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diff --git a/25630-h/25630-h.htm b/25630-h/25630-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..9091124 --- /dev/null +++ b/25630-h/25630-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,7140 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Dorothy's Travels, by Evelyn Raymond. + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + + hr.large {width: 65%; margin-top: 2em; margin-bottom: 2em;} + hr.medium {width: 45%; margin-top: 1em; margin-bottom: 1em;} + + body{margin-left: 15%; + margin-right: 15%; + font-size: 110%; + } + td {vertical-align: top;} + + div.centered {text-align:center;} /*work around for IE centering with CSS problem part 1 */ + div.centered table {margin-left:auto; margin-right:auto; text-align:left;} /* work around for IE problem part 2 */ + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + } /* page numbers */ + + .jpg {border: solid 1px} + .ispace {margin-top: 1em;} + .gap {margin-top: 4em;} + .biggap {margin-top: 6em;} + .smallgap {margin-top: 2em;} + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + .right {text-align: left; padding-left: 20em;} + + .caption {font-weight: bold;} + + .figcenter {margin: auto; text-align: center;} + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Dorothy's Travels, by Evelyn Raymond + +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: Dorothy's Travels + +Author: Evelyn Raymond + +Illustrator: S. Schneider + +Release Date: May 28, 2008 [EBook #25630] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOROTHY'S TRAVELS *** + + + + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + + + + + +</pre> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 315px;"> +<img src="images/icover.jpg" width="315" height="500" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<p class="smallgap"> </p> + +<h1>Dorothy’s Travels</h1> + +<p class="gap"> </p> + +<h3>BY</h3> + +<h2>EVELYN RAYMOND</h2> + +<p class="gap"> </p> + +<h3>Illustrations by S. Schneider</h3> + +<p class="smallgap"> </p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 120px;"> +<img src="images/i001.jpg" width="120" height="44" alt="" title="" /> +</div> + +<p class="smallgap"> </p> + +<h3>A. L. CHATTERTON COMPANY</h3> + +<h4>NEW YORK, N. Y.</h4> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<p class="smallgap"> </p> + +<h3><span class="smcap">Copyright</span> 1908</h3> + +<h4>BY</h4> + +<h3>CHATTERTON-PECK CO.</h3> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 322px;"> +<img src="images/i003.jpg" class="jpg ispace" width="322" height="500" alt="“ALLOW ME! AND HELPED MOLLY UP.” +Dorothy’s Travels." title="" /> +<span class="caption">“ALLOW ME! AND HELPED MOLLY UP.”<br /> +<i>Dorothy’s Travels.</i></span> +</div> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2><a name="CONTENTS" id="CONTENTS"></a>CONTENTS</h2> + +<div class="centered"> +<table border="0" width="70%" cellpadding="5" cellspacing="1" summary="CONTENTS"> + +<tr> +<td align="right">CHAPTER</td> +<td align="left"> </td> +<td align="right">PAGE</td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">I.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sailing Down the Hudson</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#DOROTHYS_TRAVELS">9</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">II.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Race and Its Ending</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_II">24</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">III.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Adrift in the Great City</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_III">40</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IV.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">On Board the “Prince”</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IV">57</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">V.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Moonlight and Mist on the Sea</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_V">73</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VI.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Safe on Shore</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VI">89</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Finnan Haddie in a Garden</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VII">106</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">VIII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Dorothy and the Bashful Bugler</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_VIII">124</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">IX.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">An Ox-omobile and a Sailboat</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_IX">142</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">X.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">What Befell a “Digby Chicken”</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_X">158</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XI.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">In Evangeline Land</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XI">171</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Sight Seeing Under Difficulties</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XII">187</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XIII.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">A Message for the Camp</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIII">202</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XIV.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">How Molly Came To Camp</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XIV">217</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XV.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">Mrs. Calvert Plans an Infair</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XV">234</a></td></tr> + +<tr> +<td align="right">XVI.</td> +<td align="left"><span class="smcap">When Journeys End in Welcome</span></td> +<td align="right"><a href="#CHAPTER_XVI">249</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + +<hr class="large" /> +<h2><a name="DOROTHYS_TRAVELS" id="DOROTHYS_TRAVELS"></a>DOROTHY’S TRAVELS</h2> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[Pg 9]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_I" id="CHAPTER_I"></a>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<h3>SAILING DOWN THE HUDSON</h3> + +<p>“All aboard—what’s goin’! All ashore—what ain’t!”</p> + +<p>The stentorian shout of the colored steward, so close to Dorothy’s ear, +made her jump aside with a little scream. Then as she saw that the boat +hands were about to draw the gang plank back to the steamer’s deck, she +gave another little cry and fairly pushed Alfaretta toward it.</p> + +<p>“Never mind hugging me now, girlie, you must go or you’ll be left!”</p> + +<p>But the lassie from the mountain only smiled and answered:</p> + +<p>“I don’t mind if I am. Look a-here!” and with that she pulled a shabby +purse from the front of her blouse and triumphantly displayed its +contents.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Alfy! How’ll you ever get back?”</p> + +<p>“Easy as preachin’. I—”</p> + +<p>But Dorothy had no further time to waste in argument. Here were Jim +Barlow and Monty Stark shaking either hand and bidding a hasty good-by, +while Molly Breckenridge was fairly dancing up and down in her anxiety +lest the lads <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[Pg 10]</a></span>should also be left on board, as Alfaretta was likely to +be.</p> + +<p>But they were not. Another second they had bounded down the stairs from +the saloon to the lower deck, a workman had obligingly caught Monty by +his coat collar and laughingly flung him over the plank to the dock +beyond, while Jim’s long legs strode after and made their last leap +across a little chasm of water.</p> + +<p>“Good-by, good-by, good-by!”</p> + +<p>Handkerchiefs waved, kisses were tossed across the widening water, the +bell rang, the whistle tooted, and Dorothy’s travels had begun. Then as +the group of schoolmates watching this departure from the shore grew +more indistinct she turned upon her old mountain friend with the +astonished question:</p> + +<p>“But Alfaretta! Whatever made you do this? What will become of you, +alone in that great city of New York?”</p> + +<p>“I didn’t say anything about Ne’ York, did I? Should think you’d be glad +to have me go along with you a little bit o’ way. Course, I shall get +off the boat when it stops to Cornwall landing. And I thought—I +thought—Seems if I <i>couldn’t</i> have you go so far away, Dolly. It’s +terrible lonesome up-mounting now-a-days. And I—I don’t see why some +folks has everything and some hasn’t nothin’!”</p> + +<p>There was more grief than grammar in this speech and a few tears sprang +to the girl’s eyes. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[Pg 11]</a></span>But Alfy boasted that she was not a “crier” and as +she heard the stewardess announcing: “Tickets, ladies and gentlemen,” +she dashed the moisture away and stared at the woman.</p> + +<p>After her usual custom, “Fanny” was collecting money from the various +passengers and would obligingly procure their tickets for those not +already provided. As she made her way through the throng, which on that +summer morning crowded the upper deck of the pretty “Mary Powell,” the +three young friends watched her with surprised interest.</p> + +<p>Apparently she took no note of the amount anybody gave her, carrying +bills of all dimensions between her fingers and piles of specie on her +broad palm.</p> + +<p>“How can she tell how much she’s taken from anybody? How can she give +them their right change?” wondered Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“I give it up! She must be a deal better at arithmetic than I am. I +should make the mixedest mess of that business;” answered Molly, equally +curious.</p> + +<p>“Yet you will see that she makes no mistakes. I’ve been traveling up and +down the river on this same boat for many years and I’ve given her all +sorts of sums, at times, on purpose to try her. But her memory never +fails,” said Miss Greatorex who was in charge of the party. She sat +quite calmly with the amount of three fares in her hand but with a most +forbidding gaze at Alfaretta.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[Pg 12]</a></span>Who that young person was or why she had thrust herself into their +company she did not understand. She had herself but known of this trip +on the day before, when Miss Penelope Rhinelander had been obliged to +give it up, on account of the extreme illness of a near relative.</p> + +<p>However, here she was with her two pupils, whom she taught at the +Rhinelander Academy, bound for a summer’s outing in—to her and +them—unknown lands. Also, as there may be some who have not hitherto +followed the fortunes of Dorothy, it may be well to explain that she was +a foundling, left upon the doorstep of a man and wife, in a quiet street +in Baltimore. That he had lost his health and his position as a +letter-carrier in that city and had removed to his wife’s small farm in +the Hudson Highlands. That among their friends there was somebody who +had taken an interest in the orphan girl and had burdened himself—or +herself—with the charge of her education. That she had passed the last +school year at the Academy and had been in some most exciting episodes +detailed in “Dorothy’s Schooling;” and that now, at the beginning of the +long vacation, she was traveling with her closest school friend and a +teacher, whose life she had been the means of saving at the time of the +Academy fire, toward New York; and from thence to Nova Scotia—there to +grow strong for another year of study.</p> + +<p>Alfaretta Babcock’s home was near to her home <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[Pg 13]</a></span>upon the mountain; and +though unlike, there was a sincere affection between this untaught +country girl and the dainty Dorothy, and Alfy had begged a ride in a +neighbor’s wagon going to Newburgh, that she might bid her friend good +by and watch her set sail on what seemed must be the most wonderful of +journeys.</p> + +<p>She was to have returned home as she had come; but when the steamer was +on the point of leaving an impulse had seized her to travel thus +herself, if only for the brief distance between this landing and the one +nearer her own home. She had a few cents in her purse and hoped they +would be enough to pay her fare; and now when they were already moving +down the stream and her familiar mountain-top came into view, she made a +wild dart toward the stewardess, shouting:</p> + +<p>“Ma’am, please, ma’am, take mine! I’ve got to get off the next place +and—and—I mustn’t be left!”</p> + +<p>Fanny picked up the camp-chair Alfy had stumbled over, remarked in a +soothing voice, “Plenty of time, little gal, oceans of time, oceans of +time,” and glanced at the money so suddenly thrust into her already +crowded palm.</p> + +<p>“Four cents, little gal? Hardly enough. Fifteen is the regular fare. All +you got, sissy? Look and see.”</p> + +<p>The tone was kind but the statement sounded like a knell in poor +Alfaretta’s ears. Thousands of times she had watched the many boats pass +up and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[Pg 14]</a></span>down the river, but only once had she been upon any and that was +a row-boat. It had been the dream of her life to voyage, as she was +doing now, far and away beyond those Highlands, that seemed to meet and +clasp hands across the mighty stream, and see the wonderful world that +lay beyond. For the boats always disappeared around that projecting +point of rock and forest, and so she knew that the mountains did not +meet but merely seemed so to do. Well, of course, she wasn’t to find out +about them to-day. She knew that quite well, because her own landing was +on this side the “Point” and she could go no further. Indeed, could she +now go even so far?</p> + +<p>“Fifteen cents! My heart!—I—I—What can I do? Will the captain drop +me—in the—river? Will—”</p> + +<p>The stewardess was very busy. People were watching her a little +anxiously because of her indifferent handling of her money and the +tickets she had not hurried to bring; and the sudden terrified clutch at +her skirts which Alfy gave set her tripping among the crowded chairs and +made her answer, crossly:</p> + +<p>“For goodness sake, girl, keep out from under foot! If you haven’t the +money go to your friends and get it!”</p> + +<p>“Friends! I haven’t got any!” cried Alfaretta, and flung her skirt over +her face and herself down upon the nearest seat.</p> + +<p>From their own place Molly and Dolly watched <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[Pg 15]</a></span>this little by-play for a +moment, then darted forward themselves to see what was the matter.</p> + +<p>“Why, Alfy dear, what’s happened? Won’t the woman get your ticket for +you? Never mind. I’ll ask her. Maybe she will for me.”</p> + +<p>“You needn’t, Dolly girl! There ain’t enough and I’m afraid they’ll drop +me off into the water! She—she—”</p> + +<p>“Alfy! How silly! Nobody would do such a thing. It would be murder. But +you shouldn’t have come unless you had the money and I’ll go ask Miss +Greatorex for some. She has our purses in her satchel, taking care of +them for us. Wait a minute. You stay with her, Molly, while I go get it. +How much, Alfy?”</p> + +<p>The girl began to count upon her fingers:</p> + +<p>“Four—that’s what I have and it was meant for candy for the +children—five, six—How many more’n four does it take to make +fifteen I wonder? I’m so scared I can’t think. And I wish, +I—wish—to—goodness—knows I’d ha’ said good-by back there to the dock +and not let myself get carried off down river to nobody knows where. If +they dassent to drop me off the boat they might keep me here till I +paid—”</p> + +<p>“Alfaretta Babcock! I certainly am ashamed of you. That’s a hard thing +to say, just at parting, but it’s the truth. The idea! First you fancy a +decent human being will drown you because you haven’t a little money, +and then you can’t reckon fifteen! What would dear Mr. Seth say, after +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[Pg 16]</a></span>teaching you so faithfully? Never mind. Don’t act so foolish any more +and I’ll go get the money.”</p> + +<p>This was not so easy as she fancied. The boat was already nearing the +next landing where Alfaretta must go ashore, or be carried on to a much +greater distance from her home, but it seemed difficult to make Miss +Greatorex understand what was wanted and why. The poor lady’s deafness +had increased since her fright and exposure at the time of the fire and, +now that she had been put into a position of greater trust than ever +before, her sense of responsibility weighed heavily upon her. At +parting, her principal, Miss Rhinelander, had enjoined:</p> + +<p>“Take particular care of the girls’ finances, Cousin Isobel. It is +important that they should learn to be wise in their small expenditures +so that they may be equally prudent when they come to have the handling +of larger sums—if that should ever be. Make them give a strict account +of everything and check any foolishness at the beginning.”</p> + +<p>The subordinate promised. She was a “poor relation” and knew that she +was an unpopular teacher with many of the pupils of the fine school, +though she had modified her sternness altogether in the case of Dorothy +who had saved her from the fire. But the mandate of her superior was +fresh in her mind. She had been touched by the rarely familiar “Cousin +Isobel,” and determined to do her duty to the utmost. Yet here was +Dorothy already screaming into her deafest ear:</p> + +<p>“My purse, please, Miss Greatorex! I want <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[Pg 17]</a></span>some money right away! Quick, +quick, please, or it’ll be too late!”</p> + +<p>The girl’s voice was so highly pitched that people around began to stare +and some of them to smile. Like most afflicted persons the lady was +sensitive to the observation of others and now held up her hand in +protest against the attention they were attracting.</p> + +<p>“Softly, Dorothy. Better write what you wish if you cannot speak more +distinctly;” and a small pad with pencil was extended.</p> + +<p>But Dorothy did not take them. The satchel upon Miss Greatorex’s lap was +open, her own and Molly’s purses lay within. To snatch them both up and +rush away was her impulsive act and to scamper back across the deck, +wherever she could find a passage, took but a moment longer. But she was +none too soon.</p> + +<p>Down below the steward was again crying:</p> + +<p>“All aboard what’s goin’! All ashore what ain’t! All who hasn’t got deir +tickets, please step right down to de Cap’n’s office and settle.”</p> + +<p>While another loud voice ordered:</p> + +<p>“Aft gangway for Cornwall! All ashore—all ashore! Aft gangway—all +ashore!”</p> + +<p>Some were hurrying down the stairs to that “aft gangway,” others +speeding up them in equal haste with that excitement which always marks +the infrequent traveler, and poor Alfaretta caught the same fever of +haste. Without a word of real farewell, now that she had come thus far +at so much risk <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[Pg 18]</a></span>to speak it, she dashed ahead, slipped on the +brass-tipped stair and plunged headlong into the space below.</p> + +<p>For an instant there was silence even in that busy scene, people halting +in their ascent and porters turning their skids aside with angry +exclamations, lest the trunks they wheeled should fall upon her as she +seemed bent to fall upon them.</p> + +<p>Yet only one thought now possessed the terrified girl—escape! She had +bumped her head till she was dizzy, but she mustn’t stop for that. +Yonder yawned that open space in the deck-rail which they called the +“aft gangway” and toward that point she propelled herself regardless of +all that impeded her way.</p> + +<p>Down the plank, out upon the boards of the board dock, into the medley +of stages and yelling drivers she hurried, very much as James Barlow and +Montmorency Stark had done at that other, upper landing. But when she +felt the solid quay beneath her feet she paused, clapped her hands to +her dizzy head and—felt herself grasped in a wild and fierce embrace.</p> + +<p>Then both upon that dock and the deck of the outgoing steamer rang a +shout of merriment, which made anger take the place of fear as she +whirled about in the arms of whoever held her and shook her fist at the +boat and its passengers.</p> + +<p>“Well! That was a short trip but it was full of incident!” remarked one +passenger, near to Molly and Dorothy. They had run to the rail to see +what <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[Pg 19]</a></span>followed Alfy’s disappearance, and if she were carried away +injured. “I saw her come aboard and depart and she managed to get a deal +of action into those few minutes. Friend of yours, young ladies?”</p> + +<p>They faced about, wondering why this man should speak to them. He looked +like a gentleman though a rather shabby one. Montmorency would have +termed him “seedy.” His coat had seen better days and his hat, lying on +the bench beside him, was worn and discolored, and his thin white hair +told that he, also, was old. This made the girls regard him kindly, for +both of them had a reverence for age.</p> + +<p>More than that, a crutch rested against his knee and this made an +instant appeal to Dorothy’s sympathy. She had seen nobody with a crutch +since she had said farewell to Father John; and now in pity for this +other cripple she lingered near answering his many questions most +politely.</p> + +<p>“Yes, she is a friend. She—I guess she ran away to sail a short +distance with us. We shan’t see each other again this summer. She forgot +her money. I mean she didn’t have any to forget; and—Sir? What did you +ask me to find?”</p> + +<p>“To buy a morning paper for me, my dear. You see, being lame—Did you +ever know anybody who was lame?” asked the old man, with a smile.</p> + +<p>“Ah! yes. The dearest man in all the world; my father.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon Dorothy huddled down beside the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[Pg 20]</a></span>stranger and gave a history +of her father’s illness, his wonderful patience, and the last effort he +was making to regain his health.</p> + +<p>She did not know that it is often unsafe to talk with unknown people +upon a journey; and in any case she would not have feared such a +benignant old gentleman as this. She ended her talk with the inquiry:</p> + +<p>“Where will I find the paper, Mr.—Mr.—I mean, sir?”</p> + +<p>“Smith my name is. John Smith of Smithville. You’ll find all the papers +and books at a news-stand on the lower deck. There’s a candy-stand +there, too, such as will interest you two more than the papers, likely;” +he answered with another smile.</p> + +<p>They started down the stairs leading from the main saloon to the lower +part of the boat, and not until they had reached the news-stand did +either of them remember that she hadn’t brought her purse nor asked +which paper their new acquaintance desired.</p> + +<p>“Oh! dear! Wasn’t that silly of us! And we’re almost to West Point, +where my cousin Tom’s a cadet! He promised to be on the lookout for us, +if he could get leave to go to the steamboat landing. I wrote and told +him about our trip and he answered right away. He’s Aunt Lucretia’s only +child and she adores him. Hasn’t spoiled him though. Papa took care +about that! If I go back after our pocket-books I may lose the chance to +see him! So provoking! I wish now we hadn’t bothered <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[Pg 21]</a></span>ourselves about +that old man. If he was able to come aboard the boat and go up those +stairs to the deck he was able to buy his own old papers. So there!” +cried Molly, stamping her little foot in her vexation.</p> + +<p>West Point cadets are given few permissions to leave their Academy for +social visits, so that Tom had never been to the Rhinelander school +where rules were also so strict that Molly had been but once to see her +cousin in his own quarters. Until he went to the Point and she to school +in the hill-city a few miles further up the river, they had lived +together in her father’s house and were like brother and sister. The +disappointment now was great to the loving girl and Dorothy hastened to +comfort, by saying:</p> + +<p>“Never mind, Molly, you stay right here. See! they’re fixing that +gang-plank again, at this very part of the deck. You stand right +outside, close against the rail but where you won’t be in the men’s way +and, if he’s there, you’ll surely see him.</p> + +<p>“I’ll go back and get the purses. Where did you lay them?”</p> + +<p>“Hum. I don’t know. I can’t exactly think. You handed me yours, I +remember, when you stooped to pick up his crutch he’d knocked down. Ah! +Now I know. My hands got so warm and your pocketbook was red and I +thought it would stain my new gloves. So I just laid them down on the +bench beside him. You’ll find them right there beside him. You can ask +him which paper, then, and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[Pg 22]</a></span>I say, Dolly Doodles, what right had that +hindering old thing to expect us—us—to buy his papers for him? Why +didn’t he give us the money, himself? Seems if we’d been sort of—sort +of goosies, doesn’t it?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! Molly! That’s not nice of you to think about that dear, lame old +man! And why he didn’t was, I suppose, because he didn’t think. We don’t +always think ourselves, dearie. Never mind. I’ll hurry and be right +back.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, do—do hurry! I’ve said so much about you in my letters I’m just +suffering to have you two meet. Just suffering! Hark! They’re whistling +and ringing the bell and we’ll be there in a minute! Do, do hurry—for I +believe I see him now—that tall one at the end of the wharf—Hurry—or, +better still—Wait! Wait!”</p> + +<p>But long before the excited Molly had finished speaking Dorothy had run +up the stairs, along the long passage to the aft deck where she had left +her lame acquaintance waiting for her to do his simple errand.</p> + +<p>He was not in the spot where she had left him. He was not in the big +saloon, or parlor. He was not upon the forward deck; not yet amid the +crowd pressed to the deck’s rail, to watch for whatever might be seen at +this historic landing place. Flying to the rail she scanned the few +departing passengers and he was not among them. She saw, but scarcely +realized that she did, a group of three cadets who had come as near the +steamer as the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[Pg 23]</a></span>wharf permitted and were gaily chattering with her chum, +during the short stop that was made.</p> + +<p>“Could he have fallen overboard? And if he did why did he take our +purses with him?” she wondered. Then reflected that it would be a +difficult thing to explain this affair to Miss Greatorex; and also that +the missing pocket-books contained a full month’s “allowance” for both +Molly and herself.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[Pg 24]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_II" id="CHAPTER_II"></a>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<h3>A RACE AND ITS ENDING</h3> + +<p>Dorothy’s search for the missing old man and, to her, the more important +missing purses brought her to the lower deck and Molly. The latter was +still leaning upon the rail, gazing a little sadly into the water, for +the brief glimpse she had had of her cousin Tom had recalled their happy +days in their old southern home. There were even a few tears in her +bright blue eyes as she raised them toward her friend; but she checked +them at once, frightened by the expression of Dorothy’s own.</p> + +<p>“Why, honey, what’s the matter?”</p> + +<p>“Our pocket-books are lost!”</p> + +<p>“Lost? Lost! They can’t be. You mustn’t say so. We can’t, we daren’t +lose them. Weren’t they on that bench beside the old man?” demanded +Molly.</p> + +<p>“No, they were not. They were not anywhere—any single where. He wasn’t +either.”</p> + +<p>“Pooh! He must be. He probably wanted to change his seat and was afraid +to leave them lying on the bench, lest somebody might be tempted to pick +them up. Somebody to whom they didn’t belong, I mean.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[Pg 25]</a></span>“Molly, what shall we do? What will Miss Greatorex say?”</p> + +<p>“Humph. She’ll probably scream out her disgust as if we were deaf too +like herself. That’s the way she always does: when there’s something to +be said you don’t want anybody else to hear she just talks her loudest; +and when there’s something you’re longing to know she merely whispers. +That’s the way all deaf people do, Miss Penelope says. And—you’re the +one that lost them, so you’ll be the one to tell her, Dorothy girl.”</p> + +<p>“Why, child, I don’t see how I lost them any more than you did! I’m +sorry as I can be. Sorrier about yours than mine even, though I’d +planned so many nice things to do with the money. Five dollars! Think of +it! I never before had five whole dollars at a time, never in my life!” +said Dolly, mournfully.</p> + +<p>“Well, what’s the use staying down here and just worrying about the +thing? Let’s go and look again for the man. When we find the man we +shall find the purses; but—whether he’ll give them back to us is +another matter.”</p> + +<p>“Molly, what a dreadful thing to say! As if you thought he—he stole +them, a nice old gentleman like that!”</p> + +<p>“Pooh! Once my Aunt Lucretia had her little handbag snatched out of her +hand, right on Broadway street in New York city. She did so; and all she +could remember about the snatcher was that he was a handsome young man +with an eyeglass in one <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[Pg 26]</a></span>eye. A regular dandy he was, if the thief was +the fellow who brushed against her so rudely. Anyhow, after he’d +brushed, her bag was gone and all her shopping money in it. Papa told +her it served her right. That to carry a purse, or a bag, that way was a +temptation to any rogue who happened to pass by. He said the snatcher +was smarter than Auntie and he hoped it would teach her a lesson. Aunt +Lu thought Papa was almost as horrid as the thief; and what will either +of them say to us for being so careless?”</p> + +<p>“I suppose we’ll have to tell them!” reflected Dorothy, in sad +perplexity.</p> + +<p>“Course we will. Aren’t they both to meet us at the steamer? Aren’t they +going with us all the way to Halifax? Why, I should want to tell the +very first thing. How else would I get any more money?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t know, I’m sure. Lucky you! As for me there’s nobody to replace +my five dollars, so far as I know.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! come on. Don’t let’s stand moping. I’ll tell you. Let’s begin right +here at this spot. You go one side this lower place, all along that +passage beside the engine-rooms and things and I’ll go the other. Then +if we don’t see him anywhere here we’ll meet at the foot of the stairs +and search the upper floor just the same way. Out on both ends of the +boat, poke into closets and barber-shop and captain’s office—everywhere +there is a chance a man, a passenger man, might be.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[Pg 27]</a></span>It seemed a fine scheme and they promptly separated to put it into +execution. But when they met at the foot of the stairway, leading to the +upper saloon, neither had any success to report. Nor did they meet with +any better fortune when they had made a prolonged examination of the +whole steamer, even climbing to the hurricane deck and questioning the +officer upon the bridge.</p> + +<p>As they slowly descended to the place where Miss Greatorex awaited them, +alarmed by their absence and equally afraid to move from the spot lest +somebody else should confiscate their three comfortable camp-chairs and, +possibly, their hand luggage, Dorothy suggested:</p> + +<p>“Let’s write it. That’ll save other people, strangers, from hearing. +Miss G. always carries a pad and pencil with her and I’ll do it myself, +since you think I’m most to blame. But I’m afraid even my writing won’t +stop her talking when she finds out! Oh! dear! I wish Alfy Babcock had +never come on this boat! Then I shouldn’t have gone to watch her and +seen him.”</p> + +<p>“Huh! I don’t think it’s quite fair to blame poor Alfy for our own +fault. We’d no business to be so careless, either one of us. I had a +bright notion that maybe that stewardess or some official had picked up +the pocket-books, so I asked every single one of them, big and little, +black and white, and not a soul knew a thing about it. No, Dolly +Doodles, the blame’s our own and—the man’s,” said Molly, with +conviction.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[Pg 28]</a></span>Miss Greatorex was vastly relieved to see her charges returning to her +side. She had become anxious over their prolonged absence and in her +nervousness had imagined all sorts of accidents which might have +befallen them. Yet the same nervousness had prevented her questioning +any employee of the steamer, who had come near, she shrinking from the +observation this would attract to her deafness.</p> + +<p>Therefore, it was with a much brighter smile than ordinary that she +welcomed the truants, and was disappointed to have her greeting so +dejectedly returned.</p> + +<p>“I began to worry over you, my dears, I cannot call either of you really +mischievous, yet I hope you won’t leave me in suspense so long again. +Anywhere, so that you are in my sight all of the time, you are free to +move about. But—Why, my dears! What has happened to make you so sober?”</p> + +<p>It certainly was vexing, when the lady was making such extra effort to +be agreeable and to adapt herself to young people’s ideas, to have these +efforts so disregarded; and it was a strange thing that Dorothy should +without permission take the notebook and pencil from her teacher’s lap +and begin to write.</p> + +<p>Miss Isobel had set forth upon her travels with the firm intention of +making notes about everything along the way and it disturbed her +methodical soul to have anybody else “messing” with this neat little +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[Pg 29]</a></span>record. It was only a trifle better that the girl should have turned to +the very back of the book and chosen a fly leaf there to scribble on. +Scribbling it seemed, so rapidly was it done, and after a brief time the +book was returned to its owner and she silently requested to examine +what had been written in it. This is what she read:</p> + +<p>“We’ve lost our pocket-books. Or, maybe, I lost them both. We’ve lost +the man, too. He was a little, shiny old man, with a fringe of white +hair around his head. When he put his hat on he had two foreheads under +its rim, one before and one behind. His coat was shiny. His hat was +shiny and had a hole in it. He—he seemed to shine all over, especially +in his smile. That was perfectly lovely. Have you seen him? Because if +you know where he is I’d like to ask him for our purses. That is if he +has them as Molly and, maybe, I think. Else how could we buy his paper +for him without any money and how can we give him the paper if +he—<i>isn’t</i>?”</p> + +<p>Poor Dorothy fancied that she had made everything most explicit yet, at +the same time, very gently broken the news of the lost purses. She was +unprepared for the expression of confusion that settled upon Miss +Greatorex’s austere features as she read this communication once, then +more carefully a second time.</p> + +<p>Leaning forward, eagerly observant of “how she’ll take it” Molly +perceived that Dorothy’s explanation hadn’t been sufficient; or else +that it had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[Pg 30]</a></span>not dawned upon Miss Isobel’s comprehension that her girls +had really been so careless, that the loss was genuine. As the lady +looked up, after this second reading, with a question but no anger in +her expression, the observer exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Dolly, I don’t believe you’ve told her all. Give me the book, please, +Miss G. and I’ll see what it says.”</p> + +<p>Then after a rapid perusal of the message Molly turned upon her chum +with an amused indignation:</p> + +<p>“You’ve said more about your ‘shiny old man’ with his adorable smile +than our own trouble. Here, I’ll write and I guess there won’t be any +mistake this time.”</p> + +<p>So she also possessed herself of the cherished notebook and made her own +brief entry:—</p> + +<p>“We laid our purses down on a bench and a man stole them. The same man +D. described. Now somebody must have stolen <i>him</i> ’cause he isn’t on the +boat.”</p> + +<p>“Laid your purses down on a bench and left them there?” demanded Miss +Greatorex in her most excited tones. Tones so loud that all the +passengers sitting near turned their heads to look and listen; thereby +calling attention to the two blushing girls, in a manner most +unpleasant.</p> + +<p>All they could do to avert this audible upbraiding was to point to the +notebook and mutely beg that she would do her scolding by that silent +channel. Not she, however. Never in all the years of her drudgery of +teaching had she felt her responsibility <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[Pg 31]</a></span>so great as now. To be +entrusted with the charge of Miss Rhinelander’s most indulged +pupils—all the school knew that—had, at first seemed a burden, and +next a most delightful honor. But, after all, they were just like other +girls. Just as careless, just as disrespectful and annoying; for the +sensitive old gentlewoman had considered the use of her notebook a +presumption and their long absence from her side a proof that they were +inconsiderate. However, these were mere matters of sentiment, but the +loss of ten good dollars was a calamity.</p> + +<p>“Well, young ladies, all I have to say, and you may note that it is my +final word, is: <i>Those pocket-books must be found.</i> You cannot leave +this steamer until they are. I have promised especial care over your +expenditures and I shall do my duty. I am now going to read my history +of Hendrik Hudson. While I am reading you can seek your purses. We have +still a long time before reaching New York and the better you employ it +the better for—all of us.”</p> + +<p>Every syllable was as distinctly uttered as if she were dictating to a +secretary, but she ignored all the curious glances turned her way and +resumed her reading with an air of great dignity.</p> + +<p>Molly and Dolly exchanged dismayed glances; then giggled, perceiving +amused expressions upon the faces of many travelers near them. The whole +affair began to seem more absurd than serious, and, finally, unable to +longer restrain their rather hysterical <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[Pg 32]</a></span>mirth, they rose and walked +away arm in arm.</p> + +<p>But they did no more searching. Had they not already looked everywhere? +Besides, as Molly declared:</p> + +<p>“We’re more apt to see that man somewhere if we sit right still in one +place. Papa told me that was the way to do, if I were ever lost +anywhere. I was once, in a big store in New York, but I remembered, I +sat right down by the door and just waited and prayed all the time that +Auntie Lu would come and find me there. I was a little tacker then, not +bigger’n anything. And she came. I don’t know how much the praying did +’cause all I knew then was ‘Now I lay me;’ or how much the waiting. +Anyhow she found me. So, maybe, if we keep still as still, the ‘shiny +man’ will get around past us sometime. <i>He’s</i> the lost one in the case, +isn’t he? And did you ever see how restless the people all do seem? I +guess they’re tired of the long sail and anxious to be off the boat.”</p> + +<p>“I guess so, too. Let’s do something to pass the time. Count how many +girls and women we can see in white shirt-waists—seems if it had rained +them, seems if! Or how many people go trapesing up and down the deck. +Make up stories about them, too, if you like, and fit names to them. I +always do give a name to anybody I see and don’t know. Let’s call that +nice looking man yonder ‘Graysie.’ He’s all in gray clothes, hat, +gloves, tie, and everything. There’s another might be what Monty’d say +was a ‘hayseed.’ I think that’s not a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[Pg 33]</a></span>nice name, though, but just call +him ‘Green Fields.’ He’s surely come from some farm up the river and +looks as if he were enjoying every minute of this sail. I’m beginning to +enjoy it too, now; only I’m getting dreadfully hungry. If I had my purse +I think I’d go down to that stand in the corner and buy us some +sandwiches;” said Dorothy, in response.</p> + +<p>Cried Molly, indignantly:</p> + +<p>“Don’t talk about sandwiches to a poor, starving girl! Sailing does make +a body ravenous, just ravenous, even though we did have a +‘vacation-breakfast’ with something besides cereals and milk. When Miss +Rhinelander does ‘treat’ us she does it thoroughly. But, what shall you +order when we get to New York and meet Papa and Auntie Lu? You know +we’re all to dine at a big hotel, for the Nova Scotia boat doesn’t sail +till two o’clock. Two o’clock sharp! Not a minute before nor a minute +after, Papa says; and he goes out to that country every year. Sometimes +in the hunting season and now just to camp out and fish and get—get +fat, I tell him. It’s dreadful wearing to be a Judge. Judge of the +Supreme Court. That’s what my father is. He’s a bank president, too, and +has lots to do with other people’s money. But he’s something to do with +a railway besides, and all these things and his taking care of Aunt +Lucretia’s ‘property’ wears him out. She hasn’t any property, really, +except the little tumble-down house where she and Papa were born. Papa +says it isn’t worth the cost of powder <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[Pg 34]</a></span>to blow it up; but Auntie loves +it and makes more fuss over it than Papa does over all his own things.”</p> + +<p>“A Judge is a man that can send a person to jail or not, isn’t he?”</p> + +<p>“Worse than that! He can send one to the gallows or the electric +chair—if he has to. That’s the wearing part; having to be ‘just’ when +he just longs to be ‘generous.’ If it wasn’t that he has the same power +to set a person free, too, I guess he’d give up Judging. If he could. I +don’t know about such things. What I do know is that he and some other +Judges and some more bankers and such men have the greatest fun ever, +summer times. They hunt up old clothes and wear them right in the woods. +Auntie says she doesn’t know where they find such duds ’cause they +certainly never owned them at any other time. Then they sleep on the +ground, and cook over a fire they make themselves, and fish and tell +stories. ‘Just loaf’ Papa says, and to hear him tell makes me sorrier +than ever I’m not a boy. If I were I could go too. But a girl—Pshaw! +Girls can’t do a single thing that’s worth while, seems to me!”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid I shall be afraid of a real Judge, Molly. I’m afraid I—”</p> + +<p>“The idea! You’ll forget all those ‘afraids’ the minute you see my +darling father! But you didn’t say what you’d order for your dinner.”</p> + +<p>“How can I order anything if I haven’t the money to pay for it? Or does +that all go in with the expenses of the whole trip, that Miss Greatorex +has to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[Pg 35]</a></span>take care of?” asked Dorothy, who was in real ignorance of some +most practical matters, having merely been told that she was to take +this journey under Miss Greatorex’s charge.</p> + +<p>“I don’t know what goes in or out; but I do know that my father wouldn’t +let ladies pay for their dinners when he was along. A pretty kind of a +gentleman that would be! And Judge Schuyler Breckenridge is a Perfect +Gentleman, I want you to understand,” answered Molly, proudly.</p> + +<p>“So is my Father John,” said Dorothy with equal decision; and for a few +minutes there was silence while each loyal daughter reflected upon the +astonishing merits of their respective fathers.</p> + +<p>Afterward they interested themselves in watching the people near them; +so that it was with some surprise they heard “Diamond,” the steward, +announcing:</p> + +<p>“New Yawk! Twenty-third street landin’! Fo’wa’d gangway fo’ +Twen-ty—thir-d-st-r-e-et!!”</p> + +<p>Then followed a little scurry as they sought Miss Greatorex to inquire +if this were where they would leave the boat. However she said not; that +they were to remain on board until the steamer landed at Desbrosses +street, lower down the city. There she had been informed that Judge +Breckenridge and Mrs. Hungerford would meet them. After dining together +they would cross the city to the other East River and take the steamer +for Yarmouth. It was all very simple and yet very exciting.</p> + +<p>Both Miss Isobel and her pupils had “read up” <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[Pg 36]</a></span>on Nova Scotia and felt +as if the short ocean trip would land them in a foreign country. Whether +the entire vacation should be passed in that Province or they to travel +further afield had not yet been decided.</p> + +<p>However, New York was sufficiently exciting, even to Molly who had been +there many times, and far more so to Dorothy, who had passed through it +but once. They could scarcely keep their feet from dancing as they +gathered with the rest of the downtown passengers to await the landing +of the “Powell” and their going ashore.</p> + +<p>“See! See! Papa! Darling Auntie Lu! There they are, there they are!” +almost shrieked Molly, frantically waving her handkerchief to somebody +on the wharf.