sittin' right up
+there with the rest o' that bunch o' people this minute. But I was bound
+to have my fling, and sow my wild oats and now I can have the pleasure
+of harvestin' my crop. It ought to be thistles, for if ever there was a
+jackass that same was Jim Bolivar."
+
+Nelly had listened to the pitiful tale without comment, but when it
+ended she placed her arms about her father's neck and sobbed softly. She
+had never mentioned this little talk to anyone, but it was seldom far
+from her thoughts, and now her father was coming to Washington.
+
+Peggy slipped her arm about her and asked:
+
+"What makes you look so sober, Nellibus?"
+
+"Because I'm a silly, over-sensitive goose, I dare say."
+
+Peggy looked puzzled.
+
+Nelly handed her her father's letter. Peggy read it, then turned to look
+straight into Nelly's eyes, her own growing dark as she raised her head
+in the proud little poise which made her so like her mother's portrait.
+
+"When he comes I think matters will adjust themselves," was all she
+said.
+
+The following Friday afternoon Jim Bolivar was ushered into the pretty
+little reception room by Horatio Hannibal, who went in quest of Nelly.
+As she had no idea of the hour her father would arrive, she was
+preparing to go for a ride with a number of the girls, for the day was a
+heavenly one; a late March spring day in Washington.
+
+"Miss Bol'var, yo' pa in de 'ception room waitin' fo' to see yo', Miss,"
+announced Horatio.
+
+"I'll go right down. Sorry I can't go with you, girls."
+
+"May we come and see him just a minute before we start!" asked Peggy
+quickly, while Polly came eagerly to her side.
+
+"Of course you may. Dad will love to see you," was Nelly's warm
+response.
+
+"We won't keep you waiting long, girls," said Peggy, "we'll join you at
+the porte cochere."
+
+Arrayed in their habits, Peggy, Polly and Nelly hurried away.
+
+"Wonder what he looks like," said Juno idly as she drew on her
+gauntlets.
+
+"Bet he's nice if he's anything like Nelly," said Rosalie.
+
+"Isn't it funny you girls never saw him while you were at Severndale?"
+said Lily Pearl.
+
+"Perhaps he's not the kind Nelly Bolivar cares to have seen," was
+Helen's amiable remark, accompanied by a shrug and a knowing look.
+
+"Why, what do you mean, Helen?" asked Natalie with some spirit.
+
+"Just what I say. _I_ believe Nelly Bolivar is as poor as Job's turkey
+and that Peggy Stewart pays all 'her expenses here. And I know she wears
+Peggy's cast-off clothes. I saw Peggy's name in one of her coats. You
+know Peggy has her name and the maker's woven right into the linings.
+Just you wait and see what her father looks like and then see if I'm far
+wrong."
+
+"Why, she's nothing better than a charity pupil if that's true," sneered
+Lily Pearl, who never failed to follow Helen's lead.
+
+"If Mrs. Vincent opens her school to such girls I think it would be well
+for our parents to investigate the matter," was Isabel's superior
+criticism.
+
+"Yes, you'd better. Mother would be delighted to have an extra room or
+two; she has so many applicants all the time," flashed Natalie, her
+cheeks blazing.
+
+"Children, children, don't grow excited. Wait until you find out what
+you're fuming about," said Stella in the tone which always made them
+feel like kids, Rosalie insisted. "And come on down. The horses have
+been waiting twenty minutes already and Mrs. Vincent will have a word or
+two to say to us if we don't watch out."
+
+As they crossed the hall to the porte cochere, Peggy, Polly and Nelly
+came from the reception room, Mr. Bolivar with them. The lively
+curiosity upon the girls' faces was rather amusing. Juno favored him
+with a well-cultivated Fifth Avenue stare. Helen's nose took a higher
+tilt if possible. Lily Pearl giggled as usual. Stella smiled at the
+girls and said: "Glad you're coming with us." Isabel murmured "Horrors!"
+under her breath and waddled with what she believed to be dignity toward
+the door. Marjorie only smiled, but Rosalie and Natalie stopped, the
+former crying impulsively:
+
+"Introduce your father to us, Nelly; we want to know him."
+
+The man the girls looked upon had changed a good deal from the
+despondent Jim Bolivar whom Peggy had seen sitting upon the upturned box
+in Market Square so long ago. Prosperity and resultant comforts had done
+a good deal for the despairing man. There were still some traces of the
+handsome Jim Bolivar with whom pretty, romantic Helen Bladen had eloped,
+though the intermediate years of sorrow and misfortune had changed that
+dapper young beau into a careless, hopeless pessimist. What the end
+might have been but for Peggy is hard to guess, but the past two years
+had made him think and think hard too. Though still slipshod of speech
+as the result of associating with his humbler neighbors, he was
+certainly making good, and few lapses occurred as he shook hands with
+Nelly's friends and then went out to help them mount. In his dark gray
+suit, Alpine hat and his gray gloves, something of the gentleman which
+was in him became evident.
+
+He helped each girl upon her horse, greeted Junius Augustus, patted
+Shashai, Star and Tzaritza; deplored poor Columbine's shorn glories,
+smiled an odd smile at Isabel's bulky figure upon the more bulky
+Senator, then said:
+
+"I'll see you when you come back, honey. I've got to have a talk with
+Shelby. Some things is--are--bothering me back yonder. Have a fine
+gallop. It's a prime day for it. Good-bye, young ladies," and raising
+his hat with something of the gallantry of the old Bolivar he followed
+Junius toward the stables.
+
+That night Mrs. Vincent asked him to dine with her, but he declined on
+the score of an engagement with a friend. He and Shelby dined in
+Washington and during that meal he made just one allusion to Nelly and
+her surroundings.
+
+"It's all very well for a man to make a plumb fool of himself and waste
+his life if he's a-mind to, but he ain't got any business to drag other
+folks along with him. If I hadn't a-been a fool among fools I might
+a-been sittin' beside my little girl this minute, and not be scared to
+either, Shelby. My dad used to say something about 'man being his own
+star,' I don't recollect it all, but I know it meant he could be one of
+the first magnet if he'd a mind to. I set out to be a comet, I reckon,
+all hot air tail, and there isn't much of me left worth looking at."
+
+"How old are you!"
+
+"Forty-four."
+
+"Well, you've got twenty-five years to the good yet. Now get busy for
+the little girl's sake."
+
+"Shake," cried Jim Bolivar, extending his hand across the table.
+
+Meanwhile back yonder at the school, Friday night being "home letters
+night" the girls were all busily writing, but Helen kept the monogram
+upon her paper carefully concealed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A MIDNIGHT SENSATION
+
+
+But two weeks remained of the spring term. School would close on May
+twenty-eighth. Already Washington had become insufferably warm, and even
+Columbia Heights School situated upon its hill, was very trying. The
+girls were almost too inert to work and spent every possible moment out
+of doors.
+
+The moment school ended Peggy, Polly and Nelly would go back to
+Annapolis and Rosalie was to go with, them as Peggy's guest for a month.
+Mrs. Harold had invited Marjorie, Natalie, and Juno to be Polly's guests
+for June week under the joint chaperonage of herself and Mrs. Howland,
+after which plans were being laid for the entire party to go to
+Provincetown with "all the Howland outfit," as Captain Stewart and Mr.
+Harold phrased it, there to live in a bungalow as long as the Atlantic
+fleet made that jumping-off place its rendezvous. It bid fair to be a
+tremendous house party, though the lads whom the girls had grown to
+know best would not be there. The practice squadron was going to Europe
+this summer. However, "the old guard" as Happy, Wheedles and Shortie, as
+well as dozens of others from earlier classes were called, would be
+there and things were sure to be lively. But all this lies in the
+future.
+
+Helen and Lily Pearl had been invited to Annapolis for June week, by
+Mrs. Ring, and were to go to the June ball with dear Paul and Charles
+Purdy. They had not been asked to dance the German since they had made
+no special friends among the first classmen. Peggy and Polly were to
+dance it, one with Dick Allyn, the other with his room-mate, Calhoun
+Byrd, who, in Bancroft's vernacular "spooned on Ralph" and had always
+considered Polly "a clipper." Juno was to go with Guy Bennett, Nelly,
+Rosalie, Marjorie and Natalie had, alack! to look on from the gallery,
+escorted by second-classmen.
+
+But now of immediate happenings at Columbia Heights School.
+
+It had been arranged that Shelby should take Shashai, Star and Tzaritza
+back to Severndale on the twenty-second, as it was now far too warm to
+ride in Washington. Moreover, Shelby's engagement with Mrs. Vincent
+expired May fifteenth and he was anxious to get back to Severndale. Then
+at the last moment, Mrs. Vincent decided to send all the saddle horses
+to Severndale for the summer months and keep only the carriage horses
+and the white groom at the school. So Shelby wrote Jim Bolivar that
+"he'd better come along down and get on the job too." Consequently,
+about a week after the girl's visit to Annapolis and Rosalie's escapade,
+Jim Bolivar arrived at the school and took up his quarters in the pretty
+little cottage provided for Shelby. He expected to spend about two days
+helping to get matters closed up for the summer, then start on with
+Junius Augustus in charge of Columbine, Lady Belle, the Senator, and
+Jack-o'-Lantern, Shelby following a day later with Shashai, Star, Madame
+Goldie and Old Duke. So far so good out in the stables. Within the
+school Nelly was learning the difference between being the daughter of
+patrician blood come upon misfortune, and cheerfully making the best of
+things, and some extremely plebeian blood slopped unexpectedly into
+fortune, and trying to forget its origin. Had not Nelly possessed such
+loyal old friends as Peggy and Polly, and made such stanch new ones as
+Rosalie, Natalie, Stella and Marjorie, her position might have been a
+very trying one. And now only eight days remained before vacation would
+begin. Already the girls were in a flutter for June week at Annapolis.
+Would it be fair? Would it be scorching hot? Would there be moon-light
+nights?
+
+"There'll be moon-light if the old lady has half a chance to show
+herself," said Polly's assured voice and nod.
+
+"We had a new moon on the eighteenth," said Peggy. "That means brim-full
+in June week, and, oh, girls, won't it be fairy land! How I wish,
+though, you were all to dance the German. I can't help feeling selfish
+to leave you out of that fun."
+
+"You aren't leaving us out. We understand that even the Little Mother
+can't ask her boys to take a girl to the German! But we aren't likely to
+pine away with all the other fun afoot," cried Natalie gaily, doing a
+pirouette across the room just by way of relieving pent-up anticipation.
+
+"Helen said she might be invited to dance the German after all. Dear
+Paul's Mamma has a grease with a first classman," laughed Rosalie.
+
+"When I see her on the floor I'll believe it," said Juno.
+
+"Where is Helen tonight?" asked Marjorie.
+
+"Up in her room. Lily has a sick headache and she went up with her.
+Guess that cousin of Helen's who came down from Baltimore, Foxy
+Grandpa's daughter, or niece, or something, I believe, and spent this
+afternoon with her, gave those girls too many chocolates. Wasn't she
+the limit? And big? Well, I'll wager that woman was six feet tall, and
+she was made up perfectly outrageously. Her skin was fair enough, and
+her color lovely and I never saw such teeth, if they weren't store ones,
+but there was something about the lower part of her face that looked
+queer. Did you notice it, girls?" asked Polly.
+
+"I did. There was such a funny dull tinge, like a man who had just been
+shaved," commented Rosalie, with a puzzled frown.
+
+"Her voice struck me funniest. Do you remember Fräulein Shultz who was
+here the first year school opened, Marjorie?" asked Natalie.
+
+"Yes, we used to call her Herr Shultz. Such a voice you never heard,
+girls!"
+
+"Well, this cousin's was exactly like Herr Shultz."
+
+"Her clothes were the climax with me. I believe she must have been on
+the stage sometime. Oh, yes, they were up-to-date enough, but, so sort
+of--of--tawdry," criticised Juno.
+
+"Do you know, she reminded me of somebody I know but who it is I just
+can't think," and Peggy puckered her forehead into wrinkles.
+
+"Oh!" cried Nelly, then stopped short.
+
+"What's the matter? Sat on a pin?" asked Rosalie, laughing.
+
+"Something made me jump," answered Nelly, pulling her skirt as though in
+search of the pin Rosalie had suggested. Then in a moment she said:
+
+"Reckon I'll go in, girls, I've got to send a note home by father and he
+starts pretty soon."
+
+"Why do they start at night?" asked Juno.
+
+"Cooler traveling for the horses. They leave here about eight, travel
+about nine miles an hour, for two hours, stop at ---- for the night,
+start again at seven in the morning, and will reach Severndale by ten
+o'clock at latest. It seems like a long trip, but that makes it an easy
+one. Shelby will start tomorrow or next day. And won't all those horses
+have the time of their lives! I am so glad that they're to be there,"
+explained Peggy.
+
+"So is mother, Peggy Stewart," cried Natalie.
+
+Meanwhile Nelly had gone to her room. It was next Helen's and Lily's. On
+beyond was Stella's sitting-room. Nelly roomed with a girl who had been
+called home by illness in her family. Consequently Nelly now had the
+room to herself. She wrote her note and then went to find Mrs. Vincent
+to ask permission to run out to the stables to give it to her father.
+
+As she passed Helen's and Lily's door she heard them whispering together
+and also heard a deeper voice. Whose could it be? It was so unusual
+that she paused a moment in the dimly lighted hall. She did not mean to
+be an eavesdropper, but she thought all the girls from the west wing
+were down on the terrace where she had left them that perfect May night.
+They had gone out there immediately dinner ended, for study hour had
+lately been held from five to seven on account of the warm evenings,
+Mrs. Vincent objecting to the lights which made the house almost
+suffocating.
+
+Presently the deep-voiced whisper was heard again. Nelly started as
+though from an electric shock. Had Helen's cousin returned, but when?
+And that whisper was a revelation. Then she went on her way. Consent was
+promptly given and Nelly ran across the shadow-laden lawn to the
+stables. She found her father, Shelby and the men just preparing to set
+forth. Her father was to ride the Senator to set the pace. Junius rode
+Jack-o'-Lantern. Columbine and Lady Belle were to be led.
+
+As Nelly drew near, Columbine neighed a welcome.
+
+"What's brought you down here, honey?" asked Bolivar. "I was going to
+stop at the house to say good-bye."
+
+"I wanted to see you alone a minute, daddy."
+
+"Go 'long for a little private confab with her, Bolivar. All right,
+Nelly, no hurry," said Shelby genially.
+
+The thin sickle of the new moon cast very little light as Nelly and her
+father walked a short distance down the path, Nelly, talking earnestly
+in a low voice. When she ceased Bolivar said:
+
+"Oh, you must be mistaken, Nelly, why, I never heard of such a fool
+stunt; yet that kid's capable of most any, I understand. Of course, I'll
+take the hint and watch out, but just like you say, it's better to keep
+it dark. It'd only stir up a terrible talk and make Mrs. Vincent's
+school,--well; she don't want that sort of thing happening. Run 'long
+back and keep your eyes open. Shall I say anything to Shelby?"
+
+"Not a word, daddy! Not one word! Just get him out of the way if you
+can."
+
+"That's easy. He's going to ride into the city when I start and none of
+the boys sleep in the stable. I kind of suspicion your plan but I won't
+ask no more questions."
+
+At eight-thirty the first "batch o' beasties" "shoved off." The girls
+ran down the driveway to bid them good-bye and the horses seemed to
+understand it all perfectly. Then Bolivar and his charges, accompanied
+by Shelby, set forth upon their ways. It was a wonderful, star-sprinkled
+night, though the moon had sunk below the horizon. When they had gone a
+little way Shelby bade them good-bye and good-luck and turned into the
+broad boulevard leading into Washington. Bolivar followed the quieter
+road on the outskirts of the city. Presently he said to Junius:
+
+"Land o' love, I'd as soon ride an elephant as this horse. His back's as
+broad. Hold on a minute, I'm going to shift my saddle to Columbine. I
+know her and she knows me, don't you, old girl?"
+
+"She's de quality, sure," agreed Junius.
+
+"This is something like," sighed Bolivar, falling easily into
+Columbine's smooth fox-trot. They had gone perhaps a mile when Bolivar
+suddenly clapped his hand to his breast-pocket and pulled up short.
+
+"What done happen, Mr. Bol'var?" asked Junius.
+
+"I'm seven kinds of a fool. Left my wallet in that old coat Shelby let
+me wear round the stable! Now that's the limit, ain't it? I got to go
+back. Ain't got a cent with me. You ride on slow and stop at the Pine
+Cliff Inn up the road a-piece, and wait there till I come. Columbine's
+fresh as a daisy and the three miles or so will be just a warm-up for
+her this night. Now wait there. Don't budge a step till I come."
+
+"I'll do like you say."
+
+Jim Bolivar started back slowly, but once beyond Junius' sight gave
+Columbine the rein and was soon within a quarter of a mile of Columbia
+Heights School.
+
+Meanwhile, in that usually well-ordered establishment some startling
+events were taking place.
+
+When Nelly left her father she stopped on the terrace to talk a few
+minutes with the girls. It was then after nine o'clock but during these
+long, sultry evenings Mrs. Vincent allowed the girls to remain upon the
+terrace until ten.
+
+Examinations were over, there was no further academic work to be done
+and most of the preparations for commencement were completed. Indeed,
+most of the little girls had already left, and several of the older ones
+also. A general exodus takes place from Washington early in May and the
+schools close early.
+
+"Whow, I'm sleepy tonight," laughed Nelly, suppressing a yawn. "Reckon
+I'll go upstairs. Good-night, everybody."
+
+"You'll smother and roast if you go to bed so early, Nell. Stay here
+with us," cried Polly, catching Nelly's skirt and trying to pull her
+down beside her.
+
+"Can't. I'd drop asleep right on the terrace," and turning Nelly ran
+in-doors. Once in her room she speedily shifted into her linen riding
+suit, then slipping down the back stairs, sped across the dark lawn to
+the stables. They were dark and silent. Not a soul was in Shelby's
+cottage where the stable key was kept and a moment later Nelly had taken
+it from its hook and was at the stable door. A bubble of nickers, or the
+soft munching of feeding horses, fell upon her ears. Star knew her voice
+as well as Polly's and Peggy's. Nelly went straight to Star's stall. In
+less time than it takes to tell it she had him saddled, bridled and led
+softly out upon the lawn. Keeping within the shadows of the trees she
+led him to a thick pine grove and taking his velvety muzzle in her hands
+planted a kiss upon it as she whispered:
+
+"Now stand stock still and don't make a sound. I may need you and I may
+not. If I do it will be in a hurry and you will have to make time." Then
+she slipped back into the house.
+
+But we must go back to the invalid, Lily Pearl, and her devoted
+attendant in the west wing. Also the cousin. Ten minutes after Nelly had
+left her room to carry her note to her father, Helen went to Mrs.
+Vincent's study.
+
+"Oh, Mrs. Vincent, cousin Pauline came back to see if she had left her
+engagement ring in my room. She did not miss it until she got back to
+her friends' house and then she was frightened nearly to death and came
+all the way back here."
+
+"Couldn't she have telephoned?
+
+"I suppose so, but she never takes it off except to wash her hands. She
+left it on my dresser. She is going back now. May I walk to the gate
+with her?"
+
+"Yes, but come directly back, Helen. How is Lily?"
+
+"She's just fallen asleep. Thank you, Mrs. Vincent."
+
+A few moments later Helen and her cousin left the house but not by the
+door giving upon the terrace. The side door answered far better. Then
+slipping around the house they paused beneath Stella's balcony and the
+cousin gave a low whistle. Instantly, Lily Pearl's head was bobbed up
+over the railing and she whispered:
+
+"Oh, take it quick! I hear Peggy's voice down in the hall!" and a
+suitcase was lowered from the balcony, the cousin's strong right arm
+grasped it, as the cousin's deep voice said:
+
+"You're a dead game sport, Lil. You bet we'll remember this."
+
+But Lil did not wait to hear more. She fled to her room pell mell, not
+aware that in her flight she had overturned a tiny fairy night-lamp
+which Stella always kept burning in her room at night. Quickly
+undressing, Lily dove into bed and drawing the covers over her head was
+instantly sound asleep. The voice which had alarmed her soon died away
+as Peggy rejoined her friends upon the terrace.
+
+Helen and the cousin had meanwhile reached the gate and also a cab which
+waited there, and were soon bowling along toward Washington.
+
+And what of Nelly? As she was returning to the house she caught sight of
+the two figures hurrying toward the main gate. Back she sped to Star,
+and mounting him, rode along the soft turf as silently as a shadow,
+until she saw the two figures enter the cab.
+
+For a moment she was baffled. What could she do alone? She knew it would
+be worse than senseless to attempt to stop the runaways unaided. She
+must have help. Yet if she lost sight of them what might not take place?
+She had long since recognized Paul Ring in spite of his make-up. She had
+seen him too many times in the Masquerader's Shows at Annapolis. For a
+short time she flitted behind the cab like an avenging shadow. It would
+never do to let Helen make such an idiot of herself, and bring notoriety
+upon the school where Peggy and Polly were pupils, or so humiliate Mrs.
+Vincent and Natalie. Nelly did some quick thinking. There was but one
+road for the elopers to follow. Her father, to whom she had confided
+her suspicions and begged him to aid her, must be on his way back by
+this time. Wheeling Star she shot back as she had come, and making a
+wide detour around Columbia Heights School, put Star to his best paces.
+Half a mile beyond the school she met her father coming at a fairly good
+clip.
+
+Ten words were enough.
+
+"Thank the Lord we're riding Empress stock!" ejaculated Bolivar as he
+and Peggy gave the two beautiful creatures their heads and they settled
+into the long, low stride which seems never to tire, muscles working
+swiftly and smoothly as the machinery of a battleship, heads thrust
+forward, nostrils wide and breathing deep breaths to the rhythmic
+heart-throbs. But the runaways had a good start.
+
+Presently Bolivar said:
+
+"If Shelby has ridden easy he's somewheres ahead on that selfsame road."
+
+"Oh, dad, if he only is!"
+
+"Well, by the god Billiken he is! Look yonder."
+
+A more dumbfounded man than Shelby it would have been hard to overtake.
+
+"Had he seen the cab?"
+
+"Certain. It was hiking along ahead. Passed him just a little time
+before, the horse a-lather. Wondered who the fools were."
+
+"Well, you know now. How far ahead do you reckon they are?"
+
+"Quarter mile beyond that turn if the horse ain't fell dead. Let me
+break away, overhaul them and then you two come in at the death," he
+laughed.
+
+Shelby was riding Shashai, and at his word a black streak passed out of
+sight around the bend of the boulevard. Star and Columbine chafed to
+follow, but their riders held them back for a time.
+
+True enough, as Shelby had said, the cab was still pounding along toward
+Washington, though the poor horse was nearly done up.
+
+Shelby came abreast the poor panting beast, leaned quietly over, caught
+the bridle and cried, "Whoa!" The horse was only too delighted to oblige
+him. Not so "Cabby."
+
+With wrath and ire he rose to mete out justice to this highwayman. Had
+the butt of his whip hit Shelby he would have seen more stars than
+twinkled overhead. But it didn't. It was caught in one hand, given a
+dexterous twist and sent flying into the road as Shelby said in his
+quiet drawl:
+
+"Don't get excited. At least, don't let _me_ excite you. I ain't got
+nothing against you, but you can't take those 'slopers no further this
+night."
+
+"'Lopers nothin'! Me fares is two ladies on their ways to the Willard.
+'Tis a niece and aunt they are."
+
+"Say, you're easy. I thought you fellows wise to most any game. Niece
+and aunt! Shucks! Come 'long out aunt, or Cousin Pauline, or whatever
+you are, and you, Miss Doolittle, just don't do nothin' but live up to
+that name you've got. Lord, whoever named you knew his or her business
+all right, all right! Here come Bolivar and his daughter to bear a hand.
+Now don't set out to screech and carry on, 'cause if you do you'll make
+more trouble and it looks like you'd made a-plenty a-ready. And you shut
+up!" cried Shelby, now thoroughly roused, as Paul Ring, his disguise
+removed and stowed in his suitcase blustered from the cab. "Quit! or
+I'll crack you're addle-pated head for you, you young fool. Do you know
+what it will mean if I report you at Annapolis? Well, unless you make
+tracks for Bancroft P. D. Q.--that means pretty decidedly quick,
+Nelly,--you're going to get all that is comin' to you with compound
+interest. Beat it while your shoes are good. We'll escort your girl back
+to home and friends. Nelly, get into that cab. Cabby, these are two
+school girls and this man is this one's father. Now go about and head
+for the home port. No rowing. Yes, you'll get paid all right, all right.
+I'll stand for the damage and so will Bolivar here. But are _you_ going
+to dust?" the last words were addressed to Paul Ring to whom Helen was
+clinging and imploring him not to leave her. But, alas! It was four to
+one, for cabby's wrath was now centered upon "that hully show of a
+bloomin' auntie."
+
+Amidst violent protests upon Helen's part, Nelly entered the cab. She
+would "not go back!" And she would "go with dear Paul!" Her heart was
+breaking. Nelly Bolivar was "a good-for-nothing, common tattle-tale and
+the whole school probably knew all about her elopement already," etc.,
+etc.
+
+Nelly tried to assure her that no one suspected a thing. Mr. Bolivar
+corroborated that statement, but Helen continued to sob and berate Nelly
+till finally Shelby's deep voice cried:
+
+"Halt, cabby!" Then dismounting he opened the cab door, took Helen by
+the arm and shook her soundly, then thundered:
+
+"If you was a boy I'd yank you out o' that cab and whale you well, for
+that's what you rate. Since you're a fool-girl I can't. Now stop that
+hullabaloo instanter. We'll get you back to the school and nobody'll
+know a thing if you keep your senses. Nelly here ain't anxious to have
+that school and her friends figurin' in the newspapers. Now you mind
+what I'm tellin' you. I've stood for all the nonsense I'm going to, and
+I promise to get you home without you're being missed, but if you let
+out another peep I'll march you straight to the Admiral's office, and
+don't you doubt my word for a single minute." Then Shelby remounted
+Shashai, and leading Star, the odd procession started back, Shelby
+cudgeling his brain to devise a way of getting the romantic maiden in as
+secretly as he had promised. He need not have worried about that. The
+inmates of Columbia Heights were meantime having lively experiences of
+their own.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+A SEND-OFF WITH FIREWORKS
+
+
+When Lily Pearl fled from Stella's room leaving the overturned fairy
+lamp to bring about the climax of that evening, her one thought was to
+get to bed, and hardly had she tumbled into it than sleep brought
+oblivion of all else. Lily Pearl was a somnolent soul in many senses.
+
+Mrs. Vincent was busy in her study at the other end of the house. Miss
+Sturgis was dining with friends. Fräulein, who was a romantic creature,
+was seated under a huge copper beech tree entertaining a Herr Professor
+straight from the Vaterland. The other teachers were either out or in
+their rooms in other parts of the building, and the servants had drifted
+out through the rear grounds. Consequently, the fairy lamp had things
+pretty much its own way and it embraced its opportunity.
+
+What prompted Polly to go upstairs just at that crisis she could never
+have told, but she did, and a second later Peggy followed her. The
+moment the girls reached their corridor the odor of smoke assailed
+their nostrils. For an instant they stopped and looked at each other,
+then Peggy cried:
+
+"Polly, something's afire. Quick, the bugle call!" Polly bounded forward
+and, as upon another occasion back in Montgentian she had roused the
+neighborhood and saved the situation, now she sounded her bugle call,
+but this time it was "fire call," not "warning." Clear, high and sharp
+the notes rang through the house. Mrs. Vincent down in her study sprang
+to her feet. The teachers rushed to their posts, the girls ran in from
+the terrace. Well for Columbia Heights School that Polly had taught them
+the different calls and that she and Peggy had begged Mrs. Vincent to
+let the girls learn the fire drill as the boys in Bancroft did it.
+
+Not far off was a fire engine house and the members of the company had
+more than once come to see the two girls put their schoolmates through
+their drill. It was all a grand frolic then, for none believed it would
+ever be put to practical use. But the fire chief had nodded wisely and
+said to Mrs. Vincent:
+
+"Those two young girls have long heads. It may all be a pretty show-down
+now, but some day you may find it come in handy."
+
+It came in very handy this time. In two minutes an alarm was turned in
+and the engines were tearing toward Columbia Heights. The girls had
+rushed to their rooms, scrambled what they could into blankets, and ran
+downstairs with their burdens. At least many of them had. All the fire
+drills in the world will not keep some people's heads upon their
+shoulders in a crisis.
+
+Roused from sleep by the bugle, Lily Pearl, uttering shriek upon shriek,
+plunged her feet into a pair of pink satin slippers newly bought for
+commencement, caught up and pinned upon her head the new hat, of which
+Rosalie had said: "Well, of all the lids! Lily, did the milliner put the
+trimming on the box and forget to send home the hat?" Then grabbing her
+fur coat from the closet she ran screaming down to the lawn, certainly
+somewhat promiscuous as to raiment, for her nightie was an airy affair
+and she carried her coat over her arm.
+
+But the stately Juno was one of the most amusing objects. She carefully
+put on a pair of evening gloves and took a lace pocket handkerchief from
+her bureau drawer. That was all she even attempted to save.
+
+It was well for the school that Polly and Peggy had kept their wits. All
+were soon out of the building and the firemen battling bravely to
+confine the fire to the west wing, but poor Stella's room was surely
+doomed, for what smoke and flames might possibly spare water would
+certainly ruin.
+
+In the midst of the uproar Shelby, Bolivar, Nelly and Helen came upon
+the scene.
+
+"Good Lord Almighty! Look out for the girls, Bolivar. Guess they'll have
+no trouble gettin' in unnoticed now," cried Shelby, and sent Shashai
+speeding to the stables.
+
+Bolivar paused only long enough to hand cabby a ten-dollar bill and cry:
+
+"Clear out quick and keep your mouth shut too!" Then he hurried the
+terrified girls to the lawn where dozens of other girls were huddled,
+and nobody asked any questions about the suitcase. Nor did anyone think
+to ask how Bolivar and Shelby happened to be there when they were
+supposed to be miles away. Many details were quite overlooked that
+night, which was a fortunate circumstance for Miss Helen Doolittle, and
+her hard-hit midshipman, who had "frenched" out of Bancroft not only
+with mamma's knowledge, but with her coöperation. To have formed an
+alliance with Foxy Grandpa's niece and clinched that end of the scheme
+of things would have been one step in the direction of securing an ample
+income, and once that lover's knot was tied, Helen was to be whisked
+back to the school and the secret kept. Mamma was at the Willard waiting
+for "those darling children" to come, and when, much later than he was
+expected, "dear Paul" arrived alone and in a greatly perturbed state of
+mind, mother and son had considerable food for thought until the
+midnight car carried them back to Annapolis, where Paul "clomb" the wall
+at the water's edge and "snoke" into quarters (in Bancroft's vernacular)
+in the wee, sma' hours, a weary, disgusted and unamiable youth. Perhaps
+had he suspected what was happening back at Columbia Heights his prompt
+oblivion in slumber would not have taken place, though Paul was a
+philosopher in his way. Helen was with friends and "she'd knock off
+crying when she found she had to; all girls did." Selah!
+
+But during all this time things had not been moving so tranquilly at
+Columbia Heights. Given over a hundred girls, and a seething furnace of
+a building in which the belongings of a good many of them were being
+rapidly reduced to ashes, for the whole west wing was certainly doomed,
+and one is likely to witness some stirring scenes. The firemen worked
+like gnomes in the murk and smoke, and Shelby and Bolivar seemed to be
+everywhere, saving everything possible to save, with many willing hands
+from the neighborhood to help them. And some funny enough rescues were
+made. Sofa pillows were carried tenderly down two flights of stairs and
+deposited in places of safety upon the lawn by some conscientious
+mortal, while his co-worker heaved valuable cut glass from a third-story
+window, or pitched one of the girls' writing desks into the upstretched
+arms of a twelve-year-old boy who happened to stand beneath.
+
+Mrs. Vincent was everywhere at once, keeping her girls from harm's way,
+and the other teachers kept their heads and coöperated with her. At
+least all but one did, and she was the one upon whom Mrs. Vincent would
+have counted most surely. When the fire was raging most fiercely Miss
+Sturgis returned from her visit and a moment later rushed away from the
+group of girls supposed to be under her especial charge, and disappeared
+within the house in spite of the firemen's orders that all should stand
+clear. The girls screamed and called after her but their voices were
+drowned in the uproar, and none knew that the incentive which spurred
+the half-frantic woman on was the photograph of the professor with whom
+she had gone automobiling the day of the fly-paper episode. Poor Miss
+Sturgis. Her first and only hint of a romance came pretty near proving
+her last.
+
+Straight to her room in the west wing she rushed, stumbling over hose
+lines, battling against the stifling clouds of smoke which rolled down
+the corridor. The room was gained, the picture secured, and she turned
+to make good her escape, all other valuables forgotten. But even in that
+brief moment the smoke had become overpowering. Her room was dense. For
+a moment she sought for the door, growing more and more confused and
+stifled, then with a despairing moan she fell senseless. Luckily the
+flames were eating their relentless way in the other direction, the
+firemen fighting them inch by inch until they felt that they were
+winning the battle.
+
+Meantime, down upon the lawn, the girls had found Mrs. Vincent and told
+her of Miss Sturgis' folly. She was beside herself with alarm. Men were
+sent in every direction to find her, but none for a moment suspected her
+of the utter fool-hardiness of returning to her own room in the blazing
+wing. But there was one person who did think of that possibility and she
+quickly imparted her fears to one other.
+
+"She never would," cried Polly.
+
+"She had something there she wanted to save. I don't know what, but she
+was so excited that she acted just like a crazy person, wringing her
+hands and crying just before she ran back; I saw her go. Wait! Tzaritza,
+find Miss Sturgis," said Peggy into the ears of the splendid hound who
+had never for a single moment left her side, and who had more than once
+caught hold of her skirts to draw her backward when a sudden volume of
+smoke or sparks shot upward.
+
+For a moment the noble beast hesitated. Little had Miss Sturgis ever
+done to win Tzaritza's love and in her dog mind duty lay here. But the
+dear mistress' voice repeated the order and with a low bark of
+intelligence Tzaritza tore away into the burning building.
+
+"Oh, call her back! Call her back! She will be burned to death" cried a
+dozen voices. Polly dropped upon the lawn and began to sob as though her
+heart would break. Peggy never moved, but with hands clinched, lips set
+and the look in her eyes of one who has sacrificed something
+inexpressibly dear she stood listening and waiting. When she felt most
+deeply Peggy became absolutely dumb.
+
+Those minutes seemed like hours, then through an upper window giving on
+the piazza roof scrambled a singed, smoke-begrimed, and uncanny figure,
+dragging, tugging, and hauling with her a limp, unconscious woman. She
+made the sill, hauled her burden over to safety, then lifting it bodily
+carried it to the roof's edge, where putting it carefully beyond the
+volume of smoke now pouring from the window, she threw up her head and
+emitted howl upon howl for aid.
+
+It was Shelby who heard and recognized that deep bay, who rushed with a
+ladder to the spot, and scrambling up like a monkey, caught up Miss
+Sturgis' seemingly lifeless form and carried her down the ladder, where
+a dozen willing hands waited to receive her, while Tzaritza's barks
+testified to her joy. Then back Shelby fled for the faithful creature,
+but just as he reached the roof a sheet of flame darted out of the
+window and enveloped her. In a second the exquisite silky coat was
+a-blaze, and poor Tzaritza's joyous barks became cries of agony.
+
+"Quick, somebody down there hand me one of those blankets!" shouted
+Shelby.
+
+Ere the words had left his lips a little figure scrambled up the ladder,
+a blanket in her arms. Polly had seen all and had not waited for orders.
+Gym work back in Annapolis stood in good stead at that moment. Shelby
+flung the blanket about Tzaritza's sizzling fur, smothered out the
+flame, then by some herculean mustering of strength, caught the huge dog
+in his arms and crawled step by step down the ladder from which Polly
+had quickly scrambled. A dozen hands lent aid and poor burned Tzaritza
+was carried to the stables, Peggy and Polly close beside her. Others
+could now care for Miss Sturgis, who, indeed, was little the worse for
+her folly, while Tzaritza, the lovely coat quite gone, was moaning from
+her burns.
+
+"Hear, Jim, you stay here and don't you leave Miss Peggy or that dog for
+a minute. Now mind what I tell you," he ordered.
+
+Peggy knew exactly what to do. It was the Peggy Stewart of Severndale
+who worked over the suffering dog, bandaging, bathing, soothing, and
+Tzaritza's eyes spoke her gratitude.
+
+Several of the girls ran out to offer help or sympathy, and their tears
+testified to their love for Tzaritza.
+
+It was dawn before the excitement subsided, and the firemen had
+withdrawn, leaving one on guard against the possibility of a fresh
+outbreak. And that west wing and its contents? Well, let us draw a
+curtain, heavier even than the smoke which, so lately poured from it.
+Some things were saved--yes--but the commencement gowns, essays, and all
+which figures in Commencement Day were fluttering about in little black
+flakes. There would be no Commencement for Columbia Heights School this
+year!
+
+A telephone message brought Mrs. Harold and Mrs. Howland upon the scene
+before many hours, as well as a good many other interested parents.
+True, a large insurance covered most of the valuables and the building
+also, but a house after such a catastrophe is hardly prepared to hold a
+function, so it was unanimously agreed that the girls should all go
+quietly away as quickly as those whose belongings had been saved could
+pack them.
+
+Mrs. Harold and Mrs. Howland remained over night and on the
+twenty-fourth instead of the twenty-eighth escorted a nondescript sort
+of party up to Severndale, for wearing apparel had to be
+indiscriminately borrowed and lent.
+
+Helen's anxious mamma took her to Philadelphia, where June week's joys
+were not. Lily Pearl's parents wired her to come home at once, and Lily
+departed for the south-land, June week's joys lamented also. Stella's
+father came in instant response to her telegram and though the one to
+suffer the heaviest losses, made light of them and asked Stella if she
+couldn't tear herself from Columbia Heights without such an expensive
+celebration.
+
+_Is_-a-bel, who had really lost very little, was inconsolable because
+her "essay," to be read at Commencement, had been burned up, and
+departed for the Hub, still lugubrious.
+
+Mrs. Vincent asked Shelby to remain a few days longer, which he
+willingly did. Bolivar had gone on to look up Junius and his charges as
+soon as he could leave the school.
+
+Peggy insisted upon Mrs. Vincent coming to Severndale for the month when
+it was finally agreed that the earlier plans should hold, Juno and
+Natalie extending their visit. So back went the merry party to Annapolis
+to participate in all the delights of June week, and all which can crowd
+into it.
+
+So ho! for Severndale! Tzaritza conveyed there an interesting, though
+shorn convalescent, the horses seeming to sniff Round Bay from afar,
+Polly wild to see her old friends, and Peggy eager to greet those who
+were so much a part of her life in her lovely home. And Nelly? Well, no
+one has ever learned of her night ride, though Helen's peace of mind is
+not quite complete.
+
+
+
+Printed in the United States of America.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEGGY STEWART AT SCHOOL***
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+<title>The Project Gutenberg eBook of Peggy Stewart at School, by Gabrielle E. Jackson</title>
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+<h1>The Project Gutenberg eBook, Peggy Stewart at School, by Gabrielle E.
+Jackson</h1>
+<pre>
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at <a href = "http://www.gutenberg.org">www.gutenberg.org</a></pre>
+<p>Title: Peggy Stewart at School</p>
+<p>Author: Gabrielle E. Jackson</p>
+<p>Release Date: July 20, 2007  [eBook #22113]</p>
+<p>Language: English</p>
+<p>Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1</p>
+<p>***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEGGY STEWART AT SCHOOL***</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3 class="pg">E-text prepared by Roger Frank<br />
+    and the Project Gutenberg Online Distributed Proofreading Team<br />
+    (http://www.pgdp.net)</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<table style="margin: auto; width: 400px;" summary=""><tr><td>
+<p class="titlepage" style="font-size: 200%; margin-top:30px; margin-bottom:10px">PEGGY STEWART</p>
+<p class="titlepage" style="font-size: 180%; margin-bottom:30px;">AT SCHOOL</p>
+<p class="titlepage" style="font-size: 100%; ">BY</p>
+<p class="titlepage" style="font-size: 130%; margin-bottom:20px;">GABRIELLE E. JACKSON</p>
+<p class="titlepage" style="font-size: 80%; ">AUTHOR OF "PEGGY STEWART AT HOME," "SILVER</p>
+<p class="titlepage" style="font-size: 80%; ">HEELS," "THREE GRACES SERIES, "CAPT.</p>
+<p class="titlepage" style="font-size: 80%; margin-bottom:60px;">POLLY" SERIES, ETC.</p>
+<div style='text-align: center'>
+  <img alt='emblem' src='images/illus-tpg.jpg' />
+</div>
+</td></tr></table>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<p style='text-align:center; font-size:100%; margin-top:20px; margin-bottom:20px;'>Copyright, 1918 by Barse &amp; Hopkins</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<h2 class="toc"><a name="Contents" id="Contents"></a>Contents</h2>
+<table border="0" width="500" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto">
+<col style="width:15%;" />
+<col style="width:5%;"  />
+<col style="width:70%;" />
+<col style="width:10%;" />
+<tr>
+  <td align="right"><span style='font-size:70%'>CHAPTER</span></td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="right"><span style='font-size:70%'>PAGE</span></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">I</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">THE BAROMETER FALLING</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#THE_BAROMETER_FALLING_94">1</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">II</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">RECONSTRUCTION</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#RECONSTRUCTION_411">16</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">III</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">HOSTILITIES SUSPENDED</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#HOSTILITIES_SUSPENDED_768">32</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">IV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">HOSTILITIES RESUMED</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#HOSTILITIES_RESUMED_1161">48</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">V</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">RUCTIONS!</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#RUCTIONS_1538">64</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A NEW ORDER OF THINGS</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_NEW_ORDER_OF_THINGS_1920">81</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#COLUMBIA_HEIGHTS_SCHOOL_2289">97</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">VIII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A RIDING LESSON</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_RIDING_LESSON_2676">114</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">IX</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">COMMON SENSE AND HORSE SENSE</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#COMMON_SENSE_AND_HORSE_SENSE_3055">131</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">X</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">TZARITZA AS DISCIPLINARIAN</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#TZARITZA_AS_DISCIPLINARIAN_3478">149</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">BEHIND SCENES</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#BEHIND_SCENES_3922">167</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">CHRISTMAS AT SEVERNDALE</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#CHRISTMAS_AT_SEVERNDALE_4342">184</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XIII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">YULETIDE</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#YULETIDE_4794">202</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XIV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">AT SEVERNDALE</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#AT_SEVERNDALE_5244">221</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XV</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">IN SPRING TERM</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#IN_SPRING_TERM_5646">239</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XVI</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A MIDNIGHT SENSATION</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_MIDNIGHT_SENSATION_6037">256</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr>
+  <td align="right">XVII</td>
+  <td></td>
+  <td align="left">A SEND-OFF WITH FIREWORKS</td>
+  <td align="right"><a href="#A_SENDOFF_WITH_FIREWORKS_6469">274</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_1" id="page_1" title="1"></a>
+<a name="THE_BAROMETER_FALLING_94" id="THE_BAROMETER_FALLING_94"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER I</h2>
+<h3>THE BAROMETER FALLING</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The September morning was warmer and more enervating than September
+mornings in Maryland usually are, though the month is generally conceded
+to be a trying one. Even at beautiful Severndale where, if at any point
+along the river, a refreshing breeze could almost always be counted
+upon, the air seemed heavy and lifeless, as though the intense heat of
+the summer had taken from it every particle of its revivifying
+qualities.</p>
+
+<p>In the pretty breakfast room the long French windows, giving upon the
+broad piazza, stood wide open; the leaves upon the great beeches and
+maples which graced the extensive lawn beyond, hung limp and motionless;
+the sunlight even at that early hour beat scorchingly upon the dry
+grass, for there had been little rain during August and the vegetation
+had suffered severely; every growing thing was coated like a dusty
+miller. But within doors all looked most inviting. The room was
+scrupulous; its appointments indicated refined taste and constant<a class="pagenum" name="page_2" id="page_2" title="2"></a> care;
+the breakfast table, laid for two, was dainty and faultless in its
+appointments; our old friend, Jerome, moved about noiselessly, giving
+last lingering touches, lest any trifle be omitted which might add to
+the comfort and sense of harmony which seemed so much a part of his
+young mistress's life. As he straightened a fruit knife here, or set
+right a fold of the snowy breakfast cloth, he kept up a low-murmured
+monologue after the manner of his race. Very little escaped old Jerome's
+sharp eyes and keen ears, and within the past forty-eight hours they had
+found plenty to see or hear, for a guest had come to Severndale. Yes, a
+most unusual type of guest, too. As a rule Severndale's guests brought
+unalloyed pleasure to its young hostess and her servants, or to her
+sailor father if he happened to be enjoying one of his rare leaves, for
+Captain Stewart had been on sea-duty for many successive years,
+preferring it to land duty since his wife's death when Peggy, his only
+child, was but six years of age. Severndale had held only sad memories
+for him since that day, nearly ten years ago, in spite of the little
+girl growing up there, cared for by the old housekeeper and the
+servants, some of whom had been on the estate as long as Neil Stewart
+could remember.</p>
+
+<p>But nine years had slipped away since<a class="pagenum" name="page_3" id="page_3" title="3"></a> Peggy's mother's death, and the
+little child had changed into a very lovely young girl, with whom the
+father was in reality just becoming acquainted. He had spent more time
+with her during the year just passed than he had ever spent in any one
+of the preceding nine years, and those weeks had held many startling
+revelations for him. When he left her to resume command of his ship, his
+mind was in a more or less chaotic state trying to grasp an entirely new
+order of things, for this time he was leaving behind him a young lady of
+fifteen who, so it seemed to the perplexed man, had jumped over at least
+five years as easily as an athlete springs across a hurdle, leaving the
+little girl upon the other side forever. When Neil Stewart awakened to
+this fact he was first dazed, and then overwhelmed by the sense of his
+obligations overlooked for so long, and, being possessed of a lively
+sense of duty, he strove to correct the oversight.</p>
+
+<p>Had he not been in such deadly earnest his efforts to make reparation
+for what he considered his inexcusable short-sightedness and neglect,
+would have been funny, for, like most men when confronted by some
+problem involving femininity, he was utterly at a loss how to set about
+"his job" as he termed it.</p>
+
+<p>As a matter of fact, a kind fate had taken<a class="pagenum" name="page_4" id="page_4" title="4"></a> "his job" in hand for him
+some time before, and was in a fair way to turn out a pretty good one
+too. But Neil Stewart made up his mind to boost Old Lady Fate along a
+little, and his attempts at so doing came pretty near upsetting her
+equilibrium; she was not inclined to be hustled, and Neil Stewart was
+nothing if not a hustler, once he got under way.</p>
+
+<p>And so, alack! by one little move he completely changed Peggy's future
+and for a time rendered the present a veritable storm center, as will be
+seen.</p>
+
+<p>But we will let events tell their own story.</p>
+
+<p>Old Jerome moved about the sunny breakfast-room; at least it would have
+been sunny had not soft-tinted awnings and East-Indian screens, shut out
+the sun's glare and suffused the room in a restful coolness and calm, in
+marked contrast to the vivid light beyond the windows.</p>
+
+<p>Jerome himself was refreshing to look upon. The old colored man was
+quite seventy years of age, but still an erect and dignified major-domo.
+From his white, wool-fringed old head, to the toes of his white canvas
+shoes, he was immaculate. No linen could have been more faultlessly
+laundered than Jerome's; no serviette more neatly folded. All was in
+harmony excepting the old man's face; that was troubled.<a class="pagenum" name="page_5" id="page_5" title="5"></a> A perplexed
+pucker contracted his forehead as he spoke softly to himself.</p>
+
+<p>"'Taint going to do <i>no</i> how! It sure ain't. She ain't got de right
+bran', no she ain't, and yo' cyant mate up no common stock wid a
+tho'oughbred and git any sort of a span. No siree, yo' cyant. My Lawd,
+what done possess Massa Neil fer ter 'vite her down hyer? <i>She</i> cyant
+'struct an' guide <i>our</i> yo'ng mist'ess. Sho! She ain' know de very fust
+<i>rudimints</i> ob de qualities' ways an' doin's. Miss Peggy could show her
+mo' in five minutes dan she ever is know in five years. She ain't,&mdash;she
+ain't,&mdash;well I ain't jist 'zackly know how I'se gwine speechify it, but
+she ain't like <i>we</i> all," and Jerome wagged his head in deprecation and
+forced his tongue against his teeth in a sound indicating annoyance and
+distaste, as he moved his mistress' chair a trifle.</p>
+
+<p>Just then Mammy Lucy stuck her white-turbaned head in at the door to
+ask:</p>
+
+<p>"Whar dat chile at? Ain't she done come in fer her breckfus yit? It's
+nine o'clock and Sis Cynthia's a-stewin' an' a steamin' like her own
+taters."</p>
+
+<p>"She say she wait fer her aunt, an' her aunt say she cyant breckfus
+befo' half-pas' nine, no how," answered Jerome.</p>
+
+<p>"Huh, huh! An' ma chile gotter wait a hull<a class="pagenum" name="page_6" id="page_6" title="6"></a> hour pas' her breckfus time
+jist kase Madam Fussa-ma-fiddle ain't choose fer ter git up? I bait yo'
+she git up when she ter home, and I bait yo' she ain't gitting somebody
+ter dress her, an' wait on her han' an' foot like Mandy done been
+a-doin' sense yistiddy; ner she ain' been keepin' better folks a-waiting
+fer dey meals. I'se pintedly put out wid de way things is been gwine in
+dis hyer 'stablishmint fer de past two days, an' 's fur 's <i>I</i> kin see
+dey ain' gwine mend none neider. No, not fer a considerbul spell lessen
+we has one grand, hifalutin' tornader. Yo' hyar me!"</p>
+
+<p>"I sho' does hyar yo' Mis' Lucy, an' I sho' 'grees wid yo' ter de very
+top notch. Dere's gwine ter be de very dibble&mdash;'scuse me please, ma'am,
+'scuse me, but ma feelin's done got de better of ma breedin'&mdash;ter pay ef
+things go on as dey've begun since de Madam&mdash;<i>an' dat dawg</i>&mdash;invest
+deyselves 'pon Severndale. But yonder comin' our yo'ng mistiss," he
+concluded as a clear, sweet voice was heard singing just beyond the
+windows, and quick decisive footsteps came across the broad piazza, and
+Peggy Stewart, only daughter and heiress of beautiful "Severndale,"
+entered the room. By her side Tzaritza, her snowy Russian wolfhound,
+paced with stately mien; a thoroughbred pair indeed.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Jerome, I am just starved. That breakfast<a class="pagenum" name="page_7" id="page_7" title="7"></a> table is irresistible.
+Mammy, is Aunt Katherine ready?"</p>
+
+<p>"I make haste fer ter inquire, baby," answered the old nurse, hurrying
+from the room.</p>
+
+<p>"I trus' she is," was Jerome's comment, adding: "Sis Cynthia done make
+de sallylun jist ter de perfection pint, an' she know dat pint too."</p>
+
+<p>Peggy made no comment upon the implied reproach of her guest's
+tardiness, but crossing the room to a big chair, whither Tzaritza had
+already preceded her to rub noses with a magnificent white Persian cat,
+she stooped to stroke Sultana, who graciously condescended to purr and
+nestle her beautiful head against Peggy's hand. Sultana had only been a
+member of the Severndale household since July, Mr. Harold having sent
+her to Peggy as "a semi-annual birthday gift," he said. She had adapted
+herself to her new surroundings with unusual promptitude and been
+adopted by the other four-footed members of the estate as "a friend and
+equal." The trio formed a picturesque group as they stood there.</p>
+
+<p>The dark-haired, dark-eyed young girl of fifteen, with her rich, clear
+coloring, her cheeks softly tinted from her brisk walk in the morning
+sunshine was very lovely. She wore a white duck skirt, a soft nainsook
+blouse open at the<a class="pagenum" name="page_8" id="page_8" title="8"></a> throat, the sailor collar knotted with a red silk
+scarf. Her heavy braids were coiled about her shapely head and held in
+place with large shell pins, soft little locks curling about her
+forehead.</p>
+
+<p>The past year had wrought wonderful changes in Peggy Stewart. The little
+girl had vanished forever, giving place to the charming young girl
+nearing her sixteenth milestone. The contact with the outer world which
+the past three months had given, when she had made so many new friends
+and seen so much of the service and social world, had done a great deal
+towards developing her. Always exceptionally well poised and sure of
+herself, the summer at Navy Bungalow in New London, at Newport, Boston,
+and at other points at which the summer practice Squadron had touched,
+had broadened her outlook, and helped her gauge things from a different
+and wider viewpoint than Severndale or Annapolis afforded. Though
+entirely unaware of the fact, Peggy had few rivals in the world of young
+girls.</p>
+
+<p>Presently a step sounded upon the polished floor of the broad hall and
+Mrs. Peyton Stewart, Peggy's aunt by marriage, stood in the doorway.
+Under one arm she carried her French poodle. Stooping she placed it upon
+the floor with the care which suggested a degree of<a class="pagenum" name="page_9" id="page_9" title="9"></a> fragility entirely
+belied by the bad-tempered little beast's first move, for as Peggy
+advanced with extended hand to greet her aunt, Toinette made a wild dash
+for the Persian cat, which onset was met by one dignified slap of the
+Sultana's paw, which left its red imprint upon the poodle's nose and
+promptly toppled the pampered thing heels-over-head. Tzaritza stood
+watching the entire procedure with dignified surprise, and when the
+yelping little beast rolled to her feet, she calmly gathered her into
+her huge jaws and stalking across the room held her up to Peggy, as
+though asking:</p>
+
+<p>"What shall I do with this bad-mannered bit of dogdom? Turn her over to
+your discipline, or crush her with one snap of my jaws?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh you horrible, savage beast! You great brute! Drop her! Drop her!
+Drop her instantly! My precious Toinette. My darling!" shrieked
+Toinette's doting mistress. "Peggy, how <i>can</i> you have such a savage
+creature near you? She has crushed every bone in my pet's body. Go away!
+Go away!"</p>
+
+<p>The scorn in Tzaritza's eyes was almost human. With a low growl, she
+dropped the thoroughly cowed poodle at Peggy's feet and then turned and
+stalked from the room, the very picture of scornful dignity. Mrs.
+Stewart snatched the poodle to her breast. There was<a class="pagenum" name="page_10" id="page_10" title="10"></a> not a scratch upon
+it save the one inflicted by Sultana, and richly deserved, as the tuft
+of the handsome cat's fur lying upon the floor testified.</p>
+
+<p>"I hardly think you will find her injured, Aunt Katherine. Tzaritza
+never harms any creature smaller than herself unless bidden to. She
+brought Toinette here as much for the little dog's protection as for
+Sultana's."</p>
+
+<p>"Sultana's! As though she needed protection from <i>this</i> fairy creature.
+Horrible, vicious cat! Look at poor Toinette's nose."</p>
+
+<p>"And at poor Sultana's fur," added Peggy, pointing to the tuft upon the
+floor and slightly shrugging her shoulders.</p>
+
+<p>"She deserved it for scratching Toinette's nose."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid the scratch was the second move in the onslaught."</p>
+
+<p>"We will not argue the point, but in future keep that great hound
+outside of the house, and the cat elsewhere than in the dining-room, I
+beg of you&mdash;I can't have Toinette's life endangered, or my nerves
+shocked in this manner again."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment Peggy looked at her aunt in amazement. Keep Tzaritza out of
+the house and relegate the Sultana to the servant's quarters? What had
+become of the lady of smiles<a class="pagenum" name="page_11" id="page_11" title="11"></a> and compliments whom she had known at New
+London, and who had been at such infinite pains to ingratiate herself
+with Neil Stewart that she had been invited to spend September at
+Severndale? And, little as Peggy suspected it, with the full
+determination of spending the remainder of her days there could she
+contrive to do so. Madam Stewart had blocked out her campaign most
+completely, only "the best laid plans," etc., and Madam had quite
+forgotten to take Mrs. Glenn Harold, Peggy's stanchest champion and
+ally, into consideration. Mrs. Harold had been Peggy's "guide,
+philosopher and friend" for one round year, and Mrs. Harold's niece,
+Polly Howland, was Peggy's chum and crony.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart felt a peculiar sensation pass over her as she met the
+girl's clear, steady gaze. Very much the sensation that one experiences
+upon looking into a clear pool whose depth it is impossible to guess
+from merely looking, though one feels instinctively that it is much
+deeper, and may prove more dangerous than a casual glance would lead one
+to believe. Peggy's reply was:</p>
+
+<p>"Of course if you wish it, Aunt Katherine, Tzaritza shall not come into
+the house during your visit here. I do not wish you to be annoyed, but
+on the contrary, quite happy, and,<a class="pagenum" name="page_12" id="page_12" title="12"></a> Jerome, please see that Sultana is
+taken to Mammy, and ask her to keep her in her quarters while Mrs.
+Stewart remains at Severndale. Are you ready for your breakfast, Aunt
+Katherine?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quite ready," answered Mrs. Stewart, taking her seat at the table.
+Peggy waited until she had settled herself with the injured poodle in
+her lap, then took her own seat. Jerome had summoned one of the maids
+and given Sultana into her charge, while Tzaritza was bidden "Guard"
+upon the piazza. Never in all her royal life had Tzaritza been elsewhere
+than upon the rug before the fireplace while her mistress' breakfast was
+being served, and it seemed as though the splendid wolfhound, with a
+pedigree unrivalled in the world, stood as the very incarnation of
+outraged dignity, and a protest against insult. Perhaps some vague sense
+of having overstepped the bounds of good judgment, if not good breeding,
+was beginning to impress itself upon Mrs. Peyton Stewart. Certainly she
+had not so thoroughly ingratiated herself in the favor of her niece, or
+her niece's friends during that visit in New London the previous summer,
+as to feel entirely sure of a cordial welcome at Severndale, and to make
+a false start at the very outset of her carefully formed plans was a far
+cry from diplomatic,<a class="pagenum" name="page_13" id="page_13" title="13"></a> to say the least. During those weeks at New
+London, when a kind fate had brought her again in touch with her
+brother-in-law after so many years, Mrs. Stewart had done a vast deal of
+thinking and planning. There was beautiful Severndale without a mistress
+excepting Peggy, a mere child, who, in Madam's estimation, did not
+count. Neil Stewart was a widower in the very prime of life and, from
+all Madam had observed, sorely in need of someone to look after him and
+keep him from making some foolish marriage which might end in&mdash;well, in
+<i>not</i> keeping Severndale in the family; "the family" being strongly in
+evidence in Mrs. Peyton. Her first step had been to secure an invitation
+to visit there. That done, the next was to remain there indefinitely
+once she arrived upon the scene. To do this she must make herself not
+only desirable but indispensable.</p>
+
+<p>Certainly, the preceding two days had not promised much for the
+fulfillment of her plan. So being by no means a fool, but on the
+contrary, a very clever woman in her own peculiar line of cleverness,
+she at once set about dispelling the cloud which hung over the horizon,
+congratulating herself that she had had sufficient experience to know
+how to deal with a girl of Peggy's age. So to that end she now smiled
+sweetly upon her niece and remarked:<a class="pagenum" name="page_14" id="page_14" title="14"></a></p>
+
+<p>"I am afraid, dear, I almost lost control of myself. I am so attached to
+Toinette that I am quite overcome if any harm threatens her. You know
+she has been my inseparable companion in my loneliness, and when one is
+so utterly desolate as I have been for so many years even the devotion
+of a dumb animal is valued. I have been very, very lonely since your
+uncle's death, Peggy, dear, and you can hardly understand what a
+paradise seems opening to me in this month to be spent with you. I know
+we are going to be everything to each other, and I am sure I can relieve
+you of a thousand burdens which must be a great tax upon a girl of your
+years. I do not see <i>how</i> you have carried them so wonderfully, or why
+you are not old before your time. It has been most unnatural. But now we
+must change all that. Young people were not born to assume heavy
+responsibilities, whereas older ones accept them as a matter of course.
+And that's just what <i>I</i> have come way down here to try to do for my
+sweet niece," ended Mrs. Stewart smiling with would-be fascinating
+coyness. The smile would have been somewhat less complacent could she
+have heard old Jerome's comment as he placed upon the pantry shelf the
+fingerbowls which he had just removed from the table.<a class="pagenum" name="page_15" id="page_15" title="15"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Yas, yas, dat's it. Yo' needn't 'nounce it. We knows pintedly what yo's
+aimin' ter do, an' may de Lawd have mussy 'pon us if yo' <i>suc</i>ceeds. But
+dere's shorely gwine be ructions 'fore yo' does, er my name ain't Jerome
+Randolph Lee Stewart."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_16" id="page_16" title="16"></a>
+<a name="RECONSTRUCTION_411" id="RECONSTRUCTION_411"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER II</h2>
+<h3>RECONSTRUCTION</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"I have to ride into Annapolis, this morning, Aunt Katherine. Would you
+like to drive in?" asked Peggy, when the unpleasant breakfast was ended.</p>
+
+<p>"I should be delighted to, dear," answered Mrs. Stewart sweetly,
+striving to recover lost ground, for she felt that a good bit had been
+lost. "At what time do you start?"</p>
+
+<p>"Immediately. I will order the surrey."</p>
+
+<p>She left the room, her aunt's eyes following her with a half-mystified,
+half-baffled expression: Was the girl deeper than she had given her
+credit for being? Had she miscalculated the depth of the pool after all?</p>
+
+<p>All through the breakfast hour Peggy had been a sweet and gracious young
+hostess, anticipating every want, looking to every detail of the
+service, ordering with a degree of self-possession which secretly
+astonished Mrs. Stewart, who felt that it would have been difficult for
+her, even with her advantage of years, to have equaled the girl's
+unassuming self-assurance<a class="pagenum" name="page_17" id="page_17" title="17"></a> and dignity, or have rivaled her perfect
+ability to sit at the head of her father's table. A moment later Mrs.
+Stewart went to her room to dress for the drive into town, her breakfast
+toilet having been a most elaborate silk negligee. Twenty minutes later
+the surrey stood at the door, but, contrary to Mrs. Stewart's
+expectations, her niece was not in it: she was mounted upon her
+beautiful black horse Shashai, at whose feet Tzaritza lay, her nose
+between her paws, but her ears a-quiver for the very first note of the
+low whistle which meant, "full speed ahead." On either side of Shashai,
+a superb bodyguard, stood Silver Star, Polly Howland's saddle horse,
+though he was still quartered at Severndale, and Roy, the colt that
+Peggy had raised from tiny babyhood, and which had followed her as he
+would have followed his dam, ever since the accident that had made him
+an orphan.</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps the reader of "Peggy Stewart" will recall Mrs. Stewart's horror
+upon being met at the railway station by "the wild West show," as she
+stigmatized her niece's riding and her horses, for rarely did Peggy
+Stewart ride unless accompanied by her two beautiful horses and the
+wolfhound, and her riding was a source of marvel to more than one, her
+instructor having been Shelby, the veteran horse-trainer, who had<a class="pagenum" name="page_18" id="page_18" title="18"></a> been
+employed at Severndale ever since Peggy could remember, and whose early
+days had been spent upon a ranch in the far West where a man had to ride
+anything which possessed locomotive powers. At the present moment a more
+appreciative observer would have thrilled at the sight, for rarely is it
+given to mortal eyes to look upon a prettier picture than Peggy Stewart
+and her escort presented at that moment.</p>
+
+<p>Given as a background a beautiful, carefully preserved estate, which for
+generations has been the pride of its owners, a superb old mansion of
+the most perfect colonial type, a sunny September morning, and as the
+figures upon that background a charming young girl in a white linen
+riding-skirt, her rich coloring at its best, her eyes shining, her seat
+in her saddle so perfect that she seemed a part of her mount, and you
+have something to look upon. To this add three thoroughbred horses and a
+snowy dog, an old colored servitor, for Jerome had come out with a
+message from Harrison, and it is a picture to be appreciated. Had the
+tall woman standing upon the broad piazza been able to do so, many
+things which happened later might never have happened at all.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart was elaborately gowned in a costume better suited for a
+drive in Newport<a class="pagenum" name="page_19" id="page_19" title="19"></a> than Annapolis, especially Annapolis in September. It
+was a striking creation of pale blue linen and Irish point lace, with a
+large lace hat, heavy with nodding plumes and a voluminous white lace
+veil floating out about it. She was a handsome woman in a certain
+conspicuous way, and certainly knew how to purchase her apparel, though,
+not above criticism in her selection of the toilet for the occasion, as
+the present instance evinced. She now walked to the piazza steps, and
+had anyone possessing a sense of humor been a witness of it, the
+transformation which passed over the lady's face en transit would have
+well nigh convulsed him, for the smile which had illumined her
+countenance at the door had gradually faded as she advanced until, when
+the steps were reached, it had been transformed into a most disapproving
+frown.</p>
+
+<p>To Peggy the reason was a mystery, for she had not overheard her aunt's
+comments upon the occasion of the drive from the railway station three
+days before. Of course Jess had, and they had been freely circulated and
+keenly resented in the servants' quarters, but no whisper of them had
+been carried to the young mistress. Nevertheless, Peggy was beginning to
+discover that a good many of her actions, and also the order of things
+at Severndale, had brought a cloud to her Aunt's brow, and a little<a class="pagenum" name="page_20" id="page_20" title="20"></a>
+sigh escaped her lips as she wondered what the latest development would
+prove. It seemed so easy for things to go amiss nowadays, when
+heretofore nearly everything had seemed, as a matter of course, to go
+right. Then the self-elected dictator spoke:</p>
+
+<p>"Peggy, dear, are you not to drive with me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, Aunt Katherine, but I always ride, and I have several
+errands to do which I can better attend to if I am mounted."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, it can hardly be necessary for you to have <i>three</i> saddle horses
+at once. It seems to me unnecessarily conspicuous, and in very bad taste
+for a young girl to go tearing about the country, and especially into
+Annapolis&mdash;the capital City of the State&mdash;in the guise of a traveling
+circus."</p>
+
+<p>A slight smile curved Peggy's lips as she answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Annapolis is <i>not</i> New York, Aunt Katherine. What might be out of place
+in such a city would be regarded as a matter of course in a little town
+where everybody knows everybody else, and they all know me, and the
+Severndale horses. Nobody ever gives us a thought. Why should they? I'm
+nothing but a girl riding into town on an errand."</p>
+
+<p>"You are extremely modest, I must say. Is it quite native or well&mdash;we'll
+dismiss the question,<a class="pagenum" name="page_21" id="page_21" title="21"></a> but I must ask you to do me the favor of leaving
+your bodyguard behind today; it may not seem conspicuous for you to play
+in a Wild West Show, but I must decline to be an actor. You are growing
+too old for such mad pranks, and are far too handsome a girl to invite
+observation."</p>
+
+<p>Peggy turned crimson.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Aunt Katherine, I never regarded it as a prank in the least. I
+have ridden this way all my life and no one has ever commented upon it.
+Daddy Neil knows of it&mdash;he has ridden with me hundreds of times
+himself&mdash;and never said one word against it. And you surely do not think
+I do it to invite observation? Why, there isn't anything to <i>observe</i>. I
+am certainly no better looking than hundreds of other girls; at least,
+you are the only one who has ever commented upon my personal appearance.
+But I beg your pardon; you are my guest. I am sorry. Bud, please call
+Shelby to take Star and Roy back; I don't dare trust them to you."</p>
+
+<p>The little negro boy who had brought Shashai to the doorstep, and who
+had been staring popeyed during the conversation, dashed away toward the
+paddock, to rush upon Shelby with a wild tale of "dat lady f'om de norf
+was a-sassin' Missie Peggy jist scan'lous and orderin' Shelby fer to
+come quick ter holp her."<a class="pagenum" name="page_22" id="page_22" title="22"></a></p>
+
+<p>"What you a-talking about, you little fool nigger?" demanded Shelby.
+Then gathering that something was amiss with the little mistress whom
+all upon the estate adored, he hastened to the house, his face somewhat
+troubled, for hints of the doings up there had penetrated even to his
+quarters.</p>
+
+<p>"Shelby, please take Star and Roy back to the paddock and be sure to
+fasten them in."</p>
+
+<p>"Ain't they a-goin' with you, Miss Peggy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not this morning, Shelby."</p>
+
+<p>The man looked from the girl to the lady now settling herself in the
+carriage. Toinette still stood upon the piazza waiting to be lifted up
+to her mistress, too fat and too foolish to even go down the steps
+alone. As Shelby stepped toward the horses Mrs. Stewart waved her hand
+toward the dog and said to him:</p>
+
+<p>"Lift Toinette into the surrey."</p>
+
+<p>Shelby paid no more attention to her than he paid to the quarreling jays
+in the holly trees, and the order was sharply repeated.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, are you a-speakin' to me, ma'am?" he then said.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly. I wish my dog handed to me."</p>
+
+<p>Shelby looked at the pampered poodle and then at its mistress. Then with
+a guileless smile remarked:</p>
+
+<p>"Now you don't sesso? Well, when I git back<a class="pagenum" name="page_23" id="page_23" title="23"></a> to the paddock with these
+here horses what can't go 'long with Miss Peggy, I'll send a little
+nigger boy up here for ter boost your dog up to you, but <i>I</i> tend
+<i>horses</i> on this here place."</p>
+
+<p>The man's dark skin grew several shades darker owing to the blood which
+flooded his cheeks, and his eyes narrowed as he looked for one second
+straight into Mrs. Stewart's. What possessed the woman to antagonize
+everyone with whom she came in touch? Shelby had never laid eyes upon
+her until that moment, but that moment had confirmed his dislike
+conceived from the reports which had come to him. He now went up to the
+horses. Knowing that neither of them had halters on, he had brought two
+with him and now slipped them over his charges' heads, saying as he did
+so:</p>
+
+<p>"You've got to come 'long back with me and keep company manners, do you
+know that, you disrepu'ble gad-abouts? You ain't never had no proper
+eddicatin' an' now it's a-goin' to begin for fa'r. You-all are goin' ter
+be larnt citified manners hot off the bat. So come 'long back to the
+paddock an' git your fust lesson."</p>
+
+<p>The horses toyed and played with him like a couple of children, but went
+pacing away beside him, now and again pulling at his sleeve, poking at
+him with their soft muzzles or mumbling at his cheeks with their velvety
+lips, a pair<a class="pagenum" name="page_24" id="page_24" title="24"></a> of petted, peerless creatures and as beautiful as any God
+had ever created. Now and again they stopped short to neigh a peremptory
+call, as though asking the reason of this surprising conduct.</p>
+
+<p>"Are you ready, Aunt Katherine?" asked Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"As soon as Jerome takes your hound in charge. I don't care to have
+Toinette driven frantic with fear by the sight of her. She will grow so
+excited that I shall be unable to hold her."</p>
+
+<p>Now the past two hours had held a good many annoyances for Peggy Stewart
+to whom annoyances had been almost unknown. Perhaps they constitute the
+discipline of life, but thus far Peggy Stewart had apparently gotten on
+pretty well without any radical chastening processes. Her life had been
+simply, but well, ordered, and her naturally sunny soul had grown sweet
+and wholesome in her little world. If correction had been necessary
+Mammy's loving old heart had known how to order it during Peggy's
+babyhood; Harrison had carefully watched her childhood, and her young
+girlhood had been most beautifully developed by her guardian, good Dr.
+Llewellyn, who loved her as a grand-daughter. Then had come Mrs. Harold,
+who had done so much for the<a class="pagenum" name="page_25" id="page_25" title="25"></a> young girl. Why could it not have gone on?</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps the ordering of Peggy's life had been too smooth to develop the
+best in her character, so Kismet, or whatever it is which shapes the odd
+happenings of our lives, had stepped in to lay a hurdle or two to test
+her ability to meet obstacles. Since seven-thirty that morning she had
+met little else in one form or another, and had taken them rather
+gracefully, all things considered. Her breakfast had been delayed an
+hour; the breakfast itself had been far from the pleasant meal it
+usually proved; she had been needlessly criticised for her habit of
+riding with her beloved horses; and now poor Tzaritza, after being
+banished the house, was to be debarred from following her young
+mistress; something unheard of, since the hound had acted as Peggy's
+protectress ever since she could follow her. The blood flooded into the
+girl's face, as turning to her Aunt she said very quietly, but with a
+dignity which Mrs. Stewart dared not encroach upon:</p>
+
+<p>"I am very sorry to seem in any way discourteous or disobliging, Aunt
+Katherine, but Daddy Neil and Compadre, have always wished Tzaritza to
+accompany me when I ride. I have never felt any fear but they feel
+differently, as there are, of course, some undesirable characters
+between Severndale and Annapolis, and they<a class="pagenum" name="page_26" id="page_26" title="26"></a> consider Tzaritza a great
+protection against any possible annoyance. We will ride on ahead, since
+it is likely to annoy you, but I must go into Annapolis this morning.
+Another time I shall drive with you, but I can't ask you to drive where
+I must ride today. When you see some of the Annapolitan streets you will
+understand why. They have not been re paved since the first pavements
+were laid generations ago, and you would be most uncomfortable. Be
+careful where you drive, Jess. I will meet you at the Bank."</p>
+
+<p>There was a graceful bow to Mrs. Stewart, a slight pressure of the knee
+against Shashai, a low whistle to Tzaritza and she had whirled and was
+away like the wind.</p>
+
+<p>Madam Stewart drew a quick breath and compressed her thin lips until
+they formed barely a line, and during that drive into Annapolis did some
+rapid thinking. Evidently she had made another mistake.</p>
+
+<p>As Peggy rode along the highway which led to Annapolis, the usual merry,
+lilting songs, to which Shashai's hoofbeats kept time, were silenced,
+and the girl rode in deep thought. Shashai tossed his head impatiently
+as though trying to attract her attention, and now and again Tzaritza
+bounded up to her with a deep, questioning bark. Peggy smiled a little
+abstractedly and said:<a class="pagenum" name="page_27" id="page_27" title="27"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Your Missie is doing some hard thinking, my beauties and doesn't feel
+songful this morning." Then after a moment she resumed:</p>
+
+<p>"O Shashai, what <i>is</i> the matter with everything? Am <i>I</i> all wrong, or
+is Aunt Katherine different from everybody else? I have never met anyone
+just like her before, and I feel just exactly as though someone had
+drawn a file across my teeth, and I dare say that's all wrong too. If
+the Little Mother and Polly were only here they'd know how to make me
+see things differently, but I seem to get in wrong at every turn. Aunt
+Katherine has been here only two days, but what days they have been! And
+ten times more to follow before the month ends!"</p>
+
+<p>Shashai had gradually slowed down until he was walking with his own
+inimitably dainty step, his hoofs falling upon the leaf-strewn road with
+the lightness of a deer's. Presently they came to a pretty wood-road
+leading almost at angles to the highway, but Peggy was again too
+occupied to notice that Tzaritza had turned into it and that Shashai, as
+a matter of course, had followed her. Annapolis could be reached by this
+less frequented way but it made a wide detour, leading past Nelly
+Bolivar's home. As they struck the refreshing coolness of the byway
+Shashai broke into what Peggy called his "rocking-chair gait," though
+she was so much<a class="pagenum" name="page_28" id="page_28" title="28"></a> a part of him that she was hardly aware of the more
+rapid motion. Her first clear intimation that her route had changed
+occurred when a cheerful voice called out:</p>
+
+<p>"And she wandered away and away into the land o' dreams, my princess."</p>
+
+<p>Peggy raised her head quickly and the old light flashed back into her
+eyes, the old smile curved her lips as she cried:</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Nelly Bolivar! How under the sun came I here?"</p>
+
+<p>"In the usual way, I reckon, Miss Peggy. I don't often see you come in
+any other. But this time you sure enough look as though you had been
+dreaming," laughed Nelly, coming close to Shashai, who instantly
+remembered his manners and neighed his greeting, while Tzaritza thrust
+her head into the girl's arms with the gentlest insinuation. Nelly held
+the big head close, rested her face against it a second, then took
+Shashai's soft muzzle in both hands and planted a kiss just where it was
+most velvety, saying softly:</p>
+
+<p>"I can't imagine you three separated. The picture would not be complete.
+But what is wrong, Miss Peggy? You look so sober you make me feel
+queer," for the smile had gone from the girl's face and Nelly was quick
+to feel the seriousness of her expression.<a class="pagenum" name="page_29" id="page_29" title="29"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps I'm cross and cranky, Nelly. At any rate I've no business to be
+here this minute. I started for Annapolis, but my wits got
+wool-gathering, I reckon, and I let Shashai turn in here without
+noticing where he was going. Aunt Katherine will reach Annapolis before
+I do and&mdash;then&mdash;" and Peggy stopped and wagged her head as though
+pursuit of the subject would better be dropped. Nelly's face clouded. It
+had not required the two days of Mrs. Stewart's visit to circulate a
+good many reports concerning her. Indeed both Jerome and old Mammy had
+described her at length, and the description had lost nothing upon their
+African tongues, nor had the experiences of the three months spent up
+north: Madam Stewart had figured rather conspicuously in their pictures
+of the "doin's up yander." Had she suspected how accurately the old
+colored people had gauged her, or how great an influence their gauging
+was likely to have upon the plans she had so carefully laid, she might
+have been a little more circumspect in her conduct toward them. But to
+her they were "just black servants" and she was entirely incapable of
+weighing their influence in the domestic economy, or of understanding
+their shrewd judgment as to the best interests of the young girl whom
+each, in common with all the other old<a class="pagenum" name="page_30" id="page_30" title="30"></a> servants upon the estate, loved
+with a devotion absolutely incomprehensible to most northern-born
+people. And another potent fact, entirely absent from the
+characteristics of the northern negro, is the fact that the southern
+negro servants' "kinnery" instantly adopts and maintains the viewpoint
+of those "nearest the throne." It is a survival of the old feudal
+system, unknown in the cosmopolitan North, but which even in this day,
+so remote from the days of slavery, makes itself very distinctly felt in
+many parts of the South.</p>
+
+<p>And many of the servants upon the Severndale estate had been there for
+three generations. Hence Peggy was their "chile," and her joys or
+sorrows, happiness or unhappiness, were theirs, and all their kin's, to
+be talked over, remedied if possible, but shared if not, or made a part
+of their own delight in living, as the case might demand. And the
+ramifications of their kinship were amazing. No wonder the report that
+"an aunt-in-law ob de yo'ng mistress yonder at Severndale, had done come
+down an' ondertuck fer ter run de hull shebang <i>an'</i> Miss Peggy inter de
+bargain, what is never been run by nobody," had circulated throughout
+the whole community, and met with a resolute, though carefully concealed
+opposition&mdash;subtle, intangible, but sure to prove overwhelming<a class="pagenum" name="page_31" id="page_31" title="31"></a> in the
+end&mdash;the undertow, so hidden but so irresistible. All this had stolen
+from one pair of lips to another and, of course, been related with
+indignant emphasis to Jim Bolivar, Nelly's father, one of the tenants of
+Severndale's large estate. And he, in turn, had discussed it with Nelly,
+who worshipped the very ground Peggy chose to stand upon, for to Peggy
+Stewart Nelly owed restored health, her home rescued when ruin seemed
+about to claim everything her father owned, and all the happiness which
+had come into her lonely life.</p>
+
+<p>No wonder she now looked up to the deep brown eyes with her own blue
+ones troubled and distressed.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_32" id="page_32" title="32"></a>
+<a name="HOSTILITIES_SUSPENDED_768" id="HOSTILITIES_SUSPENDED_768"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER III</h2>
+<h3>HOSTILITIES SUSPENDED</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>During her drive into Annapolis Madam Stewart did more deep thinking
+than it was generally given to her shallow brain to compass. Like most
+of her type, she possessed a certain shrewdness, which closely touched
+upon cunning when she wished to gain her ends, but she had very little
+real cleverness, and practically no power of logical deduction.</p>
+
+<p>Today, however, she had felt antagonism enveloping her as a fog, and
+would have been not a little surprised to realize that its most potent
+force lay in Peggy's humble servitors rather than in Peggy herself. From
+the old darkey driving her, so deferentially replying to her questions,
+and at such pains to point out everything of interest along the way, she
+felt it radiate with almost tangible scorn and hostility, and yet to
+have saved her life she could not have said: "He is remiss in this or
+that."</p>
+
+<p>They drove into Annapolis by the bridge which crosses the Severn just
+above the Naval Hospital, and from which the whole Academy<a class="pagenum" name="page_33" id="page_33" title="33"></a> is seen at
+its best, with the wide sweep of the beautiful Chesapeake beyond. Jess
+pointed out everything most carefully. Then on they went across College
+Creek bridge, up College Avenue, by historic old St. Ann's and drew up
+at the Bank to meet Peggy. Mrs. Stewart looked about her in undisguised
+disappointment and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Is <i>this</i> the capital city of the State of Maryland? <i>This</i> little
+town?"</p>
+
+<p>Jess' mouth hardened. He loved the quaint old town and all its
+traditions. So did his young mistress. It had always meant home to her,
+and to many, many generations of her family before her. The old "Peggy
+Stewart" house famous in history, though no longer occupied by her own
+family, still stood, a landmark, in the heart of the town and was
+pointed to with pride by all.</p>
+
+<p>"Dis sho' is de capital city ob de State, Ma'am. Yonder de guv'nor's
+mansion, jist over dar stan' de co't house, an' yonder de Cap'tal an'
+all de yether 'ministrashum buildin's, an' we'all's powerful proud ob
+'em."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart smiled a superior smile as she replied:</p>
+
+<p>"I have heard that the South is not progressive and is perfectly
+apathetic to conditions. It <i>must</i> be. Heavens! Look at these streets!
+They are perfectly disgusting, and the odor<a class="pagenum" name="page_34" id="page_34" title="34"></a> is horrible. I shall be
+glad to drive home."</p>
+
+<p>"De town done been pave all mos' all new," bridled Jess. "Dis hyar
+pavement de bes' ob brick. Miss Peggy done tole me ter be keerful whar I
+drive yo' at, an' I tecken yo' on de very be's."</p>
+
+<p>"And what, may I inquire, is your very worst then? Have you no street
+cleaning department in your illustrious city?"</p>
+
+<p>"We suttenly <i>has</i>! Dey got six men a-sweeping de hull endurin' time."</p>
+
+<p>"What an overwhelming force!" and Mrs. Stewart gave way to mirth.</p>
+
+<p>It was fortunate that Peggy should have arrived at that opportune
+moment, for there is no telling what might have occurred: Jess's
+patience was at the snapping-point. But Peggy's talk with Nelly Bolivar
+had served to restore her mental equilibrium to a certain degree&mdash;and
+her swift ride into Annapolis had completed the process. It was a sunny,
+smiling face which drew up to the surrey and greeted Mrs. Stewart. Peggy
+had made up her mind that she would not let little things annoy her, and
+was already reproaching herself for having done so. She had resolved to
+keep her temper during her aunt's visit if a whole legion of tormenting
+imps were let loose upon her.</p>
+
+<p>Three weeks of Mrs. Stewart's visit passed.<a class="pagenum" name="page_35" id="page_35" title="35"></a> Upon her part, three weeks
+of striving to establish a firmer foothold in the home of her
+brother-in-law; to obtain the place in it she so ardently coveted&mdash;that
+of mistress and absolute dictator. But each day proved to her that she
+was striving against some vaguely comprehended opposition. It did not
+lie in Peggy, that she had the grace to concede, for Peggy had complied
+with every wish, which she had graciously or otherwise, expressed,
+except the one debarring Tzaritza from following Shashai when she rode
+abroad, and be it said to Peggy's credit that she had held to her
+resolution in spite of endless aggravations, for Madam was a past
+mistress of criticism either spoken or implied. Never before in all her
+sunny young life had Peggy been forced to live in such an atmosphere.</p>
+
+<p>Little by little during those weeks Mrs. Stewart had pre-empted Peggy's
+position as mistress of the household; a position held by every claim of
+right, justice and natural development, for Peggy had grown into it, and
+its honors and privileges rested upon her young shoulders by right of
+inheritance. She had not rushed there, or forced her claim to it, hence
+had it been gradually given into her hands by old Mammy, her nurse,
+Harrison, the trusty housekeeper, and at length, as she had more and
+more clearly<a class="pagenum" name="page_36" id="page_36" title="36"></a> demonstrated her ability to hold it, by Dr. Llewellyn, her
+guardian, who regarded it as an essential part of a Southern
+gentlewoman's education.</p>
+
+<p>Then had come Mrs. Harold, whose tact and affection seemed to supply
+just the little touch which the young girl required to round out her
+life, and fit her to ultimately assume the entire control of her
+father's home.</p>
+
+<p>But all this was entirely beyond Mrs. Stewart's comprehension. Her own
+early life had been passed in a small New Jersey village in very humble
+surroundings. She had been educated in the little grammar school, going
+later to an adjoining town for a year at high-school. In her home,
+domestic help of any sort had been unknown, she and her mother, an
+earnest, hard-working woman, having performed all the household work.
+There were no traditions connected with that simple home; it was just an
+everyday round of commonplace duties, accepted as a matter of course.
+Then Mrs. Stewart, at that time "pretty Kitty Snyder," went as a sort of
+"mother's helper" to a lady residing in Elizabeth, whose brother was in
+a New Jersey College. Upon one of his visits to his sister he had
+brought Peyton Stewart home for a visit: Peyton, the happy-go-lucky,
+irresponsible madcap. Kitty Snyder's buxom<a class="pagenum" name="page_37" id="page_37" title="37"></a> beauty had turned all that
+was left to be turned of his shallow head and she had become Mrs. Peyton
+Stewart within a month.</p>
+
+<p>The rest has been told elsewhere. For a good many years she had "just
+lived around" as she expressed it, her income from her husband's share
+of the very comfortable little fortune left him by his father, being a
+vast deal more than she had ever dreamed of in her youthful days. She
+felt very affluent. All things considered, it was quite as well that
+Peyton had quit this earthly scene after two years of married life for
+"Kitty" had rapidly developed extravagant tastes and there were many
+"scenes." Her old associates saw her no more, and later the new ones
+often wondered why the dashing young widow did not marry again.</p>
+
+<p>They did not suspect how often her plans laid to that end had
+misscarried, for her ambitions were entirely out of proportion to her
+qualifications.</p>
+
+<p>Now, however, chance had brought her once more in touch with her
+husband's family, and she was resolved to make hay while the sun shone.
+If Neil Stewart had not been an odd mixture of manly strength and
+child-like simplicity, exceptional executive ability and credulity,
+kindliness and quick temper, he would never in the wide world have
+become responsible for<a class="pagenum" name="page_38" id="page_38" title="38"></a> the state of affairs at present turning his old
+home topsy-turvy, and in a fair way to undo all the good works of
+others, and certainly make Peggy extremely unhappy.</p>
+
+<p>But he had "made a confounded mess of the whole job," he decided upon
+receiving a letter from Peggy. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say
+upon reading between the lines, because it was not so much what Peggy
+had <i>said</i> as that which she left unsaid, which puzzled him, and to
+which puzzle Harrison supplied the key in her funny monthly report.