</p> + +<p>There were many answering wavings of handkerchiefs from expectant +friends to those still on board, and Dorothy peered eagerly among them +trying to decide which was the pair to whom her chum belonged. Turning +her head to beg information on this point she suddenly perceived her +“shiny old man.” He was on the edge of the crowding passengers, holding +back and yet apparently in haste to get forward, by watching for little +breaks in the ranks and dodging swiftly through them. His crutch was +under his arm, he was not using it. His hat-brim had been lowered over +his face, his coat collar pulled high about his ears and securely +buttoned. There was none of that benign appearance about him now which +had so won Dorothy’s sympathetic <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[Pg 37]</a></span>heart and if he were lame he admirably +disguised the fact.</p> + +<p>It was her chance! In another moment he would have left the boat and she +would miss him. She would run up to him and ask him if he remembered +about the purses—Quick, quick! He must have forgotten—</p> + +<p>He was going. Everybody was going. She kept her eyes fixed upon him, +unmindful of the fact that somebody else was crowding her apart from +Molly and Miss Greatorex, or that, as the throng pressed outward, they +were getting further and further away.</p> + +<p>The “shiny man” wasn’t three feet ahead of her when they at last gained +the gang-plank and surged forward to the wharf. She could almost touch +his shoulder—she would in a minute—she was gaining—</p> + +<p>No she wasn’t! He had slipped aside and was hurrying away with the +agility of youth! It couldn’t be the cripple and yet—there was the +point of his crutch sticking out behind! Well, she reckoned she could +run as fast as he did and she promptly set out to try!</p> + +<p>It was a strange race in a strange place. West street in New York is a +very crowded, dirty thoroughfare. An endless, unbroken line of drays, +beer-wagons, vehicles of every sort, moves up one side and down the +other of the hurrying street cars which claim the centre roadway. The +pavement is always slippery with slime, the air always full of hoarse +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[Pg 38]</a></span>shouts, cries and distracting whistles. Car bells jangle, policemen +yell their warnings to unwary foot passengers, hackmen screech their +demands for patronage, and hurrying crowds move to and fro between the +ferries and the city. A place that speedily set Dorothy’s nerves +a-tingle with fear, yet never once diverted her from her purpose.</p> + +<p>As she had once followed poor Peter Piper in a mad race over the fields, +“just for fun,” so now she followed her “shiny man,” to regain her lost +property. She had become convinced that he had it. He looked, at last, +exactly like a person who would rob little girls of their last five +dollars! Their own whole monthly allowance and a most liberal one.</p> + +<p>“But he shall not keep it! He—shall—not!” cried Dorothy aloud, and +redoubling her speed, if that were possible.</p> + +<p>He darted between wagons where the horses’ noses of the hinder one +touched the tail-boards of the forward; so did she. He bobbed under +drays; so did she. He seemed bent upon nothing but escape; she upon +nothing but pursuit and capture. She believed that he must have seen her +though she had not caught him turning once around to look her way.</p> + +<p>They had cleared the street; they were upon the further sidewalk; a +policeman was screaming a “halt” to her but she paid no attention. In +that medley of sounds one harsh cry more or less was of small account. +What was of account, the only thing that now remained clear in her eager +brain was the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[Pg 39]</a></span>fact that the fugitive had—turned a corner! A corner +leading into a street at right angles with this broad one, a street +somewhat narrower, a fraction quieter, and even dirtier. She followed; +she also flashed around that dingy, saloon-infested corner, bounded +forward, breathless and exultant, because surely she could come up to +him here. Then she paused for just one breath, dashed her hand across +her straining eyes, and peered ahead.</p> + +<p>The “shiny man” had disappeared as completely as if the earth had opened +and swallowed him up; and there Dorothy stood alone in the most unsavory +of alleys, with a sudden, dreadful realization of the fact that—she was +lost.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[Pg 40]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_III" id="CHAPTER_III"></a>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<h3>ADRIFT IN THE GREAT CITY</h3> + +<p>“My darling! My darling!” cried Judge Breckenridge, clasping his +daughter close to his breast, then holding her off at arm’s length, the +better to scan her beloved face and to observe the changes a few months +of absence had wrought. “My darling Molly! More like the other Molly +than ever! Now my vacation has indeed begun!”</p> + +<p>“Papa, Papa! You sweetest, dearest, beautifullest Papa ever lived! How +good it is to see you! And, yes Auntie Lu, you’re dear too; but a body’s +father—Why, he’s her father and nobody like him, nobody!”</p> + +<p>In her enthusiastic greeting of and by her relatives Molly forgot +everything and everybody else. She had crossed the gang-plank as swiftly +as the people crowding behind and before her would permit, her feet +restlessly dancing up and down in the limited space; and now that she +was upon the solid wharf to which the steamer was moored she bore them +along with her by an arm linked to each, eager to be free of that throng +and in some quiet spot <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[Pg 41]</a></span>where she could perch upon her father’s knee and +talk, talk, talk!</p> + +<p>Had any of the trio thought about it for a moment they would have +observed Miss Greatorex lingering close to the plank and staring at +everyone who crossed it, searching for Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“Strange! She certainly was right here a minute ago! I thought she had +gone off the boat ahead of me, but she couldn’t have done so, for she’s +nowhere in sight;” she murmured to herself.</p> + +<p>When all had crossed and still Dorothy did not appear, the anxious +teacher returned to the boat and renewed her search there: asking of all +the employees she met if they had seen her missing charge. But one of +them had noticed the girl at all; that was a workman who had helped to +drag the gang-plank into place upon the wharf and against whom Dorothy +had rudely dashed in her pursuit of the “shiny man.”</p> + +<p>He remembered her excited manner, her swift apology to himself for the +accident, and her frantic rush across the wharf. He had looked after her +with curiosity and had remarked to a bystander:</p> + +<p>“That little passenger is afraid she’ll get left! Maybe she doesn’t know +we lie alongside this dock till mid-afternoon.”</p> + +<p>Then he had gone about his own affairs and dismissed her from his mind +till, thus recalled by Miss Greatorex’s question, he wished he had +watched her more closely. He was afraid she might have been hurt among +the heavy wagons moving about, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[Pg 42]</a></span>and that was the poor comfort which he +expressed to the now thoroughly frightened lady.</p> + +<p>Meanwhile the Breckenridge party had crossed the street, under +conveyance of a waiting policeman, and had paused upon the further curb +while Molly explained:</p> + +<p>“Miss Greatorex is dreadful slow, Papa dear. But she’ll be here in a +minute. She’s sure to be and Dolly with her. Oh! she is the very +sweetest, dearest, bravest girl I ever knew! If I had a sister I should +want her to be exactly like Dorothy. I wonder what does keep them! And +I’m so hungry, so terribly hungry and we lost our purses—couldn’t be +she’d linger to search for them again when we’ve already ransacked the +whole boat! Why, Papa, look! Miss Greatorex is on the boat again, +herself. Running, fairly running around the deck and acting as if she, +too, had lost something. How queer that is!”</p> + +<p>Both the gentleman and lady now fixed their attention upon the teacher, +until that moment unknown to them. She certainly was conducting herself +in a strange, half-bewildered manner and the Judge realized that there +was something wrong. Bidding his sister and child:</p> + +<p>“Stay right here on this corner. Don’t leave it. I’ll step back to the +steamer and see what’s amiss;” and to the hackman he had summoned, he +added: “Keep your rig right on the spot and an eye upon these fares! +I’ll be back in a minute.”</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 322px;"> +<img src="images/i039.jpg" class="jpg ispace" width="322" height="500" alt="“ARE YOU A POLICEMAN?” Dorothy’s Travels." title="" /> +<span class="caption">“ARE YOU A POLICEMAN?”<br /> <i>Dorothy’s Travels.</i></span> +</div> + +<p>But he wasn’t. When he did come, after Mrs. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[Pg 43]</a></span>Hungerford and Molly had had ample time to grow anxious themselves, it +was with a woe-begone Miss Greatorex upon his arm and a very disturbed +expression on his own face.</p> + +<p>“Why, Papa, where’s Dolly? Why didn’t she come, too?” cried Molly, +darting to meet him.</p> + +<p>“That, my dear, is exactly what this lady and I would like to know. I +was in hopes she might have seen you standing here and crossed to join +you. Well, she’s been in too great haste, likely, and started by herself +to go—I wonder where! Anyway, the best thing to be done is for you +three to get into this carriage and drive to the Astor House and order +dinner for all of us. It’s an old-time hotel where my father and I used +to go when I was a boy myself, and I patronized it for old association’s +sake. You, small daughter, had fixed your mind on nothing less than the +Waldorf-Astoria, I expect! Never mind; you’ll get as good food in one +place as the other.”</p> + +<p>“But, Papa, aren’t you coming with us?”</p> + +<p>“Not just yet. I’ll stop behind a bit and set a few policemen or small +boys in search for Miss Dorothy. Tell me something by which we can +recognize her when found. New York is pretty full of little girls, you +know, and I might miss her among so many.”</p> + +<p>The Judge tried to make his tone a careless one but there was real +anxiety in it as his sister promptly understood; but she also felt it +best to treat the matter lightly, for already poor Miss Isobel was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[Pg 44]</a></span>on +the point of collapse. So she answered readily enough:</p> + +<p>“Very well, brother, so we’ll do. I reckon I know your tastes so that I +can cater for you and—is there any limit to what we may order? I’m a +bit hungry myself and always do crave the most expensive dishes on the +menu. Good-by, for a little while.”</p> + +<p>The Judge bade the driver: “To the Astor House;” lifted his hat to those +within the carriage, and it moved away.</p> + +<p>Then he summoned a policeman and asked that scouts be sent out all +through that neighborhood, to search for a “thirteen-year-old girl, in a +brown linen dress, dark curly hair, brown eyes, and—‘Oh! just too +stylish for words!’” which was the description his daughter had given +him. Indeed, he felt that this very “stylishness” might be a clue to the +right person; since denizens of that locality, girls or women, are not +apt to have that characteristic about them.</p> + +<p>He was a weary man. He had been up late the night before, and previous +to his journey hither had been extremely busy leaving matters right in +his southern home for a prolonged absence. He had counted upon the hour +or two before sailing in which to procure some additions to his +sportsman’s outfit, and sorely begrudged this unexpected demand upon his +time. Yet he could do no less than try to find the runaway, and to make +the search as thorough as if it had been his own child’s case.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[Pg 45]</a></span>It was more than an hour later that he appeared in the dining-room of +the hotel where his family awaited him. They had still delayed their own +dinner, though Molly’s hunger had almost compelled her to enjoy hers. +Only the thought of “eating with Papa,” had restrained her, because she +had little fear that Dorothy would not be promptly found, or that she +had done more than go a few blocks out of the way. She had often been in +that city before, though only in its better parts, and it all seemed +simple enough to her. It had been explained that the upper part was laid +out in squares, with the avenues running north and south, the +cross-streets easily told by their numbers. How then could anybody who +could count be lost?</p> + +<p>“No news, Schuyler?” asked Aunt Lucretia.</p> + +<p>“Not yet. Not quite yet. But there will be, of course there will be. +I’ve set a lot of people hunting that extremely ‘stylish’ young maiden, +so I thought I’d best come down and get my dinner and let you know that +all’s being done that can be. Don’t worry, Miss Greatorex. A capable +girl like Dorothy isn’t easy to lose in a city full of policemen, if +she’ll only use her tongue and ask for guidance. Probably she has gone +back to the ‘Powell’ already, hoping to find us all there. Before I eat +I’ll telephone again and inquire, although I did so just a little while +ago, as I came in.”</p> + +<p>The more he talked the less he convinced his listeners that it would be +that “all right” he had so valiantly asserted. Even Molly’s hunger +suddenly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[Pg 46]</a></span>deserted her and she pushed away a plate of especially +enticing dessert with a shake of her head and an exclamation:</p> + +<p>“Papa’s talking—just talking! Like he always does when he takes me to +the dentist’s! His voice doesn’t ring true, Auntie Lu, and you know it. +You needn’t smile and try to look happy, for you can’t. Dorothy is lost! +My precious Dolly Doodles is lost—is LOST!”</p> + +<p>For a moment nobody answered. Miss Greatorex echoed the exclamation in +her own sinking heart, realizing at last how fully she had depended upon +the Judge’s ability to find the girl, until he had once more appeared +without her. He had promptly sent a messenger to telephone again and +awaiting the reply made a feint of taking his soup. Mrs. Hungerford kept +her eyes fixed upon her plate, not daring just then to lift them to Miss +Greatorex’s white face; and altogether it was a very anxious party which +sat at table then instead of the merry one which all had anticipated.</p> + +<p>When their pretence of a meal was over and they rose, the Judge looked +at his watch. Then he said:</p> + +<p>“We have only time left to reach the ‘Prince’ in comfort. It is a long +way up and across town to the dock on East river. You three must start +for it at once. I’ll step into a store near by for a few things I need +and follow you. Of course, Dorothy knew all about her trip, the steamer +she would sail by, and its landing place. Even if she didn’t know that +most of the officers would know and direct her.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[Pg 47]</a></span>“I now think that having missed us at the ‘Powell’ she has gone straight +to the other boat and you will find her there. I’ll follow you in time +for sailing and till then, good-by. A hack is ready for you at the +door.”</p> + +<p>Then he went hastily out, and Mrs. Hungerford said:</p> + +<p>“Brother is wise. We certainly shan’t find Dolly here, and we may at the +‘Prince.’ Have you all your parcels, both of you? Then come.”</p> + +<p>They followed her meekly enough but at the street entrance Miss +Greatorex rebelled. Her anxiety gave a more than ordinary irritation to +her temper and harshness to her voice, and her habitually ungracious +manner became more repellent than ever as she announced:</p> + +<p>“That’s all very well, Mrs. Hungerford, and Molly. But I shan’t go one +step toward Nova Scotia till I’ve found my little girl. You three are +all right, <i>you’ve got yourselves</i> and of course other people don’t +matter. But Dorothy saved my life and I’ll not desert her to nobody +knows what dreadful fate! No, I will not, and you needn’t say another +single word!”</p> + +<p>As nobody had interrupted her excited speech this last admonition seemed +rather uncalled for, but Molly waxed indignant thereat, though her Aunt +Lucretia merely smiled compassionately. Then as they still stood upon +the sidewalk, hesitating to enter their carriage, Miss Isobel waved her +umbrella wildly toward another hack, and when it had obeyed <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[Pg 48]</a></span>her summons +sprang into it and was whirled away.</p> + +<p>Where was Dorothy all this time? Little she knew of the commotion she +had caused. Indeed, for a long time, her only thought was for herself +and her unfortunate predicament. She had never been so frightened in her +life. Nothing had ever looked so big, so dismal, and so altogether +hopeless as this wretched side street where her fugitive had +disappeared. There was not a policeman in sight. She didn’t know which +way to go, but promptly realized that she should not stay just there in +that degraded neighborhood. Even the wider street from which she had +diverged, with its endless lines of wagons and people, was better. +But—she must go somewhere!</p> + +<p>She set out forward, resolutely, and as it proved eastward toward that +famous Broadway which threads the city from its north to south, but that +was yet many blocks removed. Indeed, it seemed an endless way that +stretched beyond her; and it was not until she had run for some distance +that her common sense awoke with the thought:</p> + +<p>“Why, how silly I am! I must go back to the boat. That’s where I’ll be +missed and looked for. Of course, Miss Greatorex wouldn’t go on and +leave me, and oh! dear! I reckon I’ve made her wait till she’ll be +angry. I’ll ask the first nice looking gentleman I see, if no policeman +comes, the way to the ‘Mary Powell.’ Here comes one now—”</p> + +<p>A busy man came speeding toward her, whose coat skirt she tried to +clutch; but he didn’t even <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[Pg 49]</a></span>hear the question she put. He merely waved +her aside, as he would any other street beggar with the passing remark: +“Nothing. Get away!”</p> + +<p>The second person to whom she applied was German and shook his head with +a forcible negative. So he, too, moved on and she stopped to think and +recover some portion of that courage which had almost deserted her.</p> + +<p>“Of course. I couldn’t be really lost, not really truly so, right in the +broad daylight and a city full of people. But I am ashamed to have +stayed so long. Oh! good! There comes a man in uniform—a policeman, a +policeman!”</p> + +<p>Quite at rest now she darted forward and caught at the hand of the +uniformed person who stared at her in surprise but not unkindly.</p> + +<p>“Well, little maid, what’s wanted?”</p> + +<p>“O, sir! Are you a policeman? Will you take me to where I belong?”</p> + +<p>“Sorry to say ‘no’ to both your questions, but I’m only a railway +conductor, in a hurry to catch my outgoing train. Wait a minute, child, +and a real police officer will come and will look out for you.”</p> + +<p>The blue-coated, much brass-buttoned man snatched his hand from her +clinging grasp and strode westward in desperate haste. He had calculated +his time to the last second and even this trifling delay annoyed him.</p> + +<p>But he had prophesied aright. A policeman was coming into view, +leisurely sauntering over his beat, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[Pg 50]</a></span>and on the lookout for anything +amiss. Dorothy hurried forward, planted herself firmly in this man’s +path and demanded again:</p> + +<p>“Are you a policeman?”</p> + +<p>“Sure an’ ’tis that same that I be! Thanks for all mercies! Me first day +alone at the job, an’ what can I do for ye, me pretty colleen?”</p> + +<p>“Tell me, or take me, back to the ‘Mary Powell,’ please. I—I’ve lost my +way.”</p> + +<p>“Arrah musha! An’ if I was after doin’ that same I’d be losin’ mine! The +‘Mary Powell’ is it? Tell me where does she be livin’ at. I’m not long +in this counthry and but new app’inted to the foruss. Faith it’s a +biggish sort of town to be huntin’ one lone woman in.”</p> + +<p>To anybody older or wiser than Dorothy Chester the very fact of his +loquacity would have betrayed his newness to the “foruss.” There wasn’t +a prouder nor happier man in the whole great city, that day, than Larry +McCarthy, as he proceeded to explain:</p> + +<p>“First cousin on me mother’s side to Alderman Bryan McCarthy, as has +helped me over from Connemara, this late whiles, and has made me a +free-born Amerikin citizen, glory be.”</p> + +<p>“That must be very nice. I suppose an alderman is some sort of a very +high-up man, isn’t he? But—”</p> + +<p>“High is it, says she. Higher ’an I was when I was carryin’ me hod up +wan thim ‘sky-scrapers’ they do build in this forsaken—I mane +blessed—<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[Pg 51]</a></span>counthry, says he. Sure it’s a higher-up Bryan is, the foine +lad.”</p> + +<p>“Please, please, will you take me to the ‘Mary Powell’?”</p> + +<p>“How can I since ye’ve not told me yet wherever she lives?”</p> + +<p>“Why she isn’t a—she! She’s a boat!”</p> + +<p>“Hear til the lass! She isn’t a she isn’t she? Then she must be a he, +and that’d beat a priest to explain;” and at his own joke the +newly-fledged officer indulged in a most unofficial burst of laughter. +So long and so loud was this that Dorothy stamped her foot impatiently +and another uniformed member of “the force,” passing by on the other +side of the street, crossed over to investigate.</p> + +<p>At whose arrival officer Larry straightened himself like a ramrod, +squared his shoulders, and affected to be intensely angry with the small +person who had delayed him upon his beat. But he could not deceive the +keen eyes of the more experienced policeman and his superior in rank.</p> + +<p>With a swift recognition of the newcomer’s greater intelligence, Dorothy +put her inquiry to him, breathlessly stating her whole case, including +the loss of her purse and her regret over it.</p> + +<p>“’Cause now, you see, sir, I haven’t any money to pay for being taken +back. Else I would have called a carriage, like people do sometimes, and +got the carriage man to take me. That is, <i>if</i> there was any carriage, +and any man, and I—I had any money. Oh! dear! That isn’t what I wanted +to <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[Pg 52]</a></span>say, but I’m so tired running and—and—it’s dreadful to be lost in +a New York city!”</p> + +<p>Her explanation ended in a miserable breakdown of sobs and tears. Now +that help had come—she was sure of it after one glance into this second +officer’s honest face—her courage collapsed entirely. The sergeant +allowed her a moment to compose herself and then said, as he took out a +notebook and prepared to write in it:</p> + +<p>“Now, once more. Tell me exactly, or listen if I have the facts right. +You are a pupil at the Rhinelander Academy in Newburgh. You are starting +upon a trip for your summer vacation. You are under the care of Miss +Greatorex, a teacher. You ran away from the steamer ‘Mary Powell’ in +pursuit of a man whom you think carried off your own and a friend’s +purse. Very well. I will send you to the boat and if your story is true +you will be restored to your friends and nothing more will come of it. +If it isn’t true, you will be sent to a station-house to await +developments. McCarthy, proceed upon your beat.”</p> + +<p>Larry shrugged his shoulders more snugly into his new uniform, assumed +the bearing of a drum major and duly proceeded. The superior officer put +a whistle to his lips, and like the genii in Arabian Nights, his servant +instantly appeared.</p> + +<p>“Call a cab. Take this young person to the ‘Mary Powell,’ foot of +Desbrosses street. If her guardian is not there, drive to the other +landing at Twenty-third street and inquire if the girl has been <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[Pg 53]</a></span>sought +for there. If this is a false story, report to me at the station and, of +course, bring the girl with you.”</p> + +<p>The words “station house” sounded ominous in Dorothy’s ears. During her +Baltimore life she had learned all that was necessary about such places +to infect her with fear, having with other children sometimes watched +the “police patrol wagons” make their dreary rounds. She had peered at +the unhappy prisoners sitting within the van and had pitied them +unspeakably, despite the fact that they must have been wicked. A picture +of herself thus seated and despairing flashed before her mind, but she +put it resolutely aside and with great humility stepped into the cab +which her new protector had summoned.</p> + +<p>This was one of those then new electric cabs and instantly riveted her +attention. To move through the streets so swiftly without visible means +of locomotion was as delightful as novel; and the skill with which the +driver perched up behind twisted around corners and among crowding +vehicles seemed fairly wonderful.</p> + +<p>It was a most charming ride, despite the fact that she was a lost person +seeking her friends, and it came all too soon to an end at the dock she +had named. She recognized the place at once and was out of the cab, +hurrying along the wharf, calling back to her guide:</p> + +<p>“Here she is! This is the ‘Mary Powell!’ See?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[Pg 54]</a></span>He was promptly at her side again, his duty being not to lose sight of +her until that “report” had been duly made when and where ordered. Also, +the recognition of her by “Fanny” and the other boat hands proved that +thus much of her tale was true. She had come down the river on that +steamer’s last trip and people had been back upon it, frantically +seeking news of her.</p> + +<p>“You oughtn’t to have run away like that, little girl, and scare them +people into forty fits. That nice Judge—somebody, he said his name +was—he hired no end of people to go searching for you and now you’ve +come and he hasn’t. Like enough they’ve gone to the other landing, +up-town, to seek you. Better drive there, policeman, and see.”</p> + +<p>“All right. But, stewardess, if anybody comes again to inquire, say that +she’ll be taken to the ‘Prince’ steamship, East river, and be held there +till the boat sails. Afterward at station number —.”</p> + +<p>There is no need to follow all of Dorothy’s seeking of her friends. +Already, as has been told, they had made a fruitless search for her; and +when at length fully convinced that she was telling a “straight case” +the official who had her in charge, failing to find Miss Greatorex at +that “up-town landing”—though a dock-hand said that she had been there +and again hurried away “as if she was a crazy piece”—the cab was turned +toward that east-side dock whence the voyage to Nova Scotia was to be +made.</p> + +<p>Here everything was verified. Dorothy’s luggage <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[Pg 55]</a></span>marked with her name +was in the baggage-room, having been sent down the day before in order +to prevent mischance. With it was the luggage of Molly Breckenridge and +Miss Greatorex. Also upon the steamer’s sailing list was her name and +the stateroom to which she had been assigned. To this point then must +all the rest of the party come if they were to sail by that vessel. +Obviously, it was the safest place for her to await her friends, and she +was promptly permitted to go aboard and watch for them.</p> + +<p>She had expected to see a much larger craft than the “Prince.” Why, it +wasn’t half as large, it seemed to her, as some of the boats which +passed up and down the Hudson. It had but one deck, high up, so that to +reach it she had to climb a ladder, or gang-plank almost as steep as a +roof. But she climbed it with a feeling of infinite relief and security. +Sitting close to the rail upon one of the many steamer chairs she found +there, herself almost the only passenger who had yet come aboard, she +leaned her weary head against the rail, and, despite the hunger which +tormented her, fell fast asleep. She knew nothing more; heard none of +the busy sounds of loading the luggage, now constantly arriving, and was +peacefully dreaming, when a girlish voice from the dock pierced through +the babel and the dream:</p> + +<p>“Why, Papa Breckenridge! There she sits—asleep! <i>That runaway!</i> +Dorothy—Dorothy! how came you here? How dared you scare us so?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[Pg 56]</a></span>She sprang to her feet and looked down, answering with a rapturous cry. +There they were, Molly, Auntie Lu and the Judge! But—and now she rubbed +her eyes the better to see if they deceived her—where was Isobel +Greatorex.</p> + +<p>Alas! That was the question the others were all asking:</p> + +<p>“Where is Miss Greatorex? Only two minutes to sailing—but where is Miss +Greatorex?”</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[Pg 57]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IV" id="CHAPTER_IV"></a>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<h3>ON BOARD THE “PRINCE”</h3> + +<p>There wasn’t an instant to waste in questions. The captain of this +steamship prided himself upon his exceeding punctuality, and had often +declared that if he delayed for one passenger one day he would have to +do so the next; that somebody was always late; that it might be that +delinquent’s misfortune if he were left but was not Captain Murray’s +fault.</p> + +<p>Knowing this fact Judge Breckenridge handed his sister her ticket and +Molly’s, hastily bade her:</p> + +<p>“Go aboard, Lucretia, while I claim our luggage. Miss Greatorex may +already be there.”</p> + +<p>“Step lively, please!” requested a sailor in a blue uniform as the lady +began to slowly mount the almost upright ladder. Other sailors were +speeding up and down it, between the ascending passengers and an air of +great bustle and haste pervaded the whole scene.</p> + +<p>Then the blue-coat gallantly put his hand under Mrs. Hungerford’s arm +and fairly shoved her up the plank. Molly sprang lightly after, caught +her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[Pg 58]</a></span>foot in one of the little cross-pieces nailed across the plank to +prevent people slipping and sprawled her length, hindering everybody a +deal more than if she had climbed more slowly.</p> + +<p>However, they gained the deck and Dorothy’s side in safety, and took +their stand against the rail to watch the Judge and many another +passenger hurriedly identifying their baggage ranged under the wharf +shed; and, as each piece was claimed, to see it swiftly tossed upon a +skid and rolled into the lower part of the ship.</p> + +<p>Captain Murray stood at the foot of the ladder, chronometer in hand, a +picture of calm decision; while another uniformed official faced him +from the other side the plank, to scan the tickets presented. Judge +Breckenridge finished his task and also climbed to the deck, while a +sigh of relief escaped Aunt Lucretia’s lips.</p> + +<p>“That’s all right! I got so worried lest we should miss the steamer and +there isn’t another sailing for three days. I’m so glad to get our +things! I never do feel comfortable until I see my trunks aboard my +train or steamer.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed! A woman bereft of her ‘things’ is a forlorn creature!” +laughed the Judge, in gentle sarcasm, but his sister disdained reply. +She merely reflected how much greater annoyance her brother would have +felt had his sporting outfit been delayed and this was the very first +piece of luggage he had identified—her trunk the last. However, there +was the utmost good nature in their jesting intercourse, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[Pg 59]</a></span>and both now +turned their attention to the wharf where the “very last” passenger was +hurrying to the ladder.</p> + +<p>After him ascended the two officers, and the boat and dock hands seized +the ropes to haul the plank aboard. The whistle was blowing, wheels were +turning, passengers crowded the rails to wave farewells to friends +ashore who had come to see them off, and at this very last second a cab +came dashing furiously down the street and up to the steamer’s side.</p> + +<p>A woman leaped out, and rushed to the spot where the ship had been +moored. She was almost past speaking from haste and excitement as she +scanned the groups upon the deck, then with a look of satisfaction at +sight of the Judge’s party, clasped her hands imploringly toward the +captain and the mate.</p> + +<p>“Don’t leave her, Captain Murray! I know her—she belongs to us—it +isn’t her fault—throw the ladder out again, even if—” shouted the +Judge.</p> + +<p>There was no withstanding the sight of so many clasped, entreating +hands, even by such a rigid disciplinarian as this fine skipper. For not +only Miss Greatorex upon the wharf, but the two girls and Mrs. +Hungerford had clasped theirs, also, begging a brief delay.</p> + +<p>Then the officer waved his hand, down went the plank again, and a couple +of sailors sprang forward to the teacher’s assistance. They had fairly +to drag her up the now slippery incline, and almost to toss <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[Pg 60]</a></span>her upon +the deck, where the Judge’s arm shot out for her support and the captain +himself helped her to a chair.</p> + +<p>Another instant they had put a stretch of water between them and the +land, and a fresh uproar of whistles and bells announced that the +steamer “Prince” had sailed.</p> + +<p>But those near her had thought now only for Miss Greatorex. Her face was +at first intensely red and she leaned back in her chair, with closed +eyes and gasping breath. Indeed, so difficult her breathing that it +seemed as if after each respiration she would never breathe again. Mrs. +Hungerford made haste to hold a smelling bottle to the sufferer’s +nostrils, but it was feebly waved aside as if it hindered rather than +helped.</p> + +<p>Then the color faded from the crimson face and all that terrible gasping +ceased, so that those watching thought for a moment that life itself had +ended.</p> + +<p>“Fainted!” said the captain, tersely. “Get her to bed. Number Eight, +take her ticket to the purser, get her stateroom key, and send the +stewardess. Prompt, now.”</p> + +<p>Fortunately, the room engaged for Miss Greatorex and Dorothy was on that +deck and very near; and thither the dignified lady was quickly conveyed, +very much as a sack of corn might have been. But as for Dorothy’s +thoughts during this brief transit there is nothing comforting to say.</p> + +<p>“Oh, I’ve killed her, I’ve killed her! If I hadn’t been so careless and +left the purses, and if I hadn’t <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[Pg 61]</a></span>chased that ‘shiny man’ and made all +this trouble, she wouldn’t have—I can’t bear it. What shall I do!” she +wailed to Molly, as they followed hand in hand, where Miss Greatorex was +carried.</p> + +<p>“You can stop saying ‘if’ and worrying so. You didn’t do anything on +purpose and she’s to blame herself. If she hadn’t gone off mad from the +hotel and left Auntie and me, maybe she wouldn’t have run too hard and +hurt herself. If—if—if! It isn’t a very happy beginning of a vacation +is it? Even though we have got Papa and Auntie Lu and everything. And I +don’t know yet what you did after you ran away from the boat. We can’t +do a thing here to help. Let’s go to Papa, there and you tell us the +whole story. He took a lot of trouble to find you and paid a lot of +money to men to seek you, and he looks awful tired and—and disgusted. I +guess he wishes he’d just brought Auntie and me and not bothered himself +with you and Miss Greatorex. And that’s my fault, too. If I hadn’t asked +him to do it he would never have thought of it. Seems if things never do +go just as you plan them, do they?”</p> + +<p>Under other circumstances Dorothy might have replied to her friend’s +unflattering frankness by some reproaches of her own, but not now. She +realized the truth but was too humble to resent it. So she merely +glanced once more through the door of the little stateroom at Miss +Greatorex stretched upon the bed and Mrs. Hungerford with the stewardess +attending her, and followed Molly.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[Pg 62]</a></span>The Judge met them with an encouraging smile and the command:</p> + +<p>“Shorten up your countenances, little maids! This is a holiday, did you +know? Folks don’t go holiday-ing with faces as long as your arm. Here, +cuddle down beside me and watch the sights. Tell me too, Miss Dorothy, +all that befell you after you disappeared. I’m as curious as Molly is, +and she’s ‘just suffering’ to know. Don’t worry about Miss Greatorex, +either. She’s simply over-exerted herself and allowed herself to get too +anxious about this one small girl. The idea! What’s one small girl more +or less, when the world’s chock full of them?”</p> + +<p>But the affectionate squeeze he gave to the “girl’s” shoulders as she +sat down beside him, while Molly sat herself upon his knee, told her +that he had already forgiven any annoyance she had caused him. He was +too warm hearted to hold a grudge against anybody; least of all against +as penitent a child as Dorothy.</p> + +<p>She related her adventures and the Judge laughed heartily over her +mimicry of Larry McCarthy, the “new policeman.” Nor did he make any +criticisms when the story was ended. She had been sufficiently punished, +he considered, for any lapses from prudence and the lessons her +experience had taught would be far more valuable than any word of his. +So he merely called their attention to the scenery before them.</p> + +<p>“This beautiful, green spot that we are passing <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[Pg 63]</a></span>is Blackwell’s Island, +where the city’s criminals and other unfortunates are sent. Doesn’t seem +as if wicked people could be hidden behind those walls, does it? Well +keep out of mischief and don’t go there!</p> + +<p>“Soon we’ll be going up Long Island Sound, and you’ll get a glimpse of +some handsome homes. Hello! What’s this? My little bugler, as I live! +Good day to you, Melvin; and what is this present ‘toot’ for, if you +please?”</p> + +<p>A fair-faced boy came rather shyly forward and accepted the hearty hand +grasp which the Judge extended, but he seemed to shrink from the keen +observation of the two girls; though a flush of pleasure dyed his smooth +cheeks, which were as pink-and-white as blond Molly’s own.</p> + +<p>“My respects, Judge Breckenridge, and glad to see you aboard again, sir. +To get your table seats, sir, if you’ll remember.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, lad, and good enough! Come on, lassies, let’s go down and +scramble for best places and first table, when eating time comes.”</p> + +<p>All over the deck people were beginning to rise and make their way +toward a further door, from which a flight of stairs descended to the +dining-room, and these three followed the crowd. The very mention of +“eating” had brought back to Dorothy a sensation of terrible hunger. She +had eaten nothing since her breakfast at the Academy, and her sail had +sharpened her appetite beyond ordinary. During her late experiences in +the city <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[Pg 64]</a></span>and her terror concerning Miss Greatorex she had forgotten +this matter, but now it came back with a positive pang. Suddenly Molly, +too, remembered the fact and exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“Why, you poor girlie! Talk about eating—you can’t have had a bit of +dinner! Papa, Dorothy hasn’t had her dinner this livelong day!”</p> + +<p>Her tone was so tragic that people behind her smiled, as her abrupt +pause upon the stairs arrested their own progress, and she was promptly +urged forward again by her father’s hand.</p> + +<p>“Heigho! That’s a calamity—nothing less! But one that can be conquered, +let us hope. Now, fall into line close behind me and watch this +interesting proceeding.”</p> + +<p>From the earnestness depicted upon the countenances of the passengers, +this securing of good seats at the first table, in a room which would +not allow the serving of all at one time, was a vital matter. The purser +stood at the entrance of the saloon and assigned a seat to each person +upon the examination of a ticket presented. His office was not a +pleasant one. There were the usual grumblers and malcontents, but he +preserved his good nature amid all the fault-finding and selfishness; +and the Judge had the good fortune to secure five places at the +Captain’s table, which was significant of “first call to meals.”</p> + +<p>This accomplished he led his charges out of line, carefully deposited +his “meal tickets” in an innermost pocket, and crossed an ante-room to +where <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[Pg 65]</a></span>there were plates of ship’s biscuits and slices of cheese.</p> + +<p>“Take all you want, all you can eat, both of you youngsters. Sorry to +say no regular meal will be served, not even for Dorothy’s benefit, till +the six o’clock dinner. Unless she choses to get seasick; when she would +have tea and toast sent to her and wouldn’t be able to touch it! Enough? +Take plenty. There’s no stinting on Captain Murray’s good ship though a +lot of cast-iron rules that one must never break. Hark! There’s Melvin’s +toot again! There must be a great crowd on board, if all haven’t come to +get their seats here yet. Now we’ll interview our women folk and see how +they’re faring.”</p> + +<p>Munching their crackers and cheese the girls hurried to “Number +Thirteen,” the only stateroom on the promenade deck which Miss +Rhinelander had been able to secure for her cousin Isobel and Dorothy; +and though she had held her peace concerning it Miss Greatorex had +inwardly revolted against this “unlucky” number.</p> + +<p>But it was in fact among the very best on that small steamship. It’s +door opening directly upon the deck so that after retiring one could lie +and watch the stars and breathe the pure air of the sea. Also, her short +sojourn in it was to do her much good physically. Even now, when Molly +and Dorothy peeped in they saw her sitting upright, drinking a cup of +tea and chatting with the stewardess as calmly as usual.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[Pg 66]</a></span>At sight of Dorothy, however, she promptly dismissed the attendant and +bade the girl enter and explain everything that had happened after her +disappearance from the “Mary Powell.”</p> + +<p>Molly made a grimace, and Dolly sighed. Repetition of unpleasant things +made them doubly disagreeable, and she now longed to enter into the +Judge’s spirit and feel that this was happy holiday. She cut the tale as +short as she could; listened meekly to Miss Isobel’s reproofs; waited +upon that fidgetty person with admirable patience; and with equal +patience received all the many instructions as to “suitable conduct” +during their whole journey. When the final word had been said, and she +had been told that no other “allowance” could be hers until “advices” +had been received from Miss Rhinelander, and that she must report every +cent expended, she ventured to cut the “lecture” also short, by kneeling +in the little aisle between their berths and kissing her guardian’s hand +with the petition:</p> + +<p>“Please forgive me, dear Miss Greatorex, for all the worry I gave you. I +will be good. I will be ‘prudent,’ I will remember—everything—if only +you’ll say you’ll love me just the same again!”</p> + +<p>Miss Isobel was touched. In her heart she was very fond of Dorothy and +grateful to her, on account of her bravery that night of the fire. But +she felt it beneath her dignity to show this fondness openly, and +answered more coldly than she felt:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[Pg 67]</a></span>“Certainly, it would be unworthy in me to harbor ill will against +anybody. But I trust you will give me no further annoyance. Rise, +please; and there is Molly. Thank you, Miss Breckenridge, I am much +better. It was but a momentary weakness to which I yielded. Please make +my regards to your father for his courteous messages of regret. Yes, +Dorothy, you may go with your friend for a walk on the deck. I will join +you very soon.”</p> + +<p>“Hope she won’t, mean old thing!” grumbled Molly, under her breath. +“She’s one of the plans that didn’t go right. Instead of darling Miss +Penelope with her sweet mother-ways to have the ‘Grater’ forced on us +this way is too bad. I know Papa and Auntie Lu aren’t pleased with her +either, though they’re too polite to say so.”</p> + +<p>“O, Molly, don’t! I was bad, I can’t deny it and I deserve to have her +stiff and cross with me. I don’t believe she’s half so vexed as she +seems but she doesn’t think it’s ‘proper’ to let me know how thankful +she is I wasn’t really lost. Folks can’t help being themselves, anyway; +else I’d be a perfectly angelic sort of a girl, and be it quick! Hark! +Those bells!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, honey, let me tell you! Papa just told me. That’s four o’clock, +‘eight bells.’ In half an hour it’ll strike once. At five will strike +twice. Every half hour one more stroke till at the end of four hours +it’ll be eight bells again. That’s the beginning and the end of a +‘watch.’ A ‘watch’ is four hours long and the sailors change off then, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[Pg 68]</a></span>one lot comes from ‘duty’ and another lot ‘stand’ theirs. Isn’t it odd +and interesting? Oh! I think being on shipboard is just too lovely for +words! And aren’t we going to have a glorious time after all?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! Molly, I hope so. Course I think it’s splendidly interesting, too, +if I could get over feeling so ashamed of myself and my foolishness. I +don’t like to go near your father for he must think I have been horrid. +I don’t know how I can ever pay him back the money he spent hiring folks +to hunt for me, and the trouble I gave him—oh! dear! Why didn’t I let +that old ‘shiny man’ go and not try to follow him!”</p> + +<p>“Give it up Dolly Doodles. Reckon you happened to value that five +dollars more than you did us, just about then. And you might as well +have ‘let him go’ since he went anyhow and our precious purses with him. +Now, honey, you quit. Don’t you say another single word of what <i>has</i> +happened but let’s just think of all the nice things that <i>are going</i> to +happen. Ah! Hold up your head, put on all your ‘style,’ make yourself as +pretty as you can, for here comes that adorable young bugler and he’s +perfectly enchanting! Oh! I do so love boys! Don’t you?”</p> + +<p>“Molly Breckenridge, stop making me giggle. He’ll think we’re laughing +at him and I don’t like to hurt anybody’s feelings.”</p> + +<p>“My dear innocent! You couldn’t hurt his. Why, Papa says that all the +passengers try to make <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[Pg 69]</a></span>a pet of that sweet youth, so he knows he’s all +right no matter who laughs. The trouble is he’ll never speak to anybody +if he can help it and unless it happens to be his duty. Sailors are +great for ‘duty,’ you know. But did you ever see such funny clothes?”</p> + +<p>The girls continued their walk around the deck, the bugler passed them +by, unseeing—apparently; and quoth mischievous Molly:</p> + +<p>“I’m going to get acquainted with that Melvin before we leave this ship, +see if I don’t! I believe he has a lot of fun in him, if he wasn’t +afraid of his ‘duty.’ Papa said he was the only son of his mother and +their home is at Yarmouth. Papa met her last summer when he stopped +there for a few weeks’ fishing. I’ll make him understand I’m my father’s +daughter; you see!”</p> + +<p>“Molly Breckenridge, you’ll do nothing to disgrace that father, +understand me too. Here comes ‘Number Eight.’ Isn’t he funny?”</p> + +<p>To their unaccustomed eyes the sailor’s clothing did look odd. The Judge +had explained to Molly that these “numbered” officials were recognized +by their numbers only. That they acted in various capacities; as +table-waiters, and especially as “chamber maids.” Each “number” had his +own section of staterooms to attend, each one his especial table to +serve in the dining saloon.</p> + +<p>In a natural reaction from their anxiety of the earlier day the spirits +of both girls had risen proportionately. They were ready to see humor in +everything <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[Pg 70]</a></span>and poor Number Eight came in for his share of absurd +comment, when he had passed out of hearing.</p> + +<p>“He’s such a big, red-faced, red-haired man, and his jacket is so +little. Looks as if his arms and shoulders had just been squeezed into +it by some machine. Did you notice his monstrous trousers? Enough in +them to piece out the jacket, I should think, and never be missed. All +these Numbers are dressed alike; little bit o’ coaties, divided skirts +for panties, and such dudish little caps! Who wouldn’t be a sailor on +the bright blue sea, if he could wear clothes cut that fashion? ‘A life +on the ocean wave,’” she quoted. “‘A home on the rolling deep—’”</p> + +<p>“‘Where the scattered waters rave. And the winds their revels keep. The +wi-i-inds their r-r-r-ev-el-s-s k-e-e-e-ep!’” A rich voice had caught +the burden of Molly’s song and finished it with an absurd flourish.</p> + +<p>“Now, Papa!” cried the girl, facing suddenly about. So suddenly, indeed, +that she collided with an unseen somebody, slipped on the freshly washed +boards, and fell at her victim’s feet. A bugle shot out from under his +arm and banged against the deck-rail; but before he recovered that +Melvin had stooped, said “Allow me!” and helped Molly up again. Then he +lifted his cap, picked up his bugle, and proceeded on his way without so +much as another word.</p> + +<p>Molly stared after him, blushing and mortified, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[Pg 71]</a></span>shaking her tiny fist +toward his blue-uniformed back, and remarking:</p> + +<p>“Huh! Master Melvin! I’d just declared I’d get acquainted with you but I +didn’t mean to do it in quite that way!”</p> + +<p>Maybe, too, her chagrin would have been deeper could she have seen the +amused expression of the young bugler’s face; and again she observed—to +Dorothy as she supposed:</p> + +<p>“Anyhow, if you’d been a gentleman, a real gentleman-boy, you’d have +stopped to ask if I was hurt. Huh! you’re terribly ‘sot up’ and +top-lofty, just because you wear a uniform and toot-ti-ti-toot on little +tin-horn kind of a thing that I could play myself, if I wanted to. Don’t +you think so, Papa and Dolly? Wasn’t it horrid of him to trip me up that +way and make me look so silly? Why don’t you answer, one of you?”</p> + +<p>She turned the better to see “why,” and found herself gazing into the +stern countenance of Captain Murray. That strict gentleman had recently +been annoyed by the “skylarking” of girlish passengers who had tried +“flirting” with his “boys” and was bent upon preventing any further +annoyance of that sort.</p> + +<p>“Your father has gone forward to meet your ailing friend and the little +girl is with him. I would advise you to join them.”</p> + +<p>That was all the reproof he administered, but it was sufficient to make +Molly Breckenridge flush scarlet again, and this time with anger against +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[Pg 72]</a></span>the skipper. She hurried to “join” the others who had met Miss +Greatorex and exclaimed with great heat:</p> + +<p>“I just detest that horrid stiff Captain! He looked—he believed I +tumbled against that precious bugler of his just on purpose! I wish I +need never see either one of them again or hear that wretched thing +toot!”</p> + +<p>She could not then foresee how important a part in her own life that +“toot” was yet to play; nor was the laughter with which her outburst was +received very comforting.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[Pg 73]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_V" id="CHAPTER_V"></a>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<h3>MOONLIGHT AND MIST ON THE SEA</h3> + +<p>However and despite her declaration to the contrary it was a most +welcome “toot” which sounded along the deck and announced to the hungry +voyagers that dinner was served; and Molly was among the first to spring +up and hurry her father tableward.</p> + +<p>“Seems as if I’d never had anything to eat in all my life!” she +exclaimed. “Come on, Dolly Doodles, <i>you</i> must be actually famished.”</p> + +<p>“I am pretty hungry,” admitted Dorothy; but mindful now of her recent +resolve to do everything as Miss Greatorex would have her, she waited +until that lady rose from her steamer chair, gathered her wraps about +her, and anxiously inquired of Mrs. Hungerford:</p> + +<p>“Will it be safe to leave my rug behind? or should I carry it with me to +table?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! leave it, by all means. There’s none too much room below and I +never worry about my things. Lay it on your chair and that will prove to +anybody who comes along that your especial seat <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[Pg 74]</a></span>is ‘reserved.’ I’m +leaving mine, you see;” answered the more experienced traveler, +wondering if Miss Isobel’s nervousness would not prove a most unpleasant +factor in their vacation fun. Also thinking that she had too readily +given consent to Molly’s written plea: that Dorothy and a teacher should +be invited to join them on this trip.</p> + +<p>Because there had been some question as to where the girl should pass +the long vacation. Deerhurst would not be open, even if Mrs. Calvert had +expressed any desire for a visit from Dorothy, which she had not. The +old gentlewoman was to spend that season at the White Sulphur Springs, +whither she had been in the habit of going during many years; and where +among other old aristocrats she queened it at their own exclusive hotel.</p> + +<p>The mountain cottage would, of course, be in the hands of the Martin +family, and Mother Martha had not approved Dorothy’s coming to Baltimore +and passing the heated term there with herself. Indeed, deep in the +little woman’s heart was a resentment against the unknown benefactor who +was now supporting her adopted child and sending her to such an +expensive school. As she complained to the aged relative with whom she +now lived:</p> + +<p>“I feel, Aunt Chloe, that I’ve been meanly treated. I’ve had all the +care of Dorothy through her growing up and having the measles, scarlet +fever, whooping cough, and all the other children’s diseases. I’ve sewed +for her, and washed and ironed for her, and taught her all the useful +things she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[Pg 75]</a></span>knows; yet now, just as she is big enough to be some company +and comfort—off she’s snatched and I not even told by whom. I doubt if +John knows, either, though he won’t say one way or other, except that +‘it’s all right and he knows it.’ So I say I shan’t worry; and I +wouldn’t think it right, anyway, for her to come down south if only this +far after being north for so long.”</p> + +<p>Seth Winters had not come back to his beloved mountain, so that she +could not go to him; and the only thing that was left was to go to her +father at his Sanitorium or remain with Miss Rhinelander.</p> + +<p>Neither of these plans was satisfactory. Father John did not want her to +pass her holidays in an atmosphere of illness; and Miss Rhinelander +craved freedom and rest for herself. There were still extensive repairs +to be made to the Academy and she wished to superintend them.</p> + +<p>Finally, Molly Breckenridge had taken the matter in hand with the result +related; and with the one unlooked for feature, the presence of Miss +Greatorex where Miss Penelope had been desired.</p> + +<p>However, here they all were at last; a few hours outward bound on their +short ocean trip and looking forward to the most enjoyable of summers in +lovely Nova Scotia. They were to make a complete tour of the Province, +then settle down in some quiet place near the fishing and hunting +grounds where the Judge would go into camp.</p> + +<p>Molly was thankful that her table-seat was well removed from that of +Captain Murray at its head. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[Pg 76]</a></span>But she soon found that she need not have +worried, and that the closer she could be to him—when he was off +duty—the better she would like it. This wasn’t the austere officer in +command! who told such amusing tales of life at sea, who kept his guests +so interested and absorbed, and who so solicitously watched his waiters +lest anybody’s wants should be unsupplied! No, indeed. He was simply a +most courteous host and delightful talker, and before that first meal +was over she had forgotten her dislike of him, and, after her impulsive +manner had “fallen in love” with him.</p> + +<p>Then back to the deck, to watch the moon rise and to settle themselves +comfortably for a long and happy evening; and after awhile, begged +Molly:</p> + +<p>“Now, Papa darling, if your dinner’s ‘settled,’ please to sing. Remember +I haven’t heard you do so in almost a year.”</p> + +<p>“Now, my love, you don’t expect me to make an orchestra of myself, I +hope? I notice they haven’t one aboard this little steamship. Nobody but +Melvin to make music for us. I must tell you girls about that lad. He—”</p> + +<p>“Never mind <i>him</i> now, Papa. He will keep. He can wait. But I do want +you to sing! Dorothy, go take that chair on Papa’s other side; and here +comes Number Eight with more rugs. Wouldn’t think it could be so cool, +almost cold, would you, after that dreadful heat back there in New York? +Now, sir, begin!” and the Judge’s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[Pg 77]</a></span>adoring “domestic tyrant” patted his +hand with great impatience.</p> + +<p>“Very well, Miss Tease. Only it must be softly, so as not to disturb +other people who may not have as great fancy for my warbling as you +have.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hungerford leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes in great +content. Like his daughter she thought there was no sweeter singer +anywhere than her beloved brother; but the too-correct Miss Isobel drew +herself stiffly erect with an unspoken protest against this odd +proceeding. She was quite sure that it wasn’t good form for anybody to +sing in such a public place and under such circumstances. Least of all a +Judge. A Judge of the Supreme Court! More than ever was she amazed when +he began with a college song: “My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean,” in which +Molly presently joined and, after a moment, Dorothy also.</p> + +<p>But even her primness could not withstand the witchery of the +gentleman’s superb tenor voice, with its high culture and feeling; +because even into that humdrum refrain he put a pathos and longing which +quite transformed it.</p> + +<p>People sitting within hearing hitched their chairs nearer, but +softly—not to disturb the singers; who sang on quietly, unconsciously, +as if in their own private home. Drifting from one song to another, with +little pauses between and always beginning by a suggestive note from +Molly, the time passed unperceived.</p> + +<p>Evidently, father and child had thus sung together <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[Pg 78]</a></span>during all their +lives; and long before her that “other Molly,” her dead mother, of whom +his child was the very counterpart, had also joined her exquisite tones +to his. Into many melodies they passed, college songs left behind, and +deeper feelings stirred by the words they uttered; till finally +perceiving that his own mood was growing most un-holiday like, the Judge +suddenly burst forth with “John Brown’s Body.”</p> + +<p>Then, indeed, did mirth and jollification begin. Far and near, all sorts +and conditions of voices caught up the old melody and added their quota +to the music; and when their leader began mischievously to alter the +refrain by dropping the last word, and shortening it each time by one +word less, delight was general and the fun waxed fast and furious.</p> + +<p>The abrupt termination left many a singer in the lurch; and when the +last verse was sung and ended only with “John—,” “John—,” “John,” +there were still some who wandered on into “the grave” and had to join +in the laugh their want of observation had brought upon them.</p> + +<p>By this time also Miss Isobel Greatorex had become quite resigned to a +proceeding which no other passenger had disapproved and which, she could +but confess, had added a charm to that never-to-be-forgotten evening. +Moonlight flooded the sea and the deck. The simplicity and +good-fellowship of Judge Breckenridge and his sister had brought all +these strangers into a harmony which bridged all distinctions <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[Pg 79]</a></span>of class +or interest and rendered that first night afloat a most happy one for +all.</p> + +<p>Until—was the moonlight growing clouded? Did those six strokes of the +bell actually mean eleven o’clock? So late—and suddenly so—so—<i>so +queer</i>!</p> + +<p>Even if the little concert had not already ended nobody could have sung +just then.</p> + +<p>“I guess we’ve left the Sound and struck the ocean;” remarked one +gentleman, in a peculiar tone. “Good night all,” and he disappeared.</p> + +<p>A lady next Miss Greatorex made an effort to extricate herself from her +rugs and chair and observed:</p> + +<p>“I’ve such a curious feeling. So—so dizzy. My head swims. Is—is there +a different—motion to the boat? Have you noticed?”</p> + +<p>Yes, Miss Greatorex had noticed, but she couldn’t reply just then. Nor +was this because of her “stiffness” toward a person who had not been +properly “introduced.” It was simply that—that—dear, dear! She felt so +very queer herself. She would try and get to her stateroom. In any case +it was very late and everybody was moving.</p> + +<p>A petulant cry from Molly expressed her own desires exactly.</p> + +<p>“Papa, dear Papa! What makes the folks go wobbling around the way they +do? I wish they wouldn’t! I wish they would—would keep +real—perfectly—still! I wish! Oh! dear!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[Pg 80]</a></span>The Judge rose at once and, despite her size, caught up his daughter and +marched off with her toward Mrs. Hungerford’s stateroom, whither that +experienced voyager had as suddenly preceded him. When he came back, a +few minutes later, he found that Miss Greatorex had vanished, and that +Dorothy sat alone on the deserted deck wondering what in the world was +the matter to make everybody rush off at once, or almost everybody. +Wondering whether she should follow, and if her guardian would return +and need her rugs again; yet placidly thinking over the delightful +evening she had spent and how strange it was for her, “just plain +Dorothy,” to be having such a splendid trip in such charming company.</p> + +<p>“Well, lassie, are you all right? Don’t <i>you</i> feel a ‘little queer,’ +too?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, thank you, Judge Breckenridge. I’m right enough but I don’t know +whether Miss Greatorex wants me to come to our room now or whether +she’ll need her things again. She went away in a great hurry, seems if; +and so—so did ’most everybody else. Funny for them all to get sleepy +just in a minute so.”</p> + +<p>The old traveler laughed and patted Dorothy’s shoulder.</p> + +<p>“A ‘fog swell’ is what we’ve struck. That explains the darkness and the +hasty departure of our neighbors. Seasick, poor creatures! and no +suffering worse, while it lasts. Sure you aren’t yourself, Dorothy?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[Pg 81]</a></span>“No. I don’t feel any different from ever, yet, Judge Breckenridge.”</p> + +<p>“Good enough. I’m mighty glad for you. Poor little Moll will be apt to +have a sorry time of it until we reach Yarmouth and land. By the way, +lassie, I observe that you’ve been well trained to give a person their +name and title when you speak to them. But we’re on our holiday now, you +know, and mustn’t work more than we can help. So, my dear, suppose you +call me Uncle Schuy, or simply Uncle, while we are together. ‘Judge +Breckenridge’ is considerable of a mouthful for a small maid who, I +hope, will have to address me a great many times. I shall find it +pleasant to be ‘Uncled’ for I greatly miss our boy, Tom.”</p> + +<p>He did not add, as he might, that some pity mingled in this desire. +Coming unobserved upon the little figure sitting alone in the +steamer-chair, amid a pile of rugs which almost hid her from sight, +deserted, and possibly also in the throes of illness, he had resolved to +make her time with him and his as happy as he could. He would have done +this under any circumstances; but Molly’s fervid description of +Dorothy’s orphanage and ignorance of her real parentage had touched him +profoundly.</p> + +<p>Loving his own little daughter beyond all others in the world he loved +this deserted child for Molly’s sake; and felt that he should promptly +love her for her own.</p> + +<p>Sitting down again beside her he covered himself <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[Pg 82]</a></span>with rugs and begged +permission to smoke; remarking:</p> + +<p>“It’s a shame to keep you up longer but I fancy that your stateroom +wouldn’t be very pleasant just now. It’s next to my sister’s, you know, +and I saw Number Eight coming out of it with considerable haste. Miss +Greatorex is probably ill, but should be better once she gets settled in +bed. Then you must go and also get to rest. Quite likely you’ll be the +only little girl-companion I’ll have for the rest of the trip. I was +afraid Molly would make a poor sailor, and she’s proving me correct. My +sister, though, never suffers from seasickness and is a charming +traveling companion as you’ll find.”</p> + +<p>He relapsed into silence and a great drowsiness began to overpower +Dorothy. Her day had been long and most eventful and the sea air was +strong. Presently, her head drooped against the back of her chair, the +Judge grew indistinct in her sight, and she fell asleep.</p> + +<p>He considered then what was best to do; and presently decided that, if +she wasn’t sent for, she might well and safely pass the night on deck as +he intended to do.</p> + +<p>Indeed, so often had he voyaged on that ship that its employees had +learned his wishes without telling; and now there came to him one Number +Seven, his own room attendant, bringing a pillow and more rugs. He was +dispatched for another pillow and between them they gently lowered the +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[Pg 83]</a></span>back of Dorothy’s chair, placed a pillow under her unconscious head and +tucked her warmly in. Then he settled himself to rest and neither of +them knew distinctly anything more until the daylight came and the +sunshine struggled with the enwrapping fog.</p> + +<p>She, indeed, had had vague dreams of what went on about her. Had heard +muffled bells and passing footsteps, but these had mingled only +pleasantly with her sense of rest and happiness; and it was a very +surprised young person who at last opened her eyes upon a gray expanse +of mist-covered ocean and a gray-haired man asleep on a chair beside +her.</p> + +<p>Sitting up, she stared about her for a moment till she realized what had +happened; then smiled to think she had actually slept out of doors. +Afterward, she wondered with some anxiety if Miss Greatorex had sent for +her during the night, or if she were still too ill to care about anybody +save herself.</p> + +<p>“Anyhow, I must go and see. My! how damp these rugs are and yet I am as +warm as can be. That’s what dear Miss Penelope said she meant to +do—sleep on deck. But she didn’t come and I’ve done it in her stead. +What a queer world it is and how things do get twisted round! Now I must +be still as still and not wake that dear Judge—‘Uncle’, who’s so lovely +to me!”</p> + +<p>With these thoughts she slipped softly out of her rugs and tiptoed away, +having some slight trouble to locate “Number Thirteen” stateroom; and, +having <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[Pg 84]</a></span>done so, discovered its door ajar, fastened against intrusion by +a chain.</p> + +<p>She peeped through the opening. Miss Isobel lay with her eyes closed, +but whether asleep or not Dorothy couldn’t decide. She was very pale and +perfectly motionless, and a too-suggestive tin basin was fastened to the +railing of her berth.</p> + +<p>“Ugh! I can’t go in there and wake her, if she’s asleep; or to go any +way. I’ll slip around to this other side the boat where there are such +heaps of chairs and nobody in them. My! It’s cold and I haven’t anything +to put over me here. Never mind, I’ll stay. If I go back to where I was +I might wake Judge Breckenridge, and I shouldn’t like to do that. I +don’t wonder Molly called him a handsome man. He looked better than +handsome to me, sleeping there, he looked <i>noble</i>.”</p> + +<p>Thus reflecting she settled herself on a chair against the inner wall +and watched the men at work mopping the wet decks and putting the steamer +generally “ship-shape” against the day’s voyage. It was a forlorn +outlook into the world of fog, through which the sound of the bells rang +strangely. Also, there was an almost continuous blowing of whistles and +a look of some anxiety on the faces of such of the crew as passed by.</p> + +<p>Finally, out of some far-off stairway, young bugler Melvin came tripping +and hurried along the deck in her direction. She fancied a look of +surprise in his eyes as he perceived her and that he would pass on +without further notice. Yet, just as <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[Pg 85]</a></span>he reached a point opposite her +chair, he flashed one glance toward her; and almost as quickly turned +about to retrace his steps. Shivering and rather miserable she watched +him idly, and now the surprise was her own.</p> + +<p>He returned and still without speaking, yet with an almost painful flush +on his face, tossed two heavy rugs into her lap and instantly passed on. +She had no chance to thank him, but readily answered a laugh from a +deck-hand near by who had witnessed the little incident and enjoyed it. +The “Bashful Bugler” was Melvin’s shipboard nickname and no lad ever +better deserved such. Yet he had been well “raised” and there was +something very appealing to the chivalry of any lad in the look of +Dorothy’s just now sad eyes; though commonly their brown depths held +only sunshine.</p> + +<p>The sweeper on the deck moved the chairs near her and even her own, +though without her leaving it, the better to clear off the moisture +which the fog had deposited. She had echoed his laugh and he remarked:</p> + +<p>“Nice boy, ‘Bashful’ is; but no more fitted to go round ’mongst +strangers’n a picked chicken.”</p> + +<p>Both the sailor and Dorothy were glad to speak with anybody, and she +asked:</p> + +<p>“Will this fog last long? Is it often so cold right in the summer time?”</p> + +<p>“Cold enough to freeze the legs off an iron pot, slathers of times. This +is one of ’em! As for fogs lastin’, I reckon, little Miss, there won’t +be no more <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[Pg 86]</a></span>sunshine ’twixt here and Yarmouth harbor. If you’re cold out +here though, and don’t want to go to your room, you’ll find things snug +down yonder in that music-room, or what you call it.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! is there a place? Under shelter? Will you show me?”</p> + +<p>“Sure. If ’tis open yet. Sometimes it’s shut overnight but likely not +now. I’ll take them rugs for you, Sissy, if you like.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you. Thank you so much. How nice everybody is on a steamship! Is +it living all the time on the water makes you kind, I wonder?”</p> + +<p>“Give it up!” answered this able seaman, not a little flattered by +Dorothy’s appreciation of his service, and in Molly’s own frequent +manner. With another smile at this memory, Dorothy followed as he walked +ahead, dragging his mop behind him and leaving a shining streak in his +wake.</p> + +<p>They found the little saloon, music-room, writing-room, or “what you +call it,” closed, but the door opened readily enough, and Dorothy was +delighted to creep within the warmth and comfort of the place. It was +dark inside but the man turned on the electric light, and, doffing his +cap, went out, shut the door behind him, and left her to her solitary +enjoyment.</p> + +<p>“What a pretty room! How cozy and warm! I’m going to cuddle down in this +easy chair and take another nap. There’s nobody stirring much and I +heard one man say to another that there were more folks sick this trip +than had been all summer. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[Pg 87]</a></span>I wonder if poor Molly is yet! I’d go and see +only I don’t want to disturb Mrs. Hungerford.</p> + +<p>“Now, Dorothy girl, shut your eyes and don’t open them again till +breakfast time. I am awfully disappointed. I’d counted upon watching the +sun rise over the ocean and was going to get up so early to do it: Huh! +I’m early enough, but the poor sun is taking a bath and can’t be seen.”</p> + +<p>Artificial heat had been turned into the room which accounted for the +warmth she found so grateful. This, succeeding her shivering fit, made +her drowsy and she shut her eyes “just for forty winks.” But a good many +times “forty” had passed before she opened them once more and found +herself still alone. She got up and looked about her, thinking that she +must go to “Number Thirteen” and bathe her face and hands, though not +much more than that could be accomplished in such limited quarters. +She’d go in just a minute. Meanwhile there was a piano. She’d like to +try it, though her lessons on that instrument had been but few. +However—</p> + +<p>“Oh! joy! There’s a violin case on the shelf yonder! I’m going to look +at it. If there’s a violin inside—There is! I’d love, just love to try +that, far more than a jingling piano. I wonder would anybody hear me? I +don’t believe so. It’s so far away. I’m going to—I am!”</p> + +<p>With a fiddle once more under her chin Dorothy forgot all but that happy +fact. Delicately and timidly at first, she drew her bow across the +strings, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[Pg 88]</a></span>fearing an interruption; but when none came she gathered +boldness and played as she would have done in Herr von Peter’s own +helpful presence.</p> + +<p>How long she stood there, swaying to her own music, enwrapped in it and +no longer lonely, she didn’t know; but after a time the minor chords of +her last and “loveliest lesson” were rudely broken in upon by other +strains which cut short her practicing and set her face toward the door.</p> + +<p>There stood the “Bashful Bugler” tooting his “first call to breakfast” +directly toward her, and her response was a crash of discord from the +violin. The effect upon Melvin was to make him lower his bugle and flash +out of sight as if propelled by a hurricane.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[Pg 89]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VI" id="CHAPTER_VI"></a>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<h3>SAFE ON SHORE</h3> + +<p>The bad weather continued. So did the illness of Miss Greatorex and +Molly Breckenridge. Neither of them left their stateroom again till that +day and another night had passed and the “Prince” came to her mooring in +Yarmouth harbor.</p> + +<p>Both Mrs. Hungerford and Dorothy spent much of their time with one or +other patient, yet were often alone together on deck or in the +music-room and became very well acquainted, indeed, during their hours +of loneliness. From the girl Auntie Lu drew many details of her short +life, and was especially interested when she found that Mrs. Betty +Calvert was a friend of them both; exclaiming:</p> + +<p>“Why, my dear, I’ve known Mrs. Betty Calvert all my life! She was my +mother’s dearest correspondent. They had been girls together, though +Mrs. Calvert was older than mother. Their homes were near each other in +Maryland; and—why, the Calverts, or Somersets, were as intimate as it +is possible for families to be with our folks—the Breckenridges! This +is most interesting. Most certainly interesting. I must tell my brother. +Schuyler is so loyal to all our old Marylanders; he <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[Pg 90]</a></span>thinks there are no +people like them anywhere, though for my part I find human nature’s +pretty much the same all the world over.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mrs. Hungerford, I’ve heard Mrs. Calvert say that there was no +gentleman so fine as a southern one. Mr. Seth laughs at her and says +that’s a ‘hobby,’ and she’s ‘mistaken.’ He says ‘gentlemen don’t grow +any better on one soil than another,’ but are ‘indigenous to the whole +United States,’ though Mr. Winters is a Marylander himself.” Then she +naïvely added in explanation, and in a little vanity about her botanical +lore: “‘Indigenous’ means, maybe you don’t know, a plant that belongs +to, is a native of, some particular region. Mr. Seth taught me and +Father John. They both know lots about botany, though father hasn’t +lived in the country as long as our ‘Learned Blacksmith,’ who does know, +seems if, all there is worth knowing in this world. For a man, I mean.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Lucretia smiled and nodded, but in an absent sort of manner as if +she had scarcely heard what Dorothy had said. Then as the girl rose, +remarking: “I’ll go now and sit a while with Molly if she’s awake. +Funny! She says she feels all right as long as she lies down and so +horrid when she tries to get up and dress;” the lady’s gaze followed her +little figure with a keenly critical interest. Also, she eagerly greeted +the Judge, who now came to her, with the ambiguous exclamation:</p> + +<p>“Schuyler Breckenridge, the most marvellous thing! I’ve discovered—or I +believe I have—<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[Pg 91]</a></span>what that remarkable likeness is which has so perplexed +me. Blood always tells, always crops out!”</p> + +<p>“Exactly. Especially in cases like this. Having nothing else to do I’ve +tried whittling—with this result. Tie it up, Lu, and explain +yourself—if you can,” he answered, whimsically holding out a finger he +had cut and that was slightly bleeding.</p> + +<p>“Oh! you poor dear!”</p> + +<p>“Yes. Am I not! Wait. Here’s a bit of court-plaster. Forgot I had it or +wouldn’t have troubled you. Now, talk ahead.”</p> + +<p>“Schuyler, a man like you shouldn’t trifle with edged tools. You have no +gift for anything but—lawing. It wouldn’t be any laughing matter if you +should develop blood-poison—”</p> + +<p>“It certainly would not, and as I like to laugh I shan’t do it. Now, +what is this marvellous thing you’ve discovered, please? I’m getting +tired of fog, no newspapers, and chess with a stranger; so welcome even +a woman’s gossip with delight!”</p> + +<p>She paid no heed to his chaffing but began:</p> + +<p>“I believe I know who that Dorothy’s parents were. I’m as positive as if +I’d been told; and I’m perfectly amazed at Mrs. Betty Calvert. Isn’t it +wonderful?”</p> + +<p>“Apparently—to you. Not yet to me. I’ve understood that two and two +makes four; but how your ‘belief’ and poor old Betty Calvert make +sensible connection I fail to comprehend. I await instruction.”</p> + +<p>“Stop jesting and you shall have it. Then tell <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[Pg 92]</a></span>me if I haven’t given +you better food for thought than you’d find in to-day’s paper—if you +could get it here at sea.”</p> + +<p>Thereupon, hitching her chair a little nearer to her brother’s and +glancing about to see no stranger overheard, the lady began a low toned +conversation with him. This proved, as she had foretold, far more +entertaining than the day’s news; and when it was over, when there was +nothing more to be said, he rose, pulled his traveling cap over his +eyes, thrust his hands into his capacious pockets and walked away “to +think it over.” Adding, as he left:</p> + +<p>“Well, if you’re right everything is wrong. And if you’re wrong +everything’s right.”</p> + +<p>Over which eminent legal opinion Mrs. Hungerford smiled, reflecting:</p> + +<p>“He’s convinced. There’s nobody I know so well versed in Maryland +genealogy as Schuyler Breckenridge. It’s been his pastime so long he’ll +be keen on this scent till he proves it false or true. And if it is +true—what a shame, what a shame! That horrid, lonely old woman to take +such an outrageous course. Poor, dear, sweet little Dorothy!”</p> + +<p>The result to Dorothy of this conversation was a greater kindness than +ever on the part of Molly’s people; who now seemed to take her into +their hearts as if she were of kin to them. She often found them looking +at her searchingly, trying to trace that “likeness” which one of them +had discovered. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[Pg 93]</a></span>But no word of what was in their minds was said to her. +She was merely invited to call Mrs. Hungerford “Aunt” as she was to call +the Judge “Uncle.”</p> + +<p>So despite the dullness of the fog, which prevented her seeing much of +the ocean, the day passed very well. When she was asked if she could +play and to give her new friends a little music, she took the violin +from its shelf and gave them her simple best. To please them who were so +kind to her was a delight to herself and her readiness to oblige was +instantly construed by Aunt Lucretia as a fresh proof of her +“discovery.”</p> + +<p>“Only a well-born child has that easy grace of manner, Schuyler, as you +must often have observed,” she remarked with pleased conviction.</p> + +<p>To which he replied by warning:</p> + +<p>“Take care you don’t build up a romance that will fall to pieces like a +house of cards at the first breath of reality. But as to birth, be it +high or low, Dorothy is a most winning little maid and I’m thankful to +have her along with us on our holiday. Thankful, also, that impulsive +Molly chose just such an unselfish, ingenuous girl for her ‘chum.’ My +poor little lass! Her first ocean voyage will be a dreary memory for +her!”</p> + +<p>“Oh! not so bad. She’s perfectly comfortable when she lies still. She +has plenty of attention and sleeps a deal. She’s not losing much fun out +here in this weather and will be no more glad to step onto solid land +again than I shall. Except that, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[Pg 94]</a></span>but for this enforced close +companionship with little Dorothy I might not have thought out her story +as I have.”</p> + +<p>“There you go again! Well, the suggestion haunts me, too. I’ll +investigate promptly; and—what I shall do after that I haven’t yet +decided. I hate a meddler and am not anxious to become one. Heigho! No +matter how hard a tired man tries to mind his own business he can’t do +it! Here comes that young Melvin Cook, and he’s a lad with a pedigree, +let me tell you, as long as any oldest Marylander of all. He and I have +a bit of business to discuss, so I’ll walk the deck with him awhile. +Dorothy, I suppose, will sleep in her own stateroom to-night, since Miss +Greatorex is comfortable. Good night, and sleep well.”</p> + +<p>The deserted deck and the quiet gloom were a forcible contrast to the +radiance and hilarity of the evening before, so that Mrs. Hungerford did +not linger long after the Judge had left her, to pace up and down in +earnest conversation with the “Bashful Bugler.” Yet her thought was now +upon the lad and his name which her brother had mentioned.</p> + +<p>“Cook! Cook, from Yarmouth. Why, that’s the same as that quaint old +fellow brother took into his private office. He came from Nova Scotia, +too, and called himself a typical Bluenose. Feared he was liable to +consumption and left home for our milder climate. Wonder if he is a +relative of the blond bugler! After all, as Molly so often exclaims, +‘what a little bit o’ world it is! Everybody <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[Pg 95]</a></span>you know turning up +everywhere you go!’ Quite a keen observer is my flighty little niece, in +spite of all her nonsense; and bless her heart! I must go and see how +she is and send small nurse Dorothy to her own slumbers.”</p> + +<p>So she too walked forward, and was seen no more till the grating sounds +and the shouted orders told that the good ship “Prince” was docked and +her goodly company had reached that safe “haven where they would be.”</p> + +<p>Then as if by magic the decks filled with a merry company, even those +who had suffered most from seasickness the gayest of all.</p> + +<p>“So good to go ashore! Too early for breakfast? Of course; but I’ll take +a walk on dry—or fog-wet ground before I take mine!” said the gentleman +who had been first to succumb to the “fog swell,” and stepped down the +ladder, whistling like a happy lad.</p> + +<p>Miss Greatorex and Molly emerged from their staterooms a little pallid, +rather shaky on their feet, but quite as happy as their neighbors. Not +the less pleased, either, because the Judge promptly announced:</p> + +<p>“We’ll not bother for breakfast here. Some of us don’t remember the +‘Prince’s’ dining-room with great affection, eh?” and he playfully +pinched Molly’s wan cheek. “We’re going to stop in Yarmouth for a few +days, and the hotel carriage will take the rest of you up to it at once. +You’ll find your rooms all ready for you. I’ll see to our luggage <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[Pg 96]</a></span>and +have that sent up, then follow in time to join you at table. All right, +everybody? All your small belongings in hand? Then driver, pass on.”</p> + +<p>Already the fog was lifting, and the urbane old man upon the box leaned +down and informed his fares:</p> + +<p>“Going to be a fine day, ladies. You’ll see Ya’mouth at her purtiest. +Ever been here before, any of you?”</p> + +<p>Miss Greatorex’s propriety began to return. A sure sign, Mrs. Hungerford +thought, that she was feeling better; and she watched in secret +amusement the sudden stiffening of the angular figure and the +compression of the thin lips as the “instructress” looked fixedly out of +the carriage window and vouchsafed no other reply.</p> + +<p>But Aunt Lu always adapted herself to the habits of any country of the +many she had visited and replied, with an eagerness that was +half-mischievous and for Miss Isobel’s benefit:</p> + +<p>“No, indeed! and we’re anxious to see and learn everything new. So +please point out anything of note, and thank you.”</p> + +<p>“Hmm. I should suppose there could be nothing ‘of note’ in a place like +this,” murmured Miss Isobel, severely, as she scornfully observed the +dingy streets and dwellings of that neighborhood.</p> + +<p>But the hackman was gratified by Mrs. Hungerford’s interest and a chance +for his own garrulity, and promptly informed them:</p> + +<p>“’Tain’t never fair to judge no town by its water-front. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[Pg 97]</a></span>Course not. +Stands to reason that shipyards and docks and sailorses’ saloons ain’t +laid out for beauty. But just you wait till we get up the hill a speck +and then you’ll see somethin’ worth seein’. True. There ain’t a nicer +town in the whole Province o’ Novy Scoshy ’an Ya’mouth is. Now we’re a +gettin’. <i>Now!</i> See there?”</p> + +<p>“Ah! how lovely!” “Oh! Auntie Lu!” “Oh! my heart, my heart! If only +darling Father John could see that hedge? What is it, Auntie Lu, can you +tell?” cried Dorothy in rapture; for, indeed, the hedges of this old +town by the sea are famous everywhere the name of Yarmouth is heard.</p> + +<p>The driver didn’t wait for Mrs. Hungerford to reply, even if she could +have done so. He received every question and exclamation as personal and +proudly answered:</p> + +<p>“Ha’tho’n, them are, this side. Then yonder is spruce. And our gardens! +If you women-folks love posies as most females does, you’d ought to be +here a spell later. Roses ain’t out yet but cherries is in flower.”</p> + +<p>“Roses not in bloom? Why, they’re past it with us!” responded Auntie Lu, +surprised.</p> + +<p>“Hmm, ma’am. And where might that be, if I c’n make so bold?”</p> + +<p>“The vicinity of New York, I was recalling.”</p> + +<p>“Hmm. Exactly. A poor kind of country, New York is, even though they do +call it the ‘Empire State’ and try to bolster up its failin’s with a lot +of fine talk. Now our Province o’ Novy Scoshy, and this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[Pg 98]</a></span>Ya’mouth, don’t +need to do no talkin’. All’s necessary for us and them is just to—BE! +Once a feller comes and gets a good square look at us—no water-front +way—” he interpolated, with a shrewd glance toward Miss Isobel’s +averted face and an absurd wink to Mrs. Hungerford—“he just sets right +down and quits talkin’ of his own places. Fact. I’ve lived here all my +life and that’s the reason I know it.”</p> + +<p>The man’s good nature and self-satisfaction were vastly amusing to Aunt +Lucretia, who ignored what seemed impertinence to the more formal Miss +Greatorex, while the former inwardly delighted in this to her “new type” +of liveryman, and was already anticipating the Judge’s entertainment +when the story of this ride was told him.</p> + +<p>But Molly waxed indignant over his disparagement of her native land and +exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“I wish you’d not talk that way! We’re Americans. I don’t like it!”</p> + +<p>“American, be you? So’m I.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! well. Course it’s all America, but I mean we’re from—from the +States,” as she chanced to recall an expression she had heard.</p> + +<p>“From the States, hey? So be I.”</p> + +<p>“Yet you say you’ve lived here all your life. If you hadn’t you’d have +been more—more liberal—like travel makes people. If you’d once seen +New York you wouldn’t think that little Yarmouth was so mighty pretty. A +right smart you know about it, anyway!”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[Pg 99]</a></span>“Huh! Gid-dap!” was the scornful rejoinder, as Jehu whirled about on his +seat and touched his team to a gallop.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hungerford gave Molly a warning tap, though she was inwardly +pleased to find the child so far recovered as to take an interest in +defending her own home.</p> + +<p>It was rather startling to have an ensuing silence broken by the old +driver’s facing about once more and declaring with great glee:</p> + +<p>“You ain’t no New Yorker, so you needn’t be touchy about that little +village. You’re from down south.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know?”</p> + +<p>“Yorkers don’t say ‘mighty pretty’ and ‘right smart,’ as the Johnny Rebs +do. I know. I’ve druv a power of both lots. As for me, I’m a Yankee, +straight descent. My forbear, Sealed Waters, was one the first settlers +here. A Yankee I claim to be, and the ‘wa’’ ain’t over yet, ’pears like. +Ha, ha, ha!”</p> + +<p>His mirth was contagious and they all joined in it; even Miss Greatorex +emitting a faint little cackle, which was all her dignity permitted. +Also, by that time the carriage had been halted before a fine hotel, +into which other passengers from their steamer were already passing; and +they were duly helped to alight and enter, their loquacious jehu calmly +extending his card with his name and number and, after a most +business-like fashion, requesting their patronage during the rest of +their stay.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[Pg 100]</a></span>“Show you the purtiest little town in the world, and’ll live to hear you +admit it, Ma’am. Thank you, ma’am, and good-day to you.”</p> + +<p>The Judge had secured their rooms long in advance of their arrival, and +it was well that he had. The Province had come greatly to the fore as a +summer pleasure ground and less thoughtful travelers did not always +obtain such quarters as they preferred.</p> + +<p>“Oh! this is fine!” exclaimed Mrs. Hungerford, as she entered her +chamber with its neat appointments and refreshing bath. But Miss +Greatorex was not enthusiastic. She was disappointed in the inn as she +had been in the steamer, having anticipated something much larger and +finer. The exaggerated term of “palatial,” which the proprietors had +attached to both, had deceived her and it was no great comfort to have +her companion explain:</p> + +<p>“Of course, one can’t find Broadway hostelries nor European ‘liners’ in +this part of the world; but brother has often stayed in this house and +knows it well. There is a larger, newer hotel, but he likes this little +inn. The fare is excellent, the place is safe and quiet, and the +landlord becomes your actual host. That’s the charm of the Canadians; +they are all so simple and so courteous. Try and ignore the +disadvantages, dear Miss Isobel, and get all the fun out of our trip you +can. If you’d seen some of the places I’ve slept in you’d think this is +really ‘palatial.’”