+Never in all the ten years of her stewardship had she failed to send her
+monthly letter.</p>
+
+<p>Harrison was a most conscientious old body if somewhat below par in
+educational advantages. Nevertheless, she had filled her position as
+nurse, maid and housekeeper to Peggy's mother for over thirty years,
+and to Peggy for ten more and her idea of duty was "Peggy first, Martha
+Harrison second." Her letter to Neil Stewart, which he read while his
+ship was being overhauled in the Boston Navy Yard, set him thinking. It
+ran:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot">
+
+<p>
+Severndale, Maryland.<br />
+September 21, 19&mdash;<br />
+<br />
+Captain Neil Stewart,<br />
+U. S. N.<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Respected Sir:&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>As has been my habit these many years, I take my pen in hand to
+make my monthly report concerning the happenings and<a class="pagenum" name="page_39" id="page_39" title="39"></a> the events of
+the past month. Most times there isn't many of either outside the
+regular accounts which, praises be, ain't never got snarled up none
+since I've had the handling of them.</p>
+
+<p>As to the past three weeks considerable has took place in this
+quiet, peaceful (most times, at least) home, and I ain't quite sure
+where I stand at, or am likely to. Things seem sort of stirred
+round. Like enough we-all are old-fashioned and considerable sot in
+our ways and can't rightly get used to new-fangled ones. Then, too,
+we&mdash;I speak for everybody&mdash;find it kinder hard to take our orders
+from anybody but Miss Peggy, who has got the right to give them,
+which we can't just see that anybody else <i>has got</i>. Howsoever,
+some folks seem to think they have, and what I am trying to get at
+is, <i>have they</i>? If I have got to take them from other folks, why,
+of course I have got to, but it has got to be <i>you</i> that tells me I
+must.</p>
+
+<p>Up to the present time I seem to have been pretty capable of
+running things down here, though I am free to confess I was right
+glad when Mrs. Harold come along as she done, to give me a hint or
+two where Miss Peggy was concerned, for that child had taken to
+growing up in a way that was fair taking the breath out of my body,
+and was a-getting clear beyond <i>me</i> though, praises be, she didn't
+suspicion the fact. If she had a-done it <i>my</i> time would a-come for
+sure. But the good Lord sent Mrs. Harold to us long about that time
+and she was a powerful help and comfort to us all. <i>He</i> don't make
+no mistakes as a rule and I reckon we would a done well to let well
+enough alone and not go trying to improve on his plans for us. When
+we do that the <i>other one</i> is just as likely as not for to take a
+hand in the job and if he ain't a-kinder stirring round on these
+premises right this very minute I'm missing my guess and sooner or
+later there is going to be ructions.</p>
+
+<p>Cording to the way <i>we</i>-all think down here Miss Peggy's mighty
+close to the angels, but maybe we are blinded by the light o'love,
+so to speak. Howsoever and nevertheless, we have got along pretty
+comfortable till <i>lately</i> when we have begun to discover that our
+educasyons has been terribl neglected and we have all got to be
+took in hand. <i>And we are being took powerful strong, let me tell
+you!</i> It is some like a Spanish fly blister: It may do good in the
+end but the means thereto is some harrowing to the flesh and the
+spirit.</p>
+
+<p>I don't suppose there is no hope of your a-visiting your home
+before the ship is ordered South for the fall target practice, more
+is the pity. Tain't for me to name nothing but I wish to the Lord
+Mrs. Harold was here. SHE is a lady&mdash;Amen.</p>
+
+<p  style='text-align:right;'>
+Your most humble and obedient housekeeper,&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<br />
+Martha Harrison.
+</p>
+</div>
+
+<p><a class="pagenum" name="page_40" id="page_40" title="40"></a>The
+day after this letter was written Dr. Llewellyn 'phoned to Peggy
+that he would return at the end of the week and if quite agreeable would
+like to pass a few days at Severndale with her, as his own housekeeper
+had not yet returned from her holiday.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy was in an ecstasy of joy. To have Compadre under her own roof from
+Saturday to Monday would be too delightful. Brimful of her pleasurable
+anticipations, and more like the natural, joyous girl of former days
+than she had been since leaving Mrs. Harold and Polly, she flew to the
+piazza where her aunt, arrayed in a filmy lingerie gown, reclined in one
+of the big East India chairs. For a moment she forgot that she did not
+hold her aunt's sympathies as she held Mrs. Harold's, and cried:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Aunt Katherine, Compadre will be here on Friday evening and will
+remain until Monday! Isn't that too good to believe?"</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean Dr. Llewellyn?" asked Mrs. Stewart, coldly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Aunt Katherine, you had no chance to know him before he went away,
+but you will just love him."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall I?" asked Mrs. Stewart with a smile which acted like a wet
+blanket upon poor Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"But why do you call him by that absurd name? Why not call him Dr.
+Llewellyn?"<a class="pagenum" name="page_41" id="page_41" title="41"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Call him Dr. Llewellyn?" echoed Peggy. "Why, I have never called him
+anything else since he taught me to call him by that dear name when I
+was a wee little thing."</p>
+
+<p>"And do you expect to cling to childish habits all your days, Peggy
+dear? Isn't it about time you began to think about growing up? Sit here
+upon this cushion beside me. I wish to have a serious talk with you and
+this seems a most opportune moment. I have felt the necessity of it ever
+since my arrival, but have refrained from speaking because I feared I
+might be misjudged and do harm rather than good. Sit down, dear."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart strove to bring into her voice an element of deep interest,
+affection was beyond her,&mdash;and Peggy was sufficiently intuitive to feel
+it. Nevertheless, if anything could have appealed to this self-centered
+woman's affection it ought surely to have been the young girl who
+obediently dropped upon the big Turkish cushion, and clasping her hands
+upon the broad arm of the chair, looked up into the steely, calculating
+eyes with a pair so soft, so brown, so trustful yet so perplexed, that
+an ordinary woman would have gathered her right into her arms and
+claimed all the richness and loyalty of affection so eager to find an
+outlet. If it could only have been Mrs. Harold, or Polly's mother, how<a class="pagenum" name="page_42" id="page_42" title="42"></a>
+quick either would have been to comprehend the loving nature of the girl
+and reap the reward of it.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart merely smiled into the wild-rose face in a way which she
+fondly believed to accentuate her own charms, and tapping the pretty
+brown hands with her fan, said:</p>
+
+<p>"I am growing extremely proud of my lovely niece. She is going to be a
+great credit to me, and, also, I foresee, a great responsibility."</p>
+
+<p>"A responsibility, Aunt Katherine?" asked Peggy, a perplexed pucker upon
+her forehead. "Have I been a responsibility to you since you came here?
+I am sorry if I have. Of course I know my life down here in the old home
+is quite different from most girls' lives. I didn't realize that until I
+met Mrs. Harold and Polly and then, later, went up to New London and saw
+more of other girls and the way they live. But I have been very happy
+here, Aunt Katherine, and since I have known Mrs. Harold and Polly a
+good many things have been made pleasanter for me. I can never repay
+them for their kindness to me."</p>
+
+<p>Peggy paused and a wonderfully sweet light filled her eyes, for her love
+for her absent friends was very true and deep, and speaking of them
+seemed to bring them back to the familiar surroundings which she knew
+they had<a class="pagenum" name="page_43" id="page_43" title="43"></a> grown to love so well, and where she and Polly had passed so
+many happy hours.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart was not noted for her capacity for deep feeling and was
+more amused than otherwise affected by Peggy's earnest speech,
+classifying it as "a girl's sentimentality." Finer qualities were wasted
+upon that lady. So she now smiled indulgently and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I can understand your appreciation of what you consider Mrs.
+Harold's and her niece's kindness to you, but, have you ever looked upon
+the other side of the question? Have you not done a great deal for them?
+It seems to me you have quite cancelled any obligation to them. It must
+have been some advantage to them to have such a lovely place as this to
+visit at will, and, if I can draw deductions correctly, to practically
+have the run of. It seems to me there was considerable advantage upon
+<i>their</i> side of the arrangement. You, naturally, can not see this, but
+I'll venture to say Mrs. Harold was not so unsophisticated," and a pat
+upon Peggy's hand playfully emphasized the lady's charitable view.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy felt bewildered and her hands fell from the arm of the chair to
+her lap, though her big soft eyes never changed their gaze, which proved
+somewhat disconcerting to the older<a class="pagenum" name="page_44" id="page_44" title="44"></a> woman who had the grace to color
+slightly. Peggy then rallied her forces and answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Katherine, I am sure neither Mrs. Harold nor Polly ever had the
+faintest idea of any advantage to themselves in being nice to me. Why in
+this world should they? They have ten times more than <i>I</i> could ever
+give to them. Why think of how extensively Mrs. Harold has traveled and
+what hosts of friends she has! And Polly too. Goodness, they let me see
+and enjoy a hundred things I never could have seen or enjoyed
+otherwise."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart laughed a low, incredulous laugh, then queried:</p>
+
+<p>"And you the daughter of Neil Stewart and a little Navy girl? Really,
+Peggy, you are deliciously <i>ingenue</i>. Well, never mind. It is of more
+intimate matters I wish to speak, for with each passing day I recognize
+the importance of a radical reconstruction in your mode of living. That
+is what I meant when I said I foresaw greater responsibilities ahead.
+You are no longer a child, Peggy, to run wild over the estate,
+but&mdash;well, I must not make you vain. In a year or two at most, you will
+make your <i>d&eacute;but</i> and someone must provide against that day and be
+prepared to fill properly the position of chaperone to you. Meantime,
+you must have proper training and as near as I can ascertain<a class="pagenum" name="page_45" id="page_45" title="45"></a> you have
+never had the slightest. But it can not be deferred a moment longer. It
+is absolutely providential that I, the only relative you have in this
+world, should have met you as I did, though I can hardly understand how
+your father overlooked the need so long. Perhaps it was from motives of
+unselfishness, though he must have known that I stood ready to make any
+sacrifice for my dear dead Peyton's brother." Just here Mrs. Peyton's
+feelings almost overcame her and a delicate handkerchief was pressed to
+her eyes for a moment.</p>
+
+<p>Ordinarily tender and sympathetic to the last degree, Peggy could not
+account for her strange indifference to her aunt's distress. She simply
+sat with hands clasped about her knees and waited for her to resume the
+conversation. Presently Madam emerged from her temporary eclipse and
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"Forgive me, dear, my feelings quite overcame me for a moment. To
+resume: I know dear Neil would never ask it of me, but I have been
+thinking very seriously upon the subject and have decided to forget
+self, and my many interests in New York, and devote my time to you. I
+shall remain with you and relieve you of all responsibility in this
+great household, a responsibility out of all proportion to your years.
+Indeed, I can not understand how you<a class="pagenum" name="page_46" id="page_46" title="46"></a> have retained one spark of girlish
+spontaneity under such unnatural conditions. Such cares were meant for
+older, more experienced heads than your pretty one, dear. It will be a
+joy to me to relieve you of them and I can not begin too soon. We will
+start at once. I shall write to your father to count upon me for
+everything and, if he feels so disposed, to place everything in my
+hands. Furthermore, I shall suggest that he send you to a fine school
+where you will have the finishing your birth and fortune entitle you to.
+You know absolutely nothing of association, with other girls,&mdash;no,
+please let me finish," as Peggy rose to her feet and stood regarding her
+aunt with undisguised consternation, "I know of a most excellent school
+in New York, indeed, it is conducted by a very dear friend of mine,
+where you would meet only girls of the wealthiest families" (Mrs.
+Stewart did not add that the majority had little beside their wealth to
+stand as a bulwark for them; they were the daughters of New York City's
+newly rich whose ancestry would hardly court inspection) "and even
+during your school days you would get a taste of New York's social
+advantages; a thing utterly impossible in this dull&mdash;ahem!&mdash;this remote
+place. I shall strongly advise dear Neal to consider this. You simply
+cannot remain buried here. <i>I shall</i>, of course, since I feel it my duty
+to do<a class="pagenum" name="page_47" id="page_47" title="47"></a> so, but I can have someone pass the winter with me, and can make
+frequent trips to Washington."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart paused for breath. Peggy did not speak one word, but with a
+final dazed look at her aunt, turned and entered the house.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_48" id="page_48" title="48"></a>
+<a name="HOSTILITIES_RESUMED_1161" id="HOSTILITIES_RESUMED_1161"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2>
+<h3>HOSTILITIES RESUMED</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>As Peggy left the piazza her aunt's eyes followed her with an expression
+which held little promise for the girl's future happiness should it be
+given into Mrs. Stewart's keeping. A more calculating, triumphant one,
+or one more devoid of any vestige of affection for Peggy it would have
+been hard to picture. As her niece disappeared Mrs. Stewart's lips
+formed just two words, "little fool," but never had she so utterly
+miscalculated. She was sadly lacking in a discrimination of values.
+Peggy had chosen one of two evils; that of losing her temper and saying
+something which would have outraged her conception of the obligations of
+a hostess, or of getting away by herself without a moment's delay. She
+felt as though she were strangling, or that some horrible calamity
+threatened her. Hurrying to her own room she flung herself upon her
+couch and did that which Peggy Stewart was rarely known to do: buried
+her head in the cushions and sobbed. Not the sobs of a thwarted, peevish
+girl, but the deeper<a class="pagenum" name="page_49" id="page_49" title="49"></a> grief of one who feels hopeless, lonely and
+wretched. Never in her life had she felt like this. What was the meaning
+of it?</p>
+
+<p>Those who were older and more experienced, would have answered at once:
+Here is a girl, not yet sixteen years of age, who has led a lonely life
+upon a great estate, remote from companions of her own age, though
+adored by the servants who have been upon it as long as she can
+remember. She has been regarded as their mistress whose word must be law
+because her mother's was. Her education has been conducted along those
+lines by an old gentleman who believes that the southern gentlewoman
+must be the absolute head of her home.</p>
+
+<p>About this time there enters her little world a woman whose every
+impulse stands for motherhood at its sweetest and best, and who has
+helped all that is best and truest in the young girl to develop, guiding
+her by the beautiful power of affection. All has been peace and harmony,
+and Peggy is rapidly qualifying in ability to assume absolute control in
+her father's home.</p>
+
+<p>Then, with scarcely a moment's warning, there is dropped into her home
+and daily life a person with whom she cannot have anything in common,
+from whom she intuitively shrinks and cannot trust.<a class="pagenum" name="page_50" id="page_50" title="50"></a></p>
+
+<p>Under such circumstances the present climax is not surprising.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy's whole life had in some respects been a contradiction and a cry
+for a girl's natural heritage&mdash;a mother's all-comprehending love. The
+love that does not wait to be told of the loved one's needs and
+happiness, but which lives only to foresee what is best for her and to
+bring it to pass, never mind at what sacrifice to self. Peggy had missed
+<i>that</i> love in her life and not all the other forms combined had
+compensated.</p>
+
+<p>Until the previous year she had never felt this; nor could she have put
+it into words even at the present moment. She only knew that in Polly's
+companionship she had been very, very happy and that she was terribly
+lonely without her. That in Mrs. Harold she had found a friend whom she
+had learned to love devotedly and trust implicitly, and that in the
+brief time Mrs. Howland, Polly's mother, had been in Annapolis and at
+New London, she had caught a glimpse of a little world before undreamed
+of; a world peculiarly Polly's and her mother's and which no other human
+being invaded. Mrs. Howland had just such a little world for each of her
+daughters and for the son-in-law whom she loved so tenderly. It was a
+world sacred to the individual who dwelt<a class="pagenum" name="page_51" id="page_51" title="51"></a> therein with her. There was a
+common world in which all met in mutual interests, but she possessed the
+peculiar power of holding for each of her children their own "inner
+shrine" which was truly "The Holy of Holies."</p>
+
+<p>Although Peggy had known and loved Mrs. Harold longest, there was
+something in Mrs. Howland's gentle unobtrusive sweetness, in her hidden
+strength, which drew Peggy as a magnet and for the first time in her
+life she longed for the one thing denied her: such a love as Polly
+claimed.</p>
+
+<p>But it seemed an impossibility, and her nearest approach to it lay in
+Mrs. Harold's affection for her.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy was not ungrateful, but what had befallen the usual order of
+things? Was this aunt, with whom, try as she would, she could not feel
+anything in common, about to establish herself in the home, every turn
+and corner of which was so dear to her, and utterly disrupt it? For this
+Peggy felt pretty sure she would do if left a free hand. Already she had
+most of the old servants in a state of ferment, if not open hostility.
+They plainly regarded her as an interloper, resented her assumption of
+rule and her interference in the innumerable little details of the
+household economy. Her very evident lack of the qualities which,
+according to<a class="pagenum" name="page_52" id="page_52" title="52"></a> their standards, stood for "de true an' endurin' quality
+raisin'," made them distrust her.</p>
+
+<p>Now the "time was certainly out of joint" and poor little Peggy began to
+wonder if she had to complete the quotation.</p>
+
+<p>All that has been written had passed like a whirlwind through Peggy's
+harassed brain in much less time than it has taken to put it on paper.
+It was all a jumble to poor Peggy; vague, yet very real; understood yet
+baffling. The only real evidences of her unhappiness and doubt were the
+tears and sobs, and these soon called, by some telepathic message of
+love and a life's devotion, the faithful old nurse who had been the
+comforter of her childish woes. For days Mammy had been "as res'less an'
+onsettled as a yo'ng tuckey long 'bout Thanksgivin' time," as she
+expressed it, and had found it difficult to settle down to her ordinary
+routine of work during the preceding two weeks. She prowled about the
+house and the premises "fer all de 'roun worl' like yo' huntin'
+speerits," declared Aunt Cynthia, the cook.</p>
+
+<p>"Huh!" retorted Mammy, "I on'y wisht I could feel dat dey was frien'ly
+ones, but I has a percolation dat dey's comin' from <i>below</i> stidder
+<i>above</i>."</p>
+
+<p>So perhaps this explains why she went up to Peggy's room at an hour
+which she usually<a class="pagenum" name="page_53" id="page_53" title="53"></a> spent in her own quarters mending. Long before she
+reached the room she became aware of sounds which acted upon her as a
+spark to a powder magazine, for Mammy's loving old ears lay very close
+to her heart.</p>
+
+<p>With a pious "Ma Lawd-God-Amighty, what done happen?" she flew down the
+broad hall and, being a privileged character, entered the room without
+knocking. The next second she was holding Peggy in her arms and almost
+sobbing herself as she besought her to tell "who done hurt ma baby? Tell
+Mammy what brecken' yo' heart, honey-chile."</p>
+
+<p>For a few moments Peggy could not reply, and Mammy was upon the point of
+rushing off for Harrison when Peggy laid a detaining hand upon her and
+commanded:</p>
+
+<p>"Stop, Mammy! You must not call Harrison or anyone else. There is really
+nothing the matter. I'm just a silly girl to act like this and I'm
+thoroughly ashamed of myself." Then she wiped her eyes and strove to
+check a rebellious sob.</p>
+
+<p>"Quit triflin'! Kingdom-come, is yo' think I'se come ter ma dotage? When
+is I see you a cryin' like dis befo'? Not sense yo' was kitin' roun' de
+lot an' fall down an' crack yo' haid. Yo' ain' been de yellin',
+squallin' kind, an' when yo' begins at dis hyar day an' age fer ter
+shed<a class="pagenum" name="page_54" id="page_54" title="54"></a> tears dar's somethin' pintedly wrong, an' yo' needn' tell me dar
+ain't. Now out wid it."</p>
+
+<p>Mammy was usually fiercest when she felt most deeply and now she was
+stirred to the very depth of her soul.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Mammy, I don't believe I could tell you what I'm crying for if I
+tried," and Peggy smiled as she rested her head upon the shoulder which
+had never failed her.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, den, tell me what yo' <i>ain't</i> cryin' fo', kase ef yo' ain't
+cryin' fer somethin' yo' <i>want</i> yo' shore mus' be a-crying fo' somethin'
+yo' <i>don't</i> want," was Mammy's bewildering argument. "An' I bait yo' I
+ain't gotter go far fer ter ketch de thing yo' <i>don'</i> want neither," and
+the old woman looked ready to deal with that same cause once it came
+within her grasp.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy straightened up. This order of things would never do. If she acted
+like a spoiled child simply because someone to whom she had taken an
+instinctive dislike had come into her home, she would presently have the
+whole household demoralized.</p>
+
+<p>"Mammy, listen to me."</p>
+
+<p>Instinctively the blood of generations of servitude responded to Peggy's
+tone.</p>
+
+<p>"I have been terribly rude to a guest. I lost my temper and I'm ashamed
+of myself."</p>
+
+<p>"What did you say to her, baby?"<a class="pagenum" name="page_55" id="page_55" title="55"></a></p>
+
+<p>"I didn't say anything, I just acted outrageously."</p>
+
+<p>"An' what <i>she</i> been a-sayin' ter yo'?"</p>
+
+<p>Peggy only colored.</p>
+
+<p>Mammy nodded her bead significantly. "Ain't I <i>know</i> dat! Yo' cyant tell
+<i>me</i> nothin' 'bout de Stewart blood. No-siree! I know it from Alphy to
+Omegy; backards an' forrards. Now we-all kin look out fer trouble ahead.
+But I'se got dis fer ter say: Some fools jist nachelly go a-prancin' an'
+a-cavortin' inter places whar de angils outen heaven dassent no mo'n
+peek. If yo' tells me I must keep ma mouf shet, I'se gotter keep it
+shet, but Massa Neil is allers a projectin' 'bout ma safety-valve, an'
+don' yo' tie it down too tight, honey, er somethin' gwine bus' wide open
+'fore long. Now come 'long an' wash yo' purty face. I ain' like fer ter
+see no tears-stains on <i>yo'</i> baby. No, I don'. Den yo' go git on Shashai
+an' call yo' body-gyard and 'Z'ritza an' yo' ride ten good miles fo' yo'
+come back hyer. By <i>dat</i> time yo' git yo' min' settle down an' yo'
+stummic ready fo' de lunch wha' Sis' Cynthia gwine fix fo' yo'. I seen
+de perjections ob it an' it fair mak' ma mouf run water lak' a dawg's.
+Run 'long, honey," and Mammy led the way down the side stairs, and
+watched Peggy as she took a side path to the paddock.<a class="pagenum" name="page_56" id="page_56" title="56"></a></p>
+
+<p>As she was in and out of her saddle a dozen times a day she wore a
+divided skirt more than half the time&mdash;another of Mrs. Stewart's
+grievances&mdash;and upon reaching the paddock her whistle soon brought her
+pets tearing across it to her. Their greeting was warm enough to banish
+a legion of blue imps, and a joyous little laugh bubbled to her lips as
+she opened the paddock gate and let the trio file through. Then in the
+old way she sprang upon Shashai's back and with a gay laugh cried:</p>
+
+<p>"Four bells for the harness house."</p>
+
+<p>Away they swept, as Peggy's voice and knees directed Shashai, Tzaritza,
+who had joined Peggy as she stepped from the side porch, bounding on
+ahead with joyous barks.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy called for a bridle, which Shelby himself brought, saying as he
+slipped the light snaffle into Shashai's sensitive mouth and the
+headstall over his ears:</p>
+
+<p>"So you've bruck trainin', Miss Peggy, an' are a-going for a real
+old-time warm-up? Well, I reckon it's about time, an' the best thing you
+can do, for you look sort o' pinin' an' down-in-the-mouth. Light out,
+little girl, an' come back lookin' like you uster; the purtiest sight
+God ever created for a man, woman or child ter clap eyes on. Take good
+care of her, Shashai, and you too, Tzaritza,<a class="pagenum" name="page_57" id="page_57" title="57"></a> cause you won't get
+another like her very soon."</p>
+
+<p>Shelby's eyes were quick to discern the traces of Peggy's little storm,
+and he was by no means slow in drawing deductions. Peggy blushed, but
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"I guess Daddy was right when he said I'd better go to school this year.
+You-all will spoil me if I stay here. Good-by, dear old Shelby, I love
+everyone on the place even if they do spoil me," and away she swept, as
+bonny a little bareback rider as ever sat a horse.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, up at the house events were shaping with the rapidity of a
+moving picture show.</p>
+
+<p>When Peggy left her so abruptly Madam Stewart sat still for a few
+moments, pondering her next step. She had arrived at some very definite
+conclusions and intended carrying them out without loss of time. Her
+first move in that direction led her into the library where she wrote a
+letter to her brother-in-law. It was while she was thus occupied that
+Mammy had found Peggy and sent her for her ride. Then Mammy sought
+Harrison. Ordinarily, Mammy would have died before consulting Harrison
+about anything concerning Peggy, but here was a common issue, and if
+Mammy did not know that a house divided against itself must fall, she
+certainly felt the force of that argument. In Harrison she found a
+sympathetic listener,<a class="pagenum" name="page_58" id="page_58" title="58"></a> for the old housekeeper had been made to feel
+Mrs. Stewart's presence in the house in hundreds of irritating little
+ways. Mammy told of finding Peggy in tears, though she could not, of
+course, tell their cause. But Harrison needed no cause: the tears in
+themselves were all the cause she required to know.</p>
+
+<p>Their conversation took place in the pantry and at the height of
+Harrison's protest against the new order of things a footfall was heard
+in the dining-room beyond. Thinking it Jerome's and quite ready to add
+one more to their league of defenders of Peggy's cause, Harrison pushed
+open the swinging door and stepped into the dining-room with all of her
+New England-woman's nervous activity. Mrs. Stewart stood in the room
+surveying with a critical, calculating eye, every detail of its stately,
+chaste appointments, for nothing had ever been changed.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart looked up as Harrison bounced in.</p>
+
+<p>"O Harrison, you are exactly the person I wished to speak with," she
+said. "There are to be a few changes made in Mr. Stewart's domestic
+arrangements. In future I shall assume control of his home and relieve
+Miss Peggy of all responsibility. You may come to me for all orders."</p>
+
+<p>She paused, and for the moment Harrison<a class="pagenum" name="page_59" id="page_59" title="59"></a> was too dumbfounded to reply,
+while Mammy in the pantry, having overheard every word, was noiselessly
+clapping her old hands together and murmuring: "Ma Lawd! Ma Lawd! <i>Now</i>
+I knows de sou'ce ob dat chile's tears." Before Harrison could recover
+herself Mrs. Stewart continued:</p>
+
+<p>"Dr. Llewellyn will be here tomorrow for the weekend, and as I am to be
+mistress of the household it is more seemly that I preside at the head
+of the table. Tell Jerome that I shall sit there in future. And now I
+wish you to take me through the house that I may know more of its
+appointments than I have thus far been able to learn."</p>
+
+<p>Without a word Harrison led the way into the hall, and up the beautiful
+old colonial stairway.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy's sitting-room and bed-room were situated at the south-east corner
+of the house overlooking the bay. Back of her bath and dressing-rooms
+were two guest rooms. A broad hall ran the length of the second story
+and upon the opposite side of it had been Mrs. Neil Stewart's pretty
+sitting-room, which corresponded with Peggy's and her bed-room separated
+from her husband's by the daintiest of dressing and bath-rooms. Neil
+Stewart's "den" was at the rear. Beyond were lavatories, linen-room,<a class="pagenum" name="page_60" id="page_60" title="60"></a>
+house-maid's room and every requirement of a well-ordered home.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Peyton began by entering Peggy's sitting-room, a liberty she had
+not hitherto taken, but she felt pretty sure Peggy was not in the house.
+At any rate she had made her plunge and did not mean to be diverted from
+her object now. Martha Harrison was simply boiling with wrath at the
+intrusion.</p>
+
+<p>"You are a wonderfully capable woman, Martha. I see I shall have very
+light duties," was Mrs. Peyton's patronizing comment.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Harrison</i>, if you please, ma'am," emphasized that person.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, indeed? As you prefer. Now let me see the rooms on the opposite
+side of the hall."</p>
+
+<p>Perhaps had Mrs. Peyton asked Harrison to lead her into the little
+mausoleum, built generations ago in the whispering white pine grove upon
+the hill back of the house, it could not have been a greater liberty or
+sacrilege. Not so great, possibly. In all the nine years nothing had
+been changed. They were sacred to the entire household and especially
+sacred to Harrison who had held it her especial privilege to keep them
+immaculate. In the bed-room the toilet and dressing tables held the same
+articles Mrs. Neil had used; her work-table stood in the same sunny
+window. In the sitting-room the<a class="pagenum" name="page_61" id="page_61" title="61"></a> books she loved and had read again and
+again were in the case, or lying upon the tables where she had left
+them. It seemed as though she might have stepped from the room barely
+ten minutes before. There was nothing depressing about it. On the
+contrary, it impressed upon the observer the near presence of a sweet,
+cultivated personality. The sitting-room was a shrine for both Peggy and
+her father, and it was his wish that it be kept exactly as he had known
+and loved it during the ideal hours he had spent in it with wife and
+child. He and Peggy had spent many a precious one there since its
+radiant, gracious mistress had slept in the pine grove. Harrison crossed
+the hall and opened the door, still mute as an oyster. Mrs. Stewart
+swept in, Toinette, who had followed her, tearing across the room ahead
+of her and darting into every nook and corner. At that moment the
+obnoxious poodle came nearer her doom than she had ever come in all her
+useless life, for Harrison was a-quiver to hurl her through the open
+window.</p>
+
+<p>"What charming rooms," exclaimed Madam, trailing languidly from one to
+the other, touching a book here, some exquisite curio there, the carved
+ivory toilet articles on the dresser. The morning sunlight, tempered by
+the green and white awnings at the great bowed-windows<a class="pagenum" name="page_62" id="page_62" title="62"></a> filled the
+tastefully decorated rooms with a restful glow. They were beautiful
+rooms in every sense of the word.</p>
+
+<p>"Very charming indeed and very useless apparently. They seem not to have
+been occupied in months. They are far more desirable than those assigned
+to me at the North side of the house. The view of the bay is perfect. As
+I am to be here indefinitely, instead of one month only, you may have my
+things moved over to this suite, Harrison. I shall occupy it in future."</p>
+
+<p>"Occupy <i>this</i> suite?" Harrison almost gasped the words.</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly. Why not? You need not look as though I had ordered you to
+build a fire in the middle of the floor," and Mrs. Peyton laughed half
+scornfully.</p>
+
+<p>"Excuse me, ma'am, but when <i>Mr. Neil</i> gives the order to move your
+things into this suite, I'll move them here. These was his wife's rooms
+and his orders to me was never to change 'em and I never shall 'till
+<i>he</i> tells me to. There's some things in this world that can't be
+tampered with. Please call your dog, ma'am; she's scratchin' that couch
+cover to ribbons."</p>
+
+<p>The enemy's guns were silenced for the time being. She picked up her
+poodle and swept from the room. Harrison paused only long<a class="pagenum" name="page_63" id="page_63" title="63"></a> enough to
+close all the doors, lock them and place the keys in her little hand
+bag. Then she departed to her own quarters to give vent to her pent-up
+wrath.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart retired to her own room.</p>
+
+<p>The next evening Dr. Llewellyn arrived and when he took his seat at the
+table his gentle face was troubled: Mrs. Peyton had usurped Peggy's
+place at the head. Peggy sat opposite to him. She had accepted the
+situation gracefully, not one word of protest passing her lips and she
+did her best to entertain her guests. But poor old Jerome's soul was so
+outraged that for the first time in his life he was completely
+demoralized. Only one person in the entire household seemed absolutely
+and entirely satisfied and that was Harrison, and her self-satisfaction
+so irritated Mammy that the good old creature sputtered out:</p>
+
+<p>"Kingdom come, is yo' gittin' ter de pint when yo' kin see sich
+gwines-on an' not r'ar right spang up an' <i>sass</i> dat 'oman?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just wait!" was Harrison's cryptic reply.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_64" id="page_64" title="64"></a>
+<a name="RUCTIONS_1538" id="RUCTIONS_1538"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER V</h2>
+<h3>RUCTIONS!</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Jerome had just passed a silver platter to Madam Stewart, his hands
+trembling so perceptibly as to provoke from her the words: "Have you a
+chill, Jerome?" as she conveyed to her plate some of Cynthia's
+delicately fried chicken.</p>
+
+<p>Jerome made no answer, but started toward Peggy's chair. He never
+reached it, for at that moment a deep voice boomed in from the hall:</p>
+
+<p>"Peggy Stewart, ahoy!"</p>
+
+<p>With the joyous, ringing cry of:</p>
+
+<p>"Daddy Neil! Oh, Daddy Neil!" Peggy sprang from the table to fling
+herself into her father's arms, and to startle him beyond words by
+bursting into tears. Never in all of his going to and fro, however long
+his absences from his home, had he met with such a reception as this.
+Invariably a smiling Peggy had greeted him and the present outbreak
+struck to the very depth of his soul, and did more in one minute to
+reveal to him the force of Harrison's letter than a dozen complaints.
+The tears betrayed<a class="pagenum" name="page_65" id="page_65" title="65"></a> a nervous tension of which even Peggy herself had
+been entirely unaware, and for Peggy to have reached a mental condition
+where nerves could assert themselves was an indication that chaos was
+imminent. For a moment she could only sob hysterically, while her father
+held her close in his arms and said in a tone which she had never yet
+heard:</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Peggy! My little girl, my little girl, have you needed Daddy Neil
+as much as this?"</p>
+
+<p>Peggy made a gallant rally of her self-control and cried:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Daddy, and everybody, please forgive me, but I am so surprised and
+startled and delighted that I don't know what I'm doing, and I'm so
+ashamed of myself," and smiling through her tears she strove to draw
+away from her father that he might greet the others, but he kept her
+close within his circling left arm, as he extended his hand in response
+to the effusive greeting of his sister-in-law.</p>
+
+<p>With what she hoped would be an apologetic smile for Peggy's untoward
+demonstration, Mrs. Stewart had risen to welcome him.</p>
+
+<p>"We must make allowances for Peggy, dear Neil. You came so very
+unexpectedly, you know. I hardly thought my letter would be productive
+of anything so delightful for us all."</p>
+
+<p>"I fear it was not wholly, Katherine. I had<a class="pagenum" name="page_66" id="page_66" title="66"></a> several others also. How
+are you, Doctor? I see you haven't quite abandoned the ship. Well, I'm
+glad of that; I need my executive officer and my navigator also."</p>
+
+<p>At the concluding words Mrs. Peyton smiled complacently. Who but she
+could fill that office? But Captain Stewart's next words dissipated that
+smile as the removal of a lantern slide causes the scene thrown upon the
+screen to vanish.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, indeed, my navigator must get busy. She's had a long leave, but I
+need her now and she's never failed me in heavy weather. She'll report
+for duty on the thirtieth, thank the powers which be. Hello, Jerome!
+What's rattled you like this? Next time I set my course for home I'd
+better send a wireless, or I'll demoralize the whole personnel," and
+Neil Stewart's hearty laugh brought a sympathetic smile to Dr.
+Llewellyn's and Peggy's lips.</p>
+
+<p>And well it might, for in the background the minor characters in the
+little drama had filled a r&ocirc;le all their own. In the doorway stood
+Harrison, bound to witness the outcome of her master-stroke and
+experiencing no small triumph in it. Behind her Mammy, with
+characteristic African emotion, was doing a veritable camp-meeting song
+of praise, though it was a <i>voiceless</i> song, only her motions indicating
+that<a class="pagenum" name="page_67" id="page_67" title="67"></a> her lips were forming the words, "Praise de Lawd! Praise Him!" as
+she swayed and clasped her hands.</p>
+
+<p>But Jerome outdid them all: At his first glimpse of the master he was so
+flustered that he nearly collapsed where he stood, and his platter had a
+perilous moment. Then, crying, "Glory be!" he beat a hasty retreat
+intending to place it upon his serving table, but growing bewildered in
+his joy, inadvertently set it upon a large claw-foot sofa which stood at
+the end of the dining-room, where Toinette, ever upon the alert, and
+<i>not</i> banished from the dining-room as poor Tzaritza had been, promptly
+pounced upon the contents, and in the confusion of the ensuing ten
+minutes laid the foundation for her early demise from apoplexy.</p>
+
+<p>"Brace up, Jerome, I'm too substantial to be a ghost, and nothing short
+of one should bowl you over like this," were Captain Stewart's hearty
+words to the old man as he shook his hand.</p>
+
+<p>"Asks yo' pardon, Massa Neil! I sho' does ask yo' pardon fer lettin'
+mysef git so flustrated, but we-all's so powerful pleased fer ter see
+yo', an' has been a-wanting yo' so pintedly, that&mdash;that&mdash;that&mdash;but, ma
+Lawd, I&mdash;I&mdash;I'se cla'r los' ma senses an', an&mdash;Hi! look yonder at dat
+cuss&eacute;d dawg <i>an'</i> ma fried chicken!"<a class="pagenum" name="page_68" id="page_68" title="68"></a></p>
+
+<p>For once in her useless life Toinette had created a pleasing diversion.
+With a justifiable cry of wrath Jerome pounced upon her and plucked her
+from the platter, in which for vantage she had placed her fore feet.
+Flinging her upon the floor, he snatched up his dish and fled to the
+pantry, Neil Stewart's roars of laughter following him. Toinette rolled
+over and over and then fled yelping into her mistress' lap to spread
+further havoc by ruining a delicate silk gown with her gravy-smeared
+feet. Tzaritza, who had followed her master into the room, looked upon
+the performance with a superior surprise. Neil Stewart laid a caressing
+hand upon the beautiful head and said laughingly:</p>
+
+<p>"You'd blush for that little snippin-frizzle if you could, wouldn't you,
+old girl? Well, it's up to you to teach her better manners. She's young
+and flighty. The next time she starts in on any such rampage, just pick
+her up and carry her out, as any naughty child should be carried.
+Understand?"</p>
+
+<p>"Woof-woof," answered Tzaritza, deep down in her throat.</p>
+
+<p>"She's wise all right. After this you can leave that midget of yours in
+her care, Katherine. But now let's get busy. I'm upon the point of
+famishing. Come, Peggy, honey;<a class="pagenum" name="page_69" id="page_69" title="69"></a> rally your forces and serve your old
+Daddy."</p>
+
+<p>Peggy turned toward her aunt. Not until that moment had her father been
+aware of the change made at his table. Then it came to him in a flash,
+and Mrs. Peyton was hardly prepared for the change which overspread his
+countenance as he asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Peggy, why have you allowed your aunt to assume the obligations of
+hostess? Have you lost your ability to sit at the head of my table,
+daughter?"</p>
+
+<p>Poor Peggy! It was well she understood or she would have been nearly
+heartbroken at the rebuke. Mrs. Peyton answered for her:</p>
+
+<p>"Little Peggy had far too much upon her young shoulders, dear Neil. So I
+have volunteered to relieve her of some of her duties. I am happy to be
+able to do so."</p>
+
+<p>"Indeed, Katherine, we are all under deep obligation to you, I am sure,
+but Peggy hardly seems overborne by her burdens, and it is my wish that
+my daughter shall preside in her mother's place at my table. Jerome,
+Mrs. Stewart is to be relieved of this obligation after this meal. You
+are to be quite free of all responsibility during your visit with us,
+Katherine. And now, little girl, let me look at you. July, August, and,
+let me see, twenty-five days of September since I left you? Nearly
+three<a class="pagenum" name="page_70" id="page_70" title="70"></a> months. You manage to do remarkable things in a brief time,
+little daughter. But I fancy by the time I get back here again they will
+be more remarkable. Great plans are simmering for you; great plans," and
+her father nodded significantly across at her.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy was too happy to even ask what they were. She could only smile and
+nod back again.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Mrs. Stewart had used her napkin to scrub off her besmirched
+poodle's feet and had then surreptitiously thumped her down upon her lap
+where the table-cloth would conceal her. At Captain Stewart's concluding
+words she felt her hopes revive a trifle. She was a fair actress when it
+served her turn. So now smiling across the table she said:</p>
+
+<p>"So you have decided to consider my suggestion, Neil?"</p>
+
+<p>"In one respect, yes, Katherine. I see plainly that things can no longer
+go on as they have been going. Llewellyn concurs in that." He glanced
+toward the Doctor, who nodded gravely.</p>
+
+<p>"I do most fully. Our halcyon days must end, I fear, as all such days do
+eventually, and we must meet the more prosaic side of life. Let us hope
+it will assume a pleasing form. I am loth to hand in my resignation as
+Dominie Exactus, however," he ended with a smile for Peggy.<a class="pagenum" name="page_71" id="page_71" title="71"></a></p>
+
+<p>Peggy looked puzzled, and glanced inquiringly from one to the other. Her
+father stretched forth a hand and laid it over hers which rested upon
+the edge of the table:</p>
+
+<p>"Smooth out the kinks in your forehead, honey. Nothing distressing is to
+happen."</p>
+
+<p>"Hardly," agreed Mrs. Stewart. "On the contrary, if your father acts
+upon my suggestion something very delightful will be the outcome, I am
+sure. I feel intuitively that you approve of my plan regarding the
+school, Neil."</p>
+
+<p>Peggy started slightly, and looked at her father. He nodded and smiled
+reassuringly, then turning toward his sister-in-law, replied:</p>
+
+<p>"Your letter, Katherine, only served to convince me that Peggy must now
+have a broader horizon than Severndale, or even Annapolis affords. Dr.
+Llewellyn and I talked it over when I was home over a year ago, and
+again last June. When we first discussed it we were about as much at sea
+as the 'three wise men of Gotham' who launched forth in a tub. We needed
+a better craft and a pilot, and we needed them badly, I tell you, and at
+that time we hadn't sighted either. Then the 'Sky Pilot' took the job
+out of our hands and He's got it yet, I reckon. At any rate, indications
+seem to point that way, for on my way down here He ran me alongside my
+navigator and it didn't<a class="pagenum" name="page_72" id="page_72" title="72"></a> take her long to give me my bearings. She got
+on board the limited at Newark, N. J., and we rode as far as Philly
+together. She had three of her convoys along and they're all to the
+good, let me tell you."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Daddy, did you really meet Mrs. Harold and Polly, and who was with
+them?" broke in Peggy eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"I surely did, little girl; Mrs. Harold, Polly, Ralph and Durand. She
+was on her way for a week's visit with some relatives just out of
+Philly&mdash;in Devon, I believe, a sort of house-party, she's
+chaperoning&mdash;and a whole bunch of the old friends are to be there. Well,
+I got the 'Little Mother' all to myself from Newark to Philly and we
+went a twenty-knot clip, I tell you, for big as I am, I was just
+bursting to unload my worries upon someone, and that little woman seems
+born to carry the major portion of all creation's. She gets them, any
+way, and they don't seem to feaze her a particle. She bobs up serene and
+smiling after ever comber. But I've yet to see the proposition she
+wouldn't try to tackle. Oh, we talked for fair, let me tell you, and in
+those two hours she put more ideas into this wooden old block of mine
+than it's held in as many months. Did your ears burn this afternoon,
+Peggy? You are pretty solid in <i>that</i> direction, little girl, and you'll
+never have a<a class="pagenum" name="page_73" id="page_73" title="73"></a> better friend in all your born days, and don't you ever
+forget <i>that</i> fact. Well, the upshot is, that next Friday, one week from
+today, Middie's Haven will have its tenant back and, meantime, she is to
+write some letters and lay a train for <i>your</i> welfare, honey. That
+school plan is an excellent plan, Katherine, but not a New York school:
+New York is too far away from home <i>and</i> Mrs. Harold. Peggy will go to
+Washington this winter. Hampton Roads is not far from Washington and
+the &mdash;&mdash; will put in there a number of times this winter. That gives <i>me</i>
+a chance to visit my girl oftener and also gives Peggy a chance to visit
+Mrs. Harold, and run out here now and again if she wishes, though the
+place will be practically closed up for the winter. It was very good of
+you to offer to remain here but I couldn't possibly accept that
+sacrifice; for all your interests lie in New York, as you stated in your
+letter to me. You still have your apartments there, you tell me, and to
+let you bury yourself down here in this lonely place would be simply
+outrageous. Even Peggy has been here too long, without companions."</p>
+
+<p>Neil Stewart paused to take some nuts from the dish which Jerome, now
+recovered and beaming, held for him. Mrs. Stewart could have screamed
+with baffled rage, for, now that<a class="pagenum" name="page_74" id="page_74" title="74"></a> it was too late, she saw that she had
+quite overshot the mark, and given her brother-in-law a complete
+advantage over her designs. "And that hateful, designing cat!" as she
+stigmatized Mrs. Harold "had completed her defeat." She had gauged her
+brother-in-law as "a perfect simpleton where a woman was concerned," and
+never had she so miscalculated. He <i>was</i> easygoing when at home on
+leave, or off on one of his outings, as he had been when she met him in
+New London. Why not? When he worked he worked with every particle of
+energy he possessed, but when he "loafed," as he expressed it, he cast
+all care to the winds and was like an emancipated school-boy. It was the
+school-boy side of his nature she had gauged. She knew nothing of Neil
+Stewart the Naval Officer and man; hadn't the very faintest conception
+of his latent force once it was stirred. And she little guessed how she
+<i>had</i> stirred it by her letter written the morning she had made Peggy so
+unhappy. It was the one touch needed to bring the climax and it had
+brought it with a rush which Mrs. Peyton had little anticipated. What
+the outcome might have been had Neil Stewart not met Mrs. Harold on that
+train is impossible to surmise further than that he had fully decided to
+free himself of all connection with Peyton's widow. He had always
+disliked<a class="pagenum" name="page_75" id="page_75" title="75"></a> and distrusted her, but now he detested her. Peggy's letters
+had revealed far more than she guessed, though they had not held one
+intended criticism. She had written just as she had written ever since
+she promised him when he visited her the previous year, to send "a
+report of each day, accurate as a ship's log." But she could not write
+of the daily happenings without giving him a pretty graphic picture of
+Mrs. Stewart's gradual usurpation, and Harrison had felt no compunction
+in expressing <i>her</i> views.</p>
+
+<p>And so the "best laid plans o' mice and (wo)men" had "gone agley" in a
+demoralizing manner, and Neil Stewart had come down to Severndale "under
+full headway," and wasted no time in "laying hold of the helm." That
+talk upon the train had been what he termed "one real old
+heart-to-hearty," for Mrs. Harold had foreseen just such a crisis and
+felt under no obligation to refrain from speaking her mind where Mrs.
+Stewart was concerned. She had seen just such women before. Captain
+Stewart had asked her to read the letters sent to him. She nearly had
+hysterics over Harrison's, but Peggy's brought tears to her eyes, for
+she loved the girl very dearly and understood her well. Mrs. Stewart's
+letter made her eyes snap and her mouth set firmly, as she said:<a class="pagenum" name="page_76" id="page_76" title="76"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Captain Stewart, you have asked my advice and I shall give it exactly
+as though Peggy were my daughter, for I could hardly love her and Polly
+more dearly if they were my own children. I am under every obligation of
+affection to Peggy but not the slightest to Mrs. Stewart, and from all I
+observed in New London she is by no means the woman to have control over
+a girl like Peggy. She is one of the most lovable girls I have ever
+known, but at the same time has one of the most distinct personalities
+and the strongest wills. She can be easily guided by combined wisdom and
+affection, but she would be ruined by association with a calculating,
+unrefined, or capricious nature, and, pardon my frankness, I consider
+Mrs. Peyton Stewart all of these. Peggy needs association with other
+girls&mdash;that is only natural&mdash;and we must secure it at once for her."</p>
+
+<p>Neil Stewart laid her words to heart, and the ensuing week brought to
+pass some radical changes.</p>
+
+<p>On the thirtieth of September the whole brigade of midshipmen came
+pouring back to Annapolis, the academic year beginning on October first.</p>
+
+<p>On the thirtieth also came Mrs. Glenn Harold and her niece Polly
+Howland, brown, happy and refreshed by their summer's outing, and Polly<a class="pagenum" name="page_77" id="page_77" title="77"></a>
+eager to meet her old friends at the Academy and her chum Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>October first falling upon Sunday that year the work at the Academy
+would not begin until Monday, and, although the midshipmen had to report
+on September thirtieth, Sunday was to a certain extent a holiday for
+them and on that afternoon a rare treat was planned for some of them by
+Captain Stewart.</p>
+
+<p>On Sunday morning Neil Stewart, with Mrs. Stewart and Peggy drove into
+Annapolis to attend service at the Naval Academy Chapel where their
+entrance very nearly demoralized Polly Howland, no hint of their
+intention having been given her. They were a little late in arriving and
+the service had already begun. As Polly was rising from her knees after
+the first prayer Peggy was ushered into the pew, and Polly, <i>Polly</i>
+under all circumstances, cried impulsively:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, lovely!" her voice distinctly audible in the chancel. Whether the
+Chaplain felt himself lauded for the manner in which he had read the
+prayer, or was quick to guess the cause of that unusual response, it is
+not necessary to decide. Certain, however, were two or three distinct
+snickers from some pews under the gallery, and Polly nearly dove under
+the pew in front of her.<a class="pagenum" name="page_78" id="page_78" title="78"></a></p>
+
+<p>There was no chance for the thousand and one topics of vital importance
+to be even touched upon while the service was in progress, but once the
+recessional rolled forth Peggy's and Polly's tongues were loosened and
+went a-galloping.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Daddy has a plan for the afternoon which is the dearest ever,"
+announced Peggy, the old light back in her eyes, and the old enthusiasm
+in her voice.</p>
+
+<p>"Tell it right off then. Captain Stewart's plans are the most wonderful
+ever. I'll never forget New London," cried Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, he wants you and the Little Mother and Durand and Ralph and Jean
+and Gordon&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Gordon?" echoed Polly, a question in her eyes.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy nodded an emphatic little nod, her lips closing in a half-defiant,
+half who-dares-dispute-his-judgment little way, then the smile returned
+to the pretty mouth and she continued, "Yes, Gordon Powers and his
+room-mate, great, big Douglas Porter, and Durand's new room-mate, Bert
+Taylor, he comes from Snap's old home, so Daddy learned, to come out to
+Severndale this afternoon for a real frolic."</p>
+
+<p>She got no further for they had reached the terrace in front of the
+Chapel by that time where greetings were being exchanged between<a class="pagenum" name="page_79" id="page_79" title="79"></a> many
+mutual friends and the two girls, so widely known to all connected with
+the Academy were eagerly welcomed back.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, out on the main walk the Brigade had broken ranks and the
+midshipmen were hurrying up to greet their friends. Captain Stewart was
+a favorite with all, and one of the very few officers who could recall
+how the world looked to him when <i>he</i> was a midshipman. Consequently, he
+was able to enter into the spirit and viewpoint of the lads and was
+always greeted with an enthusiasm rare in the intercourse between the
+midshipmen and the officers. Mrs. Harold was their "Little Mother," as
+she had been for the past five years, and Peggy and Polly the best and
+jolliest of companions and chums, their "co-ed cronies," as they called
+them.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Stewart they had met in New London, but there was a very
+perceptible difference in their greeting to that lady: It was the
+formal, perfunctory bow and handclasp of the superficially known
+midshipman; not the hearty, spontaneous one of the boy who has learned
+to trust and love someone as Mrs. Harold's boys loved and trusted her.</p>
+
+<p>The crowd which had poured out of the Chapel was soon dispersed, as
+everybody had something to call him elsewhere. Our group<a class="pagenum" name="page_80" id="page_80" title="80"></a> sauntered
+slowly toward the Superintendent's home where Captain Stewart left them
+and went in to make his request for the afternoon's frolic. It was
+promptly granted and orders were given to have a launch placed at his
+disposal at two-thirty P.M.</p>
+
+<p>Such a treat, when least expected, sent the boys into an ecstatic frame
+of mind, and when the bugle sounded for dinner formation they rushed
+away to their places upon old Bancroft's Terrace as full of enthusiasm
+as though averaging eight and ten instead of eighteen and twenty years
+of age.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_81" id="page_81" title="81"></a>
+<a name="A_NEW_ORDER_OF_THINGS_1920" id="A_NEW_ORDER_OF_THINGS_1920"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2>
+<h3>A NEW ORDER OF THINGS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>That Sunday afternoon of October first, 19&mdash; was vital with portent for
+the future of most of the people in this little story.</p>
+
+<p>It took but a short time to run out to Severndale, and once there Neil
+Stewart made sure of a free hour or two by ordering up the horses and
+sending the young people off for a gallop "over the hills and far away."
+Shashai, Silver Star, Pepper and Salt for Peggy, Polly, Durand and
+Ralph, who were all experienced riders, and four other horses for
+Douglas, Gordon, Jean and Bert, of whose prowess he knew little. He need
+not have worried, however, for Bert Taylor came straight from a South
+Dakota ranch, Gordon Powers had ridden since early childhood and Douglas
+Porter had left behind him in his Southern home two hunters which had
+been the joy of his life. But Jean Paul Nicholas, Ralph's little
+pepper-pot of a room-mate, had never ridden a horse in his life, and the
+running he would come in for at the hands of his fellow midshipmen if
+they suspected that<a class="pagenum" name="page_82" id="page_82" title="82"></a> fact might have made almost any other lad hesitate
+before taking his initial spin in the company of experts. Not so little
+Jean Paul with his broad shoulders, the brace of an Admiral and his
+five-feet-six-inches; a veritable little bantam-cock, and game to the
+finish.</p>
+
+<p>As the happy cavalcade set off, waving merry farewells to the older
+people gathered upon the piazza, Tzaritza bounding on ahead, their route
+led them past the paddock where Shelby and old Jess, with several others
+connected with the estate, stood watching them. Shelby as an old hand
+and privileged character, took off his hat and waved it hilariously, as
+he called out:</p>
+
+<p>"Well <i>that</i> is one sight worth while, Miss Peggy. We've got our <i>own</i>
+girl back again, praises be!" while old Jess echoed his enthusiasm by
+shouting:</p>
+
+<p>"Praise de Lawd we <i>has</i>, an' we got de boss yander, too!"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure thing, Shelby!" answered Durand.</p>
+
+<p>"He's all right, Shelby!" cried Ralph.</p>
+
+<p>"Nicest Daddy-Neil in the world," was Polly's merry reply, then added,
+"Oh, Peggy, look at Roy! He's crazy to come with us," for Roy, the
+little colt Peggy had raised, was now a splendid young creature though
+still too young to put under the saddle.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy looked toward the paddock where Roy<a class="pagenum" name="page_83" id="page_83" title="83"></a> was running to and fro in the
+most excited manner and neighing loudly to his friends.</p>
+
+<p>"Let him come, Shelby, please," she called, and the foreman opened the
+gate. Roy darted through like a flash, giving way to all manner of mad
+antics, rushing from one four-footed companion to another, with a
+playful nip at one, a wild Highland-fling-of-a-kick at another, a
+regular rowdy whinny at another, until he had the whole group infected,
+but funniest of all, Jean Paul's mount, the staid, well-conducted old
+Robin Adair, whose whole fifteen years upon the estate had been one long
+testimony to exemplary behavior, promptly set about demonstrating that
+when the usually well-ordered being does "cut loose" he "cuts loose for
+fair."</p>
+
+<p>Jean Paul was essentially a sailor-laddie, the direct descendant of many
+sailor-laddies, and he was "built upon nautical lines," so said Ralph.
+On the summer cruise just ended he had demonstrated his claim to be
+classed among his sire's confr&egrave;res, for let the ship pitch and toss as
+it would, his legs never failed him, his stomach never rebelled and his
+head remained as steady and clear as the ship's guiding planet.</p>
+
+<p>But he found navigating upon land about as difficult as a duck usually
+finds it, and was about as well qualified to bestride and ride a horse
+as that waddling bird is. Consequently, he had<a class="pagenum" name="page_84" id="page_84" title="84"></a> "heaved aboard" his
+mount with many well concealed misgivings, but up to the present moment
+none of his friends had even suspected his very limited experience as a
+horseman, but truth to tell, never before in his life had Jean Paul's
+legs crossed anything livelier than one of the gymnasium "side horses."
+Now, however, the cat was about to escape from the bag, for Robin Adair,
+flinging decorum and heels behind him, set forth on a mad gallop to
+overhaul Roy, who had elected to set the pace for the others. Whinnying,
+prancing, cavorting, away Roy tore in the lead, Robin Adair hot-foot
+upon him, Jean Paul striving manfully to keep his pitching seat, which
+he felt to out-pitch any deck ever designed by man. In about two minutes
+the pair were a hundred yards in the lead, Jean's cap had sailed airily
+from his head, and after flaunting into Silver Star's face, had roosted
+upon a near-by shrub. Jean himself promptly decided that reins were a
+delusion and a snare (Robin's mouth <i>was</i> hard) and let them go to grasp
+the pommel of his Mexican saddle. But even that failed to steady him in
+that outrageous saddle, nor were stirrups the least use in the world;
+his feet were designed to stick to a pitching deck, not those senseless
+things. In a trice both were "sailing free" and&mdash;so was Jean. As Robin's
+hind legs flew<a class="pagenum" name="page_85" id="page_85" title="85"></a> up Jean pitched forward to bestride the horse's neck; as
+he bounded forward Jean rose in the air to resume his seat where a
+horse's crupper usually rests.</p>
+
+<p>Oh it was one electrifying performance and not a single move of it was
+lost upon his audience which promptly gave way to hoots and yells of
+diabolical glee, at least the masculine portion of it did, while Polly
+and Peggy, though almost reduced to hysterics at the absurd spectacle,
+implored them to "stop yelling like Comanches and <i>do</i> something."</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Aren't</i> we doing something? Aren't we encouraging him and helping on a
+good show?" "Oh, get onto that hike!" "Gee whiz, Commodore, if you jibe
+over like that you'll go by the board." "Put your tiller hard a-port."
+"Haul in on your jib-sheet," "Lash yourself to the main-mast or you'll
+drop off astern," were some of the encouraging words of advice which
+rattled about Jean's assailed ears, as the space grew momentarily wider
+between him and his friends, those same friends wilfully holding in
+their mounts to revel in "the show."</p>
+
+<p>But Jean's patience and endurance were both failing. He could have slain
+Robin Adair, and he was confident that his spine would presently shoot
+through the crown of his head. So flinging pride to the four winds, he
+shouted:<a class="pagenum" name="page_86" id="page_86" title="86"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Hi, come on here one of you yelling chumps, this craft's
+steering-gear's out of commission! Overhaul her and take her in tow. I'd
+rather pay a million salvage than navigate her another cable's length."</p>
+
+<p>"'Don't give up the ship!'" "'Never say die!'" "Belay, man, belay!" were
+the words hurled back until Peggy crying:</p>
+
+<p>"You boys are the very limit!" pressed one knee against Shashai's side
+and said softly: "Four Bells, Shashai."</p>
+
+<p>Robin Adair was no match for Shashai. Robin was as good a hackney as
+rider ever bestrode, but Shashai was a thoroughbred hunter with an Arab
+strain. Ten mighty bounds took him to Robin's head and for Peggy to
+swing far out of her saddle, grasp the dangling reins, speak the word of
+command which all her horses knew, loved and obeyed, took less time than
+it has taken to write of it.</p>
+
+<p>"One Bell, Shashai. Robin, halt! Steady!" and Jean Paul's mount came to
+a standstill with Jean Paul sitting upon its haunches, and Jean Paul's
+eyes snapping, and Jean Paul's teeth biting his tongue to keep from
+uttering words "unbecoming an officer and a gentleman;" for "being
+overhauled by a girl" after he had "made a confounded fool of himself
+trying a land-lubber's stunt" was not a r&ocirc;le<a class="pagenum" name="page_87" id="page_87" title="87"></a> which seemed in any degree
+an edifying one to him.</p>
+
+<p>To her credit be it said, Peggy managed to keep a straight face as she
+turned to look at her disgruntled guest, which was more than could be
+said of his companions who came crowding upon him, even Polly's
+self-control being taxed beyond the limit.</p>
+
+<p>"Why didn't you tell me you'd never ridden?" asked Peggy, her lips sober
+but her eyes dancing.</p>
+
+<p>"Because it would have knocked the whole show on the head," answered
+Jean, yanking himself forward into the saddle which only a moment before
+had seemed to be in forty places at once.</p>
+
+<p>"So you decided to be the whole show yourself instead! You're a dead
+game sport, Commodore. Bully for you!" cried Durand, slipping from his
+mount to examine the "rigging of the Commodore's craft."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you want to try it again?" asked Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"Will a fish swim?" answered Jean. "Do you think I'm going to let this
+side-wheeler shipwreck me? Not on your life, Captain. Clear out, the
+whole bunch of you chumps. If I've got to cross the equator I'll have
+the escort of ladies, not a bunch of rough-necks. Beat it! You let a
+<i>girl</i> overhaul and slow down<a class="pagenum" name="page_88" id="page_88" title="88"></a> this cruiser and now you're all ready to
+come in for a share of the salvage. Get out! Clear out! Beat it! Take
+'em away, Captain, and leave me the Admiral. She can give everyone of
+you the lead by a mile and then overhaul you on the first tack. Get out,
+for I'm going to take a riding lesson and I'm going to pay extra and
+have a private one."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, do go on ahead, and, Polly, call Roy. He is responsible for
+Robin's capers but he will behave if you take him in charge."</p>
+
+<p>"Come on, Roy&mdash;and all other incorrigibles," laughed Polly, unsnapping
+her second rein and slipping it around Roy's silky neck. Roy loved and
+obeyed Polly almost as readily as Peggy, and cavorted off beside her as
+gay as a grig.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll report heavy weather and a disabled ship, messmate," called
+Ralph.</p>
+
+<p>"Report and hanged. You'll see us enter port all skee and ship-shape, and
+don't you fool yourself, my cock sure wife (Bancroft Hall slang for a
+room-mate), so so-long. Now come on, Peggy, and put me wise to
+navigating this craft, for it has me beat to a standstill."</p>
+
+<p>"Go on, people; we'll follow presently and when we overhaul you you'll
+be treated to a demonstration of expert horsemanship," called Peggy
+after the laughing, joking group, her own and Jean's laughs merriest of
+all.<a class="pagenum" name="page_89" id="page_89" title="89"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Now get busy in earnest," she said to the half-piqued lad, whose face
+wore an expression of "do or die" as he again mounted his steed.</p>
+
+<p>"You can just bet your last nickel I'm going to! Great Scott, do you
+think I'm going to let <i>this</i> beat me out, or that yelling mob out
+yonder see me put out of commission? Now fire away. Show me how to keep
+my legs clamped and to sit in the saddle instead of on this beast's left
+ear."</p>
+
+<p>As Peggy was a skilled teacher and Jean an apt pupil the combination
+worked to perfection, and when in a half-hour's time they joined the
+main body of the cavalcade, Jean had at least learned where a saddle
+rests and had trained his legs to "clamp" successfully.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, back on Severndale's broad piazza Peggy was the subject of a
+livelier discussion than she would have believed possible, and the
+upshot of it was a decision which carried Neil Stewart, Mrs. Harold,
+herself, and Polly off to Washington early the following morning to
+visit a school of which Mrs. Harold knew. Mrs. Stewart was very
+courteously asked to accompany the party of four, which was to spend
+three or four days in the Capital, but Mrs. Stewart was distinctly
+chagrined at her failure to carry successfully to a finish the scheme
+which she felt she had so carefully thought out.<a class="pagenum" name="page_90" id="page_90" title="90"></a> Alas, she could not
+understand that she sorely lacked the most essential qualities for its
+success&mdash;unselfishness, disinterestedness, the finer feeling of the
+older woman for the younger, and all that goes to make womanhood and
+maternal instinct what they should be. She felt that her reign at
+Severndale was ended and nothing remained but to make as graceful a
+retreat as possible. So she declined the invitation, stating that she
+was very anxious to visit some friends in Baltimore and would take this
+opportunity to do so, going by a later train.</p>
+
+<p>Neil Stewart did not press his invitation. He wanted Mrs. Harold and the
+girls to himself for a time and knowing that it would be his last
+opportunity to see them for many months, resolved to make the most of
+it. Not by word or act had he expressed disapproval of Mrs. Stewart's
+rather extraordinary line of conduct since her arrival at Severndale,
+though evidences of it were to be seen at every turn, and both
+Harrison's and Mammy's tongues were fairly quivering to describe in
+detail the experiences of the past month.</p>
+
+<p>Harrison was wise enough not to criticise, but she lost no opportunity
+for asking if she were to carry out this, that, or some other order of
+Mrs. Stewart's, until poor Neil lost his temper and finally rumbled
+out:<a class="pagenum" name="page_91" id="page_91" title="91"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Look here, Martha Harrison, how long have you been at Severndale?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nigh on to twenty years, sir, and full fifteen years with that blessed
+child's mother before she ever heard tell of this place. I took care of
+her, as right well you know, long before she was as old as Miss Peggy."</p>
+
+<p>"And have I ever ordered any changes made in her rules?"</p>
+
+<p>"None to my knowledge, sir. They was pretty sensible ones and there
+didn't seem any reason to change them."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you're pretty long-headed, and until you <i>do</i> see reason to
+change 'em let 'em stand and quit pestering <i>me</i>. You're the Exec. on
+this ship until I see fit to appoint a new one and when I think of doing
+that I'll give you due notice."</p>
+
+<p>But Mammy would have exploded had she not expressed her views. Harrison
+had chosen the moment when Captain Stewart had gone to his room just
+before supper that eventful Sunday evening, but Mammy spoke when she
+carried up to him the little jug of mulled cider for which Severndale
+was famous and which, when cider was to be had, she had never failed to
+carry to "her boy," as Neil Stewart, in spite of his forty-six years,
+still seemed to old Mammy.</p>
+
+<p>Tapping at the door of his sitting-room, she<a class="pagenum" name="page_92" id="page_92" title="92"></a> entered at his "Come in."
+She found him standing before a large silver-framed photograph of
+Peggy's mother. It had been taken shortly before her death and when such
+a tragic ending to their ideal life had least been dreamed possible. A
+fancy-dress ball had been given by the young officers stationed at the
+Academy and Mrs. Stewart had attended it gowned as "Marie Stuart,"
+wearing a superb black velvet gown and the widely-known "Marie Stuart
+coif and ruff" of exquisite Point de Venice lace. She had never looked
+lovelier, or more stately in her life, and that night Neil Stewart was
+the proudest man on the ballroom floor. Then he had insisted upon a
+famous Washington photographer taking this beautiful picture and&mdash;well,
+it was the last ever taken of the wife he adored, for within another
+month she had dropped asleep forever.</p>
+
+<p>Good old Mammy's eyes were very tender as she looked at her boy, and
+instead of saying what she had come to say: "ter jist nachelly an'
+pintedly 'spress her min'," she went close to his side and looking at
+the lovely face smiling at her, said:</p>
+
+<p>"Dar weren't never, an' dar ain' never gwine ter be no sich lady as dat
+a-one, Massa Neil, lessen it gwine be Miss Peggy. She favor her ma mo'
+an' mo' every day she livin', an' I<a class="pagenum" name="page_93" id="page_93" title="93"></a> wisht ter Gawd her ma was right
+hyer dis minit fer ter <i>see</i> it, dat I do."</p>
+
+<p>"Amen! Mammy," was Captain Stewart's reply. "Peggy needs more than we
+can give her just now, no matter how hard we try. The trouble is she
+seems to have grown up all in a minute apparently while we have been
+thinking she was a child."</p>
+
+<p>Neil Stewart placed the photograph back upon the top of the bookshelf
+and sighed.</p>
+
+<p>"No, sir, <i>dat</i> ain't it. Deed tain't. She been a-growin' up dis long
+time, but we's been dozin' like, an' ain't had our eyes open wide
+'nough. An' now we's all got shook wide awake by <i>somebody else</i>."</p>
+
+<p>Mammy paused significantly. Neil Stewart frowned.</p>
+
+<p>"Just as well maybe. But don't light into me. I'm all frazzled out now.
+Harrison's hints are like eight inch shells; Dr. Llewellyn's like a
+highly charged electric battery; Jerome fires a blunderbuss every ten
+minutes and even Shelby and Jess use pop-guns. Good Lord, are you going
+to let drive with a gatling? Clear out and let me drink my cider in
+peace, and quit stewing, for I tell you right now the fire-brand which
+has kept the kettles boiling is going to be removed."</p>
+
+<p>"Praise de Lawd fo' <i>dat</i> blessin' den. It was<a class="pagenum" name="page_94" id="page_94" title="94"></a> jist gwine ter make some
+of dem pots bile over if it had a-kep' on, yo' hyer me? Good-night,
+Massa Neil, drink yo' cider an' thank de Lawd fo' yo' mercies."</p>
+
+<p>"Good-night, Mammy. You're all right even if I do feel like smacking
+your head off once in a while. Used to do it when I was a kid, you know,
+and can't drop the habit."</p>
+
+<p>The following morning the party of four set off for Washington, Polly
+sorely divided in her mind regarding her own wishes. To have Peggy
+elsewhere than at Severndale was a possibility which had never entered
+into her calculations. How would it seem to have no Severndale to run
+out to? No Peggy to pop into Middie's Haven? No boon companion to ride,
+walk, drive, skate with, or lead the old life which they had both so
+loved? Polly did some serious thinking on the way to the big city, and
+wore such a sober face as they drew near the end of their journey that
+Captain Stewart asked, as he tweaked a stray lock which had escaped
+bonds:</p>
+
+<p>"What's going on inside this red pate? You look as solemn as an
+ostracized owl."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm trying to think how it is going to seem without Peggy this winter
+and I don't like the picture even a little bit," and Polly wagged the
+"red pate" dubiously.<a class="pagenum" name="page_95" id="page_95" title="95"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Better make up your mind to come along with your running-mate. By Jove,
+that's a brain throb, Peggy! How about it? Can't you persuade this girl
+of ours to give up the co-ed plan back yonder in Annapolis,&mdash;she knows
+all the seamanship and nav. that's good for her already,&mdash;and you'll
+need a room-mate up here at Columbia Heights School if we settle upon
+it," and Captain Stewart looked at Polly half longingly, half teasingly.
+Polly had grown very dear to the bluff, sincere man during her
+companionship with Peggy, and had crept into a corner of his heart he
+had never felt it possible for anyone but Peggy herself to fill.
+Somehow, latterly when thinking and planning for Peggy's well-being or
+pleasure, visions of Polly's tawny head invariably rose before him, and
+Polly's happy, sunny face was always beside the one he loved best of
+all. The two young girls had become inseparable in his thoughts as well
+as in reality.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Polly, will you? Will you?" begged Peggy, instantly fired with the
+wildest desire to have Polly enter the school which it had been decided
+she should enter if at closer inspection it proved to be all the
+catalogues, letters and dozens of pamphlets sent to Mrs. Harold
+represented it to be.</p>
+
+<p>"If I go to the Columbia Heights School what<a class="pagenum" name="page_96" id="page_96" title="96"></a> will Ralph say? And all
+the others, too? They'll say I've backed down on my co-ed plan and will
+run me half to death. Besides, Ralph needs me right there to let him
+know I'm keeping a lookout."</p>
+
+<p>"He doesn't need you half as much as this girl of mine needs you. You
+just let Ralph do a little navigating for himself and learn that it's up
+to him to make good on his own account. He's man enough to; all he needs
+now is to find it out. Will you let him do so by coming down here with
+Peggy?"</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_97" id="page_97" title="97"></a>
+<a name="COLUMBIA_HEIGHTS_SCHOOL_2289" id="COLUMBIA_HEIGHTS_SCHOOL_2289"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2>
+<h3>COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>As Captain Stewart asked the question which ended the last chapter the
+W. B. &amp; A. electric car came to a standstill in the heart of Washington
+and as he assisted his charges to descend the steps, Polly was the last.
+As she placed her hand in his she looked straight into his kind eyes and
+said:</p>
+
+<p>"I'm just ready to fly all to bits. I love Peggy and want to be with
+her; I love Aunt Janet and old Crabtown and everything connected with
+it; I've always kept neck-and-neck with Ralph in his work and I hate the
+thought of dropping out of it, but, oh, I do want to be with Peggy."</p>
+
+<p>"Come along out to the school and see what you think of it before you
+decide one way or the other; then talk it all over with your aunt and
+you won't go far amiss if you follow <i>her</i> advice, little girl."</p>
+
+<p>"I'll do it," answered Polly, with an emphatic wag of her head, and
+Peggy who overheard her words nearly pranced with joy.<a class="pagenum" name="page_98" id="page_98" title="98"></a></p>
+
+<p>Hailing a taxicab Captain Stewart directed the chauffeur to drive them
+to an address in the outskirts of the city and away they sped. It was
+only a short run in that whirring machine over Washington's beautiful
+streets and when the school was reached both Peggy and Polly exclaimed
+over the beauty of its situation, for Columbia Heights School was in the
+midst of spacious grounds, the buildings were substantial and
+attractive, giving the impression of ample space, all the fresh air
+needed by vigorous, rapidly developing bodies, and the sunshine upon
+which they thrive. Beautiful walks and drives led in every direction and
+not far off lovely Stony Brook Park lay in all the beauty of its golden
+October glow.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Harold and Captain Stewart were graciously welcomed by its charming
+principal who promptly led the way to her study, a great room giving
+upon a broad piazza, where green wicker furniture, potted plants and
+palms suggesting a tropical garden. When Polly's eyes fell upon it she
+forgot all else, and cried impulsively:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, how lovely! Can't we go right out there?" And then colored crimson.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Vincent smiled as she slipped an arm across Polly's shoulder and
+asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Are you to be my newest girl? If so, I<a class="pagenum" name="page_99" id="page_99" title="99"></a> think we would find something
+in common."</p>
+
+<p>Polly raised her big eyes to the sweet, strong face smiling upon her and
+answered:</p>
+
+<p>"I hadn't even thought of coming until an hour ago. It was all planned
+for Peggy, but, oh, dear, if I <i>only</i> could be twins! How am I ever to
+be a co-ed in Annapolis and a pupil here at the same time? Yet I want
+dreadfully to be both, I'm so fond of Peggy."</p>
+
+<p>"I fear we cannot solve that problem even in Columbia Heights School,
+though we try pretty hard to solve a good many knotty ones. Suppose I
+talk it over with the grown-ups and meantime arrange for your
+entertainment by two or three of the girls. We think they are rather
+nice girls too," and Mrs. Vincent pressed an electric button which
+promptly brought a neat maid to the door.</p>
+
+<p>"Hilda, ask Miss Natalie and Miss Marjorie to step to my study."</p>
+
+<p>Within a few moments two girls appeared in the doorway, the taller one
+asking:</p>
+
+<p>"Did you wish to see us, Mother?"</p>
+
+<p>Introductions followed, whereupon the Principal said:</p>
+
+<p>"Natalie, please take Miss Stewart and Miss Howland for a walk through
+the grounds. It is recreation period and they will like to meet the
+other girls and see the buildings also, I<a class="pagenum" name="page_100" id="page_100" title="100"></a> think. And remember, you are
+to picture everything in such glowing colors, and be so entertaining
+that they will think there is no other place in all the land half so
+lovely, for I have fully decided that we must have sweet P's in our posy
+bed. We have a Rose, a Violet, a Lily, Myrtle, Hazel, Marguerites,&mdash;oh,
+a whole flower garden already&mdash;but thus far no sweet-peas."</p>
+
+<p>"We will, Mrs. Vincent. Please come with us," said Marjorie cheerily, no
+trace of self-consciousness or the indefinable restraint so much oftener
+the rule than the exception between teacher and pupil. Mrs. Harold had
+been observing every word and action as it was a part of her nature to
+observe&mdash;yes, intuitively <i>feel</i>&mdash;every word and action of the young
+people with whom she came in touch, and the older ones who were likely
+to bring any influence to bear upon their lives, and this little scene
+did more to confirm her in the belief that she had not been amiss when
+she selected Columbia Heights School for Peggy than anything else could
+have done. Next to her husband, her sister and her nieces, Peggy was the
+dearest thing in the world to her, and the past year had shown her what
+tremendous possibilities the future held for the young girl if wisely
+shaped for her. The two ensuing hours were pleasant and<a class="pagenum" name="page_101" id="page_101" title="101"></a> profitable for
+all concerned and when they ended and Captain Stewart and his party
+re-entered the taxicab to return to their hotel in Washington, it was
+decided that Peggy should come to Columbia Heights School on October
+fifteenth, but Polly's decision was still in abeyance. She wished to
+have one of her long, quiet talks with her aunt before "shifting her
+holding ground," she said, and that could only be up in Middie's Haven,
+cuddled upon a hassock beside Mrs. Harold's easy chair, with the logs
+lazily flickering upon the brass andirons. So the ensuing two days in
+Washington were given over to sightseeing and "a general blow-out," as
+Captain Stewart termed it, insisting that he could not have another for
+months and meant to make this one "an A-1 affair." Then back they went
+to Severndale where Mrs. Stewart, to their surprise, had returned the
+previous day, having failed to find her friend in Baltimore. As she had
+already overstayed the length of time for which her invitation to
+Severndale had been extended, she had no possible excuse for prolonging
+it, and deciding that her schemes had met with defeat largely owing to
+her own impolitic precipitation in forcing the situation, she did not
+mean to make an ignominious retreat. So, with well assumed suavity she
+told her brother-in-law that some urgent business<a class="pagenum" name="page_102" id="page_102" title="102"></a> matters claimed her
+attention in New York, and asked if he could complete his arrangements
+for Peggy's departure without her aid, as she really ought to go North
+without delay.</p>
+
+<p>If Neil Stewart was amused by this sudden change in the lady's tactics,
+to his credit be it said that he did not betray any sign of it. He
+thanked her for her kind interest in Peggy and his home, for all she had
+done for them, and left nothing lacking for her comfort upon her
+homeward journey, even shipping to the apartment in New York enough
+fruit, game and various other good things from Severndale to keep her
+larder well supplied for weeks, and supplementing all these with a gift
+which would be the envy of all her friends. But when he returned to
+Severndale after bidding the lady farewell at the station, he breathed
+one mighty sigh of relief. He had escaped a situation of which the
+outcome was a good deal more than problematical for everyone concerned,
+and most vital for Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>Then came busy days of preparation for Peggy and Polly, for the outcome
+of that fireside powwow had been a decision in favor of Columbia Heights
+School for Polly also, for that winter at least, and when the fifteenth
+dawned bright and frosty, Mrs. Harold accompanied the girls to
+Washington, Captain<a class="pagenum" name="page_103" id="page_103" title="103"></a> Stewart's leave having meantime expired. But he had
+gone back to his ship in a very different frame of mind from that in
+which he had returned to it in July, and with a comforting sense of
+security in the outcome of his present plans for Peggy. The longer he
+knew Mrs. Harold the greater became his confidence in her judgment, and
+she had assured him that Peggy should be her charge that winter exactly
+as Polly was. Moreover, Mrs. Harold had persuaded Mrs. Howland to close
+her house in Montgentian for the winter and come to Annapolis, bringing
+Gail with her, for Constance had decided to follow the <i>Rhode Island</i>
+whenever it was possible for her to do so, and this decision left Mrs.
+Howland and Gail alone in their home. So to Wilmot Hall came Polly's
+mother and pretty sister, the former to spend a delightfully restful
+winter with her sister and the latter to take her first taste of the
+good times possible for a girl of twenty-one at the Naval Academy.</p>
+
+<p>The first breaking away from Severndale was harder for Peggy than anyone
+but Mrs. Harold guessed. Somehow intuition supplied to her what actual
+words could never have conveyed, even had they been spoken, but Peggy,
+once her resolution had been taken to go away to school, was not a girl
+to bewail her decision. And now she was a duly registered pupil at<a class="pagenum" name="page_104" id="page_104" title="104"></a>
+Columbia Heights with Polly for her room-mate in number 67, her
+next-door neighbor Natalie Vincent, Mrs. Vincent's daughter, a jolly,
+honest, happy-go-lucky girl, who looked exactly as her mother must have
+looked at fifteen. A long line of rooms extended up and down, both sides
+of the corridor, the end one, No. 70, with its pretty bay-window
+overlooking the lawn and Stony Brook beyond, was occupied by Stella
+Drummond, a tall, striking brunette of eighteen. To the hundred-fifty
+girls in Columbia Heights School this story can only allude in a brief
+way but of those who figure most prominently in Polly's and Peggy's new
+world we'll let Polly give the general "sizing-up." These girls were all
+about the same age, and, excepting Stella, juniors, as were Peggy and
+Polly, whose previous work under tutors and in high school had qualified
+them to enter that grade at Columbia Heights.</p>
+
+<p>It was their first night at the school, and "lights-out" bell had rung
+at ten o'clock, but a glorious October moon flooded the room with a
+silvery light, almost as bright as day. Peggy in one pretty little white
+bed and Polly in the one beside it were carrying on a lively whispered
+conversation.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we're <i>here</i>," was Polly's undisputable statement as she snuggled
+down under her<a class="pagenum" name="page_105" id="page_105" title="105"></a> bed-covers, "and now that we are what do you think of
+it?"</p>
+
+<p>"I'm glad we've come. It will seem a lot different, and rather queer to
+do everything by rules and on time, but, after all, we had to do almost
+everything by rule up home."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but they were nearly always our <i>own</i> rules; yours, anyway. Why,
+Peggy, I don't believe there is a girl in this school who ever had
+things as much her own way as you have had them."</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe that's the reason I didn't get along with Aunt Katherine,"
+answered Peggy whimsically.</p>
+
+<p>"Aunt Katherine!" Polly's whisper suggested italics. "Do you know Miss
+Sturgis, the math. teacher, makes me think of her a little. Miss Sturgis
+is strong-minded, I'll bet a cookie. Did you hear what she said when she
+was giving out our books on sociology&mdash;doesn't it seem funny, Peggy, for
+us to take up sociology?&mdash;'She hoped we would become good American
+citizens and realize woman's true position in the world.' Somehow I've
+thought Tanta has always had a pretty clear idea of 'woman's position in
+the world.' At any rate she seems to have plenty to do in her own quiet
+way and I've an idea that if anyone ever hinted that she ought to go to
+the polls and vote she'd<a class="pagenum" name="page_106" id="page_106" title="106"></a> feel inclined to spell it pole and use it to
+'beat 'em up' with, as Ralph and the boys would say. Oh, dear, how we
+are going to miss 'the bunch,' Peggy."</p>
+
+<p>"We certainly are," was Peggy's sympathetic reply, and for a moment
+there was silence in the moonlit room as the girls' thoughts flew back
+to Annapolis. Then Peggy asked: "What do you think of the girls? You've
+been to school all your life, but it is all new to me."</p>
+
+<p>Polly laughed a low, little laugh, then replied:</p>
+
+<p>"They are about like most school-girls, I reckon. Let's see, which have
+we had most to do with since we came here twenty-four hours ago? There's
+Rosalie Breeze. She's named all right, sure enough, and if she doesn't
+turn out a hurricane we'll be lucky. We had one just like her up at
+High. And Lily Pearl Montgomery. My gracious, what a name to give a
+girl! She needs stirring up. She's just like a big, fat, spoiled baby. I
+feel like saying 'Goo-goo' to her."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't you think Juno Gibson is handsome?" asked Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"Just as handsome as she can be, but I wish she didn't look so
+discontented all the time. Why, she hasn't smiled once since we came."</p>
+
+<p>"I wonder why not?" commented Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe we'll find out after we've been here<a class="pagenum" name="page_107" id="page_107" title="107"></a> a while. But I tell you one
+thing, I like her better without any smiles than that silly Helen
+Gwendolyn Doolittle with her everlasting affected giggling at nothing.
+She is the kind to do some silly thing and make us all ashamed of her."</p>
+
+<p>"How about Stella Drummond?"</p>
+
+<p>"She is a puzzle to me. Doesn't she seem an awful lot older than the
+rest of us? Rosalie says she is eighteen and that's not so much older,
+but she seems about twenty-five. I wonder why?"</p>
+
+<p>"Maybe she has lived in cities all her life and gone out a lot. You know
+most of the girls we met up at New London seemed so much older too, yet
+they really were not. They looked upon us as children, though the Little
+Mother said we were years older in common sense while they were years
+older in worldly experience,&mdash;I wonder what she meant?"</p>
+
+<p>"Tanta meant that we had stayed young girls and could enjoy fun and
+frolic as much as ever, but those girls were not satisfied with anything
+but dances and theatres and all sorts of grown-up things. We have our
+fun with our horses, dogs and the nonsense with the boys up home. We
+want our skirts short and our hair flying and to romp when we feel like
+it."</p>
+
+<p>"Picture Helen or Lily Pearl romping," and<a class="pagenum" name="page_108" id="page_108" title="108"></a> Peggy dove under the covers
+to smother her laughter at the thought of the fat, pudgy Lily Pearl
+attempting anything of the sort. Polly snickered in sympathy and then
+said in her emphatic way:</p>
+
+<p>"I tell you, Peggy, which girls I <i>do</i> like and I think they will like
+us: Marjorie Terry and Natalie Vincent. Marjorie is awfully sober and
+quiet, I know, but <i>I</i> believe she's sort of lonely, or homesick or
+something. Natalie seems more like our own kind than any girl in the
+school and I'll wager my tennis racquet she'll be lots of fun if she is
+the Principal's daughter. But we'd better go to sleep this minute. We've
+made a sort of hash of seven girls, and if we try to size up the whole
+school this way it will be broad daylight before we finish. Good-night.
+It's sort of nice to be here after all, and nicer still to have you for
+a room-mate, old Peggoty."</p>
+
+<p>An appreciative little laugh was the only answer to this and five
+minutes later the moon was looking in upon a picture hard to duplicate
+in this great world: Two sweet, unspoiled, beautiful girls in the first
+flush of untroubled slumber.</p>
+
+<p>The following morning being Saturday and Peggy's and Polly's belongings
+having arrived, the girls set about arranging their room, half a dozen
+others having volunteered assistance.<a class="pagenum" name="page_109" id="page_109" title="109"></a> For convenience in reaching "up
+aloft" Peggy and Polly had slipped off their waists and were arrayed in
+kimonos which aroused the envy of their companions. Captain Stewart had
+given them to his "twins" as he now called the girls. Peggy's was the
+richest shade of crimson embroidered in all manner of golden gods and
+dragons; Polly's pale blue with silver chrysanthemums.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, <i>where</i> did they come from?" cried Natalie.</p>
+
+<p>"Daddy Neil brought them to us," answered Peggy, as she stepped toward
+the door to take an armful of pictures and pillows from old Jess who had
+followed his young mistress to Washington to care for Shashai and Silver
+Star, the horses having been sent on also, for Columbia Heights School
+had large stables for the accommodation of riding or driving horses for
+the use of its pupils, or they could bring their own if they preferred.
+So Shashai and Silver Star had been ridden down by Jess, taking the
+journey in short, easy stages, and arriving the previous evening.