</p> + +<p>The girls were out of hearing and Mrs. Hungerford <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[Pg 101]</a></span>felt herself +justified in thus much of admonition to her traveling mate, whose ideas +had been too highly raised by the circulars and descriptions she had +read. Fortunately, Miss Greatorex was so thankful to be once more on +land that she really tried to forget minor annoyances and to look upon +whatever happened as so much further “education.” Her little notebook +was promptly put to use and she filled several pages with memoranda of +the old seaport which she had so despised at first and found so +historically instructive afterward. Indeed, as Molly declared:</p> + +<p>“You’ll have to buy a good many books to hold all you want to write, +even in that fine hand, dear Miss Greatorex; and what a lot of things +you’ll have to tell the girls at our ‘twilight talks!’”</p> + +<p>Nor could any inexperienced traveler have found better companions than +Judge Breckenridge and his sister. They were so simple, so friendly, and +such keen observers. Everywhere they went they met and mingled with the +people exactly as if they were old and familiar friends; and in the +gentleman’s case this was quite true. He had been in the Province many +times, as has been said, and he had the happy gift of a good and +<i>willing</i> memory. He never forgot an acquaintance nor recalled one +unkindly, and it surprised even Mrs. Hungerford to see how many faces +brightened at his approach and how often the greeting came: “Welcome, +welcome, friend!”</p> + +<p>“Why, Judge, you back again? Well, I’m certain <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[Pg 102]</a></span>glad to see you? +‘Tourists’ like you are the sort we welcome heartiest to Ya’mouth. Fact, +ain’t it? The more folks know, the more they’ve traveled, the more they +find to admire and enjoy even in such a place as this!” cried one old +seaman, whom they met on their morning walk.</p> + +<p>For having enjoyed a most excellent breakfast and the sun now shining +brilliantly, they set out for a stroll through the pretty streets and +past the charming gardens of the town; and finally brought up at the +postoffice where there were letters for everybody, even for Dorothy.</p> + +<p>Hers was from Jim Barlow, and full of news of the mountain and old +friends there; saying, also, that he had been invited to join his tutor, +the Rev. Mr. Sterling, who was sometimes called the “tramping parson,” +on a walking tour through the northern part of the Empire State. It was +overflowing with enthusiasm over the places he would visit and the +wonderful “good luck” which had so changed the life of the truck-farm +lad; “and I mean to make the whole ‘tramp’ a part of my education. I +tell you, Dolly girl, if there’s much gets past me without my seeing and +knowing it, it’ll be when I’m asleep. Mr. Sterling’s a geologist, and +likes to take his vacation this way, so’s he can find new stones, or +hammer old ones to his heart’s content.</p> + +<p>“Whilst he’s a hammering I’ll be hunting things in the woods. I mean to +make a regular list of every bird I see, and every animal, and study all +their little habits and tricks. I’ll carry some old <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[Pg 103]</a></span>newspapers and a +book, too, so that if I come across any new kind of flower or plant I’ll +press it for you. That way my vacation’ll be considerable of a help to +you too.</p> + +<p>“Try and learn all you can, Dorothy child, whilst you have the chance. +There’s nothing so perfectly grand in all this world as learning things. +I’ve noticed you were getting a little flighty, along back, and setting +more store by your clothes than you used to, or that a girl who’ll have +to teach for her living had ought to. Needn’t get mad with me for +reminding you. I can write it easier than I could say it to your face, +some way; and amongst all the good times you’re having don’t forget to +write to me once in a while, for we’ve been so like brother and sister +this long time that I want to hear. So no more at present from your +affectionate</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">James Barlow</span>.</p> + +<p>“P. S.—I had a letter from Mrs. Cecil Somerset-Calvert. She wrote I was +to call to Deerhurst and get Peter and Ponce, her two Great Danes, and +take them with me on my tour. She’d already written to Mr. Sterling, +because she knew he was a dog-lover, and he was pleased to have them on +the trip. Good-by.</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Jim</span>.”</p> + +<p>“Well, this changes our plans somewhat,” remarked the Judge, looking up +from one of his letters, with an expression of some disappointment. They +had all paused outside the postoffice building to hastily scan their +news, and now grouped about <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[Pg 104]</a></span>him in interest, as Mrs. Hungerford rather +anxiously asked:</p> + +<p>“Why, Schuyler, what’s happened?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! nothing unpleasant. Not at all. Only this is from Ihrie, and the +boys will be on hand earlier than expected. So, to get around to all the +places we want to see and yet be at our rendezvous in time we’ll have to +cut our stay here short. I wouldn’t like to fail the boys.”</p> + +<p>“Not on any account!” exclaimed Aunt Lu, merrily; and then explaining to +Miss Greatorex: “Let me tell you, Miss Isobel, that these ‘boys’ range +anywhere from fifty to seventy-five years in age! and that one of them +is a college president, another a world-famous surgeon, and the third an +equally notable merchant. Old class-mates under their president, whom it +is their glory to have with them on these annual trips.”</p> + +<p>“Why, I—I think that is beautiful!” returned the teacher, with so much +enthusiasm that the others reflected how she was “waking up.” +“Beautiful,” she added again, after a pause in which she had looked with +new interest upon her own young pupils.</p> + +<p>“Yes, we must get on. So let’s plan our day the best we can, and take +the evening express for Digby. How does this suit? To call a carriage +and have you ladies driven all around, to ‘do’ Yarmouth as thoroughly as +possible in so short a time. Don’t wait dinner for me—for us. I have a +visit to make which must not be postponed, since it concerns <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[Pg 105]</a></span>the +interests of other people. I’ll take the girls with me and give them a +chance to see the inside of a Yarmouth cottage. Also, if we’re invited, +to taste a bit of native Yarmouth cookery. We’ll get around back to the +inn in time for collecting our traps and making the train. Eh?”</p> + +<p>“Suits me well enough;” answered Mrs. Hungerford, and Miss Isobel nodded +acquiescence, saying to the surprise of the others: “That descendant of +‘Sealed Waters’ might impart the most information of any driver, +possibly.”</p> + +<p>“But—Molly! Why, Molly, what are you acting that way for?” demanded +Dorothy, smiling at the antics of her mate. For the girl had hastily +scanned two of her letters and having saved “the best to the last” was +now prancing all over the sidewalk, waving the missive overhead and +crying:</p> + +<p>“Splendid! Splendid! SPLENDID!”</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[Pg 106]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VII" id="CHAPTER_VII"></a>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<h3>FINNAN HADDIE IN A GARDEN</h3> + +<p>As Molly’s excitement seemed pleasurable they did not tarry for its +explanation but promptly separated; the ladies returning to their hotel +to order their carriage and repack the few articles they had taken from +their valises.</p> + +<p>The Judge set off down the street, still examining his mail and bidding +the girls to follow; and, as they did so, Molly exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“It’s just too lovely for words! Monty’s coming, Monty’s coming!”</p> + +<p>Dorothy almost lost sight of the Judge as he turned a corner into a side +street, so long she paused and so disgusted she felt.</p> + +<p>“That boy! What’s he coming for? I hope not to be with us!”</p> + +<p>“Exactly what he is, then! We laid a little plan that last morning when +we started. His mother was in Newburgh, you know, and hadn’t decided +where she would pass her vacation. So I suppose he went right to her and +asked and she always does just what he wants. He writes that she’d never +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[Pg 107]</a></span>visited Nova Scotia nor Canada and was simply delighted to come. She +wouldn’t force their society upon our party, oh! no, not for anything! +But she’ll manage to take the first steamer out from Boston and will go +straight to Digby. We’ll meet there; and if Aunt Lucretia doesn’t think +a Stark is good company for a Breckenridge, I’ll know the reason why. +Oh! fine, fine.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! nuisance, nuisance! But come on! Your father is ever so far ahead +and we’ll have to hurry to catch up.”</p> + +<p>They set off upon a run and for a few minutes neither spoke. Molly was +disappointed that Dolly didn’t “enthuse,” and the latter felt that a +boy—such a boy—would effectually spoil the good times she and her mate +might have had together, alone. Finally, Molly asked:</p> + +<p>“Who was your letter from?”</p> + +<p>For answer and with considerable pride Dorothy drew James Barlow’s +epistle from its envelope and held it toward her friend, saying:</p> + +<p>“You can read and see.”</p> + +<p>Molly read and returned the letter, with a little sniff of contempt and +the remark:</p> + +<p>“Huh! The only interesting part of that is the post-script. It will be +just fine to have those dogs along. I suppose Mrs. Calvert sent them up +from Baltimore to Deerhurst. But if I were you, Dolly Doodles, I +wouldn’t let that ignoramus preach to me like he does to you in that +letter. He’s a prig, that’s what he is, and I hate a prig. So there.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[Pg 108]</a></span>“No, he isn’t. Mr. Seth would say that he had only ‘lost his head’ for a +minute. You see poor Jim can’t get over the wonder of his getting his +‘chance.’ He’s simply crazy-wild over learning—now. He believes it’s +the only thing in the world worth while. He didn’t mean to scold me. +I—I guess. If he did I don’t mind. He’s only Jim. He just knows I’ll +have to take care of my father and mother, some day, if our mineral +spring and mine don’t pay better than now. He’s afraid I’ll waste my +‘chance,’ that’s all. Dear, faithful old Jim!”</p> + +<p>“Pooh! Horrid, pokey old Jim, I say. But Monty’ll have some fun in him; +unless—he thinks two girls are poor company.”</p> + +<p>“I hope he will. I hope he’ll coax your father and those old ‘boys’ to +take him with them into the woods. That might do him some good and take +the nonsense out of him.”</p> + +<p>“Well, Dorothy, I think that’s not a nice thing for you to say. You must +have forgotten the night of the fire and what he did to help you. There +wasn’t any ‘nonsense’ about Montmorency Vavasour-Stark then, if you +please!”</p> + +<p>Instantly touched by this reminder and fully regretful for her +sarcasm—though still sorry that he was coming—Dolly returned:</p> + +<p>“That’s true, Molly, honey. I did forget, just for a minute. He’s not +half bad, Monty isn’t; and I guess he’ll be useful to climb trees and +pick cherries for us, or get flowers that we can’t reach. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[Pg 109]</a></span>Anyhow, we’re +fairly dawdling and almost quarreling, and all the time your father is +getting further away. See! He’s stopping before that house? I’ll race +you to the gate!”</p> + +<p>“All right. One—two—three—go!”</p> + +<p>It was a charming little cottage before which they brought up at the +Judge’s side. Its front yard was small, so that the bay-windows one upon +each side the door, came almost to the white paling before the grounds; +but one could catch a glimpse of a deep garden behind and Dorothy’s +flower-loving soul was enchanted by it, even as by the contents of the +windows.</p> + +<p>“Oh! look! How lovely! Did you ever see such Gloxinias and Cyclamens? +And that Weeping Fuschia in the other window! It is gorgeous, simply +gorgeous! But how queer, too, to keep plants indoors as late as this! +and their lace curtains up, right in the summer-time! Are we going in +here, Judge Breckenridge?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, indeed. I paused only to let your rhapsody have vent, though I +really wish the little mistress of this home could have heard such a +spontaneous tribute to her skill as a florist. You’ll notice that +peculiarity all through the Province. Window plants remain in the +windows all the year round and there is scarcely a home that hasn’t its +share of them and its tiny conservatory, such as is here.</p> + +<p>“Curtains? I hadn’t thought why they’re up, but maybe it’s to keep out +the prying gaze of too eager <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[Pg 110]</a></span>‘tourists.’ A fine scorn the native always +has for the average ‘tourist’—though he has no scorn for the tourist’s +cash. Ah! Here she comes!”</p> + +<p>At that instant his summons upon the tiny knocker was answered by the +soft footfall of a woman, and the opening of the door a narrow way. Then +it was as instantly flung wide and a dainty little housemistress, +white-capped and white-haired, extended two small, toil-worn hands in +greeting.</p> + +<p>“Oh! Judge Breckenridge! You did give me such a start! But I’m so glad +to see you! So more than glad. Do step right in, please. All of you step +in.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Mrs. Cook, for your welcome and your invitation; but we’d +rather step right out if you don’t mind?”</p> + +<p>“Why—sir!”</p> + +<p>“No lack of appreciation, believe me. But I’ve a young lady here who is +‘plumb crazy’ over posies and, coming along on the steamer, I promised +her a glimpse of some of Yarmouth’s garden ‘cosy corners.’ I know none +lovelier than your own; and as for your window-plants—I’m afraid if we +don’t take her away from temptation she’ll break the glass and ‘hook’ +one of your ‘Gloxamens’ or ‘Cyclaglinias’ or—”</p> + +<p>The lady laughed as merrily as a girl and patted Dorothy’s shoulder with +appreciation of the Judge’s joke. Then started to lead the way around +the cottage into that inviting greenery behind, when a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[Pg 111]</a></span>curious voice +hindered her by a pathetic appeal:</p> + +<p>“Mamma! Oh! Mamma! Don’t go and leave poor Mum! Quisanthemum must go +with Mamma!”</p> + +<p>The visitors turned in surprise, toward this querulous “child” as the +girls fancied it, though the Judge was already smiling his understanding +of the matter. Then there appeared in the doorway a parrot, of wonderful +plumage and exaggerated awkwardness; who waddled from side to side, +climbed one side of its mistress’s gown to her shoulder and walked +head-first down the other, rolling its eyes and emitting the most absurd +moans till the two girls were convulsed with laughter.</p> + +<p>Then Mrs. Cook held out her wrist, the parrot settled on it, and they +proceeded to the garden; the lady explaining:</p> + +<p>“This little Miss Chrysanthemum is a spoiled baby. She’s only a few +months old, was brought to me by one of my sailor friends, and about +rules the house now. Especially when my boy is away.”</p> + +<p>As she mentioned her “boy” the tiny woman looked rather anxiously into +the Judge’s face; and Dorothy noticed that her own was really quite +young, despite the white hair and widow’s cap which crowned it. She +thought the lady charming, she was so small, so delicate and quaint. Yet +there was the real “English color” on her still fair cheek and her eyes +were as bright a blue as Molly’s own.</p> + +<p>“Son told me you would call. Also, Ephraim wrote me in his last letter; +but I had not expected <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[Pg 112]</a></span>you to-day. I thought you were to be in Yarmouth +for a week or more and didn’t anticipate so prompt a kindness.”</p> + +<p>Then opening a little bag which hung fastened to her waist, the cottager +drew from it a pair of blunt-pointed scissors and gave them to Dorothy, +saying:</p> + +<p>“It’s you I see, who has the keenest eyes for flowers. Cut all you want +of anything you fancy;” and she swept her hand rather proudly toward the +hedges of sweet-peas, just coming into bloom, and the magnificent roses +which were earlier in her protected garden than elsewhere in the town.</p> + +<p>Had Dorothy known it, this was a rare privilege that had been accorded +her. Mrs. Cook loved her flowers as she did her human friends and had a +fancy that cutting them was almost as cruel as wounding a person she +loved. Until they faded she never cut them for her own enjoyment; and +only now and then nerved herself to clip them for the cheer of some +ailing neighbor. She was therefore greatly pleased when the girl +returned the scissors, after one questioning glance toward Molly, as to +her possible disappointment.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, Mrs. Cook, but I don’t like to do that. They are so lovely +and look so happy in this beautiful garden, I’d hate to. We shall be +going, I’m told, and they’ll only be ruined for nothing. But, if you +please, I’d like to sit down on these steps and enjoy them. Wouldn’t +you, Molly? While your father talks with Mrs. Cook.”</p> + +<p>The steps belonged to a sort of lean-to, or outdoor <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[Pg 113]</a></span>kitchen. The little +addition was covered with vines in leaf and more sweet-peas clambered +about its base. Behind it was the living-room with its open door and +table already set for dinner. A savory odor issued thence and set the +girls to thinking how remarkably hungry they were, despite their late +and substantial breakfast. Also, to wondering if Nova Scotia air was to +whet their appetites this way all the time.</p> + +<p>Thought Molly, in especial: “If it is I shall buy me a little bag to +wear at my waist, as Auntie does, and fill it with crackers.”</p> + +<p>Then, thinking of food, she “pricked up her ears,” hearing her hostess +inviting:</p> + +<p>“But, Judge Breckenridge, I would take it the highest honor if you would +share our dinner with us. Of course, it isn’t what I’d have liked to +have, had I known. But my husband used to say, ‘Welcome is the best +sauce.’ Besides, if you’re to leave so soon I’ll be glad to talk over +that matter of which I just spoke. I am really so perplexed as to what +is best. You’ve been so kind to my brother-in-law, Ephraim, that—”</p> + +<p>She interrupted herself to laugh and observe:</p> + +<p>“Yet that’s presumptuous of me, too. The fact that you’ve been a kind +adviser to one of the family doesn’t form a precedent for all the rest +of us. But, business aside, cannot you and your daughters join us?”</p> + +<p>“Thank you. We will be most happy; though I must set you right on that +point—of relationship. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[Pg 114]</a></span>One is my daughter, the blonde, not the +flower-lover; and one is my temporarily ‘adopted.’ Molly and Dolly their +names; and two dearer little maids you’ll travel far to find.”</p> + +<p>“Aye, they’re fair bonny, and so unlike. Now, sit you down, please, +while I dish up; and tell me, if you will, how does the man, Ephraim? He +was ever in fear of his health but a better one never lived. After my +sister died—the pair of us married brothers—he grew lost and finical. +Nought we could do for him just suited the man. It was the grief, I +knew. So, after he’d mumbled along more years than he’d ought, fending +for himself, he crossed over to the States and drifted south to Richmond +and you. ’Twas a sad pity he’d neither son nor daughter to cheer him in +his widower life, but so was his Providence. Mine has been better. Son +is my hope and—and my anxiety. He’s not found his right niche yet, poor +lad. There’s a love of the sea in him, like his sailor father; but he’s +never got over that tragedy of his father’s death.”</p> + +<p>“Where did that happen, Mrs. Cook? Ephraim told me he was drowned,” +asked the visitor, sympathetically.</p> + +<p>“Off Pollock Rip Shoals. A bad and fearsome place that, where many an +honest fellow has sunk to his last sleep.” She dashed a tear from her +eye, and laid her hand for an instant upon her widow’s cap. Then she +went on more cheerfully, as if time had taught her resignation: “But +that’s a gone-by. Son’s future isn’t. It’s laid upon me by the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[Pg 115]</a></span>Lord to +be both father and mother to the boy and I must study what’s for <i>his</i> +best, not mine. Ephraim wrote I was to consult you who are a Judge and +wise. He said in his letter that he hadn’t been a sort of +general-utility-man in your office thus long without knowing it wasn’t +your best paying clients that got your best advice. That, wrote Ephraim, +came out of your heart for the widows and orphans. We’re that, son and +I, and—What a garrulous creature I am!”</p> + +<p>All the time the little woman had been talking she had also been +preparing for the meal; and it now being ready to serve she stepped to +the rear door, opening on the place where the girls were sitting, and +announced:</p> + +<p>“Our finnan haddie and greens are ready, young ladies, if you will come +and partake of it. Also, lest you be disappointed, I’ll say that there’s +a ‘John’s Delight’ in the ‘steamer,’ and a dish of the best apples in +the Province for the sweeties. Eh? What, my dear?”</p> + +<p>To Dorothy’s utter amazement Molly was doing a very rude thing. She had +risen and made her very prettiest courtesy, but had supplemented this +act of respect by the petition:</p> + +<p>“Please, Mrs. Cook, may we have ours out here, on these steps?”</p> + +<p>“Why, Molly!” cried her chum, in reproof. “The idea of giving all that +trouble!”</p> + +<p>“No trouble whatever, but a pleasure,” replied the hostess, although +she, also, was surprised.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[Pg 116]</a></span>Molly wheeled upon Dorothy, demanding:</p> + +<p>“Wouldn’t you like it here? Could you find a lovelier place to eat in? +As for making trouble, I don’t want to do that. I—If Mrs. Cook will +just put it on one plate I’ll fetch it here for us both. It would be +like a picnic in a garden; and you could stay here and—and watch.”</p> + +<p>“Watch? What am I to watch, except these beautiful flowers?” asked +Dolly, even further surprised.</p> + +<p>Fortunately for Molly her father had not overheard her odd request or +she would have received reproof far more effectual than Dorothy’s. Also, +Mrs. Cook was hospitality itself, and this meant wishing her guests to +enjoy themselves after the manner they liked best.</p> + +<p>As swiftly as either of the girls could have moved, she was back in the +pleasant living-room, arranging a tray with a portion of the palatable +dinner she had provided; saying in response to the Judge’s inquiring +expression:</p> + +<p>“We thought it would be a fine thing, and one the lassies will long +remember, to have their Bluenose dinner in a Bluenose garden. For all +their lives long they can think of this summer day and my greenery yon; +and, maybe, too, of the first time they ever ate ‘finnan haddie’ and +‘John’s Delight.’ More than that, it will give us the freedom of speech +with son, as it wouldn’t were they sitting by. He’s aye shy, is my +laddie.”</p> + +<p>Then she carried out a little table, set it beside <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[Pg 117]</a></span>the steps and placed +the tray thereon. After which she “Begged pardon!” and lifted up her +gentle voice in an appeal that sounded almost pathetic in its entreaty.</p> + +<p>“Son! Dear son Melvin! Come now to dinner with your mother! Son! SON!”</p> + +<p>The last word was spoken in a tone he rarely disobeyed, and low-toned +though it was, it was so distinctly uttered that people passing on the +street beyond heard it. So also must he have heard who was summoned, if +he was anywhere upon those premises—as he had been when these guests +arrived.</p> + +<p>However, he did not appear; and Mrs. Cook and the Judge sat down alone, +while “Son” for whom that “home dinner” had been specially prepared was +“fair famished” for want of it.</p> + +<p>Out upon the steps of that lattice-covered, vine-enwrapped summer-house, +the two girls enjoyed their dinner greatly. In particular did mistress +Molly. Her eyes sparkled, her dimples came and went, her smiles almost +interfered with her eating, and her whole behavior was so peculiar that +Dorothy stared. She was puzzled and began to be slightly disgusted, and +at last remarked:</p> + +<p>“Why, honey, I never saw you get so much—so much fun out of your food. +I’ve heard about gourmands. I think I can guess now what they are and +act like. Hark! What’s that noise? Kind of a crackle, as if a cat or +something was overhead among those vines. I hope it isn’t. Cats love +fish. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[Pg 118]</a></span>I always have to shut up Lady Rosalind when Mother Martha has it +for dinner. Isn’t ‘finnan haddie’ a queer name?”</p> + +<p>“Yes. I’ve heard Papa tell of it before. It’s haddock smoked, some sort +of queer way. But this is nice—My! How nice this is! Umm, umm, umm!” +giggled Molly, as if she found something most amusing in the food she +smacked her lips over in such a very strange manner.</p> + +<p>“Well, Molly Breckenridge, one thing I can say for you. That is: it’s a +good thing Miss Rhinelander isn’t here to see you now. You—you act like +a little pig. Excuse me, but you really do.”</p> + +<p>“Cats do like fish. Maybe it’s a cat. Let’s call it a cat, anyway,” +answered Molly, in no wise offended by her chum’s plain speech. +Then lifting her voice she began to call: “Kitty! Kitty! +Kitty—kitty—kitty—kitty—kitty—come!” as fast as she could speak.</p> + +<p>Just then Mrs. Cook came out to them to remove their plates and bring +them generous portions of “John’s Delight,” a dessert which Molly +declared was “first cousin to a Christmas plum pudding,” and over which +she was tempted to smack her lips in earnest, not pretence. A momentary +soberness touched her merry face, however, when the hostess observed +with keen regret:</p> + +<p>“I am so sorry Son isn’t here to do the honors of this little picnic. I +don’t see where he can have gone. His dinner on shore is always such a +pleasure to him and besides—I wanted him to meet you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[Pg 119]</a></span>all in a private +fashion, not as a bugler aboard-ship.”</p> + +<p>“Maybe—maybe he is—<i>is</i> doing the honors!” said Molly, half choking +over the strange remark. “Maybe he’s—he can see—he’s rather shy, isn’t +he? The sailor said they called him the ‘Bashful Bugler.’ But he—he +bugles beautifully, especially first calls to meals which a seasick girl +can’t eat. I—”</p> + +<p>Then she stopped abruptly. Mrs. Cook was looking at her with much the +same expression Dorothy’s mobile face had worn; and again from overhead +came that ominous crackle of breaking twigs. Also, a few crushed leaves +fluttered to the ground and caused Dorothy to exclaim:</p> + +<p>“Must be a pretty big cat to tear things like that. Did you see it? Do +you suppose it’s a wildcat? Don’t they have all sorts of creatures in +the Nova Scotia woods? Do you suppose it’s wild—”</p> + +<p>“It certainly is. It’s about the wildest thing I ever met—of its size. +Isn’t this pudding delicious? If I was a hungry, a sea-starved cat how +angry I should be to be kept out of my share of it just by a couple of +girls. Girls are cats’ natural enemies. Sometimes girls eat cats—if +they’re nice, purry, pussy-cats! Some cats have blue eyes, and +some—Why, Papa! Are you ready? Going so soon?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, dear. I can’t wait any longer. I am greatly disappointed in not +seeing Melvin again; but possibly he may run up to the station before +the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[Pg 120]</a></span>train starts. I’ll try to be there early. As early as I can, though +I have some little affairs here still to attend to. Good-by, Mrs. Cook. +I think the plan we have discussed is the best all round. It will be a +test, so to speak. There is nothing like life in the woods together to +break down all barriers of shyness or reserve.</p> + +<p>“Thank you, cordially, for your hospitality. I haven’t enjoyed a dinner +so much in many a day. I will see you again, if we return this way, and +I will keep you informed of my address if our plan falls through and we +have to try some other.”</p> + +<p>Deeply moved, the little mother began to utter her own profuse thanks; +for what the listening girls did not know. But these were promptly +suppressed by the Judge’s manner of saying:</p> + +<p>“Don’t do that, yet, my dear lady. Wait and prove Ephraim’s words are +true. And now good-by again. I had hoped to have you and my sister meet, +but our unexpected departure has prevented that until some more +fortunate future day.”</p> + +<p>He raised his hat, bowed profoundly, and walked away; the girls making +their adieus and expressing their own thanks for hospitality received in +a manner which did credit to Miss Rhinelander’s training. Only Molly’s +cheek burned with an unusual blush, and she did not lift her eyes to +Mrs. Cook’s as readily and affectionately as Dorothy did.</p> + +<p>The latter, indeed, was to receive a rare tribute; for the lady followed +her to the street and slipping inside the front door broke from her +beautiful <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[Pg 121]</a></span>Gloxinias a handful of blossoms and gave them to the girl, +saying:</p> + +<p>“My dear, I’m sure you will appreciate these; and I’m equally sure you +and I have much in common. Good-by. May all good things attend you.” +Then she kissed the red lips which had impulsively kissed her and +watched them all out of sight.</p> + +<p>But she did not kiss Molly; and though that young person would not have +expected such a caress, she was for an instant jealous of that bestowed +upon Dorothy.</p> + +<p>The Judge waited for them to join him and taking a hand of each, in his +fatherly fashion, remarked:</p> + +<p>“I find that sailor’s widow a very charming woman and a perfect hostess. +No apologies for what she had to offer, though in her heart a slight +regret that it was not of some sort more expensive. A pity Melvin didn’t +appear. I would have liked to study him in his mother’s presence. One +can always tell what a boy is by the way he treats his mother; and I +wasn’t pleased that he so disregarded her call to dinner, because she +said he had been there when I knocked and after we had entered the +garden itself.”</p> + +<p>A sudden comprehension of the state of things flashed through Dorothy’s +mind, and she turned her eyes inquiringly toward Molly, who flushed, +hesitated, and finally burst forth:</p> + +<p>“He couldn’t come, Papa dear, because—because I wouldn’t let him! He +got caught in the trap of his own horrid bashfulness.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[Pg 122]</a></span>Somehow Molly was no longer giggling, as she had been at intervals ever +since they reached the cottage. Things didn’t look as “funny” as they +had a few minutes before; nor was she pleased to have the Judge stop +short on the path and demand:</p> + +<p>“Explain yourself, daughter.”</p> + +<p>“Why it’s easy enough. When that Melvin boy, that bugler, saw us coming +to that porch he was scared stiff. He just looked at us a second, then +scrambled up that lattice-work to the top of that arbor or whatever it +is, and—course he had to stay there. That’s why I sat down on those +steps. Why I wanted my dinner out there. Oh! it was the funniest thing! +A great big boy like him to stay up on such an uncomfortable place just +because two girls whom he’ll never see again had sat down beneath him. +Of course, he’d have to pass us to answer his mother’s call to dinner; +and he’d rather go without that than do it. Oh! it was too funny for +words! And when the leaves fell Dolly thought it was the ‘cat.’ She +wondered if it was a ‘wildcat,’ and I said ‘yes, it was wild!’ Oh! dear! +I was so amused!”</p> + +<p>Dorothy laughed. To her the affair had also its “too funny” side, now +that she understood it. But the Judge did not laugh. If he felt any +secret amusement at the girlish prank he did not betray it in his +expression, which was the sternest his daughter had ever seen when bent +upon her idolized self.</p> + +<p>“Well, Molly, you certainly have distinguished yourself. The joke which +might have been harmless <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[Pg 123]</a></span>under some circumstances was an abominable +rudeness under these. I am ashamed of you. I shall expect you to write a +note of apology to Mrs. Cook, before you leave Yarmouth. And as for +never seeing Melvin again, let me set you right. I have invited the lad +to join us for our entire summer vacation. Understand?”</p> + +<p>Alas! She understood but too well. Yet if a bomb had exploded at her +feet she could hardly have been more astonished.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[Pg 124]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_VIII" id="CHAPTER_VIII"></a>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<h3>DOROTHY AND THE BASHFUL BUGLER</h3> + +<p>The main street of pretty Digby runs close to the water. The bluff is +crowned by a grassy sward and a row of well-grown trees, with a driveway +between these and the buildings on the further side.</p> + +<p>“Oh! how lovely and how different from our own seaside places, with +their hot sands, board walks, and cityfied shops. I hope no board walk +will ever spoil this charming boulevard!” exclaimed a lady, who stood at +a hotel window overlooking Annapolis Basin, on whose shore nestles the +little town.</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mamma! Aren’t you glad you came?” asked Monty Stark, entering the +room and joining her at the window.</p> + +<p>“I hope I shall be, dear. I’m a little anxious about your friends. I +should greatly object, myself, to having people force themselves upon a +touring party I had organized. But you must understand, Montmorency, +that if I discover the slightest sign of objection to us, I shall go on +my own way and you will have to go with me. I—I am not accustomed to +being patronized or—no matter. I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[Pg 125]</a></span>came to please you, my precious boy, +and I hope it will be all right. Let me see if you are quite correct. I +suppose the guests wear evening dress for dinner as in other civilized +places. Though—it looks more like a country village yonder, than a real +watering place.”</p> + +<p>“But, Mamma, it is a country village. Nothing else, the Judge says. And +somehow I feel rather silly in this rig. I saw the Judge a moment ago +and he wasn’t in evening clothes, but he’s a ‘brick’ all right!”</p> + +<p>“Montmorency! How can you use such dreadful expressions?”</p> + +<p>“Easy as preaching, <i>chere Maman</i>!”</p> + +<p>“I’m afraid your associates at Brentnor are not all of them as refined +and exclusive as I had supposed. I’ve observed other phrases that I do +not like. One of them was, I think, ‘Shucks!’”</p> + +<p>“Yes, I reckon you did. I didn’t catch that from a Brentnor, though, but +from Jim Barlow.”</p> + +<p>“Who is he, pray?”</p> + +<p>“Blest if I can tell or he either. He hails from a poorhouse. He was +‘bound out’ to a woman truck farmer. He’s been ‘taken up’ by Mrs. Cecil +Somerset-Calvert, of Baltimore, and lots of other places. A lady that’s +so rich she has homes in ever so many different parts of the country. +But better than that he’s a ‘trump,’ a life-saver, a scholar, and—a +gentleman! One of ‘Nature’s’ you know. Would like to have you meet him +because he’s my present chum; that is, he would be if—if we lived <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[Pg 126]</a></span>in +the same house and could be. But unfortunately, he has agreed to do +‘chores’ for a parson in payment for his instruction in Greek and all +the ‘ologies.’ He’s off on a tramp now, ‘hoofing it,’ as he elegantly +expresses it, for a vacation. He’s taken the parson and a couple of dogs +along for company. The parson’s a trotting tramper, too. Maybe you’ve +read some of his delightful articles in the magazines. Eh? What? Too +much for you, Mamma? Well, never mind. I’ll quit now, for there goes the +last bell for dinner. Allow me?”</p> + +<p>Bowing and offering his arm Monty conducted his richly clad mother +toward the dining-room, whither a crowd of tourists were hastening. +These were garbed in any sort of comfortable traveling clothes, the +women mostly in white shirt-waists such as Mrs. Stark would have +disdained even for morning wear at home. The men looked as if they had +just come from a dusty train, a too-fragrant fishing boat, or a rough +camp in the woods; and at the foot of the stairs the fashionable Mrs. +Stark paused in a sort of dismay.</p> + +<p>For an instant, too, she had an odd feeling as if it were she who had +made a mistake, not those groups of merry, hungry holiday-makers, who +elbowed one another good naturedly, in order to find a seat at the +crowded tables. Mrs. Stark wasn’t used to elbowing or being elbowed, and +she gathered her silken train in her hand to preserve it from contact +with the oil-cloth covered floor of the lobby, while her face gathered +an expression of real alarm.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[Pg 127]</a></span>“Why, my dear son! We can’t stay here, you know! It is simply impossible +to hobnob with such—such queer persons. We must seek another hotel at +once. I’ll step into that room yonder which is the ‘parlor’ probably, +and you summon the proprietor. I—I am not accustomed to this want of +courtesy and—indeed, dear, I am greatly displeased with you. You +painted the trip in such glowing colors I—”</p> + +<p>“But, Mamma, don’t the colors glow? Did you ever see anything in your +life lovelier than this glimpse of the Annapolis Basin, with the +moonlight on it, the great peaks and cliffs beyond? I’m sorry if you’re +disappointed but you didn’t seem to be up in your room, looking out. As +for changing hotels we’d simply ‘hop out of the frying pan into the +fire,’ since this is the best one in the town. Else Judge Breckenridge +wouldn’t have come here.”</p> + +<p>“Monty, dear! Such phrases again! Is that another lesson learned from +the poorhouse boy?”</p> + +<p>“No, indeedy! I caught that from Alfaretta Babcock. She of the +<i>retroussé</i> nose and simple speech. A royal sort of girl, too, is Alfy; +first of the alphabetical Babcock sisters. The second is—But come, +Mamma. We’re in for it and I don’t want to go to bed hungry, even if you +do. I’m afraid, Mother mine, that there’s been too much ‘de luxe’ in +your life and I shall have to reconstruct you.”</p> + +<p>His mirthful face provoked her to laughter despite her real vexation and +fortunately, at that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[Pg 128]</a></span>moment, Mrs. Hungerford entered the room and +advanced to Mrs. Stark with extended hand and the warmest of greetings.</p> + +<p>“This is Monty’s mother, I’m sure. I am Molly’s Auntie Lu. We exist I +fancy, for our respective youngsters and mine discovered you through the +doorway of the dining-room and commissioned me to fetch you. We’ve had +seats reserved for you at our table in the corner and I apologize for +not hunting you up earlier. The truth is we were out driving until the +last moment and were greatly hurried ourselves. So, of course, we were +none of us here when the train came in and I did not know you had +arrived. Shall we go now? You will find that people grow desperately +hungry when they first come into this bracing air, and with the best +intentions in the world, the proprietor isn’t always able to provide +enough for such clamorous appetites. My brother says that explains the +rather rude crowding to get ‘first table,’ and that our remedy lies in +doing a bit of crowding ourselves. I rather enjoy it, already, though we +only came here yesterday. Did you have a pleasant trip?”</p> + +<p>“No, I did not. I was never on such a poor steamer before. Fortunately I +wasn’t ill and it’s not a long sail from Boston across. Is it really +true, as Montmorency tells me, that there is no better hotel than this?” +returned the other, rising to follow Auntie Lu.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 334px;"> +<img src="images/i127.jpg" class="ispace jpg" width="334" height="500" alt="“HELLO SNACKENBERG! HERE AM I! GIVE ME A RIDE?” +Dorothy’s Travels." title="" /> +<span class="caption">“HELLO SNACKENBERG! HERE AM I! GIVE ME A RIDE?”<br /> +<i>Dorothy’s Travels.</i></span> +</div> + +<p>Since Monty had said that he was hungry, of course, she would stay for +that one meal and let him <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[Pg 129]</a></span>get comfortable. Afterward—she would follow her own judgment.</p> + +<p>But she, also, was gently bred and born, and despite a lack of plain +common sense was an agreeable person in the main. She had responded to +Mrs. Hungerford’s greeting with a correct society manner; and now, as +she followed toward the dining-room, she bestowed upon that lady’s back +a keenly critical survey. She saw that Aunt Lucretia was well but simply +gowned in white. She was immaculately fresh, and fragrant from her bath +with a faint odor of violets about her that pleased rather than offended +nostrils which habitually objected to “perfumery” as something common +and vulgar.</p> + +<p>Her gown might have been expensive but did not look so and was eminently +more fit for an evening dinner in a tourists’ hotel than the elaborate +costume of Mrs. Stark.</p> + +<p>Though she had been but twenty-four hours in the place, Auntie Lu had +already adapted herself to it completely, and smiled away the services +of a rather frightened head-waitress new to her business, as she +threaded her way toward that distant corner of the crowded room where +her own table overlooked the water.</p> + +<p>A little hush fell over the adjoining tables as Mrs. Stark’s elegance +bore down upon them in her majestic way. She was portly and +heavy-motioned, as poor Monty was apt to be when he should arrive at her +age; and chairs had to be <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[Pg 130]</a></span>drawn in closer, feet tucked under them, and +heads bent forward as she passed by.</p> + +<p>As for the youth in her train misery and mortification shone on his +chubby countenance. For a boy he had been absurdly fond of dress, but he +had also a keen sense of what was fit and he knew his present costume +was not that. However, all this trivial unpleasantness passed, as the +entering pair were greeted by the rest of the party. The Judge still +wore a business suit but his manner, as he rose to be presented to Mrs. +Stark was so polished and correct that her spirits revived, thinking:</p> + +<p>“Well, the people are all right, if the place isn’t.”</p> + +<p>She acknowledged Miss Isobel’s greeting with a slight haughtiness, such +as she felt was due a social inferior. Upon Molly she bestowed an +admiring smile and glance; and upon Dorothy a rather perfunctory one. +The girl might also be “poorhouse born” for aught anybody knew, and from +contact with such her “precious lamb” was to be well protected. She +intended to see to it that further intercourse between her son and that +“tramp,” Jim Barlow, should be prevented also; and while she marvelled +that “the Breckenridges” should make much of the girl, as apparently +they did, it wasn’t necessary that she should do the same. Monty had +told her all about each member of the party so that Dorothy’s story was +familiar to her. The lad had concluded his recital with the words:</p> + +<p>“She’s the bravest, sincerest girl in the world.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[Pg 131]</a></span> She’s braver than +Molly Breckenridge, and I like her immensely. All the boys at Brentnor +think she’s fine, and we all hope some grand romance will come out of +the facts of her parentage. She doesn’t come of any illiterate, common +stock, Mamma. You may be sure of that. So I hope you’ll be nice and +not—not too <i>Stark-ish</i> toward her, please!”</p> + +<p>So this was the girl who had saved life. Of that grim teacher opposite +and, later, of a farmer’s son out of a tree where he was hanging. Very +creditable, of course, though it couldn’t affect herself, Mrs. Ebenezer +Vavasour-Stark, and she fixed her attention elsewhere.</p> + +<p>It was due to the Judge that she altered her opinion of her present +quarters so far as to decide upon remaining in them; and to make the +best of the whole trip, “which you know is but a prolonged picnic. As +for air and health and strength, you could find nothing better the world +over, my dear Madam,” he had said.</p> + +<p>After that first dinner also she had a talk with her son; which resulted +in his displaying a common sense that did him credit.</p> + +<p>“Look here, Mamma. Let’s just pack all these over-fine togs in the +trunks and leave them here to be sent to us when wanted. All we shall +need, I fancy, is a suit-case a-piece with the plainest things we own. +Even that ‘fancy’ hunter’s suit I bought is ridiculous. The Judge uses +the oldest sort of things—‘regular rags,’ Molly says; and I—I may <i>be</i> +a fool but I don’t like to <i>look</i> like one! <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[Pg 132]</a></span>Do it, Mamma, to please me. +And let’s put our ‘society’ manners into the trunks with the clothes. +Let’s live, for these few weeks, as if we were real poor—as poor as +Dolly or Miss Greatorex. I don’t believe even that lady has any money to +speak of and as for Dorothy, she hasn’t a cent. Not a cent.”