+Tzaritza, to her astonishment had not been allowed to accompany them,
+and Roy was inconsolable for days. Peggy's departure from Severndale had
+left many a grieving heart behind.</p>
+
+<p>"What I gwine do wid all dis hyer truck,<a class="pagenum" name="page_110" id="page_110" title="110"></a> Missie-honey?" asked Jess,
+coming in from the corridor with a second armful: riding-crops, silver
+bits, a fox's brush, books and what not.</p>
+
+<p>"Just plump it down anywhere, Jess. We'll get round to it all in due
+time," laughed Peggy from her perch upon a small step-ladder where she
+was fastening up some hat-bands of the <i>Rhode Island</i>, <i>New Hampshire</i>,
+<i>Olympia</i> and the ships which had comprised the summer practice
+squadron, the girls all gathered about her asking forty questions to the
+minute and wild with curiosity and excitement. Never before had two
+"really, truly Navy girls" been inmates of Columbia Heights and it sent
+a wild flutter through many hearts. What possibilities might lie at the
+Annapolis end of the W. B. &amp; A. Railroad!</p>
+
+<p>Jess's white woolly head was bent down over the armful of books he was
+placing upon the floor; Peggy had returned to her decorating; Polly had
+draped her flag upon the wall and was standing her beloved bugle and a
+long row of photographs upon book-shelves beneath it, several girls
+following her with little squeals of rapture, when a pandemonium of
+shrieks and screams arose down the corridor and the next second a huge
+creature bounded into the room, tipping Jess and his burden heels over
+head, and flinging itself upon Peggy. Down came<a class="pagenum" name="page_111" id="page_111" title="111"></a> ladder, Peggy, and the
+white mass in a heap, the girls scattering in a shrieking panic to
+whatever shelter seemed to offer, confident that nothing less than a
+wolf had invaded the fold.</p>
+
+<p>But Tzaritza was no wolf even if her beautiful snowy coat was
+mud-bedraggled and stuck full of burrs, nor was Peggy being "devoured
+alive," as Lily Pearl, who had actually <i>run</i> for once in her life, was
+hysterically sobbing into Mrs. Vincent's arms.</p>
+
+<p>No, Peggy, rather promiscuous as to ladder, hammer, hat-bands and
+general paraphernalia, was lying flat upon her back, her arms around
+Tzaritza, half-sobbing, half-laughing her joy into the beautiful
+creature's silky neck, while Tzaritza whimpered and whined for joy and
+licked and dabbed her mistress with a moist tongue.</p>
+
+<p>"It is a wolf! A wolf!" shrieked Lily Pearl, who had returned to the
+scene, "and he is killing her."</p>
+
+<p>"It is a horrid, dirty dog! Why doesn't that man drive him out?"
+demanded Miss Sturgis, who had followed Tzaritza hot foot, having been
+in the main hall when the great hound went tearing through and up the
+stairs, nose and ears having given her the clue to her mistress'
+whereabouts.</p>
+
+<p>"No, it's only a wolf<i>hound</i>!" laughed Polly,<a class="pagenum" name="page_112" id="page_112" title="112"></a> dropping her pictures to
+fly across the room and fall upon Tzaritza.</p>
+
+<p>Then explanations followed. Tzaritza had been left in Shelby's care, but
+finding it impossible to restrain her when Jess was about to leave with
+the horses, he had tied her in the barn. The rope was bitten through as
+clean as a thread and Tzaritza's coat told of the long journey on the
+horses' trail.</p>
+
+<p>After her wild demonstrations of joy had calmed down, Tzaritza stood
+panting in the middle of the wreck which her cyclonic entrance had
+brought about, her great eyes pleading eloquently for restored favor.</p>
+
+<p>Polly still clasped her arms about the big shaggy neck, while Miss
+Sturgis alternately protested and commanded Jess to "remove that dirty
+creature at once." Happily, Mrs. Vincent entered the room at this
+juncture and it must have been the god of animals, of which Kipling
+tells us, which inspired Tzaritza's act at that moment. Or was it
+something in the fine, strong face which children and animals in common
+all trust with subtle intuition? At all events, Tzaritza looked at Mrs.
+Vincent just one moment and then greeted her exactly as at home she
+would have greeted Dr. Llewellyn or Captain Stewart; by rising upon her
+hind legs, placing her forepaws upon Mrs. Vincent's<a class="pagenum" name="page_113" id="page_113" title="113"></a> shoulders and
+nestling her magnificent head into the amazed woman's neck as
+confidingly as a child would have done. A less self-contained woman
+would have been frightened half to death. Miss Sturgis came near
+swooning but Mrs. Vincent just gathered the great dog into her arms as
+she would have gathered one of her girls and said:</p>
+
+<p>"Without the power of human speech you plead your cause most eloquently,
+you beautiful creature. Peggy, has she ever been separated from you
+before, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Never, Mrs. Vincent. She has slept at my door since she was a wee
+puppy."</p>
+
+<p>"She shall be appointed guardian of the West Wing of Columbia Heights,
+and may turn out a guardian for us all. Now, Jess, take her to the
+stables and make her presentable to polite society. Poor Tzaritza, your
+journey must have been a long, hard, dusty one, for your silken fringes
+have collected many souvenirs of it."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_114" id="page_114" title="114"></a>
+<a name="A_RIDING_LESSON_2676" id="A_RIDING_LESSON_2676"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2>
+<h3>A RIDING LESSON</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>In spite of the Sturgeon's protests that "it was <i>most</i> impolitic to
+establish a precedent in the school," Tzaritza became a duly enrolled
+member of the establishment, and from that moment slept at Peggy's door,
+a welcome inmate of Columbia Heights. Welcome at least, to all but one
+person. Miss Sturgis loathed all animals.</p>
+
+<p>In the ensuing weeks Peggy and Polly slipped very naturally into their
+places. In her own class and in the West Wing Natalie Vincent had always
+been the acknowledged leader, for, even though the daughter of the
+Principal, not the slightest partiality was ever shown her and she was
+obliged to conform as strictly to the rules as any girl in the school.
+She was full of fun, eternally in harmless mischief, and, of course,
+eternally being taken to task for her misdeeds.</p>
+
+<p>By the usual order of the attraction of opposites Marjorie Terry and
+Natalie had formed a warm friendship. Marjorie the quiet, reserved,<a class="pagenum" name="page_115" id="page_115" title="115"></a>
+rather shrinking girl from Seattle. She never joined in any of Natalie's
+wild pranks, but on the other hand was a safe confidant, and if she
+could not follow her more spontaneous friend's lead, she certainly never
+balked or betrayed her. The other girls had christened them Positive and
+Negative and they certainly lived up to their names.</p>
+
+<p>The girls whom Peggy and Polly had discussed so frankly the night after
+their arrival all roomed in the West Wing. Stella in her own large,
+handsome room, for her father was manager of an immense railroad system
+in the middle West. Rosalie Breeze and oh "cursed spite!" Isabel
+Boylston&mdash;"<i>Is</i>-a-bel," as she pronounced it,&mdash;roomed together and
+squabbled incessantly. At least, Rosalie did the squabbling, <i>Is</i>-a-bel
+affected the superior, self-righteous air which acted upon Rosalie's
+peppery temper as a red rag upon a bull. It was Miss Sturgis, of course,
+who had advised placing them together. Isabel was a great favorite of
+Miss Sturgis, and Rosalie was the reverse.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Vincent had not entirely approved the arrangement, but the school
+was unusually crowded this year and two of the girls' parents had
+insisted upon single rooms for their daughters. Juno Gibson, from New
+York, had announced very positively that unless she could<a class="pagenum" name="page_116" id="page_116" title="116"></a> have a room
+to herself in Columbia Heights School she would pack her three trunks
+and go elsewhere, and Papa Gibson was not in the habit of disputing his
+daughter's will or wishes unless they conflicted with his own. In this
+matter he didn't care a straw, so Miss Juno was not compelled to have "a
+dozen girls eternally under foot and ruining my clothes by crowding the
+closets full of theirs."</p>
+
+<p>Lily Pearl, "Tootsy-wootsy," as her companions had dubbed her, roomed
+with Helen Gwendolyn Doolittle, "Cutie," and a sweet, sentimental pair
+they made, though Helen spent every possible moment with the latest
+object of her adoration, Stella Drummond, for whom she had instantly
+conceived an overwhelming infatuation; a pronounced school-girl "crush."</p>
+
+<p>Of the other girls in the school only a passing glimpse need be given.</p>
+
+<p>Saturday afternoons were always perfectly free at Columbia Heights, and
+the girls could do practically as they chose. There was one rule, or
+rather the absence of it, which had appealed very strongly to Mrs.
+Harold and gone a long way toward biasing her choice in favor of the
+school. If the girls wished to go into the city&mdash;that is, the girls in
+the Sophomore, Junior and Senior grades&mdash;to do shopping or make calls,
+they were entirely at liberty to do so unattended<a class="pagenum" name="page_117" id="page_117" title="117"></a> by a teacher, though
+Mrs. Vincent must, of course, know where they were going. With very rare
+exceptions this rule had always worked to perfection. The very fact that
+they might do as they chose, and were put upon their honor to uphold the
+reputation and dignity of the school, usually acted as an incentive to
+them to do so, whereas the eternal surveillance and suspicion of the
+average school acts as a mighty inspiration to circumvent all
+regulations.</p>
+
+<p>Another pleasant feature of Saturday afternoons were the long riding
+excursions through the beautiful surrounding country, with a groom
+accompanying the party and with one of the girls acting as riding
+mistress. Besides Peggy and Polly, Stella was the only girl who had her
+own horse at Columbia Heights, the others riding those provided by the
+school. They were good horses and the riding-master, Albert Dawson, was
+supposed to be a good man, conscientious, painstaking, careful. He was
+conventional to a degree. He taught the English seat, the English rise,
+the English gait, and his horses were all docked and hogged in the
+English fashion. Dawson would doubtless have taught them to drop their
+H's as he himself did, had he been able to do so.</p>
+
+<p>When Shashai and Silver Star arrived upon the scene, manes and forelocks
+long and silky<a class="pagenum" name="page_118" id="page_118" title="118"></a> as a girl's hair, tails almost sweeping the ground and
+flowing free, poor Dawson nearly died of outraged conventions, though he
+was forced to admit that the Columbia Heights stables held no horseflesh
+to compare with these thoroughbreds.</p>
+
+<p>"But oh, my 'eart, look at that mess o' 'air and mind their paces. They
+lopes along for all the world like them blooming little jackals we used
+to 'ave bout in Hindia when I was in 'is Lordship's service. They'd ruin
+my reputation if they was to be seen in the Row," he deplored to Jess,
+who was grooming his pets as carefully as old Mammy would have brushed
+Peggy's hair.</p>
+
+<p>Jess gave a derisive snort. He had lived a good many more years than
+Dawson and his experience with horseflesh was an exceptionally wide one.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, yo'-all needn't be a troublin' yo' sperrits 'bout de gait ob dese
+hyer horses. Dey kin set de pace fo' all dat truck yonder, an' don' yo'
+fergit dat fac'. Yo's got some fairly-middlin'-good ones hyer," and Jess
+nodded toward the stalls, "but dey's just de onery class, not de
+quality. No-siree. Now, honey, don' yo' go fer ter git perjectin' none
+cause I'se praisin' yo' to yo' face. Tain't good manners fer ter take
+notice when yo's praised. Yo' mistiss 'll<a class="pagenum" name="page_119" id="page_119" title="119"></a> tell yo' dat," admonished
+Jess, as Shashai reached forward and plucked his cap from his head. "Yo'
+gimme dat cap, yo' hyer me!"</p>
+
+<p>But Shashai's teeth held it firmly as he tossed it playfully up and
+down, to Jess' secret delight in his pet's cleverness, though he
+outwardly affected strong disapproval, after the manner of his race.</p>
+
+<p>The horses were like playful, fearless children with him, and Jess was
+bursting with pride at the result of his handiwork. And certainly, it
+was worth looking upon, for no finer specimens of faultlessly groomed
+horseflesh could have been found in the land.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but think of the figure I'll be cutting when I take my young
+ladies for a turn in the park or on the havenue," protested Dawson.
+"Couldn't ye just knot hup them tails a bit, and mebbe braid that
+fly-away mane down along the crest? If I'm bordered to take my young
+ladies into the park or the city this hafternoon, I swear I'll hexpire
+of mortification with them 'orses."</p>
+
+<p>But this was too much for Jess. Dawson had at last touched the match,
+and he caught the full force of Jess's wrath:</p>
+
+<p>"Sp-sp-spire ob&mdash;ob mortification! Shamed ob dese hyer hosses! Frettin'
+cause yo's gotter 'scort a pair of animals what's got pedigrees dat
+reach back ter Noah's Ark eanemost!<a class="pagenum" name="page_120" id="page_120" title="120"></a> Why, dey blood kin make you-all's
+look lak mullen sap, an' dey manners, even if dey ain' nothin' but
+hosses, jist natchelly mak' yo' light clean outer sight. Sho'! Go long,
+chile! Yo' gotter live some. Dar, it done struck five bells&mdash;<i>dat</i> mean
+ten-thirty, unerstan'&mdash;an' you's gotter git half-a-dozen ob yo'
+bob-tailed nags ready fo' de ridin' lessons yo' tells me yo' gives de
+yo'ng ladies at <i>six</i> bells,&mdash;<i>dat's</i> eleben o'clock,&mdash;Sattidy mawnin's.
+I's pintedly cur'us fer ter see dem lessons, <i>I</i> is. Lak 'nough befo' de
+mawnin's ober <i>yo'll</i> take a lesson yo'-self," and Jess ended his tirade
+by throwing an arm across each silky neck and saying to his charges:</p>
+
+<p>"Now, come 'long wid ole Jess, honeys. Yo's gwine enter high sassiety
+presen'ly, and yo's gotter do Severndale credit. Yo' hyer me?"</p>
+
+<p>Poor Dawson was decidedly perturbed in his mind. Hitherto he had been
+the autocrat of "form and fashion," the absolute dictator of the proper
+style. Under his ordering, horses had been bought for the school,
+cropped, docked and trimmed on the most approved lines, until nothing
+but a hopeless, forlorn stubble indicated that they had once boasted
+manes or forelocks, and poor little affairs like whisk-brooms served for
+tails, or rather did not serve, especially in<a class="pagenum" name="page_121" id="page_121" title="121"></a> fly-time. But that was a
+minor consideration. Fashion's dictates were obeyed.</p>
+
+<p>With the aid of his grooms Dawson soon had five horses saddled and
+bridled, curbs rattling and saddles creaking. There were only two cross
+saddles. Then he turned to Jess.</p>
+
+<p>"Ye'd better be gettin' them hanimals ready, for I dare say I've to give
+the young ladies their lessons too."</p>
+
+<p>"Hi-ya!" exploded Jess. Then added: "Come 'long, babies, an' git dressed
+up. Yo' all's gwine git yo' summons up yonder presen'ly."</p>
+
+<p>Shashai and Star obediently walked over to the bar upon which their
+light headstalls hung, sniffed at them with long audible breaths, then
+each selecting his own carried it to Jess in his teeth.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Hi'll be blowed!" murmured Dawson.</p>
+
+<p>Jess pretended not to notice, but saying unconcernedly: "Dat's all
+right. Now put 'em on lak gentlemen," he held one in each hand toward
+his pets. They took the bits in their mouths, slipped their heads into
+the headstalls and then waited for Jess to buckle the throat-latches,
+for that was a trifle beyond them. "Now fotch yo' saddles," ordered
+Jess, pleased to the point of foolishness. The horses went to the saddle
+blocks, selected their saddles, lifted<a class="pagenum" name="page_122" id="page_122" title="122"></a> them by the little pommel and
+carried them to Jess like obedient children.</p>
+
+<p>No mother was ever more gratified than Jess. "Now honeys, yo' stan'
+right whar yo's at twell yo' summons come from over yander. Yo's gwine
+hyar it all right," and with this parting admonition to good behavior,
+Jess went unconcernedly about his business of putting away the articles
+of his pets' toilets.</p>
+
+<p>"They'll be a-boltin' and raisin' the very mischief if you leave them
+alone," warned Dawson.</p>
+
+<p>"What dat yo' say? I reckons yo' ain' got <i>yo'</i> horses trained like
+we-all back yonder got <i>ours</i>. Paht ob dey eddications must a-been
+neglected ef dey gotter be tied up ter keep 'em whar yo' wants 'em fer
+ter <i>stay</i> at. Yo' need'n worry 'bout Shashai and Star. <i>Dey's</i> got
+sense."</p>
+
+<p>Dawson vouchsafed no reply. One must be tolerant with garrulous old
+niggers, but he'd keep an "hey on them 'orses" all the same.</p>
+
+<p>The riding school used in stormy weather and the circle for fine, were
+not far from the house. At five minutes before eleven the girls who were
+to have their Saturday morning lessons prior to the ride in the
+afternoon, went over to the school and an electric bell notified Dawson
+that his young ladies awaited their mounts. With<a class="pagenum" name="page_123" id="page_123" title="123"></a> due decorum and
+self-importance he and Henry, the groom, led the horses from the stable,
+Dawson calling over his shoulder:</p>
+
+<p>"You'd better come on with your Harabs, I can't be waitin' with my
+lessons."</p>
+
+<p>"We-all'll come 'long when we's bid," was Jess' cryptic retort.</p>
+
+<p>Dawson scorned to reply, but mounted on his big dapple-gray horse, Duke,
+body bent forward and elbows out, creaked away. When he reached the big
+circle where a group of girls stood upon the platform for mounting,
+Peggy and Polly, in their trim little divided skirts, looked inquiringly
+for Shashai and Silver Star. Peggy asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Are our horses ready, Dawson?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Miss, I believe so, Miss, but your man seemed to think I'd best
+let you ring, or do&mdash;well, I don't rightly know <i>what</i> 'ee hexpected you
+to do, Miss. But 'ee didn't let me bring the 'orses, beggin' your
+pardon, Miss."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, that's all right, Dawson; Jess is just silly about the horses and
+us. You mustn't mind his little ways. It's only because he loves us all
+so dearly. Besides it isn't necessary for anyone to bring them. I'll
+call them," and placing a little silver bo's'n's whistle to her lips
+Peggy "piped to quarters." It was instantly answered by two loud neighs
+and the<a class="pagenum" name="page_124" id="page_124" title="124"></a> thud of rapid hoofbeats as Shashai and Silver Star came
+sweeping up the broad driveway from the stables, heads tossing, manes
+waving and tails floating out like streamers. The girls with Peggy and
+Polly clapped their hands and shrieked with delight.</p>
+
+<p>"One bell, Shashai! Halt, Star!" cried Peggy and Polly in a breath.</p>
+
+<p>The splendid animals came straight to them, stopped instantly, dropped
+to their knees and touched the ground with their soft muzzles in sign of
+obeisance. The girls all scrambled off the platform as one individual,
+riding lesson and everything else utterly forgotten; here was a new
+order of things hitherto utterly undreamed of in the school. It had been
+a case of "pigs is pigs" or "horses is horses" with them. That the
+animals they were learning to ride <i>&agrave; la mode</i> might be something more
+than mere delightful machines of transportation had never entered their
+heads.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, how did you make them do it? Will you show us? Will any horse come
+if you know how to call him? Can they all do that? Didn't it take you
+forever and ever to teach them? Aren't they beauties! What are they
+trying to do now?" were the questions rattling like hail about Peggy's
+and Polly's ears.</p>
+
+<p>For answer Peggy opened a little linen bag<a class="pagenum" name="page_125" id="page_125" title="125"></a> which she carried, handing
+to Polly three lumps of sugar and taking three out for her own pet. The
+horses crunched them with a relish, their light snaffle bits acting as
+only slight impediments to their mastication.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you always give them sugar? Oh, please give us some for our horses,"
+begged the girls.</p>
+
+<p>"Young ladies, I don't 'old with givin' the 'orses nothin' while in
+'arness and a-mussin' them up. They'll be a-slobberin' themselves a
+sight," expostulated Dawson.</p>
+
+<p>"But Miss Stewart's and Miss Howland's horses are not slobbered up,"
+argued Natalie.</p>
+
+<p>"They've not got curb bits. Just them snaffles which is as good as none
+whatever," was Dawson's scornful criticism.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, why must ours have curbs if theirs don't," argued Juno Gibson,
+whose habitual frown seemed to have somewhat lessened during the past
+five minutes. If Juno had a single soft spot in her heart it was touched
+by animals. She did not have a horse of her own, though she insisted
+upon always having the same mount, to Dawson's opposition, for he
+contended that to become expert horsewomen his pupils must change their
+mounts and become accustomed to different horses. In the long run the
+argument was a good one, but Miss Juno did not yield readily to
+arguments. Therefore she invariably<a class="pagenum" name="page_126" id="page_126" title="126"></a> rode Lady Belle, a light-footed
+little filly, with a tender mouth and nervous as a witch. Her big gentle
+eyes held a constant look of appeal, she was chafed incessantly by the
+heavy chain curb, and if anyone approached her suddenly she started
+back, jerking up her head as though in terror of a blow. But with Juno
+she was tractable as a lamb, and the pretty creature's whole expression
+changed when the girl was riding her. Juno had a light, firm hand upon
+the bit and in spite of Dawson's emphatic orders to "'old 'er curb well
+in 'and perpetual," she rarely used it, and Lady Belle obeyed her
+lightest touch.</p>
+
+<p>"Our 'orses are 'arnessed as they had orter be, Miss Gibson, and as the
+Queen 'erself rides them in the hold country. 'Hi'm doing my best to
+teach you young ladies proper, and I can't 'old with some of these loose
+Hamerican 'abits. They wouldn't be 'eld with for a minute in the Row."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, a fig for your old Row, Dawson! <i>We're</i> all American girls and
+there's more snap-to in us in one of your 'minutes' than in all the
+English girls I've ever seen in my life, and I've seen a good
+many&mdash;<i>too</i> many for my peace of mind. I lived there two years," broke
+in Rosalie Breeze. "I'll bet Miss Howland and Miss Stewart can show you
+some stunts in riding<a class="pagenum" name="page_127" id="page_127" title="127"></a> which would make your old queen's eyes pop out.
+Why don't you quote Helen Taft to us instead of Queen Mary? We don't
+care a whoop for the queen of England, but Helen Taft is just a Yankee
+girl like ourselves and we can see her ride almost any day if we want
+to. She is big enough for us to see, goodness knows. But come on, girls.
+Let's do our stunts," and Rosalie scrambled upon the platform once more,
+ready to mount Jack-o'-Lantern, the horse she was to ride.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Lady Bell sniffing something eatable, had drawn near Peggy,
+half doubtful, half trustful. At that instant Peggy turned rather
+quickly, entirely unaware of the filly's approach. With a frightened
+snort the pretty creature started back. Peggy grasped the situation
+instantly. She made a step forward, raised her arm, drew the silky neck
+within her embrace, whispered a few words into the nervously alert ear,
+and the hour was won. Lady Belle nestled to her like a sensitive,
+frightened child.</p>
+
+<p>"'Ave a care, Miss Stewart! 'Ave a care! She's a snappy one," warned
+Dawson with bristling importance as he turned from settling <i>Is</i>-a-bel
+Boylston upon a big, white, heavy-footed horse, where she managed to
+keep her place with all the grace of outline and poise of a meal sack.<a class="pagenum" name="page_128" id="page_128" title="128"></a></p>
+
+<p>Now Peggy had been sizing things up pretty thoroughly during the past
+fifteen minutes, and her conclusions were not flattering to Dawson.
+There was a cut upon Lady Belle's sensitive nostril which told its
+little story to her. Jack-o'-Lantern's hoofs were varnished most
+beautifully, but when he lifted them one glimpse told Peggy the
+condition of the frogs. The silver mounting upon "The Senator's,"
+Isabel's horse's harness were shining, but his bit was rusty and untidy.
+A dozen little trifles testified to Dawson's superficiality, and Peggy
+had been mistress of a big paddock too long to let this popinjay lord it
+over one whom he sized up as "nothin' but a school girl." Consequently,
+her reply to his warning slightly upset his equanimity.</p>
+
+<p>"You need not be alarmed, Dawson, but if Lady Belle turns fractious I'll
+abide the consequences."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Miss, yes, Miss, but <i>'Hi'm</i> responsible, you understand."</p>
+
+<p>"What for? The horse's well-being or mine? I'll relieve you of mine, and
+give you more time to care for the horses. Lady Belle's muzzle seems to
+have suffered slightly. Jack-o'-Lantern's hoofs need your attention, and
+at Severndale a bit like the Senator's would mean a bad quarter of an
+hour for <i>some</i>body. So, you'd<a class="pagenum" name="page_129" id="page_129" title="129"></a> have a hard time 'holding down your job'
+there. That's pure American slang. Do you understand it?" and shrugging
+her shoulders slightly, Peggy cried: "Come on, girls! We're wasting
+loads of time. Attention, Shashai! Right dress! Right step! Front!
+Steady!"</p>
+
+<p>As Peggy spoke, Shashai and Silver Star sprang side by side, then stood
+like statues. At "right dress" they turned their heads toward the group
+of horses. At "right step," they closed up until they stood in perfect
+line beside them. At "front," "steady" they stood facing the two girls,
+waiting the next command.</p>
+
+<p>"Come up to the platform. Come up and be ready to mount, young ladies,"
+ordered Dawson.</p>
+
+<p>"We'll mount when you give the word," answered Polly, her hand, like
+Peggy's, upon her horse's withers.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll never be able to from the ground, Miss."</p>
+
+<p>A ringing laugh from the girls, sudden springs and they were in their
+saddles. "Four bells!" they cried and swept away around the ring, their
+gay laughter flung behind them to where their companion's horses were
+fidgeting and chafing under Dawson's highly conventional restraint,
+while that disconcerted man whose veneer had so promptly been
+penetrated<a class="pagenum" name="page_130" id="page_130" title="130"></a> by Peggy's keen vision, forgot himself so far as to mutter
+under his breath:</p>
+
+<p>"These Hamerican girls are the limit, and I'm in for a &mdash;&mdash; of a time if
+I don't mind my hey. And she Miss Stewart of Severndale, and I not hon
+to that before! 'Ere's a go and no mistake."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_131" id="page_131" title="131"></a>
+<a name="COMMON_SENSE_AND_HORSE_SENSE_3055" id="COMMON_SENSE_AND_HORSE_SENSE_3055"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2>
+<h3>COMMON SENSE AND HORSE SENSE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>As has no doubt already been suspected, Alfred Dawson, Riding Master at
+the Columbia Heights School, was such a complete impostor that he
+actually imposed upon himself. He is by no means the only one on record.
+Oddly enough we are all more or less impostors, blind to our own pet
+foibles, deluded as to our own little weaknesses. Dawson's methods with
+his charges, both two-footed and four, were the methods of thousands of
+others, whether they have the directing of young people, or the training
+of animal's entrusted to them. Like grains of corn&mdash;pour them into a
+hopper and they come out at the other end meal&mdash;of some sort&mdash;good&mdash;bad
+or indifferent as it happens&mdash;that was not <i>his</i> concern; his job was to
+pour in the grains and he knew of but one way to pour&mdash;just as someone
+else had poured before him. That he might devise new and better methods
+of pouring never entered his square-shaped head. It was left for a
+fifteen-year-old girl, and an old darky, whom in his secret heart he<a class="pagenum" name="page_132" id="page_132" title="132"></a>
+regarded as no better than the dirt beneath his feet, to start volcanic
+eruptions destined to shake the very foundations of his
+self-complacence. Hitherto he had simply been lord of his realm. He had
+come to Columbia Heights highly recommended by the father of one of its
+pupils and had assumed undisputed control. Mrs. Vincent, like hundreds
+of other women who own horses, but who know about as much concerning
+their care and well-being as they know of what is needful for a Rajah's
+herd of elephants, judged wholly by the outward evidences. The horses
+came to the house in seemingly faultless condition: their coats shone,
+their harness seemed immaculate; they behaved in a most exemplary
+manner. Nor had anything ever happened to the young ladies while they
+were in Dawson's care. What more could a conscientious school Principal
+ask of her riding master? It had never occurred to her to appear in the
+stables when least expected; to examine harness, saddles, stalls, feed
+mangers, bedding; to study the expressions of her horses' faces as she
+would have studied her girls. How many women ever think of doing so? It
+never entered her head to argue that there was more reason for it. Few
+of her girls would have hesitated to express their minds had any one
+misused them, or to insist upon comfortable<a class="pagenum" name="page_133" id="page_133" title="133"></a> conditions should
+uncomfortable ones exist for them.</p>
+
+<p>Yet Mrs. Vincent, sweet, strong, kind, and just to everyone, was as
+blind as a babe to the impositions practiced by the oily-tongued,
+deferential Dawson. True, he did 'get upon her nerves' now and again,
+but she secretly reproached herself for what she felt to be her American
+prejudices, and by way of self-discipline overlooked in Dawson many
+little aggravating peculiarities which she would have felt it her duty
+to instantly correct in the other servants.</p>
+
+<p>And no doubt things would have gone on in exactly the same way
+indefinitely had not a little lassie who loved horses and animals as she
+loved human beings, and whose understanding of them and their
+understanding of her was almost uncanny, chosen Columbia Heights School
+for her Alma Mater.</p>
+
+<p>That was a red letter hour for Dawson. He had a vague feeling that some
+influence, perhaps his evil genius, was bestirring itself. At all
+events, he was ill at ease, something of his accustomed self-conceit was
+lacking and he was, as the result, somewhat irritable, though he dared
+not manifest open resentment.</p>
+
+<p>Now it need hardly be stated that Peggy had no premeditated intention of
+antagonizing the<a class="pagenum" name="page_134" id="page_134" title="134"></a> man. He meant no more to her than dozens of other
+grooms, for after all he was merely an upper servant, but her quick eyes
+had instantly made some discoveries which hurt her as a physical needle
+prick would have hurt her. Peggy had employed too many men at Severndale
+under Shelby's wonderful judgment and experience of both men and
+animals, not to judge pretty accurately, and <i>most</i> intuitively, the
+type of man mounted upon big, gray "Duke." Duke's very ears and eyes
+told Peggy and Polly a little story which would have made Dawson's pale
+blue eyes open wider than usual could he have translated it.</p>
+
+<p>As Peggy and Polly went cavorting away across the ring, Dawson called
+rather peremptorily:</p>
+
+<p>"Young ladies, you will be good enough to come back and take your places
+beside the others. This is a riding lesson, not a circus show, <i>hif</i> you
+please."</p>
+
+<p>Polly shot a quick glance at Peggy. There was the slightest possible
+pressure of their knees and Shashai and Silver Star glided back to their
+places beside the other four horses.</p>
+
+<p>"Now you will please 'old your reins and your bodies as the other young
+ladies do," commanded Dawson.</p>
+
+<p>"Never could do it in this world, Dawson.<a class="pagenum" name="page_135" id="page_135" title="135"></a> I'd have a crick in my back
+in two minutes. Besides, we're not out here for lessons, Miss Stewart
+and I, but just as spectators. We'll look on and see the other girls
+learn the proper caper," laughed Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"Then I can't for the life of me hunderstand why you came hout at all.
+Hit's just a-stirrin' hup and a-fidgeting the other 'orses. They're not
+used to the goin's hon of 'alf broke hanimals."</p>
+
+<p>"Half broken! It seems to me, Dawson, that most horses are <i>wholly</i>
+broken but very few wholly <i>trained</i>. If we disturb the others, however,
+we'll go off for a spin by ourselves. Come, Polly. Full speed, Tzaritza!
+Four bells, Shashai!" and away sped the trio, Tzaritza, like the
+obedient creature she was, bounding from the platform where Peggy had
+bidden her "charge," lest she startle the horses.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll hopen the gate for you, Miss," Dawson hastened to call, a trifle
+doubtful as to whether he had not been just a little too dictatorial.</p>
+
+<p>"No need. This gate is nothing," called Peggy and as one, they skimmed
+over the four-foot iron gate as though it were four inches, hands
+waving, eyes alight, lips parted in gay laughter. Tzaritza's joyful bark
+mingling with their voices as she rushed away.<a class="pagenum" name="page_136" id="page_136" title="136"></a></p>
+
+<p>The girls' cries of admiration or amazement drowned Dawson's:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, 'Hi'll be blowed! Hi couldn't a done hit like that to save me
+'ead," which was quite true, for very few could ride as these young
+girls rode.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile back in the circle two of Dawson's pupils were expressing
+themselves without reserve.</p>
+
+<p>"I mean to learn to ride like <i>that</i>," announced Rosalie Breeze. "The
+idea of bouncing up and down in a stupid old side-saddle when we could
+just as well sit as Polly and Peggy do. Why, I never saw anything as
+graceful as those two girls in my life. Can't <i>you</i> show me how, Dawson?
+If you can't you can just make up your mind I am going to find someone
+who <i>can</i>. Jack-o'-Lantern's sure enough disgusted with <i>this</i> show-down,
+and I believe that's the reason he has no more spirit than a bossy-cow."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm going to speak to Mrs. Vincent," announced Juno. "This may be all
+very conventional and correct, but all I can do is rise and fall in a
+trot; I'm petrified if Lady Belle breaks into a canter, and if she were
+to leap over that fence, I'd break my neck. Yet did you ever <i>see</i>
+anything so graceful as those two girls and that magnificent dog when
+they went<a class="pagenum" name="page_137" id="page_137" title="137"></a> over? I tell you, girls, we've got something worth while in
+this school now, believe me. And just you wait!" and with this cryptic
+ending Juno jockeyed ahead of her companions.</p>
+
+<p>"I wish mother could have seen and heard it all," whispered Natalie.</p>
+
+<p>"Then why don't you tell her, and ask her to come out and see those
+girls ride," demanded Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"That's exactly what I mean <i>to</i> do," replied Natalie, with an emphatic
+little nod. "I'm beginning to believe we don't know half we should know
+about the stables."</p>
+
+<p>"I should imagine that Mrs. Vincent would be a far better judge of what
+was proper for young ladies than a couple of perfectly lawless girls who
+have been brought up on a Southern ranch or something. <i>I</i> call them
+perfect hoydens and they would not be countenanced a moment in the Back
+Bay," was Isabel's superior opinion.</p>
+
+<p>"A Southern ranch?" echoed Rosalie, "You're mixed in your geography,
+Isabel. They have plantations and estates in the South, but the ranches
+are out West. But I don't wonder you prefer bumping along as you do on
+the old Senator. You match him all right, all right. But just you wait
+until we leave you behind when we've learned to ride like Peggy<a class="pagenum" name="page_138" id="page_138" title="138"></a> and
+Polly, for we're going to do it, you can just bet your best hat."</p>
+
+<p>"Thank you, I never indulge in betting or slang. Both are vulgar in the
+extreme. And as to riding like a circus performer, I have higher aims in
+life."</p>
+
+<p>"Going in for the trapeze? They say it's fine to reduce embonpoint."</p>
+
+<p>No reply was made to Rosalie's gibe and the lesson went on in its usual
+uneventful manner. Meanwhile Peggy and Polly were having a glorious game
+of tag, for the Columbia Heights grounds were very extensive, and drives
+led in every direction. When pursued and pursuer were in a perfect gale
+of merriment, and Tzaritza giving way to her most joyous cavortings, a
+sudden turn brought them upon Mrs. Vincent. She was seated upon a rustic
+bench in one of the cosy nooks of the grounds and Tzaritza, bounding
+ahead, was the first to see her, and Tzaritza never forgot a kindness.
+The next second she had dropped upon the ground at Mrs. Vincent's feet,
+her nose buried in her forepaws&mdash;Tzaritza's way of manifesting her
+allegiance and affection. Then up she rose, rested her feet upon the
+bench and for the second time laid her head upon Mrs. Vincent's
+shoulder. Before that gratified lady had time to do more than place an
+arm about the big<a class="pagenum" name="page_139" id="page_139" title="139"></a> dog's neck, Peggy's and Polly's chargers had come to
+a halt in front of her and at word of command stood as still as statues.
+The girls slipped from the horses' backs, as bonny a pair as ever
+thrilled an older woman's soul.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Mrs. Vincent, we've had such a race!" cried Polly, smiling into
+Mrs. Vincent's face with her irresistible smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't it good just to be alive on such a day?" smiled Peggy, turning to
+her as she would have turned to Mrs. Harold, her face alight. Aunt
+Katherine had been Peggy's only "wet blanket" and, it had not been
+wrapped about her long enough to destroy her absolute confidence in
+grown-ups. Perhaps Miss Sturgis would threaten it, but all that lay in
+the future.</p>
+
+<p>"And to be just fifteen with all the world before you, and such animals
+beside you," answered Mrs. Vincent, stroking Tzaritza and nodding toward
+the horses.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, aren't they just the dearest ever? Who could help loving them?"</p>
+
+<p>"Will they stand like that without being tied?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, they have always obeyed me perfectly. I wish you could see Roy
+and the others. Some day you must come out to Severndale, Mrs. Vincent,
+and see my four-footed children. I've such a lot of them."<a class="pagenum" name="page_140" id="page_140" title="140"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Tell me something of your home and home-life, dear. We are not very
+well acquainted, you know, and that is a poor beginning."</p>
+
+<p>It was a subject dear to Peggy's heart, and she needed no urging. Seated
+beside Mrs. Vincent, for half an hour she talked of her life at
+Severndale, Polly's interjections supplying little side-lights which
+Mrs. Vincent was quick to appreciate, though Polly did not realize how
+they emphasized Peggy's picture of her home.</p>
+
+<p>"And you really raised those splendid horses yourself? I have never seen
+their equal."</p>
+
+<p>"But if you only knew how wonderfully intelligent they are, Mrs.
+Vincent! Of course, Silver Star is now Polly's horse, but she has
+learned to understand him so perfectly, and ride so beautifully, that he
+loves her as well as he loves me and obeys her as well."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment or two Mrs. Vincent's face wore an odd expression.</p>
+
+<p>"Understand" a horse? To be "loved" by one? Did she "understand" those
+in her stable? Did they "love" her? She almost smiled. It was such a new
+viewpoint. Yet, why not? The animals upon her place were certainly
+entirely dependent upon her for their happiness and comfort. But had she
+ever given that fact a serious thought?<a class="pagenum" name="page_141" id="page_141" title="141"></a></p>
+
+<p>Slipping an arm about each girl as they sat beside her she asked:</p>
+
+<p>"What do you think of our horses, and of Dawson? For a little
+fifteen-year old lassie you seem to have had a remarkable experience."</p>
+
+<p>Peggy colored, but Polly blurted out:</p>
+
+<p>"I think he's a regular old hypocrite and so does Peggy. Why, Shelby
+would have forty fits if any of our horses' feet were like
+Jack-o'-Lantern's, or their bits as dirty as the Senator's."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Polly, please don't!" begged Peggy. But it was too late. "What is
+this?" asked Mrs. Vincent quickly.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I dare say I've made a mess of the whole thing. I generally do,
+but Peggy and I do love animals so and hate to see them abused."</p>
+
+<p>"Are <i>ours</i> abused, Polly?"</p>
+
+<p>"I don't suppose that generally speaking people would say they were.
+Most everybody would say they were mighty well cared for, but that's
+because people don't stop to think a thing about it. My goodness, <i>I</i>
+didn't till Peggy made me. A horse was just a horse to me&mdash;any old
+horse&mdash;if he could pull a wagon or hold somebody on his back. That he
+could actually <i>talk</i> to me never entered my head. Have you<a class="pagenum" name="page_142" id="page_142" title="142"></a> ever seen
+one <i>do</i> it?" asked Polly, full of eager enthusiasm.</p>
+
+<p>"I can't say that I ever have," smiled Mrs. Vincent, and Polly quickly
+retorted, though there was no trace of disrespect in her words:</p>
+
+<p>"Now you are laughing at us. I knew you would. Well, no wonder, most
+people would think us crazy for saying such a thing. But truly, Mrs.
+Vincent, we're not. Peggy, make Shashai and Star talk to you. I'd do it,
+only I'd sort of feel as though I were taking the wind out of your
+sails. You are the teacher and I'm only your pupil."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you really wish me to show you something of their intelligence, Mrs.
+Vincent? I feel sort of foolish&mdash;as though I were trying to show off,
+you know."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you are <i>not</i>, and I've an idea that for a few moments we can
+exchange places to good advantage. It looks as though I had spent a vast
+deal of my time acquiring a knowledge of higher mathematics and modern
+languages, at the expense of some understanding of natural history and
+now I'll take a lesson, please."</p>
+
+<p>"Of course I don't mean to say that every animal can be taught all the
+things <i>our</i> horses have learned any more than all children, can be
+equally taught. You don't expect as much of<a class="pagenum" name="page_143" id="page_143" title="143"></a> the child who has been,
+misused and neglected as you do of the one who has been raised properly
+and always loved. It depends a whole lot on that. Our horses have never
+known fear and so we can do almost anything with them. Shashai, Star,
+come and make love to Missie."</p>
+
+<p>As one the two beautiful creatures came to the seat and laid their soft
+muzzles upon Peggy's shoulders. Then raising their heads ran their
+velvety lips over her cheeks with as gentle, caressing a touch as a
+little child's fingers could have given, all the time voicing the soft,
+bubbling whinney of a trustful, happy horse. Peggy reached an arm about
+each satiny head. After a moment she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Attention!"</p>
+
+<p>Back started both horses to stand as rigid as statues.</p>
+
+<p>"Salute Mrs. Vincent."</p>
+
+<p>Up went each splendid head and a clear, joyous neigh was trumpeted from
+the delicate nostrils.</p>
+
+<p>"Call Shelby!"</p>
+
+<p>What an alert expression filled the splendid eyes as the horses,
+actually a-quiver with excitement, neighed again, and again for the
+friend whom they loved, and looked inquiringly at Peggy when he failed
+to appear.</p>
+
+<p>"Where's Jess?"<a class="pagenum" name="page_144" id="page_144" title="144"></a></p>
+
+<p>Eager, impatient snorts replied.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy rose to her feet and carefully knotting, the reins upon the
+saddles' pommels to safeguard accidents, said:</p>
+
+<p>"Go fetch him!"</p>
+
+<p>Tzaritza was alert in an instant. "No, not you, Tzaritza. Charge. Four
+bells, Shashai,&mdash;Star!" and away swept the horses.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you mean to say they understand and will really bring Jess here?"
+asked Mrs. Vincent incredulously.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, yes, indeed. They have done so dozens of times at home."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, they are wonders!"</p>
+
+<p>The rapid hoofbeats were now dying away in the distance. Perhaps ten
+minutes elapsed when their rhythmic beat was again audible, each second
+growing more distinct, then down the linden-bordered avenue came Shashai
+and Star, Jess riding Shashai. The horses moved as swiftly as birds fly.
+As they caught sight of Peggy they neighed loudly as though asking her
+approbation. A lump of sugar awaited each obedient animal, and Jess
+asked:</p>
+
+<p>"What yo' wantin' ob Jess, baby-honey?"</p>
+
+<p>"Just to prove to Mrs. Vincent that the horses would bring you here if I
+told them to."</p>
+
+<p>"Co'se dey bring me if Miss Peggy bidden 'em to," answered Jess as
+though surprised<a class="pagenum" name="page_145" id="page_145" title="145"></a> that she should ask such a needless question.</p>
+
+<p>"But how did you know she wished you?"</p>
+
+<p>"How'd I know, Mist'ss? Why dem hawses done <i>tol'</i> me she want me. Yas'm
+dey did. Dey done come t'arin' back yonder ter de stable an' dey cotch
+holt ob my sleefs wid dey teefs, and dey yank and tug me 'long outen de
+do'. Den dis hyer Shashai, he stan' lak a statyer twell I hike me up on
+his back, den he kite away like de bery debbil&mdash;axes yo' pardon,
+ma'am!&mdash;an' hyer we-all <i>is</i>. Dat's all de <i>how</i> dar is ob it. <i>Dey</i>
+knows what folks 'specs ob 'em. Dey's eddicated hawses. Dey's been
+<i>raised</i> right."</p>
+
+<p>"I think they have been. Peggy, I want to walk back to the stables with
+you and Polly. I'd like to see with my own eyes some of the things you
+have spoken about."</p>
+
+<p>"O Mrs. Vincent, I am so afraid it will make a whole lot of trouble!
+Dawson knows I criticised him&mdash;indeed, I lost my temper and said he
+couldn't 'hold down a job' at Severndale. Excuse the slang, please, but
+he rubbed me the wrong way with all his fuss, when he really doesn't
+know, or doesn't want to know&mdash;I don't know which&mdash;one thing about
+horses."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Vincent paused a moment. "Perhaps you are right," she said. "At all
+events, your sense of justice seems to be one of your strong<a class="pagenum" name="page_146" id="page_146" title="146"></a> points. Go
+back to the house and let Jess take your 'children' to the stables. A
+little diplomacy can do no harm. And Jess, you need not mention seeing
+me with the young ladies. Your little mistress has begun my <i>horse</i>
+education. I haven't been very wise about them, I fear, but now I am
+going to make amends."</p>
+
+<p>"Yas'm. Amens does help we-all a powerful lot when we's wrastlin' wid
+we-all's sperrits. I hopes dey fotch yo' froo yo' doubtin's. I'se done
+had ter say many an amen in ma day."</p>
+
+<p>Jess' face was full of solicitude. He had not the remotest idea of the
+source of Mrs. Vincent's turmoil of spirit, but if she found it
+necessary to say "amen," Jess instantly concluded that his sympathies
+were demanded. At all events he was now a part of Columbia Heights and
+all within it's precincts came within his kindly solicitude. Tradition
+was strong in old Jessekiah. Mrs. Vincent had much ado to keep her
+countenance. She had come to Washington from a Western city and had but
+slight understanding of the real devotion of the old-time negro to his
+"white folks." Alas! few of the old-time ones are left. It was with a
+sense of still having considerable to learn that she parted from the
+girls and Jess and made her way toward the stables, reaching there some
+time after Jess had unsaddled his horses and was<a class="pagenum" name="page_147" id="page_147" title="147"></a> performing their
+toilets with as much care as a French maid would bestow upon her
+mistress, though no French maid would ever have kept up the incessant
+flow of affectionate talk to the object of her attentions that Jess was
+maintaining. He took no notice of Mrs. Vincent, but <i>she</i> did not miss
+one shadow or shade of the absolute understanding existing between Jess
+and his "babies," as he called them.</p>
+
+<p>"Dar now, honeys," he said, as he carefully blanketed them. "Run 'long
+back yander to yo' boxes. Yo' dinner's all a-ready an' a-waitin', lak de
+hymn chune say, an' yo's ready fo' it. Dem children ain' never gwine
+send yo' back to de stable, so het up, yo' cyant eat er drink fo' an
+hour. No siree! Not <i>dem</i>."</p>
+
+<p>At that moment Dawson and his assistant appeared with the horses the
+girls had ridden. Notwithstanding the cool crispness of the morning,
+Lady Belle was in a lather where her harness rested. The Senator was
+blowing like a grampus; Jack-o'-Lantern's bit was foam-flecked and
+Natalie's pretty little "Madam Goldie" looked fagged.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Vincent instantly contrasted the condition of Shashai and Star with
+the others. Yet Peggy and Polly had been riding like Valkyrie.</p>
+
+<p>As Dawson espied the lady of the manor his face underwent a change which
+would have been<a class="pagenum" name="page_148" id="page_148" title="148"></a> amusing had it not been entirely too significant. Mrs.
+Vincent made no comments whatever concerning the horses but a veil had
+certainly fallen from her eyes. She asked Dawson how his young ladies
+were coming on with their riding lessons, how many had arranged to ride
+in the park that afternoon, and one or two trivial questions. Then she
+returned to the house a much wiser woman than she had left it an hour
+earlier.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_149" id="page_149" title="149"></a>
+<a name="TZARITZA_AS_DISCIPLINARIAN_3478" id="TZARITZA_AS_DISCIPLINARIAN_3478"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER X</h2>
+<h3>TZARITZA AS DISCIPLINARIAN</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>Several days had passed since the riding lesson. It was Saturday evening
+and study period, which began at five and lasted until six-thirty, was
+ended. Dinner was served at seven on Saturdays and from eight until ten
+o'clock the girls were perfectly free. A group was gathered in Stella
+Drummond's big room and preparations for a fudge party, after the hearty
+dinner had "somewhat shaken down," were under way. Stella's chafing dish
+was the most up-to-date one in the school, and Stella's larder more
+bountifully supplied than the other girls. Indeed, Stella never lacked
+for anything so far as the others could discover and had a more liberal
+supply of pocket money than is generally allowed. Mrs. Vincent had
+expressed doubts as to the wisdom of it when Stella's father mentioned
+the sum she was to have, but he had laughed and answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, nonsense, my dear Madam! At home she would have double if she
+wished it. She knows how to use it, and remember she is all I<a class="pagenum" name="page_150" id="page_150" title="150"></a> have to
+spend my income upon. Don't let that little matter worry you. Just give
+all your attention to polishing her up a bit and teaching her the newest
+fol-de-rols. Living all over the country is not the best thing for a
+young lady, I have found out. It may be conducive to physical
+development, but it leaves something to be desired in educational
+lines."</p>
+
+<p>So Stella, though eighteen, and supposed to be a senior, was really
+taking a special course in which junior work predominated. She had
+selected her own room, it had been furnished exactly as she wished, and
+it certainly resembled a bridal apartment more than a school-girl's
+bed-room. A large alcove and private bath opened from it, and a balcony
+which commanded a beautiful view of Stony Brook Park made it luxurious
+to a degree. In this room, lighted by softly shaded electric drop
+lights, a cheery log fire blazing upon the shining brass andirons, the
+girls had gathered. Stella was arranging her electric chafing dish upon
+its little marble stand. Peggy was opening a box of shelled pecan nuts,
+Polly measuring out the chocolate, and the other girls were supplying
+all needful, or needless, advice concerning the <i>modus operandi</i>.
+Tzaritza, now a most privileged creature indeed, had stretched her huge
+length before the hearth, looking for all the world like a superb<a class="pagenum" name="page_151" id="page_151" title="151"></a> white
+rug, and Rosalie Breeze was flat upon her stomach, her arms around the
+dog's neck, her face nestled in the silky hair. Juno Gibson reclined
+gracefully in a luxurious wicker chair, its gorgeous pink satin cushions
+a perfect background for her dark loveliness&mdash;which no one understood
+better than Juno herself. Helen Doolittle (most aptly named) was gazing
+in simpering adoration upon Stella from a pillow-laden couch, and now
+commented:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Stella, what adorable hands you have. How do you keep them so
+ravishingly white and your nails so absolutely faultless? I could cover
+them with kisses, sweetheart."</p>
+
+<p>Stella's laugh held wholesome ridicule of this rhapsody and she replied:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't waste your emotion upon <i>my</i> hands. Just save it until somebody
+comes along who wished to cover <i>your</i> hands with kisses&mdash;I mean some
+one in masculine attire. For my part, I don't think I'd care to have a
+girl try that experiment with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Have you ever had a <i>boy</i> cover your hands with kisses?" asked Helen
+eagerly, starting from her position.</p>
+
+<p>Stella, raised her head, looked at the simple, inconsequent, little
+doll-faced blonde and with an odd smile said:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I could hardly have called him a boy."<a class="pagenum" name="page_152" id="page_152" title="152"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, was he a man? A real <i>man</i>? Did he wear a moustache? Just think,
+girls, of having a man's moustache brush the back of your hand as he
+covered it with kisses. Oh, how terribly thrilling. Do tell us all about
+it, Stella! I knew the moment I met you you must have had a romantic
+history. Did your father find it out, and what did he say?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, I told him all about it and he laughed at me," and again Stella
+laughed her mystifying laugh.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I'd just <i>adore</i> having such a ravishing experience as that," said
+Lily Pearl Montgomery from the window seat, "but how can one have any
+thrilling experiences in a stupid old school! Now there are Polly and
+Peggy; think of all they could tell us if they only would. You girls
+must be fairly bursting with the most wonderful stories if you'd only
+come down off your pedestals and tell us. <i>I</i> think you're both too
+tight for words. And all those darling cadets' photographs in your room.
+You needn't try to make <i>me</i> believe that 'Faithfully yours, Bubbles'
+and 'Your chum, Ralph,' and 'For my Pilot, Captain Polly, Wheedles,' and
+'For Peggy Stewart, Chatelaine, Happy,' don't mean a whole lot more."</p>
+
+<p>"What's that?" asked Peggy, catching her name and looking up from her
+occupation. She<a class="pagenum" name="page_153" id="page_153" title="153"></a> caught
+Polly's eyes which had begun to snap. Polly had
+also been too busy to pay much attention at first, but she had heard the
+concluding sentences. She turned and looked at Lily with exactly the
+expression upon her sixteen-year-old face which had overspread it years
+before when the thirteen-year-old Polly had surprised the sentimental
+"Thusan Thwingle" exchanging osculatory favors with "one of thothe
+horrid boyths" in the basement of the high school at Montgentian. Then
+she said with repressed vehemence:</p>
+
+<p>"I only wish our boys could have heard you say that. If you wouldn't
+come in for the running of your life my name's not Polly Howland. You'd
+suit some of the boys back yonder, but not our bunch. Of all the hot
+air! Stella, is your chafing-dish ready?"</p>
+
+<p>Peggy had colored a rosy pink. She lacked Polly's experience with other
+girls.</p>
+
+<p>Piqued by Polly's superior rebuff, Helen came to the inane Lily Pearl's
+support in a manner she knew would hit loyal Polly's most vulnerable
+spot:</p>
+
+<p>"Look at Peggy's face! Look at Peggy's face! Which is the particular He,
+Peggy? Polly may be able to put up a big bluff, but your face is a dead
+giveaway."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't think you would be able to understand<a class="pagenum" name="page_154" id="page_154" title="154"></a> if I told you. Middie's
+Haven and the 'bunch' are just a degree too high up for you to reach,
+I'm afraid, and there's no elevator in Wilmot Hall," answered Peggy
+quietly.</p>
+
+<p>Polly laid down the things she was holding for Stella, dusted her hands
+of chocolate crumbs by lightly rubbing her fingers together, and walked
+quietly over to the couch. Helen looked somewhat alarmed and drew back
+among her pillows.</p>
+
+<p>Polly, never uttering one word, bent over, swooped up Helen, pillows and
+all and holding her burden as she would have held a struggling baby,
+walked straight out of the room and down, the corridor to her own room,
+the shouts, screams and laughs of the girls following her. Helen was
+absolutely speechless at the audacity of the act. Bumping her door
+together by the only available means left her, since both arms were
+occupied, Polly then plumped Helen, now almost ready to resort to
+hysterical tears, upon a wooden shirt-waist box and placing herself in
+front of her, struck the attitude of a little red-headed goddess of
+vengeance as she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Helen Doolittle, you may run <i>me</i> all you've a mind to&mdash;it doesn't mean
+a thing to me; I'm used to it; I've been teased all my life and I'm
+bomb-proof. But Peggy Stewart's made of different stuff. She hasn't been
+with girls very<a class="pagenum" name="page_155" id="page_155" title="155"></a> much, and never with a <i>silly</i> one before. Give her
+time and she'll understand them a good sight better than they'll ever
+understand her. And the boys she has known are not the kind who are ever
+likely to want to know <i>you</i>. So there's not much use wasting time
+explaining things. But I tell you just this, I won't stand for Peggy
+being run even a little bit, and you can circulate that bit of
+information broadcast. She's the finest ever, and the girl who can call
+her friend is in luck up to her ears. So understand: let her alone or
+reckon with me."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think we are a lot of crazy schoolboys and expect to settle our
+disagreements with a regular fist-a-cuff bout? You must come from a very
+queer place."</p>
+
+<p>"Where <i>I</i> come from doesn't matter in the least. Peggy is the one under
+discussion and you know where she comes from and who she is. <i>What</i> she
+is you'll never know."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't see why she should be so very hard to understand."</p>
+
+<p>"She isn't&mdash;for people with enough sense. Now just take one good look at
+those pictures. Is there a weak face among them? One of two things will
+happen to you if you ever happen to meet the originals: they'll either
+make you feel like a silly little kid or they won't take a bit of<a class="pagenum" name="page_156" id="page_156" title="156"></a>
+notice of you. It will depend upon how you happen to strike them."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, are they such, wonders as all that?"</p>
+
+<p>"If you ever get an invitation down to Annapolis you'll have a chance to
+find out. Peggy and I have about made up our minds to have a house party
+during the holidays, but we haven't quite made up our minds which girls
+we are going to like well enough to ask to it. Tanta suggested it. She
+is anxious to know our friends, and we are anxious to have her. She
+sizes people up pretty quickly and we are always mighty glad to have her
+opinion."</p>
+
+<p>Polly spoke rapidly and the effect upon Helen was peculiar. From the
+pugnacious attitude of an outraged canary, ready to do battle, she was
+transformed into the sweetest, meekest love-bird imaginable. A veritable
+little preening, posing, oh-do-admire-me creature, and at Polly's last
+words she jumped from the box and clasping her hands, cried:</p>
+
+<p>"A house-party! You are planning a house-party? Oh, how perfectly
+adorable. Oh, which girls are you going to invite? Oh, I'll never, never
+tease Peggy again as long as I live. I'll be perfectly lovely to her and
+I'll make the other girls be nice too. To think of going up there and
+meeting all those darling boys. Oh please tell me all about it! The
+girls will be<a class="pagenum" name="page_157" id="page_157" title="157"></a> just crazy when I tell them. Which of these fellows will
+be there?"</p>
+
+<p>Helen had rushed over to Polly's dresser upon which in pretty silver
+frames were photographs of Ralph, Happy and Wheedles. On Peggy's dresser
+Shorty and Durand looked from their frames straight into her eyes, while
+several others not yet framed looked down from the top of the bookshelf.
+Silly little Helen was in an ecstasy. Her mamma had never believed in
+companions of the opposite sex for her "sweet little daughter" but had
+kept her in a figurative preserve jar which bore the label "you may look
+but you must not touch." Mamma's instructions to Mrs. Vincent upon
+placing Helen in the school had been an absolute ban upon any masculine
+visitors, or visits upon Helen's part where such undesirable, though
+often unavoidable, members of society might congregate. "She is so very
+innocent and unsophisticated, you know, and so very young," added mamma
+sweetly. Mrs. Vincent smiled indulgently, but made no comments: She had
+encountered such mammas and such sweetly unsophisticated daughters
+before and she then and there resolved to keep an extra watchful eye
+upon this innocent one. Thus far, however, nothing alarming had
+occurred, but Mrs. Vincent knew her material and was prepared for<a class="pagenum" name="page_158" id="page_158" title="158"></a>
+almost anything. She also knew Lily Pearl and felt pretty sure that if
+an upheaval ever took place it would turn out that Lily Pearl or Helen
+had touched off the mine. The foregoing scene gives some hint of the
+viewpoints of the young ladies in question.</p>
+
+<p>During this digression Helen had caught up Wheedle's picture and was
+pressing it rapturously to her fluttering bosom and exclaiming:</p>
+
+<p>"You're a perfect darling! If I could have just one dance with <i>you</i> I'd
+be willing to <i>die</i>! Polly, how old is he!"</p>
+
+<p>But Polly had left the room and was on her way back to Stella's. As she
+reached it she came face to face with the Sturgeon and the Sturgeon's
+eyes held no "lovelight" for her.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Howland, what was the cause of the wild shrieks which disturbed me
+a moment since? Miss Montgomery says you can tell if you will and since
+none of your companions seem inclined to do so, I will hear your
+explanation. I was on my way to inform Miss Stewart that Mrs. Vincent
+wished to see her in her study at once when this hideous uproar assailed
+my ears."</p>
+
+<p>Polly glanced quickly about the room. Sure enough, Peggy had left it.
+Some of the girls looked concerned, others quite calm; among the latter
+were Stella and Juno. Rosalie, with<a class="pagenum" name="page_159" id="page_159" title="159"></a> Tzaritza's head in her lap, looked
+defiant. She hated Miss Sturgis.</p>
+
+<p>Polly turned and looked squarely into Miss Sturgis' eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"The girls were screaming because I carried Helen out of the room," she
+answered quietly.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me you must be somewhat in need of exercise. I would advise
+you to go to the gymnasium to work off your superfluous energy. Why did
+you carry Helen from the room? Has she become incapable of voluntary
+locomotion?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not yet," answered Polly, a twinkle coming into a corner of the gray
+eyes.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Not yet?</i>" emphasized Miss Sturgis. "Are you apprehensive of her
+becoming so?"</p>
+
+<p>"She needs more exercise than she gets," answered Polly, half smiling.</p>
+
+<p>That smile acted as salt upon a wound. Miss Sturgis' temper rose.</p>
+
+<p>"Please bear in mind that it does not devolve upon <i>you</i> to decide that
+question."</p>
+
+<p>"I did not try to settle that question, Miss Sturgis. If you wish to
+know why I carried Helen out of the room I did it because she was
+running&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Doing what? I don't think I understand your boyish slang."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, teasing Peggy, and I won't have<a class="pagenum" name="page_160" id="page_160" title="160"></a> Peggy teased by anybody if I can
+stop it. She doesn't understand girls' ways as well as I do because she
+hasn't been thrown with them. So when Helen teased her I picked her up
+and carried her down to our room and I don't reckon she will tease her
+any more."</p>
+
+<p>"So you have come into the school to set its standards and correct its
+shortcomings, have you? Are you so very superior to your companions&mdash;you
+and your prot&eacute;g&eacute;e?"</p>
+
+<p>Polly looked straight into the narrow eyes looking at her, but made no
+reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Answer me, instantly."</p>
+
+<p>"I have never considered myself superior to anyone, but I <i>do</i> consider
+Peggy Stewart superior to any girl I have ever known, and I think you
+will agree with me when you know her better," asserted Polly loyally.</p>
+
+<p>"You are insolent."</p>
+
+<p>"I do not mean to be. Any one who knows her will tell you the same
+thing."</p>
+
+<p>"I repeat you are insolent and you may go to your room."</p>
+
+<p>Polly made no reply, but started to leave the room. Tzaritza sprang to
+her side. Miss Sturgis interposed.</p>
+
+<p>"Leave that dog where she is. Go back, you horrible beast," and she
+raised her hand menacingly. Tzaritza was not quite sure<a class="pagenum" name="page_161" id="page_161" title="161"></a> whether the
+menace was intended for Polly or herself. In either case it was cause
+for resentment and a low growl warned against further liberties.</p>
+
+<p>"Be careful, Miss Sturgis. Tzaritza thinks you are threatening me," said
+Polly. It was said wholly in the interest of the teacher.</p>
+
+<p>Miss Sturgis' early training and forebears had not been of an order to
+develop either great dignity, or self-control. Her ability to teach
+mathematics was undisputed. Hence her position in Mrs. Vincent's school,
+though that good lady had more than once had reason to question the
+wisdom of retaining her, owing to the influence which she exerted over
+her charges. The grain beneath did not lend itself to a permanent, or
+high polish, and it took only the slightest scratch to mar it. Polly's
+words seemed to destroy her last remnant of self-control and she turned
+upon her in a fury of rage. As she seized her by the arm and cried,
+"Silence!" Polly whirled from her like a flash crying, "Charge,
+Tzaritza!"</p>
+
+<p>But it was too late, the 'hound had sprung to Polly's defense, only it
+was Polly's protecting arm into which Tzaritza's teeth sank. The girl
+turned white with pain. Instantly the beautiful dog relinquished her
+hold and whining and whimpering like a heartbroken thing began to<a class="pagenum" name="page_162" id="page_162" title="162"></a> lick
+the bruised arm. Then arose a hubbub compared to which the screams of
+which Miss Sturgis had complained had been infantile plaints. Lily Pearl
+promptly went into hysterics. Juno shrieked aloud and even the
+self-contained Stella cried out as she ran to catch Polly in her arms,
+for the girl seemed about to faint. But Miss Sturgis, now thoroughly
+terrified at the crisis she had brought to pass, called madly for help.
+Helen's screams mingled in the pandemonium, for Helen had been brought
+hack from her romantic air castle with a rush.</p>
+
+<p>Notwithstanding the fact that Mrs. Vincent's study was down one flight
+of stairs and at the other end of the building, she became aware of the
+uproar and her conversation with Peggy came to an abrupt pause. Then
+both hurried into the hall to see the tails of Horatio Hannibal
+Harrison's coat vanishing up the broad stairway and to hear Fr&auml;ulein
+Hedwig wailing, "Oh ze house iss burning up <i>and</i> down I am sure!"</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile upon the scene of action Polly had been the first to recover
+her wits. The skin had not been broken, for Tzaritza had instantly
+perceived her error and released her grip almost as soon as it was
+taken. But Miss Sturgis would not have escaped so easily, as well she
+knew, and her hatred for Tzaritza increased tenfold. When Mrs. Vincent
+and the others<a class="pagenum" name="page_163" id="page_163" title="163"></a> arrived upon the scene she broke into a perfect torrent
+of invective against the dog, but was brought to her senses by the
+Principal's quiet:</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Sturgis, you seem to be a good deal overwrought. I will excuse
+you. You may retire to your room until you feel calmer."</p>
+
+<p>"Let me explain! Let me tell you what a horrible thing has happened!"
+cried Miss Sturgis.</p>
+
+<p>"When you are less excited I shall be glad to listen. Fr&auml;ulein, kindly
+accompany Miss Sturgis to her room and call the housekeeper. Now, Polly,
+what is it?" asked Mrs. Vincent, for Polly was the center of the group
+of excited girls, though calmer than any of them.</p>
+
+<p>"Tzaritza made a mistake and caught my arm in her teeth, that is all,
+Mrs. Vincent. But she has done no harm. It doesn't hurt much now; she
+did not mean to do it any way."</p>
+
+<p>"What!" cried Peggy, aghast, "Tzaritza attacked <i>you</i>, Polly?"</p>
+
+<p>Polly nodded her head in quick negative, striving to keep Peggy from
+saying more. But Tzaritza had crawled to Peggy's feet and was literally
+grovelling there in abject misery.</p>
+
+<p>"Charge, Tzaritza!"</p>
+
+<p>The splendid creature lay motionless. "Polly, what happened?' demanded
+Peggy, once more the Peggy of Severndale and entirely<a class="pagenum" name="page_164" id="page_164" title="164"></a> forgetful of her
+present surroundings. Mrs. Vincent smiled and laying her hand gently
+upon Peggy's arm said:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't embarrass Polly, dear. Leave it to me."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Vincent. I forgot," answered Peggy,
+blushing deeply. Mrs. Vincent nodded forgiveness, then turning to
+Stella, asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Were you here all the time, Stella?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, Mrs. Vincent."</p>
+
+<p>"Then please tell me exactly what happened."</p>
+
+<p>Stella told the story clearly and quietly. When she ended there was a
+moment's hush, broken by Rosalie Breeze crying:</p>
+
+<p>"And Tzaritza never, never would have done a single thing if Miss
+Sturgis hadn't lost her temper. She is forever scolding us about losing
+ours, but she'd just better watch out herself. I wish Tzaritza had
+bitten her!"</p>
+
+<p>"Rosalie!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I do, Mrs. Vincent. It was every bit her own fault. She hates
+Tzaritza, and I love her," was Rosalie's vehement if perplexing
+conclusion as she cast herself upon the big dog. Tzaritza welcomed her
+with a grateful whine and crept closer, though she never raised her
+head. She was waiting the word of forgiveness<a class="pagenum" name="page_165" id="page_165" title="165"></a> from the one she loved
+best of all, but Peggy was awaiting Tzaritza's exoneration. Mrs.
+Vincent, who had sent for the resident trained nurse, was examining
+Polly's arm and now said:</p>
+
+<p>"It is all very distressing, but I am glad no more serious for Polly.
+The arm is badly bruised and will be very painful for some time, but I
+can't discover a scratch. Miss Allen, will you please look after this
+little girl," she asked, as the sweet-faced trained nurse entered the
+room, her white uniform snowy and immaculate, her face a benediction in
+its sweet, calm repose.</p>
+
+<p>"Go with Miss Allen, dear, and have your arm dressed." Polly paused only
+long enough to stoop down and kiss Tzaritza's head, the caress being
+acknowledged by a pathetic whine, then followed the nurse from the room.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy was terribly distressed.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think I would better send her back to Severndale, Mrs. Vincent?"
+she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Has she ever attacked anyone before, Peggy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Never in all her life."</p>
+
+<p>"I hardly think she will again. She may remain. Come here, Tzaritza."</p>
+
+<p>Tzaritza did not stir.</p>
+
+<p>"Up, Tzaritza," commanded Peggy, and the affectionate creature's feet
+were upon her<a class="pagenum" name="page_166" id="page_166" title="166"></a> shoulders as she begged forgiveness with almost human
+eloquence.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, my bonny one, how could you?" asked Peggy as she caressed the silky
+head. Tzaritza's whimpers reduced some of the girls to tears. "Now go to
+Mrs. Vincent," ordered Peggy, and the hound obediently crossed the room
+to lay her head in that lady's lap.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor Tzaritza, you did what you believed to be your duty, didn't you?
+None of us can do more. I wish some of my other problems were as easy to
+solve as the motives of your act. Go on with your fudge party, girls. It
+will prove a diversion. I must look to other matters now," and Mrs.
+Vincent sighed at the prospect of the coming interview with Miss
+Sturgis. It was not her first experience by any means.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_167" id="page_167" title="167"></a>
+<a name="BEHIND_SCENES_3922" id="BEHIND_SCENES_3922"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2>
+<h3>BEHIND SCENES</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>The girls were hardly in a mood to return to their fudge-making, so
+Stella produced a box of Whitman's chocolates and the group settled down
+to eat them and discuss the events of the past exciting half hour. Polly
+squatted upon the rug and with her uninjured arm hauled about half of
+Tzaritza upon her lap. Tzaritza was positively foolish in her ecstatic
+joy at being restored to favor.</p>
+
+<p>"Poor Tzaritza, you got into trouble because I lost my temper, didn't
+you? It was a heap more my fault than yours after all."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, there's nothing wrong with Tzaritza. It's the Sturgeon. Hateful old
+thing! I just hope Mrs. Vincent gives her bally-hack," stormed Rosalie.
+"Suppose we did shout and screech? It's Saturday night and we have a
+right to if we like. But what under the sun did Mrs. Vincent want of
+you, Peggy?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, nothing very serious," answered Peggy, smiling in a way which set
+Rosalie's curiosity a-galloping.<a class="pagenum" name="page_168" id="page_168" title="168"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Yes, what <i>did</i> she want?" demanded Polly, turning to look up at Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't tell anybody <i>now</i>. You'll all know after Thanksgiving," answered
+Peggy, wagging her head in the negative.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, please tell us! Ah, do! We won't breathe a living, single word!"
+cried the chorus.</p>
+
+<p>"Uh-mh!" murmured Peggy in such perfect imitation of old Mammy that
+Polly laughed outright.</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't you even going to tell Polly?" asked Rosalie, who had arrived at
+some very definite conclusion regarding these friends, for Rosalie was
+far from slow if at times rather more self-assertive than the average
+young lady is supposed to be.</p>
+
+<p>For answer Peggy broke into a little air from a popular comic opera
+running just then in Washington and to which Captain Stewart had taken
+his little party only a few weeks before:</p>
+
+<p>"And what is right for Tweedle-dum is wrong for Tweedle-dee," sang Peggy
+in her sweet contralto voice, Polly following in her bird-like whistle.</p>
+
+<p>The little ruse worked to perfection. The girls forgot all about Peggy's
+"call down," as a summons to Mrs. Vincent's study was banned, and had a
+rapture over Polly's whistling and<a class="pagenum" name="page_169" id="page_169" title="169"></a> Peggy's singing, nor were they
+satisfied until a dozen airs had been given in the girl's very best
+style. Then came the story of the concerts at home, and Polly's
+whistling at the Masquerader's Show when Wharton Van Nostrand fell ill,
+and a dozen other vivid little glimpses of the life back in Severndale
+and up in "Middie's Haven" until their listeners were nearly wild with
+excitement.</p>
+
+<p>"And they are to have a house party there during the holidays, girls.
+Think of that!" cried Helen.</p>
+
+<p>"Honest?" cried Lily Pearl, leaning forward with clasped hands, while
+even Juno, the superior, became animated and remarked:</p>
+
+<p>"Really! I dare say you will choose your guests with extreme care as to
+their appeal to the model young men they are likely to meet at
+Annapolis, for I don't doubt your aunt, Mrs. Harold, is a most
+punctilious chaperon."</p>
+
+<p>"Juno's been eating hunks of the new Webster's Dictionary, girls. That's
+how she happens to have all those long words so near the top. They got
+stuck going down so they come up easy," interjected Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>Juno merely tossed her head, but vouchsafed no answer. Rosalie's Western
+<i>gaucherie</i> was beneath her notice. Juno's home was at the Hotel Astor
+in New York City. At least as<a class="pagenum" name="page_170" id="page_170" title="170"></a> much of "home" as she knew. Her mother
+had lived abroad for the past five years, and was now the Princess
+Somebody-or-other. Her father kept his suite at the Astor but lived
+almost anywhere else, his only daughter seeing him when he had less
+enticing companionship. A "chaperon" did duty at the Astor when Juno was
+in the city, which was not often. Consequently, Juno's ideas of domestic
+felicity were not wholly edifying; her conception of anything pertaining
+to home life about as hazy as the nebula.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps if you ever know Tanta you'll be able to form your own
+opinion," answered Polly quietly, looking steadily at Juno with those
+wonderfully penetrating gray eyes until the girl shrugged and colored.</p>
+
+<p>Stella laughed a low, odd little laugh and came over to drop upon the
+rug beside Polly, saying as she slipped her arm around her and
+good-naturedly dragged her down upon her lap:</p>
+
+<p>"You are one funny, old-fashioned little kid, do you know that? Some
+times I feel as though I were about twenty years your senior, and then
+when I catch that size-me-up, read-me-through, look in your eyes, I make
+up my mind <i>I'm</i> the infant&mdash;not you. Where did you and Peggy catch and
+bottle up all your worldly wisdom?"</p>
+
+<p>"Didn't know <i>I</i> had so much," laughed Polly,<a class="pagenum" name="page_171" id="page_171" title="171"></a> "but Peggy was born with
+hers, I reckon. If I have any it has been bumped into my head partly by
+mother, partly by Aunt Janet, and the job finished by the boys Juno has
+been referring to. It doesn't do to try any nonsense with <i>that</i> bunch;
+they see through you and call your bluff as quick as a flash. We were
+pretty good chums and I miss them more than I could ever miss a lot of
+girls, I believe. Certainly, more than I missed the Montgentian girls
+when I left them."</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing like being entirely frank, I'm sure," was Juno's superior
+remark:</p>
+
+<p>"That's another thing the boys taught us," replied Polly imperturbably.
+Just then the bell rang for "rooms."</p>
+
+<p>"There's Tattoo!" cried Polly. "If I get settled down at Taps tonight
+I'll be doing wonders. Miss Allen has bandaged up my arm as though
+Tzaritza had bitten half of it off. Come on, 'Ritza. Peggy, you'll have
+to get me out of my dudds tonight. Good-night, girls. Sorry we didn't
+get our fudge made. Maybe if I'd let Helen alone you would have had it,"
+and with a merry laugh Polly ran from the room, all animosity forgotten.</p>
+
+<p>"What did she mean by 'Tattoo' and 'Taps,'" asked Natalie of Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"The warning call sounded on the bugle for the midshipmen to go to their
+rooms, and the<a class="pagenum" name="page_172" id="page_172" title="172"></a> lights out call which follows. Have you never heard
+them? They are so pretty. Polly and I love them so, and you can't think
+how we miss them here. Polly always sounded them on her bugle at home.
+You've no idea how sweetly she can do it," answered Peggy as she walked
+toward her room beside Natalie.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I wish I <i>could</i> hear them. I wonder if mother knows anything about
+them," cried Natalie enthusiastically. "Do you know, I think you and
+Polly are perfectly wonderful, you have so many original ideas. I am
+just crazy to know what mother wanted of you tonight. I'm going to ask
+her. Do you think she will tell me?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why not? The only reason I did not tell was because I felt I had no
+right to. If Mrs. Vincent wants the others to know she will tell them,
+but you are different. I reckon mothers can't keep anything from their
+own daughters. At least Polly and her mother seem to share everything
+and I know Mrs. Harold is just like a mother to me."</p>
+
+<p>The girls separated and Peggy and Polly were soon behind closed doors
+discussing Mrs. Vincent's private interview with the former.</p>
+
+<p>The following Tuesday was Hallow E'en and where is your school-girl who
+does not revel in its privileges? Mrs. Vincent, contrary to Miss<a class="pagenum" name="page_173" id="page_173" title="173"></a>
+Sturgis' preconceived ideas of what was possible and proper for a girls'
+school, though the latter never failed to quote the rigid discipline of
+the school which had profited by her valuable services prior to her
+engagement at Columbia Heights, was given to some departures which often
+came near reducing Miss Sturgis to tears of vexation.</p>
+
+<p>One of these rules, or rather the lack of them, was the arrangement of
+the tables in the two dining-rooms. In the dining-room for the little
+girls under twelve a teacher presided at each table as a matter of
+course, but in the main dining-hall covers were laid for six at each
+table, one of the girls presiding as hostess, her tenure of office
+depending wholly upon her standing in the school, her deportment,
+ability and general average of work. At the further end of the room Mrs.
+Vincent's own table was placed, and the staff of eight resident teachers
+sat with her. It was a far happier arrangement than the usual one of
+placing a teacher at each table and having her, whether consciously or
+unconsciously, arrogate the entire conversation, interests and viewpoint
+to herself. Of course, there are some teachers who can still recall with
+sufficient vividness their own school-girl life to feel keenly the
+undercurrent of restraint which an older person almost invariably
+starts<a class="pagenum" name="page_174" id="page_174" title="174"></a> when thrown with a group of younger ones, and who possesses the
+power and tact to overcome it and enter the girl-world. But these are
+the exceptions rather than the rule, and none knew this better than Mrs.
+Vincent. Consequently, she chose her own way of removing all possible
+danger of impaired digestion, believing that the best possible aid to
+healthy appetites and perfectly assimilated food were untrammeled
+spirits and hearty laughs. So she and her staff sat at their own table
+where they were free to discuss the entire school if they chose to do
+so, and the girls&mdash;for, surely, "turn-about-is-fairplay"&mdash;could discuss
+them. It worked pretty well, too, in spite of Miss Sturgis' inclination
+to keep one eye and one ear "batted" toward the other tables, often to
+Mrs. Vincent's intense, though carefully concealed amusement.</p>
+
+<p>And now came Hallow E'en, and with small regard for Miss Sturgis'
+prejudices, plump in the middle of the school week! At the end of the
+last recitation period that afternoon when the whole school of one
+hundred fifty girls, big and little, had gathered in the chapel, for the
+working day invariably ended with a few kindly helpful words spoken by
+Mrs. Vincent and the reading of the thirty-fourth Psalm and singing
+Shelley's beautiful hymn of praise, Mrs. Vincent paused for a moment
+before dismissing her<a class="pagenum" name="page_175" id="page_175" title="175"></a> pupils. Many of the older girls knew what to
+expect, but the newer ones began to wonder if their sins had found them
+out. Nevertheless, Mrs. Vincent's expression was not alarming as she
+moved a step toward them and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Which of my girls will be willing to give up her afternoon recreation
+period and devote that time to the preparation of tomorrow's work!"</p>
+
+<p>The effect was amusing. Some of the girls gave little gasps of surprise,
+others, ohs! of protest, others distinct negatives, while a good many
+seemed delighted at the prospect. These had known Mrs. Vincent longest.</p>
+
+<p>"Those of you who are ready to return to the main hall at four o'clock
+and work until five-thirty may be released from all further obligations
+for the evening, and the attic, laundry and gymnasium will be placed at
+your disposal for a Hallow E'en frolic and&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>But she got no further. Rosalie Breeze, sans ceremony, made one wild
+leap from her chair and rushed toward the platform. Miss Sturgis made a
+peremptory motion and stepped toward her, but Mrs. Vincent raised her
+hand. The next second Rosalie had flung herself bodily into Mrs.
+Vincent's arms, crying:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, if every schoolmarm was just exactly like <i>you</i> I'd never, never do
+one single bad<a class="pagenum" name="page_176" id="page_176" title="176"></a> thing to plague 'em and I'll let you use me for your
+doormat if you want to!"</p>
+
+<p>A less self-contained woman would have been staggered by the sudden
+onslaught and felt her rule and dignity jeopardized. Mrs. Vincent was of
+different fibre. She gathered the little madcap into her arms for one
+second, then taking the witch-like face in both hands kissed each
+flushed cheek as she said:</p>
+
+<p>"I sometimes think you claim kinship with the pixies,&mdash;you are half a
+witch. So you accept the bargain? Good! Have all the fun you wish but
+don't burn the house down."</p>
+
+<p>By this time the whole school had gathered around her, asking questions
+forty to the minute.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Vincent looked like a fly-away girl herself in her sympathetic
+excitement, for her soft, curly chestnut hair had somewhat escaped its
+combs and pins, and her cheeks were as rosy as the girls. Mrs. Vincent
+was only forty, and now looked about half her age.</p>
+
+<p>Polly and Peggy crowded close to her, Natalie shared her arms with
+Rosalie, quiet, undemonstrative Marjorie's face glowed with affection,
+while even Juno condescended to unbend, and Lily Pearl and Helen gave
+vent to their emotions by embracing each other. Stella, tall,<a class="pagenum" name="page_177" id="page_177" title="177"></a> stately
+and such a contrast to the others, beamed upon the group.</p>
+
+<p>But Isabel put the finishing stroke by remarking with, a most superior
+smile:</p>
+
+<p>"O Mrs. Vincent, what a perfect darling you are! Don't you perfectly
+dote on her girls? <i>I</i> fell in love with her years ago when I first met
+her and I've simply worshiped at her shrine ever since."</p>
+
+<p>"Rats!" broke out Rosalie, and Mrs. Vincent had just about all she could
+manage for a moment. Her emotions were sadly at odds. Polly's laugh
+saved the day and deflected Isabel's scorn.</p>
+
+<p>"I really do not see what is amusing you, Miss Howland; I am sure I am
+only expressing the sentiments of my better poised schoolmates."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, we all agree with you&mdash;every single one of us&mdash;though we are
+choosing different ways of showing it, you see. If Peggy and I had been
+down home we'd probably have given the Four-N yell. That's <i>our</i> way of
+expressing our approbation. The boys taught us, and we think its a
+pretty good way. It works off a whole lot of pent-up steam."</p>
+
+<p>"What is it, Polly?" asked Mrs. Vincent.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid you would have to hear the boys give it to quite understand
+it, Mrs. Vincent, but<a class="pagenum" name="page_178" id="page_178" title="178"></a> I tell you it makes one tingle right down to
+one's very toes&mdash;that yell!"</p>
+
+<p>"Can't you and Peggy give it to us on a small scale? Just as a sample of
+what we may hear some day? Perhaps if the girls hear it they can fall
+in. I'd like to hear it myself."</p>
+
+<p>Polly paused a moment, looking doubtfully at Peggy. That old Naval
+Academy Yell meant a good deal to these two girls. They had heard it
+under so many thrilling circumstances.</p>
+
+<p>"We will give it if you wish it, Mrs. Vincent, though it will sound
+funny I'm afraid from just Polly and me. Maybe though, the girls will
+try it too after we have given it."</p>
+
+<p>With more volume and enthusiasm than would have seemed possible from
+just two throats, Peggy and Polly began:</p>
+
+<p style='margin-left:20%'>
+<span style="margin-left: 3.5em;">"N&mdash;n&mdash;n&mdash;n!</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 4em;">A&mdash;a&mdash;a&mdash;a!</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 4em;">V&mdash;v&mdash;v&mdash;v!</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 4em;">Y&mdash;y&mdash;y&mdash;y!</span><br />
+<span style="margin-left: 2em;">Navy! Navy! Navy! Navy!</span><br />
+Mrs. Vincent! Mrs. Vincent! Mrs. Vincent!"<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>the ending being entirely in the nature of a surprise to that lady who
+blushed and laughed like a girl. But before she could escape, Polly had
+sprung to the platform and as a cheer leader who would have put Wheedler
+of old to shame was crying: "Come on!"<a class="pagenum" name="page_179" id="page_179" title="179"></a></p>
+
+<p>The girls caught the spirit and swing with a will and the room rang to
+their voices.</p>
+
+<p>Clapping her hands and laughing happily Mrs. Vincent ran toward the door
+only pausing long enough to say:</p>
+
+<p>"Four P. M. sharp! Then from seven to ten 'the
+goblins will get you if you don't watch out!'"</p>
+
+<p>"Let Polly sound 'Assembly' at four. Please do, Mrs. Vincent. It will
+make us come double time," begged Peggy, running after her and detaining
+her by slipping her arm about her waist.</p>
+
+<p>"Assembly? I don't believe I quite understand."</p>
+
+<p>"On her bugle, you know. It's so pretty, and we did that way at home if
+we wanted to bring the bunch together in a hurry."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'm learning something new every minute, I believe. Yes, sound
+your bugle call, Polly, and be sure I shall be on the <i>qui vive</i> to hear
+it. Before we know it we shall have a <i>girls'</i> military school."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, wouldn't it be perfectly splendid if we only could and all wear
+brass buttons!" cried Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"I think some of the discipline would be splendid for all of us, and
+especially the spirit of the thing," answered Stella. "The trouble with
+most girls lies in the fact that they don't<a class="pagenum" name="page_180" id="page_180" title="180"></a> know how to work together.
+There isn't much class spirit, or co&ouml;peration. Maybe if we tried some of
+the methods Peggy and Polly seem to know so much about we'd come closer
+together."</p>
+
+<p>"Team work, I guess you mean," said Polly quickly. "It means a whole
+lot."</p>
+
+<p>Sharply at four the staccato notes of "Assembly" rang across the terrace
+as Polly sounded the call upon her bugle. The girls came hurrying from
+every direction and the ensuing hour and a half, usually free for
+recreation, was cheerfully given over to study. Dinner was served at six
+and at seven-thirty the revels began.</p>
+
+<p>At Peggy's suggestion a part of the afternoon had been devoted to
+devising costumes out of anything at hand, for a fancy dress party had
+been hastily decided upon. As a result of this some unique and original
+Hallow E'en sprites, nymphs, dryads or witches foregathered in the big
+laundry, "cleared for action," Polly said, and two or three aroused
+little cries of admiration.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy was a dryad. She had rushed away to the woods on Shashai to return
+with her mount buried from sight in autumn leaves. The dark, rich reds
+of the oaks, the deep yellow of the beeches, the dogwood's and maple's
+gorgeous variations and the sweet-gums blood red<a class="pagenum" name="page_181" id="page_181" title="181"></a> mingled in a
+bewildering confusion of color. Stripping the leaves from the twigs she
+proceeded to sew them upon a plain linen gown, and the result was
+exquisite, for not a vestige of the fabric remained visible, and Peggy's
+piquant, rich coloring peeped from a garment of living, burning color.