</p> + +<p>“How do you know that, Montmorency? Are you on such intimate terms with +that foundling that she confides the state of her finances to you? If +so, she is probably hinting for presents.”</p> + +<p>“Umm. Might be. Didn’t look like it though when I proposed just now to +buy her one of those Indian baskets on sale in the lobby. She wouldn’t +take one, though Molly took all I wanted to give—and more. <i>That</i> girl +hasn’t any scruples about having a good time and letting anybody pay +that wants to.”</p> + +<p>“That, son, is a proof of good birth and breeding, she has always been +accustomed to having her wants supplied and takes it as a matter of +course. But, Monty darling, you must be good to Mamma. She doesn’t feel +as if she had come to a ‘Paradise of a place,’ as you told me I would +find it. Yet if it pleases you to see your mother dressed like a servant +why, of course, for your sake I’ll consent. But I warn you, no +skylarking with underbred people or I shall take you straight home.”</p> + +<p>This little conversation shows that Mrs. Hungerford was right when she +informed her brother on that same evening:</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[Pg 133]</a></span>“We made a blunder when we allowed the Starks to join our personal +party. They fit into it about as well as a round peg in a square hole. +The woman—Well, she may be high-born and rich but I don’t want our +Molly to copy her notions. She’s not nice, either, to poor Miss Isobel +nor Dorothy. The result is that Miss Greatorex has grown more difficult +and ‘stiff’ than she was in the beginning. Such a pity when she’s just +begun to get softer and more human!”</p> + +<p>In his heart the Judge was not over-pleased by this untoward opening of +the new association, but he wouldn’t admit it to her. He merely said:</p> + +<p>“I’m sorry if you’re going to let the prejudices of silly women spoil +your own vacation. Don’t do it. Just remember what you often say, that +human nature is the same everywhere. We have the pride of wealth to +contend with on one hand and the pride of poverty on the other; but +beneath each sort of pride lies an honest heart. I believe it, and that +we shall yet see these two opposing elements merged in a warm +friendship. Watch for it. It takes all sorts of people to make a world +and another sort will be added, to-morrow, when Melvin joins us. Throw +in the college Prex, the millionaire financier, and surgeon Mantler, and +we shall have a miniature world of our own in our traveling mates.”</p> + +<p>“Schuyler, you haven’t told me yet what part that lad Melvin is to play +in this ‘world.’ Why did you ask him?”</p> + +<p>“To test him, Lu, nothing else. His mother is <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[Pg 134]</a></span>anxious he should make a +man of himself and isn’t sure how best he can. She permitted him to take +a bugler’s place on the ‘Prince’ because he wanted to try a sea-faring +life. Two seasons of it, even under the comfortable conditions of a +passenger steamship, has sickened him of that. He fancied he could be a +musician and has talent sufficient only to ‘bugle.’ Now he wants to see +the world, though he didn’t dream I was to offer him a chance. She +thinks he would make a good lawyer, and so his uncle Ephraim thinks. Her +pastor thinks he ought to be a minister; and the only point upon which +all his friends and himself agree is that he should not spend all his +days in ‘Ya’mouth.’ I’m going to take him to camp with me, to act as +handy-man for all of us. That will give me a chance to see what stuff +he’s made of; and if he’s worth it—if he’s worth it—I’ll take him down +to Richmond and set him at the law.</p> + +<p>“Molly, however, must let him alone. That girl can upset more plans than +the wisest man can lay; and if she gets to teasing him on account of his +strange bashfulness she’ll scare him away from us and disappoint his +mother’s tender heart. <i>She</i> thinks that ‘son’ is a paragon of all the +virtues. So does this other mother who’s just joined us, think of her +beloved Montmorency Vavasour-Stark. What a name! Between them and their +‘laddies’ I reckon I shall have less peace than from the wildest of +tricksy Molly’s capers.”</p> + +<p>“Schuyler, you mustn’t be hard on her. She’s <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[Pg 135]</a></span>exactly like what you were +at her age! And she is the dearest child, you know it!”</p> + +<p>“I must have been what you call ‘a sweet thing,’ then! But, of course, +she’s my own ‘crow,’ therefore she’s pure white,” laughed the adoring +father, with more earnest than jest.</p> + +<p>“Also, brother, in all your plans for others don’t forget little +Dorothy’s. I know you’re busy but I must find out who her own people +are. I <i>must</i>. It’s a sin and a heartless one to keep her young heart +longer in suspense. I know she often ponders the thing, in spite of her +cheerfulness, even gayety.”</p> + +<p>To which he returned:</p> + +<p>“Don’t attribute more pondering to her than belongs. Of the two I fancy +you do the most of that. Nor think I’ve forgotten her interests. Her +history is already being unravelled, thread by thread, and stitch by +stitch. When the thread’s wound clear up I trust it may make a goodly +ball.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! my dear brother, what do you mean?” cried Aunt Lucretia, eagerly.</p> + +<p>“I mean that I set old Ephraim Cook to the task. He’s already down at +Annapolis, fairly burrowing in archives and genealogies, and the +skeleton closets of all our old Maryland families. It’s the most +congenial task he ever undertook in all his generally-useful life; for +back here in ‘Markland’ he’s long ago prepared a history of the +peninsula that deserve publishing. He can trace every Bluenose household +to its very beginning, and claims his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[Pg 136]</a></span>own came to this side the sea in +the Mayflower. That’s one reason he wants Melvin, the last of his race, +to make a name for it. Trust me he’ll forage for our Dorothy better than +I could myself; but he isn’t to disturb us with letters of theories or +‘maybes.’ When he gets his facts—hurrah for the <i>dénoûment</i>! Now, dear, +to your rest. The burdens of a peacemaker rest on your shoulders +but—you’ll make and keep the peace. Good night.”</p> + +<p>After all, when the sun rose on the following morning and this oddly +assorted traveling party met to discuss the day’s plans, each was so +rested and refreshed that an abnormal amiability pervaded the whole +group.</p> + +<p>“What would you like to do best?” “Oh, no! You say!” “I’m sure whatever +the rest propose will be agreeable to me in the way of sight-seeing.” +“Or even staying quietly at the hotel and just enjoying the outlook on +the sea.”</p> + +<p>Such were the remarks exchanged and with such suavity of manner that +Molly clapped her hands and cried:</p> + +<p>“I declare, you’re all too sweet to be wholesome! And it happens that I +know what <i>I</i> want to do, even if you don’t. Let’s go away down to the +end, I mean the beginning, of the town where they are curing fish. I saw +them from the car window, and even then they were so interesting. I mean +the fish were. Or—or the things where they fixed them. And, beg pardon, +Mrs. Stark, even if you looked <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[Pg 137]</a></span>at that water all day long you couldn’t +make it into a ‘sea.’ It’s only a Basin, the fag end of Annapolis Basin. +Yonder, where there are so many sails and steamers, is the Bay of Fundy, +and to get to the really truly sea you must go beyond that. The reason +I’m so wise, if you want to know, is that I’ve been here twenty-four +hours longer than you and I improved my time by asking questions.”</p> + +<p>With that the little maid swept her new acquaintance a courtesy and +smiled so sweetly that any presumption on her girlish part was readily +forgiven. Besides she was a Breckenridge; and though Mrs. Stark had now +resolved to be as “democratic” as her new friends were it was easier +resolved than practiced. If it had been Dorothy who ventured to plan for +her elders her suggestions would have been coolly ignored.</p> + +<p>The Judge drew near in time to hear the end of the talk and added:</p> + +<p>“That is a sight we won’t meet elsewhere in the same proportion as here. +Also, the walk will do us good, and we shall pass the postoffice on our +way. I like going for my own mail to the ‘general delivery’ better than +having it sent to the hotel. I like the mingling with the eager crowd +that waits before the little window to ask: ‘Anything for me?’ I like to +watch the faces of the people when they open their letters. One can +guess the ‘home’ ones by the expression of joy and the merely friendly +by the indifference. I like—”</p> + +<p>“Dear Schuyler, spare us! If there’s anything <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[Pg 138]</a></span>upon earth you <i>don’t</i> +like that’s even half-way interesting I can’t guess it.” Then turning to +Mrs. Stark, Mrs. Hungerford added: “Brother is like a boy when he gets +leave of absence, this way. Suppose you walk along with him and find out +if there is anything he <i>doesn’t</i> like along the way.”</p> + +<p>Her brother gave her an arch glance. Evidently she had begun her +peaceful adjustment of “assorted” temperaments by assigning himself to +Mrs. Stark’s escort, though she knew all the time that he wanted to be +with the youngsters. She placed herself along side Miss Isobel, smiling +at that lady’s inquiry if she were going into a public street without a +hat.</p> + +<p>“Surely. ‘When in Rome do as the Romans do,’ you remember. And see. +Though most of the people have on some sort of wrap very few women are +bonneted and even the men carry their hats in hand. Brother has snatched +his off already.”</p> + +<p>The Judge was in front, attentively courteous and listening to Mrs. +Stark’s remarks, yet seemed to have eyes in the back of his head; for +presently he asked:</p> + +<p>“What are you youngsters lagging behind for? Dolly, take Melvin under +your shelter and make him tell you everything you want to know about +Digby. He’s been here before many times, I’ve learned. And Molly, you +and Monty walk ahead if you please. I like to keep my eye on my own and +I fancy Mrs. Stark does too.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[Pg 139]</a></span>Separated from these two, who had been in the rear of the whole party, +Melvin did exert himself to overcome his abnormal shyness and to talk; +and when after proceeding a little way and his finding Dorothy eagerly +observant of even the most trivial things that were new to her, he had +an abrupt burst of courage—or was it a harmless spite against his +tormentor of the day before, Molly? Whatever it was that emboldened him, +he suddenly laid his hand on her arm and said:</p> + +<p>“Wait just a minute! There comes a man I know. He’s a transplanted +Yarmouthian who’s moved to Digby to ‘haul’ for his livelihood. He’ll be +glad to see me and hear the news from home; and won’t want to waste time +in doing it. I’ll ask him to give us a ride. I don’t believe either of +you girls from the States ever did ride in such an equipage.”</p> + +<p>She had paused as he wished and was listening in surprise. As much +because he talked so well and so easily as at the really joyous tone in +which he hailed his uncouth acquaintance from “Home.”</p> + +<p>“Hello, Snackenberg! Here am I! Give me a ride?”</p> + +<p>“Well, well, well! Son of all the Cooks! What you doin’ here? Allowed +you was sailin’ the ‘blue and boundless’ just about now!” cried the +teamster and leaning forward shook the lad so heartily by his own hard +hand that Melvin squealed and protested:</p> + +<p>“Well, we can’t stand here, you know. I’ll just <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[Pg 140]</a></span>help this young lady +in—she’s from the States—and you can jog on.”</p> + +<p>The team was of the sort that is always willing to stop, and the +“equipage” was easily entered by merely stepping into its open rear. It +swung low to the ground, after the fashion of Nova Scotian carts, and +for seats it had a bundle of clean straw.</p> + +<p>In another moment the animals had been goaded to fresh effort, their +owner had turned about on the chain where he balanced himself for a seat +and also turned a corner into a side street that climbed the hill behind +the town. Then he ordered:</p> + +<p>“Fire ahead! Tell everything you know; and I say, Sissy, did you ever +see a purtier pair of creeturs than them be? I’m prouder of ’em than I +could be of the finest team o’ thoroughbreds ever stepped. Gee, there! +Haw, I tell ye!”</p> + +<p>Beyond, at the postoffice, the truants had been suddenly missed; and +with varying degrees of anxiety their elders were asking one another:</p> + +<p>“What do you suppose has become of Dorothy and that queer boy?”</p> + +<p>But Molly was more vexed than anxious and she looked upon Monty with +rising disfavor. She guessed that they were having some fun from which +she was shut out and which Montmorency Vavasour-Stark would never have +had the originality to suggest.</p> + +<p>“Oh! I wish I knew! Maybe they’re eating each other up! Yesterday she +asked if he was a ‘wildcat’ and I told her ‘yes.’ Maybe, maybe—<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[Pg 141]</a></span>Oh! Why +did you make us walk in front, namby-pamby so, Papa dear? If we’d been +with them we’d know what they are doing and what has happened. Oh! dear! +If I hadn’t been in front I’d have been behind!” she complained. Nor was +she greatly pleased by the laugh which her Irish-cism raised.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[Pg 142]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_IX" id="CHAPTER_IX"></a>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<h3>AN OX-OMOBILE AND A SAILBOAT</h3> + +<p>Even Melvin had not expected that Dorothy and he would long be away from +the rest of the party, though he did not realize that he was in any wise +responsible to them, since his duties as camp-helper had not yet begun. +But he enjoyed his freedom from the society of so many strangers and +found Dorothy a pleasant companion. She might have been just another +boy, for any “nonsense” there was about her; and she was so delighted +with everything he pointed out that he, also, began to find new beauties +in the familiar scenery, and to grow eager to show her all he could.</p> + +<p>For the teamster prolonged his journey to the very crest of the hill +behind the town, and made it slowly. He had so many questions to ask +concerning his old neighbors that he delayed all he reasonably could and +rather resented Melvin’s attempts to entertain Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“That’s Point Prim lighthouse, yonder. See? Yes, Joel, Reuben Smith did +paint his house bright blue, just as he vowed he would to spite his +neighbor. That’s Digby Gap, where the two hills come so near together in +the water. The boats that sail <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[Pg 143]</a></span>from here have to pass through it and +travelers say—No. I didn’t hear what price that Company did get for its +last ‘catch.’ Lobsters haven’t been running so free this year, I hear; +and there’s another company started canning them. If Judge Breckenridge +stays long enough I hope he’ll take you sailing up Bear River. It’s a +nice drive there, too, but the sail is better. Up yonder is the +Joggin—Why, Joel, I’m sure I don’t know. I hadn’t heard.”</p> + +<p>Such was a sample of the talk which went on and which provoked from the +lad, at last, the comment:</p> + +<p>“Learning under difficulties!” which he said with such an amused glance +toward Dorothy that she laughed and felt that Molly had been right in +her belief that “that boy has some fun in him.” Thought of Molly made +her also exclaim:</p> + +<p>“Oh! I do wish she were here! She would have liked this so much! I don’t +believe she ever rode in an ox-cart either, any more than I did before. +How funny it is! And how much longer shall we be? I’m afraid I ought to +have asked Mrs. Hungerford or Miss Greatorex before I came. But I didn’t +think. I never do think till—afterward.”</p> + +<p>“Glad of it. Glad you didn’t, else likely you’d have lost the ride. Joel +doesn’t call this an ox-cart, though. Not by any means. This, if you +please, is an ‘ox-omobile,’ and very proud of it he is. Guess you +needn’t worry. Nobody can get lost in little Digby; and—Where now, +Joel? How much longer will you be?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[Pg 144]</a></span>“Oh! I reckon not long. Just a little minute or few. Depends on folks +havin’ their trunks ready to haul. Some towerists have been stopping up +here to one these houses and engaged me to take their luggage down to +the pier. They’re goin’ over to St. John, I reckon, only one of ’em. +She’s goin’ to the dee-po. When we go down hill you two may set on the +trunks—if you can!” and Mr. Snackenberg laughed at his own thoughts.</p> + +<p>The trunks did happen to be ready. Indeed the “towerists” were even +impatient to be gone and were just starting to walk to the pier when the +carter arrived. They looked rather enviously at Dorothy and Melvin, so +comfortably seated in the cart, but its owner did not extend an +invitation to them to ride. Indeed, as he explained to his companions:</p> + +<p>“If I was a mind I could have all Digby village a ridin’ in my +‘ox-omobile.’ They seem to think it’s powerful cunnin’, as if they’d +never seen a team of oxen before. Where’ve they lived at, I’d like to +know, that they don’t know an ox when they see it. There. Them trunks is +in. Now, Sissy, you just set right down and—You’ll find out the rest.”</p> + +<p>The trunks did fill the cart pretty well but there was plenty of room to +put one’s feet in the spaces between; and Dorothy fixed herself +comfortably, wondering why Melvin disdained to ride but strode along +beside the teamster who also walked. Throned in solitary state all went +well for awhile, until a corner was turned and the steep descent into +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[Pg 145]</a></span>the town began. Then the trunks slid upon the slippery hay, resting +their weight against the chain at the rear, which alone prevented their +falling out; and after a few efforts to maintain her seat Dorothy also +sprang to the ground and joined the others.</p> + +<p>“Ha, ha, ha! Ridin’ up-hill and ridin’ down is two quite different +things, ain’t it, Sissy? Ever been to the pier to see the boat start +across the Bay to St. John’s, New Brunswick? No? First time you been to +the Province? All right. You stick close to me and I’ll p’int out all +the ‘lions’ there is to see. Melvin, here, can talk as glib as the next +one when he gets waked up, but I know more about Digby ’an he does. One +the sights towerists rave the most over is the fish-grounds. They’re +right adj’ining the pier and you can kill them two ‘lions’ at once. Ha, +ha!”</p> + +<p>“But, sir, I’m afraid I ought to go back. I mean—to where my friends +are. Is the pier on the road home?” asked Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“All roads lead home—for somebody. The pier and the fish-curin’ grounds +amongst ’em. Don’t you vex yourself, Sissy. If you was to go from one +end to the other of this little town you couldn’t never get fur from +where you live.”</p> + +<p>The truth was that the old teamster wanted to keep the young folks with +him as long as he could. There were still numberless questions he hadn’t +put to Melvin and he had taken a fancy to Dorothy. If she was simply a +“towerist” she was, of course, an idler and it was of no consequence her +wasting <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[Pg 146]</a></span>her time. He hadn’t learned yet why Melvin was here and if he +didn’t find that out he felt he “couldn’t bear it.” So now he asked:</p> + +<p>“Well, son of all the Cooks, what’s fetched you here this time o’ day? +Lost your job?”</p> + +<p>“Not exactly. I’ve given it up. I’m tired of sailing back and forth over +the same old route and a friend of mine wanted to take my place. I’m +going to help a gentleman I know in his camping out. Cook, maybe, or +whatever he wants. Now—that’s all. You needn’t ask me how much I earn, +or what’s next, or anything. You just go ahead and tell this Miss +Dorothy anything you fancy; since you know so much more of things than I +do.”</p> + +<p>“H’ity-t’ity! Miffed, be ye? Never mind. You’d ought to rest your +tongue, ’cause I ’low it’s never wagged so fast afore in your whole +life. But I’m ekal to it. I’m ekal. I’ve growed to be a regular ‘Digby +chicken,’ I’ve tarried here so long already. Ever eat ‘Digby chicken,’ +Sissy?”</p> + +<p>Joel was affronted in his own turn now and determined to ignore that +“Miss” which Melvin had pronounced so markedly. Joel wasn’t used to +“Miss”-ing any girl of Dorothy’s size and he wasn’t going to begin at +his time of life. Not he!</p> + +<p>Meanwhile, Melvin had relapsed into utter silence. He declined to answer +any of the teamster’s further questions, and if his knowledge of the +locality had been quite as accurate as he had boasted he would have +suggested to the girl that they take a short-cut back to the hotel. Yet, +he had heard that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[Pg 147]</a></span>teasing Molly say they were bound for the +fish-grounds. Beyond these lay, also, that notable Battery Point, with +its rusty old guns; its ancient, storm-bent trees; and the Indian +encampment still further along. He had seen tourists so many times that +he fancied they were all alike, full of curiosity, and with ample +leisure to gratify it. So, in all probability, the Judge and his friends +were still at that end of town and he had better stick to Joel till he +conducted the girl and him to their presence. Then he would himself +vanish until such time as the Judge might require his service.</p> + +<p>They came to the pier and drove along its great length, the teamster +pointing out all sorts of interesting things, so that Dolly forgot all +else in her eager listening.</p> + +<p>“Forty feet high the tide rises sometimes, right on this very p’int. +That’s why it’s built so lofty. Look over the edge. See that sloping +wharf clean down into the water? Well, sir, that’s where folks land +sometimes; and other times away up top here. My heart! The pretty +creetur!”</p> + +<p>Joel abruptly checked his team and stooped above something lying on the +wide planking of the pier. Then he lifted the object and handed it to +Dorothy, explaining:</p> + +<p>“That’s a poor little coddy-moddy! A little baby gull. Pity! Something’s +hurt it, but it’s alive yet. Makes me feel bad to see any young creetur +suffer; most of all to see a bird. Put it in the crook of your elbow, +Sissy, and fetch it along. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[Pg 148]</a></span>I’ll take it home with me and see if I can’t +save its life.”</p> + +<p>After a moment he added, seeing her look wistful, as he thought:</p> + +<p>“I’d give it to you, Sissy, but towering folks haven’t no time nor +chance to tend sick birds. It’ll be better off in my house than jogglin’ +over railroads and steamboats.”</p> + +<p>There was sense in this as Dorothy rather reluctantly admitted, for she +would have liked to keep the “coddy-moddy” and made a pet of it. With +Joel, however, it would simply be cured and set free, or it would die in +peace. Also she was touched by the real tenderness with which the +rough-handed teamster made a nest in the straw of his cart and placed +the bird upon it.</p> + +<p>He had first deposited the trunks in the baggage-room and there was +nothing to keep him longer; so with another whimsical glance at Melvin, +who had sauntered behind them, he remarked:</p> + +<p>“Right this way to the fishin’-grounds! ‘Stinks a little but nothin’ to +hurt!’”</p> + +<p>Then in the fatherly fashion which almost every man she met adopted +toward her, he held out his hand to Dorothy C. and led her back over the +pier and around to the broad field where numbers of men were salting and +piling the haddock and cod they had caught. The fish were piled in +circles or wheel-like heaps, after they were sufficiently dried; and the +fresher ones were spread upon long frames to “cure.” It was a great +industry in that locality <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[Pg 149]</a></span>and one so interesting to Dorothy that she +wanted to linger and watch the toilers despite the decidedly “fishy” +odor which filled the air.</p> + +<p>But Joel said that he must leave them then and, after pointing with his +whip to a grassy plain beyond the fishing-grounds, advised:</p> + +<p>“Best step right over to the Battery, Sissy, now you’re so nigh it. I’ve +learned in my life that things don’t happen twice alike. Maybe you won’t +be just here again in such terr’ble agreeable company—” and he +playfully touched Melvin on the shoulder—“and best improve it. And, +Sissy, strikes me you’re real likely. Sort of a common sense sort of +little creetur without so many airs as some the girl-towerists put on. +If so be ’t you stop a spell in Digby just tip me the wink and I’ll haul +you with any load I happen to have on my ‘Mobile.’ Or, if so be we never +meet again on earth, be sure, little Sissy, ’t you meet me in Heaven. +Good-by, till then.”</p> + +<p>Off he went and left Dorothy standing looking after him with something +very like tears in her brown eyes. Such a quaint figure he looked in his +long blue smock, his worn hat pushed to the back of his head, his sandy +beard sweeping his breast; jogging beside his beloved team, doing his +duty simply as he found it “in that state of life to which it had +pleased God to call him.”</p> + +<p>“He’s a very religious man, Joel Snackenberg, and never loses a chance +to ‘pass the word.’ My mother sets great store by him and I must write +her <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[Pg 150]</a></span>about our meeting him. Shall we go to the Battery or back to the +hotel? Your friends don’t—aren’t anywhere in sight, so I suppose +they’ve gone there,” remarked Melvin.</p> + +<p>“Then we ought. Indeed, I feel afraid we’ve stayed too long; and yet I +can’t be sorry, since we’ve met that dear old man.”</p> + +<p>Melvin had promptly recovered his “glibness” upon the departure of the +teamster; and though he looked at her in some surprise he answered:</p> + +<p>“I don’t believe many girls would call him ‘dear.’ I shouldn’t have +thought of doing so myself. That Molly wouldn’t, I know; but you have a +way of making folks—folks forget themselves and show their best sides +to you, so I guess. Anyhow, I never talked so much to any girl before, +and you’re the only one in all that crowd I don’t feel shy of. Even that +boy—Hmm.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you. That’s the nicest thing I ever had said to me. And don’t you +think that life—just the mere living—is perfectly grand? All the time +meeting new people and finding out new, beautiful things about them? +Like Mr. Snackenberg asking me to meet him in Heaven. It was certainly +an odd thing to say, it startled me, but it was beautiful—beautiful. +Now—do you know the road home?”</p> + +<p>“Sure. We’ll be there in five minutes.”</p> + +<p>“All right. Lead the way. And say, Melvin Cook, do one more nice thing, +please. Forgive my darling Molly for the prank she played on you and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[Pg 151]</a></span>be +the same friendly way to her you’ve been to me.”</p> + +<p>“Well, I’ll try. But I don’t promise I’ll succeed.”</p> + +<p>They hurried back over the main street of the town to their inn, past +the postoffice where a throng of tourists were still waiting for +possible mail, past the little shops with their tempting display of +“notions” representative of the locality, until they reached one window +in which some silverware was exposed for sale.</p> + +<p>Something within caught Melvin’s eye, and he laughed:</p> + +<p>“Look there, miss.”</p> + +<p>“Dorothy, please!”</p> + +<p>“Look there, Dorothy! There’s your ‘Digby chicken’ with a vengeance!” +and he pointed toward some trinkets the dealer was exhibiting to +customers within. Among the articles a lot of tiny silver fish, labeled +as he had said, and made in some way with a spring so that they wriggled +from the tip of a pin, or guard, in typical fish-fashion.</p> + +<p>“Oh! aren’t they cute! How I would like to buy one! Do you suppose they +cost very much?” cried Dorothy, delighted.</p> + +<p>“I’ll ask,” he said and did; and returning from the interior announced: +“Fifty cents for the smallest one, seventy-five for the others.”</p> + +<p>She sighed and her face fell. “Might as well be seventy-five dollars, so +far as I’m concerned. I have exactly five cents, and I shouldn’t have +had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[Pg 152]</a></span>that only I found it left over in my jacket pocket. You see, once I +had five dollars. How much is that in Nova Scotia money?”</p> + +<p>“Just the same. Five dollars.”</p> + +<p>“Well, come on. I mustn’t stand and ‘covet,’ but I would so love to have +that for Alfaretta. I promised to bring her something home and that +would please her to death!”</p> + +<p>“Good thing she isn’t to have it then!” he returned.</p> + +<p>Dorothy laughed. “Course. I don’t mean that. I’m always getting reproved +for ‘extravagant language.’ Miss Rhinelander says it’s almost as bad as +extravagant—umm, doing. You know what I mean. Listen. I’ll tell you how +I lost it, but we must hurry. I smell dinners in the houses we pass and +I reckon it’s mighty late.”</p> + +<p>She narrated the story of her loss and her New York experiences in a few +graphic sentences; and had only concluded when they reached the hotel +piazza, bordering the street, and saw their whole party sitting there +waiting the dinner summons. The faces of the elders all looked a little +stern, even that of the genial Judge himself; and Molly promptly voiced +the thoughts of the company when she demanded:</p> + +<p>“Well, I should like to know where you have been! We were afraid +something had happened, and I think it’s mean, real mean I say, to scare +people who are on a holiday. Dorothy, child, where have you been?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[Pg 153]</a></span>“Ox-omobiling,” answered poor Dorothy, meekly, and feeling as if she +were confessing a positive crime.</p> + +<p>“W-h-a-t?” gasped Molly amazed.</p> + +<p>“Ox-omobiling. I didn’t mean—”</p> + +<p>“What in the world is that? Did you do it with that boy? Is +he—where—what—do tell and not plague me so.”</p> + +<p>“No. I did it with the man who—” Here culprit Dolly looked up and +caught the stern, questioning gaze of Mrs. Ebenezer Stark, and her wits +fled. “With Joel, and I’m to meet him in—in Heaven—right away.”</p> + +<p>Utter silence greeted this strange answer, part of which had been made +to Miss Greatorex’s austere gesture. This signified on the lady’s part +that her ward was late and hindering the meal and was so understood by +the frightened girl. She looked around for Melvin to corroborate her +statement but he had vanished. Having escorted her into sight of her +friends he considered his duty done and disappeared.</p> + +<p>“Dorothy! You’ve been having adventures, I see, and have got things a +trifle ‘mixed.’ Best say no more now, till we all get over our +dinner-crossness and then tell us the whole story. Since you are safely +back no real harm is done; and, friends, shall we go in to table? The +second bell has rung,” asked Mrs. Hungerford, smiling yet secretly +annoyed by the delay Dorothy’s absence had caused.</p> + +<p>The Judge had received more letters from his <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[Pg 154]</a></span>“Boys” and even more +urgent ones. That meant cutting short their stay in every town they +visited; even omitting some desirable places from their list. It had +been decided that they must leave Digby on Monday, the next day but one, +and they wished to utilize every moment of the time between in visiting +its most attractive points.</p> + +<p>“Now, we’ll take that ride. I was going to get Melvin to drive one small +rig with the young folks and I would drive another surrey with us +elders. He’s taken himself off, though, so I’ll just order a buckboard +that will hold us all,” said the Judge, when they had rather hastily +finished their meal.</p> + +<p>So they did, and presently the four-seated wagon with its four horses +and capable driver tooled up to the entrance and the party entered it. +All but Monty Stark. Much to his mother’s annoyance and regret, that +young gentleman firmly objected to the trip.</p> + +<p>“I don’t want to go. I hate driving. I don’t care a rap for all the +lighthouses or Bear Rivers in the world. I’d rather stay right here and +watch the fishermen. I never had such a chance to see them so close at +hand and—I—do—not want—to go.”</p> + +<p>“Montmorency, darling! Don’t turn nasty and spoil all poor Mamma’s +pleasure, don’t. I can’t see what’s the matter with you, dear? You have +been positively disagreeable ever since we took that walk. Did you get +too tired, lovey? Is Mamma’s baby boy ill?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[Pg 155]</a></span>“Oh! Mamma, please! I <i>shall</i> be ill if you don’t quit molly-coddling +me, as if I were an infant in arms.”</p> + +<p>They were speaking apart and in low tones, so that she caught but the +word “Molly” and instantly inquired:</p> + +<p>“Is it that girl, dearest? Has she been behaving badly to you? You +mustn’t mind her sharp tongue, she’s only a—a Breckenridge!”</p> + +<p>“Yes, she has been behaving outrageously. She’s made me feel as cheap as +two cents. Just because I couldn’t think of any remarkably funny thing +to do in this horrid old town—Oh! go on, and let me be. I’m not mad +with you, Mamma, but I shan’t go on that ride and be perched on a seat +with either of those wretched girls, nor any old woman either, for the +whole afternoon. Do go—they’re waiting, and they’ll wish no Starks had +ever been born. I guess they wish it already.”</p> + +<p>Perforce, she had to go; but it wasn’t a happy drive for her. If her +adored Monty was disgruntled over anything she felt the world a gloomy +place. She did exert herself to be agreeable to the Judge, who sat +beside her, yielding his place on the driver’s seat to Molly, whose +manner was almost as “crisp” as Montmorency’s own. But she would rather +have stayed behind to look after her son; and had she known what was to +happen on that sunshiny afternoon she would have been even more sorry +that she had not followed her inclination.</p> + +<p>However, at that moment there was no cloud <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[Pg 156]</a></span>upon the day; and no sooner +had the buckboard disappeared from sight than Montmorency Vavasour-Stark +performed a sort of jig on the hotel verandah, threw up his cap, gave a +loud Brentnor “yell” and dashed up the stairs to his room as fast as his +short fat legs could move. Thence he soon reappeared, clad in his +“athletics”—of which a broad-striped blue-and-white sweater attracted +much attention.</p> + +<p>He had now become “plain boy.” He had shed the “young gentleman” with +vigor and completeness and was bent upon any sort of “lark” that would +restore his usual good nature and complacency. He had observed whither +disappeared the various bell-boys when off duty and meant “to stir up” +one of them if nothing better offered.</p> + +<p>Something better did offer, in the shape of Melvin Cook; calmly munching +a slice of bread and butter in the stable-yard and as rejoiced as Monty +himself to be quit for a time of women and girls and “manners” in +general.</p> + +<p>Montmorency hadn’t been attracted before to this “son of all the Cooks,” +who was so fair of face and slender of build, but now he reflected that +if he obtained permission to go into camp with the “Boys,” and the +Judge, Melvin would, perforce, be his daily companion. As well begin now +as ever then; so he accosted the bugler with the question:</p> + +<p>“Say, can’t you get up something dandy for the rest of the day? We’ve +shed those folks till dark, I guess, and I’m dying for anything doing. +Eh?”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[Pg 157]</a></span>“I’ve hired a sail boat and am going out alone, except for Tommy here.”</p> + +<p>Tommy was the most juvenile of all the bell-boys, a lad of not more than +ten, who tried to appear quite as old as these others and who now +strutted forward announcing:</p> + +<p>“Yes, me and him is going out in the ‘Digby Chicken.’ A tidy craft but +we’ll manage her all right, all right.”</p> + +<p>“Cock-a-doodle-doo!” cried Monty, patting the child’s shoulder and +incidentally slipping a quarter into the little fellow’s open palm; for +it was a habit of the richer lad to bestow frequent tips whenever he +journeyed anywhere, enjoying the popularity this gave him with his +“inferiors.”</p> + +<p>“A sail-boat? Can you manage a sail-boat, Melvin Cook, by yourself +without a man to help you?” he demanded in sincere astonishment.</p> + +<p>“Feel that!” answered Melvin, placing Monty’s hand upon his “muscle.” +“There’s a bit of strength in that arm, eh, what? And you may not know +that I come of a race of sailors and have almost lived upon the water +all my life. Manage a sail-boat? Huh! If you choose to come along I’ll +show you.”</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later they were moving out in a their frail craft from the +little pier across the street from the hotel; Melvin for skipper, Tommy +for mate, and Montmorency for a passenger. That was the beginning. It +did not dawn upon any of the trio what the ending of that sail would be.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[Pg 158]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_X" id="CHAPTER_X"></a>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<h3>WHAT BEFELL A “DIGBY CHICKEN”</h3> + +<p>The second bell for the last meal of the day had again rung, and again +the Breckenridge party waited on the verandah for delinquents. Mrs. +Stark positively declined to enter the dining-room until she had found +out what had become of Montmorency. Mrs. Hungerford as positively +declined to leave Mrs. Stark, and the Judge’s temper was again being +sorely tried. Their twenty-mile drive and sight-seeing had sharpened +appetites that already were quite sharp enough and the eminent jurist +wanted his supper. To walk off his impatience, if he could, he paced up +and down the long verandah at a brisk rate, which did not tend to allay +that uncomfortable feeling in his “inner man.”</p> + +<p>The hotel proprietor left the dining-room, where he personally +superintended the serving of his guests, and joined the Judge, advising +and complaining:</p> + +<p>“We’ve the usual Saturday, week-end crowd in the house and I’d like to +have your party get through in yonder soon’s you can, if you please. +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[Pg 159]</a></span>I’m driven half-crazy, nights like this, by the demands and exactions +of these transient people. I need every man-jack of the help and +somebody says that Tommy has gone off with your lads. Tommy is small but +he’s the best bell-boy in the house and—I’ll trounce him well when he +gets back for serving me such a trick. Best get your dinner now, Judge, +or I’ll not promise you’ll be able to later. Excuse me for urging, it’s +in your own interest, and—There comes another load from somewhere! and +I haven’t a room to give them. Cots in the parlor, if they choose, +nothing better?”</p> + +<p>With that he hurried to meet the newcomers and the Judge said to Aunt +Lu:</p> + +<p>“We certainly should go in to table now. It does no good to sit here and +wait. That doesn’t bring the runaways any sooner and they’d ought to go +without their suppers if they’re so thoughtless of our comfort. Mrs. +Stark, won’t you come?”</p> + +<p>Then he observed that the lady was weeping copiously. It was now fixed +in her mind that Monty was drowned. She had been told that he had gone +sailing with that other dreadful bugler-boy the Judge had picked up, +and, of course, this was the only explanation of his absence. She +refused to be comforted and would have gone out in a boat herself to +search for her son had she felt this would be of the slightest use. +Indeed, she was fast becoming hysterical, and Mrs. Hungerford shook her +head negatively when her brother begged her to leave her post and come +with him.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[Pg 160]</a></span>“Very well, then, sister, Miss Greatorex and the girls and I will go +without you. Afterward, when the boys come, I’ll try to have a special +meal served for you somewhere. If I can! Come, Molly, Dolly; and I’m +glad that you, Miss Greatorex, have some sense.”</p> + +<p>So they departed and finding that Mrs. Stark was attracting the +attention of the other guests upon the piazza, Aunt Lucretia persuaded +her to cross the street to the pavilion that stood upon the bluff above +the water and that was now deserted.</p> + +<p>“From there we can see the boat as soon as it approaches, dear Mrs. +Stark, and I feel sure you’ve no cause for such anxiety. Doubtless the +boys have been fishing and have not realized how long. It is still +bright daylight yonder and these are glorious moonlight nights. Even if +they stayed out till bedtime they could see all right enough.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stark followed the advice to seek the pavilion; yet simply because +it brought her that much nearer her lost darling. But when a tray of +supper was sent out to the two ladies there she refused to touch it and +her grief spoiled her companion’s appetite as well.</p> + +<p>After a little time Miss Greatorex and the girls retired to their rooms, +at the Judge’s advice. He too had at last become infected with the +anxious mother’s forebodings and felt that there was no need for Molly +and Dolly to be also frightened. Then he joined the watchers in the +pavilion, where the other guests refrained from disturbing them, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[Pg 161]</a></span>although it was a favorite resort on pleasant evenings.</p> + +<p>Many a boat came back to the various small piers extending from the +shore into the water, here and there, but none was the little “Digby +Chicken.” Her owner took his place at the end of the pier and sat down +to wait. Of all his boats she was the newest and prettiest. She had +sailed out into the sunlight glistening with white paint, her new sail +white and unstained, and on her shining hull a decoration of herring +surrounding her red-lettered name. It had been the builder’s conceit to +omit the name, the string of painted fish answering for it to all but +“foreigners;” but as it had been built for the use of these “foreigners” +or “tourists” the printed words had finally been added.</p> + +<p>Minutes passed. Quarter-hours; an hour; two of them; even three. There +was no longer any moonlight. The distant cliffs and headlands became +invisible. One could only guess where the Gap strove to close the +entrance to an outer world. The hotel verandah became more and more +deserted, and one by one the lights in the upper windows shone out for a +time, then disappeared. Gradually all lights vanished save those in the +lobby and a faint glimmer from a corridor above.</p> + +<p>Though wraps has been early sent out to the anxious watchers in the +pavilion, now heavy steamer rugs were brought, to keep out that +penetrating chill. The Judge had on his heaviest overcoat and yet +shivered, himself covering his long legs with <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[Pg 162]</a></span>a thick blanket. He had +made several efforts to induce Mrs. Stark to go indoors but all had +failed.</p> + +<p>The fog that was slowly rising when the boat-owner took his station on +the little quay below had crept nearer and nearer into shore, and finally +enveloped everything and hidden it. So dense it was that from his bench +on one side the circular pavilion the Judge could barely make out the +white pillars on its opposite side. A lamp had been lighted in the roof +but against this Mrs. Stark had vehemently protested, because it made +that wall of white mist seem closer and more impenetrable, and without +it she fancied that her eye could still pierce the distance, still +discover any incoming craft.</p> + +<p>About midnight the wind rose and the fog began to thin and scatter. The +boatman on the pier had long ago left it, forced off by the rising tide, +and now sat floating in one of the row-boats fastened there. He had put +on his oilskins and set his oars in readiness for the first sign of +distress on the face of the waters; but he had about given up hope of +his pretty “Digby Chicken.” That a couple of touring lads, even though +one had protested that he was a good sailor, that these should come +safely through a night like this seemed unlikely; but now that the wind +was rising and the fog lifting, he drew his boat close under the pole at +the pier’s end and lighted the lantern which swung there. There was now +a chance that its gleam might be seen from beyond and there had been +none before.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[Pg 163]</a></span>Then another time of waiting, which ended with the boatman pulling out +from shore. The watchers above had heard nothing, had not even seen him +leave, although the lantern had faintly shown him riding upon the wave, +moored to the pier by a rope.</p> + +<p>But now, rubbing her strained eyes to clear their vision Mrs. Stark +broke the long silence with a cry:</p> + +<p>“The man! He isn’t there? He’s gone—to meet them!”</p> + +<p>She was as sure of this now as she had been before that her son was +drowned, and Mrs. Hungerford slipped an arm about her waist in pity. She +dared not think what the result would be of a fresh disappointment.</p> + +<p>However, their long vigil was really ended. The trained ear of the +boatman had caught a faint halloo from somewhere on the water and had +rowed toward the sound with all his strength and speed. At intervals he +had paused to answer and to listen—and the now swiftly dispersing fog +enabled him also to see—and finally to utter a little malediction under +his breath. It scarcely needed the glass he raised to show him the +“Digby Chicken” riding quietly on the water not more than half a league +off shore. Her sail was furled, she looked taut and trim, and he could +discern a figure at her prow which raised its arms and again hallooed.</p> + +<p>“All’s well that ends well.” But it might not have been so well. The +full story of that night’s work did not transpire at once. All that Mrs. +Stark <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[Pg 164]</a></span>knew was that she had her son once more within her close embrace; +that he had been helped, even carried, up the narrow pier and placed +dripping within her arms. She ascribed his soaked condition to the fact +of the fog and not to the truth; and it was not until daylight came that +he told her that. Then lying warm in his bed, with her hovering over him +in a flutter of delight and reproof, he announced:</p> + +<p>“I tell you, Mamma, the only folks that amount to anything in this world +are the poor ones!”</p> + +<p>“Very likely, love, very likely. Only don’t distress yourself any more. +I can’t forgive that wretched little bugling boy for taking you out in +that horrible boat and nearly killing you. You’re very apt to have +pneumonia or something—Don’t you feel pretty ill now?”</p> + +<p>“Mamma, <i>you can’t forgive him?</i> What do you mean? Didn’t anybody tell?”</p> + +<p>“Tell what, lovey. I certainly didn’t stop to ask questions. All I cared +for was to get you into bed and a warm breakfast or supper or whatever +it is sent up.”</p> + +<p>“Then you don’t know that but for Melvin Cook I should be lying at the +bottom of the Basin now, instead of in this bed?” demanded Monty, +raising himself on his elbow.</p> + +<p>The pallor that overspread his mother’s face was answer enough, and he +blamed himself for the question. Even without knowing the worst truth +she had evidently worried herself ill. But the mischief <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[Pg 165]</a></span>was done and +when she asked: “What do you mean?” he thought it best to tell. Moreover +he was anxious that she should know of Melvin’s bravery at once. So he +answered:</p> + +<p>“Well, I made a fool of myself. He had tackle and we fished along, just +for nothing hardly, and I got cocky and jiggled the boat. Then when he +said I’d better not but ought to lend a hand in working her and ‘learn +sense,’ I—Well, I don’t remember exactly what happened after that; only +I got up on the gunwale, or edge of the ‘Chicken’ and the next I knew I +was in the water. It all came over me in a flash that I couldn’t swim +and would drown and I shut my eyes and tried to say a prayer. But I +couldn’t think, and then I felt something grab me. It was that Melvin. +He’d tossed off his jacket and dove for me and was dragging me to the +surface and the boat. I tried to get hold of him tighter but he kicked +me off and said if I did that we’d both go down. I thought we would, +anyhow, so I did let go and then he got me to the boat, yanking me by +the collar and—that was all for a good while. I—I was pretty sick I +guess. I’d swallowed so much salt water and all. He and Tommy rubbed me +and jounced me around and paid no attention to the boat, that kept +drifting further out all the time.</p> + +<p>“I don’t remember much else. I lay on the bottom of the thing and the +boys put their coats over me to stop my shivering. Melvin said afterward +that I shivered from fear and shock more than from <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[Pg 166]</a></span>dripping, too, but +he couldn’t stop for that. He had to try to get back to shore and the +fog was rising.</p> + +<p>“Tommy told me a good deal, later on when I felt better. He said the fog +got so thick Melvin was afraid to try and sail lest we should bump into +some other craft. So we lay still till—I guess you know the rest. Now I +want to hear, has anybody coddled either of those boys—heroes, both of +’em—as you’ve coddled me? If they haven’t been treated right I’ll make +it lively for somebody. Anyhow, I want to get up and dress. I’m ashamed +of myself. When I see how other boys act I think I’ve been—Well, I +won’t call your lovey-dovey hard names! But you hear me say: I’ll be a +man after this or—or know the reason why!”</p> + +<p>It certainly was a long speech for a sick boy as Mrs. Stark persisted in +considering him; and it left her shaken and most undecided on various +points. Upon one, however, she was fully set; she would cut this Nova +Scotia trip short at once. She would telegraph her husband in Boston and +follow her telegram, bag and baggage, by that afternoon’s train. With +this resolve in mind she left the room; merely bidding her son “lie +still till I come back.”</p> + +<p>Then she descended to the hotel office and called for a telegraph blank.</p> + +<p>This was courteously provided; also pen and ink with which to inscribe +it, which she promptly did, then the following dialogue:—</p> + +<p>“Please send this message at once, clerk.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[Pg 167]</a></span>“Sorry, Madam, but I can’t do it. Not to-day.”</p> + +<p>“Why not?” haughtily.</p> + +<p>“Office is closed. No despatches sent on Sunday. Can do it about seven +<span class="smcap">a. m.</span> Monday.”</p> + +<p>“You mean to tell me that ridiculous stuff? Where is the office? If this +second-rate hotel can’t accommodate its patrons I’ll take it myself.”</p> + +<p>“The office is at the railway station, Madam. You will find it closed.”</p> + +<p>“Indeed? Well, when does the first train start for Yarmouth and a +steamer for the States, either Boston or New York?”</p> + +<p>“At ten o’clock Monday morning. Upon arrival at Yarmouth meets steamers +for both ports, Madam.”</p> + +<p>“None, to-day?”</p> + +<p>“None, Madam. It is a law of the Province. From Saturday night to Monday +morning all traffic is suspended.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stark did not continue the dialogue. She couldn’t. She was too +astonished and too indignant. That she, Mrs. Ebenezer Stark, wife of the +great banker of that name, should not be able to control a matter of +this sort was simply incredible. With her head very high she left the +desk and sought the Judge in his quiet corner of the piazza, where he +sat, newspaper over face, trying to catch “forty winks” after his night +of scant sleep.</p> + +<p>He suppressed a yawn as he rose at the lady’s call.</p> + +<p>“Judge Breckenridge, a moment, if you please. Sorry to disturb you but +it’s most important. I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[Pg 168]</a></span>want to send a telegram and that ridiculous +clerk says I can’t do it.”</p> + +<p>“Quite right. I’d like to myself and can’t.”</p> + +<p>He placed a chair for her and she thoroughly aired her grievance. He +sympathized but declared himself powerless to help her. She remarked:</p> + +<p>“It is simply outrageous. A trap to keep visitors here whether or no. My +husband will make it his business to alter the whole thing. I must go +and take Monty away from here. I am in fear for his life. I shan’t rest +till I see him safe back in his father’s arms.”</p> + +<p>The Judge listened courteously, but said:</p> + +<p>“We tourists have no business to find fault with the laws the +Provincials make for themselves. We’d resent their interference in the +States. As for taking your son away, just because of a little accident +which ended all right, aren’t you making a mistake? In any case, since +you cannot get away till to-morrow, anyway, wouldn’t it be wise for you +to rest now and recuperate from your night of anxiety? Unless you will +join us in church-going. Lucretia never lets me off that duty, even if I +were inclined, but I’m not. Like herself I always enjoy service in +strange churches. We would be most happy to have you?”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, but I couldn’t. Not to-day. I’m too upset and weary. I +couldn’t leave my darling boy, either, after he’s just been rescued from +a—a watery grave. He’s just told me that he fell, or was pushed +overboard, and that the bugling boy was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[Pg 169]</a></span>scared and helped him out. Oh! +it makes me cold all over just to think of it!”</p> + +<p>The Judge was no longer sleepy. His tone was sharp and judicial as he +asked:</p> + +<p>“Is that the version Montmorency gave of the affair?”</p> + +<p>Then when she hesitated to answer, he added:</p> + +<p>“Because I have heard quite a different one. I wormed it out of little +Tommy, whom Melvin had threatened with punishment if he betrayed the +really heroic part the ‘bugling boy’ played in the case. Doubly brave +because, though he has tried his best to overcome it, Melvin has a +horror of the sea. His father was drowned and if he followed his +inclination the orphaned lad would never leave dry ground. But his race +is a sea-faring one, and he knows that it may only be by following the +profession of his forebears that he can ever earn a living for himself +and his mother—though I should have put her first, as she certainly is +in her son’s thoughts. When Montmorency fooled and fell overboard—by no +means was pushed—Melvin conquered his own horror and plunged after him. +If he hadn’t—Well, we shouldn’t be talking so calmly together now, you +and I.”</p> + +<p>Poor Mrs. Stark! She was torn and tossed by more emotions than had ever +been hers during her easy life, and each emotion was at variance with +another. She dropped into a chair to collect herself; and at the end of +a few moments remarked:</p> + +<p>“If that is the case I will do something for the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[Pg 170]</a></span>boy. Whatever amount +of money you think suitable, I will give you a check for.”</p> + +<p>He wanted to retort sharply, but he didn’t. He forced himself to say +quite gently:</p> + +<p>“No payment, Mrs. Stark, would prove acceptable. In his victory over +himself and his own cowardice Melvin has grown richer than any dollars +could make him. If you will pardon my advice, don’t offer him anything +save kindness and don’t make that too conspicuous. A shy boy needs +careful handling.”</p> + +<p>He bowed as she now rose and went her way, a very thoughtful woman. But +her heart rejoiced beyond expression that no matter what the details of +the night’s episode had been, her best-loved object in this world was +safe and sound. She would go to him and basking in the sunshine of his +beloved presence content herself as best she could, until tomorrow’s +trains should bear them both away.</p> + +<p>Alas! When she came to the room where she had left him she found no +chance to “bask.” Her “sunshine” had again disappeared.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[Pg 171]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XI" id="CHAPTER_XI"></a>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<h3>IN EVANGELINE LAND</h3> + +<p>The obliging operator at the telegraph office was almost at her wits’ +end. She had never been besieged so early in the morning and required to +send so many lengthy messages, nor have them come crowding one another +so confusingly. The strange part of it all was that although they were +intended for one person, a Mr. Ebenezer Stark of Boston, there were +three persons telegraphing him.</p> + +<p>One was a stout lady of exceedingly fashionable appearance and most +peremptory manner. As seemed fitting the first reply of Mr. Ebenezer +Stark was for her, and assured her that he would meet her at the wharf, +with a carriage, upon the arrival of the first steamer out from +Yarmouth. It also informed her that he had already sent her word by +post—that letter could follow her home—of the dangerous illness of her +mother and that she should make all possible haste. Thus far her message +suited him exactly. He made no mention of their son nor did she. It went +without saying that Monty would accompany his mother upon her return +trip.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[Pg 172]</a></span>Judge Breckenridge was also an early riser. He had met Monty hurrying +down the back street toward the little railway station and the office in +its corner, and had greeted him with gay surprise:</p> + +<p>“Heigho, lad! Whither so fast and so early?”</p> + +<p>“Trying to get ahead of Mamma.”</p> + +<p>“Why, Montmorency!” cried the gentleman, with an assumed sternness yet a +twinkle in his eye.</p> + +<p>“Fact. She’s on the road somewhere, but she had to wait for them to +hitch up a rig first. Thinks she can’t walk these few blocks alone, I +suppose, and didn’t suspect I could have escorted her. But ‘Lovey’ +didn’t tell her his plans till he knows if he can carry them out. But +I’m glad to see you. I didn’t want to do anything sort of underhand with +you, you know. Say, Judge, does your invitation to go camping still hold +good? After my looking such a muff and acting it?”</p> + +<p>“Certainly. If your parents permit, I shall be glad to have you. I think +that a few weeks’ association with men like my friends would give you a +new idea of true manliness; and I can promise you to hear more good +stories from the ‘Boys’ than you ever heard in your life.”</p> + +<p>“Thank you, sir. I’m going to wire Papa to let me stay. What he says +goes, even with Mamma. He lets her have her way about my school, and +clothes and all that stuff, but he hasn’t ever quite let go of me +himself. If it hadn’t been for Papa I’d be a bigger muff than I am now. +Only he’s so awfully absorbed in business that he never takes a +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[Pg 173]</a></span>vacation himself or does anything except pile up the cash and shove it +out for Mamma to spend. Beg pardon, I’ve no business to tell you, or +bother you, with our affairs. I only wanted to know in case he says +‘Yes.’”</p> + +<p>They were almost at the end of their short walk and the Judge’s face +lightened with a whimsical expression, as he answered:</p> + +<p>“Well, Monty lad, muffs are mighty handy sometimes. I heard Lucretia say +they wore them large last winter! If I take a muff into camp I shall +expect it to add to the general comfort of the party. Ready to warm the +heart of anybody who happens to get lonely or out of sorts.”</p> + +<p>“This muff will do its duty, sir. You’ll see; if—”</p> + +<p>He left his sentence unfinished and although his response was delayed +till after Mrs. Stark’s had been received he did not complain of it, but +smilingly handed it to the Judge to peruse.</p> + +<p>His outward telegram had been:</p> + +<p>“Papa, let me stay;” and the incoming one was: “All right. Stay.”</p> + +<p>He did not inform his mother why he was there at the office so early and +she did not inquire. She attributed it to his filial affection and was +accordingly touched by it. She petted him as usual, and carried him back +to the hotel in her phaeton, while she thrilled with satisfaction at the +knowledge she could at last get away from a benighted region where no +Sunday trains were run.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[Pg 174]</a></span>The Judge’s messages were last, and the longest. His outgoing one gave +Mr. Ebenezer Stark a sketchy outline of his vacation plans, announced +the gentlemen who would share it with him, and added a formal invitation +for Montmorency to be of the party, if agreeable to the lad’s friends. +Mr. Stark’s reply was heartily grateful, expressed his appreciation of +the Judge’s courtesy and good nature in “loading himself with a boy of +the calf age. A calf of good enough pedigree, but needed turning out to +pasture away from the mother,” and a little more to that nature.</p> + +<p>The rub came when trunks were being packed and Montmorency announced +that his “things” needn’t be put in; except the “dudish” ones which he +wouldn’t want in a vacation camp.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Stark was so astonished that she was silent and during that +interval her son talked and explained with a rapidity that left her no +chance for reply. “Father says so,” was the final argument that clinched +the matter; and she wisely refrained from further controversy, +reflecting that “Father” might alter his opinion when she had met him +and reported the true state of things. Then he would, of course, +promptly recall his son and heir from a region so fraught with dangers +and temptations as this Province.</p> + +<p>Therefore, the parting was effected with less friction than Monty had +anticipated, and he watched the train that bore his too-solicitous +mother out of sight with a delight that, for the present, knew no +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[Pg 175]</a></span>regret. He was fully in earnest to “make a man” of himself, and felt +that he would be better able to succeed if freed from the indulgence +which had surrounded him from his cradle.</p> + +<p>After allowing himself the relief of one “pigeon-wing” on the +station-platform, he sprang up to the steps at the rear of the hotel +stage which had brought departing guests to the train and hugged Tommy, +perched there, till the little fellow squealed.</p> + +<p>“Good enough, Tommy boy! I’m to rough it now to my heart’s content. Ever +been hunting or fishing in the woods, younker?”</p> + +<p>“Yep. Go most every year—that is, I’ve been once—with the Boss. He’s +the best hunter anywhere’s around. It was him got all those moose and +caribou heads that are in the lobby. Oh! you bet it’s cracky! I’m going +this fall if—if I’m let, and my mother don’t make me go to school.”</p> + +<p>“Mothers—Well, mothers have a bad way of spoiling a fellow’s fun, eh, +lad? But after all, they’re a pretty good arrangement. I hope my +mother’ll have a good trip over to Boston; and see? Look there?”</p> + +<p>With that he pulled from his pocket a handful of silver, explaining that +when she traveled Mrs. Stark always provided herself with a large +quantity of “change” expressly for “tips,” and that she had generously +handed the amount on to her son, since she was simply “going home” and +wouldn’t need it.</p> + +<p>“More in my suit-case, too, Tommy. But—I’m <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[Pg 176]</a></span>going to give it all away +the minute I get back to the hotel.”</p> + +<p>Tommy’s eyes almost bulged from his head, as he ejaculated in intense +amazement:</p> + +<p>“You <i>never!</i>”</p> + +<p>“Fact. I’m going to begin right now.”</p> + +<p>Tommy nearly fell off the step. There in his own small hand lay the +greater part of what had been in Montmorency’s, but he couldn’t believe +in his own good fortune. Despite the tips he received at the hotel—they +were neither many nor generous—master Thomas Ransom was a very poor +little fellow. He held his position at the inn by the fact that he was +willing to work “for his board” and whatever the guests might chance to +bestow upon him. The landlord had the name of a “skin-flint,” whether +justly or not the boarders didn’t know.</p> + +<p>It was to his interest, however, to serve <i>them</i> well and he did it; but +it was rumored that the “help” fared upon the leavings of the guests’ +plates, and in that atmosphere of healthy appetites such leavings were +scant. Anyway, Tommy was always hungry, and the fact showed in his +pinched, eager little face.</p> + +<p>“You’re foolin’. Here ’tis back;” he finally gasped, extending his hand +toward Monty with a pitiful attempt at a smile.</p> + +<p>“Fooling? Not one bit. You put that where it’s safe, and the first +chance you get run into the village to some restaurant and get yourself +a good <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[Pg 177]</a></span>square meal. Then go to the circus, if you want. I see by the +placards that one is coming.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! Pshaw! I don’t know what to say. But, if you do mean it, I ain’t +going to no restaurant. I’m going home to my mother the first leave off +I get and give it to her. She can’t make her rent hardly, sewing, and +she’ll cook a dinner for me to the queen’s taste! Wish you’d come and +eat it with us.”</p> + +<p>“Wish I could,” answered Monty, with a warm glow in his heart. He hadn’t +often had such a look of rapturous gratitude turned upon him and it gave +him a most delightful sensation. “But you see we’re off by the afternoon +train. Going to hurry along now till we get into camp. See you later, +maybe.”</p> + +<p>Then they were at the hotel entrance and master Tommy made haste to +bestow his treasure in the safest place he knew until his brief hour of +recreation should arrive and he could take it home. But how he worked +that day! Even the keen-eyed proprietor could find no manner of fault +with the nimble little fellow, who answered bells like a flash, so +smilingly trotted about with pitchers of ice-water, and so regretfully +watched the departure of the Breckenridge party from the house. And in +justice to him be it said this regret was after all and most sincerely +for the courteous treatment all of them had given him.</p> + +<p>“Some folks—<i>some</i> folks think a bell-boy hain’t no feelings, but I +might ha’ been—Why, I <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[Pg 178]</a></span>might ha’ been <i>them</i>, their own folks, so nice +they all were to me;” thought the lad, watching the afternoon train +bearing them all away, and secretly wiping the tears from his eyes. +However, even for him, deserted as his childish heart felt then, there +was comfort. The circus was coming to-morrow! It would be his day off +and he had the money to pay for his ticket and one for Ma!</p> + +<p>The train was nearing Wolfville where the travelers were to leave it for +a brief visit to “Evangeline land” before proceeding to Halifax whence +the campers would set out. Aunt Lucretia had checked off the various +stations from her time-table and now announced:</p> + +<p>“Better get your things together, everybody. Next stop will be ours.”</p> + +<p>Then Montmorency Vavasour-Stark got his courage to the sticking point +and went forward to where the Judge stood looking through the car door +at the landscape whirling by.</p> + +<p>“Judge Breckenridge will you do me a favor? Another one, I mean, for +you’ve done a lot already.”</p> + +<p>“Certainly, if it’s within my power.”</p> + +<p>“It is, easy enough. I want you to take this and keep it for me. I want +to actually give it away, or put it beyond my reach. I’ve been thinking +it’s the boys without money that amount to something. I want to make +myself poor and see if I’m worth ‘shucks’ aside from my father’s cash.”</p> + +<p>He held out a fat pocketbook but, for a moment, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[Pg 179]</a></span>the Judge did not +appear to see it. He looked the lad critically over, his keen, but +kindly eyes interested and yet doubtful. Then he said:</p> + +<p>“I don’t like whimsies. A person who makes a resolution and doesn’t keep +it weakens rather than strengthens his character. Have you the slightest +idea what it means to be ‘poor,’ or even like Melvin back yonder, who +has but a very small wage to use for his own?”</p> + +<p>“I don’t suppose I have. But I’d like to try it during all the time I’m +over here in the Province. What I mean is that you should pay all my +necessary expenses just as you pay for the others; and beyond that I +don’t want a cent.”</p> + +<p>“Melvin will earn a little for his work in camp. He is to cook and do +whatever is needed. There will be an Indian guide with us, and he, of +course, will have his regular price per day, or week. Beyond these two +helpers we ‘Boys’ will do everything else ourselves. It is our custom. I +can’t hire you and pay you, as an extra. If that were done it would have +to be by some other of the party and it’s not likely.”</p> + +<p>The gentleman’s tone was more grave than the lad felt was necessary, but +it made him reflect a little deeper himself. At last he again offered +the purse, saying:</p> + +<p>“I mean it. It’s my chance. The first one I ever had to see if I can +deny myself anything. Please try me.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, lad, and I congratulate you on the <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[Pg 180]</a></span>pluck that makes the +effort. However—your last chance! Once made, once this pocketbook +passes into my care it becomes mine for the rest of our stay together.”</p> + +<p>“All right, sir. That’s exactly what I want.”</p> + +<p>“Do you know how much is in it?”</p> + +<p>“To a cent. And it’s a great deal too much for a good-for-nothing like +me.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t say that, Montmorency. I wouldn’t take a ‘good-for-nothing’ +under my care for so long a time. You forget I already have a ‘muff’ +on hand. I congratulate myself, this time, on having secured a +‘good-for-something.’ Ah! here we are!”</p> + +<p>The Judge took the purse and coolly slipped it into his own pocket, +merely adding:</p> + +<p>“I will also count the contents and make a note of them as soon as I +can. As your expenses have been paid by yourself until now we’ll begin +our account from this moment. When we part company, soon or late, you +shall have an itemized account of all that is used from your store.”</p> + +<p>Then the conductor came through the car calling:</p> + +<p>“Wolfville! All out for Wolfville!”</p> + +<p>“Out” they were all, in a minute, and again the “Flying Bluenose” was +speeding on toward the end of its route.</p> + +<p>“This is the nearest, or best, point from which to make our excursion to +Grand Pré and old Acadia, which our beloved Longfellow made famous by +his poem. You’ll find yourselves ‘Evangelined’ on <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[Pg 181]</a></span>every hand while +you’re here. Glad it’s so pleasant. We won’t have to waste time on +account of the weather.”</p> + +<p>They found comfortable quarters for the night and longer if desired and +were early to bed. The girls to dream of the hapless maid whose story +thrilled their romantic souls; and Molly went to sleep with an abridged +copy of the poem under her pillow.</p> + +<p>Early in the morning she and Dorothy took a brisk walk through the +pretty village and peered into the shop windows where, indeed, the name +“Evangeline” seemed tacked to most articles of commerce. So frequently +was it displayed that when they met a meditative cow pacing along the +dewy street Molly exclaimed:</p> + +<p>“I wonder if that’s Evangeline’s ‘dun white cow,’ whatever ‘dun white’ +may be like. She looks ancient enough and—Oh! she’s coming right toward +us!”</p> + +<p>Molly was afraid of cows and instinctively hid herself behind Dolly, who +laughed and remarked:</p> + +<p>“Poor old creature! She looks as if she might have lived in the days of +the Acadians, she’s so thin and gaunt. Yet the whole street is +grass-bordered if she chose to help herself. But isn’t this glorious? +Can you hardly wait till we get to Grand Pré? It’s only a few miles away +and I’d almost rather walk than not.”</p> + +<p>“You’ll not be let to walk, mind that. My father has had enough of +things happening to us youngsters. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[Pg 182]</a></span>I heard him tell Auntie Lu that none +of us must be allowed out of sight of some of them, the grown-ups, till +we were landed safe on that farm, and Auntie laughed. She said she +agreed with him but she wasn’t so sure about even a farm being utterly +safe from adventures. So we’ll all have to walk just niminy-piminy till +then. We shouldn’t be here if Miss Greatorex hadn’t said she too wanted +to ‘exercise.’ Now, she’s beckoning to us and we must turn back. Come +away from staring over into that garden! That hedge of sweet-peas is not +for you, honey, badly as you covet it!”</p> + +<p>“All right, I’ll come. But I wish, I wish Father John could see them. I +never saw any so big and free-blooming as they are in this beautiful +Province.”</p> + +<p>“It’s the moisture and coolness of the air, Auntie Lu says. Now, Miss +Greatorex, do make Dolly Doodles walk between us, else she’ll never tear +herself away from the lovely gardens we pass.”</p> + +<p>But they were not late to breakfast, nevertheless. They had learned at +last that nothing so annoyed the genial Judge as want of punctuality. He +planned the hours of his day to a nicety and by keeping to his plans +managed to get a great deal of enjoyment for everybody.</p> + +<p>Already carriages to take them on the drive to Grand Pré and the old +Acadian region had been ordered and were at the door when they had +breakfasted and appeared on the piazza. The two girls were helped into +the smaller open wagon where <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[Pg 183]</a></span>Melvin sat holding the reins and visibly +proud of the confidence reposed in him, and on the front seat of this +the Judge also took his place. The ladies with Monty and a driver +occupied the comfortable surrey; and already other vehicles were +entering the hotel grounds, engaged by other tourists for the same trip.</p> + +<p>Monty looked back with regret at the other young folks and longed to ask +the Judge to exchange places; then laughed to himself as he remembered +that it was no longer his place to ask favors—a penniless boy as he had +become!</p> + +<p>That was a never-to-be-forgotten day for all the party. No untoward +incident marked it, but so well-known is the story of that region that +it needs no repetition here. Of course they visited the famous well +whence “Evangeline” drew water for her herd, and almost the original +herd might have fed in the meadow surrounding it, so peaceful were the +cattle cropping the grass there. They saw the “old willows” and the +ancient Covenanter church, wherein they all inscribed their names upon +the pages of a great book kept for that special purpose.</p> + +<p>The church especially interested Dorothy, with its quaint old pulpit and +sounding board, its high-backed pews and small-paned windows; and when +she wandered into the old burying ground behind, with its +periwinkle-covered graves, a strange sadness settled over her.</p> + +<p>The whole story had that tendency and the talk <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[Pg 184]</a></span>of “unknown graves” +roused afresh in her mind the old wonder:</p> + +<p>“Where are my own parents’ graves, if they are dead? Where are <i>they</i> if +they are still alive?”</p> + +<p>With this in mind and in memory of these other unknown sleepers whose +ancient head-stones had moved her so profoundly, she gathered from the +confines of the field a bunch of that periwinkle, or myrtle which grew +there so abundantly. Thrusting this into the front of her jacket she +resolved to pack it nicely in wet moss and send it home to Alfaretta, +with the request that she would plant it in the cottage garden. Then she +rejoined the others at the gate and the ride was continued to another +point of interest called “Evangeline Beach.” Why or wherefore, nobody +explained; yet it was a pretty enough spot on the shore where a few +guests of a near-by hotel were bathing and where they all stopped to +rest their horses before the long ride home.</p> + +<p>Dorothy was full of thoughts of home by then, and something in the color +of the horse which had drawn her hither awoke tender memories of pretty +Portia, now doubtless happily grazing on a dear mountain far away. With +this sentiment in mind she stooped and plucked a handful of grass and +held it under the nose of the pensive livery-nag.</p> + +<p>But alas, for sentiment! Not the few blades of sea-grass appealed to the +creature who, while Dorothy’s head was turned, stretched forth its own +and pulled the myrtle from the jacket and was contentedly <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[Pg 185]</a></span>munching it +when its owner discovered its loss.</p> + +<p>“Dolly Doodles, whatever are you doing?” cried Molly, running up.</p> + +<p>“She’s got—he’s got my ‘Evangeline’ vines! I’m getting—what I can!”</p> + +<p>Molly shouted in her glee and the rest of the party drew near to also +enjoy. They had all alighted to walk about a bit and stretch their +limbs, and now watched in answering amusement the brief tussle between +maid and mare. It ended with the latter’s securing the lion’s share of +the goodly bunch; but myrtle vines are tough and Dorothy came off a +partial victor with one spray in her hand. It had lost most of its +leaves and otherwise suffered mischance, yet she was not wholly hopeless +of saving that much alive; and in any case the incident had banished all +morbid thoughts from her mind, and she was quite the merriest of all +during that long drive homeward to the hotel.</p> + +<p>As they alighted Monty stepped gallantly forward and offered:</p> + +<p>“When we get to Halifax I’ll buy you a slender vase and you can keep it +in water till you go home yourself. Or I’ll send back to that graveyard +and pay somebody to send you on a lot, after you get back to your own +home.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! thank you. That’s ever so kind, and I’ll be glad of the vase. But +you needn’t send for any more vines. They wouldn’t be the same as this I +gathered myself for darling Father John.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[Pg 186]</a></span>“But you shall have them all the same. They’d be just as valuable to him +if not to you and some of those boys that hung around the church would +pack it for a little money. I’ll do it, sure.”</p> + +<p>“<i>Will</i> you, Montmorency? <i>How?</i>” asked a voice beside him and the lad +looked up into the face of the Judge.</p> + +<p>“No, sir, I won’t! I’ll have to take that offer back, Dorothy, take them +both back,” and he flushed furiously at her surprised and questioning +glance. It was the first test he had made of his “poverty” and he found +it as uncomfortable as novel.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[Pg 187]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XII" id="CHAPTER_XII"></a>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<h3>SIGHT SEEING UNDER DIFFICULTIES</h3> + +<p>“Halifax! End of the line!”</p> + +<p>The conductor’s announcement was followed by the usual haste and bustle +among the passengers, the taking down of parcels from the racks +overhead, and a general settling and straightening of travel-crushed +garments.</p> + +<p>This little preparatory freshening over, the travelers stepped into the +car aisles and followed the rush forward; passing out into by far the +most pretentious station they had seen in the Province. Lines of hackmen +were drawn up alongside the rail which bordered the paved descent to the +railway level, and a policeman in uniform held back the too-solicitous +drivers from the arriving strangers, who looked about them, mostly, in +doubt which vehicle to select:</p> + +<p>“Here you are for the Halifax!” “Right this way for the Queen! Queen, +sir? Queen, madam? Finest hotel in—” “Prince Edward! Right on the +bluff—overlooking—” “King’s Arms! Carriage for the King’s Arms?”</p> + +<p>To the rail and no further were these runners for their various +employers permitted to go, yet even at <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[Pg 188]</a></span>that few feet of safe distance +their cries were so deafening and insistent that Dorothy clapped her +hands to her ears and shut her eyes, lest she should grow too much +confused.</p> + +<p>But there was no hesitation about the Judge. His hotel was a familiar +one, their rooms engaged long before; and by a nod he summoned the ’bus +of that house, marshalled his party into it, handed the runner his +baggage checks, and they rolled away through the streets of the oldest +city in the Province.</p> + +<p>Just then it was gay with illimitable decorations of bunting and flags, +in honor of the visit of the Viceroy of Canada and his consort, due upon +the morrow.</p> + +<p>“Oh, Papa, did they know we were coming?” mischievously inquired Molly, +as vista after vista of red and blue and white unrolled before her eager +eyes. “I never saw anything like it! Even at our home Carnival there +wasn’t anything to compare.”</p> + +<p>“That’s Canada. We Yankees boast we go ahead of everything in the world +no matter what line we chance to follow. Canada doesn’t boast, she +simply goes ahead.”</p> + +<p>“Oh! how disloyal, Schuyler!” protested Aunt Lucretia, herself gazing +with admiration at the buildings whose fronts were almost solidly +covered with artistically arranged decorations. Of course the English +and Canadian flags held first place, but at last their ’bus stopped +before a quaint old hotel whose balconies were draped with as many +American as English banners.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[Pg 189]</a></span>“Why, is this an American, I mean a United States hotel?” asked Auntie +Lu; while Miss Greatorex’s face assumed a more agreeable expression than +it had worn since they left the station. She had felt hitherto as if an +alien nation had flaunted its colors in her own patriotic face; but her +common sense now assured her that these people had a right to honor +their rulers after their own fashion even if it could by no possibility +be so good a fashion as reigned in her beloved States.</p> + +<p>The youngsters of the party felt nothing but delight; and as a squad of +scarlet-coated soldiers came marching toward them on the other side of +the street Monty tossed up his cap and cheered. Melvin did more, as was +natural. They marched to the tune of “God Save the King,” and were on +their way to Parliament House to give an evening concert; and as the +’bus came abreast of the squad with its fine band and its national +colors floating in front, the young Yarmouthian rose and bared his head, +saluting the flag! Then he dropped back to his seat with a slight flush +on his fair cheek, as he felt the eyes of the three strangers rest upon +him curiously. Then cried Molly:</p> + +<p>“That was funny! I forgot you weren’t a ‘Yankee’ like ourselves, but you +did right, you did just right. I wouldn’t have let Old Glory pass by +without doing it my honor. But, do you know, Auntie Lu, I feel as if +this were a foreign country and not part of our own America?”</p> + +<p>She was to feel it more and more, but to find a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[Pg 190]</a></span>keen delight in all +that was so new to her and so matter of fact to Melvin. Even the dishes +served at table, were decidedly “English” in name and flavor, though +there were plenty of other and more familiar ones upon the <i>menu</i>.</p> + +<p>After this supper which was more hearty than most dinners at home, they +walked to the postoffice and found a heap of mail that had been +forwarded along their route. As usual there were letters from the “Boys” +and the Judge hailed with delight the news that they, as well as the +Governor-General, would be among the morrow’s arrivals.</p> + +<p>“We’ll stay till Sunday in Halifax, then start for camp on Monday, rain +or shine, wind, fog, or sunshine;” wrote the correspondent who arranged +matters from the other end of the line.</p> + +<p>“Good enough, good enough! Then my vacation will actually begin!” cried +the pleased man.</p> + +<p>“And pray, what do you call the days that have just passed, my brother?” +demanded Auntie Lu, with a smile.</p> + +<p>“My dear, I call that a ‘personally conducted tour,’ a tour of great +responsibility and many perils. After Monday, when I deposit you ladies +and the youngsters at Farmer Grimm’s, I wash my hands of the whole of +you for one long, delightful month!”</p> + +<p>The laugh with which he said this disarmed the words of any unkindness +and was echoed by another laugh quite free from offense.</p> + +<p>“Very well, then, Schuyler, until Monday we <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[Pg 191]</a></span>hold you to your +‘personally’ conducting. You must take us everywhere, show us everything +that is worth while. I want to go to the ‘Martello’ tower; to the +Citadel, the old churches, the parks, all over the harbor on all sorts +and conditions of boats, to—”</p> + +<p>But the Judge held up his hand, protesting. Then asked:</p> + +<p>“Suppose it proves a foggy season? Fog is one of the things to be +counted upon in all parts of this country, more especially here. One +summer I was here three weeks and the sun didn’t shine once!”</p> + +<p>However, Mrs. Hungerford was bent upon enjoying and making others enjoy +this visit; and she laughingly assured him that they were all “fog +proof.”</p> + +<p>“Every one of us has overshoes, umbrella, and raincoat. We feminines I +mean and ‘boys’ aren’t supposed to mind any sort of weather. Am I not +right, Melvin?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Mrs. Hungerford, I fancy you are. We have so much wet weather +we’re ’most unprepared for sunshine, don’t you know.”</p> + +<p>This was so long a remark for Melvin, and so thoroughly “English” with +its “fancy” and “don’t you know,” that all laughed.</p> + +<p>But they waked in the morning to find the Judge’s fear of a fog +justified. The whole city was a-drip. The decorations which had been so +crisp and brilliant on the day before hung limp and already discolored; +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[Pg 192]</a></span>and the scarlet and white bunting which had been so artistically +wreathed about columns and cornices now clung tightly to them as if +shivering in the wet.</p> + +<p>It was a disheartened populace, too, which one met upon the street; for +the expense had been great in preparations for the Governor’s visit and +the week of Carnival that had been planned seemed doomed to a series of +disappointments.</p> + +<p>None the less Auntie Lu held her brother to his promise to escort them +everywhere; and everywhere they went, though mostly in covered carriages +or under dripping umbrellas. One morning when the sunshine came for a +brief visit they hastened to the street before the Provincial building +to hear the most famous band in all the Canadas give its open air +concert. Other people besides themselves had flocked thither at the +first ray from the sun and now crowded the pavements surrounding the +iron-fenced grounds. Everybody waxed enthusiastic and hopeful +till—suddenly a drop fell on the tip of the band leader’s nose. He cast +one glance skyward but continued to wield his baton with great flourish +and skill. Another drop; many; and the summer crowd swiftly dispersed. +Not so our sightseers from the States. But let Dorothy tell the tale in +her own words and in the journal-letter she faithfully tried to keep for +Father John:</p> + +<p> +“Dear Father:—</p> + +<p>“Since we’ve been here in Halifax I haven’t had <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[Pg 193]</a></span>a chance to write +as regular as I ought. You see we come home so tired and wet every +time that—Well, I just can’t really write.</p> + +<p>“We went to an open air concert in the heart of the city. The band +was, were—which is right? Anyhow the men all had on their Sunday +uniforms, the most beautiful red and brass and buttons, and their +instruments shone like anything. It rained, still they didn’t even +wink, except the head of them. He was brillianter dressed than any +of them and he didn’t like the rain. You could see that plain as +plain. They all had little stands before them with their music on +and the music got wet and splattery, but they didn’t stop. They +just tossed one piece of music down and began another, after they’d +waited a little bit of while, to get their breath, I reckon. By and +by all the people, nearly, had gone away from the sidewalk yet the +band played right along.</p> + +<p>“Then I heard somebody laugh. It was the Judge. He was laughing at +Auntie Lu; he always is and she at him. When she asked him ‘why,’ +he said: ‘I was thinking this was a match game between British and +Yankee pluck. It’s the Britisher’s ‘duty’ to play to the end of his +program and he’ll do it if he’s melted into a little heap when he’s +finished. It seems to be Yankee pluck, or duty, to stand out here +in this melancholy drizzle and hold on as long as he does.’</p> + +<p>“‘Of course,’ said Mrs. Hungerford, ‘it would be mean of us to +desert the poor chaps and leave them without a listener at all.’</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[Pg 194]</a></span>“Then he said: ‘Let’s go indoors and sit in the ’seats of the +mighty.’’</p> + +<p>“She didn’t know what he meant but he soon showed her. The Province +Building where their sort of Congress meets was all open wide and +they weren’t having any session, it not being session time. So we +went in and sat around in leather covered chairs, only Molly and I +and the boys climbed up on the window seats and sat there. We could +hear beautiful and we got quite dry. Only it isn’t any use getting +dry, daytimes, ’cause you’re always going right out and getting wet +again.</p> + +<p>“Sunday was the wettest yet. It didn’t look so and Auntie Lu let us +girls put on white dresses, but she made us take our raincoats and +umbrellas and rubbers just the same. We went to the soldiers’ +church out of doors, ’cause they’d thought it was clearing off. +There were benches fixed in rows like seats in church, and there +was a kind of pulpit all covered by a great English flag. Other +benches were up at one side. They were for the band. By and by a +bugle blew and they came marching, marching over the grass from the +big barracks beyond. The field sloped right down the side of a +great hill and at the foot, seemed so close one could almost touch +it but you couldn’t for there were streets between, was the harbor +of water.</p> + +<p>“It was an English church service and the minister prayed for all +the royal family one by one. The soldier-band played the chants and +hymns and they and anybody wanted sang them. After a little <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[Pg 195]</a></span>while +it rained again and we put on our coats and didn’t dare to raise +our umbrellas, ’cause we were in church you know.</p> + +<p>“It seemed pretty long but I loved it. I loved the red soldiers and +the beautiful place and all. Auntie Lu said it was a good sermon +and that the preacher considerately cut it pretty short. But it +wasn’t so short but that we got our hats dreadfully wet and Auntie +Lu had to buy herself a new one before we came away last Monday +morning. In the evening we went to St. Paul’s, which is the oldest +church in this oldest city of Markland, as some call Nova Scotia.</p> + +<p>“Now we have ridden a good many miles in wagons to this great old +farmhouse right on the edge of the woods. Miles and miles of woods, +seems if. There are lakes in them and rivers and game of every +sort, seems if, to hear them tell. Judge Breckenridge’s friends are +here, too, and the Indian guide. He calls them ‘the Boys,’ and they +do act like boys just after school’s let out. They laugh and joke +and carry on till Molly and I just stare.