+She herself was the only one who did not fully appreciate the picture
+she presented.</p>
+
+<p>Polly's costume was a character from one of the children's pages in a
+Sunday newspaper. The entire costume was made of newspapers, with "The
+Yellow Kid" much in evidence, Polly's tawny hair lending itself well to
+the color scheme.</p>
+
+<p>Natalie, who was fair as a lily, had chosen "sunlight," and was a bonny
+little sun goddess. Lily Pearl, after a great deal of fuss and fidgeting
+had elected to go as Titania, and Helen essayed Oberon. Juno, who was
+very musical, made quite a stately Sappho. Little, sedate Marjorie was
+an Alaskan-Indian Princess, and Rosalie rigged up a Puck costume which
+made her irresistible. Isabel chose to be Portia, though that erudite
+lady seemed somewhat out of place among the mythological characters. But
+Stella was a startling Sibyl, with book, staff, and a little crystal
+globe (removed from her paper-weight) in which to read horoscopes. The<a class="pagenum" name="page_182" id="page_182" title="182"></a>
+others went in all sorts of guises or disguises.</p>
+
+<p>In the laundry they found all properties provided. To tell of all which
+took place would crowd out too much which must follow. Of course apples
+were bobbed for, a hat pin was run through them to prod the seeds for
+the true lover's heart, and they were hung upon strings to be caught in
+one's teeth (the apples, <i>not</i> the hearts) if luckily one did not get
+one's nose bumped as they swung back. Melted lead was poured through a
+key into cold water to take the mysterious form which would reveal the
+occupation, or profession, of the future <i>He</i>, and Lily Pearl was thrown
+into an ecstasy by having <i>her</i> sputtering metal take very distinctly
+the form of a ship. <i>And that house party "bid" not even hinted at yet!</i></p>
+
+<p>They walked downstairs backward, looking into a mirror to discover the
+particular masculine face which would fill their live's mirrors, though,
+unhappily some of the potency of the charm was lost because it could not
+be done upon the witching stroke of midnight.</p>
+
+<p>Dumb cakes were made, <i>his</i> initials pricked in the dough, while in
+perfect silence the cakes were baked on the laundry steam dryer, joy and
+rapture descending upon the fortunate she if the initials did not vanish
+in the baking. A ball of twine was thrown out of the kitchen window,<a class="pagenum" name="page_183" id="page_183" title="183"></a>
+but when the thrower hurried out to find the ardent one who had so
+promptly snatched it up and fled, she discovered Horatio Hannibal
+Harrison beating a hasty retreat. He had been playing "Peeping Tom" and
+the ball had caught him squarely upon his woolly crown. A doubtful
+conscience did the rest.</p>
+
+<p>A dozen other tests followed until the girls' occult knowledge reached
+the limit. Then they danced in the Gym to music furnished by Mrs.
+Vincent, who ended the prancing by sending in a huge "fate cake," a big
+basket of nuts, a jug of sweet cider and some of Aunt Hippy's cookies.</p>
+
+<p>Cutting the fate cake ended the Hallow E'en frolic. Lily Pearl was
+thrown into a flutter by finding the ring in her slice. Juno turned
+scornful when a plump raisin fell to her share, Helen drew a tiny key
+from her piece, and the coin dropped into Rosalie's lap.</p>
+
+<p>"Rubbish! I don't want riches. I want a handsome husband," she cried
+with refreshing frankness.</p>
+
+<p>"I hardly think I would noise that fact abroad," was Isabel's superior
+criticism.</p>
+
+<p>"No, I wouldn't if I were you, it would be so perfectly preposterous,"
+retorted Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>Isabel made no reply, but took care that no one else discovered who had
+found the thimble.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_184" id="page_184" title="184"></a>
+<a name="CHRISTMAS_AT_SEVERNDALE_4342" id="CHRISTMAS_AT_SEVERNDALE_4342"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2>
+<h3>CHRISTMAS AT SEVERNDALE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>By a lucky chance Christmas this year fell upon Monday, thus giving the
+midshipmen either liberty, or leave, according to their classes, or
+conduct grade, from Saturday at twelve-thirty to Monday at five-thirty,
+when those enjoying the latter rare privilege had to report for duty in
+Bancroft Hall. Christmas leave for the first class was an innovation,
+which only those on first conduct grade might hope to enjoy. That there
+was the ghost of a chance of any member of the lower classes coming in
+for such a rare treat not even the most sanguine dreamed. <i>But</i>, and
+that BUT was written in italics and capitals, when Captain Stewart made
+up his mind to do a certain thing it required considerable force of
+will, stress of circumstances, and concerted opposition to divert him.
+But the outcome lies in the near future.</p>
+
+<p>The excitement incident to the rescue of Columbine had barely subsided
+when a telegram brought Peggy the joyful news that Captain<a class="pagenum" name="page_185" id="page_185" title="185"></a> Stewart's
+ship, which had met with some slight accident to her machinery, was to
+be dry-docked at Norfolk and her father was to have two weeks' leave.
+The <i>Rhode Island</i> was to be in port at the New York Navy Yard, and this
+meant the forgathering of all who were nearest and dearest to Peggy and
+Polly; a rare joy at the holiday season for those connected with the
+Navy.</p>
+
+<p>Consequently, this year's Yuletide was to be a red letter one in every
+sense, for Mrs. Howland and Gail, who had spent Thanksgiving in New
+York, would return to Annapolis for Christmas and, joy of joys!
+Constance, Snap, and Mr. Harold would come with them.</p>
+
+<p>The telegraph and telephone wires between New York, Norfolk, Washington
+and Annapolis were in a fair way to become fused.</p>
+
+<p>As many of the girls lived at great distances from Washington, the
+Christmas Recess began on the twenty-second. Captain Stewart had 'phoned
+to his party "Heavy marching orders, three P. M., Friday, Dec. 22,
+19&mdash;." A wild flutter ensued.</p>
+
+<p>The Thanksgiving holiday at Mrs. Harold's had been widely discussed at
+Columbia Heights and had stirred all sorts of emotions to their very
+centers. At Captain Stewart's request, Mrs. Harold had sent unique
+invitations to each<a class="pagenum" name="page_186" id="page_186" title="186"></a> of the girls soon after their return to school.
+They were couched in the formal wording of an official invitation from a
+battle ship of the fleet and created a sensation.</p>
+
+<p>Natalie, Stella, Nelly, Rosalie, Juno and Marjorie were invited. Lily
+Pearl's and Helen's attentions to Peggy and Polly having proved
+abortive, they contrived ways and means of their own to reach the Land
+o' Heart's Desire. Helen's old bachelor uncle, a queer, dull old
+gentleman, whose mind was certainly <i>not</i> active, and whom Helen could,
+figuratively speaking, turn and twist about her little finger, was
+persuaded to pass the holidays at Wilmot Hall. He knew a number of
+people in Annapolis, so the path to a certain extent was cleared for
+Lily Pearl and Helen, though they would have given up all the uncles in
+Christendom to have been included in that house party. But half a loaf
+is certainly better than no bread, and once at Annapolis they meant to
+make the most of that half. So it was with no small degree of triumph
+that they announced the fact that they, too, would be at the Christmas
+hop. Just how they intended to manage it they did not disclose.
+Sufficient unto the hour was to be the triumph thereof.</p>
+
+<p>Captain Stewart arrived on Friday morning in time for luncheon and,
+guileless man that he<a class="pagenum" name="page_187" id="page_187" title="187"></a> has
+already shown himself to be, promptly
+offered to "convoy the two little cruisers to Annapolis." His offer was
+accepted with so many gushing responses that the poor man looked about
+as bewildered as a great St. Bernard which has inadvertently upset a
+cage of humming birds, and finds them fluttering all about him. Lily and
+Helen were of a different type from the girls he knew best, but he
+accepted the situation gracefully and enjoyed himself hugely with the
+others, even Marjorie blossoming out wonderfully under his genial
+kindliness.</p>
+
+<p>Isabel amused him immensely. Isabel was to spend her holiday in Boston,
+<i>of course</i>, but was to meet a friend in Baltimore who would chaperone
+the shrinking damsel safely to Mamma's protecting arms. Captain Stewart
+would escort her to the Naval Academy Junction, from which point it
+seemed perfectly safe to let her pursue the remaining half hour's
+journey to Baltimore unattended. In the course of the journey from
+Washington to the Junction Isabel elected to make some delayed notes in
+her diary, greatly to the secret amusement of Captain Stewart, who
+happened to be sitting just behind her.</p>
+
+<p>"Making a list of all your dances and Christmas frolicings,
+little-er-ahem&mdash;, Miss?"</p>
+
+<p>"Boylston, Captain Stewart. Oh, no, I<a class="pagenum" name="page_188" id="page_188" title="188"></a> rarely attend dances; there is so
+much that is instructive to be enjoyed while at home. I am making some
+notes in my diary."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't say so. Find the outlook inspiring?" Captain Stewart laughed as
+he looked out upon the dreary landscape, for the afternoon was lowery,
+and certainly, the cheerless flat landscape between Washington and the
+Junction was far from thrilling.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I am not depending upon my visual sight for my inspiration, Captain
+Stewart. Don't you think the study of one's fellow beings intensely
+interesting?'</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it's a heap cheerier inside the car than outside on this
+confoundedly soggy day," answered Captain Stewart, preparing to withdraw
+from an even more depressing atmosphere than that beyond the car
+windows, by turning to Rosalie, whose eyes were commencing to dance. But
+Isabel had no idea of foregoing an opportunity to make an impression,
+little guessing the sort of one she was in reality making.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, it is exceedingly damp today, but do you think we ought to allow
+externals to affect us?" she asked.</p>
+
+<p>"Eh? What? I'm afraid you're getting beyond my bearings. Lead won't
+touch bottom."</p>
+
+<p>Isabel smiled indulgently: One must be tolerant<a class="pagenum" name="page_189" id="page_189" title="189"></a> with a person forced to
+spend his life within the limited bounds of a ship.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Sturgis, our instructor in sociology, advises us to be very
+observing and to take notes of everything unusual. You know we shall
+graduate next year and time passes <i>so</i> swiftly. It seems only yesterday
+that I entered Columbia Heights School, and here Christmas is upon us. I
+have so little time left in which to accomplish all I feel I should, and
+I could not graduate after I'd passed seventeen. I'd <i>die</i> of
+mortification. And, oh, that fact holds a suggestion. Pardon me if I
+make a note of it, and&mdash;and&mdash;<i>how</i> do you spell accomplished, Captain
+Stewart? I really have so little time to give to etymology."</p>
+
+<p>For one second Captain Stewart looked at the girl as though he thought
+she might possibly be running him. He was more accustomed to the
+fun-loving, joking girl than to this "cellar-grown turnip" as he
+mentally stigmatized her. Then the little imps in Rosalie's eyes proved
+his undoing:</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid I'm no good as an English prof. Reckon I'd spell it
+akomplish. Sounds as good as any other way. You'll know what it means
+when you overhaul it anyhow. But here we are at the Junction. Pipe
+overside, bo's'n," he cried to Peggy.<a class="pagenum" name="page_190" id="page_190" title="190"></a></p>
+
+<p>Good-bys were hastily spoken and Captain Stewart soon had his party
+hurrying across the platform to the Annapolis car. As he settled Rosalie
+in her seat he asked:</p>
+
+<p>"How many Miss Boylstons have you got at Columbia Heights?"</p>
+
+<p>"Only one, thank the powers!" answered Rosalie fervently.</p>
+
+<p>It was nearly six when the electric cars rolled up to the rear of Wilmot
+Hall and the girls saw Mrs. Harold, and a number of the midshipmen of
+the first class lined up and eagerly watching for the particular "she"
+who would spend the holidays in Annapolis.</p>
+
+<p>A mob of squabbling boys made a mad rush for the car steps in the hope
+of securing suitcases to carry into the hotel, and had not the
+midshipmen swept them aside, further progress for the car's passengers
+would have been barred. The hoodlums of the town seem to spring from the
+very ground upon the arrival of a car at Wilmot and certainly make life
+a burden for travelers trying to descend the car steps.</p>
+
+<p>There was only time for general greetings just then, as all hurried into
+Wilmot to meet old friends and new ones, Mrs. Howland, Constance, Snap,
+Gail and Mr. Harold having already arrived.<a class="pagenum" name="page_191" id="page_191" title="191"></a></p>
+
+<p>Pending the departure for Severndale, Mrs. Harold had, at Captain
+Stewart's request, engaged three extra rooms, thus practically
+preempting her entire corridor for her guests, and a jollier party it
+would have been hard to find than the one escorted down to the big
+dining-room that evening by "The Executive Officer," as Captain Stewart
+called Mrs. Harold, who was acting as chaperone for his party.</p>
+
+<p>Directly dinner ended Captain Stewart and Commander Harold left upon
+some mysterious mission which threw the girls into a wild flutter of
+curiosity.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, what is it all about?" demanded Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't tell one single thing until Daddy Neil says I may," laughed
+Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"Does Polly know?" asked Natalie.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy nodded.</p>
+
+<p>"You'll have to bottle up your impatience for an hour or two. Go to your
+rooms and shake out your pretties for tomorrow night's frolic, for I am
+going to 'pipe down' early tonight. When you have finished stowing your
+lockers come back to the sitting-room and we'll have a quiet, cozy time
+until our commanding officers return. Constance, Gail and Snap must make
+a call this evening, but I'm not going to let anyone claim my time. It
+all belongs to my girls," said Mrs. Harold gaily, as she and Mrs.
+Howland<a class="pagenum" name="page_192" id="page_192" title="192"></a> seated themselves before the open fire.</p>
+
+<p>The girls hurried away to do her bidding, for it had been decided to
+remain at Wilmot until after the Christmas hop, all going out to
+Severndale by a special car when the dance was over, Harrison, Mammy and
+Jerome, under Mrs. Harold's tactful generalship, having made all
+preparations for the big house party.</p>
+
+<p>In a few moments the girls returned from unpacking their suitcases.</p>
+
+<p>The Thanksgiving visit had removed all sense of reserve or strangeness
+with Mrs. Harold, but they did not know Mrs. Howland, and for a moment
+there seemed an ominous lull. Then Peggy crying:</p>
+
+<p>"I want my old place, Little Mother," nestled softly upon the arm of the
+big morris-chair in which Mrs. Harold sat, and rested her head against
+Mrs. Harold. The other girls had dropped upon chairs, but Mrs. Harold
+was minded to have her charges pro tem at closer range, so releasing
+herself from Peggy's circling arm for a moment, she reached for two
+plump cushions upon the couch near at hand and flopping them down, one
+at either knee said: "Juno on this one, Rosalie on the other; Marjorie
+beside me and Natalie, Stella and Nelly with Polly," for Polly had
+already cuddled down upon her mother's chair.<a class="pagenum" name="page_193" id="page_193" title="193"></a></p>
+
+<p>Before the words had well left her lips, Rosalie had sprung to her coign
+of vantage crying:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Mrs. Harold, you are the dearest chappie I ever knew, and it's
+already been ten times lovelier than Polly and Peggy ever could describe
+it."</p>
+
+<p>With a happy little laugh, Natalie promptly seated herself upon the arm
+of Mrs. Howland's chair, but Juno hesitated a moment, looking doubtfully
+at the cushion. Juno was a very up-to-date young lady as to raiment. How
+could she flop down as Rosalie had done while wearing a skirt which
+measured no more than a yard around at the hem, and geared up in an
+undergarment which defied all laws of anatomy by precluding the
+possibility of bending at the waist line? She looked at Mrs. Harold and
+she looked at the cushion. As her boys would have expressed it "the
+Little Mother was not slow in catching on." She now laughed outright.
+Juno did not know whether to resent it or join in the laugh too. There
+was something about the older woman, however, which aroused in girls a
+sense of camaraderie rather than reserve, though Juno had never quite
+been able to analyze it. She smiled, and by some form of contortion of
+which necessity and long practice had made her a passed mistress,<a class="pagenum" name="page_194" id="page_194" title="194"></a>
+contrived to get herself settled upon the cushion.</p>
+
+<p>"Honey," said Mrs. Harold, patting her shoulder, "if you want to live up
+to your name you'll discard your coat of mail. Your namesake would have
+scorned its limitations, and your young figure will be far lovelier and
+more graceful, to say nothing of the benefit to yourself and future
+generations, if you heave your armor plate overboard."</p>
+
+<p>It was all said half-jestingly, half-seriously, but Juno gave her head a
+superior little toss as she answered:</p>
+
+<p>"And go looking like a meal sack? To say nothing of flinging away twenty
+perfectly good dollars just paid to Madam Malone."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid I'm a very old-fashioned old lady, but I have no notion of
+letting any Madam Malone, or any other French lady from Erin dictate
+<i>my</i> fashions, or curtail the development and use of my muscles; I have
+too much use for them. Do Peggy and Polly resemble 'meal sacks?' Yet no
+Madam Malone has ever had the handling of their floating-ribs, let me
+tell you. Watch out, little girl, for a nervous, semi-invalid womanhood
+is a high price to pay for a pair of corsets at seventeen. There, my
+lecture is over and now let's talk of earthquakes."</p>
+
+<p>At her aunt's question regarding Peggy and herself resembling "meal
+sacks," Polly laughed<a class="pagenum" name="page_195" id="page_195" title="195"></a> aloud and being in a position to practically
+demonstrate the freedom which a sensibly full skirt afforded, cried:</p>
+
+<p>"If I couldn't <i>run</i> when I felt like it I'd <i>die</i>. I tell you, when I
+strike heavy weather I want my rigging ship-shape. I'd hate to scud
+under bare poles."</p>
+
+<p>The subject was changed but the words were not forgotten. The other
+girls had all gathered about the blazing logs upon cushions or hassocks,
+and a pretty group they formed as they talked eagerly of the coming hop,
+and tried to guess what Captain Stewart was planning, Mrs. Harold and
+Mrs. Howland joining enthusiastically in it all.</p>
+
+<p>"Tanta," asked Polly, "do you know that Lily Pearl Montgomery and Helen
+Doolittle are here at Wilmot with Helen's uncle? We have christened him
+'Foxy Grandpa.' Just wait till you see him. He looks the character
+exactly."</p>
+
+<p>"Are they to go to the hop?" asked Mrs. Harold, instantly interested,
+for even though she had heard amusing tales of the two girls, they were
+still young girls, and she was concerned for their happiness and
+pleasure.</p>
+
+<p>"We don't know and we didn't like to seem inquisitive," replied Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, they are going, Little Mother. Helen told me so. Foxy Grandpa
+knows somebody<a class="pagenum" name="page_196" id="page_196" title="196"></a> who knows somebody else, who knows the boys who are to
+take them, but they didn't tell us their names. I wonder if we know
+them," was Peggy's laughing explanation.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope they will have a happy time," said Mrs. Howland gently as she
+stroked back Polly's silky curls.</p>
+
+<p>"You trust them to have the time of their lives, Mumsey. But oh, <i>isn't</i>
+it good to be here!" and Polly favored her mother with an ecstatic hug.</p>
+
+<p>"What time are we to go to Severndale tomorrow, Little Mother?" asked
+Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"Not until after the hop, dear. It will be very late, I know, but
+Christmas is a special day of days. That is the reason I'm going to send
+you all off early tonight. Nine-thirty gunfire will see you started for
+the Land o' Nod."</p>
+
+<p>"Aren't we to wait until Daddy Neil comes back?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not unless he gets back before three bells and it looks doubtful, two
+have already struck. But you'll learn the news the first thing in the
+morning."</p>
+
+<p>But at that moment Captain Stewart came breezing into the room. Peggy
+and Polly flew to him crying:</p>
+
+<p>"Did he say yes? Did he say yes? Oh,<a class="pagenum" name="page_197" id="page_197" title="197"></a> answer, quick! Do!" they begged,
+each clasping arms about him.</p>
+
+<p>"If I answer quick you'll both cast loose but the longer I keep you in
+suspense the longer you'll lay hold," was his quizzical retort.</p>
+
+<p>"We won't stir. We won't budge. Tell us."</p>
+
+<p>For answer Captain Stewart drew an official-looking document from his
+blouse pocket and waved it high above the girls' heads. A series of
+ecstatic squeals arose from them. Opening the carefully folded paper he
+read its stereotyped phrasing, all of which is too serious to be herein
+repeated. Suffice it to say that it secured for</p>
+
+<p style='margin-left:2em;'>
+Durand Leroux,     Second Class<br />
+Herbert Taylor,    Second Class<br />
+Ralph Wilber,      Third Class<br />
+Jean Paul Nichols, Third Class<br />
+Gordon Powers,     Third Class<br />
+Douglas Porter,    Third Class<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>leave of absence under Captain Neil Stewart's orders from 6:30 P. M.,
+December 23rd, to 6 P. M., December 25th, 19&mdash;.</p>
+
+<p>When the excitement had somewhat subsided, Captain Stewart said:</p>
+
+<p>"Now that I'm sure of it, I must go 'phone out to Severndale or Jerome
+and Harrison will be throwing fits. We'll have to quarter that bunch in
+the old wing, but Lord bless my soul,<a class="pagenum" name="page_198" id="page_198" title="198"></a> I reckon they'd be willing to go
+out to the paddock. But mind, you girls, <i>not one whisper of it to those
+boys, until I give the word</i>, or it will be the brig for every mother's
+daughter of you," and with this terrifying threat he strode off down the
+corridor.</p>
+
+<p>Just then three bells struck in the tower and at the second stroke the
+nine-thirty gun boomed out its welcome "Release."</p>
+
+<p>As the sound died away Mrs. Harold walked over to the big window calling
+to the girls to join her.</p>
+
+<p>"Stand here a moment," she said, then going over to the electric switch
+turned off all the lights.</p>
+
+<p>"Why? What?" cried all the girls excepting Peggy and Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"Look at the windows on the third deck of Bancroft, southwest corner,"
+she said, unhooking a drop light from above her desk and crossing the
+room to the puzzled girls. "Those are Durand's and Bert's rooms. Next to
+them are Gordon's and Doug's. Watch closely."</p>
+
+<p>Presently from two of the windows lights were flashed three times in
+rapid succession. Then absolute darkness.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly Mrs. Harold turned the reflector of her drop light toward the
+academy in such a way that the light would be cast out across the<a class="pagenum" name="page_199" id="page_199" title="199"></a>
+night, then by turning the key on and off quickly she flashed its rays
+three times, paused a moment, then repeated the signal.</p>
+
+<p>Instantly from the rooms mentioned came the answering flashes, which
+after a brief interval were repeated, Mrs. Harold again giving her
+reply.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, who does it? What is it for? What do they mean?" asked her
+visitors.</p>
+
+<p>"Just our usual good-night message to each other. My boys are all dear to
+me, but Durand and Gordon peculiarly so. Those rooms are theirs. Shall I
+tell you the message the flashes carry? It is just a little honor code.
+I want the boys to stand well this term, but, like most boys they are
+always ready for skylarking, and the work from seven-thirty to
+nine-thirty is easily side-tracked. So we have agreed to exchange a
+message at gunfire if 'all is well.' If they have been boning tomorrow's
+work my flash light is answered; if not&mdash;well, I see no answering
+flash."</p>
+
+<p>"Do you think they always live up to the agreement?" asked Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"I have faith to believe they do. Isn't it always better to believe a
+person honest until we prove him a thief, than to go the other way about
+it? Besides, they carry the Talisman."</p>
+
+<p>"What is it&mdash;Little Mother?" asked Juno, to<a class="pagenum" name="page_200" id="page_200" title="200"></a> the surprise of the others,
+slipping to Mrs. Harold's side and placing her arm about her.</p>
+
+<p>"Would you really like to know, dear? Suppose we throw on a fresh log
+and leave the lights turned off. Then we'll have a confidential ten
+minutes before you go to bed. You can all cuddle down in a pile on the
+big bearskin."</p>
+
+<p>A moment later the flames formed a brilliant background to a pretty
+picture, and Mrs. Harold was repeating softly, as the upspringing flames
+filled the room with, their light and rested lovingly upon the young
+faces upturned to here:</p>
+
+<p style='margin-left:2em;'>
+"Each night when three bells strike the hour<br />
+Up in the old clock's lofty tower,<br />
+A flashing beam, a darting ray<br />
+Their message of good faith convey.<br />
+<br />
+"Those wavering, clear, electric beams,<br />
+Who'll guess how much their message means?<br />
+Or dream the wondrous tale they tell?<br />
+'Dear Little Mother, all is well.'<br />
+<br />
+"Yes, out across the peaceful night,<br />
+By moon and stars made silvery bright,<br />
+This message comes in gleaming light:<br />
+We've kept the faith; Good-night! Good-night!<br />
+<br />
+"Our token of a duty done,<br />
+An effort made, a victory won;<br />
+The bond on which we claim the right<br />
+To flash our message, our 'Good-night.'<br />
+<br />
+"Dear Little Mother. Precious name!<br />
+None sweeter may a woman claim,<br />
+No greater honor hope to gain<br />
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_201" id="page_201" title="201"></a>Than this which three short words contain.<br />
+<br />
+"To win and hold a love so pure,<br />
+A faith so stanch, so strong, so sure&mdash;<br />
+To gain a confidence so rare&mdash;<br />
+What honors can with these compare?<br />
+<br />
+"No wonder as I flash my ray<br />
+Across the night's dividing way,<br />
+In deepest reverence I say:<br />
+God keep you true, dear lads, alway."<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>The girls' good-nights were spoken very tenderly. The message of the
+lights had carried one to them as well.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_202" id="page_202" title="202"></a>
+<a name="YULETIDE_4794" id="YULETIDE_4794"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2>
+<h3>YULETIDE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"We are one real old-timey family, sure enough," said Captain Stewart
+heartily, as he gathered his girls about him in Mrs. Harold's
+sitting-room Saturday morning. "But, my-oh, my! I wish I were that
+Indian-Chinese-Jap god, what's his name? who has about a dozen, arms.
+Two are just no account," he added laughingly as he held Peggy in one
+and Polly in the other, while all the other girls, Gail included,
+crowded around him, all talking and laughing at once, all demanding to
+know what would be the very first thing on the day's program.</p>
+
+<p>Mr. and Mrs. Harold, Mrs. Howland, Constance and Snap were seated about
+the room, highly amused by the group in the center, for the girls had
+gathered about Captain Stewart as honeybees gather about a jar of
+sweets.</p>
+
+<p>"Come close! Come close, and I'll tell you. Can't talk at long range,"
+rumbled the kindly man, flopping his arms over Peggy's and Polly's
+shoulders like an amiable sea lion.<a class="pagenum" name="page_203" id="page_203" title="203"></a></p>
+
+<p>Rosalie flew to snuggle beside Polly. Natalie by Peggy, the other girls
+drawing as close as possible, Stella excepted, who laughed, blushed
+prettily and said:</p>
+
+<p>"I think Captain Stewart has more than his arms full now, so I'll hover
+on the outskirts."</p>
+
+<p>"I used to be scared to death of him," confessed Gail, "but those weeks
+up in New London scared away my scare."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, what is it to be this morning?" asked Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"Suppose we all go over and take a look around the yard. It may be
+rather slow with just two old fogies like Harold and me for escorts, but
+we'll leave the matrons at home and take Snap. That ensign's stripe on
+his sleeve makes him seem a gay young bachelor even if he is a staid old
+Benedic, and Constance can lend him to you girls for a little while,
+anyway."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm game! No telling which one will be responsible for an elopement,
+Connie," cried Snap, bending over his pretty young wife to rest his dark
+hair against hers for a second.</p>
+
+<p>She laughed a happy little laugh as she answered:</p>
+
+<p>"Go along, Sir Heartbreaker. People down here have not forgotten auld
+lang syne and I dare say the rocking chair fleet will at once begin to
+commiserate me. But you girls had<a class="pagenum" name="page_204" id="page_204" title="204"></a> better watch out; he is a hopeless
+flirt. So beware!" Nevertheless, the light in her eyes as she raised
+them to the handsome man whose hand rested upon her shoulders held
+little of apprehension.</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes later the merry group had set forth. Mrs. Harold, Mrs.
+Howland and Constance were only too glad to have their lively charges
+out of the way for an hour or two, for a good bit must be attended to
+before they could leave for Severndale that evening. Captain Stewart and
+the girls would not return until twelve o'clock and the boys&mdash;who had
+been invited out for luncheon rather than to dine, former experiences
+having taught Mrs. Harold the folly of inviting dinner guests on a hop
+night&mdash;would arrive immediately after formation.</p>
+
+<p>At twelve o'clock the girls returned from the Yard, and when one bell
+struck were watching in undisguised eagerness for their luncheon guests.
+From Mrs. Harold's windows they could see the steady stream of men
+rushing from Bancroft toward the main gate, and in less time than seemed
+possible, footsteps were audible&mdash;yes, a trifle more than audible&mdash;as
+"the bunch" came piling up Wilmot's stairway; for the promptitude with
+which "the Little Mother's boys" responded to "a bid" to Middies'<a class="pagenum" name="page_205" id="page_205" title="205"></a> Haven
+was an unending source of wonder to most people and certainly to her
+school-girl guests.</p>
+
+<p>Eight midshipmen, came tramping up the stairs, eager to welcome old
+friends and ready to meet new ones upon the old ones' recommendations.</p>
+
+<p>To Peggy, Polly and Nelly the happy, laughing, joking lot of lads were
+an old story, but the influx came near turning some of the other girls'
+heads.</p>
+
+<p>Juno was sorely divided between Douglas Porter's splendid figure and
+Durand's irresistible charm, until Miss Juno began to absorb the full
+significance of "class rates" and gold lace. The "five-striper" or head
+of the entire brigade was a well set-up chap and rather good looking,
+though suffering somewhat from a bad attack of "stripitis," as it was
+termed in Bancroft Hall. He was fairly efficient, a "good enough fellow"
+but not above "greasing," that is, cultivating the officers' favor, or
+that of their wives and daughters, if thereby ultimate benefits accrued
+to himself.</p>
+
+<p>The three-striper of Ralph's, Jean's and Durand's company whom Mrs.
+Harold had asked to escort Stella, was an all-round popular man, and a
+great favorite of Mrs. Harold's for his irreproachable character, sunny,
+lovable<a class="pagenum" name="page_206" id="page_206" title="206"></a> disposition and unfailing kindness to the underclassmen.</p>
+
+<p>The others who crowded the room are old friends.</p>
+
+<p>Jean Paul and Rosalie chattered like a pair of magpies. Natalie was the
+happiest thing imaginable as she and Bert Taylor, who had found the
+little golden-head most enticing, laughed and ran each other like old
+chums. Peggy was everywhere, and although Durand strove to break away
+from Juno in order to "get in a few" with Peggy, he was held prisoner
+with "big Doug" until Guy Bennett the five-striper arrived and promptly
+appropriated her. Then Durand got away.</p>
+
+<p>Gordon Powers devoted himself to Nelly, while Ralph hovered over Polly,
+for they had endless interests in common.</p>
+
+<p>"And you made the crew, Ralph!" cried Polly. "Maybe I wasn't tickled
+nearly to death when you wrote me about it. And you're out for
+basketball too? How did you come out in Math and Mech? And who's taken
+Gumshoe's place this year? And you never wrote me a word about Class
+President Election, though I guess I've asked you in every letter. What
+makes you so tight with your news, any way? I write you every little
+thing about Columbia Heights. Come across with it."<a class="pagenum" name="page_207" id="page_207" title="207"></a></p>
+
+<p>Ralph turned crimson. Polly looked first baffled then suddenly growing
+wise, jumped at him and shook him by the shoulders just as she used to
+do in the old days as she cried:</p>
+
+<p>"It's <i>you</i>! And you never told me! You good-for-nothing boy."</p>
+
+<p>"Hi! Watch out! The Captain's clearing for action," cried Jean Paul.
+"Told you you'd catch it when she found out."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, Tanta might have told me, anyhow," protested Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"Ralph wouldn't let me. Kept me honor bound not to. But if you are all
+ready for your luncheon, come down at once. There are&mdash;how many of us?
+Twenty-four? Merciful powers!"</p>
+
+<p>"No, Tanta, only twenty-three. Poor Gail's minus an escort," cried
+Polly, a shade of regret in her eyes, for Gail meant a great deal to
+this little sister.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, so she is. Now that's too bad of me," but something in her aunt's
+voice made Polly look at her keenly. A moment later she understood.</p>
+
+<p>As the merry, laughing, chattering group reached the last landing of the
+stairs leading down to the Assembly Hall, a tall, broad-shouldered man
+who stood at the foot looked eagerly upward. Polly gave one wild screech
+and nearly fell down the remaining steps, to fling<a class="pagenum" name="page_208" id="page_208" title="208"></a> herself into the
+arms outstretched to save her, as a deep voice said:</p>
+
+<p>"One bell, Captain Polly! You'll carry away your landing stage if you
+come head on at full speed."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Shortie! Shortie! Where did you come from?" cried Polly, nearly
+pumping his arm from its socket, while all the others crowded around to
+welcome the big fellow whom all had loved or esteemed during his
+undergraduate days.</p>
+
+<p>"Ask the Little Mother. She's responsible, and Gail needs looking after
+among all this bunch, I know. Come along, young lady. I've got to see
+you fed and cared for."</p>
+
+<p>And Gail seemed perfectly willing to "come along."</p>
+
+<p>With such an addition to her family, Mrs. Harold had made arrangements
+to have two large round tables reserved for her in the smaller of the
+two dining-rooms, the older people at one, with Gail, Stella, Juno,
+Shortie, Allyn and Guy to make the circle, the younger people with Peggy
+and Polly as hostesses at the adjoining table. In addition to her own
+regular waiter, the second head waiter and two assistants had been
+detailed to serve, but with the Christmas rush and the number of people
+at Wilmot for the holidays<a class="pagenum" name="page_209" id="page_209" title="209"></a> there was more or less delay between
+courses.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is John?" she demanded, as they were waiting for the salad.</p>
+
+<p>"Over yonder. Shall I hail him?" asked Durand, from the next table,
+promptly putting his fingers to his mouth as though to give one of the
+ear-splitting whistles which seem to carry for miles.</p>
+
+<p>"If you dare, you scape-grace, right here in this dining-room!" she
+warned.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, do it!" cried Polly. "I want to learn how. Show me."</p>
+
+<p>"All right; stick out your tongue," directed Durand and Polly promptly
+fell into the trap, though unluckily she happened to be looking straight
+past Durand at the moment, and what proved more embarrassing, right at a
+table occupied by Foxy Grandpa, Helen and Lily Pearl, whom Mrs. Harold
+had not yet met, so, of course, did not recognize. (Helen and Lily did
+not mean to lose sight of Peggy and Polly if they could help it.)</p>
+
+<p>There are some situations where explanations only make matters worse.
+This was one of them. Polly was in everlasting disgrace and everyone at
+the table in shouts of laughter, as well as those at other tables near
+at hand, whose occupants could not have helped hearing and seeing if
+they would.<a class="pagenum" name="page_210" id="page_210" title="210"></a></p>
+
+<p>But at that moment Rosalie diverted attention from Polly by trying to
+clap her hands regardless of the piece of luncheon roll she held, thus
+promptly launching it over her shoulder, where it went merrily bounding
+across the polished floor to be gravely rescued by the irreproachable
+John. But Rosalie was in the realms of the gods and far above such
+mundane matters as a luncheon roll's eccentricities.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Harold was no whit behind her girls in their fun, and was so well
+known to every guest in the hotel that her table was invariably looked
+upon as a source of amusement for most of the others, and the fun which
+flowed like an electric current came very near making them forget the
+good things before them, and the big dining-room full of people found
+themselves sympathetically affected, each gay bit of laughter, each
+enthusiastic comment finding an answering smile at some table.</p>
+
+<p>As nearly every member of the first class had gone on Christmas leave,
+the few who happened to be in Annapolis having remained as the guests of
+friends, there was a very perceptible thinning out of ranks over in
+Bancroft that afternoon. Nevertheless, Mrs. Harold had announced an
+informal tea from four to six and "general liberty" enabled all who
+chose to do so to attend it. And many chose! But in the<a class="pagenum" name="page_211" id="page_211" title="211"></a> interval
+between luncheon and four o 'clock Mrs. Harold "barred out the masculine
+population" and carried her girls upstairs to change their gowns for her
+tea. It was during the "prinking process" that some very characteristic
+comments were made upon the masculine guests now enjoying their
+post-prandial cigars, or cigarettes, in the smoking-room, below stairs.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Harold was in her element listening to the girls' frank comments.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I know I 'm going to have the very time of my life, Mrs. Harold,"
+exclaimed Natalie, giving a little bounce of rapture.</p>
+
+<p>"Mr. Porter is certainly a remarkably handsome man," was Juno's
+complacent comment. "But, Mrs. Harold, aren't first classmen
+really&mdash;well&mdash;don't they come in for greater privileges? Rate more? Is
+that what you say down here?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course. Especially a five-striper, Juno. You'd better cultivate Guy
+Bennett. It's a great distinction to profit by a five-striper's favors.
+There are three girls in Annapolis who have reduced that sort of
+cultivation to a science and if you manage to rival them you will have
+scored a point, sure enough."</p>
+
+<p>"How many five-stripers are there?" asked Stella.</p>
+
+<p>"Only one, happily, or the girls to whom I<a class="pagenum" name="page_212" id="page_212" title="212"></a> allude would have nervous
+prostration. But the four and three-stripers save the day for them.
+Nothing below is worth cultivating."</p>
+
+<p>"Don't Polly and Peggy 'cultivate' the stripers!" asked Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"That depends," was Mrs. Harold's cryptic answer as an odd smile caused
+her lips to twitch. "Last year's five-striper and a good many other
+stripers, were with us constantly, and I miss them more than I like to
+dwell upon. This year's? Well&mdash;I shall endeavor to survive their
+departure."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, but don't you just love them all!" cried Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"Which, the midshipmen or the stripes?" asked Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, the midshipmen, of course!"</p>
+
+<p>"I think a whole lot of some of the boys&mdash;yes, of a good many, but there
+are some whom I wouldn't miss much, I reckon."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I think you are perfectly heartless, Polly. They are just the
+darlingest men I ever met."</p>
+
+<p>With what unction the word "men" rolled from Rosalie's tongue. "Men" had
+not figured very largely in Rosalie's world, and Mrs. Harold chuckled
+inwardly at the thought of classing Rosalie's particular little Jean
+Paul, in the category of grown-ups; anything more<a class="pagenum" name="page_213" id="page_213" title="213"></a> essentially boyish,
+and full to the brim of madcap pranks, than the eighteen-year-old Jean
+Paul, it would have been hard to picture.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Harold had dispatched notes to Helen and Lily Pearl asking them in
+Peggy's and Polly's name to be present at her little tea that afternoon,
+to meet several of the midshipmen, and, if they cared to do so, to bring
+with them the men who were taking them to the hop. She did not know who
+these men were.</p>
+
+<p>Shortly after four Helen and Lily Pearl arrived in a flutter. Mrs.
+Harold had not felt it incumbent upon her to include Foxy Grandpa,
+concluding that he could find diversion for an hour or two while his
+charges were with their school-chums. When Helen and Lily arrived upon
+the scene, Mrs. Harold's face was a study. Foxy Grandpa was evidently
+too dull to be critical and Columbia Heights was at a safe distance.</p>
+
+<p>Both Lily Pearl and Helen were gotten up regardless. Each wore
+extravagant gowns, each had done up her hair and supplemented it by
+wonderful creations of false puffs. Each wore dangling ear-rings and the
+complexion of each girl had been "assisted."</p>
+
+<p>Poor Mrs. Harold felt as though a couple of chorus girls had invaded her
+little sanctum, and Peggy and Polly were furious. But it was too<a class="pagenum" name="page_214" id="page_214" title="214"></a> late
+then to retreat and a few moments later the midshipmen began to pour
+into the sitting-room, the two who were to take Helen and Lily being men
+whom Mrs. Harold had always avoided, feeling that they were no
+companions for the frank, unaffected girls she loved so dearly. She
+resolved to keep her eye piped.</p>
+
+<p>It was a merry afternoon. Rosalie scintillated, and her scintillation
+proved infectious for Jean Paul, upon whom she had made a deep
+impression at Thanksgiving; he instantly appropriated her, greatly to
+Mrs. Harold's amusement, for she was never too fully occupied to notice
+significant signs.</p>
+
+<p>Quiet, dignified Bert Taylor had promptly taken bonny Natalie under his
+serene protection. And Juno! Well she was sorely divided between Doug's
+towering seventy-four inches and Gordon's sixty-nine, though she strove
+to conceal the exaltation which her uniformed gallants stirred in her
+soul by bringing to bear upon them all the superlative superiority which
+she had studied as the acme of success in the habitues of the Hotel
+Astor. With Douglas it worked to a charm. He rose to the corresponding
+r&ocirc;le as a trout to a fly, but poor Gordon was only too thankful when the
+companionship and conversation became more general. The superior young
+lady from the metropolis was beyond<a class="pagenum" name="page_215" id="page_215" title="215"></a> his ken. Little Nelly Bolivar's
+sweetness and quaint humor filled his ideals to far greater
+satisfaction. He had met Nelly first at Severndale and several times
+since with Mrs. Harold, who had often invited her to spend the weekend
+at Wilmot, where she had looked to the young girl's welfare, knowing how
+much she must miss Peggy this winter.</p>
+
+<p>Nelly was simply dressed in a gown which had once been Peggy's, for most
+of Peggy's garments went to Nelly, but were given so sweetly and with
+such evident love, that not even the most sensitive nature could have
+been wounded, and they were a real blessing to her. No one ever
+commented upon the fact and before going to Columbia Heights, Nelly had
+spent many a busy hour with Mrs. Harold remodeling and working like a
+little beaver under that good friend's guidance, for Nelly was a skilful
+little needlewoman. As a result, no girl in the school was more suitably
+gowned. The only girls who had eyed her critically were Lily Pearl,
+Helen and Juno. The first because she was too shallow to do aught but
+follow Helen's lead, and Juno from a naturally critical disposition.
+Juno meant to hold her favor somewhat in reserve. She intended first to
+see what Nelly's standing at Severndale proved. She might be Polly's and
+Peggy's friend&mdash;well and good&mdash;but<a class="pagenum" name="page_216" id="page_216" title="216"></a> who was she? Would she find a
+welcome among the Delacys, the Vanderstacks, the Dryers and heaven knows
+which-or-whats of New York's glitterers?</p>
+
+<p>Juno was hardly in a position to gauge her standards by those who
+represented the big city's finest and best. She saw the patrons of the
+great hotels and moved among them, but of New York's sterling worth, she
+was as ignorant as a babe. Its superficial glamour and glitter, as well
+as its less desirable contingent, which she was not sufficiently
+experienced in the world's ways to fully understand, made the strongest
+appeal to her. Poor little Nelly Bolivar would have been a modest, sleek
+little Junco compared with the birds of paradise (?), cockatoos, and
+pheasants of Juno's world, but of all this Nelly was quite unaware and
+too happy in her present surroundings to care.</p>
+
+<p>It was a merry afternoon for all, but a diversion was created by Polly,
+shortly before it ended.</p>
+
+<p>She was at the tea-table pouring, and talking to Ralph like a
+phonograph, when Mrs. Harold became aware of a horrible odor, and cried:</p>
+
+<p>"What under the sun smells so abominably? Why, Polly Howland, look at my
+perfectly good teakettle! It is red hot, and&mdash;horrors&mdash;there isn't one
+drop of water in it!"<a class="pagenum" name="page_217" id="page_217" title="217"></a></p>
+
+<p>True enough, absorbed in her conversation with Ralph, Polly had
+completely overlooked the trifling detail of keeping her kettle filled,
+though the alcohol lamp beneath it was doing its duty most lampfully.</p>
+
+<p>Damages repaired and the kettle at length filled and singing merrily,
+the gay little gathering took slight note of time, but soon after four
+bells struck in the tower clock, Mrs. Harold began to "round up" her
+masculine guests, for she had no notion of their being late for
+formation.</p>
+
+<p>"Take your places in the 'firing line!'" she ordered.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, there's loads of time, Little Mother!" came in protest from Jean
+Paul.</p>
+
+<p>"Time to burn," from Dick Allyn, who found Stella mighty entertaining.</p>
+
+<p>"Now, Little Mother, you're not going to be so hard-hearted as to turn
+us out early tonight! Why, it's weeks since we've had the girls here,"
+wheedled Durand.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't help it. Out you all go! There's too much at stake just now to
+risk any demerits."</p>
+
+<p>"At stake? What's at stake, Little Mother?" were the eager questions.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't tell you a single thing now. I'm tongue-tied until Captain
+Stewart passes the word."<a class="pagenum" name="page_218" id="page_218" title="218"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Oh, what is it? Please come across with it, Little Mother. When may we
+know," begged Ralph.</p>
+
+<p>"At formation tonight perhaps. No use teasing! Join the firing line!"
+and with the command of a general Mrs. Harold shooed her brood out into
+the corridor, where overcoats and caps hung. They were used to these
+sudden dismissals, and so were Polly and Peggy, who were too familiar
+with all that which must be crowded into a limited amount of time not to
+appreciate what it meant to have "the decks cleared" when necessary. But
+Rosalie, Natalie, Juno, Marjorie, Stella and the other girls accepted
+the new order of things with divers emotions. Rosalie giggled, Natalie's
+face expressed wonder. Juno's was just a shade critical, Marjorie and
+Stella smiled.</p>
+
+<p>"Gee, if we obeyed all orders with as good grace as we obey the Little
+Mother's what models we'd be," was Jean Paul's jerky comment as he
+struggled into an overcoat, his eyes still fixed upon Rosalie's winsome
+face.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, Doug Porter was clawing about among the coats to find his
+own, but happening to glance at Jean Paul, shouted:</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I'll be hanged! Say, how is it to get out of my coat, Bantam?"</p>
+
+<p>True enough, the garment into which the wee<a class="pagenum" name="page_219" id="page_219" title="219"></a> man was wriggling trailed
+upon the carpet, but Jean Paul was in a realm where overcoats 'never
+were or e'er had been.'</p>
+
+<p>At six-fifteen the lingering good-byes had been said and Mrs. Harold had
+dismissed those who constituted the "firing line," the name having been
+bestowed by Wheedles when he first witnessed the promptitude with which
+Mrs. Harold sent her boys to the right-about in order to avoid demerits
+for tardiness.</p>
+
+<p>"Why must they rush back on the very minute?" asked Rosalie, when all
+were gone, half inclined to resent an order of things which deprived her
+of her gallant Jean sans ceremony.</p>
+
+<p>"Discipline! Discipline! Little lady," laughed Mrs. Harold, coming up
+behind Rosalie and turning the piquant face up to hers.</p>
+
+<p>"I should think they'd feel like a lot of school boys to be ordered
+about so," was Juno's rather petulant comment.</p>
+
+<p>"Better feel 'like a lot of schoolboys' here, than like a lot of
+simpletons when they 'hit the tree,'" was Mrs. Harold's merry reply.
+"You've a whole lot to learn about regulations, my bonny lassie."</p>
+
+<p>It was all said so kindly and so merrily that Juno could not resent it.</p>
+
+<p>"But when will they learn about their leave? And if they are to go out
+to Severndale tonight<a class="pagenum" name="page_220" id="page_220" title="220"></a> how will they manage?" asked Rosalie eagerly.</p>
+
+<p>"Trust Daddy Neil to manage that. When they get back they'll be called
+to the office and the officer in charge will notify them of what has
+taken place and give them their orders."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't think I can possibly wait to hear what they'll say!" cried
+Polly. "I never, never knew such a lovely thing to happen before."</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_221" id="page_221" title="221"></a>
+<a name="AT_SEVERNDALE_5244" id="AT_SEVERNDALE_5244"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2>
+<h3>AT SEVERNDALE</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"My goodness!" cried Rosalie, "I thought I knew Peggy Stewart, but the
+Peggy Stewart we know at Columbia Heights, and the Peggy Stewart we saw
+at Wilmot, and the Peggy Stewart we've found here are three different
+people!"</p>
+
+<p>"And if you stay here long enough you'll know still another Peggy
+Stewart," nodded Polly sagely.</p>
+
+<p>"She is a wonder no matter where you find her," said Nelly quietly, "and
+she grows to be more and more of a wonder the longer you know her."</p>
+
+<p>"How long have you been observing this wonderful wonder?" asked Juno.</p>
+
+<p>"I think Peggy Stewart has held my interest from the first moment we
+came to live at Severndale," was Nelly's perfectly truthful, though not
+wholly enlightening, answer. Juno thought the evasion intentional and
+looked at her rather sharply. She was more than curious to see Nelly's
+home and father, and wondered if the party would be invited there.<a class="pagenum" name="page_222" id="page_222" title="222"></a></p>
+
+<p>The Christmas hop, which had been a paradise within flag-draped walls
+for Captain Stewart's guests, was numbered among delights passed, but so
+many more were in store and the grand climax of the year, the New Year's
+eve hop, though, alack! it had to be given on the night of December
+thirtieth instead of the thirty-first, was looked forward to with
+eagerness.</p>
+
+<p>The party had come out to Severndale by a special car at twelve-thirty,
+and a "madder, merrier" group of young people it would have been hard to
+find.</p>
+
+<p>Upon their return to Bancroft Hall after Mrs. Harold's summary dismissal
+from "Middie's Haven" the previous Saturday night, Ralph, Jean Paul,
+Durand, Bert, Gordon and Doug had been ordered to report at the office
+and had it not been for the hint given at the tea, would have gone in
+trepidation of spirit. But it so happened that the officer in charge was
+possessed of a flickering memory of his own midshipman days, and his
+twinkling eyes and cheerful grin were reassuring. The boys all openly
+adored him, and even though they had dubbed him <i>Hercules</i> Hugh, would
+have formed a door mat of their bodies had he hinted a desire for it.</p>
+
+<p>When the lucky six finally grasped the fact<a class="pagenum" name="page_223" id="page_223" title="223"></a> that Captain Stewart had
+actually obtained forty-eight hours liberty for them, and they were to
+go out to Severndale with the house-party, some startling things came
+very near taking place right in the O C's office. Luckily the favored
+ones restrained themselves until they reached Durand's room on the third
+deck, where a vent promptly presented itself, and is too good a story to
+leave untold.</p>
+
+<p>Naturally at Christmas, innumerable boxes of "eats" are shipped to the
+midshipmen from all over the United States, their contents usually
+governed by the section of the world from which they are forwarded. New
+England invariably sends its quota of mince pies, roast turkeys and the
+viands which furnish forth a New England table at Yuletide. The South
+and West send their special dishes.</p>
+
+<p>Durand's Aunt Belle never failed him. Each holiday found a box at
+Bancroft addressed to the lad who was so dear to her, and it was always
+regarded as public property by Durand's friends, who never hesitated to
+open it and regale themselves, sure that the generous owner of the
+"eats" would be only too glad to share with them everything he owned.
+But like most generous souls, Durand was often imposed upon, and this
+year the imposition went to the very limit. While Durand and his friends
+were over<a class="pagenum" name="page_224" id="page_224" title="224"></a> in Wilmot Hall his box was rifled, but it could hardly have
+been said to have been done by his friends, several men who had counted
+upon "Bubbles being a good old scout" having made way with practically
+everything the box contained. When he returned to his room the turkey
+carcass, picked clean as though buzzards had fallen upon it, rested
+forlornly upon its back in the middle of his study table. It was well
+for him that the midshipman on duty in his corridor had been one of the
+marauders, otherwise he would have been speedily reported for that which
+followed.</p>
+
+<p>When the yelling, shouting bunch rushed into Durand's room they stopped
+short and a few expletives expressed their opinions of the pirates. But
+Durand's wits worked quickly. Catching up the denuded bird by its greasy
+neck and giving the yell of a Comanche, he rushed out into the corridor
+waving his weapon over his head like a war club. The man on duty at the
+table at the end of the corridor saw him coming and needed no further
+hint that his Nemesis was upon him. Regardless of duty or anything else,
+he bounded from his chair and fled around the corner of the corridor,
+the turkey carcass speeding after him with unerring aim.</p>
+
+<p>Had he remained within range he would have received all and more than
+his share of<a class="pagenum" name="page_225" id="page_225" title="225"></a> the bird. Unluckily, a divisional officer had chosen that
+moment to turn into the corridor, and the turkey whizzed over his head,
+for he was one very tiny man. Durand did not wait to make inquiries. He
+had not removed cap or overcoat, a window was close at hand, the window
+of the adjoining room was accessible to one as agile as Durand, and the
+next second he was out of one and through the other, leaving his friends
+to make explanations.</p>
+
+<p>Why it did not result in Durand and all the others losing those precious
+forty-eight hours of liberty, only their special guardian spirits were
+in a position to explain, but they kept discreetly silent. The men in
+Durand's room could truthfully declare that they had not had a thing to
+do with the launching of that extraordinary projectile and also that
+Durand was not in his room. It was not necessary to be too explicit,
+they felt, and twenty minutes later all were over at Middie's Haven, Guy
+Bennett and Richard Allyn, to Juno's secret disgust, having shifted into
+civilian clothes as was the privilege of the first classmen "on leave,"
+the difference between "leave" and "liberty" being very great indeed.
+Stella, although admiring the uniforms, was tantalizingly uncritical.
+The girls could never quite understand Stella's lack of enthusiasm over
+the midshipmen.<a class="pagenum" name="page_226" id="page_226" title="226"></a></p>
+
+<p>And so had passed that joyful evening of the Christmas hop, the biggest
+surprise of all awaiting them up at Round Bay upon the arrival of the
+car at that station.</p>
+
+<p>Nearly every horse and vehicle at Severndale had been pressed into
+service to carry its guests from the station, and mounted on Shashai and
+Star, Jess having brought them home for the holidays, were Happy and
+Wheedles.</p>
+
+<p>They had been unable to leave their ships as soon as Shorty, so taking a
+later train had gone directly to Severndale. Their welcome by Peggy and
+Polly was a royal one. When the party arrived at Severndale another
+surprise greeted it as a very fat, very much-at-home Boston bull-terrier
+came tumbling down the steps to greet them. To all but Polly he was an
+alien and a stranger. Polly paused just one second, then cried as she
+gathered the little beast into her arms, regardless of the evening wrap
+she was wearing:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Rhody! Rhody! who brought you?"</p>
+
+<p>As though to answer her question, Rhody rolled his pop-eyes toward
+Wheedles.</p>
+
+<p>Of the happy Sunday and happier Christmas day space is too limited to
+tell. At five P. M. Durand, Ralph, Jean Paul, Bert, Gordon and Doug were
+obliged to bid their hostesses adieu and return to Annapolis, but each
+day of Christmas<a class="pagenum" name="page_227" id="page_227" title="227"></a> week held its afternoon informal dance at the
+auditorium, to which Mrs. Harold escorted her party, the mornings being
+given over to work by the midshipmen, and to all manner of frolicing out
+at Severndale by Happy, Wheedles, and Shortie, who seemed to have
+returned to their fun-loving, care-free undergraduate days.</p>
+
+<p>Yet how the boys had changed in their seven months as passed-midshipmen.
+Although full of their fun and pranks, running Peggy and Polly
+unmercifully, showing many little courtesies to Nelly whom all had grown
+to love during the old days, and playing the gay gallants to the other
+girls, there was a marked change from the happy-go-lucky Wheedles, the
+madcap Happy, and the quaint, odd Shortie of Bancroft days.</p>
+
+<p>But Shortie's interest was unquestionably centered on one golden-haired
+little lady, and many a long ride did they take through the lovely
+country about Severndale. Captain Stewart watched proceedings with a
+wise smile. Gail and Shortie were prime favorites of his.</p>
+
+<p>Happy and Wheedles had to do duty for many during the morning hours, but
+the girls' especial escorts were punctual to the minute when the launch
+from Severndale ran up to the Maryland Avenue float at three-forty-five
+each afternoon,<a class="pagenum" name="page_228" id="page_228" title="228"></a> and they had no cause to complain of a lack of
+attention, for many beside those who had been invited to Severndale were
+eager for dances with little gypsy Rosalie, tall, stately Stella,
+winsome Natalie, shy Marjorie or the scornful Juno, whose superiority
+was considered a big joke.</p>
+
+<p>During their week in Annapolis Helen and Lily Pearl had made tremendous
+strides in a certain way. Foxy Grandpa had met a gushing, gracious
+widow, who made Wilmot her home. That the lady's hair was of a shade
+rarely produced by nature, and her complexion as unusual as her
+innumerable puffs and curls, Foxy Grandpa was too dull of sight and mind
+to perceive. He had gone through life somewhat side-tracked by more
+brilliant, interesting people, and to find someone who flattered him and
+fluttered about him with the coyness of eighteen years, when three times
+eighteen would hardly have sufficed to number her milestones, went to
+the old gentleman's head like wine, and he became Mrs. Ring's slave to
+the vast amusement of everyone in Wilmot.</p>
+
+<p>And Mrs. Ring promptly took Helen and Lily Pearl under her chaperonage,
+introduced her son, a midshipman, to them, who in turn introduced his
+room-mate, and a charming sextet was promptly formed. Poor Mrs. Vincent<a class="pagenum" name="page_229" id="page_229" title="229"></a>
+was likely to have some lively experiences as the result of that
+Christmas holiday, for Paul Ring and Charles Purdy were one rare pair of
+susceptible simpletons, if nothing worse.</p>
+
+<p>And so passed the week at Severndale for Mrs. Harold's party, Peggy once
+more the gracious little chatelaine, sure of herself and entertaining
+her guests like a little queen, a perfect wonder to the other girls.
+Polly was happy as a grig, and all the others equally so. The older
+people rejoiced in this rare reunion, and Captain Stewart each day grew
+more devoted to his "Howland bunch" as he called them. The three girls
+openly adored him, and dainty, quiet little Mrs. Howland beamed upon
+everyone, little guessing how often the good Captain's eyes rested upon
+her when she was unaware of it, or how he was learning to esteem the
+mother of the three young girls whom he pronounced "jewels of the purest
+water."</p>
+
+<p>But that lies in the future. It is once more Saturday morning and once
+more a big dance is pending to which all are going.</p>
+
+<p>This time Shortie was taking Gail, Wheedles had asked Stella, Happy was
+looking after Juno, Polly would go with Ralph, Peggy with Durand,
+Rosalie would have cried her eyes out had any one save Jean Paul been
+her gay gallant,<a class="pagenum" name="page_230" id="page_230" title="230"></a> Natalie was Bert's charge, Marjorie and big Doug had
+become good chums, and, of course, Gordon Powers had made sure of
+Nelly's company.</p>
+
+<p>As this was to be the most magnificent affair of the holiday season, it
+had been decided to drive into Annapolis directly after luncheon, attend
+a matinee to be given at the one funny little theatre the town boasted,
+and for which Mrs. Harold had secured three stalls in order to include
+"the bunch," then to go to Wilmot to dine and dress, Mammy, Harrison and
+Jerome having been intrusted with the transportation of the suitcases
+containing the evening finery.</p>
+
+<p>All went merry as a marriage bell. When the matinee ended the boys were
+sent to the right about and the girls hurried to their rooms to make
+their toilets, for a six-thirty dinner had been ordered and everybody
+would be present.</p>
+
+<p>As the girls, excepting Stella and Gail, were all under seventeen, and
+still to make their formal bows to the big social world, their gowns
+were all of short, dancing length, Juno's excepted. Juno was a good deal
+of a law unto herself in the matter of raiment. Her father supplied her
+with all the spending money she asked for, and charge accounts at
+several of the<a class="pagenum" name="page_231" id="page_231" title="231"></a> large New York shops and at a fashionable modiste's,
+completed her latitude. There would be very little left for Juno to
+arrive at when she made her d&eacute;but.</p>
+
+<p>There was no time for comment or correction when the girls emerged from
+their rooms to accompany the older people to the dining-room, but at
+sight of Juno's gown Mrs. Harold's color grew deeper, and for a moment
+her teeth pressed her lower lip as though striving to hold back her
+words. Juno and Rosalie shared one room but Rosalie had known nothing of
+the contents of Juno's suitcase until it came time for them to dress,
+then her black eyes had nearly popped out of their sockets, for
+certainly Juno's gown was a startling creation for a school-girl.</p>
+
+<p>Needless to add, the one which she was supposed to have taken to
+Annapolis had been replaced by the present one at the last moment, and
+Mrs. Vincent was not even aware that Juno possessed such a gown as the
+one she was then wearing.</p>
+
+<p>It was a beautiful pearl white charmeuse, cut low in front and with a V
+in the back which clearly testified to the fact that the wearer was
+<i>not</i> afflicted with spinal curvature. Its trimmings were of exquisite
+lace and crystals sufficiently elaborate for a bride, and the skirt was<a class="pagenum" name="page_232" id="page_232" title="232"></a>
+one of the clinging, narrow, beaver-tailed train affairs which render
+walking about as graceful as the gait of a hobbled-horse, and dancing an
+utter impossibility unless the gown is held up. It was a most advanced
+style, out-Parisianing the Parisian. When Juno prepared to get into it,
+even Rosalie, charming beyond words in a pink chiffon, had cried:</p>
+
+<p>"Why, Juno Gibson, it's lucky for you Mrs. Vincent isn't here. You'd
+never go to the hop in that dress."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, she isn't here, so calm yourself."</p>
+
+<p>But the climax came as they were crossing Wilmot's reception hall on
+their way up from dinner. Mrs. Harold was walking just behind her flock,
+Peggy with her, fully conscious of the tension matters had assumed, for
+modest little Peggy had been too closely associated with Polly and Mrs.
+Harold not to have stored away considerable rational worldly knowledge
+and some very sane ideas.</p>
+
+<p>As they were about to ascend the stairs Juno with well affected
+indifference caught up her train, thereby revealing the latest
+idiosyncrasy of the feminine toilet. She wore silver slippers and black
+silk tights and had quite dispensed with petticoats. The stage and the
+Hotel Astor had developed Juno's knowledge of <i>la mode en r&egrave;gle</i> at a
+galloping pace.<a class="pagenum" name="page_233" id="page_233" title="233"></a></p>
+
+<p>Some of the girls gave little gasps, and amused smiles flitted across
+the faces of the people within range. Mrs. Harold colored to her
+forehead.</p>
+
+<p>When they reached her corridor she said to Juno:</p>
+
+<p>"Little girl, will you come into my room a moment?'</p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, if you wish it, Mrs. Harold," was the reply in a tone which
+meant that Juno had instantly donned her armor of repulsion</p>
+
+<p>Seating herself upon a low chair, Mrs. Harold drew a hassock to her
+side, motioning Juno to it. The seat might have been accepted with a
+better grace. Mrs. Harold took the lovely, rebellious face in both her
+hands, pressed her lips to the frowning forehead, and said gently:</p>
+
+<p>"Honey, smoothe them out, please, and, remember that what I am about to
+say to you is said because Peggy's and Polly's friends are mine and I
+love them. Yes, and wish them to learn to love me if possible. Nothing
+is dearer to me than my young people and I long to see all that is best
+and finest developed in them. You have come to me as a guest, dear, but
+you have also come to me as my foster-daughter pro tem, and as such,
+claim my affectionate interest in your well-being. Mother and daughter
+are precious names."<a class="pagenum" name="page_234" id="page_234" title="234"></a></p>
+
+<p>There was a slight pause, in which Juno gave an impatient toss of her
+handsome head and asked in a bitterly ironical voice:</p>
+
+<p>"Are they? I am afraid I'm not very well prepared to judge."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Harold looked keenly at the girl, a light beginning to dawn upon
+her, though she had heard little of Juno's history.</p>
+
+<p>"Dear heart, forgive me if I wounded you. It was unintentional. I know
+nothing of earlier experiences, you know. You are just Polly's friend to
+me. Perhaps some day, if you can learn to love and trust me, you will
+let me understand why I have wounded. That is for another time and
+season. Just now we have but a few moments in which to 'get near' each
+other, as my boys would say, and I am going to make a request which may
+displease you. My little girl, will you accept some suggestions
+regarding your toilet?"</p>
+
+<p>"I dare say you think it is too grown-up for me. I know I'm not supposed
+to wear a low gown or a train."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm afraid I should be tempted to say the gown had been sent to you
+before it had grown-up enough," smiled Mrs. Harold. "And certainly some
+of its accessories must have been overlooked or forgotten altogether."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, nobody wears anything but tights<a class="pagenum" name="page_235" id="page_235" title="235"></a> under a ball gown nowadays. How
+would it fit with skirts all bunched up under it? As to the neck, it is
+no lower than one sees at the opera at home. I know a dozen people who
+wear gowns made in exactly the same way, and Madam Marie would expire if
+I did not follow her dictates&mdash;why, she would never do a bit more work
+for me."</p>
+
+<p>"Then I beg of you, outrage the lady's ideas forthwith, for&mdash;" Mrs.
+Harold laid her hand upon Juno's&mdash;"no dressmaker living should have the
+power to place a refined, modest little girl in a false position, or
+lower her womanly standards and ideals. Not only hers, dear, but what is
+vastly more far-reaching, the ideals of the boys and men with whom she
+is thrown. You are too young to fully appreciate this; you could hardly
+interpret some of the comments which are sure to be made upon the
+ballroom floor from those who are somewhat lacking in finer feeling; nor
+can you gauge the influence a truly modest girl&mdash;I do not mean an
+ignorantly prudish one, for a limited knowledge of the facts of life is
+a dangerous thing&mdash;has over such lads as you meet."</p>
+
+<p>"You have a beautiful hand, dear," continued Mrs. Harold, taking Juno's
+tapering, perfectly manicured fingers in hers. "It is faultless. Make it
+as strong as faultless, for remember&mdash;nothing<a class="pagenum" name="page_236" id="page_236" title="236"></a> has greater power
+figuratively. You hold more in this pretty hand than equal franchise can
+ever confer upon you. See that right now you help to make the world
+purer&mdash;your sisters who would have the ballot are using this crying need
+as their strongest argument&mdash;by avoiding in word or deed anything which
+can dethrone you in the esteem of the other sex, whether young or
+mature, for you can never know how far-reaching it will prove. You think
+I am too sweeping in my assertion? That you never have and never could
+do anything to invite criticism? Dear heart, not intentionally, I know,
+but in the very fact that you are innocent of the influence which&mdash;say
+such a gown as you are now wearing, for an illustration&mdash;may have, lies
+the harm you do. If you fully understand you would sooner go to the hop
+tonight gowned in sackcloth; of this I am certain."</p>
+
+<p>For a moment Juno did not speak. This little human craft was battling
+with conflicting currents and there seemed no pilot in sight. Then she
+turned suddenly and placing her arms about Mrs. Harold, laid her head
+upon the shoulder which had comforted so many and began to sob softly.</p>
+
+<p>"My little girl! My dear, dear little girl, do not take it so deeply to
+heart. I did not mean<a class="pagenum" name="page_237" id="page_237" title="237"></a> to wound you so cruelly. Forgive me, dear."</p>
+
+<p>"You haven't wounded me. It isn't that. But I&mdash;I&mdash;don't seem to know
+where I'm at. No one has ever spoken to me in this way. I'm often
+scolded and lectured and stormed at, but no one cares enough to make me
+understand. Please show me how. Please tell me. It seems like a glimpse
+into a different world."</p>
+
+<p>"First let me dry the tears I have been the cause of bringing to your
+eyes&mdash;if my boys see traces of them I shall be brought to an account.
+Then we will remedy what might have done harm."</p>
+
+<p>As she spoke Mrs. Harold took a bit of absorbent cotton, soaked it in
+rose water and bathed the lovely soft, brown eyes. Juno smiled up at
+her, then nestled against her, again.</p>
+
+<p>"My new little foster-daughter," said Mrs. Harold, kissing the velvety
+cheeks.</p>
+
+<p style='margin-left:2em;'>
+"'It's beauty, truly blent, whose red and white,<br />
+Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.'<br />
+</p>
+
+<p>Keep it so&mdash;it needs no aid&mdash;we shall learn to know each other better.
+You will come again&mdash;yes, often&mdash;and where I can help, count upon
+me&mdash;always? And now I'll play maid."</p>
+
+<p>Ten minutes later when Juno entered the living-room, an exquisite bit of
+Venetian lace<a class="pagenum" name="page_238" id="page_238" title="238"></a> filled in the V at the back of the bodice; the softest
+white maline edged the front, and when, she raised her train a lace
+petticoat which any girl would have pronounced "too sweet for words"
+floated like sea-foam about her slender ankles.</p>
+
+<p>No comments were made and all set forth for the hop. And was the
+experiment a red letter one? Well!</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_239" id="page_239" title="239"></a>
+<a name="IN_SPRING_TERM_5646" id="IN_SPRING_TERM_5646"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2>
+<h3>IN SPRING TERM</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Well, we all came back to earth with a thud, didn't we? But, was there
+ever anything like it while it lasted," ended Natalie with a rapturous
+sigh.</p>
+
+<p>"And do you suppose there can ever be anything like it again?" Rosalie's
+tone suggested funeral wreaths and deep mourning, but she continued to
+brush her hair with Peggy's pretty ivory-handled brush, and pose before
+Peggy's mirror. The girls were not supposed to dress in each other's
+rooms but suppositions frequently prove fallacies in a girl's school and
+these girls had vast mutual interests past and pending.</p>
+
+<p>Several weeks had passed since the Christmas holidays, but the joys of
+that memorable house-party were still very vivid memories and recalled
+almost daily.</p>
+
+<p>It was the hour before dinner. The girls were expected to be ready
+promptly at six-fifteen, but dressing hour might more properly have been
+termed gossiping hour, since it was<a class="pagenum" name="page_240" id="page_240" title="240"></a> more often given over to general
+discussions, Stella's pretty room, or Peggy's and Polly's, proving as a
+rule a rendezvous. All of the Severndale house party were assembled at
+the moment, and two or three others beside, among them Isabel, Helen and
+Lily Pearl.</p>
+
+<p>"I hope there may be a good many times like it again," said Peggy
+warmly. "It was just lovely to have you all down there and Daddy Neil
+was the happiest thing I've ever seen. I wish we could have him at
+Easter, but he will be far away when Easter comes."</p>
+
+<p>"Shall you go home at Easter?" asked Helen, flickering hopes of an
+invitation darting across her mind.</p>
+
+<p>"I hardly think so. You see it is only two weeks off and the Little
+Mother has not said anything about it, has she, Polly?"</p>
+
+<p>"No, in her last letter she said she thought she'd come down to
+Washington for Easter week and stop at the Willard, but it is not
+settled yet. I'd rather be in Annapolis at Easter and go for some of our
+long rides. Wasn't it fun to have Shashai and Silver Star back there
+during our visit! I believe they and Tzaritza and Jess had the very time
+of their young&mdash;and old&mdash;lives. And wasn't Tzaritza regal with Rhody?"</p>
+
+<p>"It was the funniest thing I've ever seen,"<a class="pagenum" name="page_241" id="page_241" title="241"></a> laughed Stella. "That dog
+acted exactly like a royal princess entertaining a happy-go-lucky
+jackie. Rhody's life on board the <i>Rhode Island</i> since you and Ralph
+rescued him seems to have been one gay and festive experience for a
+Boston bull pup."</p>
+
+<p>"It surely has," concurred Polly. "Snap says he's just wise to
+everything, and did you ever see anything so absurd as those clown
+tricks the jackies taught him?"</p>
+
+<p>"I think you are all perfectly wonderful people, dogs and horses
+included," was Rosalie's climax of eulogy, if rather peculiar and
+comprehensive.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, we had one royal good time and we are not likely to forget it
+either. Peggy, weren't you petrified when you struck 'eight bells' at
+the hop, for the death of the old year? Goodness, when those lights
+began to go out, and everybody stopped dancing I felt so queer. And when
+'taps' sounded little shivery creeps went all up and down my spine, and
+you struck eight bells so beautifully! But reveille drove me almost
+crazy. When the lights flashed on again I didn't know whether I wanted
+to laugh or cry I was so nervous," was Natalie's reminiscence.</p>
+
+<p>"It was the most solemn thing I ever heard and the most beautiful," said
+Marjorie softly.<a class="pagenum" name="page_242" id="page_242" title="242"></a> "It made me homesick, and yet home doesn't mean
+anything to me; this is the only one I have known since I was eight
+years old."</p>
+
+<p>"Eight years in one place and a school at that!" cried Juno. "Why, I
+should have done something desperate long before four had passed. Girls,
+think of being in a school eight years." Juno's tone implied the horrors
+of the Bastile.</p>
+
+<p>"If you had no other, what could you do?" Marjorie's question was asked
+with a smile which was sadder than tears could have been.</p>
+
+<p>Juno shrugged her shoulders, but Polly slipped over to Marjorie's side
+and with one of Polly's irresistible little mannerisms, laid her arm
+across her shoulder, as hundreds of times the boys in Bancroft
+demonstrate their good fellowship for each other. Another girl would
+probably have kissed her. Polly was not given to kisses. Then she asked:</p>
+
+<p>"Won't your father come East this spring for commencement? You said you
+hoped he would.</p>
+
+<p>"I've hoped so every spring, but when he writes he says it takes four
+whole months to reach Washington from that awful place in the Klondyke.
+I wish he had never heard of it."</p>
+
+<p>"I'm so glad you went to Severndale with<a class="pagenum" name="page_243" id="page_243" title="243"></a> us. We must never let her be
+lonely or homesick again, Peggy."</p>
+
+<p>"Not while Severndale has a spare hammock," nodded Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>Marjorie was more or less of a mystery to most of the girls, but the
+greatest of all to Mrs. Vincent to whom she had come the year the school
+was opened. Mrs. Vincent had more than once said to herself: "Well, I
+certainly have four oddities to deal with: <i>Who</i> is Marjorie? She is one
+of the sweetest, most lovable girls I've ever met, but I don't really
+know a single thing about her. She has come to me from the home of a
+perfectly reliable Congregational minister, but even he confesses that
+he knows nothing beyond the fact that she is the daughter of a man lost
+to civilization in the remotest regions of the Klondyke. He says he
+believes her mother is dead. Heigho! And Juno? What is likely to become
+of <i>her</i>, poor child? What does become of all the children of divorced
+parents in this land of divorces? Oh, why can't the parents think of the
+children they have brought into the world but who did not ask to come?</p>
+
+<p>"And Rosalie? What is to become of that little pepper pot with all her
+loving impulses and self-will? I believe her father has visited her for
+about one hour in each of the four years<a class="pagenum" name="page_244" id="page_244" title="244"></a> she has been here, and I also
+believe his visits do more harm than good, they seem to enrage the child
+so. Of course, it is all wounded pride and affection, but who is to
+correct it? And this year comes Stella, the biggest puzzle of all. Her
+father? Well, I dare say it is all right, but he sometimes acts more
+like&mdash;" but at this point Mrs. Vincent invariably had paused abruptly
+and turned her attention to other matters.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't the boys ever get leave to visit their friends?" asked Lily Pearl.
+"I think it is perfectly outrageous to keep them stived up in that
+horrid place year in and year out for four years with only four months
+to call their own in one-thousand-four-hundred-and-sixty days!"</p>
+
+<p>"Lily's been doing the multiplication table," cried Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I counted and I think it's awful&mdash;simply awful!" lamented Lily.
+"I'd give anything to see Charlie Purdy and have another of those
+ravishing dances. I can just feel his arms about me yet, and the way he
+snuggles your head up against him and nestles his face down in your
+hair&mdash;m&mdash;m&mdash;m! Why, his clothes smell so deliciously of cigarette smoke!
+I can smell it yet!"</p>
+
+<p>A howl of laughter greeted this rhapsody from all but Helen, who bridled
+and protested:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you girls may laugh, but you had to<a class="pagenum" name="page_245" id="page_245" title="245"></a> walk a chalk line under the
+eyes of a half dozen chaperones every minute. Lily and I got acquainted
+with our friends."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I hope we did have a chaperone or two," was Polly's retort. She
+had vivid memories of some of the scenes upon which she and Ralph had
+inadvertently blundered during the afternoon informals of Christmas
+week. The auditorium in the academic building where informals are held,
+has many secluded nooks. Upon one occasion she had run upon Helen and
+Paul Ring, the former languishing in the latter's arms. Perhaps mamma
+would not have been so ready to intrust her dear little daughter to Foxy
+Grandpa's protection had she dreamed of the existence of Mamma Ring and
+dear Paul.</p>
+
+<p>At all this sentimental enthusiasm Stella had looked on indulgently and
+now laughed outright, "What silly kids you two are," she said.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't see that you had such a ravishing time, anyway," cried
+Helen.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, I'm sure Mr. Allyn was as attentive as anyone could be. He was on
+hand every minute to take me wherever I wanted to go." Stella's
+expression was quizzical and made Helen furious.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, a paid guide could have done as much I don't doubt."<a class="pagenum" name="page_246" id="page_246" title="246"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Father <i>is</i> a little fussy at times, so perhaps it is just as well. You
+see I should not have been at Severndale at all if he had not been
+called to Mexico on business. So I'd better be thankful for what fun I
+did get. But there goes the first bell. Better get down toward the
+dining-room, girls," laughed Stella good-naturedly, and set the example.
+A moment later the room was deserted by all but Helen who lingered at
+the mirror. When the others were on their way down stairs she slipped to
+Nelly's room and took from her desk a sheet of the monogram paper and an
+envelope, which Mrs. Harold had given her at Christmas. As she passed
+her own room she hid them in her desk for future use. After dinner when
+the evening mail was delivered, Helen received a letter bearing the
+Annapolis postmark. Nelly had one from her father. As she read it her
+face wore a peculiar expression. The letter stated that her father was
+coming to Washington to consult with Shelby concerning a matter of
+business connected with Severndale's paddock. As Nelly ceased reading
+she glanced up from her letter to find Peggy watching her narrowly.
+Peggy had also received a letter from Dr. Llewellyn in which he
+mentioned the fact that Bolivar felt it advisable to run down to
+Washington. In an instant the whole situation<a class="pagenum" name="page_247" id="page_247" title="247"></a> flashed across Peggy's
+quick comprehension.</p>
+
+<p>During the girl's visit at Severndale Jim Bolivar had never come to the
+house. Nelly had many times slipped away for quiet little talks with her
+father in their own cottage and had asked him more than once why he did
+not come up to the big house to see her, and his reply had invariably
+been:</p>
+
+<p>"Honey, I don't belong there. No, 'tain't no use to argue,&mdash;I don't.
+Your mother would have; she come of quality stock, and what in the
+Lord's name she ever saw in me I've been, a-guessin' an' a-guessin' for
+the last eighteen year."</p>
+
+<p>"But Dad, Peggy Stewart has never, never made either you or me feel the
+least shade of difference in our stations. Neither has Polly Howland.
+They couldn't be lovelier to me, though I know you have never been at
+Severndale as guests have been there. But it has never seemed to strike
+me until now. And down at the school the girls are awfully nice to me;
+at least, most of them are. Those who are patronizing are that way
+because they are so to everybody. But the really nice girls are lovely,
+and I am sure they'd never think of being rude to you."</p>
+
+<p>"Little girl, listen to your old Dad: There are some things in this
+world not to be got<a class="pagenum" name="page_248" id="page_248" title="248"></a> around. I'm one of 'em. Peggy Stewart and Polly
+Howland are thoroughbreds an' thoroughbreds ain't capable of no low-down
+snobbishness. They know their places in the world and there's nothing
+open to discussion. An' they're too fine-grained to scratch other folks
+the wrong way. But, some of them girls up yonder are cross-breeds&mdash;oh,
+yes, I've been a-watchin' 'em an' I know,&mdash;tain't no use to argue. They
+kin prance an' cavort an' their coats are sleek an' shinin', but don't
+count on 'em too much when it comes right down to disposition an'
+endurance, 'cause they'll disappoint you. I ain't never told you honey,
+that your mother was a Bladen. Well, she was. Some day I'm going to tell
+you how she fell in love with a good-lookin' young skalawag by the name
+o' Jim Bolivar. He comes o' pretty decent stock too, only he hadn't
+sense enough to stay at St. John's where his dad put him, but had to go
+rampagin' all over the country till he'd clean forgot any bringin'-up
+he'd ever had, and landed up as a sort o' bailiff, as they call 'em over
+in the old country, on an estate down on the eastern shore. Then he met
+Helen Bladen and 's sure's you live she 'changed the name and not the
+letter and changed for a heap sight worse 'n the better' when she eloped
+with me. Thank the Lord she didn't live long enough to<a class="pagenum" name="page_249" id="page_249" title="249"></a> see the worst,
+and you hardly remember her at all. But that's my pretty history,&mdash;a
+no-count, ne'er do well, and if it weren't for Peggy Stewart, God bless
+her! you'd a been lyin' 'long side o' yo' ma out yonder this minute, for
+all I'd ever a-done to keep you here, I reckon, much less give you the
+education you're a-gettin' now. No, honey, I won't go up to the great
+house. If I'd a-done right when I was a boy I'd be sittin' right up
+there with the rest o' that bunch o' people this minute. But I was bound
+to have my fling, and sow my wild oats and now I can have the pleasure
+of harvestin' my crop. It ought to be thistles, for if ever there was a
+jackass that same was Jim Bolivar."</p>
+
+<p>Nelly had listened to the pitiful tale without comment, but when it
+ended she placed her arms about her father's neck and sobbed softly. She
+had never mentioned this little talk to anyone, but it was seldom far
+from her thoughts, and now her father was coming to Washington.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy slipped her arm about her and asked:</p>
+
+<p>"What makes you look so sober, Nellibus?"</p>
+
+<p>"Because I'm a silly, over-sensitive goose, I dare say."</p>
+
+<p>Peggy looked puzzled.</p>
+
+<p>Nelly handed her her father's letter. Peggy read it, then turned to look
+straight into Nelly's eyes, her own growing dark as she raised her<a class="pagenum" name="page_250" id="page_250" title="250"></a> head
+in the proud little poise which made her so like her mother's portrait.</p>
+
+<p>"When he comes I think matters will adjust themselves," was all she
+said.</p>
+
+<p>The following Friday afternoon Jim Bolivar was ushered into the pretty
+little reception room by Horatio Hannibal, who went in quest of Nelly.
+As she had no idea of the hour her father would arrive, she was
+preparing to go for a ride with a number of the girls, for the day was a
+heavenly one; a late March spring day in Washington.</p>
+
+<p>"Miss Bol'var, yo' pa in de 'ception room waitin' fo' to see yo', Miss,"
+announced Horatio.</p>
+
+<p>"I'll go right down. Sorry I can't go with you, girls."</p>
+
+<p>"May we come and see him just a minute before we start!" asked Peggy
+quickly, while Polly came eagerly to her side.</p>
+
+<p>"Of course you may. Dad will love to see you," was Nelly's warm
+response.</p>
+
+<p>"We won't keep you waiting long, girls," said Peggy, "we'll join you at
+the porte cochere."</p>
+
+<p>Arrayed in their habits, Peggy, Polly and Nelly hurried away.</p>
+
+<p>"Wonder what he looks like," said Juno idly as she drew on her
+gauntlets.<a class="pagenum" name="page_251" id="page_251" title="251"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Bet he's nice if he's anything like Nelly," said Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"Isn't it funny you girls never saw him while you were at Severndale?"
+said Lily Pearl.</p>
+
+<p>"Perhaps he's not the kind Nelly Bolivar cares to have seen," was
+Helen's amiable remark, accompanied by a shrug and a knowing look.</p>
+
+<p>"Why, what do you mean, Helen?" asked Natalie with some spirit.</p>
+
+<p>"Just what I say. <i>I</i> believe Nelly Bolivar is as poor as Job's turkey
+and that Peggy Stewart pays all 'her expenses here. And I know she wears
+Peggy's cast-off clothes. I saw Peggy's name in one of her coats. You
+know Peggy has her name and the maker's woven right into the linings.
+Just you wait and see what her father looks like and then see if I'm far
+wrong."</p>
+
+<p>"Why, she's nothing better than a charity pupil if that's true," sneered
+Lily Pearl, who never failed to follow Helen's lead.</p>
+
+<p>"If Mrs. Vincent opens her school to such girls I think it would be well
+for our parents to investigate the matter," was Isabel's superior
+criticism.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you'd better. Mother would be delighted to have an extra room or
+two; she has so many applicants all the time," flashed Natalie, her
+cheeks blazing.<a class="pagenum" name="page_252" id="page_252" title="252"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Children, children, don't grow excited. Wait until you find out what
+you're fuming about," said Stella in the tone which always made them
+feel like kids, Rosalie insisted. "And come on down. The horses have
+been waiting twenty minutes already and Mrs. Vincent will have a word or
+two to say to us if we don't watch out."</p>
+
+<p>As they crossed the hall to the porte cochere, Peggy, Polly and Nelly
+came from the reception room, Mr. Bolivar with them. The lively
+curiosity upon the girls' faces was rather amusing. Juno favored him
+with a well-cultivated Fifth Avenue stare. Helen's nose took a higher
+tilt if possible. Lily Pearl giggled as usual. Stella smiled at the
+girls and said: "Glad you're coming with us." Isabel murmured "Horrors!"
+under her breath and waddled with what she believed to be dignity toward
+the door. Marjorie only smiled, but Rosalie and Natalie stopped, the
+former crying impulsively:</p>
+
+<p>"Introduce your father to us, Nelly; we want to know him."</p>
+
+<p>The man the girls looked upon had changed a good deal from the
+despondent Jim Bolivar whom Peggy had seen sitting upon the upturned box
+in Market Square so long ago. Prosperity and resultant comforts had done
+a good deal for the despairing man. There were<a class="pagenum" name="page_253" id="page_253" title="253"></a> still some traces of the
+handsome Jim Bolivar with whom pretty, romantic Helen Bladen had eloped,
+though the intermediate years of sorrow and misfortune had changed that
+dapper young beau into a careless, hopeless pessimist. What the end
+might have been but for Peggy is hard to guess, but the past two years
+had made him think and think hard too. Though still slipshod of speech
+as the result of associating with his humbler neighbors, he was
+certainly making good, and few lapses occurred as he shook hands with
+Nelly's friends and then went out to help them mount. In his dark gray
+suit, Alpine hat and his gray gloves, something of the gentleman which
+was in him became evident.</p>
+
+<p>He helped each girl upon her horse, greeted Junius Augustus, patted
+Shashai, Star and Tzaritza; deplored poor Columbine's shorn glories,
+smiled an odd smile at Isabel's bulky figure upon the more bulky
+Senator, then said:</p>
+
+<p>"I'll see you when you come back, honey. I've got to have a talk with
+Shelby. Some things is&mdash;are&mdash;bothering me back yonder. Have a fine
+gallop. It's a prime day for it. Good-bye, young ladies," and raising
+his hat with something of the gallantry of the old Bolivar he followed
+Junius toward the stables.</p>
+
+<p>That night Mrs. Vincent asked him to dine with her, but he declined on
+the score of an<a class="pagenum" name="page_254" id="page_254" title="254"></a> engagement with a friend. He and Shelby dined in
+Washington and during that meal he made just one allusion to Nelly and
+her surroundings.</p>
+
+<p>"It's all very well for a man to make a plumb fool of himself and waste
+his life if he's a-mind to, but he ain't got any business to drag other
+folks along with him. If I hadn't a-been a fool among fools I might
+a-been sittin' beside my little girl this minute, and not be scared to
+either, Shelby. My dad used to say something about 'man being his own
+star,' I don't recollect it all, but I know it meant he could be one of
+the first magnet if he'd a mind to. I set out to be a comet, I reckon,
+all hot air tail, and there isn't much of me left worth looking at."</p>
+
+<p>"How old are you!"</p>
+
+<p>"Forty-four."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you've got twenty-five years to the good yet. Now get busy for
+the little girl's sake."</p>
+
+<p>"Shake," cried Jim Bolivar, extending his hand across the table.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile back yonder at the school, Friday night being "home letters
+night" the girls were all busily writing, but Helen kept the monogram
+upon her paper carefully concealed.<a class="pagenum" name="page_255" id="page_255" title="255"></a></p>
+
+<div style='text-align: center'>
+  <img alt='illus' src='images/illus-257.jpg' />
+</div>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_256" id="page_256" title="256"></a>
+<a name="A_MIDNIGHT_SENSATION_6037" id="A_MIDNIGHT_SENSATION_6037"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2>
+<h3>A MIDNIGHT SENSATION</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>But two weeks remained of the spring term. School would close on May
+twenty-eighth. Already Washington had become insufferably warm, and even
+Columbia Heights School situated upon its hill, was very trying. The
+girls were almost too inert to work and spent every possible moment out
+of doors.</p>
+
+<p>The moment school ended Peggy, Polly and Nelly would go back to
+Annapolis and Rosalie was to go with, them as Peggy's guest for a month.
+Mrs. Harold had invited Marjorie, Natalie, and Juno to be Polly's guests
+for June week under the joint chaperonage of herself and Mrs. Howland,
+after which plans were being laid for the entire party to go to
+Provincetown with "all the Howland outfit," as Captain Stewart and Mr.
+Harold phrased it, there to live in a bungalow as long as the Atlantic
+fleet made that jumping-off place its rendezvous. It bid fair to be a
+tremendous house party, though the lads whom the girls had grown to
+know best would not be there. The practice squadron was<a class="pagenum" name="page_257" id="page_257" title="257"></a> going to Europe
+this summer. However, "the old guard" as Happy, Wheedles and Shortie, as
+well as dozens of others from earlier classes were called, would be
+there and things were sure to be lively. But all this lies in the
+future.</p>
+
+<p>Helen and Lily Pearl had been invited to Annapolis for June week, by
+Mrs. Ring, and were to go to the June ball with dear Paul and Charles
+Purdy. They had not been asked to dance the German since they had made
+no special friends among the first classmen. Peggy and Polly were to
+dance it, one with Dick Allyn, the other with his room-mate, Calhoun
+Byrd, who, in Bancroft's vernacular "spooned on Ralph" and had always
+considered Polly "a clipper." Juno was to go with Guy Bennett, Nelly,
+Rosalie, Marjorie and Natalie had, alack! to look on from the gallery,
+escorted by second-classmen.</p>
+
+<p>But now of immediate happenings at Columbia Heights School.</p>
+
+<p>It had been arranged that Shelby should take Shashai, Star and Tzaritza
+back to Severndale on the twenty-second, as it was now far too warm to
+ride in Washington. Moreover, Shelby's engagement with Mrs. Vincent
+expired May fifteenth and he was anxious to get back to Severndale. Then
+at the last moment, Mrs. Vincent decided to send all the saddle horses
+to<a class="pagenum" name="page_258" id="page_258" title="258"></a> Severndale for the summer months and keep only the carriage horses
+and the white groom at the school. So Shelby wrote Jim Bolivar that
+"he'd better come along down and get on the job too." Consequently,
+about a week after the girl's visit to Annapolis and Rosalie's escapade,
+Jim Bolivar arrived at the school and took up his quarters in the pretty
+little cottage provided for Shelby. He expected to spend about two days
+helping to get matters closed up for the summer, then start on with
+Junius Augustus in charge of Columbine, Lady Belle, the Senator, and
+Jack-o'-Lantern, Shelby following a day later with Shashai, Star, Madame
+Goldie and Old Duke. So far so good out in the stables. Within the
+school Nelly was learning the difference between being the daughter of
+patrician blood come upon misfortune, and cheerfully making the best of
+things, and some extremely plebeian blood slopped unexpectedly into
+fortune, and trying to forget its origin. Had not Nelly possessed such
+loyal old friends as Peggy and Polly, and made such stanch new ones as
+Rosalie, Natalie, Stella and Marjorie, her position might have been a
+very trying one. And now only eight days remained before vacation would
+begin. Already the girls were in a flutter for June week at Annapolis.
+Would it be fair? Would it be scorching<a class="pagenum" name="page_259" id="page_259" title="259"></a> hot? Would there be moon-light
+nights?</p>
+
+<p>"There'll be moon-light if the old lady has half a chance to show
+herself," said Polly's assured voice and nod.</p>
+
+<p>"We had a new moon on the eighteenth," said Peggy. "That means brim-full
+in June week, and, oh, girls, won't it be fairy land! How I wish,
+though, you were all to dance the German. I can't help feeling selfish
+to leave you out of that fun."</p>
+
+<p>"You aren't leaving us out. We understand that even the Little Mother
+can't ask her boys to take a girl to the German! But we aren't likely to
+pine away with all the other fun afoot," cried Natalie gaily, doing a
+pirouette across the room just by way of relieving pent-up anticipation.</p>
+
+<p>"Helen said she might be invited to dance the German after all. Dear
+Paul's Mamma has a grease with a first classman," laughed Rosalie.</p>
+
+<p>"When I see her on the floor I'll believe it," said Juno.</p>
+
+<p>"Where is Helen tonight?" asked Marjorie.</p>
+
+<p>"Up in her room. Lily has a sick headache and she went up with her.
+Guess that cousin of Helen's who came down from Baltimore, Foxy
+Grandpa's daughter, or niece, or something, I believe, and spent this
+afternoon with<a class="pagenum" name="page_260" id="page_260" title="260"></a> her, gave those girls too many chocolates. Wasn't she
+the limit? And big? Well, I'll wager that woman was six feet tall, and
+she was made up perfectly outrageously. Her skin was fair enough, and
+her color lovely and I never saw such teeth, if they weren't store ones,
+but there was something about the lower part of her face that looked
+queer. Did you notice it, girls?" asked Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"I did. There was such a funny dull tinge, like a man who had just been
+shaved," commented Rosalie, with a puzzled frown.</p>
+
+<p>"Her voice struck me funniest. Do you remember Fr&auml;ulein Shultz who was
+here the first year school opened, Marjorie?" asked Natalie.</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, we used to call her Herr Shultz. Such a voice you never heard,
+girls!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, this cousin's was exactly like Herr Shultz."</p>
+
+<p>"Her clothes were the climax with me. I believe she must have been on
+the stage sometime. Oh, yes, they were up-to-date enough, but, so sort
+of&mdash;of&mdash;tawdry," criticised Juno.</p>
+
+<p>"Do you know, she reminded me of somebody I know but who it is I just
+can't think," and Peggy puckered her forehead into wrinkles.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh!" cried Nelly, then stopped short.</p>
+
+<p>"What's the matter? Sat on a pin?" asked Rosalie, laughing.<a class="pagenum" name="page_261" id="page_261" title="261"></a></p>
+
+<p>"Something made me jump," answered Nelly, pulling her skirt as though in
+search of the pin Rosalie had suggested. Then in a moment she said:</p>
+
+<p>"Reckon I'll go in, girls, I've got to send a note home by father and he
+starts pretty soon."</p>
+
+<p>"Why do they start at night?" asked Juno.</p>
+
+<p>"Cooler traveling for the horses. They leave here about eight, travel
+about nine miles an hour, for two hours, stop at &mdash;&mdash; for the night,
+start again at seven in the morning, and will reach Severndale by ten
+o'clock at latest. It seems like a long trip, but that makes it an easy
+one. Shelby will start tomorrow or next day. And won't all those horses
+have the time of their lives! I am so glad that they're to be there,"
+explained Peggy.</p>
+
+<p>"So is mother, Peggy Stewart," cried Natalie.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile Nelly had gone to her room. It was next Helen's and Lily's. On
+beyond was Stella's sitting-room. Nelly roomed with a girl who had been
+called home by illness in her family. Consequently Nelly now had the
+room to herself. She wrote her note and then went to find Mrs. Vincent
+to ask permission to run out to the stables to give it to her father.</p>
+
+<p>As she passed Helen's and Lily's door she heard them whispering together
+and also heard<a class="pagenum" name="page_262" id="page_262" title="262"></a> a deeper voice. Whose could it be? It was so unusual
+that she paused a moment in the dimly lighted hall. She did not mean to
+be an eavesdropper, but she thought all the girls from the west wing
+were down on the terrace where she had left them that perfect May night.
+They had gone out there immediately dinner ended, for study hour had
+lately been held from five to seven on account of the warm evenings,
+Mrs. Vincent objecting to the lights which made the house almost
+suffocating.</p>
+
+<p>Presently the deep-voiced whisper was heard again. Nelly started as
+though from an electric shock. Had Helen's cousin returned, but when?
+And that whisper was a revelation. Then she went on her way. Consent was
+promptly given and Nelly ran across the shadow-laden lawn to the
+stables. She found her father, Shelby and the men just preparing to set
+forth. Her father was to ride the Senator to set the pace. Junius rode
+Jack-o'-Lantern. Columbine and Lady Belle were to be led.</p>
+
+<p>As Nelly drew near, Columbine neighed a welcome.</p>
+
+<p>"What's brought you down here, honey?" asked Bolivar. "I was going to
+stop at the house to say good-bye."</p>
+
+<p>"I wanted to see you alone a minute, daddy."</p>
+
+<p>"Go 'long for a little private confab with her,<a class="pagenum" name="page_263" id="page_263" title="263"></a> Bolivar. All right,
+Nelly, no hurry," said Shelby genially.</p>
+
+<p>The thin sickle of the new moon cast very little light as Nelly and her
+father walked a short distance down the path, Nelly, talking earnestly
+in a low voice. When she ceased Bolivar said:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, you must be mistaken, Nelly, why, I never heard of such a fool
+stunt; yet that kid's capable of most any, I understand. Of course, I'll
+take the hint and watch out, but just like you say, it's better to keep
+it dark. It'd only stir up a terrible talk and make Mrs. Vincent's
+school,&mdash;well; she don't want that sort of thing happening. Run 'long
+back and keep your eyes open. Shall I say anything to Shelby?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a word, daddy! Not one word! Just get him out of the way if you
+can."</p>
+
+<p>"That's easy. He's going to ride into the city when I start and none of
+the boys sleep in the stable. I kind of suspicion your plan but I won't
+ask no more questions."</p>
+
+<p>At eight-thirty the first "batch o' beasties" "shoved off." The girls
+ran down the driveway to bid them good-bye and the horses seemed to
+understand it all perfectly. Then Bolivar and his charges, accompanied
+by Shelby, set forth upon their ways. It was a wonderful, star-sprinkled
+night, though the moon had sunk<a class="pagenum" name="page_264" id="page_264" title="264"></a> below the horizon. When they had gone a
+little way Shelby bade them good-bye and good-luck and turned into the
+broad boulevard leading into Washington. Bolivar followed the quieter
+road on the outskirts of the city. Presently he said to Junius:</p>
+
+<p>"Land o' love, I'd as soon ride an elephant as this horse. His back's as
+broad. Hold on a minute, I'm going to shift my saddle to Columbine. I
+know her and she knows me, don't you, old girl?"</p>
+
+<p>"She's de quality, sure," agreed Junius.</p>
+
+<p>"This is something like," sighed Bolivar, falling easily into
+Columbine's smooth fox-trot. They had gone perhaps a mile when Bolivar
+suddenly clapped his hand to his breast-pocket and pulled up short.</p>
+
+<p>"What done happen, Mr. Bol'var?" asked Junius.</p>
+
+<p>"I'm seven kinds of a fool. Left my wallet in that old coat Shelby let
+me wear round the stable! Now that's the limit, ain't it? I got to go
+back. Ain't got a cent with me. You ride on slow and stop at the Pine
+Cliff Inn up the road a-piece, and wait there till I come. Columbine's
+fresh as a daisy and the three miles or so will be just a warm-up for
+her this night. Now wait there. Don't budge a step till I come."<a class="pagenum" name="page_265" id="page_265" title="265"></a></p>
+
+<p>"I'll do like you say."</p>
+
+<p>Jim Bolivar started back slowly, but once beyond Junius' sight gave
+Columbine the rein and was soon within a quarter of a mile of Columbia
+Heights School.</p>
+
+<p>Meanwhile, in that usually well-ordered establishment some startling
+events were taking place.</p>
+
+<p>When Nelly left her father she stopped on the terrace to talk a few
+minutes with the girls. It was then after nine o'clock but during these
+long, sultry evenings Mrs. Vincent allowed the girls to remain upon the
+terrace until ten.</p>
+
+<p>Examinations were over, there was no further academic work to be done
+and most of the preparations for commencement were completed. Indeed,
+most of the little girls had already left, and several of the older ones
+also. A general exodus takes place from Washington early in May and the
+schools close early.</p>
+
+<p>"Whow, I'm sleepy tonight," laughed Nelly, suppressing a yawn. "Reckon
+I'll go upstairs. Good-night, everybody."</p>
+
+<p>"You'll smother and roast if you go to bed so early, Nell. Stay here
+with us," cried Polly, catching Nelly's skirt and trying to pull her
+down beside her.</p>
+
+<p>"Can't. I'd drop asleep right on the terrace," and turning Nelly ran
+in-doors. Once in<a class="pagenum" name="page_266" id="page_266" title="266"></a> her room she speedily shifted into her linen riding
+suit, then slipping down the back stairs, sped across the dark lawn to
+the stables. They were dark and silent. Not a soul was in Shelby's
+cottage where the stable key was kept and a moment later Nelly had taken
+it from its hook and was at the stable door. A bubble of nickers, or the
+soft munching of feeding horses, fell upon her ears. Star knew her voice
+as well as Polly's and Peggy's. Nelly went straight to Star's stall. In
+less time than it takes to tell it she had him saddled, bridled and led
+softly out upon the lawn. Keeping within the shadows of the trees she
+led him to a thick pine grove and taking his velvety muzzle in her hands
+planted a kiss upon it as she whispered:</p>
+
+<p>"Now stand stock still and don't make a sound. I may need you and I may
+not. If I do it will be in a hurry and you will have to make time." Then
+she slipped back into the house.</p>
+
+<p>But we must go back to the invalid, Lily Pearl, and her devoted
+attendant in the west wing. Also the cousin. Ten minutes after Nelly had
+left her room to carry her note to her father, Helen went to Mrs.
+Vincent's study.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Mrs. Vincent, cousin Pauline came back to see if she had left her
+engagement ring in my room. She did not miss it until she got back<a class="pagenum" name="page_267" id="page_267" title="267"></a> to
+her friends' house and then she was frightened nearly to death and came
+all the way back here."</p>
+
+<p>"Couldn't she have telephoned?</p>
+
+<p>"I suppose so, but she never takes it off except to wash her hands. She
+left it on my dresser. She is going back now. May I walk to the gate
+with her?"</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, but come directly back, Helen. How is Lily?"</p>
+
+<p>"She's just fallen asleep. Thank you, Mrs. Vincent."</p>
+
+<p>A few moments later Helen and her cousin left the house but not by the
+door giving upon the terrace. The side door answered far better. Then
+slipping around the house they paused beneath Stella's balcony and the
+cousin gave a low whistle. Instantly, Lily Pearl's head was bobbed up
+over the railing and she whispered:</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, take it quick! I hear Peggy's voice down in the hall!" and a
+suitcase was lowered from the balcony, the cousin's strong right arm
+grasped it, as the cousin's deep voice said:</p>
+
+<p>"You're a dead game sport, Lil. You bet we'll remember this."</p>
+
+<p>But Lil did not wait to hear more. She fled to her room pell mell, not
+aware that in her flight she had overturned a tiny fairy night-lamp
+which Stella always kept burning in her<a class="pagenum" name="page_268" id="page_268" title="268"></a> room at night. Quickly
+undressing, Lily dove into bed and drawing the covers over her head was
+instantly sound asleep. The voice which had alarmed her soon died away
+as Peggy rejoined her friends upon the terrace.</p>
+
+<p>Helen and the cousin had meanwhile reached the gate and also a cab which
+waited there, and were soon bowling along toward Washington.</p>
+
+<p>And what of Nelly? As she was returning to the house she caught sight of
+the two figures hurrying toward the main gate. Back she sped to Star,
+and mounting him, rode along the soft turf as silently as a shadow,
+until she saw the two figures enter the cab.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment she was baffled. What could she do alone? She knew it would
+be worse than senseless to attempt to stop the runaways unaided. She
+must have help. Yet if she lost sight of them what might not take place?
+She had long since recognized Paul Ring in spite of his make-up. She had
+seen him too many times in the Masquerader's Shows at Annapolis. For a
+short time she flitted behind the cab like an avenging shadow. It would
+never do to let Helen make such an idiot of herself, and bring notoriety
+upon the school where Peggy and Polly were pupils, or so humiliate Mrs.
+Vincent and Natalie. Nelly did some quick thinking. There was but one
+road for the elopers to<a class="pagenum" name="page_269" id="page_269" title="269"></a> follow. Her father, to whom she had confided
+her suspicions and begged him to aid her, must be on his way back by
+this time. Wheeling Star she shot back as she had come, and making a
+wide detour around Columbia Heights School, put Star to his best paces.
+Half a mile beyond the school she met her father coming at a fairly good
+clip.</p>
+
+<p>Ten words were enough.</p>
+
+<p>"Thank the Lord we're riding Empress stock!" ejaculated Bolivar as he
+and Peggy gave the two beautiful creatures their heads and they settled
+into the long, low stride which seems never to tire, muscles working
+swiftly and smoothly as the machinery of a battleship, heads thrust
+forward, nostrils wide and breathing deep breaths to the rhythmic
+heart-throbs. But the runaways had a good start.</p>
+
+<p>Presently Bolivar said:</p>
+
+<p>"If Shelby has ridden easy he's somewheres ahead on that selfsame road."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, dad, if he only is!"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, by the god Billiken he is! Look yonder."</p>
+
+<p>A more dumbfounded man than Shelby it would have been hard to overtake.</p>
+
+<p>"Had he seen the cab?"</p>
+
+<p>"Certain. It was hiking along ahead. Passed<a class="pagenum" name="page_270" id="page_270" title="270"></a> him just a little time
+before, the horse a-lather. Wondered who the fools were."</p>
+
+<p>"Well, you know now. How far ahead do you reckon they are?"</p>
+
+<p>"Quarter mile beyond that turn if the horse ain't fell dead. Let me
+break away, overhaul them and then you two come in at the death," he
+laughed.</p>
+
+<p>Shelby was riding Shashai, and at his word a black streak passed out of
+sight around the bend of the boulevard. Star and Columbine chafed to
+follow, but their riders held them back for a time.</p>
+
+<p>True enough, as Shelby had said, the cab was still pounding along toward
+Washington, though the poor horse was nearly done up.</p>
+
+<p>Shelby came abreast the poor panting beast, leaned quietly over, caught
+the bridle and cried, "Whoa!" The horse was only too delighted to oblige
+him. Not so "Cabby."</p>
+
+<p>With wrath and ire he rose to mete out justice to this highwayman. Had
+the butt of his whip hit Shelby he would have seen more stars than
+twinkled overhead. But it didn't. It was caught in one hand, given a
+dexterous twist and sent flying into the road as Shelby said in his
+quiet drawl:</p>
+
+<p>"Don't get excited. At least, don't let <i>me</i> excite you. I ain't got
+nothing against you, but<a class="pagenum" name="page_271" id="page_271" title="271"></a> you can't take those 'slopers no further this
+night."</p>
+
+<p>"'Lopers nothin'! Me fares is two ladies on their ways to the Willard.
+'Tis a niece and aunt they are."</p>
+
+<p>"Say, you're easy. I thought you fellows wise to most any game. Niece
+and aunt! Shucks! Come 'long out aunt, or Cousin Pauline, or whatever
+you are, and you, Miss Doolittle, just don't do nothin' but live up to
+that name you've got. Lord, whoever named you knew his or her business
+all right, all right! Here come Bolivar and his daughter to bear a hand.
+Now don't set out to screech and carry on, 'cause if you do you'll make
+more trouble and it looks like you'd made a-plenty a-ready. And you shut
+up!" cried Shelby, now thoroughly roused, as Paul Ring, his disguise
+removed and stowed in his suitcase blustered from the cab. "Quit! or
+I'll crack you're addle-pated head for you, you young fool. Do you know
+what it will mean if I report you at Annapolis? Well, unless you make
+tracks for Bancroft P. D. Q.&mdash;that means pretty decidedly quick,
+Nelly,&mdash;you're going to get all that is comin' to you with compound
+interest. Beat it while your shoes are good. We'll escort your girl back
+to home and friends. Nelly, get into that cab. Cabby, these are two
+school girls and<a class="pagenum" name="page_272" id="page_272" title="272"></a> this man is this one's father. Now go about and head
+for the home port. No rowing. Yes, you'll get paid all right, all right.
+I'll stand for the damage and so will Bolivar here. But are <i>you</i> going
+to dust?" the last words were addressed to Paul Ring to whom Helen was
+clinging and imploring him not to leave her. But, alas! It was four to
+one, for cabby's wrath was now centered upon "that hully show of a
+bloomin' auntie."</p>
+
+<p>Amidst violent protests upon Helen's part, Nelly entered the cab. She
+would "not go back!" And she would "go with dear Paul!" Her heart was
+breaking. Nelly Bolivar was "a good-for-nothing, common tattle-tale and
+the whole school probably knew all about her elopement already," etc.,
+etc.</p>
+
+<p>Nelly tried to assure her that no one suspected a thing. Mr. Bolivar
+corroborated that statement, but Helen continued to sob and berate Nelly
+till finally Shelby's deep voice cried:</p>
+
+<p>"Halt, cabby!" Then dismounting he opened the cab door, took Helen by
+the arm and shook her soundly, then thundered:</p>
+
+<p>"If you was a boy I'd yank you out o' that cab and whale you well, for
+that's what you rate. Since you're a fool-girl I can't. Now stop that
+hullabaloo instanter. We'll get you back to the school and nobody'll
+know a thing<a class="pagenum" name="page_273" id="page_273" title="273"></a> if you keep your senses. Nelly here ain't anxious to have
+that school and her friends figurin' in the newspapers. Now you mind
+what I'm tellin' you. I've stood for all the nonsense I'm going to, and
+I promise to get you home without you're being missed, but if you let
+out another peep I'll march you straight to the Admiral's office, and
+don't you doubt my word for a single minute." Then Shelby remounted
+Shashai, and leading Star, the odd procession started back, Shelby
+cudgeling his brain to devise a way of getting the romantic maiden in as
+secretly as he had promised. He need not have worried about that. The
+inmates of Columbia Heights were meantime having lively experiences of
+their own.</p>
+
+<hr class="major" />
+<div style="margin: auto; text-align: center; padding-top: 1em; padding-bottom: 1em">
+<a class="pagenum" name="page_274" id="page_274" title="274"></a>
+<a name="A_SENDOFF_WITH_FIREWORKS_6469" id="A_SENDOFF_WITH_FIREWORKS_6469"></a>
+<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2>
+<h3>A SEND-OFF WITH FIREWORKS</h3>
+</div>
+
+<p>When Lily Pearl fled from Stella's room leaving the overturned fairy
+lamp to bring about the climax of that evening, her one thought was to
+get to bed, and hardly had she tumbled into it than sleep brought
+oblivion of all else. Lily Pearl was a somnolent soul in many senses.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Vincent was busy in her study at the other end of the house. Miss
+Sturgis was dining with friends. Fr&auml;ulein, who was a romantic creature,
+was seated under a huge copper beech tree entertaining a Herr Professor
+straight from the Vaterland. The other teachers were either out or in
+their rooms in other parts of the building, and the servants had drifted
+out through the rear grounds. Consequently, the fairy lamp had things
+pretty much its own way and it embraced its opportunity.</p>
+
+<p>What prompted Polly to go upstairs just at that crisis she could never
+have told, but she did, and a second later Peggy followed her. The
+moment the girls reached their corridor<a class="pagenum" name="page_275" id="page_275" title="275"></a> the odor of smoke assailed
+their nostrils. For an instant they stopped and looked at each other,
+then Peggy cried:</p>
+
+<p>"Polly, something's afire. Quick, the bugle call!" Polly bounded forward
+and, as upon another occasion back in Montgentian she had roused the
+neighborhood and saved the situation, now she sounded her bugle call,
+but this time it was "fire call," not "warning." Clear, high and sharp
+the notes rang through the house. Mrs. Vincent down in her study sprang
+to her feet. The teachers rushed to their posts, the girls ran in from
+the terrace. Well for Columbia Heights School that Polly had taught them
+the different calls and that she and Peggy had begged Mrs. Vincent to
+let the girls learn the fire drill as the boys in Bancroft did it.</p>
+
+<p>Not far off was a fire engine house and the members of the company had
+more than once come to see the two girls put their schoolmates through
+their drill. It was all a grand frolic then, for none believed it would
+ever be put to practical use. But the fire chief had nodded wisely and
+said to Mrs. Vincent:</p>
+
+<p>"Those two young girls have long heads. It may all be a pretty show-down
+now, but some day you may find it come in handy."</p>
+
+<p>It came in very handy this time. In two minutes an alarm was turned in
+and the engines<a class="pagenum" name="page_276" id="page_276" title="276"></a> were tearing toward Columbia Heights. The girls had
+rushed to their rooms, scrambled what they could into blankets, and ran
+downstairs with their burdens. At least many of them had. All the fire
+drills in the world will not keep some people's heads upon their
+shoulders in a crisis.</p>
+
+<p>Roused from sleep by the bugle, Lily Pearl, uttering shriek upon shriek,
+plunged her feet into a pair of pink satin slippers newly bought for
+commencement, caught up and pinned upon her head the new hat, of which
+Rosalie had said: "Well, of all the lids! Lily, did the milliner put the
+trimming on the box and forget to send home the hat?" Then grabbing her
+fur coat from the closet she ran screaming down to the lawn, certainly
+somewhat promiscuous as to raiment, for her nightie was an airy affair
+and she carried her coat over her arm.</p>
+
+<p>But the stately Juno was one of the most amusing objects. She carefully
+put on a pair of evening gloves and took a lace pocket handkerchief from
+her bureau drawer. That was all she even attempted to save.</p>
+
+<p>It was well for the school that Polly and Peggy had kept their wits. All
+were soon out of the building and the firemen battling bravely to
+confine the fire to the west wing, but poor Stella's room was surely
+doomed, for what<a class="pagenum" name="page_277" id="page_277" title="277"></a> smoke and flames might possibly spare water would
+certainly ruin.</p>
+
+<p>In the midst of the uproar Shelby, Bolivar, Nelly and Helen came upon
+the scene.</p>
+
+<p>"Good Lord Almighty! Look out for the girls, Bolivar. Guess they'll have
+no trouble gettin' in unnoticed now," cried Shelby, and sent Shashai
+speeding to the stables.</p>
+
+<p>Bolivar paused only long enough to hand cabby a ten-dollar bill and cry:</p>
+
+<p>"Clear out quick and keep your mouth shut too!" Then he hurried the
+terrified girls to the lawn where dozens of other girls were huddled,
+and nobody asked any questions about the suitcase. Nor did anyone think
+to ask how Bolivar and Shelby happened to be there when they were
+supposed to be miles away. Many details were quite overlooked that
+night, which was a fortunate circumstance for Miss Helen Doolittle, and
+her hard-hit midshipman, who had "frenched" out of Bancroft not only
+with mamma's knowledge, but with her co&ouml;peration. To have formed an
+alliance with Foxy Grandpa's niece and clinched that end of the scheme
+of things would have been one step in the direction of securing an ample
+income, and once that lover's knot was tied, Helen was to be whisked
+back to the school and the secret kept. Mamma was at the Willard waiting
+for "those darling<a class="pagenum" name="page_278" id="page_278" title="278"></a> children" to come, and when, much later than he was
+expected, "dear Paul" arrived alone and in a greatly perturbed state of
+mind, mother and son had considerable food for thought until the
+midnight car carried them back to Annapolis, where Paul "clomb" the wall
+at the water's edge and "snoke" into quarters (in Bancroft's vernacular)
+in the wee, sma' hours, a weary, disgusted and unamiable youth. Perhaps
+had he suspected what was happening back at Columbia Heights his prompt
+oblivion in slumber would not have taken place, though Paul was a
+philosopher in his way. Helen was with friends and "she'd knock off
+crying when she found she had to; all girls did." Selah!</p>
+
+<p>But during all this time things had not been moving so tranquilly at
+Columbia Heights. Given over a hundred girls, and a seething furnace of
+a building in which the belongings of a good many of them were being
+rapidly reduced to ashes, for the whole west wing was certainly doomed,
+and one is likely to witness some stirring scenes. The firemen worked
+like gnomes in the murk and smoke, and Shelby and Bolivar seemed to be
+everywhere, saving everything possible to save, with many willing hands
+from the neighborhood to help them. And some funny enough rescues were
+made. Sofa pillows were carried tenderly down two flights<a class="pagenum" name="page_279" id="page_279" title="279"></a> of stairs and
+deposited in places of safety upon the lawn by some conscientious
+mortal, while his co-worker heaved valuable cut glass from a third-story
+window, or pitched one of the girls' writing desks into the upstretched
+arms of a twelve-year-old boy who happened to stand beneath.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Vincent was everywhere at once, keeping her girls from harm's way,
+and the other teachers kept their heads and co&ouml;perated with her. At
+least all but one did, and she was the one upon whom Mrs. Vincent would
+have counted most surely. When the fire was raging most fiercely Miss
+Sturgis returned from her visit and a moment later rushed away from the
+group of girls supposed to be under her especial charge, and disappeared
+within the house in spite of the firemen's orders that all should stand
+clear. The girls screamed and called after her but their voices were
+drowned in the uproar, and none knew that the incentive which spurred
+the half-frantic woman on was the photograph of the professor with whom
+she had gone automobiling the day of the fly-paper episode. Poor Miss
+Sturgis. Her first and only hint of a romance came pretty near proving
+her last.</p>
+
+<p>Straight to her room in the west wing she rushed, stumbling over hose
+lines, battling<a class="pagenum" name="page_280" id="page_280" title="280"></a> against the stifling clouds of smoke which rolled down
+the corridor. The room was gained, the picture secured, and she turned
+to make good her escape, all other valuables forgotten. But even in that
+brief moment the smoke had become overpowering. Her room was dense. For
+a moment she sought for the door, growing more and more confused and
+stifled, then with a despairing moan she fell senseless. Luckily the
+flames were eating their relentless way in the other direction, the
+firemen fighting them inch by inch until they felt that they were
+winning the battle.</p>
+
+<p>Meantime, down upon the lawn, the girls had found Mrs. Vincent and told
+her of Miss Sturgis' folly. She was beside herself with alarm. Men were
+sent in every direction to find her, but none for a moment suspected her
+of the utter fool-hardiness of returning to her own room in the blazing
+wing. But there was one person who did think of that possibility and she
+quickly imparted her fears to one other.</p>
+
+<p>"She never would," cried Polly.</p>
+
+<p>"She had something there she wanted to save. I don't know what, but she
+was so excited that she acted just like a crazy person, wringing her
+hands and crying just before she ran back; I saw her go. Wait! Tzaritza,
+find Miss Sturgis," said Peggy into the ears of the<a class="pagenum" name="page_281" id="page_281" title="281"></a> splendid hound who
+had never for a single moment left her side, and who had more than once
+caught hold of her skirts to draw her backward when a sudden volume of
+smoke or sparks shot upward.</p>
+
+<p>For a moment the noble beast hesitated. Little had Miss Sturgis ever
+done to win Tzaritza's love and in her dog mind duty lay here. But the
+dear mistress' voice repeated the order and with a low bark of
+intelligence Tzaritza tore away into the burning building.</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, call her back! Call her back! She will be burned to death" cried a
+dozen voices. Polly dropped upon the lawn and began to sob as though her
+heart would break. Peggy never moved, but with hands clinched, lips set
+and the look in her eyes of one who has sacrificed something
+inexpressibly dear she stood listening and waiting. When she felt most
+deeply Peggy became absolutely dumb.</p>
+
+<p>Those minutes seemed like hours, then through an upper window giving on
+the piazza roof scrambled a singed, smoke-begrimed, and uncanny figure,
+dragging, tugging, and hauling with her a limp, unconscious woman. She
+made the sill, hauled her burden over to safety, then lifting it bodily
+carried it to the roof's edge, where putting it carefully beyond the
+volume of smoke now pouring from the window, she<a class="pagenum" name="page_282" id="page_282" title="282"></a> threw up her head and
+emitted howl upon howl for aid.</p>
+
+<p>It was Shelby who heard and recognized that deep bay, who rushed with a
+ladder to the spot, and scrambling up like a monkey, caught up Miss
+Sturgis' seemingly lifeless form and carried her down the ladder, where
+a dozen willing hands waited to receive her, while Tzaritza's barks
+testified to her joy. Then back Shelby fled for the faithful creature,
+but just as he reached the roof a sheet of flame darted out of the
+window and enveloped her. In a second the exquisite silky coat was
+a-blaze, and poor Tzaritza's joyous barks became cries of agony.</p>
+
+<p>"Quick, somebody down there hand me one of those blankets!" shouted
+Shelby.</p>
+
+<p>Ere the words had left his lips a little figure scrambled up the ladder,
+a blanket in her arms. Polly had seen all and had not waited for orders.
+Gym work back in Annapolis stood in good stead at that moment. Shelby
+flung the blanket about Tzaritza's sizzling fur, smothered out the
+flame, then by some herculean mustering of strength, caught the huge dog
+in his arms and crawled step by step down the ladder from which Polly
+had quickly scrambled. A dozen hands lent aid and poor burned Tzaritza
+was carried to the stables, Peggy and Polly close beside her. Others
+could now care for Miss<a class="pagenum" name="page_283" id="page_283" title="283"></a> Sturgis, who, indeed, was little the worse for
+her folly, while Tzaritza, the lovely coat quite gone, was moaning from
+her burns.</p>
+
+<p>"Hear, Jim, you stay here and don't you leave Miss Peggy or that dog for
+a minute. Now mind what I tell you," he ordered.</p>
+
+<p>Peggy knew exactly what to do. It was the Peggy Stewart of Severndale
+who worked over the suffering dog, bandaging, bathing, soothing, and
+Tzaritza's eyes spoke her gratitude.</p>
+
+<p>Several of the girls ran out to offer help or sympathy, and their tears
+testified to their love for Tzaritza.</p>
+
+<p>It was dawn before the excitement subsided, and the firemen had
+withdrawn, leaving one on guard against the possibility of a fresh
+outbreak. And that west wing and its contents? Well, let us draw a
+curtain, heavier even than the smoke which, so lately poured from it.
+Some things were saved&mdash;yes&mdash;but the commencement gowns, essays, and all
+which figures in Commencement Day were fluttering about in little black
+flakes. There would be no Commencement for Columbia Heights School this
+year!</p>
+
+<p>A telephone message brought Mrs. Harold and Mrs. Howland upon the scene
+before many hours, as well as a good many other interested parents.
+True, a large insurance covered most<a class="pagenum" name="page_284" id="page_284" title="284"></a> of the valuables and the building
+also, but a house after such a catastrophe is hardly prepared to hold a
+function, so it was unanimously agreed that the girls should all go
+quietly away as quickly as those whose belongings had been saved could
+pack them.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Harold and Mrs. Howland remained over night and on the
+twenty-fourth instead of the twenty-eighth escorted a nondescript sort
+of party up to Severndale, for wearing apparel had to be
+indiscriminately borrowed and lent.</p>
+
+<p>Helen's anxious mamma took her to Philadelphia, where June week's joys
+were not. Lily Pearl's parents wired her to come home at once, and Lily
+departed for the south-land, June week's joys lamented also. Stella's
+father came in instant response to her telegram and though the one to
+suffer the heaviest losses, made light of them and asked Stella if she
+couldn't tear herself from Columbia Heights without such an expensive
+celebration.</p>
+
+<p><i>Is</i>-a-bel, who had really lost very little, was inconsolable because
+her "essay," to be read at Commencement, had been burned up, and
+departed for the Hub, still lugubrious.</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Vincent asked Shelby to remain a few days longer, which he
+willingly did. Bolivar had gone on to look up Junius and his charges as
+soon as he could leave the school.<a class="pagenum" name="page_285" id="page_285" title="285"></a></p>
+
+<p>Peggy insisted upon Mrs. Vincent coming to Severndale for the month when
+it was finally agreed that the earlier plans should hold, Juno and
+Natalie extending their visit. So back went the merry party to Annapolis
+to participate in all the delights of June week, and all which can crowd
+into it.</p>
+
+<p>So ho! for Severndale! Tzaritza conveyed there an interesting, though
+shorn convalescent, the horses seeming to sniff Round Bay from afar,
+Polly wild to see her old friends, and Peggy eager to greet those who
+were so much a part of her life in her lovely home. And Nelly? Well, no
+one has ever learned of her night ride, though Helen's peace of mind is
+not quite complete.</p>
+
+<hr class='major' />
+
+<p style='text-align:center; font-size:smaller;'>Printed in the United States of America.</p>
+
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<hr class="full" />
+<p>***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEGGY STEWART AT SCHOOL***</p>
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@@ -0,0 +1,7033 @@
+The Project Gutenberg eBook, Peggy Stewart at School, by Gabrielle E.
+Jackson
+
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever.  You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+
+
+
+Title: Peggy Stewart at School
+
+
+Author: Gabrielle E. Jackson
+
+
+
+Release Date: July 20, 2007  [eBook #22113]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-646-US (US-ASCII)
+
+
+***START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEGGY STEWART AT SCHOOL***
+
+
+E-text prepared by Roger Frank and the Project Gutenberg Online
+Distributed Proofreading Team (https://www.pgdp.net)
+
+
+
+Note: Project Gutenberg also has an HTML version of this
+      file which includes the original illustrations.
+      See 22113-h.htm or 22113-h.zip:
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/1/1/22113/22113-h/22113-h.htm)
+      or
+      (https://www.gutenberg.org/dirs/2/2/1/1/22113/22113-h.zip)
+
+
+
+
+
+PEGGY STEWART AT SCHOOL
+
+by
+
+GABRIELLE E. JACKSON
+
+Author of "Peggy Stewart at Home," "Silver Heels,"
+"Three Graces" Series, "Capt. Polly" Series, etc.
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+The Goldsmith Publishing Co.
+New York N. Y.
+Made in U.S.A.
+
+Copyright, 1918 by Barse & Hopkins
+
+
+
+CONTENTS
+
+CHAPTER                                                PAGE
+
+I.    THE BAROMETER FALLING                               1
+II.   RECONSTRUCTION                                     16
+III.  HOSTILITIES SUSPENDED                              32
+IV.   HOSTILITIES RESUMED                                48
+V.    RUCTIONS!                                          64
+VI.   A NEW ORDER OF THINGS                              81
+VII.  COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL                            97
+VIII. A RIDING LESSON                                   114
+IX.   COMMON SENSE AND HORSE SENSE                      131
+X.    TZARITZA AS DISCIPLINARIAN                        149
+XI.   BEHIND SCENES                                     167
+XII.  CHRISTMAS AT SEVERNDALE                           184
+XIII. YULETIDE                                          202
+XIV.  AT SEVERNDALE                                     221
+XV.   IN SPRING TERM                                    239
+XVI.  A MIDNIGHT SENSATION                              256
+XVII. A SEND-OFF WITH FIREWORKS                         274
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER I
+
+THE BAROMETER FALLING
+
+
+The September morning was warmer and more enervating than September
+mornings in Maryland usually are, though the month is generally conceded
+to be a trying one. Even at beautiful Severndale where, if at any point
+along the river, a refreshing breeze could almost always be counted
+upon, the air seemed heavy and lifeless, as though the intense heat of
+the summer had taken from it every particle of its revivifying
+qualities.
+
+In the pretty breakfast room the long French windows, giving upon the
+broad piazza, stood wide open; the leaves upon the great beeches and
+maples which graced the extensive lawn beyond, hung limp and motionless;
+the sunlight even at that early hour beat scorchingly upon the dry
+grass, for there had been little rain during August and the vegetation
+had suffered severely; every growing thing was coated like a dusty
+miller. But within doors all looked most inviting. The room was
+scrupulous; its appointments indicated refined taste and constant care;
+the breakfast table, laid for two, was dainty and faultless in its
+appointments; our old friend, Jerome, moved about noiselessly, giving
+last lingering touches, lest any trifle be omitted which might add to
+the comfort and sense of harmony which seemed so much a part of his
+young mistress's life. As he straightened a fruit knife here, or set
+right a fold of the snowy breakfast cloth, he kept up a low-murmured
+monologue after the manner of his race. Very little escaped old Jerome's
+sharp eyes and keen ears, and within the past forty-eight hours they had
+found plenty to see or hear, for a guest had come to Severndale. Yes, a
+most unusual type of guest, too. As a rule Severndale's guests brought
+unalloyed pleasure to its young hostess and her servants, or to her
+sailor father if he happened to be enjoying one of his rare leaves, for
+Captain Stewart had been on sea-duty for many successive years,
+preferring it to land duty since his wife's death when Peggy, his only
+child, was but six years of age. Severndale had held only sad memories
+for him since that day, nearly ten years ago, in spite of the little
+girl growing up there, cared for by the old housekeeper and the
+servants, some of whom had been on the estate as long as Neil Stewart
+could remember.
+
+But nine years had slipped away since Peggy's mother's death, and the
+little child had changed into a very lovely young girl, with whom the
+father was in reality just becoming acquainted. He had spent more time
+with her during the year just passed than he had ever spent in any one
+of the preceding nine years, and those weeks had held many startling
+revelations for him. When he left her to resume command of his ship, his
+mind was in a more or less chaotic state trying to grasp an entirely new
+order of things, for this time he was leaving behind him a young lady of
+fifteen who, so it seemed to the perplexed man, had jumped over at least
+five years as easily as an athlete springs across a hurdle, leaving the
+little girl upon the other side forever. When Neil Stewart awakened to
+this fact he was first dazed, and then overwhelmed by the sense of his
+obligations overlooked for so long, and, being possessed of a lively
+sense of duty, he strove to correct the oversight.
+
+Had he not been in such deadly earnest his efforts to make reparation
+for what he considered his inexcusable short-sightedness and neglect,
+would have been funny, for, like most men when confronted by some
+problem involving femininity, he was utterly at a loss how to set about
+"his job" as he termed it.
+
+As a matter of fact, a kind fate had taken "his job" in hand for him
+some time before, and was in a fair way to turn out a pretty good one
+too. But Neil Stewart made up his mind to boost Old Lady Fate along a
+little, and his attempts at so doing came pretty near upsetting her
+equilibrium; she was not inclined to be hustled, and Neil Stewart was
+nothing if not a hustler, once he got under way.
+
+And so, alack! by one little move he completely changed Peggy's future
+and for a time rendered the present a veritable storm center, as will be
+seen.
+
+But we will let events tell their own story.
+
+Old Jerome moved about the sunny breakfast-room; at least it would have
+been sunny had not soft-tinted awnings and East-Indian screens, shut out
+the sun's glare and suffused the room in a restful coolness and calm, in
+marked contrast to the vivid light beyond the windows.
+
+Jerome himself was refreshing to look upon. The old colored man was
+quite seventy years of age, but still an erect and dignified major-domo.
+From his white, wool-fringed old head, to the toes of his white canvas
+shoes, he was immaculate. No linen could have been more faultlessly
+laundered than Jerome's; no serviette more neatly folded. All was in
+harmony excepting the old man's face; that was troubled. A perplexed
+pucker contracted his forehead as he spoke softly to himself.
+
+"'Taint going to do _no_ how! It sure ain't. She ain't got de right
+bran', no she ain't, and yo' cyant mate up no common stock wid a
+tho'oughbred and git any sort of a span. No siree, yo' cyant. My Lawd,
+what done possess Massa Neil fer ter 'vite her down hyer? _She_ cyant
+'struct an' guide _our_ yo'ng mist'ess. Sho! She ain' know de very fust
+_rudimints_ ob de qualities' ways an' doin's. Miss Peggy could show her
+mo' in five minutes dan she ever is know in five years. She ain't,--she
+ain't,--well I ain't jist 'zackly know how I'se gwine speechify it, but
+she ain't like _we_ all," and Jerome wagged his head in deprecation and
+forced his tongue against his teeth in a sound indicating annoyance and
+distaste, as he moved his mistress' chair a trifle.
+
+Just then Mammy Lucy stuck her white-turbaned head in at the door to
+ask:
+
+"Whar dat chile at? Ain't she done come in fer her breckfus yit? It's
+nine o'clock and Sis Cynthia's a-stewin' an' a steamin' like her own
+taters."
+
+"She say she wait fer her aunt, an' her aunt say she cyant breckfus
+befo' half-pas' nine, no how," answered Jerome.
+
+"Huh, huh! An' ma chile gotter wait a hull hour pas' her breckfus time
+jist kase Madam Fussa-ma-fiddle ain't choose fer ter git up? I bait yo'
+she git up when she ter home, and I bait yo' she ain't gitting somebody
+ter dress her, an' wait on her han' an' foot like Mandy done been
+a-doin' sense yistiddy; ner she ain' been keepin' better folks a-waiting
+fer dey meals. I'se pintedly put out wid de way things is been gwine in
+dis hyer 'stablishmint fer de past two days, an' 's fur 's _I_ kin see
+dey ain' gwine mend none neider. No, not fer a considerbul spell lessen
+we has one grand, hifalutin' tornader. Yo' hyar me!"
+
+"I sho' does hyar yo' Mis' Lucy, an' I sho' 'grees wid yo' ter de very
+top notch. Dere's gwine ter be de very dibble--'scuse me please, ma'am,
+'scuse me, but ma feelin's done got de better of ma breedin'--ter pay ef
+things go on as dey've begun since de Madam--_an' dat dawg_--invest
+deyselves 'pon Severndale. But yonder comin' our yo'ng mistiss," he
+concluded as a clear, sweet voice was heard singing just beyond the
+windows, and quick decisive footsteps came across the broad piazza, and
+Peggy Stewart, only daughter and heiress of beautiful "Severndale,"
+entered the room. By her side Tzaritza, her snowy Russian wolfhound,
+paced with stately mien; a thoroughbred pair indeed.
+
+"Oh, Jerome, I am just starved. That breakfast table is irresistible.
+Mammy, is Aunt Katherine ready?"
+
+"I make haste fer ter inquire, baby," answered the old nurse, hurrying
+from the room.
+
+"I trus' she is," was Jerome's comment, adding: "Sis Cynthia done make
+de sallylun jist ter de perfection pint, an' she know dat pint too."
+
+Peggy made no comment upon the implied reproach of her guest's
+tardiness, but crossing the room to a big chair, whither Tzaritza had
+already preceded her to rub noses with a magnificent white Persian cat,
+she stooped to stroke Sultana, who graciously condescended to purr and
+nestle her beautiful head against Peggy's hand. Sultana had only been a
+member of the Severndale household since July, Mr. Harold having sent
+her to Peggy as "a semi-annual birthday gift," he said. She had adapted
+herself to her new surroundings with unusual promptitude and been
+adopted by the other four-footed members of the estate as "a friend and
+equal." The trio formed a picturesque group as they stood there.
+
+The dark-haired, dark-eyed young girl of fifteen, with her rich, clear
+coloring, her cheeks softly tinted from her brisk walk in the morning
+sunshine was very lovely. She wore a white duck skirt, a soft nainsook
+blouse open at the throat, the sailor collar knotted with a red silk
+scarf. Her heavy braids were coiled about her shapely head and held in
+place with large shell pins, soft little locks curling about her
+forehead.
+
+The past year had wrought wonderful changes in Peggy Stewart. The little
+girl had vanished forever, giving place to the charming young girl
+nearing her sixteenth milestone. The contact with the outer world which
+the past three months had given, when she had made so many new friends
+and seen so much of the service and social world, had done a great deal
+towards developing her. Always exceptionally well poised and sure of
+herself, the summer at Navy Bungalow in New London, at Newport, Boston,
+and at other points at which the summer practice Squadron had touched,
+had broadened her outlook, and helped her gauge things from a different
+and wider viewpoint than Severndale or Annapolis afforded. Though
+entirely unaware of the fact, Peggy had few rivals in the world of young
+girls.
+
+Presently a step sounded upon the polished floor of the broad hall and
+Mrs. Peyton Stewart, Peggy's aunt by marriage, stood in the doorway.
+Under one arm she carried her French poodle. Stooping she placed it upon
+the floor with the care which suggested a degree of fragility entirely
+belied by the bad-tempered little beast's first move, for as Peggy
+advanced with extended hand to greet her aunt, Toinette made a wild dash
+for the Persian cat, which onset was met by one dignified slap of the
+Sultana's paw, which left its red imprint upon the poodle's nose and
+promptly toppled the pampered thing heels-over-head. Tzaritza stood
+watching the entire procedure with dignified surprise, and when the
+yelping little beast rolled to her feet, she calmly gathered her into
+her huge jaws and stalking across the room held her up to Peggy, as
+though asking:
+
+"What shall I do with this bad-mannered bit of dogdom? Turn her over to
+your discipline, or crush her with one snap of my jaws?"
+
+"Oh you horrible, savage beast! You great brute! Drop her! Drop her!
+Drop her instantly! My precious Toinette. My darling!" shrieked
+Toinette's doting mistress. "Peggy, how _can_ you have such a savage
+creature near you? She has crushed every bone in my pet's body. Go away!
+Go away!"
+
+The scorn in Tzaritza's eyes was almost human. With a low growl, she
+dropped the thoroughly cowed poodle at Peggy's feet and then turned and
+stalked from the room, the very picture of scornful dignity. Mrs.
+Stewart snatched the poodle to her breast. There was not a scratch upon
+it save the one inflicted by Sultana, and richly deserved, as the tuft
+of the handsome cat's fur lying upon the floor testified.
+
+"I hardly think you will find her injured, Aunt Katherine. Tzaritza
+never harms any creature smaller than herself unless bidden to. She
+brought Toinette here as much for the little dog's protection as for
+Sultana's."
+
+"Sultana's! As though she needed protection from _this_ fairy creature.
+Horrible, vicious cat! Look at poor Toinette's nose."
+
+"And at poor Sultana's fur," added Peggy, pointing to the tuft upon the
+floor and slightly shrugging her shoulders.
+
+"She deserved it for scratching Toinette's nose."
+
+"I'm afraid the scratch was the second move in the onslaught."
+
+"We will not argue the point, but in future keep that great hound
+outside of the house, and the cat elsewhere than in the dining-room, I
+beg of you--I can't have Toinette's life endangered, or my nerves
+shocked in this manner again."
+
+For a moment Peggy looked at her aunt in amazement. Keep Tzaritza out of
+the house and relegate the Sultana to the servant's quarters? What had
+become of the lady of smiles and compliments whom she had known at New
+London, and who had been at such infinite pains to ingratiate herself
+with Neil Stewart that she had been invited to spend September at
+Severndale? And, little as Peggy suspected it, with the full
+determination of spending the remainder of her days there could she
+contrive to do so. Madam Stewart had blocked out her campaign most
+completely, only "the best laid plans," etc., and Madam had quite
+forgotten to take Mrs. Glenn Harold, Peggy's stanchest champion and
+ally, into consideration. Mrs. Harold had been Peggy's "guide,
+philosopher and friend" for one round year, and Mrs. Harold's niece,
+Polly Howland, was Peggy's chum and crony.
+
+Mrs. Stewart felt a peculiar sensation pass over her as she met the
+girl's clear, steady gaze. Very much the sensation that one experiences
+upon looking into a clear pool whose depth it is impossible to guess
+from merely looking, though one feels instinctively that it is much
+deeper, and may prove more dangerous than a casual glance would lead one
+to believe. Peggy's reply was:
+
+"Of course if you wish it, Aunt Katherine, Tzaritza shall not come into
+the house during your visit here. I do not wish you to be annoyed, but
+on the contrary, quite happy, and, Jerome, please see that Sultana is
+taken to Mammy, and ask her to keep her in her quarters while Mrs.
+Stewart remains at Severndale. Are you ready for your breakfast, Aunt
+Katherine?"
+
+"Quite ready," answered Mrs. Stewart, taking her seat at the table.
+Peggy waited until she had settled herself with the injured poodle in
+her lap, then took her own seat. Jerome had summoned one of the maids
+and given Sultana into her charge, while Tzaritza was bidden "Guard"
+upon the piazza. Never in all her royal life had Tzaritza been elsewhere
+than upon the rug before the fireplace while her mistress' breakfast was
+being served, and it seemed as though the splendid wolfhound, with a
+pedigree unrivalled in the world, stood as the very incarnation of
+outraged dignity, and a protest against insult. Perhaps some vague sense
+of having overstepped the bounds of good judgment, if not good breeding,
+was beginning to impress itself upon Mrs. Peyton Stewart. Certainly she
+had not so thoroughly ingratiated herself in the favor of her niece, or
+her niece's friends during that visit in New London the previous summer,
+as to feel entirely sure of a cordial welcome at Severndale, and to make
+a false start at the very outset of her carefully formed plans was a far
+cry from diplomatic, to say the least. During those weeks at New
+London, when a kind fate had brought her again in touch with her
+brother-in-law after so many years, Mrs. Stewart had done a vast deal of
+thinking and planning. There was beautiful Severndale without a mistress
+excepting Peggy, a mere child, who, in Madam's estimation, did not
+count. Neil Stewart was a widower in the very prime of life and, from
+all Madam had observed, sorely in need of someone to look after him and
+keep him from making some foolish marriage which might end in--well, in
+_not_ keeping Severndale in the family; "the family" being strongly in
+evidence in Mrs. Peyton. Her first step had been to secure an invitation
+to visit there. That done, the next was to remain there indefinitely
+once she arrived upon the scene. To do this she must make herself not
+only desirable but indispensable.
+
+Certainly, the preceding two days had not promised much for the
+fulfillment of her plan. So being by no means a fool, but on the
+contrary, a very clever woman in her own peculiar line of cleverness,
+she at once set about dispelling the cloud which hung over the horizon,
+congratulating herself that she had had sufficient experience to know
+how to deal with a girl of Peggy's age. So to that end she now smiled
+sweetly upon her niece and remarked:
+
+"I am afraid, dear, I almost lost control of myself. I am so attached to
+Toinette that I am quite overcome if any harm threatens her. You know
+she has been my inseparable companion in my loneliness, and when one is
+so utterly desolate as I have been for so many years even the devotion
+of a dumb animal is valued. I have been very, very lonely since your
+uncle's death, Peggy, dear, and you can hardly understand what a
+paradise seems opening to me in this month to be spent with you. I know
+we are going to be everything to each other, and I am sure I can relieve
+you of a thousand burdens which must be a great tax upon a girl of your
+years. I do not see _how_ you have carried them so wonderfully, or why
+you are not old before your time. It has been most unnatural. But now we
+must change all that. Young people were not born to assume heavy
+responsibilities, whereas older ones accept them as a matter of course.
+And that's just what _I_ have come way down here to try to do for my
+sweet niece," ended Mrs. Stewart smiling with would-be fascinating
+coyness. The smile would have been somewhat less complacent could she
+have heard old Jerome's comment as he placed upon the pantry shelf the
+fingerbowls which he had just removed from the table.
+
+"Yas, yas, dat's it. Yo' needn't 'nounce it. We knows pintedly what yo's
+aimin' ter do, an' may de Lawd have mussy 'pon us if yo' _suc_ceeds. But
+dere's shorely gwine be ructions 'fore yo' does, er my name ain't Jerome
+Randolph Lee Stewart."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER II
+
+RECONSTRUCTION
+
+
+"I have to ride into Annapolis, this morning, Aunt Katherine. Would you
+like to drive in?" asked Peggy, when the unpleasant breakfast was ended.
+
+"I should be delighted to, dear," answered Mrs. Stewart sweetly,
+striving to recover lost ground, for she felt that a good bit had been
+lost. "At what time do you start?"
+
+"Immediately. I will order the surrey."
+
+She left the room, her aunt's eyes following her with a half-mystified,
+half-baffled expression: Was the girl deeper than she had given her
+credit for being? Had she miscalculated the depth of the pool after all?
+
+All through the breakfast hour Peggy had been a sweet and gracious young
+hostess, anticipating every want, looking to every detail of the
+service, ordering with a degree of self-possession which secretly
+astonished Mrs. Stewart, who felt that it would have been difficult for
+her, even with her advantage of years, to have equaled the girl's
+unassuming self-assurance and dignity, or have rivaled her perfect
+ability to sit at the head of her father's table. A moment later Mrs.
+Stewart went to her room to dress for the drive into town, her breakfast
+toilet having been a most elaborate silk negligee. Twenty minutes later
+the surrey stood at the door, but, contrary to Mrs. Stewart's
+expectations, her niece was not in it: she was mounted upon her
+beautiful black horse Shashai, at whose feet Tzaritza lay, her nose
+between her paws, but her ears a-quiver for the very first note of the
+low whistle which meant, "full speed ahead." On either side of Shashai,
+a superb bodyguard, stood Silver Star, Polly Howland's saddle horse,
+though he was still quartered at Severndale, and Roy, the colt that
+Peggy had raised from tiny babyhood, and which had followed her as he
+would have followed his dam, ever since the accident that had made him
+an orphan.
+
+Perhaps the reader of "Peggy Stewart" will recall Mrs. Stewart's horror
+upon being met at the railway station by "the wild West show," as she
+stigmatized her niece's riding and her horses, for rarely did Peggy
+Stewart ride unless accompanied by her two beautiful horses and the
+wolfhound, and her riding was a source of marvel to more than one, her
+instructor having been Shelby, the veteran horse-trainer, who had been
+employed at Severndale ever since Peggy could remember, and whose early
+days had been spent upon a ranch in the far West where a man had to ride
+anything which possessed locomotive powers. At the present moment a more
+appreciative observer would have thrilled at the sight, for rarely is it
+given to mortal eyes to look upon a prettier picture than Peggy Stewart
+and her escort presented at that moment.
+
+Given as a background a beautiful, carefully preserved estate, which for
+generations has been the pride of its owners, a superb old mansion of
+the most perfect colonial type, a sunny September morning, and as the
+figures upon that background a charming young girl in a white linen
+riding-skirt, her rich coloring at its best, her eyes shining, her seat
+in her saddle so perfect that she seemed a part of her mount, and you
+have something to look upon. To this add three thoroughbred horses and a
+snowy dog, an old colored servitor, for Jerome had come out with a
+message from Harrison, and it is a picture to be appreciated. Had the
+tall woman standing upon the broad piazza been able to do so, many
+things which happened later might never have happened at all.
+
+Mrs. Stewart was elaborately gowned in a costume better suited for a
+drive in Newport than Annapolis, especially Annapolis in September. It
+was a striking creation of pale blue linen and Irish point lace, with a
+large lace hat, heavy with nodding plumes and a voluminous white lace
+veil floating out about it. She was a handsome woman in a certain
+conspicuous way, and certainly knew how to purchase her apparel, though,
+not above criticism in her selection of the toilet for the occasion, as
+the present instance evinced. She now walked to the piazza steps, and
+had anyone possessing a sense of humor been a witness of it, the
+transformation which passed over the lady's face en transit would have
+well nigh convulsed him, for the smile which had illumined her
+countenance at the door had gradually faded as she advanced until, when
+the steps were reached, it had been transformed into a most disapproving
+frown.
+
+To Peggy the reason was a mystery, for she had not overheard her aunt's
+comments upon the occasion of the drive from the railway station three
+days before. Of course Jess had, and they had been freely circulated and
+keenly resented in the servants' quarters, but no whisper of them had
+been carried to the young mistress. Nevertheless, Peggy was beginning to
+discover that a good many of her actions, and also the order of things
+at Severndale, had brought a cloud to her Aunt's brow, and a little
+sigh escaped her lips as she wondered what the latest development would
+prove. It seemed so easy for things to go amiss nowadays, when
+heretofore nearly everything had seemed, as a matter of course, to go
+right. Then the self-elected dictator spoke:
+
+"Peggy, dear, are you not to drive with me?"
+
+"Thank you, Aunt Katherine, but I always ride, and I have several
+errands to do which I can better attend to if I am mounted."
+
+"Well, it can hardly be necessary for you to have _three_ saddle horses
+at once. It seems to me unnecessarily conspicuous, and in very bad taste
+for a young girl to go tearing about the country, and especially into
+Annapolis--the capital City of the State--in the guise of a traveling
+circus."
+
+A slight smile curved Peggy's lips as she answered:
+
+"Annapolis is _not_ New York, Aunt Katherine. What might be out of place
+in such a city would be regarded as a matter of course in a little town
+where everybody knows everybody else, and they all know me, and the
+Severndale horses. Nobody ever gives us a thought. Why should they? I'm
+nothing but a girl riding into town on an errand."
+
+"You are extremely modest, I must say. Is it quite native or well--we'll
+dismiss the question, but I must ask you to do me the favor of leaving
+your bodyguard behind today; it may not seem conspicuous for you to play
+in a Wild West Show, but I must decline to be an actor. You are growing
+too old for such mad pranks, and are far too handsome a girl to invite
+observation."
+
+Peggy turned crimson.
+
+"Why, Aunt Katherine, I never regarded it as a prank in the least. I
+have ridden this way all my life and no one has ever commented upon it.
+Daddy Neil knows of it--he has ridden with me hundreds of times
+himself--and never said one word against it. And you surely do not think
+I do it to invite observation? Why, there isn't anything to _observe_. I
+am certainly no better looking than hundreds of other girls; at least,
+you are the only one who has ever commented upon my personal appearance.
+But I beg your pardon; you are my guest. I am sorry. Bud, please call
+Shelby to take Star and Roy back; I don't dare trust them to you."
+
+The little negro boy who had brought Shashai to the doorstep, and who
+had been staring popeyed during the conversation, dashed away toward the
+paddock, to rush upon Shelby with a wild tale of "dat lady f'om de norf
+was a-sassin' Missie Peggy jist scan'lous and orderin' Shelby fer to
+come quick ter holp her."
+
+"What you a-talking about, you little fool nigger?" demanded Shelby.
+Then gathering that something was amiss with the little mistress whom
+all upon the estate adored, he hastened to the house, his face somewhat
+troubled, for hints of the doings up there had penetrated even to his
+quarters.
+
+"Shelby, please take Star and Roy back to the paddock and be sure to
+fasten them in."
+
+"Ain't they a-goin' with you, Miss Peggy?"
+
+"Not this morning, Shelby."
+
+The man looked from the girl to the lady now settling herself in the
+carriage. Toinette still stood upon the piazza waiting to be lifted up
+to her mistress, too fat and too foolish to even go down the steps
+alone. As Shelby stepped toward the horses Mrs. Stewart waved her hand
+toward the dog and said to him:
+
+"Lift Toinette into the surrey."
+
+Shelby paid no more attention to her than he paid to the quarreling jays
+in the holly trees, and the order was sharply repeated.
+
+"Oh, are you a-speakin' to me, ma'am?" he then said.
+
+"Certainly. I wish my dog handed to me."
+
+Shelby looked at the pampered poodle and then at its mistress. Then with
+a guileless smile remarked:
+
+"Now you don't sesso? Well, when I git back to the paddock with these
+here horses what can't go 'long with Miss Peggy, I'll send a little
+nigger boy up here for ter boost your dog up to you, but _I_ tend
+_horses_ on this here place."
+
+The man's dark skin grew several shades darker owing to the blood which
+flooded his cheeks, and his eyes narrowed as he looked for one second
+straight into Mrs. Stewart's. What possessed the woman to antagonize
+everyone with whom she came in touch? Shelby had never laid eyes upon
+her until that moment, but that moment had confirmed his dislike
+conceived from the reports which had come to him. He now went up to the
+horses. Knowing that neither of them had halters on, he had brought two
+with him and now slipped them over his charges' heads, saying as he did
+so:
+
+"You've got to come 'long back with me and keep company manners, do you
+know that, you disrepu'ble gad-abouts? You ain't never had no proper
+eddicatin' an' now it's a-goin' to begin for fa'r. You-all are goin' ter
+be larnt citified manners hot off the bat. So come 'long back to the
+paddock an' git your fust lesson."
+
+The horses toyed and played with him like a couple of children, but went
+pacing away beside him, now and again pulling at his sleeve, poking at
+him with their soft muzzles or mumbling at his cheeks with their velvety
+lips, a pair of petted, peerless creatures and as beautiful as any God
+had ever created. Now and again they stopped short to neigh a peremptory
+call, as though asking the reason of this surprising conduct.
+
+"Are you ready, Aunt Katherine?" asked Peggy.
+
+"As soon as Jerome takes your hound in charge. I don't care to have
+Toinette driven frantic with fear by the sight of her. She will grow so
+excited that I shall be unable to hold her."
+
+Now the past two hours had held a good many annoyances for Peggy Stewart
+to whom annoyances had been almost unknown. Perhaps they constitute the
+discipline of life, but thus far Peggy Stewart had apparently gotten on
+pretty well without any radical chastening processes. Her life had been
+simply, but well, ordered, and her naturally sunny soul had grown sweet
+and wholesome in her little world. If correction had been necessary
+Mammy's loving old heart had known how to order it during Peggy's
+babyhood; Harrison had carefully watched her childhood, and her young
+girlhood had been most beautifully developed by her guardian, good Dr.
+Llewellyn, who loved her as a grand-daughter. Then had come Mrs. Harold,
+who had done so much for the young girl. Why could it not have gone on?
+
+Perhaps the ordering of Peggy's life had been too smooth to develop the
+best in her character, so Kismet, or whatever it is which shapes the odd
+happenings of our lives, had stepped in to lay a hurdle or two to test
+her ability to meet obstacles. Since seven-thirty that morning she had
+met little else in one form or another, and had taken them rather
+gracefully, all things considered. Her breakfast had been delayed an
+hour; the breakfast itself had been far from the pleasant meal it
+usually proved; she had been needlessly criticised for her habit of
+riding with her beloved horses; and now poor Tzaritza, after being
+banished the house, was to be debarred from following her young
+mistress; something unheard of, since the hound had acted as Peggy's
+protectress ever since she could follow her. The blood flooded into the
+girl's face, as turning to her Aunt she said very quietly, but with a
+dignity which Mrs. Stewart dared not encroach upon:
+
+"I am very sorry to seem in any way discourteous or disobliging, Aunt
+Katherine, but Daddy Neil and Compadre, have always wished Tzaritza to
+accompany me when I ride. I have never felt any fear but they feel
+differently, as there are, of course, some undesirable characters
+between Severndale and Annapolis, and they consider Tzaritza a great
+protection against any possible annoyance. We will ride on ahead, since
+it is likely to annoy you, but I must go into Annapolis this morning.
+Another time I shall drive with you, but I can't ask you to drive where
+I must ride today. When you see some of the Annapolitan streets you will
+understand why. They have not been re paved since the first pavements
+were laid generations ago, and you would be most uncomfortable. Be
+careful where you drive, Jess. I will meet you at the Bank."
+
+There was a graceful bow to Mrs. Stewart, a slight pressure of the knee
+against Shashai, a low whistle to Tzaritza and she had whirled and was
+away like the wind.
+
+Madam Stewart drew a quick breath and compressed her thin lips until
+they formed barely a line, and during that drive into Annapolis did some
+rapid thinking. Evidently she had made another mistake.
+
+As Peggy rode along the highway which led to Annapolis, the usual merry,
+lilting songs, to which Shashai's hoofbeats kept time, were silenced,
+and the girl rode in deep thought. Shashai tossed his head impatiently
+as though trying to attract her attention, and now and again Tzaritza
+bounded up to her with a deep, questioning bark. Peggy smiled a little
+abstractedly and said:
+
+"Your Missie is doing some hard thinking, my beauties and doesn't feel
+songful this morning." Then after a moment she resumed:
+
+"O Shashai, what _is_ the matter with everything? Am _I_ all wrong, or
+is Aunt Katherine different from everybody else? I have never met anyone
+just like her before, and I feel just exactly as though someone had
+drawn a file across my teeth, and I dare say that's all wrong too. If
+the Little Mother and Polly were only here they'd know how to make me
+see things differently, but I seem to get in wrong at every turn. Aunt
+Katherine has been here only two days, but what days they have been! And
+ten times more to follow before the month ends!"
+
+Shashai had gradually slowed down until he was walking with his own
+inimitably dainty step, his hoofs falling upon the leaf-strewn road with
+the lightness of a deer's. Presently they came to a pretty wood-road
+leading almost at angles to the highway, but Peggy was again too
+occupied to notice that Tzaritza had turned into it and that Shashai, as
+a matter of course, had followed her. Annapolis could be reached by this
+less frequented way but it made a wide detour, leading past Nelly
+Bolivar's home. As they struck the refreshing coolness of the byway
+Shashai broke into what Peggy called his "rocking-chair gait," though
+she was so much a part of him that she was hardly aware of the more
+rapid motion. Her first clear intimation that her route had changed
+occurred when a cheerful voice called out:
+
+"And she wandered away and away into the land o' dreams, my princess."
+
+Peggy raised her head quickly and the old light flashed back into her
+eyes, the old smile curved her lips as she cried:
+
+"Why, Nelly Bolivar! How under the sun came I here?"
+
+"In the usual way, I reckon, Miss Peggy. I don't often see you come in
+any other. But this time you sure enough look as though you had been
+dreaming," laughed Nelly, coming close to Shashai, who instantly
+remembered his manners and neighed his greeting, while Tzaritza thrust
+her head into the girl's arms with the gentlest insinuation. Nelly held
+the big head close, rested her face against it a second, then took
+Shashai's soft muzzle in both hands and planted a kiss just where it was
+most velvety, saying softly:
+
+"I can't imagine you three separated. The picture would not be complete.
+But what is wrong, Miss Peggy? You look so sober you make me feel
+queer," for the smile had gone from the girl's face and Nelly was quick
+to feel the seriousness of her expression.
+
+"Perhaps I'm cross and cranky, Nelly. At any rate I've no business to be
+here this minute. I started for Annapolis, but my wits got
+wool-gathering, I reckon, and I let Shashai turn in here without
+noticing where he was going. Aunt Katherine will reach Annapolis before
+I do and--then--" and Peggy stopped and wagged her head as though
+pursuit of the subject would better be dropped. Nelly's face clouded. It
+had not required the two days of Mrs. Stewart's visit to circulate a
+good many reports concerning her. Indeed both Jerome and old Mammy had
+described her at length, and the description had lost nothing upon their
+African tongues, nor had the experiences of the three months spent up
+north: Madam Stewart had figured rather conspicuously in their pictures
+of the "doin's up yander." Had she suspected how accurately the old
+colored people had gauged her, or how great an influence their gauging
+was likely to have upon the plans she had so carefully laid, she might
+have been a little more circumspect in her conduct toward them. But to
+her they were "just black servants" and she was entirely incapable of
+weighing their influence in the domestic economy, or of understanding
+their shrewd judgment as to the best interests of the young girl whom
+each, in common with all the other old servants upon the estate, loved
+with a devotion absolutely incomprehensible to most northern-born
+people. And another potent fact, entirely absent from the
+characteristics of the northern negro, is the fact that the southern
+negro servants' "kinnery" instantly adopts and maintains the viewpoint
+of those "nearest the throne." It is a survival of the old feudal
+system, unknown in the cosmopolitan North, but which even in this day,
+so remote from the days of slavery, makes itself very distinctly felt in
+many parts of the South.
+
+And many of the servants upon the Severndale estate had been there for
+three generations. Hence Peggy was their "chile," and her joys or
+sorrows, happiness or unhappiness, were theirs, and all their kin's, to
+be talked over, remedied if possible, but shared if not, or made a part
+of their own delight in living, as the case might demand. And the
+ramifications of their kinship were amazing. No wonder the report that
+"an aunt-in-law ob de yo'ng mistress yonder at Severndale, had done come
+down an' ondertuck fer ter run de hull shebang _an'_ Miss Peggy inter de
+bargain, what is never been run by nobody," had circulated throughout
+the whole community, and met with a resolute, though carefully concealed
+opposition--subtle, intangible, but sure to prove overwhelming in the
+end--the undertow, so hidden but so irresistible. All this had stolen
+from one pair of lips to another and, of course, been related with
+indignant emphasis to Jim Bolivar, Nelly's father, one of the tenants of
+Severndale's large estate. And he, in turn, had discussed it with Nelly,
+who worshipped the very ground Peggy chose to stand upon, for to Peggy
+Stewart Nelly owed restored health, her home rescued when ruin seemed
+about to claim everything her father owned, and all the happiness which
+had come into her lonely life.
+
+No wonder she now looked up to the deep brown eyes with her own blue
+ones troubled and distressed.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER III
+
+HOSTILITIES SUSPENDED
+
+
+During her drive into Annapolis Madam Stewart did more deep thinking
+than it was generally given to her shallow brain to compass. Like most
+of her type, she possessed a certain shrewdness, which closely touched
+upon cunning when she wished to gain her ends, but she had very little
+real cleverness, and practically no power of logical deduction.
+
+Today, however, she had felt antagonism enveloping her as a fog, and
+would have been not a little surprised to realize that its most potent
+force lay in Peggy's humble servitors rather than in Peggy herself. From
+the old darkey driving her, so deferentially replying to her questions,
+and at such pains to point out everything of interest along the way, she
+felt it radiate with almost tangible scorn and hostility, and yet to
+have saved her life she could not have said: "He is remiss in this or
+that."
+
+They drove into Annapolis by the bridge which crosses the Severn just
+above the Naval Hospital, and from which the whole Academy is seen at
+its best, with the wide sweep of the beautiful Chesapeake beyond. Jess
+pointed out everything most carefully. Then on they went across College
+Creek bridge, up College Avenue, by historic old St. Ann's and drew up
+at the Bank to meet Peggy. Mrs. Stewart looked about her in undisguised
+disappointment and asked:
+
+"Is _this_ the capital city of the State of Maryland? _This_ little
+town?"
+
+Jess' mouth hardened. He loved the quaint old town and all its
+traditions. So did his young mistress. It had always meant home to her,
+and to many, many generations of her family before her. The old "Peggy
+Stewart" house famous in history, though no longer occupied by her own
+family, still stood, a landmark, in the heart of the town and was
+pointed to with pride by all.
+
+"Dis sho' is de capital city ob de State, Ma'am. Yonder de guv'nor's
+mansion, jist over dar stan' de co't house, an' yonder de Cap'tal an'
+all de yether 'ministrashum buildin's, an' we'all's powerful proud ob
+'em."
+
+Mrs. Stewart smiled a superior smile as she replied:
+
+"I have heard that the South is not progressive and is perfectly
+apathetic to conditions. It _must_ be. Heavens! Look at these streets!
+They are perfectly disgusting, and the odor is horrible. I shall be
+glad to drive home."
+
+"De town done been pave all mos' all new," bridled Jess. "Dis hyar
+pavement de bes' ob brick. Miss Peggy done tole me ter be keerful whar I
+drive yo' at, an' I tecken yo' on de very be's."
+
+"And what, may I inquire, is your very worst then? Have you no street
+cleaning department in your illustrious city?"
+
+"We suttenly _has_! Dey got six men a-sweeping de hull endurin' time."
+
+"What an overwhelming force!" and Mrs. Stewart gave way to mirth.
+
+It was fortunate that Peggy should have arrived at that opportune
+moment, for there is no telling what might have occurred: Jess's
+patience was at the snapping-point. But Peggy's talk with Nelly Bolivar
+had served to restore her mental equilibrium to a certain degree--and
+her swift ride into Annapolis had completed the process. It was a sunny,
+smiling face which drew up to the surrey and greeted Mrs. Stewart. Peggy
+had made up her mind that she would not let little things annoy her, and
+was already reproaching herself for having done so. She had resolved to
+keep her temper during her aunt's visit if a whole legion of tormenting
+imps were let loose upon her.
+
+Three weeks of Mrs. Stewart's visit passed. Upon her part, three weeks
+of striving to establish a firmer foothold in the home of her
+brother-in-law; to obtain the place in it she so ardently coveted--that
+of mistress and absolute dictator. But each day proved to her that she
+was striving against some vaguely comprehended opposition. It did not
+lie in Peggy, that she had the grace to concede, for Peggy had complied
+with every wish, which she had graciously or otherwise, expressed,
+except the one debarring Tzaritza from following Shashai when she rode
+abroad, and be it said to Peggy's credit that she had held to her
+resolution in spite of endless aggravations, for Madam was a past
+mistress of criticism either spoken or implied. Never before in all her
+sunny young life had Peggy been forced to live in such an atmosphere.
+
+Little by little during those weeks Mrs. Stewart had pre-empted Peggy's
+position as mistress of the household; a position held by every claim of
+right, justice and natural development, for Peggy had grown into it, and
+its honors and privileges rested upon her young shoulders by right of
+inheritance. She had not rushed there, or forced her claim to it, hence
+had it been gradually given into her hands by old Mammy, her nurse,
+Harrison, the trusty housekeeper, and at length, as she had more and
+more clearly demonstrated her ability to hold it, by Dr. Llewellyn, her
+guardian, who regarded it as an essential part of a Southern
+gentlewoman's education.
+
+Then had come Mrs. Harold, whose tact and affection seemed to supply
+just the little touch which the young girl required to round out her
+life, and fit her to ultimately assume the entire control of her
+father's home.
+
+But all this was entirely beyond Mrs. Stewart's comprehension. Her own
+early life had been passed in a small New Jersey village in very humble
+surroundings. She had been educated in the little grammar school, going
+later to an adjoining town for a year at high-school. In her home,
+domestic help of any sort had been unknown, she and her mother, an
+earnest, hard-working woman, having performed all the household work.
+There were no traditions connected with that simple home; it was just an
+everyday round of commonplace duties, accepted as a matter of course.
+Then Mrs. Stewart, at that time "pretty Kitty Snyder," went as a sort of
+"mother's helper" to a lady residing in Elizabeth, whose brother was in
+a New Jersey College. Upon one of his visits to his sister he had
+brought Peyton Stewart home for a visit: Peyton, the happy-go-lucky,
+irresponsible madcap. Kitty Snyder's buxom beauty had turned all that
+was left to be turned of his shallow head and she had become Mrs. Peyton
+Stewart within a month.
+
+The rest has been told elsewhere. For a good many years she had "just
+lived around" as she expressed it, her income from her husband's share
+of the very comfortable little fortune left him by his father, being a
+vast deal more than she had ever dreamed of in her youthful days. She
+felt very affluent. All things considered, it was quite as well that
+Peyton had quit this earthly scene after two years of married life for
+"Kitty" had rapidly developed extravagant tastes and there were many
+"scenes." Her old associates saw her no more, and later the new ones
+often wondered why the dashing young widow did not marry again.
+
+They did not suspect how often her plans laid to that end had
+misscarried, for her ambitions were entirely out of proportion to her
+qualifications.
+
+Now, however, chance had brought her once more in touch with her
+husband's family, and she was resolved to make hay while the sun shone.
+If Neil Stewart had not been an odd mixture of manly strength and
+child-like simplicity, exceptional executive ability and credulity,
+kindliness and quick temper, he would never in the wide world have
+become responsible for the state of affairs at present turning his old
+home topsy-turvy, and in a fair way to undo all the good works of
+others, and certainly make Peggy extremely unhappy.
+
+But he had "made a confounded mess of the whole job," he decided upon
+receiving a letter from Peggy. Perhaps it would be more accurate to say
+upon reading between the lines, because it was not so much what Peggy
+had _said_ as that which she left unsaid, which puzzled him, and to
+which puzzle Harrison supplied the key in her funny monthly report.
+Never in all the ten years of her stewardship had she failed to send her
+monthly letter.
+
+Harrison was a most conscientious old body if somewhat below par in
+educational advantages. Nevertheless, she had filled her position as
+nurse, maid and housekeeper to Peggy's mother for over thirty years,
+and to Peggy for ten more and her idea of duty was "Peggy first, Martha
+Harrison second." Her letter to Neil Stewart, which he read while his
+ship was being overhauled in the Boston Navy Yard, set him thinking. It
+ran:
+
+     Severndale, Maryland.
+     September 21, 19--
+
+     Captain Neil Stewart,
+     U. S. N.
+
+     Respected Sir:--
+
+     As has been my habit these many years, I take my pen in hand to
+     make my monthly report concerning the happenings and the events of
+     the past month. Most times there isn't many of either outside the
+     regular accounts which, praises be, ain't never got snarled up none
+     since I've had the handling of them.
+
+     As to the past three weeks considerable has took place in this
+     quiet, peaceful (most times, at least) home, and I ain't quite sure
+     where I stand at, or am likely to. Things seem sort of stirred
+     round. Like enough we-all are old-fashioned and considerable sot in
+     our ways and can't rightly get used to new-fangled ones. Then, too,
+     we--I speak for everybody--find it kinder hard to take our orders
+     from anybody but Miss Peggy, who has got the right to give them,
+     which we can't just see that anybody else _has got_. Howsoever,
+     some folks seem to think they have, and what I am trying to get at
+     is, _have they_? If I have got to take them from other folks, why,
+     of course I have got to, but it has got to be _you_ that tells me I
+     must.
+
+     Up to the present time I seem to have been pretty capable of
+     running things down here, though I am free to confess I was right
+     glad when Mrs. Harold come along as she done, to give me a hint or
+     two where Miss Peggy was concerned, for that child had taken to
+     growing up in a way that was fair taking the breath out of my body,
+     and was a-getting clear beyond _me_ though, praises be, she didn't
+     suspicion the fact. If she had a-done it _my_ time would a-come for
+     sure. But the good Lord sent Mrs. Harold to us long about that time
+     and she was a powerful help and comfort to us all. _He_ don't make
+     no mistakes as a rule and I reckon we would a done well to let well
+     enough alone and not go trying to improve on his plans for us. When
+     we do that the _other one_ is just as likely as not for to take a
+     hand in the job and if he ain't a-kinder stirring round on these
+     premises right this very minute I'm missing my guess and sooner or
+     later there is going to be ructions.
+
+     Cording to the way _we_-all think down here Miss Peggy's mighty
+     close to the angels, but maybe we are blinded by the light o'love,
+     so to speak. Howsoever and nevertheless, we have got along pretty
+     comfortable till _lately_ when we have begun to discover that our
+     educasyons has been terribl neglected and we have all got to be
+     took in hand. _And we are being took powerful strong, let me tell
+     you!_ It is some like a Spanish fly blister: It may do good in the
+     end but the means thereto is some harrowing to the flesh and the
+     spirit.
+
+     I don't suppose there is no hope of your a-visiting your home
+     before the ship is ordered South for the fall target practice, more
+     is the pity. Tain't for me to name nothing but I wish to the Lord
+     Mrs. Harold was here. SHE is a lady--Amen.
+
+                                Your most humble and obedient housekeeper,
+                                        Martha Harrison.
+
+The day after this letter was written Dr. Llewellyn 'phoned to Peggy
+that he would return at the end of the week and if quite agreeable would
+like to pass a few days at Severndale with her, as his own housekeeper
+had not yet returned from her holiday.
+
+Peggy was in an ecstasy of joy. To have Compadre under her own roof from
+Saturday to Monday would be too delightful. Brimful of her pleasurable
+anticipations, and more like the natural, joyous girl of former days
+than she had been since leaving Mrs. Harold and Polly, she flew to the
+piazza where her aunt, arrayed in a filmy lingerie gown, reclined in one
+of the big East India chairs. For a moment she forgot that she did not
+hold her aunt's sympathies as she held Mrs. Harold's, and cried:
+
+"Oh, Aunt Katherine, Compadre will be here on Friday evening and will
+remain until Monday! Isn't that too good to believe?"
+
+"Do you mean Dr. Llewellyn?" asked Mrs. Stewart, coldly.
+
+"Yes, Aunt Katherine, you had no chance to know him before he went away,
+but you will just love him."
+
+"Shall I?" asked Mrs. Stewart with a smile which acted like a wet
+blanket upon poor Peggy.
+
+"But why do you call him by that absurd name? Why not call him Dr.
+Llewellyn?"
+
+"Call him Dr. Llewellyn?" echoed Peggy. "Why, I have never called him
+anything else since he taught me to call him by that dear name when I
+was a wee little thing."
+
+"And do you expect to cling to childish habits all your days, Peggy
+dear? Isn't it about time you began to think about growing up? Sit here
+upon this cushion beside me. I wish to have a serious talk with you and
+this seems a most opportune moment. I have felt the necessity of it ever
+since my arrival, but have refrained from speaking because I feared I
+might be misjudged and do harm rather than good. Sit down, dear."
+
+Mrs. Stewart strove to bring into her voice an element of deep interest,
+affection was beyond her,--and Peggy was sufficiently intuitive to feel
+it. Nevertheless, if anything could have appealed to this self-centered
+woman's affection it ought surely to have been the young girl who
+obediently dropped upon the big Turkish cushion, and clasping her hands
+upon the broad arm of the chair, looked up into the steely, calculating
+eyes with a pair so soft, so brown, so trustful yet so perplexed, that
+an ordinary woman would have gathered her right into her arms and
+claimed all the richness and loyalty of affection so eager to find an
+outlet. If it could only have been Mrs. Harold, or Polly's mother, how
+quick either would have been to comprehend the loving nature of the girl
+and reap the reward of it.
+
+Mrs. Stewart merely smiled into the wild-rose face in a way which she
+fondly believed to accentuate her own charms, and tapping the pretty
+brown hands with her fan, said:
+
+"I am growing extremely proud of my lovely niece. She is going to be a
+great credit to me, and, also, I foresee, a great responsibility."
+
+"A responsibility, Aunt Katherine?" asked Peggy, a perplexed pucker upon
+her forehead. "Have I been a responsibility to you since you came here?
+I am sorry if I have. Of course I know my life down here in the old home
+is quite different from most girls' lives. I didn't realize that until I
+met Mrs. Harold and Polly and then, later, went up to New London and saw
+more of other girls and the way they live. But I have been very happy
+here, Aunt Katherine, and since I have known Mrs. Harold and Polly a
+good many things have been made pleasanter for me. I can never repay
+them for their kindness to me."
+
+Peggy paused and a wonderfully sweet light filled her eyes, for her love
+for her absent friends was very true and deep, and speaking of them
+seemed to bring them back to the familiar surroundings which she knew
+they had grown to love so well, and where she and Polly had passed so
+many happy hours.
+
+Mrs. Stewart was not noted for her capacity for deep feeling and was
+more amused than otherwise affected by Peggy's earnest speech,
+classifying it as "a girl's sentimentality." Finer qualities were wasted
+upon that lady. So she now smiled indulgently and said:
+
+"Of course I can understand your appreciation of what you consider Mrs.
+Harold's and her niece's kindness to you, but, have you ever looked upon
+the other side of the question? Have you not done a great deal for them?
+It seems to me you have quite cancelled any obligation to them. It must
+have been some advantage to them to have such a lovely place as this to
+visit at will, and, if I can draw deductions correctly, to practically
+have the run of. It seems to me there was considerable advantage upon
+_their_ side of the arrangement. You, naturally, can not see this, but
+I'll venture to say Mrs. Harold was not so unsophisticated," and a pat
+upon Peggy's hand playfully emphasized the lady's charitable view.
+
+Peggy felt bewildered and her hands fell from the arm of the chair to
+her lap, though her big soft eyes never changed their gaze, which proved
+somewhat disconcerting to the older woman who had the grace to color
+slightly. Peggy then rallied her forces and answered:
+
+"Aunt Katherine, I am sure neither Mrs. Harold nor Polly ever had the
+faintest idea of any advantage to themselves in being nice to me. Why in
+this world should they? They have ten times more than _I_ could ever
+give to them. Why think of how extensively Mrs. Harold has traveled and
+what hosts of friends she has! And Polly too. Goodness, they let me see
+and enjoy a hundred things I never could have seen or enjoyed
+otherwise."
+
+Mrs. Stewart laughed a low, incredulous laugh, then queried:
+
+"And you the daughter of Neil Stewart and a little Navy girl? Really,
+Peggy, you are deliciously _ingenue_. Well, never mind. It is of more
+intimate matters I wish to speak, for with each passing day I recognize
+the importance of a radical reconstruction in your mode of living. That
+is what I meant when I said I foresaw greater responsibilities ahead.