</p> + +<p>“Judge has hired a river to fish in. Isn’t that funny? To pay for a +place to fish, and the Farmer Grimm we’re to live with is going to +haul all their camp things out there to-morrow morning before +sun-up. Monty and Melvin are to go, too, and I expect we women +folks’ll feel pretty lonesome.</p> + +<p>“One lovely thing the Judge did for me. He hired a violin for me to +practice on here. He said <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[Pg 196]</a></span>he thought it would pass the time for +all of us. There’s a piano, too, already in the house, and Molly +can play real nice on that. Her Auntie Lu plays mag-nifi-cently. I +wrote that out in syllables so as to get it right and to make it +more—more impressiver. I’m dreadful tired and have been finishing +this letter sitting on the floor beside a great big fire on the +hearth. It isn’t a bit too warm, either, even though the sun has +shone again to-day.</p> + +<p>“Good night. Your sleepy Dorothy, but always loving you the best of +all the world.</p> + +<p>“P. S.—The funniest thing happened after supper. Two the funniest +ones. The bashful-bugler, that’s Melvin, slipped something into my +hand and said: ‘That’s to remember me by, a keepsake, if anything +should happen to me out in the woods. I bought it for you that day +in Digby.’ When I opened the little box there was one those +weeny-wiggley sort of silver fishes, they call the ‘Digby +chickens,’ that I’d wanted to take home to Alfy. But I shan’t take +her this; I shall keep it. ’Cause Molly wants one, too, and when we +get our next month’s allowance, <i>if</i> we get it, we can write and +buy some by mail.</p> + +<p>“The other funny thing was one of those grown up ‘boys.’ He asked +me to play for him and had me stand right near him. When I got +through he looked over at the Judge and nodded his head. Two, three +times he nodded it and then he said, just like this he said it: ‘It +is the most remarkable likeness I ever saw. You’re on the right +track <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[Pg 197]</a></span>Schuy, I’m sure of it!’ And the Judge cried real pleased, +‘Hurray!’</p> + +<p>“They two were little boys together, down in the south where they +lived and they know Mrs. Cecil Calvert real well. And the other +‘boy’ said: ‘Aunt Betty’d ought to be spanked—same as she’s +spanked me a heap of times.’</p> + +<p>“I wonder if it was I ‘resembled’ anybody and who! I wonder why any +gentleman should say such a dreadful impolite thing about that dear +old lady! I wonder,—Oh, Father John! Your little girl so often +wonders many, many things! Good night at last. Molly calls real +cross and I must go.</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Dolly</span>.”</p> + +<p>Dorothy’s letters to Mother Martha were equally descriptive though not +so long. One ran thus:</p> + +<p>“Dearest Mother Martha:—<br /></p> + +<p>“You ought to see this farm where we’re living now. It’s so big and +has so many cattle and men working, and orchards and potato-fields. +They call the potatoes ‘Bluenoses’ just as they call the Nova +Scotia folks. The house is part stone and part wood. The stone part +was built ever and ever so long ago; strong so the man who built it +could protect himself against the Indians. The man was English, and +he was a Grimm; an ancestor of this Mr. Grimm we board with. The +Indians were Micmacs and friends of the French. Seems if they were +all fighting all together all the time, which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[Pg 198]</a></span>should own the land. +Mrs. Grimm says there have been a good many generations live here +though all are gone now except her husband and herself. They are +more than seventy years, both of them, but they don’t act one bit +old. She cooks and tends to things though she has two, three maids +to help her. He rides horseback all over his farm and jumps off his +horse and works with the men. Sometimes he drives the ox-carts with +the hay and lets us ride.</p> + +<p>“I did want you that last Saturday in Halifax. The day your letter +came to me with the one dollar in it. I expect you wanted I should +buy something to bring you with it but I didn’t. Listen. It was +what they called a ‘green market’ morning. Rained of course, or was +terrible foggy between showers. The market is just a lot of Indians +and negroes, and a few white people sitting round on the edge of +the sidewalk all around a big building. The Judge told me many of +them had come from across the harbor, miles beyond it, so far that +they’d had to walk half the night to bring their stuff to market. +Think of that! And such funny stuff it was. Green peas shelled in +little measures, ready to cook. (I wish they’d have them that way +in our own Lexington market at home!) Wild strawberries—I didn’t +see any other kind, no big ones like we have in Baltimore or at +home. The berries were hulled and put into little home-made +birch-bark baskets that the Indian women make themselves, just +pinned together at the end <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[Pg 199]</a></span>with a thorn or stick. Auntie Lu bought +some for us but Miss Greatorex wouldn’t let me eat the berries, +though I was just suffering to! She said after they’d been handled +by those dirty Indian fingers she knew they were full of microbes +or things and she didn’t dare. Oh! dear! I wish she didn’t feel so +terrible responsible for my health, ’cause it spoils a lot of my +good times. The boys weren’t afraid of microbes and they ate the +berries but I have the basket. It will be all I have to bring you +from Halifax; because one of those Indian women had her baby with +her and she looked so poor—I just couldn’t help giving that dollar +right to her. I couldn’t really help it. She wanted me to take +baskets in pay for it, but I knew that wouldn’t be <i>giving</i>. You +won’t mind, will you, dearest Mother Martha? if the only thing I +bring you from that city is a poor Indian woman’s blessing? You +always give to the poor yourself, so I wasn’t afraid you’d scold. +There are just two things that I’d like different here, on this +lovely vacation. One is if only you and father were here, too! +Every new and nice thing I see, or good time I have, I do so want +them for you both also. The other is—I wish, I wish I knew who my +father and mother were! The real ones. They couldn’t have been any +nicer than you have been to me, but folks that don’t know me are +sure to ask me about my family. Molly and Monty and Melvin are +always able to tell about theirs, but I can’t. Her mother, the +‘other Molly,’ died when she was a little thing, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[Pg 200]</a></span>but she knows all +about her. The Judge has a beautiful miniature of this ‘other +Molly’ his wife, and takes it with him wherever he goes, even into +that camp, where we’re to be let to go, maybe, for a salmon dinner +that the ‘Boys’ catch themselves.</p> + +<p>“There are lots of books in this old house and a piano. Each +generation has added to the library and Mrs. Grimm says that in the +winter she and her husband read ’most all the time. Christmases, no +matter how deep the snow, all their children come home and then the +rooms are opened and warmed and they have such fun. Oh! it must be +grand to belong to a big family and know it’s all your own! They +burn great logs of wood and even now we have a fire on the +living-room hearth all the time. One of the young Indian boys who +works here has nothing else for his chores except to keep the +wood-boxes filled and the fires fresh. He’s rather a nice Indian +boy but he’s full of capers. Molly is so lonesome without Monty and +Melvin to play with she makes plays with Anton. I don’t think Mrs. +Grimm likes it and I’m sure Aunt Lucretia doesn’t, for I heard her +tell Molly so. But nobody can keep Molly Breckenridge still. She +doesn’t care to read much and she hates practicing, and she cries +every time she has to sew a seam, though Mrs. Hungerford makes her +do that ‘for discipline.’ I don’t know what would become of the +darling if it wasn’t for Anton. She likes me, course, but I can’t +climb trees after cherries, or wade in ponds after water-lilies, +and though I like <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[Pg 201]</a></span>to ride horseback with her I’m afraid to go +beyond bounds where we’re told to stay. Molly isn’t afraid.</p> + +<p>“Please give my love to Aunt Chloe and write soon to your loving</p> + +<p class="right">“<span class="smcap">Dorothy</span>.”</p> + +<p>Having finished this letter, longer than common, Dorothy wandered out of +doors seeking her mate. She was nowhere in sight, but the man who rode +into town so many miles away, to fetch and carry the mail and to bring +supplies of such things as the farm did not produce, was just driving up +the road and playfully shook his mail-pouch at her. She sped to meet +him, was helped into his wagon and received the pouch in her arms. She +and Molly were always eager to “go meet the mail,” which was brought to +them only every other day, and whichever was first and obtained it was +given the key to the pouch and the privilege of distributing its +contents. This privilege would be Dorothy’s to-day; and she skipped into +the living-room and to the ladies at their sewing, dragging the pouch +behind her.</p> + +<p>Little she knew of its contents; or that among them would come the +solution of that “wonder” that now so constantly tormented her:—“Who +were my parents?”</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[Pg 202]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIII" id="CHAPTER_XIII"></a>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<h3>A MESSAGE FOR THE CAMP</h3> + +<p>When the gray-haired “Boys” had set out for camp, they had left word at +the farm that they wished no newspapers or mail matter of that sort +forwarded them. Also, most of them had, before leaving their own homes, +asked that no letters should be written except such as were important, +and these should be duly marked that. They wished to forget care and the +outside world as far as possible, and to live in the faith that “no news +is good news.”</p> + +<p>Therefore, since a fortnight had elapsed, there was a table in the +living-room already heaped with the mail which had accumulated during +that time. Each man’s portion of it was carefully sorted and placed by +itself; but this morning Auntie Lu, upon whom that duty devolved, did +not augment her brother’s heap by the three envelopes she had taken from +the pouch. She sat long with them in her lap, pondering the course she +should follow, for two bore a Richmond postmark and one that of +Annapolis, and each was marked according to direction: “Important.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[Pg 203]</a></span>Miss Greatorex and Dorothy had both received a letter and were eagerly +perusing them upon a low window seat, and Mrs. Hungerford left her own +mail unopened to glance toward them, still considering what she should +do. Her gaze rested longest upon the girl, whose face was radiant over a +long, many-paged epistle from Father John. The young lips were parted in +a smile, the brown eyes were smiling too, and Dolly looked such a +picture of innocent delight that a pang shot through the observer’s +tender heart. For she knew that those “Important” letters concerned the +child. They were addressed in Ephraim Cook’s familiar, crabbed hand, and +the man would never have ventured to disturb the peace of his absent +employer except by that employer’s command. Also, she knew that the only +business of “Importance” the Judge had entrusted to Mr. Cook was that +concerning Dorothy C. All law matters were attended to by other, more +experienced persons. She longed to break the seals and read the contents +for herself and wished now that she had asked permission so to do, but +she could not open another person’s letter without that one’s desire.</p> + +<p>Presently, she glanced through her own letters and sought Mrs. Grimm in +her kitchen, busy among her maids at preparing the mid-day meal, always +an early one since the farm-hands so preferred it; and it had been among +their arrangements that, although her “boarders” should have a separate +table in an inner room, the food for all the household <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[Pg 204]</a></span>should be the +same. Nobody could complain of this for the housemistress was a notable +cook and her supplies generous.</p> + +<p>“Beg pardon, Mrs. Grimm, for interrupting you, but I want to ask if +there’s a ‘hand’ not busy who could ride out to camp and carry some +letters to my brother. I am anxious he should have them for they may +require immediate replies.” She did not add, as she might, that an +intense but kindly curiosity of her own was another reason for the +request.</p> + +<p>“Why, I can hardly tell, Mrs. Hungerford. They’re all busy in the +fields, and my husband with them. There are some who need a constant +supervision and my man believes that there’s nothing so good for any job +as the ‘eye of the master.’ Else, he’d ride into the woods himself and +think naught of it. Let me consider who—”</p> + +<p>At that moment Anton came into the kitchen and threw an armful of hewn +wood beside the great fireplace, where kettles hung upon cranes and +“Dutch ovens” were ranged before the coals, each filled with savory food +for hungry people. It was a spot Mrs. Hungerford found vastly +interesting, but where she rarely lingered; for her presence seemed to +disconcert the shy French maids who served their mistress there and +whose own homes were isolated cottages here and there. So she was even +now leaving the kitchen when she chanced to notice Anton and asked:</p> + +<p>“Couldn’t this lad go? I know that he heaped <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[Pg 205]</a></span>the boxes in the +living-room and our bedrooms with more wood than we can use to-night, +and surely one kitchen-fire can scarcely require more than that pile +yonder. I will pay him, or you, well, if he can be spared to do my +errand.”</p> + +<p>This guest was rarely so insistent and her hostess saw that to deny her +the favor would be a great disappointment; so she answered that:</p> + +<p>“Anton can be spared if—Anton can be trusted. And please, understand, +dear madam, that no payment for such trivial service would be accepted.”</p> + +<p>“But it is a long ride there and back, longer than into Halifax isn’t +it? Yet the man who goes there makes but the one trip a day.”</p> + +<p>“That is for other reasons. He goes out in the morning upon our errands. +It is part of our contract with him that he shall stop the night in town +with his family and return the next day early. He is really our caterer +and postman. But Anton—Anton is ‘bound.’ And Anton needs watching. Lad, +do you promise that if I let you take a horse and ride to camp you’ll do +the lady’s errand right and ride straight home again?”</p> + +<p>He had lingered just within the kitchen doorway, fooling with the +youngest of the maids who resented his teasing by a sharp clap on his +cheek, but he had not been so absorbed in this pastime that he had not +heard every word spoken between his mistress and her guest. Knowing that +he was in truth an untrustworthy messenger, he resented its being told; +and the statement that no payment <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[Pg 206]</a></span>would be accepted angered him. He was +a bound-out servant, of course. So were many other lads of the Province +and no disgrace in it; but if a free gift were offered, was it not his +to take? A scowl settled on his dark face and he listened to the outcome +of the matter with a vindictive interest. Also, he answered, sullenly:</p> + +<p>“’Tis a far call to that camp in the woods and one must ride crooked, +not ‘straight,’ to reach it. ’Twould be in the night ere Anton could be +back, and there is no moon.”</p> + +<p>“Tut, lad! When was Anton ever afraid of the night or the dark? Indeed, +some tell me that he loves it better than the light. The Scripture tells +why. Will you go or not? And will you do the lady’s errand right?”</p> + +<p>“The master read in the Big Book, last Sunday-day that ever was, how the +‘laborer is worthy of his hire.’ That’s good Scripture, too, Missus, the +hay-makers say, and one nudged me to take notice at that time.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Grimm hastily turned that he might not see the smile which flitted +across her face, and Auntie Lu as suddenly found something interesting +to observe which brought her back also toward the quick-witted, +mischievous lad. She longed to renew her offer of payment but would not +interfere between mistress and man, so waited anxiously for the result. +It came after a moment, Mrs. Grimm saying:</p> + +<p>“Go, saddle the gray mare and ride upon that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[Pg 207]</a></span>errand. You shall have +your dinner first, and a supper in a napkin to cheer you on the ride +home. By ‘lights out’ you will be in your loft with the men. Now tidy +yourself and come to table.”</p> + +<p>Anton wasted no time before he obeyed. His sullenness had been but a +pretence and mostly assumed in order to secure that “payment” which the +“foreign” lady offered. The gray mare was a fleet traveler, easy under +the saddle—though for that matter he rarely used one—and he loved the +forest. A half-day away from the mistress’s eye was clear delight. She +had said nothing against a gun or a fishing line and not even the best +guide in that region knew better the secret of wood and stream than this +other descendant of the Micmacs.</p> + +<p>The maid he had teased was glad to be quit of him and hurried to dish up +his portion of the dinner, while Mrs. Hungerford returned to desk to +write a letter to her brother and to safely make all into a little +packet, marked: “Private and Important.”</p> + +<p>She had told her companions of Anton’s trip and Dorothy sped out of +doors to beg the lad:</p> + +<p>“If you see any new flowers, some of those wild orchids Miss Greatorex +read grew around here, will you bring me some? Just a few for specimens, +to press for Father John and Mr. Seth? They would be so pleased and I +will be so grateful. Will you?”</p> + +<p>Anton nodded. Promises were easy to make, and to break if he wished. +Then came a maid from the kitchen with a message for her home, a tiny +clearing on the edge of the “further wood.” To <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[Pg 208]</a></span>her, also, a promise was +readily spoken; and master Anton thrusting the securely tied packet of +letters into his pocket, bowed to Mrs. Hungerford with a third and more +important promise.</p> + +<p>“’Tis of a truth I will deliver this into the hand of the man they call +a Judge. It is a tedious task, yes, but I will so deliver it. Mayhap he +too remembers what the Scripture says.”</p> + +<p>He uttered the last sentence in a low tone, with a furtive glance +houseward, and bearing himself with an air of great complacency. He had +become a very important person just then, had Anton, the “bound out.” +Moreover, he was wholly honest in his determination so to deliver the +letters. That Judge in the woods hadn’t heard the mistress’s opinion +about payment and it wasn’t necessary that he should. Other farm hands +had witnessed to the liberality of those odd men who lived in a tent, +wore old clothes when they could wear new, and cooked their own food +when they might have had others cook for them. Anton was not afraid to +trust his “payment” to the man who owned the letters in that packet.</p> + +<p>Now it so happened that Molly was riding about the grounds and up and +down a leafy lane upon a gentle horse that her father had engaged for +her own and Dorothy’s enjoyment while on that lonely farm. She used the +creature far more than Dorothy, as was natural and right enough; and had +mounted it that day to escape what she called her chum’s “everlasting +fiddling.”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[Pg 209]</a></span>Dorothy was as fond of her violin as Molly averse to her piano; and the +nearest to dispute which ever rose between them was on account of +Dolly’s devotion to her music. She had even complained to Aunt Lucretia +that “a violin made her head ache.” Whereupon the ambitious violinist +had begged permission of its owner to use an empty corncrib at the foot +of the “long orchard,” as a music-room, and there “squeaked” as long and +as loud as she pleased. She was going there now, violin case under her +arm, to pass the half-hour before dinner and to watch the men come in +from the fields, at the ringing of the great bell which hung from a pole +beside the kitchen door. To her the country was full of every possible +delight, but poor Molly found it “too quiet and lonely for words.” So +she spent more and more of her time on every pleasant day, riding up and +down the lanes or following Farmer Grimm to the fields.</p> + +<p>Between those two a great affection had sprung up. He liked her +fearlessness in riding and laughed at her timidity when horned cattle +appeared anywhere near. He was proud of the way in which she could take +a fence and kept her with him all he could.</p> + +<p>On this day, however, he could not so take her. His errands were too far +afield and too unsuited for her, and that was why she now rode alone, +rather disconsolately up and down, until she saw Anton come out of the +stable yard, mounted upon the gray mare and holding his head like a +prince.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[Pg 210]</a></span>“Anton! Anton! Oh! are you going riding? Take me with you! Please, +please, Anton!”</p> + +<p>For answer he touched Bess with his heel and she flew out of the +enclosure like a bird.</p> + +<p>That was enough for Molly Breckenridge. Queenie, the broken-tailed +sorrel which she rode, was as swift as she was gentle and needed no goad +of heel or whip to spur her forward. A pat of the smooth neck, a word in +the sensitive ear—“Fetch him out, Queen!”—and the race was on.</p> + +<p>Anton glanced behind and the spirit of mischief flamed in him. They rode +toward the forest where a few wood-roads entered, each of which he knew +to its finish, not one of which knew Molly. Only this much she did know +that Anton lived at the farm, where she lived. Anton rode the farmer’s +horse as she did. Anton was never absent from meals and it was +dinner-time. Therefore, if she thought at all about it or considered +further than the delight of a real race, she knew that back to the farm +would Anton go and she could follow.</p> + +<p>He dashed aside from the wheel-rutted track. She stumbled over the +ridges, kept him in sight, and followed him. He doubled and twisted, so +did she. He dashed forward in a long straight line, curved, circled, and +came back to the wood-road some distance ahead. She did not curve but +cut his circle by a short line and brought up at his side.</p> + +<p>“Huh! ’Tis a good rider you are, Miss Molly, but you’d best go back now. +I’m for the camp.”</p> + +<p>“Never! You can’t be! They wouldn’t trust <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[Pg 211]</a></span>you, you’re so tricksy. Who’d +want you there?”</p> + +<p>He was instantly offended and showed it, drawing himself erect on the +gray mare and tossing his head high while his narrow black eyes looked +angrily at her. Then he drew from his blouse the packet Mrs. Hungerford +had given him and haughtily explained:</p> + +<p>“For that Judge. Now, am I trusted? No?”</p> + +<p>It was very strange. Ever since she had been at the farm she had heard +of Anton’s pranks and trickiness. Tasks he had been set to perform were +always neglected except that one of keeping fuel supplied, and this work +brought him, also, constantly under his mistress’s eye. Yet he allowed +Molly to come so close she could recognize her aunt’s handwriting +outside the packet, and especially that word “Important.”</p> + +<p>Suddenly she resolved.</p> + +<p>“Anton, if you ride to camp I ride with you.”</p> + +<p>“You will not. I say it.” He wasn’t going to be disappointed of his fun +along the way by the presence of this girl, and no time had been told +him when that parcel must be delivered. It must come to the Judge +<i>sometime</i>, that was all. The later the better for him, Anton, the more +leisure to enjoy the wild and escape that eternal carrying of wood. “You +will not,” he repeated, more firmly.</p> + +<p>“I will so. That is for my father. His name is on it and it is +‘Important.’ I will see that he gets it. I don’t trust you, Anton.”</p> + +<p>He was rather impressed by the fact that she <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[Pg 212]</a></span>could read what was +written—he could not. He was also angered further by that unwise remark +about not trusting him. He stared at her, she stared back. Good! It was +a battle of wills, then!</p> + +<p>He seemed to waver, smiled, and shrugged his shoulders. All roads lead +to one’s goal, if one knows them. He was an Indian. He could not be lost +in any forest, he who was wise in woodcraft and could tell all +directions by signs this “foreigner” could not know. He snapped his +fingers, airily, pricked Bess forward again and into a trackless +wilderness.</p> + +<p>For a moment Molly hesitated. Should she go back and give up this chase? +Turning around she gazed about her and could not tell which way she had +come.</p> + +<p>“Why! I couldn’t go back, even if I tried. I don’t see any track and—I +must follow him. I can hear him on ahead, by the breaking +branches—Forward, Queenie, quick, quick!”</p> + +<p>But Queenie wasn’t pleased to “forward.” She shrank from the rude +pressure of the undergrowth against her delicate shanks and, for an +instant, set her forefeet stubbornly among the ferns and brambles. But +Molly was now past tenderness with any mount which would not do her will +and Queenie was forced into the path she hated to tread. Already the +brief delay had cost her the sound of the gray mare’s progress. There +was neither breaking twig nor footfall to tell her whither that +tormenting Anton had vanished. There was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[Pg 213]</a></span>only the bruised herbage to +show which way he had ridden and she must follow; and for a long time +she kept her eyes on that faint lead and steadily pursued it.</p> + +<p>Then she came to a partly open glade and there she lost the trail +entirely. Across this glade Anton had certainly passed but in which +direction she couldn’t even guess. She reined Queenie to a stand and +called:</p> + +<p>“Anton! Anton! ANTON!!” and after another interval, again: “ANTON!”</p> + +<p>There was an agony of fear in that last cry. Had Anton heard it, even +his mischievous heart would have been touched and he would have ridden +back to reassure her. But he did not hear her. He had now struck out +from that narrow clearing into a road he knew well, by the blazed trees +and the wheel-marks the camp-teamster had left upon it. The undergrowth +had sprung up again, almost as completely as before it had been first +disturbed, and even had Molly found that trail she would not have known +enough to trace it.</p> + +<p>But he was now on his own right road. She was where—she pleased. He had +not asked her to come, he had tried to make her go back. He had not +wanted her at all, but she had taunted him, distrusted him, and yet he +knew that this once he was proving trustworthy. He felt that little +packet safe in his blouse and patted the cloth above it commendingly.</p> + +<p>“Good boy, Anton. If ’tis worth payment, this <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[Pg 214]</a></span>payment the so rich Judge +will give. That girl rides well. Let her take care of herself. Go, +Bess!”</p> + +<p>He fished a little, fired a shot or two at some flying bird, then +remembered that a shot might be heard and those from the camp come to +inquire why it had been fired. Save themselves there were supposed to be +no other sportsmen for miles around, and they would surely come, if from +no other motive than curiosity.</p> + +<p>It was supper-time when he came into camp and upon a picture that warmed +his heart and banished from it, for a time, that rather uncomfortable +sensation which had lately affected him. He had grown fanciful and +thought a night-bird’s call was the cry of somebody lost in the woods.</p> + +<p>He was glad to see that cheerful fire, to smell the savory food cooking +above it, to observe all the rude comforts with which modern sportsmen +surround themselves. Those boys—Why, they had positively grown fat! And +how they were laughing and fooling with one another! unrebuked by the +older campers, who sat about on logs or stools, and smoked or talked or +sang as the spirit moved them.</p> + +<p>The Judge’s keen eyes were the first to see the nose of the gray mare +appearing through the thicket and he sprang to his feet with a little +exclamation of alarm:</p> + +<p>“Why, Anton, lad! What brings you here? Nothing had happened, I hope! +Eh, what? A packet for me? All right. Thank you. You’re <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[Pg 215]</a></span>just in time to +join us. We’ve had fine sport to-day and will have a grand meal in +consequence. How’s everybody? How’s my little Molly?”</p> + +<p>Anton’s answer was an indirect one.</p> + +<p>“You’ll tell ’em I brought it safe, no?”</p> + +<p>“Why, surely. Did anybody doubt you would? And if it’s good news, a good +fee for fetching it. If bad—fee according!”</p> + +<p>He drew a little apart, opened the parcel and read the letters. Then he +took a pad from his tent and wrote a brief reply; after which he retied +the bundle and gave it back to Anton, saying:</p> + +<p>“Deliver this to Mrs. Hungerford as safely as you have to me and I dare +say she’ll give you another like this!”</p> + +<p>He held out a shining silver dollar but somehow, although the lad did +take it, it seemed to lie very heavy within that inner pocket where he +dropped it.</p> + +<p>Supper over, all grouped about the fire and beset the Indian guide for a +fresh batch of ghost stories, his specialty in literature or tradition; +and though Judge Breckenridge asked his messenger if it were not time +that he started back—for Aunt Lu had written urging him to keep the boy +no longer than was absolutely necessary—Anton still lingered. Hitherto +he had known no fear of any forest. He inherited his love for it and his +knowledge. He had even loved best to prowl in its depths during the +moonlit or starlit hours, and riding hither had anticipated a leisurely +return. So long as he was <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[Pg 216]</a></span>back at the farm by morning he saw no reason +to hurry himself before.</p> + +<p>Then he found himself listening to Monty’s question:</p> + +<p>“You say, Guide, that these very woods, right around us, are ‘haunted?’”</p> + +<p>“Sure. Hark!”</p> + +<p>There was a strange unearthly cry from somewhere in the distance and the +man continued:</p> + +<p>“Some call that a screech-owl! But I know it’s the cry of a girl who was +lost in this forest. Why, Anton, boy, what’s happened you?”</p> + +<p>Anton had suddenly swayed in his seat and his face under its copper skin +had turned ghastly pale.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[Pg 217]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XIV" id="CHAPTER_XIV"></a>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<h3>HOW MOLLY CAME TO CAMP</h3> + +<p>“Yes, she was the daughter of one of the French squatters on that very +lake we’ve fished this day. Susette they called her, and she was days in +the woods. Out of this <i>Laque de la Mort</i>, they drew her body; but +still, on dark nights, her spirit wanders as it wandered then, before +she sought or found rest in the pool. ’Tis easy, sure. Take one of you +men, even, and set you away from all the guide-marks we’ve made, you +could not find your way save by some inherited instinct. We Indians, +descendants of the forest men, get that instinct with our birth; even we +who have lived among the white men all our days. That Anton yonder, +though he has been housed under a roof ever since he was born, I warrant +me he could be set in some unknown wilderness but would find a way out. +Is it not so, Anton?” asked the half-breed story-teller, shading his +eyes from the firelight to look at the boy.</p> + +<p>An instant later he had risen and bent above Anton, who now cowered in +his corner his head bent upon his knees and his whole attitude one of +keen distress.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[Pg 218]</a></span>“Lad, what’s amiss with you?”</p> + +<p>Anton tossed off the kindly hand just laid upon his shoulder and raised +a face that had grown haggard, with wild terrified eyes staring into the +questioner’s face.</p> + +<p>“’Tis a lie, no? There is no girl wanders the forest nights! You are +fool, Merimée, with your words!”</p> + +<p>“That’s as a man judges. Ghost tales were asked and told, and one is +true. I know it. But fear not, lad. No spirit will molest to his harm +one who rides through the wood aright, in the fear of God and with +honesty in his heart. As for the ghost of poor Susette, hapless maid! +Would not one with a spark of manhood in him seek to help her if he +could? But alas! When one is dead, even living men with hearts of +courage can avail nought. But, up. You’ve rested and supped. ’Tis time +you were a-saddle and riding home to your duty. Up and away. Though the +wood looks dark from here, ’tis because of our fire so bright. The stars +are out and once away from this the road will seem light enough. As +light as many another when you’re played truant to your master to wander +in it. Up, and away!”</p> + +<p>This Merimée, guide, was mostly a man of few words. Yet when, as now, +his toil for the day was over and the campers gathered for an evening +chat it flattered his vanity to be asked for the legends and traditions +of the countryside. His tongue had been loosened and he used it thus +liberally <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[Pg 219]</a></span>for the benefit of Anton, the mischievous, who “shamed his +duty” as old Merimée always honored it. As he finished speaking he +walked to the tree where the gray mare was fastened, slipped on its +saddle, tightened its girth, and called:</p> + +<p>“Ready, Anton!”</p> + +<p>And, as if in echo, again floated through the air overhead a +night-bird’s mournful cry and Anton shrieked, then sprang to his feet +shivering with terror.</p> + +<p>The men stared at him, astonished, and Monty ran to him, shook him, and +demanded:</p> + +<p>“Don’t you know better than that? Scare a fellow’s wits out of his head? +That’s nothing but the same old bird that’s kept me awake—”</p> + +<p>Melvin shouted in laughter, and the others echoed him.</p> + +<p>“Kept you awake! Well, I’d like to know when? You that always go to +sleep over your supper—if you’re allowed!”</p> + +<p>Monty laughed, also, and the mirth around him seemed to restore Anton’s +composure in a measure. But happening to glance toward Judge +Breckenridge he saw that gentleman looking at him keenly and his guilty +conscience awoke. In fact, the Judge was merely interested in watching +the changes which fear wrought upon Anton’s healthy face and was growing +impatient to have the lad start home. He knew how eagerly his sister +would wait to read the letters he was returning her and to comply with +his own brief instructions concerning them. He <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[Pg 220]</a></span>was a man who wished +always to do at once anything he had to do; and nothing annoyed him more +than others’ shilly-shallying. To his amazement, Anton begged him:</p> + +<p>“Don’t! Don’t, sir, look at me like that! I didn’t go for to do it! +She—she done it herself!”</p> + +<p>“Who did what? Have you lost your common sense?”</p> + +<p>Then it all came out, the whole miserable story; in broken sentences, +with keenest regret now, unhappy Anton told of Molly’s following, of the +trick he had played upon her, and of the fact that she was now wandering +somewhere in that wild forest alone, save for old Queenie.</p> + +<p>But the story was not ended before every member of that startled group +was on his feet, ready for search and rescue. Though he could almost +have killed the lad where he cowered, so furious was his wrath and +terrible his fear, the Judge controlled himself and sternly ordered:</p> + +<p>“With me you come, Anton. Close to me you keep and lead me to the last +spot where you left my child. If we find her not—”</p> + +<p>He did not need to finish his sentence with a threat, nor did he wait +for the horse which Merimée made haste to catch and saddle. On foot he +started, Anton held by an iron grasp, and they two were out of sight +before the others had quite realized that they were even moving.</p> + +<p>Old Merimée took charge without question; organizing his little company +into bands of two and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[Pg 221]</a></span>directing each pair to take a separate route +through the woods, but all verging toward the east and the distant +farmhouse. He arranged that all, carrying guns, should agree upon +certain signals; one shot meant distress, two reports called for +reinforcement by the nearest searchers; and three—or a succession of +more—good news, that the work had happily ended and the word was: “Back +to the camp!”</p> + +<p>The old college president took Montmorency as his aide, with the +clannish instinct of two New Englanders for one another’s company. +Indeed, this odd pair had been almost constant companions since they +entered the woods, and the lad had found the alert old man the “jolliest +‘boy’ he had ever chummed with.”</p> + +<p>The surgeon called Melvin to share his own search and the merchant +strode sturdily forward in the wake of Merimée, the guide; who delayed +but long enough to cover the fire and to sling over his shoulder a +hunting-horn. He had often used this for four-footed game, and might now +as a call to the Judge’s lost daughter. Seeing Merimée do this sent +Melvin also back to his tent, yet only for a moment. Then he ran after +his partner and disappeared in the gloom of the forest.</p> + +<hr class="medium" /> + +<p>Back at Farmer Grimm’s, when Molly rode out of the grounds, there had +been none to see her go except one of the maids, drooping with +sick-headache against the back porch. Even she had scarcely <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[Pg 222]</a></span>realized +the fact, so absorbed was she by her own physical misery. There her +mistress found her and promptly despatched her to her room and bed, +until she should recover, and it was not till some hours later that she +descended to find the house in a turmoil of search and anxiety. At +dinner-time, Mrs. Hungerford had bidden Dorothy to call Molly; adding a +warning word:</p> + +<p>“Tell her, Dolly dear, that she must come at once. Too often she lingers +and keeps Mrs. Grimm waiting. That isn’t right because this household is +managed as systematically as your own Academy in school time. Be sure +and tell her.”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Auntie Lu, when I find her,” answered Dorothy, speeding out of +doors, while the lady looked after her with more than ordinary interest; +thinking: “What a dear, bonny creature that child is! And I am so glad, +I hope so much for her now. I’m sure Schuyler will bid me go ahead and +write, or will send a note to be forwarded. I can hardly wait for the +outcome of the matter, but Dorothy must know nothing—nothing—until +just the right moment. Then for the climax, and God grant it be a happy +one!”</p> + +<p>She sat down on the broad sill by the open window to wait for the girls, +lost in her own happy thoughts, until Miss Greatorex came and asked:</p> + +<p>“Did you know that dinner had been served some moments and is fast +getting cold? It’s mutton to-day, and Mrs. Grimm is fretting that +‘mutton must be eaten hot to be good.’”</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[Pg 223]</a></span>“So late? I was musing over something—didn’t notice. Have the girls +come in without my seeing them?”</p> + +<p>“Neither of them.”</p> + +<p>“That’s odd. By the way, when did you see Molly?”</p> + +<p>“A few moments after breakfast, I think. I’ve been writing all morning +at that further window and have scarcely looked out. Why?”</p> + +<p>“She hasn’t been in and dearly as she loves riding I never knew her to +keep on with it so long, unless she was off with the farmer. I sent +Dolly to call her and now she delays, too.”</p> + +<p>“Very well, <i>I</i> will find Dorothy!” said Miss Isobel, with an air of +authority. She considered Mrs. Hungerford quite too indulgent to her +niece and was all the more strict with her own especial charge for that +reason. She now left the room with a firm step and was still wearing an +air of discipline when she came upon Dorothy emerging from the stables. +The child looked perplexed and a trifle frightened. She didn’t wait for +her governess to upbraid her but began at once:</p> + +<p>“Oh, dear Miss Isobel! I can’t find her anywhere! Nobody has seen her +and Queenie isn’t in her stall. I’ve been to my corncrib, the garden, +the long orchard all through, and yet she isn’t. Ah! There’s Mr. Grimm! +He’s finished his dinner already and is going back to the hay-fields. +Please excuse me, I’ll run ask him if he’s seen her.”</p> + +<p>“Best not delay longer yourself, Dorothy—” <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[Pg 224]</a></span>called Miss Greatorex, but +for once her charge did not pause at this tone of reproof; and a first, +faint feeling of alarm rose in her own breast.</p> + +<p>“Molly, lassie? No, indeed! I haven’t seen her to-day. I was off to work +before she came down stairs, but I’ve been wishing for her and you, too, +the livelong day. The wild-roses that you love are blooming wonderful. +All my far-away meadows are hedged with them as perfect as if they’d +been set out a-purpose. Miles of them, I fancy, are on this old farm; +but little golden-haired Molly’s the sweetest wild-rose I’ve seen this +summer. For you’re no wild rose, lassie. You’re one of those +‘cinnamons,’ home-keepers, close by the old house and that the Missus +claims are the prettiest in all the world. So there’s a compliment for +the pair of you! Wait till I whistle! Mistress Molly knows that it +means: ‘Come! I’m waiting for your company!’ ’Twill fetch her, sure, if +she’s within the sound of it.”</p> + +<p>So he put his hands to his lips and whistled as only he could do, a +long, musical note of call that reached far and wide and that the +missing girl had often likened to the sound of Melvin’s bugle.</p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 321px;"> +<img src="images/i225.jpg" class="ispace jpg" width="321" height="500" alt="“QUEENIE TOO, HAD HEARD.” Dorothy’s Travels." title="" /> +<span class="caption">“QUEENIE TOO, HAD HEARD.”<br /> <i>Dorothy’s Travels.</i></span> +</div> + +<p>But there came no answer of Queenie’s footfalls over the gravel nor +their soft thud-thud upon the grass, and the farmer felt he could delay +no longer. Yet, could he go? While his little “comrade” was missing? +Silly, to feel a moment’s alarm at such a trivial thing. A thoughtless +lassie, sure she was, this little maid of the far-away southland; but +oh! so <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[Pg 225]</a></span>“winsie.” No. Let the hay wait. He’d tarry a bit longer and be on +hand to scold Fair-Hair when she came galloping back with a string of +merry excuses tumbling off her nimble tongue, her ready “I forgots” or +“I didn’t thinks”—the teasing, adorable witch that she was!</p> + +<p>“Fetch me my pipe and my paper, Dorothy, girl. I’ll wait under this +apple tree till she comes. But do you all get your dinners and not so +many go hungry because one wild child loiters. A whisper! The missus is +getting a trifle crisp, in the kitchen yon. She’s missing the nap that +is due her as soon as her people are fed. Best make haste. It’s +pleasanter for all on the Farm when Missus is left to go her gait +regular, without hindrance from any. Go, little maid, and a blessing on +you.”</p> + +<p>So she ran and brought him his pipe and his paper, received a kiss for +her pains, and left him on the bench under the apple-tree, idle because +little Molly was idle—no better reason than that—though this was his +busiest time and he a most busy man.</p> + +<p>But Mrs. Hungerford could not eat, even though courtesy compelled her to +table and to taste the good fare provided. Her want of appetite banished +Miss Isobel’s, and though Dorothy was healthily hungry, as why shouldn’t +she be? even she sent away her plate untouched, and was the first of the +trio to put into words the dreadful fear that was in all their hearts:</p> + +<p>“I can’t, I can’t eat! Something has happened <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[Pg 226]</a></span>to Molly! Something +terrible has come to our Molly!”</p> + +<p>That ended waiting. After that the farmer promptly summoned his men, the +mistress her maids, and a thorough search of all the premises began. +Over the old-fashioned well with its long sweep poor Aunt Lu hovered +like a creature distraught.</p> + +<p>That well had held a fascination for the novelty-loving Molly, in this +case its age being the to her new thing. She had tried her own strength +in lifting the great beam and lowering the bucket from its pole; and, +perhaps, she had done so now and had fallen over the curb into the +depths below!</p> + +<p>In vain did the others tell her how almost impossible this would have +been; she could not be dissuaded, and most earnestly begged the farmer +to have someone search the well.</p> + +<p>“No, no, dear madam. Not till we’ve tried other more likely spots first. +The last time Molly was seen was on Queenie’s back. Well, then we have +only to find the sorrel and we’ll find the child. Take comfort. That +up-and-a-coming little lass isn’t down anybody’s well. Not she.”