+You are no longer a child, Peggy, to run wild over the estate,
+but--well, I must not make you vain. In a year or two at most, you will
+make your _debut_ and someone must provide against that day and be
+prepared to fill properly the position of chaperone to you. Meantime,
+you must have proper training and as near as I can ascertain you have
+never had the slightest. But it can not be deferred a moment longer. It
+is absolutely providential that I, the only relative you have in this
+world, should have met you as I did, though I can hardly understand how
+your father overlooked the need so long. Perhaps it was from motives of
+unselfishness, though he must have known that I stood ready to make any
+sacrifice for my dear dead Peyton's brother." Just here Mrs. Peyton's
+feelings almost overcame her and a delicate handkerchief was pressed to
+her eyes for a moment.
+
+Ordinarily tender and sympathetic to the last degree, Peggy could not
+account for her strange indifference to her aunt's distress. She simply
+sat with hands clasped about her knees and waited for her to resume the
+conversation. Presently Madam emerged from her temporary eclipse and
+said:
+
+"Forgive me, dear, my feelings quite overcame me for a moment. To
+resume: I know dear Neil would never ask it of me, but I have been
+thinking very seriously upon the subject and have decided to forget
+self, and my many interests in New York, and devote my time to you. I
+shall remain with you and relieve you of all responsibility in this
+great household, a responsibility out of all proportion to your years.
+Indeed, I can not understand how you have retained one spark of girlish
+spontaneity under such unnatural conditions. Such cares were meant for
+older, more experienced heads than your pretty one, dear. It will be a
+joy to me to relieve you of them and I can not begin too soon. We will
+start at once. I shall write to your father to count upon me for
+everything and, if he feels so disposed, to place everything in my
+hands. Furthermore, I shall suggest that he send you to a fine school
+where you will have the finishing your birth and fortune entitle you to.
+You know absolutely nothing of association, with other girls,--no,
+please let me finish," as Peggy rose to her feet and stood regarding her
+aunt with undisguised consternation, "I know of a most excellent school
+in New York, indeed, it is conducted by a very dear friend of mine,
+where you would meet only girls of the wealthiest families" (Mrs.
+Stewart did not add that the majority had little beside their wealth to
+stand as a bulwark for them; they were the daughters of New York City's
+newly rich whose ancestry would hardly court inspection) "and even
+during your school days you would get a taste of New York's social
+advantages; a thing utterly impossible in this dull--ahem!--this remote
+place. I shall strongly advise dear Neal to consider this. You simply
+cannot remain buried here. _I shall_, of course, since I feel it my duty
+to do so, but I can have someone pass the winter with me, and can make
+frequent trips to Washington."
+
+Mrs. Stewart paused for breath. Peggy did not speak one word, but with a
+final dazed look at her aunt, turned and entered the house.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IV
+
+HOSTILITIES RESUMED
+
+
+As Peggy left the piazza her aunt's eyes followed her with an expression
+which held little promise for the girl's future happiness should it be
+given into Mrs. Stewart's keeping. A more calculating, triumphant one,
+or one more devoid of any vestige of affection for Peggy it would have
+been hard to picture. As her niece disappeared Mrs. Stewart's lips
+formed just two words, "little fool," but never had she so utterly
+miscalculated. She was sadly lacking in a discrimination of values.
+Peggy had chosen one of two evils; that of losing her temper and saying
+something which would have outraged her conception of the obligations of
+a hostess, or of getting away by herself without a moment's delay. She
+felt as though she were strangling, or that some horrible calamity
+threatened her. Hurrying to her own room she flung herself upon her
+couch and did that which Peggy Stewart was rarely known to do: buried
+her head in the cushions and sobbed. Not the sobs of a thwarted, peevish
+girl, but the deeper grief of one who feels hopeless, lonely and
+wretched. Never in her life had she felt like this. What was the meaning
+of it?
+
+Those who were older and more experienced, would have answered at once:
+Here is a girl, not yet sixteen years of age, who has led a lonely life
+upon a great estate, remote from companions of her own age, though
+adored by the servants who have been upon it as long as she can
+remember. She has been regarded as their mistress whose word must be law
+because her mother's was. Her education has been conducted along those
+lines by an old gentleman who believes that the southern gentlewoman
+must be the absolute head of her home.
+
+About this time there enters her little world a woman whose every
+impulse stands for motherhood at its sweetest and best, and who has
+helped all that is best and truest in the young girl to develop, guiding
+her by the beautiful power of affection. All has been peace and harmony,
+and Peggy is rapidly qualifying in ability to assume absolute control in
+her father's home.
+
+Then, with scarcely a moment's warning, there is dropped into her home
+and daily life a person with whom she cannot have anything in common,
+from whom she intuitively shrinks and cannot trust.
+
+Under such circumstances the present climax is not surprising.
+
+Peggy's whole life had in some respects been a contradiction and a cry
+for a girl's natural heritage--a mother's all-comprehending love. The
+love that does not wait to be told of the loved one's needs and
+happiness, but which lives only to foresee what is best for her and to
+bring it to pass, never mind at what sacrifice to self. Peggy had missed
+_that_ love in her life and not all the other forms combined had
+compensated.
+
+Until the previous year she had never felt this; nor could she have put
+it into words even at the present moment. She only knew that in Polly's
+companionship she had been very, very happy and that she was terribly
+lonely without her. That in Mrs. Harold she had found a friend whom she
+had learned to love devotedly and trust implicitly, and that in the
+brief time Mrs. Howland, Polly's mother, had been in Annapolis and at
+New London, she had caught a glimpse of a little world before undreamed
+of; a world peculiarly Polly's and her mother's and which no other human
+being invaded. Mrs. Howland had just such a little world for each of her
+daughters and for the son-in-law whom she loved so tenderly. It was a
+world sacred to the individual who dwelt therein with her. There was a
+common world in which all met in mutual interests, but she possessed the
+peculiar power of holding for each of her children their own "inner
+shrine" which was truly "The Holy of Holies."
+
+Although Peggy had known and loved Mrs. Harold longest, there was
+something in Mrs. Howland's gentle unobtrusive sweetness, in her hidden
+strength, which drew Peggy as a magnet and for the first time in her
+life she longed for the one thing denied her: such a love as Polly
+claimed.
+
+But it seemed an impossibility, and her nearest approach to it lay in
+Mrs. Harold's affection for her.
+
+Peggy was not ungrateful, but what had befallen the usual order of
+things? Was this aunt, with whom, try as she would, she could not feel
+anything in common, about to establish herself in the home, every turn
+and corner of which was so dear to her, and utterly disrupt it? For this
+Peggy felt pretty sure she would do if left a free hand. Already she had
+most of the old servants in a state of ferment, if not open hostility.
+They plainly regarded her as an interloper, resented her assumption of
+rule and her interference in the innumerable little details of the
+household economy. Her very evident lack of the qualities which,
+according to their standards, stood for "de true an' endurin' quality
+raisin'," made them distrust her.
+
+Now the "time was certainly out of joint" and poor little Peggy began to
+wonder if she had to complete the quotation.
+
+All that has been written had passed like a whirlwind through Peggy's
+harassed brain in much less time than it has taken to put it on paper.
+It was all a jumble to poor Peggy; vague, yet very real; understood yet
+baffling. The only real evidences of her unhappiness and doubt were the
+tears and sobs, and these soon called, by some telepathic message of
+love and a life's devotion, the faithful old nurse who had been the
+comforter of her childish woes. For days Mammy had been "as res'less an'
+onsettled as a yo'ng tuckey long 'bout Thanksgivin' time," as she
+expressed it, and had found it difficult to settle down to her ordinary
+routine of work during the preceding two weeks. She prowled about the
+house and the premises "fer all de 'roun worl' like yo' huntin'
+speerits," declared Aunt Cynthia, the cook.
+
+"Huh!" retorted Mammy, "I on'y wisht I could feel dat dey was frien'ly
+ones, but I has a percolation dat dey's comin' from _below_ stidder
+_above_."
+
+So perhaps this explains why she went up to Peggy's room at an hour
+which she usually spent in her own quarters mending. Long before she
+reached the room she became aware of sounds which acted upon her as a
+spark to a powder magazine, for Mammy's loving old ears lay very close
+to her heart.
+
+With a pious "Ma Lawd-God-Amighty, what done happen?" she flew down the
+broad hall and, being a privileged character, entered the room without
+knocking. The next second she was holding Peggy in her arms and almost
+sobbing herself as she besought her to tell "who done hurt ma baby? Tell
+Mammy what brecken' yo' heart, honey-chile."
+
+For a few moments Peggy could not reply, and Mammy was upon the point of
+rushing off for Harrison when Peggy laid a detaining hand upon her and
+commanded:
+
+"Stop, Mammy! You must not call Harrison or anyone else. There is really
+nothing the matter. I'm just a silly girl to act like this and I'm
+thoroughly ashamed of myself." Then she wiped her eyes and strove to
+check a rebellious sob.
+
+"Quit triflin'! Kingdom-come, is yo' think I'se come ter ma dotage? When
+is I see you a cryin' like dis befo'? Not sense yo' was kitin' roun' de
+lot an' fall down an' crack yo' haid. Yo' ain' been de yellin',
+squallin' kind, an' when yo' begins at dis hyar day an' age fer ter
+shed tears dar's somethin' pintedly wrong, an' yo' needn' tell me dar
+ain't. Now out wid it."
+
+Mammy was usually fiercest when she felt most deeply and now she was
+stirred to the very depth of her soul.
+
+"Why, Mammy, I don't believe I could tell you what I'm crying for if I
+tried," and Peggy smiled as she rested her head upon the shoulder which
+had never failed her.
+
+"Well, den, tell me what yo' _ain't_ cryin' fo', kase ef yo' ain't
+cryin' fer somethin' yo' _want_ yo' shore mus' be a-crying fo' somethin'
+yo' _don't_ want," was Mammy's bewildering argument. "An' I bait yo' I
+ain't gotter go far fer ter ketch de thing yo' _don'_ want neither," and
+the old woman looked ready to deal with that same cause once it came
+within her grasp.
+
+Peggy straightened up. This order of things would never do. If she acted
+like a spoiled child simply because someone to whom she had taken an
+instinctive dislike had come into her home, she would presently have the
+whole household demoralized.
+
+"Mammy, listen to me."
+
+Instinctively the blood of generations of servitude responded to Peggy's
+tone.
+
+"I have been terribly rude to a guest. I lost my temper and I'm ashamed
+of myself."
+
+"What did you say to her, baby?"
+
+"I didn't say anything, I just acted outrageously."
+
+"An' what _she_ been a-sayin' ter yo'?"
+
+Peggy only colored.
+
+Mammy nodded her bead significantly. "Ain't I _know_ dat! Yo' cyant tell
+_me_ nothin' 'bout de Stewart blood. No-siree! I know it from Alphy to
+Omegy; backards an' forrards. Now we-all kin look out fer trouble ahead.
+But I'se got dis fer ter say: Some fools jist nachelly go a-prancin' an'
+a-cavortin' inter places whar de angils outen heaven dassent no mo'n
+peek. If yo' tells me I must keep ma mouf shet, I'se gotter keep it
+shet, but Massa Neil is allers a projectin' 'bout ma safety-valve, an'
+don' yo' tie it down too tight, honey, er somethin' gwine bus' wide open
+'fore long. Now come 'long an' wash yo' purty face. I ain' like fer ter
+see no tears-stains on _yo'_ baby. No, I don'. Den yo' go git on Shashai
+an' call yo' body-gyard and 'Z'ritza an' yo' ride ten good miles fo' yo'
+come back hyer. By _dat_ time yo' git yo' min' settle down an' yo'
+stummic ready fo' de lunch wha' Sis' Cynthia gwine fix fo' yo'. I seen
+de perjections ob it an' it fair mak' ma mouf run water lak' a dawg's.
+Run 'long, honey," and Mammy led the way down the side stairs, and
+watched Peggy as she took a side path to the paddock.
+
+As she was in and out of her saddle a dozen times a day she wore a
+divided skirt more than half the time--another of Mrs. Stewart's
+grievances--and upon reaching the paddock her whistle soon brought her
+pets tearing across it to her. Their greeting was warm enough to banish
+a legion of blue imps, and a joyous little laugh bubbled to her lips as
+she opened the paddock gate and let the trio file through. Then in the
+old way she sprang upon Shashai's back and with a gay laugh cried:
+
+"Four bells for the harness house."
+
+Away they swept, as Peggy's voice and knees directed Shashai, Tzaritza,
+who had joined Peggy as she stepped from the side porch, bounding on
+ahead with joyous barks.
+
+Peggy called for a bridle, which Shelby himself brought, saying as he
+slipped the light snaffle into Shashai's sensitive mouth and the
+headstall over his ears:
+
+"So you've bruck trainin', Miss Peggy, an' are a-going for a real
+old-time warm-up? Well, I reckon it's about time, an' the best thing you
+can do, for you look sort o' pinin' an' down-in-the-mouth. Light out,
+little girl, an' come back lookin' like you uster; the purtiest sight
+God ever created for a man, woman or child ter clap eyes on. Take good
+care of her, Shashai, and you too, Tzaritza, cause you won't get
+another like her very soon."
+
+Shelby's eyes were quick to discern the traces of Peggy's little storm,
+and he was by no means slow in drawing deductions. Peggy blushed, but
+said:
+
+"I guess Daddy was right when he said I'd better go to school this year.
+You-all will spoil me if I stay here. Good-by, dear old Shelby, I love
+everyone on the place even if they do spoil me," and away she swept, as
+bonny a little bareback rider as ever sat a horse.
+
+Meanwhile, up at the house events were shaping with the rapidity of a
+moving picture show.
+
+When Peggy left her so abruptly Madam Stewart sat still for a few
+moments, pondering her next step. She had arrived at some very definite
+conclusions and intended carrying them out without loss of time. Her
+first move in that direction led her into the library where she wrote a
+letter to her brother-in-law. It was while she was thus occupied that
+Mammy had found Peggy and sent her for her ride. Then Mammy sought
+Harrison. Ordinarily, Mammy would have died before consulting Harrison
+about anything concerning Peggy, but here was a common issue, and if
+Mammy did not know that a house divided against itself must fall, she
+certainly felt the force of that argument. In Harrison she found a
+sympathetic listener, for the old housekeeper had been made to feel
+Mrs. Stewart's presence in the house in hundreds of irritating little
+ways. Mammy told of finding Peggy in tears, though she could not, of
+course, tell their cause. But Harrison needed no cause: the tears in
+themselves were all the cause she required to know.
+
+Their conversation took place in the pantry and at the height of
+Harrison's protest against the new order of things a footfall was heard
+in the dining-room beyond. Thinking it Jerome's and quite ready to add
+one more to their league of defenders of Peggy's cause, Harrison pushed
+open the swinging door and stepped into the dining-room with all of her
+New England-woman's nervous activity. Mrs. Stewart stood in the room
+surveying with a critical, calculating eye, every detail of its stately,
+chaste appointments, for nothing had ever been changed.
+
+Mrs. Stewart looked up as Harrison bounced in.
+
+"O Harrison, you are exactly the person I wished to speak with," she
+said. "There are to be a few changes made in Mr. Stewart's domestic
+arrangements. In future I shall assume control of his home and relieve
+Miss Peggy of all responsibility. You may come to me for all orders."
+
+She paused, and for the moment Harrison was too dumbfounded to reply,
+while Mammy in the pantry, having overheard every word, was noiselessly
+clapping her old hands together and murmuring: "Ma Lawd! Ma Lawd! _Now_
+I knows de sou'ce ob dat chile's tears." Before Harrison could recover
+herself Mrs. Stewart continued:
+
+"Dr. Llewellyn will be here tomorrow for the weekend, and as I am to be
+mistress of the household it is more seemly that I preside at the head
+of the table. Tell Jerome that I shall sit there in future. And now I
+wish you to take me through the house that I may know more of its
+appointments than I have thus far been able to learn."
+
+Without a word Harrison led the way into the hall, and up the beautiful
+old colonial stairway.
+
+Peggy's sitting-room and bed-room were situated at the south-east corner
+of the house overlooking the bay. Back of her bath and dressing-rooms
+were two guest rooms. A broad hall ran the length of the second story
+and upon the opposite side of it had been Mrs. Neil Stewart's pretty
+sitting-room, which corresponded with Peggy's and her bed-room separated
+from her husband's by the daintiest of dressing and bath-rooms. Neil
+Stewart's "den" was at the rear. Beyond were lavatories, linen-room,
+house-maid's room and every requirement of a well-ordered home.
+
+Mrs. Peyton began by entering Peggy's sitting-room, a liberty she had
+not hitherto taken, but she felt pretty sure Peggy was not in the house.
+At any rate she had made her plunge and did not mean to be diverted from
+her object now. Martha Harrison was simply boiling with wrath at the
+intrusion.
+
+"You are a wonderfully capable woman, Martha. I see I shall have very
+light duties," was Mrs. Peyton's patronizing comment.
+
+"_Harrison_, if you please, ma'am," emphasized that person.
+
+"Oh, indeed? As you prefer. Now let me see the rooms on the opposite
+side of the hall."
+
+Perhaps had Mrs. Peyton asked Harrison to lead her into the little
+mausoleum, built generations ago in the whispering white pine grove upon
+the hill back of the house, it could not have been a greater liberty or
+sacrilege. Not so great, possibly. In all the nine years nothing had
+been changed. They were sacred to the entire household and especially
+sacred to Harrison who had held it her especial privilege to keep them
+immaculate. In the bed-room the toilet and dressing tables held the same
+articles Mrs. Neil had used; her work-table stood in the same sunny
+window. In the sitting-room the books she loved and had read again and
+again were in the case, or lying upon the tables where she had left
+them. It seemed as though she might have stepped from the room barely
+ten minutes before. There was nothing depressing about it. On the
+contrary, it impressed upon the observer the near presence of a sweet,
+cultivated personality. The sitting-room was a shrine for both Peggy and
+her father, and it was his wish that it be kept exactly as he had known
+and loved it during the ideal hours he had spent in it with wife and
+child. He and Peggy had spent many a precious one there since its
+radiant, gracious mistress had slept in the pine grove. Harrison crossed
+the hall and opened the door, still mute as an oyster. Mrs. Stewart
+swept in, Toinette, who had followed her, tearing across the room ahead
+of her and darting into every nook and corner. At that moment the
+obnoxious poodle came nearer her doom than she had ever come in all her
+useless life, for Harrison was a-quiver to hurl her through the open
+window.
+
+"What charming rooms," exclaimed Madam, trailing languidly from one to
+the other, touching a book here, some exquisite curio there, the carved
+ivory toilet articles on the dresser. The morning sunlight, tempered by
+the green and white awnings at the great bowed-windows filled the
+tastefully decorated rooms with a restful glow. They were beautiful
+rooms in every sense of the word.
+
+"Very charming indeed and very useless apparently. They seem not to have
+been occupied in months. They are far more desirable than those assigned
+to me at the North side of the house. The view of the bay is perfect. As
+I am to be here indefinitely, instead of one month only, you may have my
+things moved over to this suite, Harrison. I shall occupy it in future."
+
+"Occupy _this_ suite?" Harrison almost gasped the words.
+
+"Certainly. Why not? You need not look as though I had ordered you to
+build a fire in the middle of the floor," and Mrs. Peyton laughed half
+scornfully.
+
+"Excuse me, ma'am, but when _Mr. Neil_ gives the order to move your
+things into this suite, I'll move them here. These was his wife's rooms
+and his orders to me was never to change 'em and I never shall 'till
+_he_ tells me to. There's some things in this world that can't be
+tampered with. Please call your dog, ma'am; she's scratchin' that couch
+cover to ribbons."
+
+The enemy's guns were silenced for the time being. She picked up her
+poodle and swept from the room. Harrison paused only long enough to
+close all the doors, lock them and place the keys in her little hand
+bag. Then she departed to her own quarters to give vent to her pent-up
+wrath.
+
+Mrs. Stewart retired to her own room.
+
+The next evening Dr. Llewellyn arrived and when he took his seat at the
+table his gentle face was troubled: Mrs. Peyton had usurped Peggy's
+place at the head. Peggy sat opposite to him. She had accepted the
+situation gracefully, not one word of protest passing her lips and she
+did her best to entertain her guests. But poor old Jerome's soul was so
+outraged that for the first time in his life he was completely
+demoralized. Only one person in the entire household seemed absolutely
+and entirely satisfied and that was Harrison, and her self-satisfaction
+so irritated Mammy that the good old creature sputtered out:
+
+"Kingdom come, is yo' gittin' ter de pint when yo' kin see sich
+gwines-on an' not r'ar right spang up an' _sass_ dat 'oman?"
+
+"Just wait!" was Harrison's cryptic reply.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER V
+
+RUCTIONS!
+
+
+Jerome had just passed a silver platter to Madam Stewart, his hands
+trembling so perceptibly as to provoke from her the words: "Have you a
+chill, Jerome?" as she conveyed to her plate some of Cynthia's
+delicately fried chicken.
+
+Jerome made no answer, but started toward Peggy's chair. He never
+reached it, for at that moment a deep voice boomed in from the hall:
+
+"Peggy Stewart, ahoy!"
+
+With the joyous, ringing cry of:
+
+"Daddy Neil! Oh, Daddy Neil!" Peggy sprang from the table to fling
+herself into her father's arms, and to startle him beyond words by
+bursting into tears. Never in all of his going to and fro, however long
+his absences from his home, had he met with such a reception as this.
+Invariably a smiling Peggy had greeted him and the present outbreak
+struck to the very depth of his soul, and did more in one minute to
+reveal to him the force of Harrison's letter than a dozen complaints.
+The tears betrayed a nervous tension of which even Peggy herself had
+been entirely unaware, and for Peggy to have reached a mental condition
+where nerves could assert themselves was an indication that chaos was
+imminent. For a moment she could only sob hysterically, while her father
+held her close in his arms and said in a tone which she had never yet
+heard:
+
+"Why, Peggy! My little girl, my little girl, have you needed Daddy Neil
+as much as this?"
+
+Peggy made a gallant rally of her self-control and cried:
+
+"Oh, Daddy, and everybody, please forgive me, but I am so surprised and
+startled and delighted that I don't know what I'm doing, and I'm so
+ashamed of myself," and smiling through her tears she strove to draw
+away from her father that he might greet the others, but he kept her
+close within his circling left arm, as he extended his hand in response
+to the effusive greeting of his sister-in-law.
+
+With what she hoped would be an apologetic smile for Peggy's untoward
+demonstration, Mrs. Stewart had risen to welcome him.
+
+"We must make allowances for Peggy, dear Neil. You came so very
+unexpectedly, you know. I hardly thought my letter would be productive
+of anything so delightful for us all."
+
+"I fear it was not wholly, Katherine. I had several others also. How
+are you, Doctor? I see you haven't quite abandoned the ship. Well, I'm
+glad of that; I need my executive officer and my navigator also."
+
+At the concluding words Mrs. Peyton smiled complacently. Who but she
+could fill that office? But Captain Stewart's next words dissipated that
+smile as the removal of a lantern slide causes the scene thrown upon the
+screen to vanish.
+
+"Yes, indeed, my navigator must get busy. She's had a long leave, but I
+need her now and she's never failed me in heavy weather. She'll report
+for duty on the thirtieth, thank the powers which be. Hello, Jerome!
+What's rattled you like this? Next time I set my course for home I'd
+better send a wireless, or I'll demoralize the whole personnel," and
+Neil Stewart's hearty laugh brought a sympathetic smile to Dr.
+Llewellyn's and Peggy's lips.
+
+And well it might, for in the background the minor characters in the
+little drama had filled a role all their own. In the doorway stood
+Harrison, bound to witness the outcome of her master-stroke and
+experiencing no small triumph in it. Behind her Mammy, with
+characteristic African emotion, was doing a veritable camp-meeting song
+of praise, though it was a _voiceless_ song, only her motions indicating
+that her lips were forming the words, "Praise de Lawd! Praise Him!" as
+she swayed and clasped her hands.
+
+But Jerome outdid them all: At his first glimpse of the master he was so
+flustered that he nearly collapsed where he stood, and his platter had a
+perilous moment. Then, crying, "Glory be!" he beat a hasty retreat
+intending to place it upon his serving table, but growing bewildered in
+his joy, inadvertently set it upon a large claw-foot sofa which stood at
+the end of the dining-room, where Toinette, ever upon the alert, and
+_not_ banished from the dining-room as poor Tzaritza had been, promptly
+pounced upon the contents, and in the confusion of the ensuing ten
+minutes laid the foundation for her early demise from apoplexy.
+
+"Brace up, Jerome, I'm too substantial to be a ghost, and nothing short
+of one should bowl you over like this," were Captain Stewart's hearty
+words to the old man as he shook his hand.
+
+"Asks yo' pardon, Massa Neil! I sho' does ask yo' pardon fer lettin'
+mysef git so flustrated, but we-all's so powerful pleased fer ter see
+yo', an' has been a-wanting yo' so pintedly, that--that--that--but, ma
+Lawd, I--I--I'se cla'r los' ma senses an', an--Hi! look yonder at dat
+cussed dawg _an'_ ma fried chicken!"
+
+For once in her useless life Toinette had created a pleasing diversion.
+With a justifiable cry of wrath Jerome pounced upon her and plucked her
+from the platter, in which for vantage she had placed her fore feet.
+Flinging her upon the floor, he snatched up his dish and fled to the
+pantry, Neil Stewart's roars of laughter following him. Toinette rolled
+over and over and then fled yelping into her mistress' lap to spread
+further havoc by ruining a delicate silk gown with her gravy-smeared
+feet. Tzaritza, who had followed her master into the room, looked upon
+the performance with a superior surprise. Neil Stewart laid a caressing
+hand upon the beautiful head and said laughingly:
+
+"You'd blush for that little snippin-frizzle if you could, wouldn't you,
+old girl? Well, it's up to you to teach her better manners. She's young
+and flighty. The next time she starts in on any such rampage, just pick
+her up and carry her out, as any naughty child should be carried.
+Understand?"
+
+"Woof-woof," answered Tzaritza, deep down in her throat.
+
+"She's wise all right. After this you can leave that midget of yours in
+her care, Katherine. But now let's get busy. I'm upon the point of
+famishing. Come, Peggy, honey; rally your forces and serve your old
+Daddy."
+
+Peggy turned toward her aunt. Not until that moment had her father been
+aware of the change made at his table. Then it came to him in a flash,
+and Mrs. Peyton was hardly prepared for the change which overspread his
+countenance as he asked:
+
+"Peggy, why have you allowed your aunt to assume the obligations of
+hostess? Have you lost your ability to sit at the head of my table,
+daughter?"
+
+Poor Peggy! It was well she understood or she would have been nearly
+heartbroken at the rebuke. Mrs. Peyton answered for her:
+
+"Little Peggy had far too much upon her young shoulders, dear Neil. So I
+have volunteered to relieve her of some of her duties. I am happy to be
+able to do so."
+
+"Indeed, Katherine, we are all under deep obligation to you, I am sure,
+but Peggy hardly seems overborne by her burdens, and it is my wish that
+my daughter shall preside in her mother's place at my table. Jerome,
+Mrs. Stewart is to be relieved of this obligation after this meal. You
+are to be quite free of all responsibility during your visit with us,
+Katherine. And now, little girl, let me look at you. July, August, and,
+let me see, twenty-five days of September since I left you? Nearly
+three months. You manage to do remarkable things in a brief time,
+little daughter. But I fancy by the time I get back here again they will
+be more remarkable. Great plans are simmering for you; great plans," and
+her father nodded significantly across at her.
+
+Peggy was too happy to even ask what they were. She could only smile and
+nod back again.
+
+Meanwhile Mrs. Stewart had used her napkin to scrub off her besmirched
+poodle's feet and had then surreptitiously thumped her down upon her lap
+where the table-cloth would conceal her. At Captain Stewart's concluding
+words she felt her hopes revive a trifle. She was a fair actress when it
+served her turn. So now smiling across the table she said:
+
+"So you have decided to consider my suggestion, Neil?"
+
+"In one respect, yes, Katherine. I see plainly that things can no longer
+go on as they have been going. Llewellyn concurs in that." He glanced
+toward the Doctor, who nodded gravely.
+
+"I do most fully. Our halcyon days must end, I fear, as all such days do
+eventually, and we must meet the more prosaic side of life. Let us hope
+it will assume a pleasing form. I am loth to hand in my resignation as
+Dominie Exactus, however," he ended with a smile for Peggy.
+
+Peggy looked puzzled, and glanced inquiringly from one to the other. Her
+father stretched forth a hand and laid it over hers which rested upon
+the edge of the table:
+
+"Smooth out the kinks in your forehead, honey. Nothing distressing is to
+happen."
+
+"Hardly," agreed Mrs. Stewart. "On the contrary, if your father acts
+upon my suggestion something very delightful will be the outcome, I am
+sure. I feel intuitively that you approve of my plan regarding the
+school, Neil."
+
+Peggy started slightly, and looked at her father. He nodded and smiled
+reassuringly, then turning toward his sister-in-law, replied:
+
+"Your letter, Katherine, only served to convince me that Peggy must now
+have a broader horizon than Severndale, or even Annapolis affords. Dr.
+Llewellyn and I talked it over when I was home over a year ago, and
+again last June. When we first discussed it we were about as much at sea
+as the 'three wise men of Gotham' who launched forth in a tub. We needed
+a better craft and a pilot, and we needed them badly, I tell you, and at
+that time we hadn't sighted either. Then the 'Sky Pilot' took the job
+out of our hands and He's got it yet, I reckon. At any rate, indications
+seem to point that way, for on my way down here He ran me alongside my
+navigator and it didn't take her long to give me my bearings. She got
+on board the limited at Newark, N. J., and we rode as far as Philly
+together. She had three of her convoys along and they're all to the
+good, let me tell you."
+
+"Oh, Daddy, did you really meet Mrs. Harold and Polly, and who was with
+them?" broke in Peggy eagerly.
+
+"I surely did, little girl; Mrs. Harold, Polly, Ralph and Durand. She
+was on her way for a week's visit with some relatives just out of
+Philly--in Devon, I believe, a sort of house-party, she's
+chaperoning--and a whole bunch of the old friends are to be there. Well,
+I got the 'Little Mother' all to myself from Newark to Philly and we
+went a twenty-knot clip, I tell you, for big as I am, I was just
+bursting to unload my worries upon someone, and that little woman seems
+born to carry the major portion of all creation's. She gets them, any
+way, and they don't seem to feaze her a particle. She bobs up serene and
+smiling after ever comber. But I've yet to see the proposition she
+wouldn't try to tackle. Oh, we talked for fair, let me tell you, and in
+those two hours she put more ideas into this wooden old block of mine
+than it's held in as many months. Did your ears burn this afternoon,
+Peggy? You are pretty solid in _that_ direction, little girl, and you'll
+never have a better friend in all your born days, and don't you ever
+forget _that_ fact. Well, the upshot is, that next Friday, one week from
+today, Middie's Haven will have its tenant back and, meantime, she is to
+write some letters and lay a train for _your_ welfare, honey. That
+school plan is an excellent plan, Katherine, but not a New York school:
+New York is too far away from home _and_ Mrs. Harold. Peggy will go to
+Washington this winter. Hampton Roads is not far from Washington and
+the ---- will put in there a number of times this winter. That gives _me_
+a chance to visit my girl oftener and also gives Peggy a chance to visit
+Mrs. Harold, and run out here now and again if she wishes, though the
+place will be practically closed up for the winter. It was very good of
+you to offer to remain here but I couldn't possibly accept that
+sacrifice; for all your interests lie in New York, as you stated in your
+letter to me. You still have your apartments there, you tell me, and to
+let you bury yourself down here in this lonely place would be simply
+outrageous. Even Peggy has been here too long, without companions."
+
+Neil Stewart paused to take some nuts from the dish which Jerome, now
+recovered and beaming, held for him. Mrs. Stewart could have screamed
+with baffled rage, for, now that it was too late, she saw that she had
+quite overshot the mark, and given her brother-in-law a complete
+advantage over her designs. "And that hateful, designing cat!" as she
+stigmatized Mrs. Harold "had completed her defeat." She had gauged her
+brother-in-law as "a perfect simpleton where a woman was concerned," and
+never had she so miscalculated. He _was_ easygoing when at home on
+leave, or off on one of his outings, as he had been when she met him in
+New London. Why not? When he worked he worked with every particle of
+energy he possessed, but when he "loafed," as he expressed it, he cast
+all care to the winds and was like an emancipated school-boy. It was the
+school-boy side of his nature she had gauged. She knew nothing of Neil
+Stewart the Naval Officer and man; hadn't the very faintest conception
+of his latent force once it was stirred. And she little guessed how she
+_had_ stirred it by her letter written the morning she had made Peggy so
+unhappy. It was the one touch needed to bring the climax and it had
+brought it with a rush which Mrs. Peyton had little anticipated. What
+the outcome might have been had Neil Stewart not met Mrs. Harold on that
+train is impossible to surmise further than that he had fully decided to
+free himself of all connection with Peyton's widow. He had always
+disliked and distrusted her, but now he detested her. Peggy's letters
+had revealed far more than she guessed, though they had not held one
+intended criticism. She had written just as she had written ever since
+she promised him when he visited her the previous year, to send "a
+report of each day, accurate as a ship's log." But she could not write
+of the daily happenings without giving him a pretty graphic picture of
+Mrs. Stewart's gradual usurpation, and Harrison had felt no compunction
+in expressing _her_ views.
+
+And so the "best laid plans o' mice and (wo)men" had "gone agley" in a
+demoralizing manner, and Neil Stewart had come down to Severndale "under
+full headway," and wasted no time in "laying hold of the helm." That
+talk upon the train had been what he termed "one real old
+heart-to-hearty," for Mrs. Harold had foreseen just such a crisis and
+felt under no obligation to refrain from speaking her mind where Mrs.
+Stewart was concerned. She had seen just such women before. Captain
+Stewart had asked her to read the letters sent to him. She nearly had
+hysterics over Harrison's, but Peggy's brought tears to her eyes, for
+she loved the girl very dearly and understood her well. Mrs. Stewart's
+letter made her eyes snap and her mouth set firmly, as she said:
+
+"Captain Stewart, you have asked my advice and I shall give it exactly
+as though Peggy were my daughter, for I could hardly love her and Polly
+more dearly if they were my own children. I am under every obligation of
+affection to Peggy but not the slightest to Mrs. Stewart, and from all I
+observed in New London she is by no means the woman to have control over
+a girl like Peggy. She is one of the most lovable girls I have ever
+known, but at the same time has one of the most distinct personalities
+and the strongest wills. She can be easily guided by combined wisdom and
+affection, but she would be ruined by association with a calculating,
+unrefined, or capricious nature, and, pardon my frankness, I consider
+Mrs. Peyton Stewart all of these. Peggy needs association with other
+girls--that is only natural--and we must secure it at once for her."
+
+Neil Stewart laid her words to heart, and the ensuing week brought to
+pass some radical changes.
+
+On the thirtieth of September the whole brigade of midshipmen came
+pouring back to Annapolis, the academic year beginning on October first.
+
+On the thirtieth also came Mrs. Glenn Harold and her niece Polly
+Howland, brown, happy and refreshed by their summer's outing, and Polly
+eager to meet her old friends at the Academy and her chum Peggy.
+
+October first falling upon Sunday that year the work at the Academy
+would not begin until Monday, and, although the midshipmen had to report
+on September thirtieth, Sunday was to a certain extent a holiday for
+them and on that afternoon a rare treat was planned for some of them by
+Captain Stewart.
+
+On Sunday morning Neil Stewart, with Mrs. Stewart and Peggy drove into
+Annapolis to attend service at the Naval Academy Chapel where their
+entrance very nearly demoralized Polly Howland, no hint of their
+intention having been given her. They were a little late in arriving and
+the service had already begun. As Polly was rising from her knees after
+the first prayer Peggy was ushered into the pew, and Polly, _Polly_
+under all circumstances, cried impulsively:
+
+"Oh, lovely!" her voice distinctly audible in the chancel. Whether the
+Chaplain felt himself lauded for the manner in which he had read the
+prayer, or was quick to guess the cause of that unusual response, it is
+not necessary to decide. Certain, however, were two or three distinct
+snickers from some pews under the gallery, and Polly nearly dove under
+the pew in front of her.
+
+There was no chance for the thousand and one topics of vital importance
+to be even touched upon while the service was in progress, but once the
+recessional rolled forth Peggy's and Polly's tongues were loosened and
+went a-galloping.
+
+"Oh, Daddy has a plan for the afternoon which is the dearest ever,"
+announced Peggy, the old light back in her eyes, and the old enthusiasm
+in her voice.
+
+"Tell it right off then. Captain Stewart's plans are the most wonderful
+ever. I'll never forget New London," cried Polly.
+
+"Why, he wants you and the Little Mother and Durand and Ralph and Jean
+and Gordon--"
+
+"Gordon?" echoed Polly, a question in her eyes.
+
+Peggy nodded an emphatic little nod, her lips closing in a half-defiant,
+half who-dares-dispute-his-judgment little way, then the smile returned
+to the pretty mouth and she continued, "Yes, Gordon Powers and his
+room-mate, great, big Douglas Porter, and Durand's new room-mate, Bert
+Taylor, he comes from Snap's old home, so Daddy learned, to come out to
+Severndale this afternoon for a real frolic."
+
+She got no further for they had reached the terrace in front of the
+Chapel by that time where greetings were being exchanged between many
+mutual friends and the two girls, so widely known to all connected with
+the Academy were eagerly welcomed back.
+
+Meanwhile, out on the main walk the Brigade had broken ranks and the
+midshipmen were hurrying up to greet their friends. Captain Stewart was
+a favorite with all, and one of the very few officers who could recall
+how the world looked to him when _he_ was a midshipman. Consequently, he
+was able to enter into the spirit and viewpoint of the lads and was
+always greeted with an enthusiasm rare in the intercourse between the
+midshipmen and the officers. Mrs. Harold was their "Little Mother," as
+she had been for the past five years, and Peggy and Polly the best and
+jolliest of companions and chums, their "co-ed cronies," as they called
+them.
+
+Mrs. Stewart they had met in New London, but there was a very
+perceptible difference in their greeting to that lady: It was the
+formal, perfunctory bow and handclasp of the superficially known
+midshipman; not the hearty, spontaneous one of the boy who has learned
+to trust and love someone as Mrs. Harold's boys loved and trusted her.
+
+The crowd which had poured out of the Chapel was soon dispersed, as
+everybody had something to call him elsewhere. Our group sauntered
+slowly toward the Superintendent's home where Captain Stewart left them
+and went in to make his request for the afternoon's frolic. It was
+promptly granted and orders were given to have a launch placed at his
+disposal at two-thirty P.M.
+
+Such a treat, when least expected, sent the boys into an ecstatic frame
+of mind, and when the bugle sounded for dinner formation they rushed
+away to their places upon old Bancroft's Terrace as full of enthusiasm
+as though averaging eight and ten instead of eighteen and twenty years
+of age.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VI
+
+A NEW ORDER OF THINGS
+
+
+That Sunday afternoon of October first, 19-- was vital with portent for
+the future of most of the people in this little story.
+
+It took but a short time to run out to Severndale, and once there Neil
+Stewart made sure of a free hour or two by ordering up the horses and
+sending the young people off for a gallop "over the hills and far away."
+Shashai, Silver Star, Pepper and Salt for Peggy, Polly, Durand and
+Ralph, who were all experienced riders, and four other horses for
+Douglas, Gordon, Jean and Bert, of whose prowess he knew little. He need
+not have worried, however, for Bert Taylor came straight from a South
+Dakota ranch, Gordon Powers had ridden since early childhood and Douglas
+Porter had left behind him in his Southern home two hunters which had
+been the joy of his life. But Jean Paul Nicholas, Ralph's little
+pepper-pot of a room-mate, had never ridden a horse in his life, and the
+running he would come in for at the hands of his fellow midshipmen if
+they suspected that fact might have made almost any other lad hesitate
+before taking his initial spin in the company of experts. Not so little
+Jean Paul with his broad shoulders, the brace of an Admiral and his
+five-feet-six-inches; a veritable little bantam-cock, and game to the
+finish.
+
+As the happy cavalcade set off, waving merry farewells to the older
+people gathered upon the piazza, Tzaritza bounding on ahead, their route
+led them past the paddock where Shelby and old Jess, with several others
+connected with the estate, stood watching them. Shelby as an old hand
+and privileged character, took off his hat and waved it hilariously, as
+he called out:
+
+"Well _that_ is one sight worth while, Miss Peggy. We've got our _own_
+girl back again, praises be!" while old Jess echoed his enthusiasm by
+shouting:
+
+"Praise de Lawd we _has_, an' we got de boss yander, too!"
+
+"Sure thing, Shelby!" answered Durand.
+
+"He's all right, Shelby!" cried Ralph.
+
+"Nicest Daddy-Neil in the world," was Polly's merry reply, then added,
+"Oh, Peggy, look at Roy! He's crazy to come with us," for Roy, the
+little colt Peggy had raised, was now a splendid young creature though
+still too young to put under the saddle.
+
+Peggy looked toward the paddock where Roy was running to and fro in the
+most excited manner and neighing loudly to his friends.
+
+"Let him come, Shelby, please," she called, and the foreman opened the
+gate. Roy darted through like a flash, giving way to all manner of mad
+antics, rushing from one four-footed companion to another, with a
+playful nip at one, a wild Highland-fling-of-a-kick at another, a
+regular rowdy whinny at another, until he had the whole group infected,
+but funniest of all, Jean Paul's mount, the staid, well-conducted old
+Robin Adair, whose whole fifteen years upon the estate had been one long
+testimony to exemplary behavior, promptly set about demonstrating that
+when the usually well-ordered being does "cut loose" he "cuts loose for
+fair."
+
+Jean Paul was essentially a sailor-laddie, the direct descendant of many
+sailor-laddies, and he was "built upon nautical lines," so said Ralph.
+On the summer cruise just ended he had demonstrated his claim to be
+classed among his sire's confreres, for let the ship pitch and toss as
+it would, his legs never failed him, his stomach never rebelled and his
+head remained as steady and clear as the ship's guiding planet.
+
+But he found navigating upon land about as difficult as a duck usually
+finds it, and was about as well qualified to bestride and ride a horse
+as that waddling bird is. Consequently, he had "heaved aboard" his
+mount with many well concealed misgivings, but up to the present moment
+none of his friends had even suspected his very limited experience as a
+horseman, but truth to tell, never before in his life had Jean Paul's
+legs crossed anything livelier than one of the gymnasium "side horses."
+Now, however, the cat was about to escape from the bag, for Robin Adair,
+flinging decorum and heels behind him, set forth on a mad gallop to
+overhaul Roy, who had elected to set the pace for the others. Whinnying,
+prancing, cavorting, away Roy tore in the lead, Robin Adair hot-foot
+upon him, Jean Paul striving manfully to keep his pitching seat, which
+he felt to out-pitch any deck ever designed by man. In about two minutes
+the pair were a hundred yards in the lead, Jean's cap had sailed airily
+from his head, and after flaunting into Silver Star's face, had roosted
+upon a near-by shrub. Jean himself promptly decided that reins were a
+delusion and a snare (Robin's mouth _was_ hard) and let them go to grasp
+the pommel of his Mexican saddle. But even that failed to steady him in
+that outrageous saddle, nor were stirrups the least use in the world;
+his feet were designed to stick to a pitching deck, not those senseless
+things. In a trice both were "sailing free" and--so was Jean. As Robin's
+hind legs flew up Jean pitched forward to bestride the horse's neck; as
+he bounded forward Jean rose in the air to resume his seat where a
+horse's crupper usually rests.
+
+Oh it was one electrifying performance and not a single move of it was
+lost upon his audience which promptly gave way to hoots and yells of
+diabolical glee, at least the masculine portion of it did, while Polly
+and Peggy, though almost reduced to hysterics at the absurd spectacle,
+implored them to "stop yelling like Comanches and _do_ something."
+
+"_Aren't_ we doing something? Aren't we encouraging him and helping on a
+good show?" "Oh, get onto that hike!" "Gee whiz, Commodore, if you jibe
+over like that you'll go by the board." "Put your tiller hard a-port."
+"Haul in on your jib-sheet," "Lash yourself to the main-mast or you'll
+drop off astern," were some of the encouraging words of advice which
+rattled about Jean's assailed ears, as the space grew momentarily wider
+between him and his friends, those same friends wilfully holding in
+their mounts to revel in "the show."
+
+But Jean's patience and endurance were both failing. He could have slain
+Robin Adair, and he was confident that his spine would presently shoot
+through the crown of his head. So flinging pride to the four winds, he
+shouted:
+
+"Hi, come on here one of you yelling chumps, this craft's
+steering-gear's out of commission! Overhaul her and take her in tow. I'd
+rather pay a million salvage than navigate her another cable's length."
+
+"'Don't give up the ship!'" "'Never say die!'" "Belay, man, belay!" were
+the words hurled back until Peggy crying:
+
+"You boys are the very limit!" pressed one knee against Shashai's side
+and said softly: "Four Bells, Shashai."
+
+Robin Adair was no match for Shashai. Robin was as good a hackney as
+rider ever bestrode, but Shashai was a thoroughbred hunter with an Arab
+strain. Ten mighty bounds took him to Robin's head and for Peggy to
+swing far out of her saddle, grasp the dangling reins, speak the word of
+command which all her horses knew, loved and obeyed, took less time than
+it has taken to write of it.
+
+"One Bell, Shashai. Robin, halt! Steady!" and Jean Paul's mount came to
+a standstill with Jean Paul sitting upon its haunches, and Jean Paul's
+eyes snapping, and Jean Paul's teeth biting his tongue to keep from
+uttering words "unbecoming an officer and a gentleman;" for "being
+overhauled by a girl" after he had "made a confounded fool of himself
+trying a land-lubber's stunt" was not a role which seemed in any degree
+an edifying one to him.
+
+To her credit be it said, Peggy managed to keep a straight face as she
+turned to look at her disgruntled guest, which was more than could be
+said of his companions who came crowding upon him, even Polly's
+self-control being taxed beyond the limit.
+
+"Why didn't you tell me you'd never ridden?" asked Peggy, her lips sober
+but her eyes dancing.
+
+"Because it would have knocked the whole show on the head," answered
+Jean, yanking himself forward into the saddle which only a moment before
+had seemed to be in forty places at once.
+
+"So you decided to be the whole show yourself instead! You're a dead
+game sport, Commodore. Bully for you!" cried Durand, slipping from his
+mount to examine the "rigging of the Commodore's craft."
+
+"Do you want to try it again?" asked Polly.
+
+"Will a fish swim?" answered Jean. "Do you think I'm going to let this
+side-wheeler shipwreck me? Not on your life, Captain. Clear out, the
+whole bunch of you chumps. If I've got to cross the equator I'll have
+the escort of ladies, not a bunch of rough-necks. Beat it! You let a
+_girl_ overhaul and slow down this cruiser and now you're all ready to
+come in for a share of the salvage. Get out! Clear out! Beat it! Take
+'em away, Captain, and leave me the Admiral. She can give everyone of
+you the lead by a mile and then overhaul you on the first tack. Get out,
+for I'm going to take a riding lesson and I'm going to pay extra and
+have a private one."
+
+"Yes, do go on ahead, and, Polly, call Roy. He is responsible for
+Robin's capers but he will behave if you take him in charge."
+
+"Come on, Roy--and all other incorrigibles," laughed Polly, unsnapping
+her second rein and slipping it around Roy's silky neck. Roy loved and
+obeyed Polly almost as readily as Peggy, and cavorted off beside her as
+gay as a grig.
+
+"We'll report heavy weather and a disabled ship, messmate," called
+Ralph.
+
+"Report and hanged. You'll see us enter port all skee and ship-shape, and
+don't you fool yourself, my cock sure wife (Bancroft Hall slang for a
+room-mate), so so-long. Now come on, Peggy, and put me wise to
+navigating this craft, for it has me beat to a standstill."
+
+"Go on, people; we'll follow presently and when we overhaul you you'll
+be treated to a demonstration of expert horsemanship," called Peggy
+after the laughing, joking group, her own and Jean's laughs merriest of
+all.
+
+"Now get busy in earnest," she said to the half-piqued lad, whose face
+wore an expression of "do or die" as he again mounted his steed.
+
+"You can just bet your last nickel I'm going to! Great Scott, do you
+think I'm going to let _this_ beat me out, or that yelling mob out
+yonder see me put out of commission? Now fire away. Show me how to keep
+my legs clamped and to sit in the saddle instead of on this beast's left
+ear."
+
+As Peggy was a skilled teacher and Jean an apt pupil the combination
+worked to perfection, and when in a half-hour's time they joined the
+main body of the cavalcade, Jean had at least learned where a saddle
+rests and had trained his legs to "clamp" successfully.
+
+Meanwhile, back on Severndale's broad piazza Peggy was the subject of a
+livelier discussion than she would have believed possible, and the
+upshot of it was a decision which carried Neil Stewart, Mrs. Harold,
+herself, and Polly off to Washington early the following morning to
+visit a school of which Mrs. Harold knew. Mrs. Stewart was very
+courteously asked to accompany the party of four, which was to spend
+three or four days in the Capital, but Mrs. Stewart was distinctly
+chagrined at her failure to carry successfully to a finish the scheme
+which she felt she had so carefully thought out. Alas, she could not
+understand that she sorely lacked the most essential qualities for its
+success--unselfishness, disinterestedness, the finer feeling of the
+older woman for the younger, and all that goes to make womanhood and
+maternal instinct what they should be. She felt that her reign at
+Severndale was ended and nothing remained but to make as graceful a
+retreat as possible. So she declined the invitation, stating that she
+was very anxious to visit some friends in Baltimore and would take this
+opportunity to do so, going by a later train.
+
+Neil Stewart did not press his invitation. He wanted Mrs. Harold and the
+girls to himself for a time and knowing that it would be his last
+opportunity to see them for many months, resolved to make the most of
+it. Not by word or act had he expressed disapproval of Mrs. Stewart's
+rather extraordinary line of conduct since her arrival at Severndale,
+though evidences of it were to be seen at every turn, and both
+Harrison's and Mammy's tongues were fairly quivering to describe in
+detail the experiences of the past month.
+
+Harrison was wise enough not to criticise, but she lost no opportunity
+for asking if she were to carry out this, that, or some other order of
+Mrs. Stewart's, until poor Neil lost his temper and finally rumbled
+out:
+
+"Look here, Martha Harrison, how long have you been at Severndale?"
+
+"Nigh on to twenty years, sir, and full fifteen years with that blessed
+child's mother before she ever heard tell of this place. I took care of
+her, as right well you know, long before she was as old as Miss Peggy."
+
+"And have I ever ordered any changes made in her rules?"
+
+"None to my knowledge, sir. They was pretty sensible ones and there
+didn't seem any reason to change them."
+
+"Well, you're pretty long-headed, and until you _do_ see reason to
+change 'em let 'em stand and quit pestering _me_. You're the Exec. on
+this ship until I see fit to appoint a new one and when I think of doing
+that I'll give you due notice."
+
+But Mammy would have exploded had she not expressed her views. Harrison
+had chosen the moment when Captain Stewart had gone to his room just
+before supper that eventful Sunday evening, but Mammy spoke when she
+carried up to him the little jug of mulled cider for which Severndale
+was famous and which, when cider was to be had, she had never failed to
+carry to "her boy," as Neil Stewart, in spite of his forty-six years,
+still seemed to old Mammy.
+
+Tapping at the door of his sitting-room, she entered at his "Come in."
+She found him standing before a large silver-framed photograph of
+Peggy's mother. It had been taken shortly before her death and when such
+a tragic ending to their ideal life had least been dreamed possible. A
+fancy-dress ball had been given by the young officers stationed at the
+Academy and Mrs. Stewart had attended it gowned as "Marie Stuart,"
+wearing a superb black velvet gown and the widely-known "Marie Stuart
+coif and ruff" of exquisite Point de Venice lace. She had never looked
+lovelier, or more stately in her life, and that night Neil Stewart was
+the proudest man on the ballroom floor. Then he had insisted upon a
+famous Washington photographer taking this beautiful picture and--well,
+it was the last ever taken of the wife he adored, for within another
+month she had dropped asleep forever.
+
+Good old Mammy's eyes were very tender as she looked at her boy, and
+instead of saying what she had come to say: "ter jist nachelly an'
+pintedly 'spress her min'," she went close to his side and looking at
+the lovely face smiling at her, said:
+
+"Dar weren't never, an' dar ain' never gwine ter be no sich lady as dat
+a-one, Massa Neil, lessen it gwine be Miss Peggy. She favor her ma mo'
+an' mo' every day she livin', an' I wisht ter Gawd her ma was right
+hyer dis minit fer ter _see_ it, dat I do."
+
+"Amen! Mammy," was Captain Stewart's reply. "Peggy needs more than we
+can give her just now, no matter how hard we try. The trouble is she
+seems to have grown up all in a minute apparently while we have been
+thinking she was a child."
+
+Neil Stewart placed the photograph back upon the top of the bookshelf
+and sighed.
+
+"No, sir, _dat_ ain't it. Deed tain't. She been a-growin' up dis long
+time, but we's been dozin' like, an' ain't had our eyes open wide
+'nough. An' now we's all got shook wide awake by _somebody else_."
+
+Mammy paused significantly. Neil Stewart frowned.
+
+"Just as well maybe. But don't light into me. I'm all frazzled out now.
+Harrison's hints are like eight inch shells; Dr. Llewellyn's like a
+highly charged electric battery; Jerome fires a blunderbuss every ten
+minutes and even Shelby and Jess use pop-guns. Good Lord, are you going
+to let drive with a gatling? Clear out and let me drink my cider in
+peace, and quit stewing, for I tell you right now the fire-brand which
+has kept the kettles boiling is going to be removed."
+
+"Praise de Lawd fo' _dat_ blessin' den. It was jist gwine ter make some
+of dem pots bile over if it had a-kep' on, yo' hyer me? Good-night,
+Massa Neil, drink yo' cider an' thank de Lawd fo' yo' mercies."
+
+"Good-night, Mammy. You're all right even if I do feel like smacking
+your head off once in a while. Used to do it when I was a kid, you know,
+and can't drop the habit."
+
+The following morning the party of four set off for Washington, Polly
+sorely divided in her mind regarding her own wishes. To have Peggy
+elsewhere than at Severndale was a possibility which had never entered
+into her calculations. How would it seem to have no Severndale to run
+out to? No Peggy to pop into Middie's Haven? No boon companion to ride,
+walk, drive, skate with, or lead the old life which they had both so
+loved? Polly did some serious thinking on the way to the big city, and
+wore such a sober face as they drew near the end of their journey that
+Captain Stewart asked, as he tweaked a stray lock which had escaped
+bonds:
+
+"What's going on inside this red pate? You look as solemn as an
+ostracized owl."
+
+"I'm trying to think how it is going to seem without Peggy this winter
+and I don't like the picture even a little bit," and Polly wagged the
+"red pate" dubiously.
+
+"Better make up your mind to come along with your running-mate. By Jove,
+that's a brain throb, Peggy! How about it? Can't you persuade this girl
+of ours to give up the co-ed plan back yonder in Annapolis,--she knows
+all the seamanship and nav. that's good for her already,--and you'll
+need a room-mate up here at Columbia Heights School if we settle upon
+it," and Captain Stewart looked at Polly half longingly, half teasingly.
+Polly had grown very dear to the bluff, sincere man during her
+companionship with Peggy, and had crept into a corner of his heart he
+had never felt it possible for anyone but Peggy herself to fill.
+Somehow, latterly when thinking and planning for Peggy's well-being or
+pleasure, visions of Polly's tawny head invariably rose before him, and
+Polly's happy, sunny face was always beside the one he loved best of
+all. The two young girls had become inseparable in his thoughts as well
+as in reality.
+
+"Oh, Polly, will you? Will you?" begged Peggy, instantly fired with the
+wildest desire to have Polly enter the school which it had been decided
+she should enter if at closer inspection it proved to be all the
+catalogues, letters and dozens of pamphlets sent to Mrs. Harold
+represented it to be.
+
+"If I go to the Columbia Heights School what will Ralph say? And all
+the others, too? They'll say I've backed down on my co-ed plan and will
+run me half to death. Besides, Ralph needs me right there to let him
+know I'm keeping a lookout."
+
+"He doesn't need you half as much as this girl of mine needs you. You
+just let Ralph do a little navigating for himself and learn that it's up
+to him to make good on his own account. He's man enough to; all he needs
+now is to find it out. Will you let him do so by coming down here with
+Peggy?"
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VII
+
+COLUMBIA HEIGHTS SCHOOL
+
+
+As Captain Stewart asked the question which ended the last chapter the
+W. B. & A. electric car came to a standstill in the heart of Washington
+and as he assisted his charges to descend the steps, Polly was the last.
+As she placed her hand in his she looked straight into his kind eyes and
+said:
+
+"I'm just ready to fly all to bits. I love Peggy and want to be with
+her; I love Aunt Janet and old Crabtown and everything connected with
+it; I've always kept neck-and-neck with Ralph in his work and I hate the
+thought of dropping out of it, but, oh, I do want to be with Peggy."
+
+"Come along out to the school and see what you think of it before you
+decide one way or the other; then talk it all over with your aunt and
+you won't go far amiss if you follow _her_ advice, little girl."
+
+"I'll do it," answered Polly, with an emphatic wag of her head, and
+Peggy who overheard her words nearly pranced with joy.
+
+Hailing a taxicab Captain Stewart directed the chauffeur to drive them
+to an address in the outskirts of the city and away they sped. It was
+only a short run in that whirring machine over Washington's beautiful
+streets and when the school was reached both Peggy and Polly exclaimed
+over the beauty of its situation, for Columbia Heights School was in the
+midst of spacious grounds, the buildings were substantial and
+attractive, giving the impression of ample space, all the fresh air
+needed by vigorous, rapidly developing bodies, and the sunshine upon
+which they thrive. Beautiful walks and drives led in every direction and
+not far off lovely Stony Brook Park lay in all the beauty of its golden
+October glow.
+
+Mrs. Harold and Captain Stewart were graciously welcomed by its charming
+principal who promptly led the way to her study, a great room giving
+upon a broad piazza, where green wicker furniture, potted plants and
+palms suggesting a tropical garden. When Polly's eyes fell upon it she
+forgot all else, and cried impulsively:
+
+"Oh, how lovely! Can't we go right out there?" And then colored crimson.
+
+Mrs. Vincent smiled as she slipped an arm across Polly's shoulder and
+asked:
+
+"Are you to be my newest girl? If so, I think we would find something
+in common."
+
+Polly raised her big eyes to the sweet, strong face smiling upon her and
+answered:
+
+"I hadn't even thought of coming until an hour ago. It was all planned
+for Peggy, but, oh, dear, if I _only_ could be twins! How am I ever to
+be a co-ed in Annapolis and a pupil here at the same time? Yet I want
+dreadfully to be both, I'm so fond of Peggy."
+
+"I fear we cannot solve that problem even in Columbia Heights School,
+though we try pretty hard to solve a good many knotty ones. Suppose I
+talk it over with the grown-ups and meantime arrange for your
+entertainment by two or three of the girls. We think they are rather
+nice girls too," and Mrs. Vincent pressed an electric button which
+promptly brought a neat maid to the door.
+
+"Hilda, ask Miss Natalie and Miss Marjorie to step to my study."
+
+Within a few moments two girls appeared in the doorway, the taller one
+asking:
+
+"Did you wish to see us, Mother?"
+
+Introductions followed, whereupon the Principal said:
+
+"Natalie, please take Miss Stewart and Miss Howland for a walk through
+the grounds. It is recreation period and they will like to meet the
+other girls and see the buildings also, I think. And remember, you are
+to picture everything in such glowing colors, and be so entertaining
+that they will think there is no other place in all the land half so
+lovely, for I have fully decided that we must have sweet P's in our posy
+bed. We have a Rose, a Violet, a Lily, Myrtle, Hazel, Marguerites,--oh,
+a whole flower garden already--but thus far no sweet-peas."
+
+"We will, Mrs. Vincent. Please come with us," said Marjorie cheerily, no
+trace of self-consciousness or the indefinable restraint so much oftener
+the rule than the exception between teacher and pupil. Mrs. Harold had
+been observing every word and action as it was a part of her nature to
+observe--yes, intuitively _feel_--every word and action of the young
+people with whom she came in touch, and the older ones who were likely
+to bring any influence to bear upon their lives, and this little scene
+did more to confirm her in the belief that she had not been amiss when
+she selected Columbia Heights School for Peggy than anything else could
+have done. Next to her husband, her sister and her nieces, Peggy was the
+dearest thing in the world to her, and the past year had shown her what
+tremendous possibilities the future held for the young girl if wisely
+shaped for her. The two ensuing hours were pleasant and profitable for
+all concerned and when they ended and Captain Stewart and his party
+re-entered the taxicab to return to their hotel in Washington, it was
+decided that Peggy should come to Columbia Heights School on October
+fifteenth, but Polly's decision was still in abeyance. She wished to
+have one of her long, quiet talks with her aunt before "shifting her
+holding ground," she said, and that could only be up in Middie's Haven,
+cuddled upon a hassock beside Mrs. Harold's easy chair, with the logs
+lazily flickering upon the brass andirons. So the ensuing two days in
+Washington were given over to sightseeing and "a general blow-out," as
+Captain Stewart termed it, insisting that he could not have another for
+months and meant to make this one "an A-1 affair." Then back they went
+to Severndale where Mrs. Stewart, to their surprise, had returned the
+previous day, having failed to find her friend in Baltimore. As she had
+already overstayed the length of time for which her invitation to
+Severndale had been extended, she had no possible excuse for prolonging
+it, and deciding that her schemes had met with defeat largely owing to
+her own impolitic precipitation in forcing the situation, she did not
+mean to make an ignominious retreat. So, with well assumed suavity she
+told her brother-in-law that some urgent business matters claimed her
+attention in New York, and asked if he could complete his arrangements
+for Peggy's departure without her aid, as she really ought to go North
+without delay.
+
+If Neil Stewart was amused by this sudden change in the lady's tactics,
+to his credit be it said that he did not betray any sign of it. He
+thanked her for her kind interest in Peggy and his home, for all she had
+done for them, and left nothing lacking for her comfort upon her
+homeward journey, even shipping to the apartment in New York enough
+fruit, game and various other good things from Severndale to keep her
+larder well supplied for weeks, and supplementing all these with a gift
+which would be the envy of all her friends. But when he returned to
+Severndale after bidding the lady farewell at the station, he breathed
+one mighty sigh of relief. He had escaped a situation of which the
+outcome was a good deal more than problematical for everyone concerned,
+and most vital for Peggy.
+
+Then came busy days of preparation for Peggy and Polly, for the outcome
+of that fireside powwow had been a decision in favor of Columbia Heights
+School for Polly also, for that winter at least, and when the fifteenth
+dawned bright and frosty, Mrs. Harold accompanied the girls to
+Washington, Captain Stewart's leave having meantime expired. But he had
+gone back to his ship in a very different frame of mind from that in
+which he had returned to it in July, and with a comforting sense of
+security in the outcome of his present plans for Peggy. The longer he
+knew Mrs. Harold the greater became his confidence in her judgment, and
+she had assured him that Peggy should be her charge that winter exactly
+as Polly was. Moreover, Mrs. Harold had persuaded Mrs. Howland to close
+her house in Montgentian for the winter and come to Annapolis, bringing
+Gail with her, for Constance had decided to follow the _Rhode Island_
+whenever it was possible for her to do so, and this decision left Mrs.
+Howland and Gail alone in their home. So to Wilmot Hall came Polly's
+mother and pretty sister, the former to spend a delightfully restful
+winter with her sister and the latter to take her first taste of the
+good times possible for a girl of twenty-one at the Naval Academy.
+
+The first breaking away from Severndale was harder for Peggy than anyone
+but Mrs. Harold guessed. Somehow intuition supplied to her what actual
+words could never have conveyed, even had they been spoken, but Peggy,
+once her resolution had been taken to go away to school, was not a girl
+to bewail her decision. And now she was a duly registered pupil at
+Columbia Heights with Polly for her room-mate in number 67, her
+next-door neighbor Natalie Vincent, Mrs. Vincent's daughter, a jolly,
+honest, happy-go-lucky girl, who looked exactly as her mother must have
+looked at fifteen. A long line of rooms extended up and down, both sides
+of the corridor, the end one, No. 70, with its pretty bay-window
+overlooking the lawn and Stony Brook beyond, was occupied by Stella
+Drummond, a tall, striking brunette of eighteen. To the hundred-fifty
+girls in Columbia Heights School this story can only allude in a brief
+way but of those who figure most prominently in Polly's and Peggy's new
+world we'll let Polly give the general "sizing-up." These girls were all
+about the same age, and, excepting Stella, juniors, as were Peggy and
+Polly, whose previous work under tutors and in high school had qualified
+them to enter that grade at Columbia Heights.
+
+It was their first night at the school, and "lights-out" bell had rung
+at ten o'clock, but a glorious October moon flooded the room with a
+silvery light, almost as bright as day. Peggy in one pretty little white
+bed and Polly in the one beside it were carrying on a lively whispered
+conversation.
+
+"Well, we're _here_," was Polly's undisputable statement as she snuggled
+down under her bed-covers, "and now that we are what do you think of
+it?"
+
+"I'm glad we've come. It will seem a lot different, and rather queer to
+do everything by rules and on time, but, after all, we had to do almost
+everything by rule up home."
+
+"Yes, but they were nearly always our _own_ rules; yours, anyway. Why,
+Peggy, I don't believe there is a girl in this school who ever had
+things as much her own way as you have had them."
+
+"Maybe that's the reason I didn't get along with Aunt Katherine,"
+answered Peggy whimsically.
+
+"Aunt Katherine!" Polly's whisper suggested italics. "Do you know Miss
+Sturgis, the math. teacher, makes me think of her a little. Miss Sturgis
+is strong-minded, I'll bet a cookie. Did you hear what she said when she
+was giving out our books on sociology--doesn't it seem funny, Peggy, for
+us to take up sociology?--'She hoped we would become good American
+citizens and realize woman's true position in the world.' Somehow I've
+thought Tanta has always had a pretty clear idea of 'woman's position in
+the world.' At any rate she seems to have plenty to do in her own quiet
+way and I've an idea that if anyone ever hinted that she ought to go to
+the polls and vote she'd feel inclined to spell it pole and use it to
+'beat 'em up' with, as Ralph and the boys would say. Oh, dear, how we
+are going to miss 'the bunch,' Peggy."
+
+"We certainly are," was Peggy's sympathetic reply, and for a moment
+there was silence in the moonlit room as the girls' thoughts flew back
+to Annapolis. Then Peggy asked: "What do you think of the girls? You've
+been to school all your life, but it is all new to me."
+
+Polly laughed a low, little laugh, then replied:
+
+"They are about like most school-girls, I reckon. Let's see, which have
+we had most to do with since we came here twenty-four hours ago? There's
+Rosalie Breeze. She's named all right, sure enough, and if she doesn't
+turn out a hurricane we'll be lucky. We had one just like her up at
+High. And Lily Pearl Montgomery. My gracious, what a name to give a
+girl! She needs stirring up. She's just like a big, fat, spoiled baby. I
+feel like saying 'Goo-goo' to her."
+
+"Don't you think Juno Gibson is handsome?" asked Peggy.
+
+"Just as handsome as she can be, but I wish she didn't look so
+discontented all the time. Why, she hasn't smiled once since we came."
+
+"I wonder why not?" commented Peggy.
+
+"Maybe we'll find out after we've been here a while. But I tell you one
+thing, I like her better without any smiles than that silly Helen
+Gwendolyn Doolittle with her everlasting affected giggling at nothing.
+She is the kind to do some silly thing and make us all ashamed of her."
+
+"How about Stella Drummond?"
+
+"She is a puzzle to me. Doesn't she seem an awful lot older than the
+rest of us? Rosalie says she is eighteen and that's not so much older,
+but she seems about twenty-five. I wonder why?"
+
+"Maybe she has lived in cities all her life and gone out a lot. You know
+most of the girls we met up at New London seemed so much older too, yet
+they really were not. They looked upon us as children, though the Little
+Mother said we were years older in common sense while they were years
+older in worldly experience,--I wonder what she meant?"
+
+"Tanta meant that we had stayed young girls and could enjoy fun and
+frolic as much as ever, but those girls were not satisfied with anything
+but dances and theatres and all sorts of grown-up things. We have our
+fun with our horses, dogs and the nonsense with the boys up home. We
+want our skirts short and our hair flying and to romp when we feel like
+it."
+
+"Picture Helen or Lily Pearl romping," and Peggy dove under the covers
+to smother her laughter at the thought of the fat, pudgy Lily Pearl
+attempting anything of the sort. Polly snickered in sympathy and then
+said in her emphatic way:
+
+"I tell you, Peggy, which girls I _do_ like and I think they will like
+us: Marjorie Terry and Natalie Vincent. Marjorie is awfully sober and
+quiet, I know, but _I_ believe she's sort of lonely, or homesick or
+something. Natalie seems more like our own kind than any girl in the
+school and I'll wager my tennis racquet she'll be lots of fun if she is
+the Principal's daughter. But we'd better go to sleep this minute. We've
+made a sort of hash of seven girls, and if we try to size up the whole
+school this way it will be broad daylight before we finish. Good-night.
+It's sort of nice to be here after all, and nicer still to have you for
+a room-mate, old Peggoty."
+
+An appreciative little laugh was the only answer to this and five
+minutes later the moon was looking in upon a picture hard to duplicate
+in this great world: Two sweet, unspoiled, beautiful girls in the first
+flush of untroubled slumber.
+
+The following morning being Saturday and Peggy's and Polly's belongings
+having arrived, the girls set about arranging their room, half a dozen
+others having volunteered assistance. For convenience in reaching "up
+aloft" Peggy and Polly had slipped off their waists and were arrayed in
+kimonos which aroused the envy of their companions. Captain Stewart had
+given them to his "twins" as he now called the girls. Peggy's was the
+richest shade of crimson embroidered in all manner of golden gods and
+dragons; Polly's pale blue with silver chrysanthemums.
+
+"Oh, _where_ did they come from?" cried Natalie.
+
+"Daddy Neil brought them to us," answered Peggy, as she stepped toward
+the door to take an armful of pictures and pillows from old Jess who had
+followed his young mistress to Washington to care for Shashai and Silver
+Star, the horses having been sent on also, for Columbia Heights School
+had large stables for the accommodation of riding or driving horses for
+the use of its pupils, or they could bring their own if they preferred.
+So Shashai and Silver Star had been ridden down by Jess, taking the
+journey in short, easy stages, and arriving the previous evening.
+Tzaritza, to her astonishment had not been allowed to accompany them,
+and Roy was inconsolable for days. Peggy's departure from Severndale had
+left many a grieving heart behind.
+
+"What I gwine do wid all dis hyer truck, Missie-honey?" asked Jess,
+coming in from the corridor with a second armful: riding-crops, silver
+bits, a fox's brush, books and what not.
+
+"Just plump it down anywhere, Jess. We'll get round to it all in due
+time," laughed Peggy from her perch upon a small step-ladder where she
+was fastening up some hat-bands of the _Rhode Island_, _New Hampshire_,
+_Olympia_ and the ships which had comprised the summer practice
+squadron, the girls all gathered about her asking forty questions to the
+minute and wild with curiosity and excitement. Never before had two
+"really, truly Navy girls" been inmates of Columbia Heights and it sent
+a wild flutter through many hearts. What possibilities might lie at the
+Annapolis end of the W. B. & A. Railroad!
+
+Jess's white woolly head was bent down over the armful of books he was
+placing upon the floor; Peggy had returned to her decorating; Polly had
+draped her flag upon the wall and was standing her beloved bugle and a
+long row of photographs upon book-shelves beneath it, several girls
+following her with little squeals of rapture, when a pandemonium of
+shrieks and screams arose down the corridor and the next second a huge
+creature bounded into the room, tipping Jess and his burden heels over
+head, and flinging itself upon Peggy. Down came ladder, Peggy, and the
+white mass in a heap, the girls scattering in a shrieking panic to
+whatever shelter seemed to offer, confident that nothing less than a
+wolf had invaded the fold.
+
+But Tzaritza was no wolf even if her beautiful snowy coat was
+mud-bedraggled and stuck full of burrs, nor was Peggy being "devoured
+alive," as Lily Pearl, who had actually _run_ for once in her life, was
+hysterically sobbing into Mrs. Vincent's arms.
+
+No, Peggy, rather promiscuous as to ladder, hammer, hat-bands and
+general paraphernalia, was lying flat upon her back, her arms around
+Tzaritza, half-sobbing, half-laughing her joy into the beautiful
+creature's silky neck, while Tzaritza whimpered and whined for joy and
+licked and dabbed her mistress with a moist tongue.
+
+"It is a wolf! A wolf!" shrieked Lily Pearl, who had returned to the
+scene, "and he is killing her."
+
+"It is a horrid, dirty dog! Why doesn't that man drive him out?"
+demanded Miss Sturgis, who had followed Tzaritza hot foot, having been
+in the main hall when the great hound went tearing through and up the
+stairs, nose and ears having given her the clue to her mistress'
+whereabouts.
+
+"No, it's only a wolf_hound_!" laughed Polly, dropping her pictures to
+fly across the room and fall upon Tzaritza.
+
+Then explanations followed. Tzaritza had been left in Shelby's care, but
+finding it impossible to restrain her when Jess was about to leave with
+the horses, he had tied her in the barn. The rope was bitten through as
+clean as a thread and Tzaritza's coat told of the long journey on the
+horses' trail.
+
+After her wild demonstrations of joy had calmed down, Tzaritza stood
+panting in the middle of the wreck which her cyclonic entrance had
+brought about, her great eyes pleading eloquently for restored favor.
+
+Polly still clasped her arms about the big shaggy neck, while Miss
+Sturgis alternately protested and commanded Jess to "remove that dirty
+creature at once." Happily, Mrs. Vincent entered the room at this
+juncture and it must have been the god of animals, of which Kipling
+tells us, which inspired Tzaritza's act at that moment. Or was it
+something in the fine, strong face which children and animals in common
+all trust with subtle intuition? At all events, Tzaritza looked at Mrs.
+Vincent just one moment and then greeted her exactly as at home she
+would have greeted Dr. Llewellyn or Captain Stewart; by rising upon her
+hind legs, placing her forepaws upon Mrs. Vincent's shoulders and
+nestling her magnificent head into the amazed woman's neck as
+confidingly as a child would have done. A less self-contained woman
+would have been frightened half to death. Miss Sturgis came near
+swooning but Mrs. Vincent just gathered the great dog into her arms as
+she would have gathered one of her girls and said:
+
+"Without the power of human speech you plead your cause most eloquently,
+you beautiful creature. Peggy, has she ever been separated from you
+before, dear?"
+
+"Never, Mrs. Vincent. She has slept at my door since she was a wee
+puppy."
+
+"She shall be appointed guardian of the West Wing of Columbia Heights,
+and may turn out a guardian for us all. Now, Jess, take her to the
+stables and make her presentable to polite society. Poor Tzaritza, your
+journey must have been a long, hard, dusty one, for your silken fringes
+have collected many souvenirs of it."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER VIII
+
+A RIDING LESSON
+
+
+In spite of the Sturgeon's protests that "it was _most_ impolitic to
+establish a precedent in the school," Tzaritza became a duly enrolled
+member of the establishment, and from that moment slept at Peggy's door,
+a welcome inmate of Columbia Heights. Welcome at least, to all but one
+person. Miss Sturgis loathed all animals.
+
+In the ensuing weeks Peggy and Polly slipped very naturally into their
+places. In her own class and in the West Wing Natalie Vincent had always
+been the acknowledged leader, for, even though the daughter of the
+Principal, not the slightest partiality was ever shown her and she was
+obliged to conform as strictly to the rules as any girl in the school.
+She was full of fun, eternally in harmless mischief, and, of course,
+eternally being taken to task for her misdeeds.
+
+By the usual order of the attraction of opposites Marjorie Terry and
+Natalie had formed a warm friendship. Marjorie the quiet, reserved,
+rather shrinking girl from Seattle. She never joined in any of Natalie's
+wild pranks, but on the other hand was a safe confidant, and if she
+could not follow her more spontaneous friend's lead, she certainly never
+balked or betrayed her. The other girls had christened them Positive and
+Negative and they certainly lived up to their names.
+
+The girls whom Peggy and Polly had discussed so frankly the night after
+their arrival all roomed in the West Wing. Stella in her own large,
+handsome room, for her father was manager of an immense railroad system
+in the middle West. Rosalie Breeze and oh "cursed spite!" Isabel
+Boylston--"_Is_-a-bel," as she pronounced it,--roomed together and
+squabbled incessantly. At least, Rosalie did the squabbling, _Is_-a-bel
+affected the superior, self-righteous air which acted upon Rosalie's
+peppery temper as a red rag upon a bull. It was Miss Sturgis, of course,
+who had advised placing them together. Isabel was a great favorite of
+Miss Sturgis, and Rosalie was the reverse.
+
+Mrs. Vincent had not entirely approved the arrangement, but the school
+was unusually crowded this year and two of the girls' parents had
+insisted upon single rooms for their daughters. Juno Gibson, from New
+York, had announced very positively that unless she could have a room
+to herself in Columbia Heights School she would pack her three trunks
+and go elsewhere, and Papa Gibson was not in the habit of disputing his
+daughter's will or wishes unless they conflicted with his own. In this
+matter he didn't care a straw, so Miss Juno was not compelled to have "a
+dozen girls eternally under foot and ruining my clothes by crowding the
+closets full of theirs."
+
+Lily Pearl, "Tootsy-wootsy," as her companions had dubbed her, roomed
+with Helen Gwendolyn Doolittle, "Cutie," and a sweet, sentimental pair
+they made, though Helen spent every possible moment with the latest
+object of her adoration, Stella Drummond, for whom she had instantly
+conceived an overwhelming infatuation; a pronounced school-girl "crush."
+
+Of the other girls in the school only a passing glimpse need be given.
+
+Saturday afternoons were always perfectly free at Columbia Heights, and
+the girls could do practically as they chose. There was one rule, or
+rather the absence of it, which had appealed very strongly to Mrs.
+Harold and gone a long way toward biasing her choice in favor of the
+school. If the girls wished to go into the city--that is, the girls in
+the Sophomore, Junior and Senior grades--to do shopping or make calls,
+they were entirely at liberty to do so unattended by a teacher, though
+Mrs. Vincent must, of course, know where they were going. With very rare
+exceptions this rule had always worked to perfection. The very fact that
+they might do as they chose, and were put upon their honor to uphold the
+reputation and dignity of the school, usually acted as an incentive to
+them to do so, whereas the eternal surveillance and suspicion of the
+average school acts as a mighty inspiration to circumvent all
+regulations.
+
+Another pleasant feature of Saturday afternoons were the long riding
+excursions through the beautiful surrounding country, with a groom
+accompanying the party and with one of the girls acting as riding
+mistress. Besides Peggy and Polly, Stella was the only girl who had her
+own horse at Columbia Heights, the others riding those provided by the
+school. They were good horses and the riding-master, Albert Dawson, was
+supposed to be a good man, conscientious, painstaking, careful. He was
+conventional to a degree. He taught the English seat, the English rise,
+the English gait, and his horses were all docked and hogged in the
+English fashion. Dawson would doubtless have taught them to drop their
+H's as he himself did, had he been able to do so.
+
+When Shashai and Silver Star arrived upon the scene, manes and forelocks
+long and silky as a girl's hair, tails almost sweeping the ground and
+flowing free, poor Dawson nearly died of outraged conventions, though he
+was forced to admit that the Columbia Heights stables held no horseflesh
+to compare with these thoroughbreds.
+
+"But oh, my 'eart, look at that mess o' 'air and mind their paces. They
+lopes along for all the world like them blooming little jackals we used
+to 'ave bout in Hindia when I was in 'is Lordship's service. They'd ruin
+my reputation if they was to be seen in the Row," he deplored to Jess,
+who was grooming his pets as carefully as old Mammy would have brushed
+Peggy's hair.
+
+Jess gave a derisive snort. He had lived a good many more years than
+Dawson and his experience with horseflesh was an exceptionally wide one.
+
+"Well, yo'-all needn't be a troublin' yo' sperrits 'bout de gait ob dese
+hyer horses. Dey kin set de pace fo' all dat truck yonder, an' don' yo'
+fergit dat fac'. Yo's got some fairly-middlin'-good ones hyer," and Jess
+nodded toward the stalls, "but dey's just de onery class, not de
+quality. No-siree. Now, honey, don' yo' go fer ter git perjectin' none
+cause I'se praisin' yo' to yo' face. Tain't good manners fer ter take
+notice when yo's praised. Yo' mistiss 'll tell yo' dat," admonished
+Jess, as Shashai reached forward and plucked his cap from his head. "Yo'
+gimme dat cap, yo' hyer me!"
+
+But Shashai's teeth held it firmly as he tossed it playfully up and
+down, to Jess' secret delight in his pet's cleverness, though he
+outwardly affected strong disapproval, after the manner of his race.
+
+The horses were like playful, fearless children with him, and Jess was
+bursting with pride at the result of his handiwork. And certainly, it
+was worth looking upon, for no finer specimens of faultlessly groomed
+horseflesh could have been found in the land.
+
+"Yes, but think of the figure I'll be cutting when I take my young
+ladies for a turn in the park or on the havenue," protested Dawson.
+"Couldn't ye just knot hup them tails a bit, and mebbe braid that
+fly-away mane down along the crest? If I'm bordered to take my young
+ladies into the park or the city this hafternoon, I swear I'll hexpire
+of mortification with them 'orses."
+
+But this was too much for Jess. Dawson had at last touched the match,
+and he caught the full force of Jess's wrath:
+
+"Sp-sp-spire ob--ob mortification! Shamed ob dese hyer hosses! Frettin'
+cause yo's gotter 'scort a pair of animals what's got pedigrees dat
+reach back ter Noah's Ark eanemost! Why, dey blood kin make you-all's
+look lak mullen sap, an' dey manners, even if dey ain' nothin' but
+hosses, jist natchelly mak' yo' light clean outer sight. Sho'! Go long,
+chile! Yo' gotter live some. Dar, it done struck five bells--_dat_ mean
+ten-thirty, unerstan'--an' you's gotter git half-a-dozen ob yo'
+bob-tailed nags ready fo' de ridin' lessons yo' tells me yo' gives de
+yo'ng ladies at _six_ bells,--_dat's_ eleben o'clock,--Sattidy mawnin's.
+I's pintedly cur'us fer ter see dem lessons, _I_ is. Lak 'nough befo' de
+mawnin's ober _yo'll_ take a lesson yo'-self," and Jess ended his tirade
+by throwing an arm across each silky neck and saying to his charges:
+
+"Now, come 'long wid ole Jess, honeys. Yo's gwine enter high sassiety
+presen'ly, and yo's gotter do Severndale credit. Yo' hyer me?"
+
+Poor Dawson was decidedly perturbed in his mind. Hitherto he had been
+the autocrat of "form and fashion," the absolute dictator of the proper
+style. Under his ordering, horses had been bought for the school,
+cropped, docked and trimmed on the most approved lines, until nothing
+but a hopeless, forlorn stubble indicated that they had once boasted
+manes or forelocks, and poor little affairs like whisk-brooms served for
+tails, or rather did not serve, especially in fly-time. But that was a
+minor consideration. Fashion's dictates were obeyed.
+
+With the aid of his grooms Dawson soon had five horses saddled and
+bridled, curbs rattling and saddles creaking. There were only two cross
+saddles. Then he turned to Jess.
+
+"Ye'd better be gettin' them hanimals ready, for I dare say I've to give
+the young ladies their lessons too."
+
+"Hi-ya!" exploded Jess. Then added: "Come 'long, babies, an' git dressed
+up. Yo' all's gwine git yo' summons up yonder presen'ly."
+
+Shashai and Star obediently walked over to the bar upon which their
+light headstalls hung, sniffed at them with long audible breaths, then
+each selecting his own carried it to Jess in his teeth.
+
+"Well, Hi'll be blowed!" murmured Dawson.
+
+Jess pretended not to notice, but saying unconcernedly: "Dat's all
+right. Now put 'em on lak gentlemen," he held one in each hand toward
+his pets. They took the bits in their mouths, slipped their heads into
+the headstalls and then waited for Jess to buckle the throat-latches,
+for that was a trifle beyond them. "Now fotch yo' saddles," ordered
+Jess, pleased to the point of foolishness. The horses went to the saddle
+blocks, selected their saddles, lifted them by the little pommel and
+carried them to Jess like obedient children.
+
+No mother was ever more gratified than Jess. "Now honeys, yo' stan'
+right whar yo's at twell yo' summons come from over yander. Yo's gwine
+hyar it all right," and with this parting admonition to good behavior,
+Jess went unconcernedly about his business of putting away the articles
+of his pets' toilets.
+
+"They'll be a-boltin' and raisin' the very mischief if you leave them
+alone," warned Dawson.
+
+"What dat yo' say? I reckons yo' ain' got _yo'_ horses trained like
+we-all back yonder got _ours_. Paht ob dey eddications must a-been
+neglected ef dey gotter be tied up ter keep 'em whar yo' wants 'em fer
+ter _stay_ at. Yo' need'n worry 'bout Shashai and Star. _Dey's_ got
+sense."
+
+Dawson vouchsafed no reply. One must be tolerant with garrulous old
+niggers, but he'd keep an "hey on them 'orses" all the same.
+
+The riding school used in stormy weather and the circle for fine, were
+not far from the house. At five minutes before eleven the girls who were
+to have their Saturday morning lessons prior to the ride in the
+afternoon, went over to the school and an electric bell notified Dawson
+that his young ladies awaited their mounts. With due decorum and
+self-importance he and Henry, the groom, led the horses from the stable,
+Dawson calling over his shoulder:
+
+"You'd better come on with your Harabs, I can't be waitin' with my
+lessons."
+
+"We-all'll come 'long when we's bid," was Jess' cryptic retort.
+
+Dawson scorned to reply, but mounted on his big dapple-gray horse, Duke,
+body bent forward and elbows out, creaked away. When he reached the big
+circle where a group of girls stood upon the platform for mounting,
+Peggy and Polly, in their trim little divided skirts, looked inquiringly
+for Shashai and Silver Star. Peggy asked:
+
+"Are our horses ready, Dawson?"
+
+"Yes, Miss, I believe so, Miss, but your man seemed to think I'd best
+let you ring, or do--well, I don't rightly know _what_ 'ee hexpected you
+to do, Miss. But 'ee didn't let me bring the 'orses, beggin' your
+pardon, Miss."
+
+"Oh, that's all right, Dawson; Jess is just silly about the horses and
+us. You mustn't mind his little ways. It's only because he loves us all
+so dearly. Besides it isn't necessary for anyone to bring them. I'll
+call them," and placing a little silver bo's'n's whistle to her lips
+Peggy "piped to quarters." It was instantly answered by two loud neighs
+and the thud of rapid hoofbeats as Shashai and Silver Star came
+sweeping up the broad driveway from the stables, heads tossing, manes
+waving and tails floating out like streamers. The girls with Peggy and
+Polly clapped their hands and shrieked with delight.
+
+"One bell, Shashai! Halt, Star!" cried Peggy and Polly in a breath.
+
+The splendid animals came straight to them, stopped instantly, dropped
+to their knees and touched the ground with their soft muzzles in sign of
+obeisance. The girls all scrambled off the platform as one individual,
+riding lesson and everything else utterly forgotten; here was a new
+order of things hitherto utterly undreamed of in the school. It had been
+a case of "pigs is pigs" or "horses is horses" with them. That the
+animals they were learning to ride _a la mode_ might be something more
+than mere delightful machines of transportation had never entered their
+heads.
+
+"Oh, how did you make them do it? Will you show us? Will any horse come
+if you know how to call him? Can they all do that? Didn't it take you
+forever and ever to teach them? Aren't they beauties! What are they
+trying to do now?" were the questions rattling like hail about Peggy's
+and Polly's ears.
+
+For answer Peggy opened a little linen bag which she carried, handing
+to Polly three lumps of sugar and taking three out for her own pet. The
+horses crunched them with a relish, their light snaffle bits acting as
+only slight impediments to their mastication.
+
+"Do you always give them sugar? Oh, please give us some for our horses,"
+begged the girls.
+
+"Young ladies, I don't 'old with givin' the 'orses nothin' while in
+'arness and a-mussin' them up. They'll be a-slobberin' themselves a
+sight," expostulated Dawson.
+
+"But Miss Stewart's and Miss Howland's horses are not slobbered up,"
+argued Natalie.
+
+"They've not got curb bits. Just them snaffles which is as good as none
+whatever," was Dawson's scornful criticism.
+
+"Well, why must ours have curbs if theirs don't," argued Juno Gibson,
+whose habitual frown seemed to have somewhat lessened during the past
+five minutes. If Juno had a single soft spot in her heart it was touched
+by animals. She did not have a horse of her own, though she insisted
+upon always having the same mount, to Dawson's opposition, for he
+contended that to become expert horsewomen his pupils must change their
+mounts and become accustomed to different horses. In the long run the
+argument was a good one, but Miss Juno did not yield readily to
+arguments. Therefore she invariably rode Lady Belle, a light-footed
+little filly, with a tender mouth and nervous as a witch. Her big gentle
+eyes held a constant look of appeal, she was chafed incessantly by the
+heavy chain curb, and if anyone approached her suddenly she started
+back, jerking up her head as though in terror of a blow. But with Juno
+she was tractable as a lamb, and the pretty creature's whole expression
+changed when the girl was riding her. Juno had a light, firm hand upon
+the bit and in spite of Dawson's emphatic orders to "'old 'er curb well
+in 'and perpetual," she rarely used it, and Lady Belle obeyed her
+lightest touch.
+
+"Our 'orses are 'arnessed as they had orter be, Miss Gibson, and as the
+Queen 'erself rides them in the hold country. 'Hi'm doing my best to
+teach you young ladies proper, and I can't 'old with some of these loose
+Hamerican 'abits. They wouldn't be 'eld with for a minute in the Row."
+
+"Oh, a fig for your old Row, Dawson! _We're_ all American girls and
+there's more snap-to in us in one of your 'minutes' than in all the
+English girls I've ever seen in my life, and I've seen a good
+many--_too_ many for my peace of mind. I lived there two years," broke
+in Rosalie Breeze. "I'll bet Miss Howland and Miss Stewart can show you
+some stunts in riding which would make your old queen's eyes pop out.
+Why don't you quote Helen Taft to us instead of Queen Mary? We don't
+care a whoop for the queen of England, but Helen Taft is just a Yankee
+girl like ourselves and we can see her ride almost any day if we want
+to. She is big enough for us to see, goodness knows. But come on, girls.
+Let's do our stunts," and Rosalie scrambled upon the platform once more,
+ready to mount Jack-o'-Lantern, the horse she was to ride.
+
+Meanwhile Lady Bell sniffing something eatable, had drawn near Peggy,
+half doubtful, half trustful. At that instant Peggy turned rather
+quickly, entirely unaware of the filly's approach. With a frightened
+snort the pretty creature started back. Peggy grasped the situation
+instantly. She made a step forward, raised her arm, drew the silky neck
+within her embrace, whispered a few words into the nervously alert ear,
+and the hour was won. Lady Belle nestled to her like a sensitive,
+frightened child.
+
+"'Ave a care, Miss Stewart! 'Ave a care! She's a snappy one," warned
+Dawson with bristling importance as he turned from settling _Is_-a-bel
+Boylston upon a big, white, heavy-footed horse, where she managed to
+keep her place with all the grace of outline and poise of a meal sack.
+
+Now Peggy had been sizing things up pretty thoroughly during the past
+fifteen minutes, and her conclusions were not flattering to Dawson.
+There was a cut upon Lady Belle's sensitive nostril which told its
+little story to her. Jack-o'-Lantern's hoofs were varnished most
+beautifully, but when he lifted them one glimpse told Peggy the
+condition of the frogs. The silver mounting upon "The Senator's,"
+Isabel's horse's harness were shining, but his bit was rusty and untidy.
+A dozen little trifles testified to Dawson's superficiality, and Peggy
+had been mistress of a big paddock too long to let this popinjay lord it
+over one whom he sized up as "nothin' but a school girl." Consequently,
+her reply to his warning slightly upset his equanimity.
+
+"You need not be alarmed, Dawson, but if Lady Belle turns fractious I'll
+abide the consequences."
+
+"Yes, Miss, yes, Miss, but _'Hi'm_ responsible, you understand."
+
+"What for? The horse's well-being or mine? I'll relieve you of mine, and
+give you more time to care for the horses. Lady Belle's muzzle seems to
+have suffered slightly. Jack-o'-Lantern's hoofs need your attention, and
+at Severndale a bit like the Senator's would mean a bad quarter of an
+hour for _some_body. So, you'd have a hard time 'holding down your job'
+there. That's pure American slang. Do you understand it?" and shrugging
+her shoulders slightly, Peggy cried: "Come on, girls! We're wasting
+loads of time. Attention, Shashai! Right dress! Right step! Front!
+Steady!"
+
+As Peggy spoke, Shashai and Silver Star sprang side by side, then stood
+like statues. At "right dress" they turned their heads toward the group
+of horses. At "right step," they closed up until they stood in perfect
+line beside them. At "front," "steady" they stood facing the two girls,
+waiting the next command.
+
+"Come up to the platform. Come up and be ready to mount, young ladies,"
+ordered Dawson.
+
+"We'll mount when you give the word," answered Polly, her hand, like
+Peggy's, upon her horse's withers.
+
+"You'll never be able to from the ground, Miss."
+
+A ringing laugh from the girls, sudden springs and they were in their
+saddles. "Four bells!" they cried and swept away around the ring, their
+gay laughter flung behind them to where their companion's horses were
+fidgeting and chafing under Dawson's highly conventional restraint,
+while that disconcerted man whose veneer had so promptly been
+penetrated by Peggy's keen vision, forgot himself so far as to mutter
+under his breath:
+
+"These Hamerican girls are the limit, and I'm in for a ---- of a time if
+I don't mind my hey. And she Miss Stewart of Severndale, and I not hon
+to that before! 'Ere's a go and no mistake."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER IX
+
+COMMON SENSE AND HORSE SENSE
+
+
+As has no doubt already been suspected, Alfred Dawson, Riding Master at
+the Columbia Heights School, was such a complete impostor that he
+actually imposed upon himself. He is by no means the only one on record.
+Oddly enough we are all more or less impostors, blind to our own pet
+foibles, deluded as to our own little weaknesses. Dawson's methods with
+his charges, both two-footed and four, were the methods of thousands of
+others, whether they have the directing of young people, or the training
+of animal's entrusted to them. Like grains of corn--pour them into a
+hopper and they come out at the other end meal--of some sort--good--bad
+or indifferent as it happens--that was not _his_ concern; his job was to
+pour in the grains and he knew of but one way to pour--just as someone
+else had poured before him. That he might devise new and better methods
+of pouring never entered his square-shaped head. It was left for a
+fifteen-year-old girl, and an old darky, whom in his secret heart he
+regarded as no better than the dirt beneath his feet, to start volcanic
+eruptions destined to shake the very foundations of his
+self-complacence. Hitherto he had simply been lord of his realm. He had
+come to Columbia Heights highly recommended by the father of one of its
+pupils and had assumed undisputed control. Mrs. Vincent, like hundreds
+of other women who own horses, but who know about as much concerning
+their care and well-being as they know of what is needful for a Rajah's
+herd of elephants, judged wholly by the outward evidences. The horses
+came to the house in seemingly faultless condition: their coats shone,
+their harness seemed immaculate; they behaved in a most exemplary
+manner. Nor had anything ever happened to the young ladies while they
+were in Dawson's care. What more could a conscientious school Principal
+ask of her riding master? It had never occurred to her to appear in the
+stables when least expected; to examine harness, saddles, stalls, feed
+mangers, bedding; to study the expressions of her horses' faces as she
+would have studied her girls. How many women ever think of doing so? It
+never entered her head to argue that there was more reason for it. Few
+of her girls would have hesitated to express their minds had any one
+misused them, or to insist upon comfortable conditions should
+uncomfortable ones exist for them.
+
+Yet Mrs. Vincent, sweet, strong, kind, and just to everyone, was as
+blind as a babe to the impositions practiced by the oily-tongued,
+deferential Dawson. True, he did 'get upon her nerves' now and again,
+but she secretly reproached herself for what she felt to be her American
+prejudices, and by way of self-discipline overlooked in Dawson many
+little aggravating peculiarities which she would have felt it her duty
+to instantly correct in the other servants.
+
+And no doubt things would have gone on in exactly the same way
+indefinitely had not a little lassie who loved horses and animals as she
+loved human beings, and whose understanding of them and their
+understanding of her was almost uncanny, chosen Columbia Heights School
+for her Alma Mater.
+
+That was a red letter hour for Dawson. He had a vague feeling that some
+influence, perhaps his evil genius, was bestirring itself. At all
+events, he was ill at ease, something of his accustomed self-conceit was
+lacking and he was, as the result, somewhat irritable, though he dared
+not manifest open resentment.
+
+Now it need hardly be stated that Peggy had no premeditated intention of
+antagonizing the man. He meant no more to her than dozens of other
+grooms, for after all he was merely an upper servant, but her quick eyes
+had instantly made some discoveries which hurt her as a physical needle
+prick would have hurt her. Peggy had employed too many men at Severndale
+under Shelby's wonderful judgment and experience of both men and
+animals, not to judge pretty accurately, and _most_ intuitively, the
+type of man mounted upon big, gray "Duke." Duke's very ears and eyes
+told Peggy and Polly a little story which would have made Dawson's pale
+blue eyes open wider than usual could he have translated it.
+
+As Peggy and Polly went cavorting away across the ring, Dawson called
+rather peremptorily:
+
+"Young ladies, you will be good enough to come back and take your places
+beside the others. This is a riding lesson, not a circus show, _hif_ you
+please."
+
+Polly shot a quick glance at Peggy. There was the slightest possible
+pressure of their knees and Shashai and Silver Star glided back to their
+places beside the other four horses.
+
+"Now you will please 'old your reins and your bodies as the other young
+ladies do," commanded Dawson.
+
+"Never could do it in this world, Dawson. I'd have a crick in my back
+in two minutes. Besides, we're not out here for lessons, Miss Stewart
+and I, but just as spectators. We'll look on and see the other girls
+learn the proper caper," laughed Polly.
+
+"Then I can't for the life of me hunderstand why you came hout at all.
+Hit's just a-stirrin' hup and a-fidgeting the other 'orses. They're not
+used to the goin's hon of 'alf broke hanimals."
+
+"Half broken! It seems to me, Dawson, that most horses are _wholly_
+broken but very few wholly _trained_. If we disturb the others, however,
+we'll go off for a spin by ourselves. Come, Polly. Full speed, Tzaritza!
+Four bells, Shashai!" and away sped the trio, Tzaritza, like the
+obedient creature she was, bounding from the platform where Peggy had
+bidden her "charge," lest she startle the horses.
+
+"I'll hopen the gate for you, Miss," Dawson hastened to call, a trifle
+doubtful as to whether he had not been just a little too dictatorial.
+
+"No need. This gate is nothing," called Peggy and as one, they skimmed
+over the four-foot iron gate as though it were four inches, hands
+waving, eyes alight, lips parted in gay laughter. Tzaritza's joyful bark
+mingling with their voices as she rushed away.
+
+The girls' cries of admiration or amazement drowned Dawson's:
+
+"Well, 'Hi'll be blowed! Hi couldn't a done hit like that to save me
+'ead," which was quite true, for very few could ride as these young
+girls rode.
+
+Meanwhile back in the circle two of Dawson's pupils were expressing
+themselves without reserve.
+
+"I mean to learn to ride like _that_," announced Rosalie Breeze. "The
+idea of bouncing up and down in a stupid old side-saddle when we could
+just as well sit as Polly and Peggy do. Why, I never saw anything as
+graceful as those two girls in my life. Can't _you_ show me how, Dawson?
+If you can't you can just make up your mind I am going to find someone
+who _can_. Jack-o'-Lantern's sure enough disgusted with _this_ show-down,
+and I believe that's the reason he has no more spirit than a bossy-cow."
+
+"I'm going to speak to Mrs. Vincent," announced Juno. "This may be all
+very conventional and correct, but all I can do is rise and fall in a
+trot; I'm petrified if Lady Belle breaks into a canter, and if she were
+to leap over that fence, I'd break my neck. Yet did you ever _see_
+anything so graceful as those two girls and that magnificent dog when
+they went over? I tell you, girls, we've got something worth while in
+this school now, believe me. And just you wait!" and with this cryptic
+ending Juno jockeyed ahead of her companions.
+
+"I wish mother could have seen and heard it all," whispered Natalie.
+
+"Then why don't you tell her, and ask her to come out and see those
+girls ride," demanded Rosalie.
+
+"That's exactly what I mean _to_ do," replied Natalie, with an emphatic
+little nod. "I'm beginning to believe we don't know half we should know
+about the stables."
+
+"I should imagine that Mrs. Vincent would be a far better judge of what
+was proper for young ladies than a couple of perfectly lawless girls who
+have been brought up on a Southern ranch or something. _I_ call them
+perfect hoydens and they would not be countenanced a moment in the Back
+Bay," was Isabel's superior opinion.
+
+"A Southern ranch?" echoed Rosalie, "You're mixed in your geography,
+Isabel. They have plantations and estates in the South, but the ranches
+are out West. But I don't wonder you prefer bumping along as you do on
+the old Senator. You match him all right, all right. But just you wait
+until we leave you behind when we've learned to ride like Peggy and
+Polly, for we're going to do it, you can just bet your best hat."
+
+"Thank you, I never indulge in betting or slang. Both are vulgar in the
+extreme. And as to riding like a circus performer, I have higher aims in
+life."
+
+"Going in for the trapeze? They say it's fine to reduce embonpoint."
+
+No reply was made to Rosalie's gibe and the lesson went on in its usual
+uneventful manner. Meanwhile Peggy and Polly were having a glorious game
+of tag, for the Columbia Heights grounds were very extensive, and drives
+led in every direction. When pursued and pursuer were in a perfect gale
+of merriment, and Tzaritza giving way to her most joyous cavortings, a
+sudden turn brought them upon Mrs. Vincent. She was seated upon a rustic
+bench in one of the cosy nooks of the grounds and Tzaritza, bounding
+ahead, was the first to see her, and Tzaritza never forgot a kindness.
+The next second she had dropped upon the ground at Mrs. Vincent's feet,
+her nose buried in her forepaws--Tzaritza's way of manifesting her
+allegiance and affection. Then up she rose, rested her feet upon the
+bench and for the second time laid her head upon Mrs. Vincent's
+shoulder. Before that gratified lady had time to do more than place an
+arm about the big dog's neck, Peggy's and Polly's chargers had come to
+a halt in front of her and at word of command stood as still as statues.
+The girls slipped from the horses' backs, as bonny a pair as ever
+thrilled an older woman's soul.
+
+"Oh, Mrs. Vincent, we've had such a race!" cried Polly, smiling into
+Mrs. Vincent's face with her irresistible smile.
+
+"Isn't it good just to be alive on such a day?" smiled Peggy, turning to
+her as she would have turned to Mrs. Harold, her face alight. Aunt
+Katherine had been Peggy's only "wet blanket" and, it had not been
+wrapped about her long enough to destroy her absolute confidence in
+grown-ups. Perhaps Miss Sturgis would threaten it, but all that lay in
+the future.
+
+"And to be just fifteen with all the world before you, and such animals
+beside you," answered Mrs. Vincent, stroking Tzaritza and nodding toward
+the horses.
+
+"Yes, aren't they just the dearest ever? Who could help loving them?"
+
+"Will they stand like that without being tied?"
+
+"Oh, yes, they have always obeyed me perfectly. I wish you could see Roy
+and the others. Some day you must come out to Severndale, Mrs. Vincent,
+and see my four-footed children. I've such a lot of them."
+
+"Tell me something of your home and home-life, dear. We are not very
+well acquainted, you know, and that is a poor beginning."
+
+It was a subject dear to Peggy's heart, and she needed no urging. Seated
+beside Mrs. Vincent, for half an hour she talked of her life at
+Severndale, Polly's interjections supplying little side-lights which
+Mrs. Vincent was quick to appreciate, though Polly did not realize how
+they emphasized Peggy's picture of her home.
+
+"And you really raised those splendid horses yourself? I have never seen
+their equal."
+
+"But if you only knew how wonderfully intelligent they are, Mrs.
+Vincent! Of course, Silver Star is now Polly's horse, but she has
+learned to understand him so perfectly, and ride so beautifully, that he
+loves her as well as he loves me and obeys her as well."
+
+For a moment or two Mrs. Vincent's face wore an odd expression.
+
+"Understand" a horse? To be "loved" by one? Did she "understand" those
+in her stable? Did they "love" her? She almost smiled. It was such a new
+viewpoint. Yet, why not? The animals upon her place were certainly
+entirely dependent upon her for their happiness and comfort. But had she
+ever given that fact a serious thought?
+
+Slipping an arm about each girl as they sat beside her she asked:
+
+"What do you think of our horses, and of Dawson? For a little
+fifteen-year old lassie you seem to have had a remarkable experience."
+
+Peggy colored, but Polly blurted out:
+
+"I think he's a regular old hypocrite and so does Peggy. Why, Shelby
+would have forty fits if any of our horses' feet were like
+Jack-o'-Lantern's, or their bits as dirty as the Senator's."
+
+"Oh, Polly, please don't!" begged Peggy. But it was too late. "What is
+this?" asked Mrs. Vincent quickly.
+
+"Well, I dare say I've made a mess of the whole thing. I generally do,
+but Peggy and I do love animals so and hate to see them abused."
+
+"Are _ours_ abused, Polly?"
+
+"I don't suppose that generally speaking people would say they were.
+Most everybody would say they were mighty well cared for, but that's
+because people don't stop to think a thing about it. My goodness, _I_
+didn't till Peggy made me. A horse was just a horse to me--any old
+horse--if he could pull a wagon or hold somebody on his back. That he
+could actually _talk_ to me never entered my head. Have you ever seen
+one _do_ it?" asked Polly, full of eager enthusiasm.
+
+"I can't say that I ever have," smiled Mrs. Vincent, and Polly quickly
+retorted, though there was no trace of disrespect in her words:
+
+"Now you are laughing at us. I knew you would. Well, no wonder, most
+people would think us crazy for saying such a thing. But truly, Mrs.
+Vincent, we're not. Peggy, make Shashai and Star talk to you. I'd do it,
+only I'd sort of feel as though I were taking the wind out of your
+sails. You are the teacher and I'm only your pupil."
+
+"Do you really wish me to show you something of their intelligence, Mrs.
+Vincent? I feel sort of foolish--as though I were trying to show off,
+you know."
+
+"Well, you are _not_, and I've an idea that for a few moments we can
+exchange places to good advantage. It looks as though I had spent a vast
+deal of my time acquiring a knowledge of higher mathematics and modern
+languages, at the expense of some understanding of natural history and
+now I'll take a lesson, please."
+
+"Of course I don't mean to say that every animal can be taught all the
+things _our_ horses have learned any more than all children, can be
+equally taught. You don't expect as much of the child who has been,
+misused and neglected as you do of the one who has been raised properly
+and always loved. It depends a whole lot on that. Our horses have never
+known fear and so we can do almost anything with them. Shashai, Star,
+come and make love to Missie."
+
+As one the two beautiful creatures came to the seat and laid their soft
+muzzles upon Peggy's shoulders. Then raising their heads ran their
+velvety lips over her cheeks with as gentle, caressing a touch as a
+little child's fingers could have given, all the time voicing the soft,
+bubbling whinney of a trustful, happy horse. Peggy reached an arm about
+each satiny head. After a moment she said:
+
+"Attention!"
+
+Back started both horses to stand as rigid as statues.
+
+"Salute Mrs. Vincent."
+
+Up went each splendid head and a clear, joyous neigh was trumpeted from
+the delicate nostrils.
+
+"Call Shelby!"
+
+What an alert expression filled the splendid eyes as the horses,
+actually a-quiver with excitement, neighed again, and again for the
+friend whom they loved, and looked inquiringly at Peggy when he failed
+to appear.
+
+"Where's Jess?"
+
+Eager, impatient snorts replied.
+
+Peggy rose to her feet and carefully knotting, the reins upon the
+saddles' pommels to safeguard accidents, said:
+
+"Go fetch him!"
+
+Tzaritza was alert in an instant. "No, not you, Tzaritza. Charge. Four
+bells, Shashai,--Star!" and away swept the horses.
+
+"Do you mean to say they understand and will really bring Jess here?"
+asked Mrs. Vincent incredulously.
+
+"Oh, yes, indeed. They have done so dozens of times at home."
+
+"Well, they are wonders!"
+
+The rapid hoofbeats were now dying away in the distance. Perhaps ten
+minutes elapsed when their rhythmic beat was again audible, each second
+growing more distinct, then down the linden-bordered avenue came Shashai
+and Star, Jess riding Shashai. The horses moved as swiftly as birds fly.
+As they caught sight of Peggy they neighed loudly as though asking her
+approbation. A lump of sugar awaited each obedient animal, and Jess
+asked:
+
+"What yo' wantin' ob Jess, baby-honey?"
+
+"Just to prove to Mrs. Vincent that the horses would bring you here if I
+told them to."
+
+"Co'se dey bring me if Miss Peggy bidden 'em to," answered Jess as
+though surprised that she should ask such a needless question.
+
+"But how did you know she wished you?"
+
+"How'd I know, Mist'ss? Why dem hawses done _tol'_ me she want me. Yas'm
+dey did. Dey done come t'arin' back yonder ter de stable an' dey cotch
+holt ob my sleefs wid dey teefs, and dey yank and tug me 'long outen de
+do'. Den dis hyer Shashai, he stan' lak a statyer twell I hike me up on
+his back, den he kite away like de bery debbil--axes yo' pardon,
+ma'am!--an' hyer we-all _is_. Dat's all de _how_ dar is ob it. _Dey_
+knows what folks 'specs ob 'em. Dey's eddicated hawses. Dey's been
+_raised_ right."
+
+"I think they have been. Peggy, I want to walk back to the stables with
+you and Polly. I'd like to see with my own eyes some of the things you
+have spoken about."
+
+"O Mrs. Vincent, I am so afraid it will make a whole lot of trouble!
+Dawson knows I criticised him--indeed, I lost my temper and said he
+couldn't 'hold down a job' at Severndale. Excuse the slang, please, but
+he rubbed me the wrong way with all his fuss, when he really doesn't
+know, or doesn't want to know--I don't know which--one thing about
+horses."
+
+Mrs. Vincent paused a moment. "Perhaps you are right," she said. "At all
+events, your sense of justice seems to be one of your strong points. Go
+back to the house and let Jess take your 'children' to the stables. A
+little diplomacy can do no harm. And Jess, you need not mention seeing
+me with the young ladies. Your little mistress has begun my _horse_
+education. I haven't been very wise about them, I fear, but now I am
+going to make amends."
+
+"Yas'm. Amens does help we-all a powerful lot when we's wrastlin' wid
+we-all's sperrits. I hopes dey fotch yo' froo yo' doubtin's. I'se done
+had ter say many an amen in ma day."
+
+Jess' face was full of solicitude. He had not the remotest idea of the
+source of Mrs. Vincent's turmoil of spirit, but if she found it
+necessary to say "amen," Jess instantly concluded that his sympathies
+were demanded. At all events he was now a part of Columbia Heights and
+all within it's precincts came within his kindly solicitude. Tradition
+was strong in old Jessekiah. Mrs. Vincent had much ado to keep her
+countenance. She had come to Washington from a Western city and had but
+slight understanding of the real devotion of the old-time negro to his
+"white folks." Alas! few of the old-time ones are left. It was with a
+sense of still having considerable to learn that she parted from the
+girls and Jess and made her way toward the stables, reaching there some
+time after Jess had unsaddled his horses and was performing their
+toilets with as much care as a French maid would bestow upon her
+mistress, though no French maid would ever have kept up the incessant
+flow of affectionate talk to the object of her attentions that Jess was
+maintaining. He took no notice of Mrs. Vincent, but _she_ did not miss
+one shadow or shade of the absolute understanding existing between Jess
+and his "babies," as he called them.
+
+"Dar now, honeys," he said, as he carefully blanketed them. "Run 'long
+back yander to yo' boxes. Yo' dinner's all a-ready an' a-waitin', lak de
+hymn chune say, an' yo's ready fo' it. Dem children ain' never gwine
+send yo' back to de stable, so het up, yo' cyant eat er drink fo' an
+hour. No siree! Not _dem_."
+
+At that moment Dawson and his assistant appeared with the horses the
+girls had ridden. Notwithstanding the cool crispness of the morning,
+Lady Belle was in a lather where her harness rested. The Senator was
+blowing like a grampus; Jack-o'-Lantern's bit was foam-flecked and
+Natalie's pretty little "Madam Goldie" looked fagged.
+
+Mrs. Vincent instantly contrasted the condition of Shashai and Star with
+the others. Yet Peggy and Polly had been riding like Valkyrie.
+
+As Dawson espied the lady of the manor his face underwent a change which
+would have been amusing had it not been entirely too significant. Mrs.
+Vincent made no comments whatever concerning the horses but a veil had
+certainly fallen from her eyes. She asked Dawson how his young ladies
+were coming on with their riding lessons, how many had arranged to ride
+in the park that afternoon, and one or two trivial questions. Then she
+returned to the house a much wiser woman than she had left it an hour
+earlier.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER X
+
+TZARITZA AS DISCIPLINARIAN
+
+
+Several days had passed since the riding lesson. It was Saturday evening
+and study period, which began at five and lasted until six-thirty, was
+ended. Dinner was served at seven on Saturdays and from eight until ten
+o'clock the girls were perfectly free. A group was gathered in Stella
+Drummond's big room and preparations for a fudge party, after the hearty
+dinner had "somewhat shaken down," were under way. Stella's chafing dish
+was the most up-to-date one in the school, and Stella's larder more
+bountifully supplied than the other girls. Indeed, Stella never lacked
+for anything so far as the others could discover and had a more liberal
+supply of pocket money than is generally allowed. Mrs. Vincent had
+expressed doubts as to the wisdom of it when Stella's father mentioned
+the sum she was to have, but he had laughed and answered:
+
+"Oh, nonsense, my dear Madam! At home she would have double if she
+wished it. She knows how to use it, and remember she is all I have to
+spend my income upon. Don't let that little matter worry you. Just give
+all your attention to polishing her up a bit and teaching her the newest
+fol-de-rols. Living all over the country is not the best thing for a
+young lady, I have found out. It may be conducive to physical
+development, but it leaves something to be desired in educational
+lines."
+
+So Stella, though eighteen, and supposed to be a senior, was really
+taking a special course in which junior work predominated. She had
+selected her own room, it had been furnished exactly as she wished, and
+it certainly resembled a bridal apartment more than a school-girl's
+bed-room. A large alcove and private bath opened from it, and a balcony
+which commanded a beautiful view of Stony Brook Park made it luxurious
+to a degree. In this room, lighted by softly shaded electric drop
+lights, a cheery log fire blazing upon the shining brass andirons, the
+girls had gathered. Stella was arranging her electric chafing dish upon
+its little marble stand. Peggy was opening a box of shelled pecan nuts,
+Polly measuring out the chocolate, and the other girls were supplying
+all needful, or needless, advice concerning the _modus operandi_.
+Tzaritza, now a most privileged creature indeed, had stretched her huge
+length before the hearth, looking for all the world like a superb white
+rug, and Rosalie Breeze was flat upon her stomach, her arms around the
+dog's neck, her face nestled in the silky hair. Juno Gibson reclined
+gracefully in a luxurious wicker chair, its gorgeous pink satin cushions
+a perfect background for her dark loveliness--which no one understood
+better than Juno herself. Helen Doolittle (most aptly named) was gazing
+in simpering adoration upon Stella from a pillow-laden couch, and now
+commented:
+
+"Oh, Stella, what adorable hands you have. How do you keep them so
+ravishingly white and your nails so absolutely faultless? I could cover
+them with kisses, sweetheart."
+
+Stella's laugh held wholesome ridicule of this rhapsody and she replied:
+
+"Don't waste your emotion upon _my_ hands. Just save it until somebody
+comes along who wished to cover _your_ hands with kisses--I mean some
+one in masculine attire. For my part, I don't think I'd care to have a
+girl try that experiment with me."
+
+"Have you ever had a _boy_ cover your hands with kisses?" asked Helen
+eagerly, starting from her position.
+
+Stella, raised her head, looked at the simple, inconsequent, little
+doll-faced blonde and with an odd smile said:
+
+"Well, I could hardly have called him a boy."
+
+"Oh, was he a man? A real _man_? Did he wear a moustache? Just think,
+girls, of having a man's moustache brush the back of your hand as he
+covered it with kisses. Oh, how terribly thrilling. Do tell us all about
+it, Stella! I knew the moment I met you you must have had a romantic
+history. Did your father find it out, and what did he say?"
+
+"Yes, I told him all about it and he laughed at me," and again Stella
+laughed her mystifying laugh.
+
+"Oh, I'd just _adore_ having such a ravishing experience as that," said
+Lily Pearl Montgomery from the window seat, "but how can one have any
+thrilling experiences in a stupid old school! Now there are Polly and
+Peggy; think of all they could tell us if they only would. You girls
+must be fairly bursting with the most wonderful stories if you'd only
+come down off your pedestals and tell us. _I_ think you're both too
+tight for words. And all those darling cadets' photographs in your room.
+You needn't try to make _me_ believe that 'Faithfully yours, Bubbles'
+and 'Your chum, Ralph,' and 'For my Pilot, Captain Polly, Wheedles,' and
+'For Peggy Stewart, Chatelaine, Happy,' don't mean a whole lot more."
+
+"What's that?" asked Peggy, catching her name and looking up from her
+occupation. She caught Polly's eyes which had begun to snap. Polly had
+also been too busy to pay much attention at first, but she had heard the
+concluding sentences. She turned and looked at Lily with exactly the
+expression upon her sixteen-year-old face which had overspread it years
+before when the thirteen-year-old Polly had surprised the sentimental
+"Thusan Thwingle" exchanging osculatory favors with "one of thothe
+horrid boyths" in the basement of the high school at Montgentian. Then
+she said with repressed vehemence:
+
+"I only wish our boys could have heard you say that. If you wouldn't
+come in for the running of your life my name's not Polly Howland. You'd
+suit some of the boys back yonder, but not our bunch. Of all the hot
+air! Stella, is your chafing-dish ready?"
+
+Peggy had colored a rosy pink. She lacked Polly's experience with other
+girls.
+
+Piqued by Polly's superior rebuff, Helen came to the inane Lily Pearl's
+support in a manner she knew would hit loyal Polly's most vulnerable
+spot:
+
+"Look at Peggy's face! Look at Peggy's face! Which is the particular He,
+Peggy? Polly may be able to put up a big bluff, but your face is a dead
+giveaway."
+
+"I don't think you would be able to understand if I told you. Middie's
+Haven and the 'bunch' are just a degree too high up for you to reach,
+I'm afraid, and there's no elevator in Wilmot Hall," answered Peggy
+quietly.
+
+Polly laid down the things she was holding for Stella, dusted her hands
+of chocolate crumbs by lightly rubbing her fingers together, and walked
+quietly over to the couch. Helen looked somewhat alarmed and drew back
+among her pillows.
+
+Polly, never uttering one word, bent over, swooped up Helen, pillows and
+all and holding her burden as she would have held a struggling baby,
+walked straight out of the room and down, the corridor to her own room,
+the shouts, screams and laughs of the girls following her. Helen was
+absolutely speechless at the audacity of the act. Bumping her door
+together by the only available means left her, since both arms were
+occupied, Polly then plumped Helen, now almost ready to resort to
+hysterical tears, upon a wooden shirt-waist box and placing herself in
+front of her, struck the attitude of a little red-headed goddess of
+vengeance as she said:
+
+"Helen Doolittle, you may run _me_ all you've a mind to--it doesn't mean
+a thing to me; I'm used to it; I've been teased all my life and I'm
+bomb-proof. But Peggy Stewart's made of different stuff. She hasn't been
+with girls very much, and never with a _silly_ one before. Give her
+time and she'll understand them a good sight better than they'll ever
+understand her. And the boys she has known are not the kind who are ever
+likely to want to know _you_. So there's not much use wasting time
+explaining things. But I tell you just this, I won't stand for Peggy
+being run even a little bit, and you can circulate that bit of
+information broadcast. She's the finest ever, and the girl who can call
+her friend is in luck up to her ears. So understand: let her alone or
+reckon with me."
+
+"Do you think we are a lot of crazy schoolboys and expect to settle our
+disagreements with a regular fist-a-cuff bout? You must come from a very
+queer place."
+
+"Where _I_ come from doesn't matter in the least. Peggy is the one under
+discussion and you know where she comes from and who she is. _What_ she
+is you'll never know."
+
+"I don't see why she should be so very hard to understand."
+
+"She isn't--for people with enough sense. Now just take one good look at
+those pictures. Is there a weak face among them? One of two things will
+happen to you if you ever happen to meet the originals: they'll either
+make you feel like a silly little kid or they won't take a bit of
+notice of you. It will depend upon how you happen to strike them."
+
+"Oh, are they such, wonders as all that?"
+
+"If you ever get an invitation down to Annapolis you'll have a chance to
+find out. Peggy and I have about made up our minds to have a house party
+during the holidays, but we haven't quite made up our minds which girls
+we are going to like well enough to ask to it. Tanta suggested it. She
+is anxious to know our friends, and we are anxious to have her. She
+sizes people up pretty quickly and we are always mighty glad to have her
+opinion."
+
+Polly spoke rapidly and the effect upon Helen was peculiar. From the
+pugnacious attitude of an outraged canary, ready to do battle, she was
+transformed into the sweetest, meekest love-bird imaginable. A veritable
+little preening, posing, oh-do-admire-me creature, and at Polly's last
+words she jumped from the box and clasping her hands, cried:
+
+"A house-party! You are planning a house-party? Oh, how perfectly
+adorable. Oh, which girls are you going to invite? Oh, I'll never, never
+tease Peggy again as long as I live. I'll be perfectly lovely to her and
+I'll make the other girls be nice too. To think of going up there and
+meeting all those darling boys. Oh please tell me all about it! The
+girls will be just crazy when I tell them. Which of these fellows will
+be there?"
+
+Helen had rushed over to Polly's dresser upon which in pretty silver
+frames were photographs of Ralph, Happy and Wheedles. On Peggy's dresser
+Shorty and Durand looked from their frames straight into her eyes, while
+several others not yet framed looked down from the top of the bookshelf.
+Silly little Helen was in an ecstasy. Her mamma had never believed in
+companions of the opposite sex for her "sweet little daughter" but had
+kept her in a figurative preserve jar which bore the label "you may look
+but you must not touch." Mamma's instructions to Mrs. Vincent upon
+placing Helen in the school had been an absolute ban upon any masculine
+visitors, or visits upon Helen's part where such undesirable, though
+often unavoidable, members of society might congregate. "She is so very
+innocent and unsophisticated, you know, and so very young," added mamma
+sweetly. Mrs. Vincent smiled indulgently, but made no comments: She had
+encountered such mammas and such sweetly unsophisticated daughters
+before and she then and there resolved to keep an extra watchful eye
+upon this innocent one. Thus far, however, nothing alarming had
+occurred, but Mrs. Vincent knew her material and was prepared for
+almost anything. She also knew Lily Pearl and felt pretty sure that if
+an upheaval ever took place it would turn out that Lily Pearl or Helen
+had touched off the mine. The foregoing scene gives some hint of the
+viewpoints of the young ladies in question.
+
+During this digression Helen had caught up Wheedle's picture and was
+pressing it rapturously to her fluttering bosom and exclaiming:
+
+"You're a perfect darling! If I could have just one dance with _you_ I'd
+be willing to _die_! Polly, how old is he!"
+
+But Polly had left the room and was on her way back to Stella's. As she
+reached it she came face to face with the Sturgeon and the Sturgeon's
+eyes held no "lovelight" for her.
+
+"Miss Howland, what was the cause of the wild shrieks which disturbed me
+a moment since? Miss Montgomery says you can tell if you will and since
+none of your companions seem inclined to do so, I will hear your
+explanation. I was on my way to inform Miss Stewart that Mrs. Vincent
+wished to see her in her study at once when this hideous uproar assailed
+my ears."
+
+Polly glanced quickly about the room. Sure enough, Peggy had left it.
+Some of the girls looked concerned, others quite calm; among the latter
+were Stella and Juno. Rosalie, with Tzaritza's head in her lap, looked
+defiant. She hated Miss Sturgis.
+
+Polly turned and looked squarely into Miss Sturgis' eyes.
+
+"The girls were screaming because I carried Helen out of the room," she
+answered quietly.
+
+"It seems to me you must be somewhat in need of exercise. I would advise
+you to go to the gymnasium to work off your superfluous energy. Why did
+you carry Helen from the room? Has she become incapable of voluntary
+locomotion?"
+
+"Not yet," answered Polly, a twinkle coming into a corner of the gray
+eyes.
+
+"_Not yet?_" emphasized Miss Sturgis. "Are you apprehensive of her
+becoming so?"
+
+"She needs more exercise than she gets," answered Polly, half smiling.
+
+That smile acted as salt upon a wound. Miss Sturgis' temper rose.
+
+"Please bear in mind that it does not devolve upon _you_ to decide that
+question."
+
+"I did not try to settle that question, Miss Sturgis. If you wish to
+know why I carried Helen out of the room I did it because she was
+running--"
+
+"Doing what? I don't think I understand your boyish slang."
+
+"Well, teasing Peggy, and I won't have Peggy teased by anybody if I can
+stop it. She doesn't understand girls' ways as well as I do because she
+hasn't been thrown with them. So when Helen teased her I picked her up
+and carried her down to our room and I don't reckon she will tease her
+any more."
+
+"So you have come into the school to set its standards and correct its
+shortcomings, have you? Are you so very superior to your companions--you
+and your protegee?"
+
+Polly looked straight into the narrow eyes looking at her, but made no
+reply.
+
+"Answer me, instantly."
+
+"I have never considered myself superior to anyone, but I _do_ consider
+Peggy Stewart superior to any girl I have ever known, and I think you
+will agree with me when you know her better," asserted Polly loyally.
+
+"You are insolent."
+
+"I do not mean to be. Any one who knows her will tell you the same
+thing."
+
+"I repeat you are insolent and you may go to your room."
+
+Polly made no reply, but started to leave the room. Tzaritza sprang to
+her side. Miss Sturgis interposed.
+
+"Leave that dog where she is. Go back, you horrible beast," and she
+raised her hand menacingly. Tzaritza was not quite sure whether the
+menace was intended for Polly or herself. In either case it was cause
+for resentment and a low growl warned against further liberties.
+
+"Be careful, Miss Sturgis. Tzaritza thinks you are threatening me," said
+Polly. It was said wholly in the interest of the teacher.
+
+Miss Sturgis' early training and forebears had not been of an order to
+develop either great dignity, or self-control. Her ability to teach
+mathematics was undisputed. Hence her position in Mrs. Vincent's school,
+though that good lady had more than once had reason to question the
+wisdom of retaining her, owing to the influence which she exerted over
+her charges. The grain beneath did not lend itself to a permanent, or
+high polish, and it took only the slightest scratch to mar it. Polly's
+words seemed to destroy her last remnant of self-control and she turned
+upon her in a fury of rage. As she seized her by the arm and cried,
+"Silence!" Polly whirled from her like a flash crying, "Charge,
+Tzaritza!"
+
+But it was too late, the 'hound had sprung to Polly's defense, only it
+was Polly's protecting arm into which Tzaritza's teeth sank. The girl
+turned white with pain. Instantly the beautiful dog relinquished her
+hold and whining and whimpering like a heartbroken thing began to lick
+the bruised arm. Then arose a hubbub compared to which the screams of
+which Miss Sturgis had complained had been infantile plaints. Lily Pearl
+promptly went into hysterics. Juno shrieked aloud and even the
+self-contained Stella cried out as she ran to catch Polly in her arms,
+for the girl seemed about to faint. But Miss Sturgis, now thoroughly
+terrified at the crisis she had brought to pass, called madly for help.
+Helen's screams mingled in the pandemonium, for Helen had been brought
+hack from her romantic air castle with a rush.
+
+Notwithstanding the fact that Mrs. Vincent's study was down one flight
+of stairs and at the other end of the building, she became aware of the
+uproar and her conversation with Peggy came to an abrupt pause. Then
+both hurried into the hall to see the tails of Horatio Hannibal
+Harrison's coat vanishing up the broad stairway and to hear Fraeulein
+Hedwig wailing, "Oh ze house iss burning up _and_ down I am sure!"
+
+Meanwhile upon the scene of action Polly had been the first to recover
+her wits. The skin had not been broken, for Tzaritza had instantly
+perceived her error and released her grip almost as soon as it was
+taken. But Miss Sturgis would not have escaped so easily, as well she
+knew, and her hatred for Tzaritza increased tenfold. When Mrs. Vincent
+and the others arrived upon the scene she broke into a perfect torrent
+of invective against the dog, but was brought to her senses by the
+Principal's quiet:
+
+"Miss Sturgis, you seem to be a good deal overwrought. I will excuse
+you. You may retire to your room until you feel calmer."
+
+"Let me explain! Let me tell you what a horrible thing has happened!"
+cried Miss Sturgis.
+
+"When you are less excited I shall be glad to listen. Fraeulein, kindly
+accompany Miss Sturgis to her room and call the housekeeper. Now, Polly,
+what is it?" asked Mrs. Vincent, for Polly was the center of the group
+of excited girls, though calmer than any of them.
+
+"Tzaritza made a mistake and caught my arm in her teeth, that is all,
+Mrs. Vincent. But she has done no harm. It doesn't hurt much now; she
+did not mean to do it any way."
+
+"What!" cried Peggy, aghast, "Tzaritza attacked _you_, Polly?"
+
+Polly nodded her head in quick negative, striving to keep Peggy from
+saying more. But Tzaritza had crawled to Peggy's feet and was literally
+grovelling there in abject misery.
+
+"Charge, Tzaritza!"
+
+The splendid creature lay motionless. "Polly, what happened?' demanded
+Peggy, once more the Peggy of Severndale and entirely forgetful of her
+present surroundings. Mrs. Vincent smiled and laying her hand gently
+upon Peggy's arm said:
+
+"Don't embarrass Polly, dear. Leave it to me."
+
+"Oh, I beg your pardon, Mrs. Vincent. I forgot," answered Peggy,
+blushing deeply. Mrs. Vincent nodded forgiveness, then turning to
+Stella, asked:
+
+"Were you here all the time, Stella?"
+
+"Yes, Mrs. Vincent."
+
+"Then please tell me exactly what happened."
+
+Stella told the story clearly and quietly. When she ended there was a
+moment's hush, broken by Rosalie Breeze crying:
+
+"And Tzaritza never, never would have done a single thing if Miss
+Sturgis hadn't lost her temper. She is forever scolding us about losing
+ours, but she'd just better watch out herself. I wish Tzaritza had
+bitten her!"
+
+"Rosalie!"
+
+"Well, I do, Mrs. Vincent. It was every bit her own fault. She hates
+Tzaritza, and I love her," was Rosalie's vehement if perplexing
+conclusion as she cast herself upon the big dog. Tzaritza welcomed her
+with a grateful whine and crept closer, though she never raised her
+head. She was waiting the word of forgiveness from the one she loved
+best of all, but Peggy was awaiting Tzaritza's exoneration. Mrs.
+Vincent, who had sent for the resident trained nurse, was examining
+Polly's arm and now said:
+
+"It is all very distressing, but I am glad no more serious for Polly.
+The arm is badly bruised and will be very painful for some time, but I
+can't discover a scratch. Miss Allen, will you please look after this
+little girl," she asked, as the sweet-faced trained nurse entered the
+room, her white uniform snowy and immaculate, her face a benediction in
+its sweet, calm repose.
+
+"Go with Miss Allen, dear, and have your arm dressed." Polly paused only
+long enough to stoop down and kiss Tzaritza's head, the caress being
+acknowledged by a pathetic whine, then followed the nurse from the room.
+
+Peggy was terribly distressed.
+
+"Do you think I would better send her back to Severndale, Mrs. Vincent?"
+she asked.
+
+"Has she ever attacked anyone before, Peggy?"
+
+"Never in all her life."
+
+"I hardly think she will again. She may remain. Come here, Tzaritza."
+
+Tzaritza did not stir.
+
+"Up, Tzaritza," commanded Peggy, and the affectionate creature's feet
+were upon her shoulders as she begged forgiveness with almost human
+eloquence.
+
+"Oh, my bonny one, how could you?" asked Peggy as she caressed the silky
+head. Tzaritza's whimpers reduced some of the girls to tears. "Now go to
+Mrs. Vincent," ordered Peggy, and the hound obediently crossed the room
+to lay her head in that lady's lap.
+
+"Poor Tzaritza, you did what you believed to be your duty, didn't you?
+None of us can do more. I wish some of my other problems were as easy to
+solve as the motives of your act. Go on with your fudge party, girls. It
+will prove a diversion. I must look to other matters now," and Mrs.
+Vincent sighed at the prospect of the coming interview with Miss
+Sturgis. It was not her first experience by any means.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XI
+
+BEHIND SCENES
+
+
+The girls were hardly in a mood to return to their fudge-making, so
+Stella produced a box of Whitman's chocolates and the group settled down
+to eat them and discuss the events of the past exciting half hour. Polly
+squatted upon the rug and with her uninjured arm hauled about half of
+Tzaritza upon her lap. Tzaritza was positively foolish in her ecstatic
+joy at being restored to favor.
+
+"Poor Tzaritza, you got into trouble because I lost my temper, didn't
+you? It was a heap more my fault than yours after all."
+
+"Oh, there's nothing wrong with Tzaritza. It's the Sturgeon. Hateful old
+thing! I just hope Mrs. Vincent gives her bally-hack," stormed Rosalie.
+"Suppose we did shout and screech? It's Saturday night and we have a
+right to if we like. But what under the sun did Mrs. Vincent want of
+you, Peggy?"
+
+"Oh, nothing very serious," answered Peggy, smiling in a way which set
+Rosalie's curiosity a-galloping.
+
+"Yes, what _did_ she want?" demanded Polly, turning to look up at Peggy.
+
+"Can't tell anybody _now_. You'll all know after Thanksgiving," answered
+Peggy, wagging her head in the negative.
+
+"Oh, please tell us! Ah, do! We won't breathe a living, single word!"
+cried the chorus.
+
+"Uh-mh!" murmured Peggy in such perfect imitation of old Mammy that
+Polly laughed outright.
+
+"Aren't you even going to tell Polly?" asked Rosalie, who had arrived at
+some very definite conclusion regarding these friends, for Rosalie was
+far from slow if at times rather more self-assertive than the average
+young lady is supposed to be.
+
+For answer Peggy broke into a little air from a popular comic opera
+running just then in Washington and to which Captain Stewart had taken
+his little party only a few weeks before:
+
+"And what is right for Tweedle-dum is wrong for Tweedle-dee," sang Peggy
+in her sweet contralto voice, Polly following in her bird-like whistle.
+
+The little ruse worked to perfection. The girls forgot all about Peggy's
+"call down," as a summons to Mrs. Vincent's study was banned, and had a
+rapture over Polly's whistling and Peggy's singing, nor were they
+satisfied until a dozen airs had been given in the girl's very best
+style. Then came the story of the concerts at home, and Polly's
+whistling at the Masquerader's Show when Wharton Van Nostrand fell ill,
+and a dozen other vivid little glimpses of the life back in Severndale
+and up in "Middie's Haven" until their listeners were nearly wild with
+excitement.
+
+"And they are to have a house party there during the holidays, girls.
+Think of that!" cried Helen.
+
+"Honest?" cried Lily Pearl, leaning forward with clasped hands, while
+even Juno, the superior, became animated and remarked:
+
+"Really! I dare say you will choose your guests with extreme care as to
+their appeal to the model young men they are likely to meet at
+Annapolis, for I don't doubt your aunt, Mrs. Harold, is a most
+punctilious chaperon."
+
+"Juno's been eating hunks of the new Webster's Dictionary, girls. That's
+how she happens to have all those long words so near the top. They got
+stuck going down so they come up easy," interjected Rosalie.
+
+Juno merely tossed her head, but vouchsafed no answer. Rosalie's Western
+_gaucherie_ was beneath her notice. Juno's home was at the Hotel Astor
+in New York City. At least as much of "home" as she knew. Her mother
+had lived abroad for the past five years, and was now the Princess
+Somebody-or-other. Her father kept his suite at the Astor but lived
+almost anywhere else, his only daughter seeing him when he had less
+enticing companionship. A "chaperon" did duty at the Astor when Juno was
+in the city, which was not often. Consequently, Juno's ideas of domestic
+felicity were not wholly edifying; her conception of anything pertaining
+to home life about as hazy as the nebula.
+
+"Perhaps if you ever know Tanta you'll be able to form your own
+opinion," answered Polly quietly, looking steadily at Juno with those
+wonderfully penetrating gray eyes until the girl shrugged and colored.
+
+Stella laughed a low, odd little laugh and came over to drop upon the
+rug beside Polly, saying as she slipped her arm around her and
+good-naturedly dragged her down upon her lap:
+
+"You are one funny, old-fashioned little kid, do you know that? Some
+times I feel as though I were about twenty years your senior, and then
+when I catch that size-me-up, read-me-through, look in your eyes, I make
+up my mind _I'm_ the infant--not you. Where did you and Peggy catch and
+bottle up all your worldly wisdom?"
+
+"Didn't know _I_ had so much," laughed Polly, "but Peggy was born with
+hers, I reckon. If I have any it has been bumped into my head partly by
+mother, partly by Aunt Janet, and the job finished by the boys Juno has
+been referring to. It doesn't do to try any nonsense with _that_ bunch;
+they see through you and call your bluff as quick as a flash. We were
+pretty good chums and I miss them more than I could ever miss a lot of
+girls, I believe. Certainly, more than I missed the Montgentian girls
+when I left them."
+
+"Nothing like being entirely frank, I'm sure," was Juno's superior
+remark:
+
+"That's another thing the boys taught us," replied Polly imperturbably.
+Just then the bell rang for "rooms."
+
+"There's Tattoo!" cried Polly. "If I get settled down at Taps tonight
+I'll be doing wonders. Miss Allen has bandaged up my arm as though
+Tzaritza had bitten half of it off. Come on, 'Ritza. Peggy, you'll have
+to get me out of my dudds tonight. Good-night, girls. Sorry we didn't
+get our fudge made. Maybe if I'd let Helen alone you would have had it,"
+and with a merry laugh Polly ran from the room, all animosity forgotten.
+
+"What did she mean by 'Tattoo' and 'Taps,'" asked Natalie of Peggy.
+
+"The warning call sounded on the bugle for the midshipmen to go to their
+rooms, and the lights out call which follows. Have you never heard
+them? They are so pretty. Polly and I love them so, and you can't think
+how we miss them here. Polly always sounded them on her bugle at home.
+You've no idea how sweetly she can do it," answered Peggy as she walked
+toward her room beside Natalie.
+
+"Oh, I wish I _could_ hear them. I wonder if mother knows anything about
+them," cried Natalie enthusiastically. "Do you know, I think you and
+Polly are perfectly wonderful, you have so many original ideas. I am
+just crazy to know what mother wanted of you tonight. I'm going to ask
+her. Do you think she will tell me?"
+
+"Why not? The only reason I did not tell was because I felt I had no
+right to. If Mrs. Vincent wants the others to know she will tell them,
+but you are different. I reckon mothers can't keep anything from their
+own daughters. At least Polly and her mother seem to share everything
+and I know Mrs. Harold is just like a mother to me."
+
+The girls separated and Peggy and Polly were soon behind closed doors
+discussing Mrs. Vincent's private interview with the former.
+
+The following Tuesday was Hallow E'en and where is your school-girl who
+does not revel in its privileges? Mrs. Vincent, contrary to Miss
+Sturgis' preconceived ideas of what was possible and proper for a girls'
+school, though the latter never failed to quote the rigid discipline of
+the school which had profited by her valuable services prior to her
+engagement at Columbia Heights, was given to some departures which often
+came near reducing Miss Sturgis to tears of vexation.
+
+One of these rules, or rather the lack of them, was the arrangement of
+the tables in the two dining-rooms. In the dining-room for the little
+girls under twelve a teacher presided at each table as a matter of
+course, but in the main dining-hall covers were laid for six at each
+table, one of the girls presiding as hostess, her tenure of office
+depending wholly upon her standing in the school, her deportment,
+ability and general average of work. At the further end of the room Mrs.
+Vincent's own table was placed, and the staff of eight resident teachers
+sat with her. It was a far happier arrangement than the usual one of
+placing a teacher at each table and having her, whether consciously or
+unconsciously, arrogate the entire conversation, interests and viewpoint
+to herself. Of course, there are some teachers who can still recall with
+sufficient vividness their own school-girl life to feel keenly the
+undercurrent of restraint which an older person almost invariably
+starts when thrown with a group of younger ones, and who possesses the
+power and tact to overcome it and enter the girl-world. But these are
+the exceptions rather than the rule, and none knew this better than Mrs.
+Vincent. Consequently, she chose her own way of removing all possible
+danger of impaired digestion, believing that the best possible aid to
+healthy appetites and perfectly assimilated food were untrammeled
+spirits and hearty laughs. So she and her staff sat at their own table
+where they were free to discuss the entire school if they chose to do
+so, and the girls--for, surely, "turn-about-is-fairplay"--could discuss
+them. It worked pretty well, too, in spite of Miss Sturgis' inclination
+to keep one eye and one ear "batted" toward the other tables, often to
+Mrs. Vincent's intense, though carefully concealed amusement.
+
+And now came Hallow E'en, and with small regard for Miss Sturgis'
+prejudices, plump in the middle of the school week! At the end of the
+last recitation period that afternoon when the whole school of one
+hundred fifty girls, big and little, had gathered in the chapel, for the
+working day invariably ended with a few kindly helpful words spoken by
+Mrs. Vincent and the reading of the thirty-fourth Psalm and singing
+Shelley's beautiful hymn of praise, Mrs. Vincent paused for a moment
+before dismissing her pupils. Many of the older girls knew what to
+expect, but the newer ones began to wonder if their sins had found them
+out. Nevertheless, Mrs. Vincent's expression was not alarming as she
+moved a step toward them and asked:
+
+"Which of my girls will be willing to give up her afternoon recreation
+period and devote that time to the preparation of tomorrow's work!"
+
+The effect was amusing. Some of the girls gave little gasps of surprise,
+others, ohs! of protest, others distinct negatives, while a good many
+seemed delighted at the prospect. These had known Mrs. Vincent longest.
+
+"Those of you who are ready to return to the main hall at four o'clock
+and work until five-thirty may be released from all further obligations
+for the evening, and the attic, laundry and gymnasium will be placed at
+your disposal for a Hallow E'en frolic and--"
+
+But she got no further. Rosalie Breeze, sans ceremony, made one wild
+leap from her chair and rushed toward the platform. Miss Sturgis made a
+peremptory motion and stepped toward her, but Mrs. Vincent raised her
+hand. The next second Rosalie had flung herself bodily into Mrs.
+Vincent's arms, crying:
+
+"Oh, if every schoolmarm was just exactly like _you_ I'd never, never do
+one single bad thing to plague 'em and I'll let you use me for your
+doormat if you want to!"
+
+A less self-contained woman would have been staggered by the sudden
+onslaught and felt her rule and dignity jeopardized. Mrs. Vincent was of
+different fibre. She gathered the little madcap into her arms for one
+second, then taking the witch-like face in both hands kissed each
+flushed cheek as she said:
+
+"I sometimes think you claim kinship with the pixies,--you are half a
+witch. So you accept the bargain? Good! Have all the fun you wish but
+don't burn the house down."
+
+By this time the whole school had gathered around her, asking questions
+forty to the minute.
+
+Mrs. Vincent looked like a fly-away girl herself in her sympathetic
+excitement, for her soft, curly chestnut hair had somewhat escaped its
+combs and pins, and her cheeks were as rosy as the girls. Mrs. Vincent
+was only forty, and now looked about half her age.
+
+Polly and Peggy crowded close to her, Natalie shared her arms with
+Rosalie, quiet, undemonstrative Marjorie's face glowed with affection,
+while even Juno condescended to unbend, and Lily Pearl and Helen gave
+vent to their emotions by embracing each other. Stella, tall, stately
+and such a contrast to the others, beamed upon the group.
+
+But Isabel put the finishing stroke by remarking with, a most superior
+smile:
+
+"O Mrs. Vincent, what a perfect darling you are! Don't you perfectly
+dote on her girls? _I_ fell in love with her years ago when I first met
+her and I've simply worshiped at her shrine ever since."
+
+"Rats!" broke out Rosalie, and Mrs. Vincent had just about all she could
+manage for a moment. Her emotions were sadly at odds. Polly's laugh
+saved the day and deflected Isabel's scorn.
+
+"I really do not see what is amusing you, Miss Howland; I am sure I am
+only expressing the sentiments of my better poised schoolmates."
+
+"Oh, we all agree with you--every single one of us--though we are
+choosing different ways of showing it, you see. If Peggy and I had been
+down home we'd probably have given the Four-N yell. That's _our_ way of
+expressing our approbation. The boys taught us, and we think its a
+pretty good way. It works off a whole lot of pent-up steam."
+
+"What is it, Polly?" asked Mrs. Vincent.
+
+"I'm afraid you would have to hear the boys give it to quite understand
+it, Mrs. Vincent, but I tell you it makes one tingle right down to
+one's very toes--that yell!"
+
+"Can't you and Peggy give it to us on a small scale? Just as a sample of
+what we may hear some day? Perhaps if the girls hear it they can fall
+in. I'd like to hear it myself."
+
+Polly paused a moment, looking doubtfully at Peggy. That old Naval
+Academy Yell meant a good deal to these two girls. They had heard it
+under so many thrilling circumstances.
+
+"We will give it if you wish it, Mrs. Vincent, though it will sound
+funny I'm afraid from just Polly and me. Maybe though, the girls will
+try it too after we have given it."
+
+With more volume and enthusiasm than would have seemed possible from
+just two throats, Peggy and Polly began:
+
+                               "N--n--n--n!
+                                A--a--a--a!
+                                V--v--v--v!
+                                Y--y--y--y!
+                           Navy! Navy! Navy! Navy!
+                  Mrs. Vincent! Mrs. Vincent! Mrs. Vincent!"
+
+the ending being entirely in the nature of a surprise to that lady who
+blushed and laughed like a girl. But before she could escape, Polly had
+sprung to the platform and as a cheer leader who would have put Wheedler
+of old to shame was crying: "Come on!"
+
+The girls caught the spirit and swing with a will and the room rang to
+their voices.
+
+Clapping her hands and laughing happily Mrs. Vincent ran toward the door
+only pausing long enough to say:
+
+"Four P. M. sharp! Then from seven to ten 'the
+goblins will get you if you don't watch out!'"
+
+"Let Polly sound 'Assembly' at four. Please do, Mrs. Vincent. It will
+make us come double time," begged Peggy, running after her and detaining
+her by slipping her arm about her waist.
+
+"Assembly? I don't believe I quite understand."
+
+"On her bugle, you know. It's so pretty, and we did that way at home if
+we wanted to bring the bunch together in a hurry."
+
+"Well, I'm learning something new every minute, I believe. Yes, sound
+your bugle call, Polly, and be sure I shall be on the _qui vive_ to hear
+it. Before we know it we shall have a _girls'_ military school."
+
+"Oh, wouldn't it be perfectly splendid if we only could and all wear
+brass buttons!" cried Rosalie.
+
+"I think some of the discipline would be splendid for all of us, and
+especially the spirit of the thing," answered Stella. "The trouble with
+most girls lies in the fact that they don't know how to work together.
+There isn't much class spirit, or cooperation. Maybe if we tried some of
+the methods Peggy and Polly seem to know so much about we'd come closer
+together."
+
+"Team work, I guess you mean," said Polly quickly. "It means a whole
+lot."
+
+Sharply at four the staccato notes of "Assembly" rang across the terrace
+as Polly sounded the call upon her bugle. The girls came hurrying from
+every direction and the ensuing hour and a half, usually free for
+recreation, was cheerfully given over to study. Dinner was served at six
+and at seven-thirty the revels began.
+
+At Peggy's suggestion a part of the afternoon had been devoted to
+devising costumes out of anything at hand, for a fancy dress party had
+been hastily decided upon. As a result of this some unique and original
+Hallow E'en sprites, nymphs, dryads or witches foregathered in the big
+laundry, "cleared for action," Polly said, and two or three aroused
+little cries of admiration.
+
+Peggy was a dryad. She had rushed away to the woods on Shashai to return
+with her mount buried from sight in autumn leaves. The dark, rich reds
+of the oaks, the deep yellow of the beeches, the dogwood's and maple's
+gorgeous variations and the sweet-gums blood red mingled in a
+bewildering confusion of color. Stripping the leaves from the twigs she
+proceeded to sew them upon a plain linen gown, and the result was
+exquisite, for not a vestige of the fabric remained visible, and Peggy's
+piquant, rich coloring peeped from a garment of living, burning color.
+She herself was the only one who did not fully appreciate the picture
+she presented.
+
+Polly's costume was a character from one of the children's pages in a
+Sunday newspaper. The entire costume was made of newspapers, with "The
+Yellow Kid" much in evidence, Polly's tawny hair lending itself well to
+the color scheme.
+
+Natalie, who was fair as a lily, had chosen "sunlight," and was a bonny
+little sun goddess. Lily Pearl, after a great deal of fuss and fidgeting
+had elected to go as Titania, and Helen essayed Oberon. Juno, who was
+very musical, made quite a stately Sappho. Little, sedate Marjorie was
+an Alaskan-Indian Princess, and Rosalie rigged up a Puck costume which
+made her irresistible. Isabel chose to be Portia, though that erudite
+lady seemed somewhat out of place among the mythological characters. But
+Stella was a startling Sibyl, with book, staff, and a little crystal
+globe (removed from her paper-weight) in which to read horoscopes. The
+others went in all sorts of guises or disguises.
+
+In the laundry they found all properties provided. To tell of all which
+took place would crowd out too much which must follow. Of course apples
+were bobbed for, a hat pin was run through them to prod the seeds for
+the true lover's heart, and they were hung upon strings to be caught in
+one's teeth (the apples, _not_ the hearts) if luckily one did not get
+one's nose bumped as they swung back. Melted lead was poured through a
+key into cold water to take the mysterious form which would reveal the
+occupation, or profession, of the future _He_, and Lily Pearl was thrown
+into an ecstasy by having _her_ sputtering metal take very distinctly
+the form of a ship. _And that house party "bid" not even hinted at yet!_
+
+They walked downstairs backward, looking into a mirror to discover the
+particular masculine face which would fill their live's mirrors, though,
+unhappily some of the potency of the charm was lost because it could not
+be done upon the witching stroke of midnight.
+
+Dumb cakes were made, _his_ initials pricked in the dough, while in
+perfect silence the cakes were baked on the laundry steam dryer, joy and
+rapture descending upon the fortunate she if the initials did not vanish
+in the baking. A ball of twine was thrown out of the kitchen window,
+but when the thrower hurried out to find the ardent one who had so
+promptly snatched it up and fled, she discovered Horatio Hannibal
+Harrison beating a hasty retreat. He had been playing "Peeping Tom" and
+the ball had caught him squarely upon his woolly crown. A doubtful
+conscience did the rest.
+
+A dozen other tests followed until the girls' occult knowledge reached
+the limit. Then they danced in the Gym to music furnished by Mrs.
+Vincent, who ended the prancing by sending in a huge "fate cake," a big
+basket of nuts, a jug of sweet cider and some of Aunt Hippy's cookies.
+
+Cutting the fate cake ended the Hallow E'en frolic. Lily Pearl was
+thrown into a flutter by finding the ring in her slice. Juno turned
+scornful when a plump raisin fell to her share, Helen drew a tiny key
+from her piece, and the coin dropped into Rosalie's lap.
+
+"Rubbish! I don't want riches. I want a handsome husband," she cried
+with refreshing frankness.
+
+"I hardly think I would noise that fact abroad," was Isabel's superior
+criticism.
+
+"No, I wouldn't if I were you, it would be so perfectly preposterous,"
+retorted Rosalie.
+
+Isabel made no reply, but took care that no one else discovered who had
+found the thimble.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XII
+
+CHRISTMAS AT SEVERNDALE
+
+
+By a lucky chance Christmas this year fell upon Monday, thus giving the
+midshipmen either liberty, or leave, according to their classes, or
+conduct grade, from Saturday at twelve-thirty to Monday at five-thirty,
+when those enjoying the latter rare privilege had to report for duty in
+Bancroft Hall. Christmas leave for the first class was an innovation,
+which only those on first conduct grade might hope to enjoy. That there
+was the ghost of a chance of any member of the lower classes coming in
+for such a rare treat not even the most sanguine dreamed. _But_, and
+that BUT was written in italics and capitals, when Captain Stewart made
+up his mind to do a certain thing it required considerable force of
+will, stress of circumstances, and concerted opposition to divert him.
+But the outcome lies in the near future.
+
+The excitement incident to the rescue of Columbine had barely subsided
+when a telegram brought Peggy the joyful news that Captain Stewart's
+ship, which had met with some slight accident to her machinery, was to
+be dry-docked at Norfolk and her father was to have two weeks' leave.
+The _Rhode Island_ was to be in port at the New York Navy Yard, and this
+meant the forgathering of all who were nearest and dearest to Peggy and
+Polly; a rare joy at the holiday season for those connected with the
+Navy.
+
+Consequently, this year's Yuletide was to be a red letter one in every
+sense, for Mrs. Howland and Gail, who had spent Thanksgiving in New
+York, would return to Annapolis for Christmas and, joy of joys!
+Constance, Snap, and Mr. Harold would come with them.
+
+The telegraph and telephone wires between New York, Norfolk, Washington
+and Annapolis were in a fair way to become fused.
+
+As many of the girls lived at great distances from Washington, the
+Christmas Recess began on the twenty-second. Captain Stewart had 'phoned
+to his party "Heavy marching orders, three P. M., Friday, Dec. 22,
+19--." A wild flutter ensued.
+
+The Thanksgiving holiday at Mrs. Harold's had been widely discussed at
+Columbia Heights and had stirred all sorts of emotions to their very
+centers. At Captain Stewart's request, Mrs. Harold had sent unique
+invitations to each of the girls soon after their return to school.
+They were couched in the formal wording of an official invitation from a
+battle ship of the fleet and created a sensation.
+
+Natalie, Stella, Nelly, Rosalie, Juno and Marjorie were invited. Lily
+Pearl's and Helen's attentions to Peggy and Polly having proved
+abortive, they contrived ways and means of their own to reach the Land
+o' Heart's Desire. Helen's old bachelor uncle, a queer, dull old
+gentleman, whose mind was certainly _not_ active, and whom Helen could,
+figuratively speaking, turn and twist about her little finger, was
+persuaded to pass the holidays at Wilmot Hall. He knew a number of
+people in Annapolis, so the path to a certain extent was cleared for
+Lily Pearl and Helen, though they would have given up all the uncles in
+Christendom to have been included in that house party. But half a loaf
+is certainly better than no bread, and once at Annapolis they meant to
+make the most of that half. So it was with no small degree of triumph
+that they announced the fact that they, too, would be at the Christmas
+hop. Just how they intended to manage it they did not disclose.
+Sufficient unto the hour was to be the triumph thereof.
+
+Captain Stewart arrived on Friday morning in time for luncheon and,
+guileless man that he has already shown himself to be, promptly
+offered to "convoy the two little cruisers to Annapolis." His offer was
+accepted with so many gushing responses that the poor man looked about
+as bewildered as a great St. Bernard which has inadvertently upset a
+cage of humming birds, and finds them fluttering all about him. Lily and
+Helen were of a different type from the girls he knew best, but he
+accepted the situation gracefully and enjoyed himself hugely with the
+others, even Marjorie blossoming out wonderfully under his genial
+kindliness.
+
+Isabel amused him immensely. Isabel was to spend her holiday in Boston,
+_of course_, but was to meet a friend in Baltimore who would chaperone
+the shrinking damsel safely to Mamma's protecting arms. Captain Stewart
+would escort her to the Naval Academy Junction, from which point it
+seemed perfectly safe to let her pursue the remaining half hour's
+journey to Baltimore unattended. In the course of the journey from
+Washington to the Junction Isabel elected to make some delayed notes in
+her diary, greatly to the secret amusement of Captain Stewart, who
+happened to be sitting just behind her.
+
+"Making a list of all your dances and Christmas frolicings,
+little-er-ahem--, Miss?"
+
+"Boylston, Captain Stewart. Oh, no, I rarely attend dances; there is so
+much that is instructive to be enjoyed while at home. I am making some
+notes in my diary."
+
+"Don't say so. Find the outlook inspiring?" Captain Stewart laughed as
+he looked out upon the dreary landscape, for the afternoon was lowery,
+and certainly, the cheerless flat landscape between Washington and the
+Junction was far from thrilling.
+
+"Oh, I am not depending upon my visual sight for my inspiration, Captain
+Stewart. Don't you think the study of one's fellow beings intensely
+interesting?'
+
+"Yes, it's a heap cheerier inside the car than outside on this
+confoundedly soggy day," answered Captain Stewart, preparing to withdraw
+from an even more depressing atmosphere than that beyond the car
+windows, by turning to Rosalie, whose eyes were commencing to dance. But
+Isabel had no idea of foregoing an opportunity to make an impression,
+little guessing the sort of one she was in reality making.
+
+"Yes, it is exceedingly damp today, but do you think we ought to allow
+externals to affect us?" she asked.
+
+"Eh? What? I'm afraid you're getting beyond my bearings. Lead won't
+touch bottom."
+
+Isabel smiled indulgently: One must be tolerant with a person forced to
+spend his life within the limited bounds of a ship.
+
+"Miss Sturgis, our instructor in sociology, advises us to be very
+observing and to take notes of everything unusual. You know we shall
+graduate next year and time passes _so_ swiftly. It seems only yesterday
+that I entered Columbia Heights School, and here Christmas is upon us. I
+have so little time left in which to accomplish all I feel I should, and
+I could not graduate after I'd passed seventeen. I'd _die_ of
+mortification. And, oh, that fact holds a suggestion. Pardon me if I
+make a note of it, and--and--_how_ do you spell accomplished, Captain
+Stewart? I really have so little time to give to etymology."
+
+For one second Captain Stewart looked at the girl as though he thought
+she might possibly be running him. He was more accustomed to the
+fun-loving, joking girl than to this "cellar-grown turnip" as he
+mentally stigmatized her. Then the little imps in Rosalie's eyes proved
+his undoing:
+
+"I'm afraid I'm no good as an English prof. Reckon I'd spell it
+akomplish. Sounds as good as any other way. You'll know what it means
+when you overhaul it anyhow. But here we are at the Junction. Pipe
+overside, bo's'n," he cried to Peggy.
+
+Good-bys were hastily spoken and Captain Stewart soon had his party
+hurrying across the platform to the Annapolis car. As he settled Rosalie
+in her seat he asked:
+
+"How many Miss Boylstons have you got at Columbia Heights?"
+
+"Only one, thank the powers!" answered Rosalie fervently.
+
+It was nearly six when the electric cars rolled up to the rear of Wilmot
+Hall and the girls saw Mrs. Harold, and a number of the midshipmen of
+the first class lined up and eagerly watching for the particular "she"
+who would spend the holidays in Annapolis.
+
+A mob of squabbling boys made a mad rush for the car steps in the hope
+of securing suitcases to carry into the hotel, and had not the
+midshipmen swept them aside, further progress for the car's passengers
+would have been barred. The hoodlums of the town seem to spring from the
+very ground upon the arrival of a car at Wilmot and certainly make life
+a burden for travelers trying to descend the car steps.
+
+There was only time for general greetings just then, as all hurried into
+Wilmot to meet old friends and new ones, Mrs. Howland, Constance, Snap,
+Gail and Mr. Harold having already arrived.
+
+Pending the departure for Severndale, Mrs. Harold had, at Captain
+Stewart's request, engaged three extra rooms, thus practically
+preempting her entire corridor for her guests, and a jollier party it
+would have been hard to find than the one escorted down to the big
+dining-room that evening by "The Executive Officer," as Captain Stewart
+called Mrs. Harold, who was acting as chaperone for his party.
+
+Directly dinner ended Captain Stewart and Commander Harold left upon
+some mysterious mission which threw the girls into a wild flutter of
+curiosity.
+
+"Oh, what is it all about?" demanded Rosalie.
+
+"Can't tell one single thing until Daddy Neil says I may," laughed
+Peggy.
+
+"Does Polly know?" asked Natalie.
+
+Peggy nodded.
+
+"You'll have to bottle up your impatience for an hour or two. Go to your
+rooms and shake out your pretties for tomorrow night's frolic, for I am
+going to 'pipe down' early tonight. When you have finished stowing your
+lockers come back to the sitting-room and we'll have a quiet, cozy time
+until our commanding officers return. Constance, Gail and Snap must make
+a call this evening, but I'm not going to let anyone claim my time. It
+all belongs to my girls," said Mrs. Harold gaily, as she and Mrs.
+Howland seated themselves before the open fire.
+
+The girls hurried away to do her bidding, for it had been decided to
+remain at Wilmot until after the Christmas hop, all going out to
+Severndale by a special car when the dance was over, Harrison, Mammy and
+Jerome, under Mrs. Harold's tactful generalship, having made all
+preparations for the big house party.
+
+In a few moments the girls returned from unpacking their suitcases.
+
+The Thanksgiving visit had removed all sense of reserve or strangeness
+with Mrs. Harold, but they did not know Mrs. Howland, and for a moment
+there seemed an ominous lull. Then Peggy crying:
+
+"I want my old place, Little Mother," nestled softly upon the arm of the
+big morris-chair in which Mrs. Harold sat, and rested her head against
+Mrs. Harold. The other girls had dropped upon chairs, but Mrs. Harold
+was minded to have her charges pro tem at closer range, so releasing
+herself from Peggy's circling arm for a moment, she reached for two
+plump cushions upon the couch near at hand and flopping them down, one
+at either knee said: "Juno on this one, Rosalie on the other; Marjorie
+beside me and Natalie, Stella and Nelly with Polly," for Polly had
+already cuddled down upon her mother's chair.
+
+Before the words had well left her lips, Rosalie had sprung to her coign
+of vantage crying:
+
+"Oh, Mrs. Harold, you are the dearest chappie I ever knew, and it's
+already been ten times lovelier than Polly and Peggy ever could describe
+it."
+
+With a happy little laugh, Natalie promptly seated herself upon the arm
+of Mrs. Howland's chair, but Juno hesitated a moment, looking doubtfully
+at the cushion. Juno was a very up-to-date young lady as to raiment. How
+could she flop down as Rosalie had done while wearing a skirt which
+measured no more than a yard around at the hem, and geared up in an
+undergarment which defied all laws of anatomy by precluding the
+possibility of bending at the waist line? She looked at Mrs. Harold and
+she looked at the cushion. As her boys would have expressed it "the
+Little Mother was not slow in catching on." She now laughed outright.
+Juno did not know whether to resent it or join in the laugh too. There
+was something about the older woman, however, which aroused in girls a
+sense of camaraderie rather than reserve, though Juno had never quite
+been able to analyze it. She smiled, and by some form of contortion of
+which necessity and long practice had made her a passed mistress,
+contrived to get herself settled upon the cushion.
+
+"Honey," said Mrs. Harold, patting her shoulder, "if you want to live up
+to your name you'll discard your coat of mail. Your namesake would have
+scorned its limitations, and your young figure will be far lovelier and
+more graceful, to say nothing of the benefit to yourself and future
+generations, if you heave your armor plate overboard."
+
+It was all said half-jestingly, half-seriously, but Juno gave her head a
+superior little toss as she answered:
+
+"And go looking like a meal sack? To say nothing of flinging away twenty
+perfectly good dollars just paid to Madam Malone."
+
+"I'm afraid I'm a very old-fashioned old lady, but I have no notion of
+letting any Madam Malone, or any other French lady from Erin dictate
+_my_ fashions, or curtail the development and use of my muscles; I have
+too much use for them. Do Peggy and Polly resemble 'meal sacks?' Yet no
+Madam Malone has ever had the handling of their floating-ribs, let me
+tell you. Watch out, little girl, for a nervous, semi-invalid womanhood
+is a high price to pay for a pair of corsets at seventeen. There, my
+lecture is over and now let's talk of earthquakes."
+
+At her aunt's question regarding Peggy and herself resembling "meal
+sacks," Polly laughed aloud and being in a position to practically
+demonstrate the freedom which a sensibly full skirt afforded, cried:
+
+"If I couldn't _run_ when I felt like it I'd _die_. I tell you, when I
+strike heavy weather I want my rigging ship-shape. I'd hate to scud
+under bare poles."
+
+The subject was changed but the words were not forgotten. The other
+girls had all gathered about the blazing logs upon cushions or hassocks,
+and a pretty group they formed as they talked eagerly of the coming hop,
+and tried to guess what Captain Stewart was planning, Mrs. Harold and
+Mrs. Howland joining enthusiastically in it all.
+
+"Tanta," asked Polly, "do you know that Lily Pearl Montgomery and Helen
+Doolittle are here at Wilmot with Helen's uncle? We have christened him
+'Foxy Grandpa.' Just wait till you see him. He looks the character
+exactly."
+
+"Are they to go to the hop?" asked Mrs. Harold, instantly interested,
+for even though she had heard amusing tales of the two girls, they were
+still young girls, and she was concerned for their happiness and
+pleasure.
+
+"We don't know and we didn't like to seem inquisitive," replied Polly.
+
+"Yes, they are going, Little Mother. Helen told me so. Foxy Grandpa
+knows somebody who knows somebody else, who knows the boys who are to
+take them, but they didn't tell us their names. I wonder if we know
+them," was Peggy's laughing explanation.
+
+"I hope they will have a happy time," said Mrs. Howland gently as she
+stroked back Polly's silky curls.
+
+"You trust them to have the time of their lives, Mumsey. But oh, _isn't_
+it good to be here!" and Polly favored her mother with an ecstatic hug.
+
+"What time are we to go to Severndale tomorrow, Little Mother?" asked
+Peggy.
+
+"Not until after the hop, dear. It will be very late, I know, but
+Christmas is a special day of days. That is the reason I'm going to send
+you all off early tonight. Nine-thirty gunfire will see you started for
+the Land o' Nod."
+
+"Aren't we to wait until Daddy Neil comes back?"
+
+"Not unless he gets back before three bells and it looks doubtful, two
+have already struck. But you'll learn the news the first thing in the
+morning."
+
+But at that moment Captain Stewart came breezing into the room. Peggy
+and Polly flew to him crying:
+
+"Did he say yes? Did he say yes? Oh, answer, quick! Do!" they begged,
+each clasping arms about him.
+
+"If I answer quick you'll both cast loose but the longer I keep you in
+suspense the longer you'll lay hold," was his quizzical retort.
+
+"We won't stir. We won't budge. Tell us."
+
+For answer Captain Stewart drew an official-looking document from his
+blouse pocket and waved it high above the girls' heads. A series of
+ecstatic squeals arose from them. Opening the carefully folded paper he
+read its stereotyped phrasing, all of which is too serious to be herein
+repeated. Suffice it to say that it secured for
+
+     Durand Leroux,     Second Class
+     Herbert Taylor,    Second Class
+     Ralph Wilber,      Third Class
+     Jean Paul Nichols, Third Class
+     Gordon Powers,     Third Class
+     Douglas Porter,    Third Class
+
+leave of absence under Captain Neil Stewart's orders from 6:30 P. M.,
+December 23rd, to 6 P. M., December 25th, 19--.
+
+When the excitement had somewhat subsided, Captain Stewart said:
+
+"Now that I'm sure of it, I must go 'phone out to Severndale or Jerome
+and Harrison will be throwing fits. We'll have to quarter that bunch in
+the old wing, but Lord bless my soul, I reckon they'd be willing to go
+out to the paddock. But mind, you girls, _not one whisper of it to those
+boys, until I give the word_, or it will be the brig for every mother's
+daughter of you," and with this terrifying threat he strode off down the
+corridor.
+
+Just then three bells struck in the tower and at the second stroke the
+nine-thirty gun boomed out its welcome "Release."
+
+As the sound died away Mrs. Harold walked over to the big window calling
+to the girls to join her.
+
+"Stand here a moment," she said, then going over to the electric switch
+turned off all the lights.
+
+"Why? What?" cried all the girls excepting Peggy and Polly.
+
+"Look at the windows on the third deck of Bancroft, southwest corner,"
+she said, unhooking a drop light from above her desk and crossing the
+room to the puzzled girls. "Those are Durand's and Bert's rooms. Next to
+them are Gordon's and Doug's. Watch closely."
+
+Presently from two of the windows lights were flashed three times in
+rapid succession. Then absolute darkness.
+
+Instantly Mrs. Harold turned the reflector of her drop light toward the
+academy in such a way that the light would be cast out across the
+night, then by turning the key on and off quickly she flashed its rays
+three times, paused a moment, then repeated the signal.
+
+Instantly from the rooms mentioned came the answering flashes, which
+after a brief interval were repeated, Mrs. Harold again giving her
+reply.
+
+"Oh, who does it? What is it for? What do they mean?" asked her
+visitors.
+
+"Just our usual good-night message to each other. My boys are all dear to
+me, but Durand and Gordon peculiarly so. Those rooms are theirs. Shall I
+tell you the message the flashes carry? It is just a little honor code.
+I want the boys to stand well this term, but, like most boys they are
+always ready for skylarking, and the work from seven-thirty to
+nine-thirty is easily side-tracked. So we have agreed to exchange a
+message at gunfire if 'all is well.' If they have been boning tomorrow's
+work my flash light is answered; if not--well, I see no answering
+flash."
+
+"Do you think they always live up to the agreement?" asked Rosalie.
+
+"I have faith to believe they do. Isn't it always better to believe a
+person honest until we prove him a thief, than to go the other way about
+it? Besides, they carry the Talisman."
+
+"What is it--Little Mother?" asked Juno, to the surprise of the others,
+slipping to Mrs. Harold's side and placing her arm about her.
+
+"Would you really like to know, dear? Suppose we throw on a fresh log
+and leave the lights turned off. Then we'll have a confidential ten
+minutes before you go to bed. You can all cuddle down in a pile on the
+big bearskin."
+
+A moment later the flames formed a brilliant background to a pretty
+picture, and Mrs. Harold was repeating softly, as the upspringing flames
+filled the room with, their light and rested lovingly upon the young
+faces upturned to here:
+
+     "Each night when three bells strike the hour
+     Up in the old clock's lofty tower,
+     A flashing beam, a darting ray
+     Their message of good faith convey.
+
+     "Those wavering, clear, electric beams,
+     Who'll guess how much their message means?
+     Or dream the wondrous tale they tell?
+     'Dear Little Mother, all is well.'
+
+     "Yes, out across the peaceful night,
+     By moon and stars made silvery bright,
+     This message comes in gleaming light:
+     We've kept the faith; Good-night! Good-night!
+
+     "Our token of a duty done,
+     An effort made, a victory won;
+     The bond on which we claim the right
+     To flash our message, our 'Good-night.'
+
+     "Dear Little Mother. Precious name!
+     None sweeter may a woman claim,
+     No greater honor hope to gain
+     Than this which three short words contain.
+
+     "To win and hold a love so pure,
+     A faith so stanch, so strong, so sure--
+     To gain a confidence so rare--
+     What honors can with these compare?
+
+     "No wonder as I flash my ray
+     Across the night's dividing way,
+     In deepest reverence I say:
+     God keep you true, dear lads, alway."
+
+The girls' good-nights were spoken very tenderly. The message of the
+lights had carried one to them as well.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIII
+
+YULETIDE
+
+
+"We are one real old-timey family, sure enough," said Captain Stewart
+heartily, as he gathered his girls about him in Mrs. Harold's
+sitting-room Saturday morning. "But, my-oh, my! I wish I were that
+Indian-Chinese-Jap god, what's his name? who has about a dozen, arms.
+Two are just no account," he added laughingly as he held Peggy in one
+and Polly in the other, while all the other girls, Gail included,
+crowded around him, all talking and laughing at once, all demanding to
+know what would be the very first thing on the day's program.
+
+Mr. and Mrs. Harold, Mrs. Howland, Constance and Snap were seated about
+the room, highly amused by the group in the center, for the girls had
+gathered about Captain Stewart as honeybees gather about a jar of
+sweets.
+
+"Come close! Come close, and I'll tell you. Can't talk at long range,"
+rumbled the kindly man, flopping his arms over Peggy's and Polly's
+shoulders like an amiable sea lion.
+
+Rosalie flew to snuggle beside Polly. Natalie by Peggy, the other girls
+drawing as close as possible, Stella excepted, who laughed, blushed
+prettily and said:
+
+"I think Captain Stewart has more than his arms full now, so I'll hover
+on the outskirts."
+
+"I used to be scared to death of him," confessed Gail, "but those weeks
+up in New London scared away my scare."
+
+"Well, what is it to be this morning?" asked Peggy.
+
+"Suppose we all go over and take a look around the yard. It may be
+rather slow with just two old fogies like Harold and me for escorts, but
+we'll leave the matrons at home and take Snap. That ensign's stripe on
+his sleeve makes him seem a gay young bachelor even if he is a staid old
+Benedic, and Constance can lend him to you girls for a little while,
+anyway."
+
+"I'm game! No telling which one will be responsible for an elopement,
+Connie," cried Snap, bending over his pretty young wife to rest his dark
+hair against hers for a second.
+
+She laughed a happy little laugh as she answered:
+
+"Go along, Sir Heartbreaker. People down here have not forgotten auld
+lang syne and I dare say the rocking chair fleet will at once begin to
+commiserate me. But you girls had better watch out; he is a hopeless
+flirt. So beware!" Nevertheless, the light in her eyes as she raised
+them to the handsome man whose hand rested upon her shoulders held
+little of apprehension.