</p> + +<p>There were many barns and outbuildings on that big farm; some new and +modern, some old and disused. Not one was left unsearched. All work +stopped. Haymakers and ploughmen left their fields to add their willing +feet and keen eyes to the business, and up-garret, down cellar, through +dairies, pantries, unused chambers, everywhere <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[Pg 227]</a></span>within doors the +troubled housemistress led her own corps of searchers, and always +without result. This had been a foregone conclusion yet she left nothing +undone that might lead to the discovery of the missing girl; while the +longer they sought the deeper the conviction grew in all those anxious +hearts: “Molly is lost.”</p> + +<p>It was the maid with the headache who furnished the first clue. Coming +below after her hours of rest, she found the kitchen deserted, and all +labor at a standstill. Hearing voices without she questioned the first +she met and was told in faltering tones:</p> + +<p>“The bonny little maid is—lost!”</p> + +<p>“<i>Lost?</i> Where, then, is Anton?”</p> + +<p>“Gone with a parcel to the far-away camp. The mistress sent him for Mrs. +Hungerford.”</p> + +<p>“Well, but, the maid was with him. That is she sought to be. I heard her +call after him as he rode away and I thought her cries would split my +aching head. He was galloping out of the far gate and she a-chase. They +need not seek her hereabouts.”</p> + +<p>Said the mistress, in vast relief:</p> + +<p>“I might have known. I might have guessed. He a mischievous tease, she a +wild, impulsive child.” Then she hurried to poor Auntie Lu, sitting +disconsolate beside the well with Dorothy clasping her hand in her own +small ones, trying to comfort as best she could, and exclaimed: “Fear no +more! We should have thought at once the prank that <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[Pg 228]</a></span>madcap would be at! +She saw Anton ride away to the camp and she has followed him. The maid +who was ill remembers. She is safe with her father long before this. +Come in by, now, come in and have a cup of tea. A cup of tea will set +you up again like anything.”</p> + +<p>Aunt Lu was greatly cheered but it took more than the other’s panacea of +a “cup of tea” to banish all anxiety; yet in the hope that had been +raised she passed the remainder of that dreadful day as calmly as she +could and without burdening others with the fear which still lingered in +her heart.</p> + +<p>Upon his wife’s report the farmer left off prying into all the home +places and saddled his fleetest horse. He sent all the men back to the +fields to house the abandoned hay machines and rusting ploughs, and to +attend the many duties of so great a farm. But he took one man with him +and a “snack” of supper in their pockets. It would be a long ride there +and back and a detour might be necessary. Wherever he found sign of the +child’s wandering, should she by chance have lost the trail of Anton, +whom she followed, he would keep to the signs and not the shortest +route. Many a place there was, of course, where even the surest-footed +horse could not travel, and only a foot passage be made with difficulty.</p> + +<p>But he rode round to Auntie Lu, now coaxed within doors to an open +window, and cheerily bade her:</p> + +<p>“Keep stout heart, my woman dear. When you <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[Pg 229]</a></span>see my grizzled face again +you shall see your Molly’s bonny one beside it. I’m a Grimm. I mean it.”</p> + +<p>Then he bared his gray head, settled himself firmly in his saddle, +called to his man: “Come on!” and rode as gallantly to the rescue as if +his seventy winters had been no more than seventeen.</p> + +<p>All this time where was Molly?</p> + +<p>When she found that Anton had disappeared from that open spot in the +forest she was at first terrified then comforted.</p> + +<p>“Why, I reckon this must be mighty near that camp, after all. It’s ’most +clear of the little trees and bushes, like some of the farm-groves that +anybody can play in and not be scared or—or get their dresses torn. +Queenie, you and I can rest a few minutes. Somehow I’m dreadful tired. I +rode such a lot all morning and now away out here after that Anton. He’s +mean. He surely is dreadful ornery. When I see him again I’ll just hold +my head mighty high and take no notice. Indians aren’t much better than +negroes, I reckon. Anyhow he isn’t half so nice. Catch one of our black +‘boys’ treating ‘little missy’ so! You hungry, too, Queenie? Well, +you’re luckier than I for you can get your dinner off the ground. Go +ahead and nibble it. I’ll wait for you;” she said, talking to the sorrel +as if she were human and could understand, and slipping from her saddle +to the ground.</p> + +<p>After a moment’s contemplation of the lovely place, where a little +stream ran trickling and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[Pg 230]</a></span>babbling over stones, and where the ferns were +high as her head, looking to her like miniature trees themselves, she +began to feel almost contented. Open places between the pines let the +sunlight through and, where it fell, the wild roses which creep +everywhere over that fair land had forced themselves into a home and +bloomed away most bravely. Then she espied a scarlet patch of color +underneath and found that they were the wild strawberries she loved so +well. She cried, scrambling after these:</p> + +<p>“Ah! Queenie! You’re not the only one can get something to eat away out +here in the woods. I suppose that’s the kind of stream Papa fishes for +trout. If I had a line and a hook and—and whatever I needed I could +fish, too. But I wouldn’t. I never would like to kill anything, though a +trout that somebody else had killed would make a mighty nice dinner +right now.”</p> + +<p>The berries were plenty, and “enough” of anything is “as good as a +feast.” At least they satisfied her immediate hunger as the water from +the brook, caught in a little cup made of a big leaf, satisfied her +thirst. Queenie slaked her own thirst at the same pool and was so quiet +and content that she greatly helped to cheer her small companion.</p> + +<p>Finally Molly remembered a maxim she had once taught Dorothy:</p> + +<p>“When you’re lost, stay right still in that spot till somebody comes and +finds you.” Not always <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[Pg 231]</a></span>the safest judgment, it may be, but consoling +then to this small girl.</p> + +<p>Then she continued to converse with the sorrel mare; assuring that calm +creature:</p> + +<p>“That boy went away out of here, some place, and to go home again he’ll +have to come away back. That’s plain enough. Now, you and I are real +safe, Queenie, really perfectly safe; if some them mooses or caribous, +or deers, or—or things—Let’s not think about them, Queenie. Let’s just +wait. Let’s—let’s take a nap if we can, to make the time pass +till—till Anton comes.”</p> + +<p>She wished she hadn’t happened to think of any “wild beasts” just then +and she was astonished to see Queenie take her advice so literally; for +down upon that mossy ground dropped the sorrel, did its utmost to work +the saddle off its back, and, failing in this, stretched itself on its +side and did go to sleep.</p> + +<p>Then for a time Molly busied herself in gathering flowers, wherever she +caught sight of one, and, thrusting them into her blouse, told Queenie +that “these are for that terrible flowery girl, Dorothy C. Oh! I wonder +what she is doing now! If she isn’t scraping away on that old fiddle +I’ll bet she’s missing me. ’Tisn’t polite for girls to ‘bet,’ Auntie Lu +says. Oh! I wish I could see her now. Funny I should be so lonesome, +right in the daylight with Queenie here. If I don’t look out I’ll be +crying; for I’m getting that awful scared way I was when Anton first +went. I’ll lie down too on that pile of <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[Pg 232]</a></span>ferns and go to sleep—if I +can. I hope there aren’t any wigglers of any sort to get into my ears. +I’ll put my handkerchief over them and my face on that. Let’s play +pretend it’s bedtime, Queenie. Good night.”</p> + +<p>There was no response from the weary old horse who had jogged about +nearly all that day and Molly waited for none. A merciful drowsiness +stole upon her and when she woke again the night was really there. +Through the scattered tree-tops she could see the stars shining; close +at her feet was the same gentle purring of the little stream, and +overhead the soft rustle of pine needles moving lightly in the breeze. +But what had wakened her? Something had, she knew. Some sound other than +that of the brook or the pines. Queenie too, had heard. She had got to +her feet and was listening, was whinnying, as in no fear of whatever +thing it was. Molly could dimly see the old horse against the background +of gloom but her presence was vast comfort.</p> + +<p>Hark! HARK!!</p> + +<p>Molly was on her feet now, wider awake than in all her life +before, hands clasped to her breast, head bent forward, +listening—listening—listening.</p> + +<p>“Toot! Toot! Tooty-ti-tooty-ti-toot!”</p> + +<p>“A bugle! A bugle! The ‘Assembly!’ First call to meals! Melvin’s coming! +Melvin—MELVIN!”</p> + +<p>Nearer and nearer it came. It was at hand. On <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[Pg 233]</a></span>the other side the +murmuring stream. On this side. In her very ears; and screaming +“Melvin!” with all the agony of fear that she had pent within her brave +heart, Molly fell sobbing in the “Bashful Bugler’s” arms.</p> + +<p>A few minutes later she was in her father’s; and not long thereafter sat +upon his knee before the camp-fire with her head upon his breast and he +clasping her close, close in an embrace that held within it almost an +agony of joy, so fierce it was.</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[Pg 234]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XV" id="CHAPTER_XV"></a>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<h3>MRS. CALVERT PLANS AN INFAIR</h3> + +<p>Instead of being scolded for her escapade Molly found herself a sort of +heroine. Nothing could exceed the tenderness of her thankful father, nor +the interest of all the campers. The signal shots had brought them all +back to the camp, and there the two lads went immediately to work to +cook for the girl the most wonderful of suppers. Monty had caught some +of Melvin’s deftness at the task and was most ambitious to show Molly +his newly acquired skill. Also, at the first opportunity, when the Judge +had for a moment released his darling’s hand to rise and greet Farmer +Grimm coming through the woods, the boy proudly pulled from his pocket a +few small coins and displayed them upon his palm.</p> + +<p>“See them, Miss Molly? Hmm. Those are mine. My own. +I—earned—them—myself!”</p> + +<p>He paused so long to let this amazing statement sink into her mind that +Melvin called:</p> + +<p>“Come on, Mont! No loafing! Fetch another bit of wood and get on your +hurry-up step! Merimée covered this fire so snug he nigh put it out, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[Pg 235]</a></span>but wise enough, too. A fire in the forest isn’t a laughing matter. +Look out! Don’t poke it, you clumsy, else you’ll tip over that +coffee-pot. First time we’ve had a lady to visit us don’t want to act +the blunder-head, do you?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! hush, Bugle! No call to bulldoze a fellow just because you happened +to be first on the spot! What made you think of carrying that thing, +anyway?”</p> + +<p>Molly herself drew near to hear the answer. She was wondering at the +fact of their jolly comradeship, which was now so evident; and at +Monty’s pride over a little money—he who had cared so little for it +once. She was wondering at many things, and when Melvin did not at once +reply she repeated Monty’s question.</p> + +<p>“Melvin, how did you happen to take the bugle?”</p> + +<p>“Why—why—I don’t know, but I fancy my mother would say that Providence +put it into my mind. My mother believes that Providence has a Hand in +everything, don’t you know? Anyhow, I’m glad I did take it. Without it +and you hearing it we might have wandered right past that very +place—one spot looks so much like another in the woods at night.”</p> + +<p>“Melvin, would you sell me that bugle? It was that saved my life, maybe, +if the animals I thought about had come or if—Would you?” asked Molly, +softly, and with a pathetic clasping of her hands, which trembled again +now, as she recalled past perils.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[Pg 236]</a></span>“No, Molly, I won’t sell it to you. I’ll give it to you, if you’ll take +it that way, and only wish it were a better one. It’s the cheapest made. +It had to be, don’t you know?”</p> + +<p>For a moment the girl hesitated. She did not like to rob the lad of his +only musical enjoyment and she felt that he could not afford the gift. +Then she remembered that there were other bugles in the world and that +she had but to suggest to her father a sort of exchange for the better, +and so satisfy both herself and Melvin. So she said simply:</p> + +<p>“I shall prize it as the greatest treasure in the world, and I thank +you, I—I can’t say much—I can’t talk when I feel most—but don’t you +know how I feel? About my teasing you whenever I had the chance and—and +lots of things? I’ll take the bugle if—if ‘you’ll call the slate washed +clean,’ as Dolly says, and we can begin all over again?” She held out +her hand, entreatingly, and the shy lad took it for a moment, then +dropped it as if its touch had burned. A sudden wave of his old +bashfulness had swept over him, for though he had gained much +self-confidence during those weeks in camp it would be a long time +before he conquered the timidity of his nature, if he ever did.</p> + +<p>Then she asked Monty how he had earned money in such a place as that and +he answered proudly:</p> + +<p>“Made myself generally useful. The Prex hired me to wait on him and keep +his traps in order sometimes—when the other old ‘Boys’ would let <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[Pg 237]</a></span>him +be ‘coddled.’ Every man for himself, you know, out here. But the Prex is +odd. He wants his boots blacked, or shoes, that he puts on after he +takes off his hunting ones and I’ve ‘shined’ ’em for him like any street +bootblack that ever did my own. Fact! Fancy what my mother would say! +Master Montmorency Vavasour-Stark blacking shoes in order to get a bit +of pocket-money! But I tell you what, Molly Breckenridge, I like it. I’m +going to have one of these dimes made into a watch-charm and wear it +always, just to remind me how fine I felt over the first, the very +first, cent I ever honestly earned. And it’s taught me one thing. I’ll +quit idling. I shall never be a scholar like long-legged Jim, but I’ll +<i>do</i> things, I mean it. I’ll find out what I can do best, and I think I +can guess that, and then I’m going ahead to do it. I’m going to ask Papa +to stop giving me money. I’m going to shock my mother by going to work. +But—that Prex is a wise old chap. He’s taught hundreds, likely +thousands, of boys to make decent men and he’s trying to teach me. He +says—”</p> + +<p>“O, Monty! Quit! I’ve broiled that salmon steak to the Queen’s taste and +the coffee’s settled as clear as that spring water and—Supper’s ready, +Miss Molly Breckenridge. Will your ladyship partake?” demanded Melvin, +interrupting.</p> + +<p>Such a supper that was! Odd, that all the campers who had fared so +heartily just a little while before should suddenly be “taken hungry” +again and beg an invitation too. Even Farmer Grimm and <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[Pg 238]</a></span>his man waited +to feast with the others before riding home to carry the good news; then +departed, with the forgiven but shame-faced Anton riding between them +and with the precious packet of letters transferred from his pocket to +his master’s for safe-keeping.</p> + +<p>Molly stayed the night to rest; lying snug in her father’s tent while he +sat long awake thinking of many things; but mostly thankful for the +safety of the little maid whose love and life meant all the world to +him. The dear, repentant child; who had not gone to sleep till, all +alone with him in the seclusion of his tent, she had clasped her arms +about his neck and begged his pardon for all her thoughtlessness.</p> + +<p>“It was terrible there in the dark woods when I woke and found I was +lost, alone; but that wasn’t half so terrible, it didn’t make me feel +half so bad in here,” laying her hand upon her heart, “as it does +knowing how unhappy I’ve made everybody and how much trouble given. +Seems if I never would be heedless and forget again, Papa dearest, seems +if! But I’m just only Molly—and I haven’t much faith in your Molly, +Judge Breckenridge!”</p> + +<p>What could he do but kiss her quivering lips and smile at the whimsical +way in which she expressed her contriteness? And, after all, would he +have had her greatly different from what she was by nature, just his +great-hearted, impulsive, precious Molly?</p> + +<p>Next morning she rode home in great state. With <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[Pg 239]</a></span>Guide Merimée heading +the little cavalcade and with masters Melvin and Monty on either side +when that was practical for the crowding of the trees, and as van or +rear guard it was not. Because the road was straight enough to one who +knew it, as did the half-breed hunter, and that happy company followed +him with no thought of care. Monty was laden with wild-flowers of every +sort for Dorothy; Melvin had store of forsaken birds’ nests, lichens, +and curious bits of stone or bark for Miss Greatorex to add to her +“collection,” which Mrs. Hungerford assured her would cost more than it +was worth to pass the revenue officers. “No matter if it does!” cried +the happy teacher, “since it will be such an addition to Miss +Rhinelander’s museum.”</p> + +<p>The guide brought fish, freshly caught that morning before daybreak, and +enough of game to feast even that farm crowd of “hands;” and having +tarried long enough to deliver the packet to Mrs. Hungerford, to assure +her that her brother was well and more than happy now; that he and the +other “Boys” intended to lengthen their vacation by a few weeks, in fact +to “stay just as long as they could;” to add that by no means must Molly +ride “off grounds” again, alone, and that Anton was not to be punished +for his “prank;” and to partake of Mrs. Grimm’s most excellent food and +drink. Then he called the lads, now almost reluctant to leave the +pleasant place of peace and plenty, and rode away again, they following +and looking back again and again, to wave farewell.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[Pg 240]</a></span>“I never saw so great an improvement in two boys as in those!” said +Auntie Lu, standing to watch them disappear toward the forest, with +Molly fast in her arms and Dorothy beside her; then laughed at the +rather awkward manner in which she had expressed herself, as she saw +Miss Greatorex regarding her. But for once that estimable person was not +critical of others’ speech or grammar; and murmured with an air of great +content:</p> + +<p>“So many more weeks of rest and time to write up my travels.”</p> + +<p>Mrs. Hungerford sighed, but conquered the slight loneliness that now +oppressed her and set to work herself upon a vigorous correspondence and +the carrying forward of a matter her brother had outlined for her. +Sometimes in writing these letters she asked Dorothy to sit beside her +and would frequently look at the girl as if she were studying her +features or her manner. At such time Dolly felt a little awkward and +perplexed, yet always, in some indefinable manner, as if this scrutiny +were for her own good. Then Auntie Lu would laugh and call the girl her +“Inspiration,” and write the faster.</p> + +<p>Those last weeks on the old Farm were very quiet, uneventful, yet most +happy ones; and the two girls passed much of the time in the cool, +shadowy library, among the fine literature therein collected. For Molly +had no further desire at present for “larks” and began, instead, to find +out how much happiness one may find between the covers of a <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_241" id="Page_241">[Pg 241]</a></span>book. +Dorothy introduced her to Dickens, and thereafter the merry maid needed +no urging to: “Do sit down and read and let me do so!”</p> + +<hr class="medium" /> + +<p>One morning in that late summer time, Mrs. Betty Calvert was sitting on +a hotel veranda at the Springs. She was looking very handsome and +queenly, in her white gown, her piled-up, snow-white hair, and her “air +of one who belonged” to an old “aristocracy.” A little table was beside +her, heaped with her morning’s mail; for here, even as in her old home +at Bellvieu, she surrounded herself with more such reading matter than +she could use. But the letters were duly read and re-read, some of them; +and at last she dropped one to her lap, and remarked to a gentleman near +her:</p> + +<p>“Cousin Seth, Lucretia Breckenridge always was a fool!”</p> + +<p>“Hard judgment, Cousin Betty. I should have given quite the contrary. I +always thought her a very sweet, sensible, lovable woman.”</p> + +<p>“Hmm. You see a deal of ‘sweetness’ in this silly old world. But look +here. What sensible woman would write a letter of twenty pages when one +would do? All to convince me of something I already knew.”</p> + +<p>“Don’t expect me to answer that. Go on and tell me what’s ‘meat’ in so +much ‘cocoanut.’”</p> + +<p>“She believes—and she takes pages to justify her belief—that she has +traced the parentage of one Dorothy, a foundling! Indeed! Why, Seth, +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_242" id="Page_242">[Pg 242]</a></span>those people up in that unhappy Nova Scotia—unhappy to be afflicted +with two such foolish visitors—they think themselves detectives fit to +rank with the world’s greatest. I thought Schuyler had some sense if +Lucretia hadn’t. If they weren’t already there I’d bid them both ‘go to +Halifax’ as I used to be bidden when I was a naughty little girl and +plagued my nurse. She makes a great ado about Dorothy’s ‘unhappiness.’ I +can’t believe that. I never, never saw a happier child in all my life. +The idea! Lucretia is just as simple as she was always. She’s set out to +find who Dorothy’s parents are or were and she thinks she’s found. The +idea! The impertinent minx!”</p> + +<p>The “Learned Blacksmith” did not reply, but calmly perused his own +paper. He was a blacksmith transformed, and he seemed to fit into this +environment as readily and completely as he had fitted the simple life +of the old smithy under the Great Balm tree. He had recovered his health +but was sojourning for a little time in this old resort of his youth, +meeting those who were lads and maidens then but now as venerable as +himself. Few among them were as alert, as vigorous and as young of heart +as Cousin Betty and himself; and they two had, as a younger guest +remarked: “Been having the time of their lives. Why, that black-eyed old +lady has more attention this day than any of us girls; and as for wit +and repartée, there isn’t her equal this year at our Springs.”</p> + +<p>After a few moments of this silence, during which <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_243" id="Page_243">[Pg 243]</a></span>Mrs. Calvert tapped +her white slipper impatiently, she interrupted her companion’s reading +by an exclamation:</p> + +<p>“Seth Winters, do put up that tiresome paper and listen. I don’t believe +you’ve comprehended a single sentence you’ve looked at. I know. Your +eyes had that hungry-for-Dorothy look in them. Leastwise, if they +hadn’t, the feel of it is in my own old heart. A pretty how’d-ye-do, +when that little Lu Breckenridge-Hungerford sets out to hint to me of my +duty! a slip of a girl like her—the saucy chit!”</p> + +<p>Old Seth laughed, so merrily that others drew near to learn the sport; +seeing which, Mistress Elizabeth Cecil Somerset-Calvert, rather +haughtily arose and remarked:</p> + +<p>“Come, Cousin Seth, I’d like to take a walk.”</p> + +<p>Pacing the green grove, up and down its smooth paths, they were +undisturbed; but now all desire for conversation had left Mrs. Betty. +She was, indeed, in deep reflection; wondering if a certain course she +had followed were all for the best as she had hitherto esteemed it; and +the only hint she gave to the blacksmith was the sentence:</p> + +<p>“I wanted to wait till she came of her own accord. I’ve never quite +forgiven her for preferring that woman Martha to me.”</p> + +<p>Then she went on in a silence which he knew her too well to disturb and +finally she announced:</p> + +<p>“I think I’ll give a house party at Deerhurst. A regular old-fashioned +‘infair,’ though it’ll be no <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_244" id="Page_244">[Pg 244]</a></span>bride for whom the festivity is given. +After the assembly—what seems best! Those Breckenridges and their +camping friends; including the old ‘boys’ and young ones. The foster +parents, of course; and Johnnie must be written to about bringing that +sealed letter of mine, that I entrusted to his care. I marked it not to +be opened till after my death; but I think I’ll postpone dying—if God +wills!—for I’m not nearly so dumpish as I was the day I sealed that +packet and set my directions upon it. I may open it and I may not. I may +oblige Lu Breckenridge by letting her think she’s a wonderful clever +woman, and I may take the wind out of her sails by telling her—the +truth. What do you say? Will you go along?”</p> + +<p>“Will I not? I should go anyway, whether your house-warming-infair +materializes or not. I hope, though, you won’t change your mind, because +I long for the mountain and my peaceful life upon it. I hope you’ll +stick to this notion longer than some others.”</p> + +<p>“Then come in and help me write the invitations and set things in trim +for such a big entertaining. After they’re written I can’t change my +mind, you know, though I rarely do. I scorn the imputation. Only, ought +I to do it? Will it be for the best?”</p> + +<p>“Oh! make haste, Betty Calvert! If I don’t get those invitations off in +the first mail I’ll never be allowed to send them at all!”</p> + +<p>He spoke jestingly, yet not without deep sympathy. The “change of mind” +she intimated <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_245" id="Page_245">[Pg 245]</a></span>meant much, very much to little Dorothy; whose best +interests nobody had so much in mind as these two old people with the +young hearts. But his own desire was now for the clearing of all that +“mystery” which had enveloped the child from her infancy and which only +they two could solve.</p> + +<p>The notes were written and most promptly posted. Then other matters were +put in line to make the reopening of Deerhurst the most memorable event +in its history. Servants were ordered thither, disused rooms were aired +and fitted for occupancy, every scrap of fallen leaf or intrusive weed +removed from its driveways and paths, and in all the glory of its +early-autumn beauty the fine old place awaited the coming of its +mistress and her guests.</p> + +<p>First of all to arrive was one James Barlow, with two kindly happy dogs, +leaping and barking and doing their canine best to express their +happiness at seeing “home” once more. “Home” it was to the lad, also, as +he felt it now; tugging stoutly upon the chains of the Great Danes, lest +in their exuberant joy they should break away from him to gambol in the +geranium beds that glorified the lawn.</p> + +<p>Around from the vine-draped back porch came old Ephraim and Dinah; Hans +and Griselda Roemer, who greeted Jim in their hearty German fashion, as +if he were their own son come home. And bless me! If out of that great +kitchen didn’t issue Ma Babcock herself, and all her daughters a-trail +behind!</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_246" id="Page_246">[Pg 246]</a></span>“Why, Mrs. Babcock, you here? Surely, this is indeed a surprise!” cried +Jim, releasing the Danes to Ephraim’s care and clasping the hands she +extended toward him.</p> + +<p>“Well, then, it needn’t be. Me and Mis’ Calvert has been neighbors this +long while, years indeed. So what more natural than, when all the +company was comin’ and help so hard to get—capable help, you +know—up-mounting, but that old Seth, the farrier, should write me the +invite to come and take a hold of things and see that they was the +rightest kind of right for such grand doings? So I come; and I had to +fetch the girls along, ’cause I never do leave them out of any the good +times I have myself. Baretta stop holdin’ onto my skirt! You’ll pull it +clean out the gathers and it’s just fresh-washed and ironed. Claretta, +will you never, never quit suckin’ your thumb? Make your manners pretty, +darlin’, to this fine gentleman! Who, after all said, is nobody but Jim +Barlow, makin’ the most of his chance. Why, Alfy! You bashful? Come and +shake hands with your old friend and don’t act simple!”</p> + +<p>So Alfaretta came forward, a new modesty upon her and a change for the +better in her whole appearance, even after so short a time as this one +summer. And both happening to recall how she had greeted him when first +this “hero” was presented to her, they laughed and the “ice” which had +formed over their friendship during separation speedily melted.</p> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_247" id="Page_247">[Pg 247]</a></span>“Pa Babcock, you’re askin’ for? Oh, he’s well, that kind don’t never +have nothing the matter with their health, though they’re always +thinking they have. He stopped with his sister till she got tired and +shook him. Then he went to Chicago, where there’s such a lot of silly +Nanarchists like himself, and there he’s stayed. I hope will stay, too, +till the children get growed. He seems to be makin’ his salt, some kind +of livin’, and he’s happy as a clam in high water. He hasn’t a thing to +do but talk and talkin’ suits him to a T. Best come in and get washed +up. A letter come from Dorothy’s parents and the pair of ’em will be to +the Landing by the evening boat. Or one by train and one by boat. Anyhow +they’ll both be there and I ’low they’d admire, just admire that it +should be you drove down to meet ’em. Me and Alfy and Dinah’ll be right +on hand here to see they get their supper and to show ’em where they’re +to sleep. You best hurry down to your own room to the gate-house and +clean yourself. You’re powerful dusty and your face needs washin’. Alfy! +What you gigglin’ at? Ain’t I tellin’ the truth? Ain’t he a sight?”</p> + +<p>“Yes, Ma, he is; one ‘good for sore eyes,’ as you sometimes say;” and +with this inelegant remark Miss Alfaretta walked away while laughing, +happy Jim sped downwards to the vine-wreathed lodge at the great +entrance gate. He had been happy all that summer, never more so; yet +happier than ever now as he stepped into the freshly furbished upper +chamber which was his own, his very home. <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_248" id="Page_248">[Pg 248]</a></span>All the dear familiar books +on the shelves, the snowy bed, the dainty neatness of the place that +showed the motherly touch of old Griselda everywhere, even to the bunch +of flowers upon the little table.</p> + +<p>Dolly would have said that the bouquet looked “Dutchy,” like the kind +hands which had arranged it; with its conflicting colors and its tightly +crowded bunches of bloom. But Dorothy wasn’t there to comment, there was +nobody who could see him, and the orphan lad who had not yet outgrown +his boyish tenderness suddenly stooped and kissed it. Was this in memory +of a mother he had never known, or because of his gratitude for his +“home?”</p> + +<hr class="large" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_249" id="Page_249">[Pg 249]</a></span></p> +<h2><a name="CHAPTER_XVI" id="CHAPTER_XVI"></a>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<h3>WHEN JOURNEYS END IN WELCOME</h3> + +<p>“Welcome! Welcome! WELCOME!!”</p> + +<p>The blacksmith, “himself once more” and not the summer idler on a hotel +veranda, stood at Mrs. Betty’s right hand on the broad steps of +Deerhurst, to greet the carriages of happy folk who were whirled over +the curving driveways and up to the hospitable door which stood wide +open, as if eager to embrace them all in its own genial “welcome.”</p> + +<p>Somehow, there was a slight trembling in the hostess’s slender frame and +she put out her white hand against the porch-pillar to steady herself. +Somehow, too, there seemed a little mist in her bright eyes, as she +peered anxiously outward toward her arriving guests. Had they all come? +Everyone whom she had bidden to her “infair?”</p> + +<p>In the first carriage, the state barouche, sat the four grayheaded +“Boys” whom she had known all their lives and for whom her best was +prepared. In the next was “that slip of a girl,” one Mrs. Lucretia +Hungerford, a “girl” whose locks were already touched with the rime of +years; a rather <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_250" id="Page_250">[Pg 250]</a></span>stern and dignified person who could be no other than +Miss Isobel Greatorex of whom Dorothy had written; and a cadet in gray. +A West Pointer! Off for the briefest of “furloughs” and a too-short +reunion with his radiant mother. Cadet Tom Hungerford, and no other. +Also, within that open trap a third gentlewoman, brought by Mrs. +Hungerford’s invitation for a short “tour of the States” to see what +sort of home it was unto which she would consign her son, the lad Melvin +come to try his fortunes so far from home. The little widow, Mrs. Cook, +indeed; past mistress in the art of making gardens and good dinners, and +happy in her unexpected outing as a child. To her bonny face under its +white hair, with her lovely English color and her sorrow-chastened +smile, the heart of Mrs. Betty immediately went out in interest and +admiration. Stranger though she was her welcome, too, was ready.</p> + +<p>But it was on that last open pony-cart, with its load of young folks, +that the eye of the hostess rested first and last. Such a gay and +laughing quartette that was! Molly and Dolly, the blonde and the +brunette, Monty and Melvin, the rotund and the slender; but Dolly the +gayest, the sweetest, the darlingest of all!</p> + +<p>At least, that was what some of those welcoming people, grouped upon the +steps, believed with all their hearts. Father John and Mother Martha, +Mr. Seth and “Fairy Godmother,” aye and honest Jim, first and +faithfullest of comrades—to these <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_251" id="Page_251">[Pg 251]</a></span>there was visible, for one moment, +no face save the face of smiling Dorothy.</p> + +<p>When they were all housed and supper ended, they gathered in the great +parlors, which Alfaretta’s capable hands had adorned with masses of +golden-rod, of scarlet woodbine and snowy wreaths of seeding +clematis—feathery and quite “too graceful for words,” as Dorothy +declared, lovingly hugging Alfaretta who lingered by the door, a new +shyness upon her, yet longing to be beside these other girls and lads no +older than she, but who had seen so much more of the world in which they +all lived.</p> + +<p>Then when Mrs. Betty begged:</p> + +<p>“Now if all are rested, let’s compare our notes of the summer and tell +what each found loveliest to remember. Come in, Alfaretta, and cuddle +down with the rest upon the rugs before the fire. Old Deerhurst is at +its best, to-night, filled with happiness. Now, Dr. Ryall, as +once-master of these other ‘Boys,’ can you give your happiest thought of +the summer?”</p> + +<p>The venerable collegian leaned back and twirled his thumbs. He had left +his boyishness but not his happiness back in the Markland woods, and it +was quite gravely yet simply he answered:</p> + +<p>“Why yes, Elizabeth, and easily. It was the awakening of Monty yonder to +a sense of his own responsibility as a human being, made in his +Creator’s image. He’s got down to bottom facts. He knows it isn’t +dollars but doings that make God’s true man. Needn’t blush, my lad; but +be reverently <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_252" id="Page_252">[Pg 252]</a></span>thankful.” Then he turned a merry glance upon the company +and demanded: “Next?”</p> + +<p>And as if he were still in the class-room questioned upon a text-book, +his merchant-pupil answered:</p> + +<p>“The happiest sight to me was the first salmon I landed!”</p> + +<p>“A good and honest answer!” laughed Mrs. Betty, and like the president +called: “Next!”</p> + +<p>One after another the answers came; that of the surgeon being the memory +of a wounded fawn whom he had cured and set at liberty again. The +Judge’s happiest moment had been when he caught sight of Molly’s face on +that dark night in the forest, when he dreaded lest he should see it no +more alive and alight with love.</p> + +<p>All had some answer to give, even Miss Greatorex, who wondered why they +smiled when she recorded her blest experience in discovering a rare +specimen of quartz. Surely, that was the very best gift she was bringing +home to “the Rhinelander,” and wasn’t it a specimen worth the whole trip +to a “foreign” land?</p> + +<p>Even the youngsters were pressed to tell what they had found choicest +and when Molly answered the question put to her, she spoke with a sweet +solemnity: “The sound of Melvin’s bugle in the wilderness.”</p> + +<p>There was a momentary silence. All were more moved than they could say, +remembering how different a group this would have been had that bugle +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_253" id="Page_253">[Pg 253]</a></span>never blown “Assembly” in that far-away forest. Dorothy said nothing. +Even when it came to her and the last “turn,” she could only turn her +happy eyes to one and another of the loved faces before her and shake +her head. There had been times out there on the Nova Scotia farm when +she had not been happy; when the moods of “wondering” had disturbed her +peace and made her discontent. That was all past now that she was +reunited to Father John and Mother Martha and somehow, best of all, to +that beautiful, white-haired “Fairy Godmother,” who had caught her to +her breast in such a tender fashion and had even left tears of joy from +the old, dark eyes upon her own upturned cheek. Why had she loved the +lady so? Why did the clasp of her slender arms seem so much more than +that of sturdy Mrs. Martha? Dorothy inwardly upbraided herself for the +disloyal feeling, but she was too honest to deny even to herself that +her dearest welcome home had come from one on whom she had no claim.</p> + +<p>“Well, Dolly Doodles, it isn’t fair for all the rest to tell their part +and you just sit mum and stare and stare and stare! Honey Doll, I’m +ashamed of you!” cried Molly.</p> + +<p>Thus goaded into speech, Dorothy answered: “The happiest thing I’ve +known isn’t past, in the summer-time, but just right now and here. It’s +coming home to Deerhurst and—YOU!”</p> + +<p>She could not have helped it and she could not have explained why not; +but there was a look in <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_254" id="Page_254">[Pg 254]</a></span>Mrs. Betty’s eyes, an appealing tenderness that +went straight to the heart of the girl, who sped like an arrow shot from +the hearth to a place in her hostess’s arms.</p> + +<p>And again there was silence; while some of that goodly company exchanged +most speaking glances. Then with a gesture prouder than the proudest she +had ever given, Mrs. Calvert lifted her head and beckoned the Judge.</p> + +<p>“Schuyler, you’re a lawyer and that rare one, an honest man. I depute +you to open this sealed document and read the contents to the company. +Practically, it is my ‘last will and testament’—I mean the last one +I’ve made, though I’m likely to alter it a score of times yet! I +inscribed it ‘to be opened after my death,’ but as I feel I’ve just +secured a new lease of life you needn’t wait for that but shall open it +now.”</p> + +<p>She spoke with all her old whimsicality but with a tremor in her voice, +and somehow Seth Winters managed to place himself a little nearer to her +and Dorothy clung the tighter about her neck.</p> + +<p>Not yet did the child dream that this sealed packet related to herself +or that the irrepressible feeling which had sent her flying to the old +gentlewoman’s arms had been the call of the blood. She merely felt that +her “Godmother” needed soothing and that it was her delightful duty to +so soothe.</p> + +<p>There is no need to here repeat the technical wording of what the Judge +so distinctly read in his clear, strong voice, amid a silence which +except for <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_255" id="Page_255">[Pg 255]</a></span>that voice would have echoed the falling of the proverbial +“pin.” He summed it up after one reading in a brief epitome:</p> + +<p>“Dorothy, otherwise Dorothy Elizabeth Somerset Calvert, is the last and +nearest living relative of Mrs. Elizabeth Cecil Somerset-Calvert. She is +the only child of one Cecil Calvert, deceased, and of Miriam his wife. +Cecil Calvert, herein named, was the only son of the only son of Mrs. +Calvert’s only brother. The descent is clear and unmistakable. Cecil +Calvert, the father of Dorothy, was early left an orphan and was +‘raised’ by Mrs. Betty, presumably to be her heir. When he came of age +to want a wife she provided one for him. He objected and made his own +choice. She cut him off with a limited income, but sufficient for one +differently reared, and taking his bride he went to the far West. There +he died and his wife soon followed him; but her illness was a lingering +one and during it she sought to provide for their baby Dorothy.</p> + +<p>“This envelope contains her letters and those of her husband, written +after his fatal seizure to Mrs. Calvert, describing everything connected +with their young and, as it proved, improvident lives. Neither of them, +the sad wife protests, had ever been trained to the wise handling of +money or of anything useful. It had not been their fault so much as +their misfortunes that they were dying in what was to them real poverty; +and the pathetic letters ended with the declaration that, after its +mother’s death, <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_256" id="Page_256">[Pg 256]</a></span>the child Dorothy would be safely convoyed to its +great-great-aunt’s door and left to her to be ‘fairly dealt with.’ It +was all quite simple and direct; the commonplace story of many other +lives.”</p> + +<p>But here Mrs. Betty, stifling the emotion which the re-reading of the +papers had roused in her, took up the tale herself.</p> + +<p>“When the baby came I was indignant. That at first. I felt I was too old +to have a squalling infant forced into my house. Then better thoughts +prevailed. I saw in the little thing traces of my own family likeness +and I would have kept her. It was old Dinah and Ephraim who advised me +then and wisely I believe, though there have been times when I’ve wished +I hadn’t listened to them. They told me with the privilege of life-long +service, that I’d made a brilliant failure of my raising of Cecil. They +advised me to hunt up some worthy couple unburdened with children of +their own and force the child upon them, to rear in simple, sensible +ways, I to pay such a sum as would provide for the child’s actual +necessities. No more. I listened and the notion falling in somewhat with +my own conviction—you behold the result.</p> + +<p>“Dorothy is what she is; to me the loveliest little maid in God’s good +world. Save what nature implanted in her, all that makes her adorable to +me and others is due to her foster-parents, the most unselfish and +self-devoted pair of mortals it has ever been my lot to know in my long +life. She belongs to them more than to me; but it shall be as she and +<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_257" id="Page_257">[Pg 257]</a></span>they elect. Even yet I will try to say it justly.</p> + +<p>“My homes are many and ample. There is room in every one of them for a +little household of four. Johnnie, Martha, my own Dorothy, shall we not +make at last, one unbroken, happy family?”</p> + +<p>It was a long speech and it had sorely tried the speaker. One by one her +guests withdrew, leaving only the “four” of whom she spoke with that +faithful friend of all, the radiant Seth, remaining in that firelit +room.</p> + +<p>Then cried Dorothy, running to draw her foster-parents to her +great-aunt’s side:</p> + +<p>“Yes, father, yes mother! Come and be—<i>us!</i> I have a name at last and +it still must be yours with ‘Calvert’ at the end, a hyphen between! Say +yes, dear ones, who’ve loved me all my life. We want you, ‘Godmother’ +and I, and don’t you dare—don’t either of you dare to be proud and +independent now, when your little girl’s so happy—<i>so happy!</i>”</p> + +<p>Who could withstand her? Or the sincere affection which beamed upon them +from Mrs. Cecil’s fine old eyes? Not “whistling Johnnie” of the big +heart, himself; nor faithful Martha, radiant now in the doing away of +“mysteries” and the happiness of the girl who had been found a +“squalling baby” on her doorstep.</p> + +<p>So the night fell on Dorothy Calvert’s homecoming and home-finding. Once +more she stood on the threshold of a new life. What befell her in it and +what use she made of some of the great gifts which had come to her +cannot be told here. That <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_258" id="Page_258">[Pg 258]</a></span>telling must be left for other pages and +other hours; perhaps the reader will like to go with us to “Dorothy’s +House party,” until then let us bid happy Dorothy a glad</p> + +<p>Good night!</p> + +<h3>THE END</h3> + +<hr class="large" /> + +<h3>TRANSCRIBER'S NOTE:</h3> + +<p>Minor changes have been made to correct typesetters' errors and ensure consistent usage +of punctuation in this e-text; otherwise, every effort has been made to be faithful to the +author's words and intent.</p> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Dorothy's Travels, by Evelyn Raymond + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK DOROTHY'S TRAVELS *** + +***** This file should be named 25630-h.htm or 25630-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/5/6/3/25630/ + +Produced by D Alexander and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was +produced from images generously made available by The +Internet Archive) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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