+
+Ten minutes later the merry group had set forth. Mrs. Harold, Mrs.
+Howland and Constance were only too glad to have their lively charges
+out of the way for an hour or two, for a good bit must be attended to
+before they could leave for Severndale that evening. Captain Stewart and
+the girls would not return until twelve o'clock and the boys--who had
+been invited out for luncheon rather than to dine, former experiences
+having taught Mrs. Harold the folly of inviting dinner guests on a hop
+night--would arrive immediately after formation.
+
+At twelve o'clock the girls returned from the Yard, and when one bell
+struck were watching in undisguised eagerness for their luncheon guests.
+From Mrs. Harold's windows they could see the steady stream of men
+rushing from Bancroft toward the main gate, and in less time than seemed
+possible, footsteps were audible--yes, a trifle more than audible--as
+"the bunch" came piling up Wilmot's stairway; for the promptitude with
+which "the Little Mother's boys" responded to "a bid" to Middies' Haven
+was an unending source of wonder to most people and certainly to her
+school-girl guests.
+
+Eight midshipmen, came tramping up the stairs, eager to welcome old
+friends and ready to meet new ones upon the old ones' recommendations.
+
+To Peggy, Polly and Nelly the happy, laughing, joking lot of lads were
+an old story, but the influx came near turning some of the other girls'
+heads.
+
+Juno was sorely divided between Douglas Porter's splendid figure and
+Durand's irresistible charm, until Miss Juno began to absorb the full
+significance of "class rates" and gold lace. The "five-striper" or head
+of the entire brigade was a well set-up chap and rather good looking,
+though suffering somewhat from a bad attack of "stripitis," as it was
+termed in Bancroft Hall. He was fairly efficient, a "good enough fellow"
+but not above "greasing," that is, cultivating the officers' favor, or
+that of their wives and daughters, if thereby ultimate benefits accrued
+to himself.
+
+The three-striper of Ralph's, Jean's and Durand's company whom Mrs.
+Harold had asked to escort Stella, was an all-round popular man, and a
+great favorite of Mrs. Harold's for his irreproachable character, sunny,
+lovable disposition and unfailing kindness to the underclassmen.
+
+The others who crowded the room are old friends.
+
+Jean Paul and Rosalie chattered like a pair of magpies. Natalie was the
+happiest thing imaginable as she and Bert Taylor, who had found the
+little golden-head most enticing, laughed and ran each other like old
+chums. Peggy was everywhere, and although Durand strove to break away
+from Juno in order to "get in a few" with Peggy, he was held prisoner
+with "big Doug" until Guy Bennett the five-striper arrived and promptly
+appropriated her. Then Durand got away.
+
+Gordon Powers devoted himself to Nelly, while Ralph hovered over Polly,
+for they had endless interests in common.
+
+"And you made the crew, Ralph!" cried Polly. "Maybe I wasn't tickled
+nearly to death when you wrote me about it. And you're out for
+basketball too? How did you come out in Math and Mech? And who's taken
+Gumshoe's place this year? And you never wrote me a word about Class
+President Election, though I guess I've asked you in every letter. What
+makes you so tight with your news, any way? I write you every little
+thing about Columbia Heights. Come across with it."
+
+Ralph turned crimson. Polly looked first baffled then suddenly growing
+wise, jumped at him and shook him by the shoulders just as she used to
+do in the old days as she cried:
+
+"It's _you_! And you never told me! You good-for-nothing boy."
+
+"Hi! Watch out! The Captain's clearing for action," cried Jean Paul.
+"Told you you'd catch it when she found out."
+
+"Well, Tanta might have told me, anyhow," protested Polly.
+
+"Ralph wouldn't let me. Kept me honor bound not to. But if you are all
+ready for your luncheon, come down at once. There are--how many of us?
+Twenty-four? Merciful powers!"
+
+"No, Tanta, only twenty-three. Poor Gail's minus an escort," cried
+Polly, a shade of regret in her eyes, for Gail meant a great deal to
+this little sister.
+
+"Why, so she is. Now that's too bad of me," but something in her aunt's
+voice made Polly look at her keenly. A moment later she understood.
+
+As the merry, laughing, chattering group reached the last landing of the
+stairs leading down to the Assembly Hall, a tall, broad-shouldered man
+who stood at the foot looked eagerly upward. Polly gave one wild screech
+and nearly fell down the remaining steps, to fling herself into the
+arms outstretched to save her, as a deep voice said:
+
+"One bell, Captain Polly! You'll carry away your landing stage if you
+come head on at full speed."
+
+"Oh, Shortie! Shortie! Where did you come from?" cried Polly, nearly
+pumping his arm from its socket, while all the others crowded around to
+welcome the big fellow whom all had loved or esteemed during his
+undergraduate days.
+
+"Ask the Little Mother. She's responsible, and Gail needs looking after
+among all this bunch, I know. Come along, young lady. I've got to see
+you fed and cared for."
+
+And Gail seemed perfectly willing to "come along."
+
+With such an addition to her family, Mrs. Harold had made arrangements
+to have two large round tables reserved for her in the smaller of the
+two dining-rooms, the older people at one, with Gail, Stella, Juno,
+Shortie, Allyn and Guy to make the circle, the younger people with Peggy
+and Polly as hostesses at the adjoining table. In addition to her own
+regular waiter, the second head waiter and two assistants had been
+detailed to serve, but with the Christmas rush and the number of people
+at Wilmot for the holidays there was more or less delay between
+courses.
+
+"Where is John?" she demanded, as they were waiting for the salad.
+
+"Over yonder. Shall I hail him?" asked Durand, from the next table,
+promptly putting his fingers to his mouth as though to give one of the
+ear-splitting whistles which seem to carry for miles.
+
+"If you dare, you scape-grace, right here in this dining-room!" she
+warned.
+
+"Oh, do it!" cried Polly. "I want to learn how. Show me."
+
+"All right; stick out your tongue," directed Durand and Polly promptly
+fell into the trap, though unluckily she happened to be looking straight
+past Durand at the moment, and what proved more embarrassing, right at a
+table occupied by Foxy Grandpa, Helen and Lily Pearl, whom Mrs. Harold
+had not yet met, so, of course, did not recognize. (Helen and Lily did
+not mean to lose sight of Peggy and Polly if they could help it.)
+
+There are some situations where explanations only make matters worse.
+This was one of them. Polly was in everlasting disgrace and everyone at
+the table in shouts of laughter, as well as those at other tables near
+at hand, whose occupants could not have helped hearing and seeing if
+they would.
+
+But at that moment Rosalie diverted attention from Polly by trying to
+clap her hands regardless of the piece of luncheon roll she held, thus
+promptly launching it over her shoulder, where it went merrily bounding
+across the polished floor to be gravely rescued by the irreproachable
+John. But Rosalie was in the realms of the gods and far above such
+mundane matters as a luncheon roll's eccentricities.
+
+Mrs. Harold was no whit behind her girls in their fun, and was so well
+known to every guest in the hotel that her table was invariably looked
+upon as a source of amusement for most of the others, and the fun which
+flowed like an electric current came very near making them forget the
+good things before them, and the big dining-room full of people found
+themselves sympathetically affected, each gay bit of laughter, each
+enthusiastic comment finding an answering smile at some table.
+
+As nearly every member of the first class had gone on Christmas leave,
+the few who happened to be in Annapolis having remained as the guests of
+friends, there was a very perceptible thinning out of ranks over in
+Bancroft that afternoon. Nevertheless, Mrs. Harold had announced an
+informal tea from four to six and "general liberty" enabled all who
+chose to do so to attend it. And many chose! But in the interval
+between luncheon and four o 'clock Mrs. Harold "barred out the masculine
+population" and carried her girls upstairs to change their gowns for her
+tea. It was during the "prinking process" that some very characteristic
+comments were made upon the masculine guests now enjoying their
+post-prandial cigars, or cigarettes, in the smoking-room, below stairs.
+
+Mrs. Harold was in her element listening to the girls' frank comments.
+
+"Oh, I know I'm going to have the very time of my life, Mrs. Harold,"
+exclaimed Natalie, giving a little bounce of rapture.
+
+"Mr. Porter is certainly a remarkably handsome man," was Juno's
+complacent comment. "But, Mrs. Harold, aren't first classmen
+really--well--don't they come in for greater privileges? Rate more? Is
+that what you say down here?"
+
+"Of course. Especially a five-striper, Juno. You'd better cultivate Guy
+Bennett. It's a great distinction to profit by a five-striper's favors.
+There are three girls in Annapolis who have reduced that sort of
+cultivation to a science and if you manage to rival them you will have
+scored a point, sure enough."
+
+"How many five-stripers are there?" asked Stella.
+
+"Only one, happily, or the girls to whom I allude would have nervous
+prostration. But the four and three-stripers save the day for them.
+Nothing below is worth cultivating."
+
+"Don't Polly and Peggy 'cultivate' the stripers!" asked Rosalie.
+
+"That depends," was Mrs. Harold's cryptic answer as an odd smile caused
+her lips to twitch. "Last year's five-striper and a good many other
+stripers, were with us constantly, and I miss them more than I like to
+dwell upon. This year's? Well--I shall endeavor to survive their
+departure."
+
+"Oh, but don't you just love them all!" cried Rosalie.
+
+"Which, the midshipmen or the stripes?" asked Polly.
+
+"Why, the midshipmen, of course!"
+
+"I think a whole lot of some of the boys--yes, of a good many, but there
+are some whom I wouldn't miss much, I reckon."
+
+"Oh, I think you are perfectly heartless, Polly. They are just the
+darlingest men I ever met."
+
+With what unction the word "men" rolled from Rosalie's tongue. "Men" had
+not figured very largely in Rosalie's world, and Mrs. Harold chuckled
+inwardly at the thought of classing Rosalie's particular little Jean
+Paul, in the category of grown-ups; anything more essentially boyish,
+and full to the brim of madcap pranks, than the eighteen-year-old Jean
+Paul, it would have been hard to picture.
+
+Mrs. Harold had dispatched notes to Helen and Lily Pearl asking them in
+Peggy's and Polly's name to be present at her little tea that afternoon,
+to meet several of the midshipmen, and, if they cared to do so, to bring
+with them the men who were taking them to the hop. She did not know who
+these men were.
+
+Shortly after four Helen and Lily Pearl arrived in a flutter. Mrs.
+Harold had not felt it incumbent upon her to include Foxy Grandpa,
+concluding that he could find diversion for an hour or two while his
+charges were with their school-chums. When Helen and Lily arrived upon
+the scene, Mrs. Harold's face was a study. Foxy Grandpa was evidently
+too dull to be critical and Columbia Heights was at a safe distance.
+
+Both Lily Pearl and Helen were gotten up regardless. Each wore
+extravagant gowns, each had done up her hair and supplemented it by
+wonderful creations of false puffs. Each wore dangling ear-rings and the
+complexion of each girl had been "assisted."
+
+Poor Mrs. Harold felt as though a couple of chorus girls had invaded her
+little sanctum, and Peggy and Polly were furious. But it was too late
+then to retreat and a few moments later the midshipmen began to pour
+into the sitting-room, the two who were to take Helen and Lily being men
+whom Mrs. Harold had always avoided, feeling that they were no
+companions for the frank, unaffected girls she loved so dearly. She
+resolved to keep her eye piped.
+
+It was a merry afternoon. Rosalie scintillated, and her scintillation
+proved infectious for Jean Paul, upon whom she had made a deep
+impression at Thanksgiving; he instantly appropriated her, greatly to
+Mrs. Harold's amusement, for she was never too fully occupied to notice
+significant signs.
+
+Quiet, dignified Bert Taylor had promptly taken bonny Natalie under his
+serene protection. And Juno! Well she was sorely divided between Doug's
+towering seventy-four inches and Gordon's sixty-nine, though she strove
+to conceal the exaltation which her uniformed gallants stirred in her
+soul by bringing to bear upon them all the superlative superiority which
+she had studied as the acme of success in the habitues of the Hotel
+Astor. With Douglas it worked to a charm. He rose to the corresponding
+role as a trout to a fly, but poor Gordon was only too thankful when the
+companionship and conversation became more general. The superior young
+lady from the metropolis was beyond his ken. Little Nelly Bolivar's
+sweetness and quaint humor filled his ideals to far greater
+satisfaction. He had met Nelly first at Severndale and several times
+since with Mrs. Harold, who had often invited her to spend the weekend
+at Wilmot, where she had looked to the young girl's welfare, knowing how
+much she must miss Peggy this winter.
+
+Nelly was simply dressed in a gown which had once been Peggy's, for most
+of Peggy's garments went to Nelly, but were given so sweetly and with
+such evident love, that not even the most sensitive nature could have
+been wounded, and they were a real blessing to her. No one ever
+commented upon the fact and before going to Columbia Heights, Nelly had
+spent many a busy hour with Mrs. Harold remodeling and working like a
+little beaver under that good friend's guidance, for Nelly was a skilful
+little needlewoman. As a result, no girl in the school was more suitably
+gowned. The only girls who had eyed her critically were Lily Pearl,
+Helen and Juno. The first because she was too shallow to do aught but
+follow Helen's lead, and Juno from a naturally critical disposition.
+Juno meant to hold her favor somewhat in reserve. She intended first to
+see what Nelly's standing at Severndale proved. She might be Polly's and
+Peggy's friend--well and good--but who was she? Would she find a
+welcome among the Delacys, the Vanderstacks, the Dryers and heaven knows
+which-or-whats of New York's glitterers?
+
+Juno was hardly in a position to gauge her standards by those who
+represented the big city's finest and best. She saw the patrons of the
+great hotels and moved among them, but of New York's sterling worth, she
+was as ignorant as a babe. Its superficial glamour and glitter, as well
+as its less desirable contingent, which she was not sufficiently
+experienced in the world's ways to fully understand, made the strongest
+appeal to her. Poor little Nelly Bolivar would have been a modest, sleek
+little Junco compared with the birds of paradise (?), cockatoos, and
+pheasants of Juno's world, but of all this Nelly was quite unaware and
+too happy in her present surroundings to care.
+
+It was a merry afternoon for all, but a diversion was created by Polly,
+shortly before it ended.
+
+She was at the tea-table pouring, and talking to Ralph like a
+phonograph, when Mrs. Harold became aware of a horrible odor, and cried:
+
+"What under the sun smells so abominably? Why, Polly Howland, look at my
+perfectly good teakettle! It is red hot, and--horrors--there isn't one
+drop of water in it!"
+
+True enough, absorbed in her conversation with Ralph, Polly had
+completely overlooked the trifling detail of keeping her kettle filled,
+though the alcohol lamp beneath it was doing its duty most lampfully.
+
+Damages repaired and the kettle at length filled and singing merrily,
+the gay little gathering took slight note of time, but soon after four
+bells struck in the tower clock, Mrs. Harold began to "round up" her
+masculine guests, for she had no notion of their being late for
+formation.
+
+"Take your places in the 'firing line!'" she ordered.
+
+"Oh, there's loads of time, Little Mother!" came in protest from Jean
+Paul.
+
+"Time to burn," from Dick Allyn, who found Stella mighty entertaining.
+
+"Now, Little Mother, you're not going to be so hard-hearted as to turn
+us out early tonight! Why, it's weeks since we've had the girls here,"
+wheedled Durand.
+
+"Can't help it. Out you all go! There's too much at stake just now to
+risk any demerits."
+
+"At stake? What's at stake, Little Mother?" were the eager questions.
+
+"Can't tell you a single thing now. I'm tongue-tied until Captain
+Stewart passes the word."
+
+"Oh, what is it? Please come across with it, Little Mother. When may we
+know," begged Ralph.
+
+"At formation tonight perhaps. No use teasing! Join the firing line!"
+and with the command of a general Mrs. Harold shooed her brood out into
+the corridor, where overcoats and caps hung. They were used to these
+sudden dismissals, and so were Polly and Peggy, who were too familiar
+with all that which must be crowded into a limited amount of time not to
+appreciate what it meant to have "the decks cleared" when necessary. But
+Rosalie, Natalie, Juno, Marjorie, Stella and the other girls accepted
+the new order of things with divers emotions. Rosalie giggled, Natalie's
+face expressed wonder. Juno's was just a shade critical, Marjorie and
+Stella smiled.
+
+"Gee, if we obeyed all orders with as good grace as we obey the Little
+Mother's what models we'd be," was Jean Paul's jerky comment as he
+struggled into an overcoat, his eyes still fixed upon Rosalie's winsome
+face.
+
+Meanwhile, Doug Porter was clawing about among the coats to find his
+own, but happening to glance at Jean Paul, shouted:
+
+"Well, I'll be hanged! Say, how is it to get out of my coat, Bantam?"
+
+True enough, the garment into which the wee man was wriggling trailed
+upon the carpet, but Jean Paul was in a realm where overcoats 'never
+were or e'er had been.'
+
+At six-fifteen the lingering good-byes had been said and Mrs. Harold had
+dismissed those who constituted the "firing line," the name having been
+bestowed by Wheedles when he first witnessed the promptitude with which
+Mrs. Harold sent her boys to the right-about in order to avoid demerits
+for tardiness.
+
+"Why must they rush back on the very minute?" asked Rosalie, when all
+were gone, half inclined to resent an order of things which deprived her
+of her gallant Jean sans ceremony.
+
+"Discipline! Discipline! Little lady," laughed Mrs. Harold, coming up
+behind Rosalie and turning the piquant face up to hers.
+
+"I should think they'd feel like a lot of school boys to be ordered
+about so," was Juno's rather petulant comment.
+
+"Better feel 'like a lot of schoolboys' here, than like a lot of
+simpletons when they 'hit the tree,'" was Mrs. Harold's merry reply.
+"You've a whole lot to learn about regulations, my bonny lassie."
+
+It was all said so kindly and so merrily that Juno could not resent it.
+
+"But when will they learn about their leave? And if they are to go out
+to Severndale tonight how will they manage?" asked Rosalie eagerly.
+
+"Trust Daddy Neil to manage that. When they get back they'll be called
+to the office and the officer in charge will notify them of what has
+taken place and give them their orders."
+
+"Oh, I don't think I can possibly wait to hear what they'll say!" cried
+Polly. "I never, never knew such a lovely thing to happen before."
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XIV
+
+AT SEVERNDALE
+
+
+"My goodness!" cried Rosalie, "I thought I knew Peggy Stewart, but the
+Peggy Stewart we know at Columbia Heights, and the Peggy Stewart we saw
+at Wilmot, and the Peggy Stewart we've found here are three different
+people!"
+
+"And if you stay here long enough you'll know still another Peggy
+Stewart," nodded Polly sagely.
+
+"She is a wonder no matter where you find her," said Nelly quietly, "and
+she grows to be more and more of a wonder the longer you know her."
+
+"How long have you been observing this wonderful wonder?" asked Juno.
+
+"I think Peggy Stewart has held my interest from the first moment we
+came to live at Severndale," was Nelly's perfectly truthful, though not
+wholly enlightening, answer. Juno thought the evasion intentional and
+looked at her rather sharply. She was more than curious to see Nelly's
+home and father, and wondered if the party would be invited there.
+
+The Christmas hop, which had been a paradise within flag-draped walls
+for Captain Stewart's guests, was numbered among delights passed, but so
+many more were in store and the grand climax of the year, the New Year's
+eve hop, though, alack! it had to be given on the night of December
+thirtieth instead of the thirty-first, was looked forward to with
+eagerness.
+
+The party had come out to Severndale by a special car at twelve-thirty,
+and a "madder, merrier" group of young people it would have been hard to
+find.
+
+Upon their return to Bancroft Hall after Mrs. Harold's summary dismissal
+from "Middie's Haven" the previous Saturday night, Ralph, Jean Paul,
+Durand, Bert, Gordon and Doug had been ordered to report at the office
+and had it not been for the hint given at the tea, would have gone in
+trepidation of spirit. But it so happened that the officer in charge was
+possessed of a flickering memory of his own midshipman days, and his
+twinkling eyes and cheerful grin were reassuring. The boys all openly
+adored him, and even though they had dubbed him _Hercules_ Hugh, would
+have formed a door mat of their bodies had he hinted a desire for it.
+
+When the lucky six finally grasped the fact that Captain Stewart had
+actually obtained forty-eight hours liberty for them, and they were to
+go out to Severndale with the house-party, some startling things came
+very near taking place right in the O C's office. Luckily the favored
+ones restrained themselves until they reached Durand's room on the third
+deck, where a vent promptly presented itself, and is too good a story to
+leave untold.
+
+Naturally at Christmas, innumerable boxes of "eats" are shipped to the
+midshipmen from all over the United States, their contents usually
+governed by the section of the world from which they are forwarded. New
+England invariably sends its quota of mince pies, roast turkeys and the
+viands which furnish forth a New England table at Yuletide. The South
+and West send their special dishes.
+
+Durand's Aunt Belle never failed him. Each holiday found a box at
+Bancroft addressed to the lad who was so dear to her, and it was always
+regarded as public property by Durand's friends, who never hesitated to
+open it and regale themselves, sure that the generous owner of the
+"eats" would be only too glad to share with them everything he owned.
+But like most generous souls, Durand was often imposed upon, and this
+year the imposition went to the very limit. While Durand and his friends
+were over in Wilmot Hall his box was rifled, but it could hardly have
+been said to have been done by his friends, several men who had counted
+upon "Bubbles being a good old scout" having made way with practically
+everything the box contained. When he returned to his room the turkey
+carcass, picked clean as though buzzards had fallen upon it, rested
+forlornly upon its back in the middle of his study table. It was well
+for him that the midshipman on duty in his corridor had been one of the
+marauders, otherwise he would have been speedily reported for that which
+followed.
+
+When the yelling, shouting bunch rushed into Durand's room they stopped
+short and a few expletives expressed their opinions of the pirates. But
+Durand's wits worked quickly. Catching up the denuded bird by its greasy
+neck and giving the yell of a Comanche, he rushed out into the corridor
+waving his weapon over his head like a war club. The man on duty at the
+table at the end of the corridor saw him coming and needed no further
+hint that his Nemesis was upon him. Regardless of duty or anything else,
+he bounded from his chair and fled around the corner of the corridor,
+the turkey carcass speeding after him with unerring aim.
+
+Had he remained within range he would have received all and more than
+his share of the bird. Unluckily, a divisional officer had chosen that
+moment to turn into the corridor, and the turkey whizzed over his head,
+for he was one very tiny man. Durand did not wait to make inquiries. He
+had not removed cap or overcoat, a window was close at hand, the window
+of the adjoining room was accessible to one as agile as Durand, and the
+next second he was out of one and through the other, leaving his friends
+to make explanations.
+
+Why it did not result in Durand and all the others losing those precious
+forty-eight hours of liberty, only their special guardian spirits were
+in a position to explain, but they kept discreetly silent. The men in
+Durand's room could truthfully declare that they had not had a thing to
+do with the launching of that extraordinary projectile and also that
+Durand was not in his room. It was not necessary to be too explicit,
+they felt, and twenty minutes later all were over at Middie's Haven, Guy
+Bennett and Richard Allyn, to Juno's secret disgust, having shifted into
+civilian clothes as was the privilege of the first classmen "on leave,"
+the difference between "leave" and "liberty" being very great indeed.
+Stella, although admiring the uniforms, was tantalizingly uncritical.
+The girls could never quite understand Stella's lack of enthusiasm over
+the midshipmen.
+
+And so had passed that joyful evening of the Christmas hop, the biggest
+surprise of all awaiting them up at Round Bay upon the arrival of the
+car at that station.
+
+Nearly every horse and vehicle at Severndale had been pressed into
+service to carry its guests from the station, and mounted on Shashai and
+Star, Jess having brought them home for the holidays, were Happy and
+Wheedles.
+
+They had been unable to leave their ships as soon as Shorty, so taking a
+later train had gone directly to Severndale. Their welcome by Peggy and
+Polly was a royal one. When the party arrived at Severndale another
+surprise greeted it as a very fat, very much-at-home Boston bull-terrier
+came tumbling down the steps to greet them. To all but Polly he was an
+alien and a stranger. Polly paused just one second, then cried as she
+gathered the little beast into her arms, regardless of the evening wrap
+she was wearing:
+
+"Oh, Rhody! Rhody! who brought you?"
+
+As though to answer her question, Rhody rolled his pop-eyes toward
+Wheedles.
+
+Of the happy Sunday and happier Christmas day space is too limited to
+tell. At five P. M. Durand, Ralph, Jean Paul, Bert, Gordon and Doug were
+obliged to bid their hostesses adieu and return to Annapolis, but each
+day of Christmas week held its afternoon informal dance at the
+auditorium, to which Mrs. Harold escorted her party, the mornings being
+given over to work by the midshipmen, and to all manner of frolicing out
+at Severndale by Happy, Wheedles, and Shortie, who seemed to have
+returned to their fun-loving, care-free undergraduate days.
+
+Yet how the boys had changed in their seven months as passed-midshipmen.
+Although full of their fun and pranks, running Peggy and Polly
+unmercifully, showing many little courtesies to Nelly whom all had grown
+to love during the old days, and playing the gay gallants to the other
+girls, there was a marked change from the happy-go-lucky Wheedles, the
+madcap Happy, and the quaint, odd Shortie of Bancroft days.
+
+But Shortie's interest was unquestionably centered on one golden-haired
+little lady, and many a long ride did they take through the lovely
+country about Severndale. Captain Stewart watched proceedings with a
+wise smile. Gail and Shortie were prime favorites of his.
+
+Happy and Wheedles had to do duty for many during the morning hours, but
+the girls' especial escorts were punctual to the minute when the launch
+from Severndale ran up to the Maryland Avenue float at three-forty-five
+each afternoon, and they had no cause to complain of a lack of
+attention, for many beside those who had been invited to Severndale were
+eager for dances with little gypsy Rosalie, tall, stately Stella,
+winsome Natalie, shy Marjorie or the scornful Juno, whose superiority
+was considered a big joke.
+
+During their week in Annapolis Helen and Lily Pearl had made tremendous
+strides in a certain way. Foxy Grandpa had met a gushing, gracious
+widow, who made Wilmot her home. That the lady's hair was of a shade
+rarely produced by nature, and her complexion as unusual as her
+innumerable puffs and curls, Foxy Grandpa was too dull of sight and mind
+to perceive. He had gone through life somewhat side-tracked by more
+brilliant, interesting people, and to find someone who flattered him and
+fluttered about him with the coyness of eighteen years, when three times
+eighteen would hardly have sufficed to number her milestones, went to
+the old gentleman's head like wine, and he became Mrs. Ring's slave to
+the vast amusement of everyone in Wilmot.
+
+And Mrs. Ring promptly took Helen and Lily Pearl under her chaperonage,
+introduced her son, a midshipman, to them, who in turn introduced his
+room-mate, and a charming sextet was promptly formed. Poor Mrs. Vincent
+was likely to have some lively experiences as the result of that
+Christmas holiday, for Paul Ring and Charles Purdy were one rare pair of
+susceptible simpletons, if nothing worse.
+
+And so passed the week at Severndale for Mrs. Harold's party, Peggy once
+more the gracious little chatelaine, sure of herself and entertaining
+her guests like a little queen, a perfect wonder to the other girls.
+Polly was happy as a grig, and all the others equally so. The older
+people rejoiced in this rare reunion, and Captain Stewart each day grew
+more devoted to his "Howland bunch" as he called them. The three girls
+openly adored him, and dainty, quiet little Mrs. Howland beamed upon
+everyone, little guessing how often the good Captain's eyes rested upon
+her when she was unaware of it, or how he was learning to esteem the
+mother of the three young girls whom he pronounced "jewels of the purest
+water."
+
+But that lies in the future. It is once more Saturday morning and once
+more a big dance is pending to which all are going.
+
+This time Shortie was taking Gail, Wheedles had asked Stella, Happy was
+looking after Juno, Polly would go with Ralph, Peggy with Durand,
+Rosalie would have cried her eyes out had any one save Jean Paul been
+her gay gallant, Natalie was Bert's charge, Marjorie and big Doug had
+become good chums, and, of course, Gordon Powers had made sure of
+Nelly's company.
+
+As this was to be the most magnificent affair of the holiday season, it
+had been decided to drive into Annapolis directly after luncheon, attend
+a matinee to be given at the one funny little theatre the town boasted,
+and for which Mrs. Harold had secured three stalls in order to include
+"the bunch," then to go to Wilmot to dine and dress, Mammy, Harrison and
+Jerome having been intrusted with the transportation of the suitcases
+containing the evening finery.
+
+All went merry as a marriage bell. When the matinee ended the boys were
+sent to the right about and the girls hurried to their rooms to make
+their toilets, for a six-thirty dinner had been ordered and everybody
+would be present.
+
+As the girls, excepting Stella and Gail, were all under seventeen, and
+still to make their formal bows to the big social world, their gowns
+were all of short, dancing length, Juno's excepted. Juno was a good deal
+of a law unto herself in the matter of raiment. Her father supplied her
+with all the spending money she asked for, and charge accounts at
+several of the large New York shops and at a fashionable modiste's,
+completed her latitude. There would be very little left for Juno to
+arrive at when she made her debut.
+
+There was no time for comment or correction when the girls emerged from
+their rooms to accompany the older people to the dining-room, but at
+sight of Juno's gown Mrs. Harold's color grew deeper, and for a moment
+her teeth pressed her lower lip as though striving to hold back her
+words. Juno and Rosalie shared one room but Rosalie had known nothing of
+the contents of Juno's suitcase until it came time for them to dress,
+then her black eyes had nearly popped out of their sockets, for
+certainly Juno's gown was a startling creation for a school-girl.
+
+Needless to add, the one which she was supposed to have taken to
+Annapolis had been replaced by the present one at the last moment, and
+Mrs. Vincent was not even aware that Juno possessed such a gown as the
+one she was then wearing.
+
+It was a beautiful pearl white charmeuse, cut low in front and with a V
+in the back which clearly testified to the fact that the wearer was
+_not_ afflicted with spinal curvature. Its trimmings were of exquisite
+lace and crystals sufficiently elaborate for a bride, and the skirt was
+one of the clinging, narrow, beaver-tailed train affairs which render
+walking about as graceful as the gait of a hobbled-horse, and dancing an
+utter impossibility unless the gown is held up. It was a most advanced
+style, out-Parisianing the Parisian. When Juno prepared to get into it,
+even Rosalie, charming beyond words in a pink chiffon, had cried:
+
+"Why, Juno Gibson, it's lucky for you Mrs. Vincent isn't here. You'd
+never go to the hop in that dress."
+
+"Well, she isn't here, so calm yourself."
+
+But the climax came as they were crossing Wilmot's reception hall on
+their way up from dinner. Mrs. Harold was walking just behind her flock,
+Peggy with her, fully conscious of the tension matters had assumed, for
+modest little Peggy had been too closely associated with Polly and Mrs.
+Harold not to have stored away considerable rational worldly knowledge
+and some very sane ideas.
+
+As they were about to ascend the stairs Juno with well affected
+indifference caught up her train, thereby revealing the latest
+idiosyncrasy of the feminine toilet. She wore silver slippers and black
+silk tights and had quite dispensed with petticoats. The stage and the
+Hotel Astor had developed Juno's knowledge of _la mode en regle_ at a
+galloping pace.
+
+Some of the girls gave little gasps, and amused smiles flitted across
+the faces of the people within range. Mrs. Harold colored to her
+forehead.
+
+When they reached her corridor she said to Juno:
+
+"Little girl, will you come into my room a moment?'
+
+"Certainly, if you wish it, Mrs. Harold," was the reply in a tone which
+meant that Juno had instantly donned her armor of repulsion
+
+Seating herself upon a low chair, Mrs. Harold drew a hassock to her
+side, motioning Juno to it. The seat might have been accepted with a
+better grace. Mrs. Harold took the lovely, rebellious face in both her
+hands, pressed her lips to the frowning forehead, and said gently:
+
+"Honey, smoothe them out, please, and, remember that what I am about to
+say to you is said because Peggy's and Polly's friends are mine and I
+love them. Yes, and wish them to learn to love me if possible. Nothing
+is dearer to me than my young people and I long to see all that is best
+and finest developed in them. You have come to me as a guest, dear, but
+you have also come to me as my foster-daughter pro tem, and as such,
+claim my affectionate interest in your well-being. Mother and daughter
+are precious names."
+
+There was a slight pause, in which Juno gave an impatient toss of her
+handsome head and asked in a bitterly ironical voice:
+
+"Are they? I am afraid I'm not very well prepared to judge."
+
+Mrs. Harold looked keenly at the girl, a light beginning to dawn upon
+her, though she had heard little of Juno's history.
+
+"Dear heart, forgive me if I wounded you. It was unintentional. I know
+nothing of earlier experiences, you know. You are just Polly's friend to
+me. Perhaps some day, if you can learn to love and trust me, you will
+let me understand why I have wounded. That is for another time and
+season. Just now we have but a few moments in which to 'get near' each
+other, as my boys would say, and I am going to make a request which may
+displease you. My little girl, will you accept some suggestions
+regarding your toilet?"
+
+"I dare say you think it is too grown-up for me. I know I'm not supposed
+to wear a low gown or a train."
+
+"I'm afraid I should be tempted to say the gown had been sent to you
+before it had grown-up enough," smiled Mrs. Harold. "And certainly some
+of its accessories must have been overlooked or forgotten altogether."
+
+"Why, nobody wears anything but tights under a ball gown nowadays. How
+would it fit with skirts all bunched up under it? As to the neck, it is
+no lower than one sees at the opera at home. I know a dozen people who
+wear gowns made in exactly the same way, and Madam Marie would expire if
+I did not follow her dictates--why, she would never do a bit more work
+for me."
+
+"Then I beg of you, outrage the lady's ideas forthwith, for--" Mrs.
+Harold laid her hand upon Juno's--"no dressmaker living should have the
+power to place a refined, modest little girl in a false position, or
+lower her womanly standards and ideals. Not only hers, dear, but what is
+vastly more far-reaching, the ideals of the boys and men with whom she
+is thrown. You are too young to fully appreciate this; you could hardly
+interpret some of the comments which are sure to be made upon the
+ballroom floor from those who are somewhat lacking in finer feeling; nor
+can you gauge the influence a truly modest girl--I do not mean an
+ignorantly prudish one, for a limited knowledge of the facts of life is
+a dangerous thing--has over such lads as you meet."
+
+"You have a beautiful hand, dear," continued Mrs. Harold, taking Juno's
+tapering, perfectly manicured fingers in hers. "It is faultless. Make it
+as strong as faultless, for remember--nothing has greater power
+figuratively. You hold more in this pretty hand than equal franchise can
+ever confer upon you. See that right now you help to make the world
+purer--your sisters who would have the ballot are using this crying need
+as their strongest argument--by avoiding in word or deed anything which
+can dethrone you in the esteem of the other sex, whether young or
+mature, for you can never know how far-reaching it will prove. You think
+I am too sweeping in my assertion? That you never have and never could
+do anything to invite criticism? Dear heart, not intentionally, I know,
+but in the very fact that you are innocent of the influence which--say
+such a gown as you are now wearing, for an illustration--may have, lies
+the harm you do. If you fully understand you would sooner go to the hop
+tonight gowned in sackcloth; of this I am certain."
+
+For a moment Juno did not speak. This little human craft was battling
+with conflicting currents and there seemed no pilot in sight. Then she
+turned suddenly and placing her arms about Mrs. Harold, laid her head
+upon the shoulder which had comforted so many and began to sob softly.
+
+"My little girl! My dear, dear little girl, do not take it so deeply to
+heart. I did not mean to wound you so cruelly. Forgive me, dear."
+
+"You haven't wounded me. It isn't that. But I--I--don't seem to know
+where I'm at. No one has ever spoken to me in this way. I'm often
+scolded and lectured and stormed at, but no one cares enough to make me
+understand. Please show me how. Please tell me. It seems like a glimpse
+into a different world."
+
+"First let me dry the tears I have been the cause of bringing to your
+eyes--if my boys see traces of them I shall be brought to an account.
+Then we will remedy what might have done harm."
+
+As she spoke Mrs. Harold took a bit of absorbent cotton, soaked it in
+rose water and bathed the lovely soft, brown eyes. Juno smiled up at
+her, then nestled against her, again.
+
+"My new little foster-daughter," said Mrs. Harold, kissing the velvety
+cheeks.
+
+     "'It's beauty, truly blent, whose red and white,
+     Nature's own sweet and cunning hand laid on.'
+
+Keep it so--it needs no aid--we shall learn to know each other better.
+You will come again--yes, often--and where I can help, count upon
+me--always? And now I'll play maid."
+
+Ten minutes later when Juno entered the living-room, an exquisite bit of
+Venetian lace filled in the V at the back of the bodice; the softest
+white maline edged the front, and when, she raised her train a lace
+petticoat which any girl would have pronounced "too sweet for words"
+floated like sea-foam about her slender ankles.
+
+No comments were made and all set forth for the hop. And was the
+experiment a red letter one? Well!
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XV
+
+IN SPRING TERM
+
+
+"Well, we all came back to earth with a thud, didn't we? But, was there
+ever anything like it while it lasted," ended Natalie with a rapturous
+sigh.
+
+"And do you suppose there can ever be anything like it again?" Rosalie's
+tone suggested funeral wreaths and deep mourning, but she continued to
+brush her hair with Peggy's pretty ivory-handled brush, and pose before
+Peggy's mirror. The girls were not supposed to dress in each other's
+rooms but suppositions frequently prove fallacies in a girl's school and
+these girls had vast mutual interests past and pending.
+
+Several weeks had passed since the Christmas holidays, but the joys of
+that memorable house-party were still very vivid memories and recalled
+almost daily.
+
+It was the hour before dinner. The girls were expected to be ready
+promptly at six-fifteen, but dressing hour might more properly have been
+termed gossiping hour, since it was more often given over to general
+discussions, Stella's pretty room, or Peggy's and Polly's, proving as a
+rule a rendezvous. All of the Severndale house party were assembled at
+the moment, and two or three others beside, among them Isabel, Helen and
+Lily Pearl.
+
+"I hope there may be a good many times like it again," said Peggy
+warmly. "It was just lovely to have you all down there and Daddy Neil
+was the happiest thing I've ever seen. I wish we could have him at
+Easter, but he will be far away when Easter comes."
+
+"Shall you go home at Easter?" asked Helen, flickering hopes of an
+invitation darting across her mind.
+
+"I hardly think so. You see it is only two weeks off and the Little
+Mother has not said anything about it, has she, Polly?"
+
+"No, in her last letter she said she thought she'd come down to
+Washington for Easter week and stop at the Willard, but it is not
+settled yet. I'd rather be in Annapolis at Easter and go for some of our
+long rides. Wasn't it fun to have Shashai and Silver Star back there
+during our visit! I believe they and Tzaritza and Jess had the very time
+of their young--and old--lives. And wasn't Tzaritza regal with Rhody?"
+
+"It was the funniest thing I've ever seen," laughed Stella. "That dog
+acted exactly like a royal princess entertaining a happy-go-lucky
+jackie. Rhody's life on board the _Rhode Island_ since you and Ralph
+rescued him seems to have been one gay and festive experience for a
+Boston bull pup."
+
+"It surely has," concurred Polly. "Snap says he's just wise to
+everything, and did you ever see anything so absurd as those clown
+tricks the jackies taught him?"
+
+"I think you are all perfectly wonderful people, dogs and horses
+included," was Rosalie's climax of eulogy, if rather peculiar and
+comprehensive.
+
+"Well, we had one royal good time and we are not likely to forget it
+either. Peggy, weren't you petrified when you struck 'eight bells' at
+the hop, for the death of the old year? Goodness, when those lights
+began to go out, and everybody stopped dancing I felt so queer. And when
+'taps' sounded little shivery creeps went all up and down my spine, and
+you struck eight bells so beautifully! But reveille drove me almost
+crazy. When the lights flashed on again I didn't know whether I wanted
+to laugh or cry I was so nervous," was Natalie's reminiscence.
+
+"It was the most solemn thing I ever heard and the most beautiful," said
+Marjorie softly. "It made me homesick, and yet home doesn't mean
+anything to me; this is the only one I have known since I was eight
+years old."
+
+"Eight years in one place and a school at that!" cried Juno. "Why, I
+should have done something desperate long before four had passed. Girls,
+think of being in a school eight years." Juno's tone implied the horrors
+of the Bastile.
+
+"If you had no other, what could you do?" Marjorie's question was asked
+with a smile which was sadder than tears could have been.
+
+Juno shrugged her shoulders, but Polly slipped over to Marjorie's side
+and with one of Polly's irresistible little mannerisms, laid her arm
+across her shoulder, as hundreds of times the boys in Bancroft
+demonstrate their good fellowship for each other. Another girl would
+probably have kissed her. Polly was not given to kisses. Then she asked:
+
+"Won't your father come East this spring for commencement? You said you
+hoped he would.
+
+"I've hoped so every spring, but when he writes he says it takes four
+whole months to reach Washington from that awful place in the Klondyke.
+I wish he had never heard of it."
+
+"I'm so glad you went to Severndale with us. We must never let her be
+lonely or homesick again, Peggy."
+
+"Not while Severndale has a spare hammock," nodded Peggy.
+
+Marjorie was more or less of a mystery to most of the girls, but the
+greatest of all to Mrs. Vincent to whom she had come the year the school
+was opened. Mrs. Vincent had more than once said to herself: "Well, I
+certainly have four oddities to deal with: _Who_ is Marjorie? She is one
+of the sweetest, most lovable girls I've ever met, but I don't really
+know a single thing about her. She has come to me from the home of a
+perfectly reliable Congregational minister, but even he confesses that
+he knows nothing beyond the fact that she is the daughter of a man lost
+to civilization in the remotest regions of the Klondyke. He says he
+believes her mother is dead. Heigho! And Juno? What is likely to become
+of _her_, poor child? What does become of all the children of divorced
+parents in this land of divorces? Oh, why can't the parents think of the
+children they have brought into the world but who did not ask to come?
+
+"And Rosalie? What is to become of that little pepper pot with all her
+loving impulses and self-will? I believe her father has visited her for
+about one hour in each of the four years she has been here, and I also
+believe his visits do more harm than good, they seem to enrage the child
+so. Of course, it is all wounded pride and affection, but who is to
+correct it? And this year comes Stella, the biggest puzzle of all. Her
+father? Well, I dare say it is all right, but he sometimes acts more
+like--" but at this point Mrs. Vincent invariably had paused abruptly
+and turned her attention to other matters.
+
+"Can't the boys ever get leave to visit their friends?" asked Lily Pearl.
+"I think it is perfectly outrageous to keep them stived up in that
+horrid place year in and year out for four years with only four months
+to call their own in one-thousand-four-hundred-and-sixty days!"
+
+"Lily's been doing the multiplication table," cried Rosalie.
+
+"Well, I counted and I think it's awful--simply awful!" lamented Lily.
+"I'd give anything to see Charlie Purdy and have another of those
+ravishing dances. I can just feel his arms about me yet, and the way he
+snuggles your head up against him and nestles his face down in your
+hair--m--m--m! Why, his clothes smell so deliciously of cigarette smoke!
+I can smell it yet!"
+
+A howl of laughter greeted this rhapsody from all but Helen, who bridled
+and protested:
+
+"Oh, you girls may laugh, but you had to walk a chalk line under the
+eyes of a half dozen chaperones every minute. Lily and I got acquainted
+with our friends."
+
+"Well, I hope we did have a chaperone or two," was Polly's retort. She
+had vivid memories of some of the scenes upon which she and Ralph had
+inadvertently blundered during the afternoon informals of Christmas
+week. The auditorium in the academic building where informals are held,
+has many secluded nooks. Upon one occasion she had run upon Helen and
+Paul Ring, the former languishing in the latter's arms. Perhaps mamma
+would not have been so ready to intrust her dear little daughter to Foxy
+Grandpa's protection had she dreamed of the existence of Mamma Ring and
+dear Paul.
+
+At all this sentimental enthusiasm Stella had looked on indulgently and
+now laughed outright, "What silly kids you two are," she said.
+
+"Well, I don't see that you had such a ravishing time, anyway," cried
+Helen.
+
+"Why, I'm sure Mr. Allyn was as attentive as anyone could be. He was on
+hand every minute to take me wherever I wanted to go." Stella's
+expression was quizzical and made Helen furious.
+
+"Oh, a paid guide could have done as much I don't doubt."
+
+"Father _is_ a little fussy at times, so perhaps it is just as well. You
+see I should not have been at Severndale at all if he had not been
+called to Mexico on business. So I'd better be thankful for what fun I
+did get. But there goes the first bell. Better get down toward the
+dining-room, girls," laughed Stella good-naturedly, and set the example.
+A moment later the room was deserted by all but Helen who lingered at
+the mirror. When the others were on their way down stairs she slipped to
+Nelly's room and took from her desk a sheet of the monogram paper and an
+envelope, which Mrs. Harold had given her at Christmas. As she passed
+her own room she hid them in her desk for future use. After dinner when
+the evening mail was delivered, Helen received a letter bearing the
+Annapolis postmark. Nelly had one from her father. As she read it her
+face wore a peculiar expression. The letter stated that her father was
+coming to Washington to consult with Shelby concerning a matter of
+business connected with Severndale's paddock. As Nelly ceased reading
+she glanced up from her letter to find Peggy watching her narrowly.
+Peggy had also received a letter from Dr. Llewellyn in which he
+mentioned the fact that Bolivar felt it advisable to run down to
+Washington. In an instant the whole situation flashed across Peggy's
+quick comprehension.
+
+During the girl's visit at Severndale Jim Bolivar had never come to the
+house. Nelly had many times slipped away for quiet little talks with her
+father in their own cottage and had asked him more than once why he did
+not come up to the big house to see her, and his reply had invariably
+been:
+
+"Honey, I don't belong there. No, 'tain't no use to argue,--I don't.
+Your mother would have; she come of quality stock, and what in the
+Lord's name she ever saw in me I've been, a-guessin' an' a-guessin' for
+the last eighteen year."
+
+"But Dad, Peggy Stewart has never, never made either you or me feel the
+least shade of difference in our stations. Neither has Polly Howland.
+They couldn't be lovelier to me, though I know you have never been at
+Severndale as guests have been there. But it has never seemed to strike
+me until now. And down at the school the girls are awfully nice to me;
+at least, most of them are. Those who are patronizing are that way
+because they are so to everybody. But the really nice girls are lovely,
+and I am sure they'd never think of being rude to you."
+
+"Little girl, listen to your old Dad: There are some things in this
+world not to be got around. I'm one of 'em. Peggy Stewart and Polly
+Howland are thoroughbreds an' thoroughbreds ain't capable of no low-down
+snobbishness. They know their places in the world and there's nothing
+open to discussion. An' they're too fine-grained to scratch other folks
+the wrong way. But, some of them girls up yonder are cross-breeds--oh,
+yes, I've been a-watchin' 'em an' I know,--tain't no use to argue. They
+kin prance an' cavort an' their coats are sleek an' shinin', but don't
+count on 'em too much when it comes right down to disposition an'
+endurance, 'cause they'll disappoint you. I ain't never told you honey,
+that your mother was a Bladen. Well, she was. Some day I'm going to tell
+you how she fell in love with a good-lookin' young skalawag by the name
+o' Jim Bolivar. He comes o' pretty decent stock too, only he hadn't
+sense enough to stay at St. John's where his dad put him, but had to go
+rampagin' all over the country till he'd clean forgot any bringin'-up
+he'd ever had, and landed up as a sort o' bailiff, as they call 'em over
+in the old country, on an estate down on the eastern shore. Then he met
+Helen Bladen and 's sure's you live she 'changed the name and not the
+letter and changed for a heap sight worse 'n the better' when she eloped
+with me. Thank the Lord she didn't live long enough to see the worst,
+and you hardly remember her at all. But that's my pretty history,--a
+no-count, ne'er do well, and if it weren't for Peggy Stewart, God bless
+her! you'd a been lyin' 'long side o' yo' ma out yonder this minute, for
+all I'd ever a-done to keep you here, I reckon, much less give you the
+education you're a-gettin' now. No, honey, I won't go up to the great
+house. If I'd a-done right when I was a boy I'd be sittin' right up
+there with the rest o' that bunch o' people this minute. But I was bound
+to have my fling, and sow my wild oats and now I can have the pleasure
+of harvestin' my crop. It ought to be thistles, for if ever there was a
+jackass that same was Jim Bolivar."
+
+Nelly had listened to the pitiful tale without comment, but when it
+ended she placed her arms about her father's neck and sobbed softly. She
+had never mentioned this little talk to anyone, but it was seldom far
+from her thoughts, and now her father was coming to Washington.
+
+Peggy slipped her arm about her and asked:
+
+"What makes you look so sober, Nellibus?"
+
+"Because I'm a silly, over-sensitive goose, I dare say."
+
+Peggy looked puzzled.
+
+Nelly handed her her father's letter. Peggy read it, then turned to look
+straight into Nelly's eyes, her own growing dark as she raised her head
+in the proud little poise which made her so like her mother's portrait.
+
+"When he comes I think matters will adjust themselves," was all she
+said.
+
+The following Friday afternoon Jim Bolivar was ushered into the pretty
+little reception room by Horatio Hannibal, who went in quest of Nelly.
+As she had no idea of the hour her father would arrive, she was
+preparing to go for a ride with a number of the girls, for the day was a
+heavenly one; a late March spring day in Washington.
+
+"Miss Bol'var, yo' pa in de 'ception room waitin' fo' to see yo', Miss,"
+announced Horatio.
+
+"I'll go right down. Sorry I can't go with you, girls."
+
+"May we come and see him just a minute before we start!" asked Peggy
+quickly, while Polly came eagerly to her side.
+
+"Of course you may. Dad will love to see you," was Nelly's warm
+response.
+
+"We won't keep you waiting long, girls," said Peggy, "we'll join you at
+the porte cochere."
+
+Arrayed in their habits, Peggy, Polly and Nelly hurried away.
+
+"Wonder what he looks like," said Juno idly as she drew on her
+gauntlets.
+
+"Bet he's nice if he's anything like Nelly," said Rosalie.
+
+"Isn't it funny you girls never saw him while you were at Severndale?"
+said Lily Pearl.
+
+"Perhaps he's not the kind Nelly Bolivar cares to have seen," was
+Helen's amiable remark, accompanied by a shrug and a knowing look.
+
+"Why, what do you mean, Helen?" asked Natalie with some spirit.
+
+"Just what I say. _I_ believe Nelly Bolivar is as poor as Job's turkey
+and that Peggy Stewart pays all 'her expenses here. And I know she wears
+Peggy's cast-off clothes. I saw Peggy's name in one of her coats. You
+know Peggy has her name and the maker's woven right into the linings.
+Just you wait and see what her father looks like and then see if I'm far
+wrong."
+
+"Why, she's nothing better than a charity pupil if that's true," sneered
+Lily Pearl, who never failed to follow Helen's lead.
+
+"If Mrs. Vincent opens her school to such girls I think it would be well
+for our parents to investigate the matter," was Isabel's superior
+criticism.
+
+"Yes, you'd better. Mother would be delighted to have an extra room or
+two; she has so many applicants all the time," flashed Natalie, her
+cheeks blazing.
+
+"Children, children, don't grow excited. Wait until you find out what
+you're fuming about," said Stella in the tone which always made them
+feel like kids, Rosalie insisted. "And come on down. The horses have
+been waiting twenty minutes already and Mrs. Vincent will have a word or
+two to say to us if we don't watch out."
+
+As they crossed the hall to the porte cochere, Peggy, Polly and Nelly
+came from the reception room, Mr. Bolivar with them. The lively
+curiosity upon the girls' faces was rather amusing. Juno favored him
+with a well-cultivated Fifth Avenue stare. Helen's nose took a higher
+tilt if possible. Lily Pearl giggled as usual. Stella smiled at the
+girls and said: "Glad you're coming with us." Isabel murmured "Horrors!"
+under her breath and waddled with what she believed to be dignity toward
+the door. Marjorie only smiled, but Rosalie and Natalie stopped, the
+former crying impulsively:
+
+"Introduce your father to us, Nelly; we want to know him."
+
+The man the girls looked upon had changed a good deal from the
+despondent Jim Bolivar whom Peggy had seen sitting upon the upturned box
+in Market Square so long ago. Prosperity and resultant comforts had done
+a good deal for the despairing man. There were still some traces of the
+handsome Jim Bolivar with whom pretty, romantic Helen Bladen had eloped,
+though the intermediate years of sorrow and misfortune had changed that
+dapper young beau into a careless, hopeless pessimist. What the end
+might have been but for Peggy is hard to guess, but the past two years
+had made him think and think hard too. Though still slipshod of speech
+as the result of associating with his humbler neighbors, he was
+certainly making good, and few lapses occurred as he shook hands with
+Nelly's friends and then went out to help them mount. In his dark gray
+suit, Alpine hat and his gray gloves, something of the gentleman which
+was in him became evident.
+
+He helped each girl upon her horse, greeted Junius Augustus, patted
+Shashai, Star and Tzaritza; deplored poor Columbine's shorn glories,
+smiled an odd smile at Isabel's bulky figure upon the more bulky
+Senator, then said:
+
+"I'll see you when you come back, honey. I've got to have a talk with
+Shelby. Some things is--are--bothering me back yonder. Have a fine
+gallop. It's a prime day for it. Good-bye, young ladies," and raising
+his hat with something of the gallantry of the old Bolivar he followed
+Junius toward the stables.
+
+That night Mrs. Vincent asked him to dine with her, but he declined on
+the score of an engagement with a friend. He and Shelby dined in
+Washington and during that meal he made just one allusion to Nelly and
+her surroundings.
+
+"It's all very well for a man to make a plumb fool of himself and waste
+his life if he's a-mind to, but he ain't got any business to drag other
+folks along with him. If I hadn't a-been a fool among fools I might
+a-been sittin' beside my little girl this minute, and not be scared to
+either, Shelby. My dad used to say something about 'man being his own
+star,' I don't recollect it all, but I know it meant he could be one of
+the first magnet if he'd a mind to. I set out to be a comet, I reckon,
+all hot air tail, and there isn't much of me left worth looking at."
+
+"How old are you!"
+
+"Forty-four."
+
+"Well, you've got twenty-five years to the good yet. Now get busy for
+the little girl's sake."
+
+"Shake," cried Jim Bolivar, extending his hand across the table.
+
+Meanwhile back yonder at the school, Friday night being "home letters
+night" the girls were all busily writing, but Helen kept the monogram
+upon her paper carefully concealed.
+
+[Illustration]
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVI
+
+A MIDNIGHT SENSATION
+
+
+But two weeks remained of the spring term. School would close on May
+twenty-eighth. Already Washington had become insufferably warm, and even
+Columbia Heights School situated upon its hill, was very trying. The
+girls were almost too inert to work and spent every possible moment out
+of doors.
+
+The moment school ended Peggy, Polly and Nelly would go back to
+Annapolis and Rosalie was to go with, them as Peggy's guest for a month.
+Mrs. Harold had invited Marjorie, Natalie, and Juno to be Polly's guests
+for June week under the joint chaperonage of herself and Mrs. Howland,
+after which plans were being laid for the entire party to go to
+Provincetown with "all the Howland outfit," as Captain Stewart and Mr.
+Harold phrased it, there to live in a bungalow as long as the Atlantic
+fleet made that jumping-off place its rendezvous. It bid fair to be a
+tremendous house party, though the lads whom the girls had grown to
+know best would not be there. The practice squadron was going to Europe
+this summer. However, "the old guard" as Happy, Wheedles and Shortie, as
+well as dozens of others from earlier classes were called, would be
+there and things were sure to be lively. But all this lies in the
+future.
+
+Helen and Lily Pearl had been invited to Annapolis for June week, by
+Mrs. Ring, and were to go to the June ball with dear Paul and Charles
+Purdy. They had not been asked to dance the German since they had made
+no special friends among the first classmen. Peggy and Polly were to
+dance it, one with Dick Allyn, the other with his room-mate, Calhoun
+Byrd, who, in Bancroft's vernacular "spooned on Ralph" and had always
+considered Polly "a clipper." Juno was to go with Guy Bennett, Nelly,
+Rosalie, Marjorie and Natalie had, alack! to look on from the gallery,
+escorted by second-classmen.
+
+But now of immediate happenings at Columbia Heights School.
+
+It had been arranged that Shelby should take Shashai, Star and Tzaritza
+back to Severndale on the twenty-second, as it was now far too warm to
+ride in Washington. Moreover, Shelby's engagement with Mrs. Vincent
+expired May fifteenth and he was anxious to get back to Severndale. Then
+at the last moment, Mrs. Vincent decided to send all the saddle horses
+to Severndale for the summer months and keep only the carriage horses
+and the white groom at the school. So Shelby wrote Jim Bolivar that
+"he'd better come along down and get on the job too." Consequently,
+about a week after the girl's visit to Annapolis and Rosalie's escapade,
+Jim Bolivar arrived at the school and took up his quarters in the pretty
+little cottage provided for Shelby. He expected to spend about two days
+helping to get matters closed up for the summer, then start on with
+Junius Augustus in charge of Columbine, Lady Belle, the Senator, and
+Jack-o'-Lantern, Shelby following a day later with Shashai, Star, Madame
+Goldie and Old Duke. So far so good out in the stables. Within the
+school Nelly was learning the difference between being the daughter of
+patrician blood come upon misfortune, and cheerfully making the best of
+things, and some extremely plebeian blood slopped unexpectedly into
+fortune, and trying to forget its origin. Had not Nelly possessed such
+loyal old friends as Peggy and Polly, and made such stanch new ones as
+Rosalie, Natalie, Stella and Marjorie, her position might have been a
+very trying one. And now only eight days remained before vacation would
+begin. Already the girls were in a flutter for June week at Annapolis.
+Would it be fair? Would it be scorching hot? Would there be moon-light
+nights?
+
+"There'll be moon-light if the old lady has half a chance to show
+herself," said Polly's assured voice and nod.
+
+"We had a new moon on the eighteenth," said Peggy. "That means brim-full
+in June week, and, oh, girls, won't it be fairy land! How I wish,
+though, you were all to dance the German. I can't help feeling selfish
+to leave you out of that fun."
+
+"You aren't leaving us out. We understand that even the Little Mother
+can't ask her boys to take a girl to the German! But we aren't likely to
+pine away with all the other fun afoot," cried Natalie gaily, doing a
+pirouette across the room just by way of relieving pent-up anticipation.
+
+"Helen said she might be invited to dance the German after all. Dear
+Paul's Mamma has a grease with a first classman," laughed Rosalie.
+
+"When I see her on the floor I'll believe it," said Juno.
+
+"Where is Helen tonight?" asked Marjorie.
+
+"Up in her room. Lily has a sick headache and she went up with her.
+Guess that cousin of Helen's who came down from Baltimore, Foxy
+Grandpa's daughter, or niece, or something, I believe, and spent this
+afternoon with her, gave those girls too many chocolates. Wasn't she
+the limit? And big? Well, I'll wager that woman was six feet tall, and
+she was made up perfectly outrageously. Her skin was fair enough, and
+her color lovely and I never saw such teeth, if they weren't store ones,
+but there was something about the lower part of her face that looked
+queer. Did you notice it, girls?" asked Polly.
+
+"I did. There was such a funny dull tinge, like a man who had just been
+shaved," commented Rosalie, with a puzzled frown.
+
+"Her voice struck me funniest. Do you remember Fraeulein Shultz who was
+here the first year school opened, Marjorie?" asked Natalie.
+
+"Yes, we used to call her Herr Shultz. Such a voice you never heard,
+girls!"
+
+"Well, this cousin's was exactly like Herr Shultz."
+
+"Her clothes were the climax with me. I believe she must have been on
+the stage sometime. Oh, yes, they were up-to-date enough, but, so sort
+of--of--tawdry," criticised Juno.
+
+"Do you know, she reminded me of somebody I know but who it is I just
+can't think," and Peggy puckered her forehead into wrinkles.
+
+"Oh!" cried Nelly, then stopped short.
+
+"What's the matter? Sat on a pin?" asked Rosalie, laughing.
+
+"Something made me jump," answered Nelly, pulling her skirt as though in
+search of the pin Rosalie had suggested. Then in a moment she said:
+
+"Reckon I'll go in, girls, I've got to send a note home by father and he
+starts pretty soon."
+
+"Why do they start at night?" asked Juno.
+
+"Cooler traveling for the horses. They leave here about eight, travel
+about nine miles an hour, for two hours, stop at ---- for the night,
+start again at seven in the morning, and will reach Severndale by ten
+o'clock at latest. It seems like a long trip, but that makes it an easy
+one. Shelby will start tomorrow or next day. And won't all those horses
+have the time of their lives! I am so glad that they're to be there,"
+explained Peggy.
+
+"So is mother, Peggy Stewart," cried Natalie.
+
+Meanwhile Nelly had gone to her room. It was next Helen's and Lily's. On
+beyond was Stella's sitting-room. Nelly roomed with a girl who had been
+called home by illness in her family. Consequently Nelly now had the
+room to herself. She wrote her note and then went to find Mrs. Vincent
+to ask permission to run out to the stables to give it to her father.
+
+As she passed Helen's and Lily's door she heard them whispering together
+and also heard a deeper voice. Whose could it be? It was so unusual
+that she paused a moment in the dimly lighted hall. She did not mean to
+be an eavesdropper, but she thought all the girls from the west wing
+were down on the terrace where she had left them that perfect May night.
+They had gone out there immediately dinner ended, for study hour had
+lately been held from five to seven on account of the warm evenings,
+Mrs. Vincent objecting to the lights which made the house almost
+suffocating.
+
+Presently the deep-voiced whisper was heard again. Nelly started as
+though from an electric shock. Had Helen's cousin returned, but when?
+And that whisper was a revelation. Then she went on her way. Consent was
+promptly given and Nelly ran across the shadow-laden lawn to the
+stables. She found her father, Shelby and the men just preparing to set
+forth. Her father was to ride the Senator to set the pace. Junius rode
+Jack-o'-Lantern. Columbine and Lady Belle were to be led.
+
+As Nelly drew near, Columbine neighed a welcome.
+
+"What's brought you down here, honey?" asked Bolivar. "I was going to
+stop at the house to say good-bye."
+
+"I wanted to see you alone a minute, daddy."
+
+"Go 'long for a little private confab with her, Bolivar. All right,
+Nelly, no hurry," said Shelby genially.
+
+The thin sickle of the new moon cast very little light as Nelly and her
+father walked a short distance down the path, Nelly, talking earnestly
+in a low voice. When she ceased Bolivar said:
+
+"Oh, you must be mistaken, Nelly, why, I never heard of such a fool
+stunt; yet that kid's capable of most any, I understand. Of course, I'll
+take the hint and watch out, but just like you say, it's better to keep
+it dark. It'd only stir up a terrible talk and make Mrs. Vincent's
+school,--well; she don't want that sort of thing happening. Run 'long
+back and keep your eyes open. Shall I say anything to Shelby?"
+
+"Not a word, daddy! Not one word! Just get him out of the way if you
+can."
+
+"That's easy. He's going to ride into the city when I start and none of
+the boys sleep in the stable. I kind of suspicion your plan but I won't
+ask no more questions."
+
+At eight-thirty the first "batch o' beasties" "shoved off." The girls
+ran down the driveway to bid them good-bye and the horses seemed to
+understand it all perfectly. Then Bolivar and his charges, accompanied
+by Shelby, set forth upon their ways. It was a wonderful, star-sprinkled
+night, though the moon had sunk below the horizon. When they had gone a
+little way Shelby bade them good-bye and good-luck and turned into the
+broad boulevard leading into Washington. Bolivar followed the quieter
+road on the outskirts of the city. Presently he said to Junius:
+
+"Land o' love, I'd as soon ride an elephant as this horse. His back's as
+broad. Hold on a minute, I'm going to shift my saddle to Columbine. I
+know her and she knows me, don't you, old girl?"
+
+"She's de quality, sure," agreed Junius.
+
+"This is something like," sighed Bolivar, falling easily into
+Columbine's smooth fox-trot. They had gone perhaps a mile when Bolivar
+suddenly clapped his hand to his breast-pocket and pulled up short.
+
+"What done happen, Mr. Bol'var?" asked Junius.
+
+"I'm seven kinds of a fool. Left my wallet in that old coat Shelby let
+me wear round the stable! Now that's the limit, ain't it? I got to go
+back. Ain't got a cent with me. You ride on slow and stop at the Pine
+Cliff Inn up the road a-piece, and wait there till I come. Columbine's
+fresh as a daisy and the three miles or so will be just a warm-up for
+her this night. Now wait there. Don't budge a step till I come."
+
+"I'll do like you say."
+
+Jim Bolivar started back slowly, but once beyond Junius' sight gave
+Columbine the rein and was soon within a quarter of a mile of Columbia
+Heights School.
+
+Meanwhile, in that usually well-ordered establishment some startling
+events were taking place.
+
+When Nelly left her father she stopped on the terrace to talk a few
+minutes with the girls. It was then after nine o'clock but during these
+long, sultry evenings Mrs. Vincent allowed the girls to remain upon the
+terrace until ten.
+
+Examinations were over, there was no further academic work to be done
+and most of the preparations for commencement were completed. Indeed,
+most of the little girls had already left, and several of the older ones
+also. A general exodus takes place from Washington early in May and the
+schools close early.
+
+"Whow, I'm sleepy tonight," laughed Nelly, suppressing a yawn. "Reckon
+I'll go upstairs. Good-night, everybody."
+
+"You'll smother and roast if you go to bed so early, Nell. Stay here
+with us," cried Polly, catching Nelly's skirt and trying to pull her
+down beside her.
+
+"Can't. I'd drop asleep right on the terrace," and turning Nelly ran
+in-doors. Once in her room she speedily shifted into her linen riding
+suit, then slipping down the back stairs, sped across the dark lawn to
+the stables. They were dark and silent. Not a soul was in Shelby's
+cottage where the stable key was kept and a moment later Nelly had taken
+it from its hook and was at the stable door. A bubble of nickers, or the
+soft munching of feeding horses, fell upon her ears. Star knew her voice
+as well as Polly's and Peggy's. Nelly went straight to Star's stall. In
+less time than it takes to tell it she had him saddled, bridled and led
+softly out upon the lawn. Keeping within the shadows of the trees she
+led him to a thick pine grove and taking his velvety muzzle in her hands
+planted a kiss upon it as she whispered:
+
+"Now stand stock still and don't make a sound. I may need you and I may
+not. If I do it will be in a hurry and you will have to make time." Then
+she slipped back into the house.
+
+But we must go back to the invalid, Lily Pearl, and her devoted
+attendant in the west wing. Also the cousin. Ten minutes after Nelly had
+left her room to carry her note to her father, Helen went to Mrs.
+Vincent's study.
+
+"Oh, Mrs. Vincent, cousin Pauline came back to see if she had left her
+engagement ring in my room. She did not miss it until she got back to
+her friends' house and then she was frightened nearly to death and came
+all the way back here."
+
+"Couldn't she have telephoned?
+
+"I suppose so, but she never takes it off except to wash her hands. She
+left it on my dresser. She is going back now. May I walk to the gate
+with her?"
+
+"Yes, but come directly back, Helen. How is Lily?"
+
+"She's just fallen asleep. Thank you, Mrs. Vincent."
+
+A few moments later Helen and her cousin left the house but not by the
+door giving upon the terrace. The side door answered far better. Then
+slipping around the house they paused beneath Stella's balcony and the
+cousin gave a low whistle. Instantly, Lily Pearl's head was bobbed up
+over the railing and she whispered:
+
+"Oh, take it quick! I hear Peggy's voice down in the hall!" and a
+suitcase was lowered from the balcony, the cousin's strong right arm
+grasped it, as the cousin's deep voice said:
+
+"You're a dead game sport, Lil. You bet we'll remember this."
+
+But Lil did not wait to hear more. She fled to her room pell mell, not
+aware that in her flight she had overturned a tiny fairy night-lamp
+which Stella always kept burning in her room at night. Quickly
+undressing, Lily dove into bed and drawing the covers over her head was
+instantly sound asleep. The voice which had alarmed her soon died away
+as Peggy rejoined her friends upon the terrace.
+
+Helen and the cousin had meanwhile reached the gate and also a cab which
+waited there, and were soon bowling along toward Washington.
+
+And what of Nelly? As she was returning to the house she caught sight of
+the two figures hurrying toward the main gate. Back she sped to Star,
+and mounting him, rode along the soft turf as silently as a shadow,
+until she saw the two figures enter the cab.
+
+For a moment she was baffled. What could she do alone? She knew it would
+be worse than senseless to attempt to stop the runaways unaided. She
+must have help. Yet if she lost sight of them what might not take place?
+She had long since recognized Paul Ring in spite of his make-up. She had
+seen him too many times in the Masquerader's Shows at Annapolis. For a
+short time she flitted behind the cab like an avenging shadow. It would
+never do to let Helen make such an idiot of herself, and bring notoriety
+upon the school where Peggy and Polly were pupils, or so humiliate Mrs.
+Vincent and Natalie. Nelly did some quick thinking. There was but one
+road for the elopers to follow. Her father, to whom she had confided
+her suspicions and begged him to aid her, must be on his way back by
+this time. Wheeling Star she shot back as she had come, and making a
+wide detour around Columbia Heights School, put Star to his best paces.
+Half a mile beyond the school she met her father coming at a fairly good
+clip.
+
+Ten words were enough.
+
+"Thank the Lord we're riding Empress stock!" ejaculated Bolivar as he
+and Peggy gave the two beautiful creatures their heads and they settled
+into the long, low stride which seems never to tire, muscles working
+swiftly and smoothly as the machinery of a battleship, heads thrust
+forward, nostrils wide and breathing deep breaths to the rhythmic
+heart-throbs. But the runaways had a good start.
+
+Presently Bolivar said:
+
+"If Shelby has ridden easy he's somewheres ahead on that selfsame road."
+
+"Oh, dad, if he only is!"
+
+"Well, by the god Billiken he is! Look yonder."
+
+A more dumbfounded man than Shelby it would have been hard to overtake.
+
+"Had he seen the cab?"
+
+"Certain. It was hiking along ahead. Passed him just a little time
+before, the horse a-lather. Wondered who the fools were."
+
+"Well, you know now. How far ahead do you reckon they are?"
+
+"Quarter mile beyond that turn if the horse ain't fell dead. Let me
+break away, overhaul them and then you two come in at the death," he
+laughed.
+
+Shelby was riding Shashai, and at his word a black streak passed out of
+sight around the bend of the boulevard. Star and Columbine chafed to
+follow, but their riders held them back for a time.
+
+True enough, as Shelby had said, the cab was still pounding along toward
+Washington, though the poor horse was nearly done up.
+
+Shelby came abreast the poor panting beast, leaned quietly over, caught
+the bridle and cried, "Whoa!" The horse was only too delighted to oblige
+him. Not so "Cabby."
+
+With wrath and ire he rose to mete out justice to this highwayman. Had
+the butt of his whip hit Shelby he would have seen more stars than
+twinkled overhead. But it didn't. It was caught in one hand, given a
+dexterous twist and sent flying into the road as Shelby said in his
+quiet drawl:
+
+"Don't get excited. At least, don't let _me_ excite you. I ain't got
+nothing against you, but you can't take those 'slopers no further this
+night."
+
+"'Lopers nothin'! Me fares is two ladies on their ways to the Willard.
+'Tis a niece and aunt they are."
+
+"Say, you're easy. I thought you fellows wise to most any game. Niece
+and aunt! Shucks! Come 'long out aunt, or Cousin Pauline, or whatever
+you are, and you, Miss Doolittle, just don't do nothin' but live up to
+that name you've got. Lord, whoever named you knew his or her business
+all right, all right! Here come Bolivar and his daughter to bear a hand.
+Now don't set out to screech and carry on, 'cause if you do you'll make
+more trouble and it looks like you'd made a-plenty a-ready. And you shut
+up!" cried Shelby, now thoroughly roused, as Paul Ring, his disguise
+removed and stowed in his suitcase blustered from the cab. "Quit! or
+I'll crack you're addle-pated head for you, you young fool. Do you know
+what it will mean if I report you at Annapolis? Well, unless you make
+tracks for Bancroft P. D. Q.--that means pretty decidedly quick,
+Nelly,--you're going to get all that is comin' to you with compound
+interest. Beat it while your shoes are good. We'll escort your girl back
+to home and friends. Nelly, get into that cab. Cabby, these are two
+school girls and this man is this one's father. Now go about and head
+for the home port. No rowing. Yes, you'll get paid all right, all right.
+I'll stand for the damage and so will Bolivar here. But are _you_ going
+to dust?" the last words were addressed to Paul Ring to whom Helen was
+clinging and imploring him not to leave her. But, alas! It was four to
+one, for cabby's wrath was now centered upon "that hully show of a
+bloomin' auntie."
+
+Amidst violent protests upon Helen's part, Nelly entered the cab. She
+would "not go back!" And she would "go with dear Paul!" Her heart was
+breaking. Nelly Bolivar was "a good-for-nothing, common tattle-tale and
+the whole school probably knew all about her elopement already," etc.,
+etc.
+
+Nelly tried to assure her that no one suspected a thing. Mr. Bolivar
+corroborated that statement, but Helen continued to sob and berate Nelly
+till finally Shelby's deep voice cried:
+
+"Halt, cabby!" Then dismounting he opened the cab door, took Helen by
+the arm and shook her soundly, then thundered:
+
+"If you was a boy I'd yank you out o' that cab and whale you well, for
+that's what you rate. Since you're a fool-girl I can't. Now stop that
+hullabaloo instanter. We'll get you back to the school and nobody'll
+know a thing if you keep your senses. Nelly here ain't anxious to have
+that school and her friends figurin' in the newspapers. Now you mind
+what I'm tellin' you. I've stood for all the nonsense I'm going to, and
+I promise to get you home without you're being missed, but if you let
+out another peep I'll march you straight to the Admiral's office, and
+don't you doubt my word for a single minute." Then Shelby remounted
+Shashai, and leading Star, the odd procession started back, Shelby
+cudgeling his brain to devise a way of getting the romantic maiden in as
+secretly as he had promised. He need not have worried about that. The
+inmates of Columbia Heights were meantime having lively experiences of
+their own.
+
+
+
+
+CHAPTER XVII
+
+A SEND-OFF WITH FIREWORKS
+
+
+When Lily Pearl fled from Stella's room leaving the overturned fairy
+lamp to bring about the climax of that evening, her one thought was to
+get to bed, and hardly had she tumbled into it than sleep brought
+oblivion of all else. Lily Pearl was a somnolent soul in many senses.
+
+Mrs. Vincent was busy in her study at the other end of the house. Miss
+Sturgis was dining with friends. Fraeulein, who was a romantic creature,
+was seated under a huge copper beech tree entertaining a Herr Professor
+straight from the Vaterland. The other teachers were either out or in
+their rooms in other parts of the building, and the servants had drifted
+out through the rear grounds. Consequently, the fairy lamp had things
+pretty much its own way and it embraced its opportunity.
+
+What prompted Polly to go upstairs just at that crisis she could never
+have told, but she did, and a second later Peggy followed her. The
+moment the girls reached their corridor the odor of smoke assailed
+their nostrils. For an instant they stopped and looked at each other,
+then Peggy cried:
+
+"Polly, something's afire. Quick, the bugle call!" Polly bounded forward
+and, as upon another occasion back in Montgentian she had roused the
+neighborhood and saved the situation, now she sounded her bugle call,
+but this time it was "fire call," not "warning." Clear, high and sharp
+the notes rang through the house. Mrs. Vincent down in her study sprang
+to her feet. The teachers rushed to their posts, the girls ran in from
+the terrace. Well for Columbia Heights School that Polly had taught them
+the different calls and that she and Peggy had begged Mrs. Vincent to
+let the girls learn the fire drill as the boys in Bancroft did it.
+
+Not far off was a fire engine house and the members of the company had
+more than once come to see the two girls put their schoolmates through
+their drill. It was all a grand frolic then, for none believed it would
+ever be put to practical use. But the fire chief had nodded wisely and
+said to Mrs. Vincent:
+
+"Those two young girls have long heads. It may all be a pretty show-down
+now, but some day you may find it come in handy."
+
+It came in very handy this time. In two minutes an alarm was turned in
+and the engines were tearing toward Columbia Heights. The girls had
+rushed to their rooms, scrambled what they could into blankets, and ran
+downstairs with their burdens. At least many of them had. All the fire
+drills in the world will not keep some people's heads upon their
+shoulders in a crisis.
+
+Roused from sleep by the bugle, Lily Pearl, uttering shriek upon shriek,
+plunged her feet into a pair of pink satin slippers newly bought for
+commencement, caught up and pinned upon her head the new hat, of which
+Rosalie had said: "Well, of all the lids! Lily, did the milliner put the
+trimming on the box and forget to send home the hat?" Then grabbing her
+fur coat from the closet she ran screaming down to the lawn, certainly
+somewhat promiscuous as to raiment, for her nightie was an airy affair
+and she carried her coat over her arm.
+
+But the stately Juno was one of the most amusing objects. She carefully
+put on a pair of evening gloves and took a lace pocket handkerchief from
+her bureau drawer. That was all she even attempted to save.
+
+It was well for the school that Polly and Peggy had kept their wits. All
+were soon out of the building and the firemen battling bravely to
+confine the fire to the west wing, but poor Stella's room was surely
+doomed, for what smoke and flames might possibly spare water would
+certainly ruin.
+
+In the midst of the uproar Shelby, Bolivar, Nelly and Helen came upon
+the scene.
+
+"Good Lord Almighty! Look out for the girls, Bolivar. Guess they'll have
+no trouble gettin' in unnoticed now," cried Shelby, and sent Shashai
+speeding to the stables.
+
+Bolivar paused only long enough to hand cabby a ten-dollar bill and cry:
+
+"Clear out quick and keep your mouth shut too!" Then he hurried the
+terrified girls to the lawn where dozens of other girls were huddled,
+and nobody asked any questions about the suitcase. Nor did anyone think
+to ask how Bolivar and Shelby happened to be there when they were
+supposed to be miles away. Many details were quite overlooked that
+night, which was a fortunate circumstance for Miss Helen Doolittle, and
+her hard-hit midshipman, who had "frenched" out of Bancroft not only
+with mamma's knowledge, but with her cooperation. To have formed an
+alliance with Foxy Grandpa's niece and clinched that end of the scheme
+of things would have been one step in the direction of securing an ample
+income, and once that lover's knot was tied, Helen was to be whisked
+back to the school and the secret kept. Mamma was at the Willard waiting
+for "those darling children" to come, and when, much later than he was
+expected, "dear Paul" arrived alone and in a greatly perturbed state of
+mind, mother and son had considerable food for thought until the
+midnight car carried them back to Annapolis, where Paul "clomb" the wall
+at the water's edge and "snoke" into quarters (in Bancroft's vernacular)
+in the wee, sma' hours, a weary, disgusted and unamiable youth. Perhaps
+had he suspected what was happening back at Columbia Heights his prompt
+oblivion in slumber would not have taken place, though Paul was a
+philosopher in his way. Helen was with friends and "she'd knock off
+crying when she found she had to; all girls did." Selah!
+
+But during all this time things had not been moving so tranquilly at
+Columbia Heights. Given over a hundred girls, and a seething furnace of
+a building in which the belongings of a good many of them were being
+rapidly reduced to ashes, for the whole west wing was certainly doomed,
+and one is likely to witness some stirring scenes. The firemen worked
+like gnomes in the murk and smoke, and Shelby and Bolivar seemed to be
+everywhere, saving everything possible to save, with many willing hands
+from the neighborhood to help them. And some funny enough rescues were
+made. Sofa pillows were carried tenderly down two flights of stairs and
+deposited in places of safety upon the lawn by some conscientious
+mortal, while his co-worker heaved valuable cut glass from a third-story
+window, or pitched one of the girls' writing desks into the upstretched
+arms of a twelve-year-old boy who happened to stand beneath.
+
+Mrs. Vincent was everywhere at once, keeping her girls from harm's way,
+and the other teachers kept their heads and cooperated with her. At
+least all but one did, and she was the one upon whom Mrs. Vincent would
+have counted most surely. When the fire was raging most fiercely Miss
+Sturgis returned from her visit and a moment later rushed away from the
+group of girls supposed to be under her especial charge, and disappeared
+within the house in spite of the firemen's orders that all should stand
+clear. The girls screamed and called after her but their voices were
+drowned in the uproar, and none knew that the incentive which spurred
+the half-frantic woman on was the photograph of the professor with whom
+she had gone automobiling the day of the fly-paper episode. Poor Miss
+Sturgis. Her first and only hint of a romance came pretty near proving
+her last.
+
+Straight to her room in the west wing she rushed, stumbling over hose
+lines, battling against the stifling clouds of smoke which rolled down
+the corridor. The room was gained, the picture secured, and she turned
+to make good her escape, all other valuables forgotten. But even in that
+brief moment the smoke had become overpowering. Her room was dense. For
+a moment she sought for the door, growing more and more confused and
+stifled, then with a despairing moan she fell senseless. Luckily the
+flames were eating their relentless way in the other direction, the
+firemen fighting them inch by inch until they felt that they were
+winning the battle.
+
+Meantime, down upon the lawn, the girls had found Mrs. Vincent and told
+her of Miss Sturgis' folly. She was beside herself with alarm. Men were
+sent in every direction to find her, but none for a moment suspected her
+of the utter fool-hardiness of returning to her own room in the blazing
+wing. But there was one person who did think of that possibility and she
+quickly imparted her fears to one other.
+
+"She never would," cried Polly.
+
+"She had something there she wanted to save. I don't know what, but she
+was so excited that she acted just like a crazy person, wringing her
+hands and crying just before she ran back; I saw her go. Wait! Tzaritza,
+find Miss Sturgis," said Peggy into the ears of the splendid hound who
+had never for a single moment left her side, and who had more than once
+caught hold of her skirts to draw her backward when a sudden volume of
+smoke or sparks shot upward.
+
+For a moment the noble beast hesitated. Little had Miss Sturgis ever
+done to win Tzaritza's love and in her dog mind duty lay here. But the
+dear mistress' voice repeated the order and with a low bark of
+intelligence Tzaritza tore away into the burning building.
+
+"Oh, call her back! Call her back! She will be burned to death" cried a
+dozen voices. Polly dropped upon the lawn and began to sob as though her
+heart would break. Peggy never moved, but with hands clinched, lips set
+and the look in her eyes of one who has sacrificed something
+inexpressibly dear she stood listening and waiting. When she felt most
+deeply Peggy became absolutely dumb.
+
+Those minutes seemed like hours, then through an upper window giving on
+the piazza roof scrambled a singed, smoke-begrimed, and uncanny figure,
+dragging, tugging, and hauling with her a limp, unconscious woman. She
+made the sill, hauled her burden over to safety, then lifting it bodily
+carried it to the roof's edge, where putting it carefully beyond the
+volume of smoke now pouring from the window, she threw up her head and
+emitted howl upon howl for aid.
+
+It was Shelby who heard and recognized that deep bay, who rushed with a
+ladder to the spot, and scrambling up like a monkey, caught up Miss
+Sturgis' seemingly lifeless form and carried her down the ladder, where
+a dozen willing hands waited to receive her, while Tzaritza's barks
+testified to her joy. Then back Shelby fled for the faithful creature,
+but just as he reached the roof a sheet of flame darted out of the
+window and enveloped her. In a second the exquisite silky coat was
+a-blaze, and poor Tzaritza's joyous barks became cries of agony.
+
+"Quick, somebody down there hand me one of those blankets!" shouted
+Shelby.
+
+Ere the words had left his lips a little figure scrambled up the ladder,
+a blanket in her arms. Polly had seen all and had not waited for orders.
+Gym work back in Annapolis stood in good stead at that moment. Shelby
+flung the blanket about Tzaritza's sizzling fur, smothered out the
+flame, then by some herculean mustering of strength, caught the huge dog
+in his arms and crawled step by step down the ladder from which Polly
+had quickly scrambled. A dozen hands lent aid and poor burned Tzaritza
+was carried to the stables, Peggy and Polly close beside her. Others
+could now care for Miss Sturgis, who, indeed, was little the worse for
+her folly, while Tzaritza, the lovely coat quite gone, was moaning from
+her burns.
+
+"Hear, Jim, you stay here and don't you leave Miss Peggy or that dog for
+a minute. Now mind what I tell you," he ordered.
+
+Peggy knew exactly what to do. It was the Peggy Stewart of Severndale
+who worked over the suffering dog, bandaging, bathing, soothing, and
+Tzaritza's eyes spoke her gratitude.
+
+Several of the girls ran out to offer help or sympathy, and their tears
+testified to their love for Tzaritza.
+
+It was dawn before the excitement subsided, and the firemen had
+withdrawn, leaving one on guard against the possibility of a fresh
+outbreak. And that west wing and its contents? Well, let us draw a
+curtain, heavier even than the smoke which, so lately poured from it.
+Some things were saved--yes--but the commencement gowns, essays, and all
+which figures in Commencement Day were fluttering about in little black
+flakes. There would be no Commencement for Columbia Heights School this
+year!
+
+A telephone message brought Mrs. Harold and Mrs. Howland upon the scene
+before many hours, as well as a good many other interested parents.
+True, a large insurance covered most of the valuables and the building
+also, but a house after such a catastrophe is hardly prepared to hold a
+function, so it was unanimously agreed that the girls should all go
+quietly away as quickly as those whose belongings had been saved could
+pack them.
+
+Mrs. Harold and Mrs. Howland remained over night and on the
+twenty-fourth instead of the twenty-eighth escorted a nondescript sort
+of party up to Severndale, for wearing apparel had to be
+indiscriminately borrowed and lent.
+
+Helen's anxious mamma took her to Philadelphia, where June week's joys
+were not. Lily Pearl's parents wired her to come home at once, and Lily
+departed for the south-land, June week's joys lamented also. Stella's
+father came in instant response to her telegram and though the one to
+suffer the heaviest losses, made light of them and asked Stella if she
+couldn't tear herself from Columbia Heights without such an expensive
+celebration.
+
+_Is_-a-bel, who had really lost very little, was inconsolable because
+her "essay," to be read at Commencement, had been burned up, and
+departed for the Hub, still lugubrious.
+
+Mrs. Vincent asked Shelby to remain a few days longer, which he
+willingly did. Bolivar had gone on to look up Junius and his charges as
+soon as he could leave the school.
+
+Peggy insisted upon Mrs. Vincent coming to Severndale for the month when
+it was finally agreed that the earlier plans should hold, Juno and
+Natalie extending their visit. So back went the merry party to Annapolis
+to participate in all the delights of June week, and all which can crowd
+into it.
+
+So ho! for Severndale! Tzaritza conveyed there an interesting, though
+shorn convalescent, the horses seeming to sniff Round Bay from afar,
+Polly wild to see her old friends, and Peggy eager to greet those who
+were so much a part of her life in her lovely home. And Nelly? Well, no
+one has ever learned of her night ride, though Helen's peace of mind is
+not quite complete.
+
+
+
+Printed in the United States of America.
+
+
+
+***END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK PEGGY STEWART AT SCHOOL***
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