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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/34927-8.txt b/34927-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..59bd1b1 --- /dev/null +++ b/34927-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,5778 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure, by +Margaret Vandercook + +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: The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + +Author: Margaret Vandercook + +Illustrator: Wilson V. Chambers + +Release Date: January 12, 2011 [EBook #34927] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS GREAT ADVENTURE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES + +The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + + + + +BOOKS BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK + + +THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES + + THE RANCH GIRLS AT RAINBOW LODGE + THE RANCH GIRLS' POT OF GOLD + THE RANCH GIRLS AT BOARDING SCHOOL + THE RANCH GIRLS IN EUROPE + THE RANCH GIRLS AT HOME AGAIN + THE RANCH GIRLS AND THEIR GREAT ADVENTURE + + +THE RED CROSS GIRLS SERIES + + THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN THE BRITISH TRENCHES + THE RED CROSS GIRLS ON THE FRENCH FIRING LINE + THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN BELGIUM + THE RED CROSS GIRLS WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY + THE RED CROSS GIRLS WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY + THE RED CROSS GIRLS UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES + + +STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SUNRISE HILL + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AMID THE SNOWS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ACROSS THE SEA + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' CAREERS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE DESERT + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT THE END OF THE TRAIL + +[Illustration: YOU MUST ABIDE BY MY DECISION] + + + + +THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES + + +The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + + + --BY-- + MARGARET VANDERCOOK + + ILLUSTRATED BY + WILSON V. CHAMBERS + + + THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY + PHILADELPHIA + + + + + Copyright, 1917, by + THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. KENT HOUSE 9 + II. FRIEDA'S RIFT 22 + III. THE VOICE 34 + IV. A LATE ARRIVAL 49 + V. AN APPARITION 63 + VI. THE CLOUD 81 + VII. SO AS BY FIRE 92 + VIII. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER 101 + IX. CHURCH AND STATE 116 + X. THE LETTER 127 + XI. A SURPRISE 138 + XII. NO QUARTER 148 + XIII. THE BREAK 159 + XIV. PROFESSOR AND PROFESSORESS 171 + XV. THE OLD RANCH 187 + XVI. VIVE 201 + XVII. FAREWELL 212 + XVIII. "UNDER TWO FLAGS" 225 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + YOU MUST ABIDE BY MY DECISION _Frontispiece_ + PAGE + IN A FEW MOMENTS SHE WAS IN A PANIC 74 + HIS OWN MEN CARRIED HIM BACK TO A FIELD HOSPITAL 128 + I ASSURE YOU I HAVE OFFICIAL PERMISSION 180 + + + + +The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + + + + +CHAPTER I + +KENT HOUSE + + +THE deep-rutted English lane was bordered with high box hedges. On one +side was a sloping park with trees a century old and on the other side a +wide field filled with meadow grass and scarlet poppies. It was in July. + +"In all the world there is nothing so peaceful as this English country, +is there? It is like another world when one first gets away from the +turmoil of New York." + +The girl who said this was undoubtedly an American, both in her manner +and appearance, although her dark hair and eyes and her deep-toned olive +skin were almost Spanish in coloring. + +Her companion--in spite of the fact that her costume was a typical +English walking one, a mixed brown tweed skirt, Norfolk jacket and high +boots,--was equally an American. She smiled before replying. + +"I don't know that I agree with you, Olive. Of course that is what +people from home always say. Jim Colter declares he is half asleep the +entire time he is in England. But that is because Americans, +particularly my beloved westerners, don't understand England and the +English. Things are not always peaceful just because they are quiet. We +think so because we are noisy. Frank says there was never more unrest." + +But at this Lady Kent, who a number of years ago was Jacqueline Ralston +and one of the four Ranch girls at Rainbow Lodge, slipped her arm +through her friend's, Olive Van Mater's. + +"But, Olive dear, for goodness sake don't let us talk politics the day +after your arrival. It is so English. Sometimes I feel scarcely fitted +to play the part of an English 'Lady,' now that Frank has come into the +title of 'Lord' and is a member of Parliament. I often long for a ride +with Jim over my own prairies to search for lost cattle." Lady Kent +laughed. + +"Once a Ranch girl, always a Ranch girl, so far as I'm concerned, Olive; +and yet I'm farther away from the old place than any of you. But, tell +me, what made you decide to come abroad so suddenly without even +writing? I have had letters from everybody at home except that lazy +Frieda, and yet not one with a suggestion of your trip in it. Tell me +about every member of my family--Ruth and Jim and their babies and Jean +and Ralph and Frieda and her Professor. Funny, I never can think of +Frieda really being married. You see, although it has been nearly four +years, I have never seen her since we went over for the great event." + +Jack ceased talking for a moment, for she was still "Jack" to her own +family and the friends who knew her intimately. Olive never had talked +so much as the other Ranch girls, but now it occurred to Jack that she +was asking a great many questions, without allowing an opportunity for +them to be answered. + +Olive turned, apparently to glance through the opening in the hedge at +the splendid mass of colour in the field. + +"Suppose we sit down a while, Jack," she suggested. "Remember, I haven't +had the English habit of walking for a long time. You told me Frank's +train would not get in from London for another hour." + +In spite of the fact that her tone was as casual as she knew how to make +it, her companion understood at once. + +"You have come to tell me bad news, haven't you? and I never dreamed of +it until this instant. You have been brave, Olive." + +In spite of her nervousness over having so suddenly guessed the reason +for her friend's unexpected visit, Jack quietly looked about for a +comfortable resting place, remembering that Olive had just had a long +trip and was never so strong as the other Ranch girls. + +A few yards farther on a gate led into Kent Park. + +Lady Kent opened this and a moment or two later the two friends were +seated under one of the great oak trees for which the Kent estate was +famous--the estate now presided over by Jacqueline Ralston and the Frank +Kent, whom we once knew as a guest at a neighboring ranch to the +Ralstons' in Wyoming, but who were now Lord and Lady Kent of the county +of Kent, England. + +"Don't be frightened, Jack; my news isn't so bad as you may think. At +least I don't know just how bad it is," and Olive smiled and then +frowned the next moment. "The truth of the matter is that Frieda Ralston +Russell has left her Professor. I was out in Wyoming having a peaceful +visit at Rainbow Ranch when I received a mysterious telegram from Frieda +telling me to come to her at once in New York city--not in Chicago, +where she was supposed to be safe with her Professor husband. Of course +I went at once to her. In New York I found a yellow-haired and not so +miserable Frieda, who calmly told me she had decided that marriage was a +failure. I could not find out her special reasons for thinking so, but +perhaps she will tell you more herself, Jack. She is coming to you on +the next steamer, only she preferred my first breaking the news to you +and Frank." + +Jack whistled, after a boyish fashion of her youth, which was not +becoming to her present age and position. + +"And you came, Olive dear, all the way across the ocean by yourself, +just because my spoiled small sister wished to save herself the trouble +of a confession? You are an angel, Olive. And I am afraid it is Frieda's +selfishness--her remaining such a completely spoiled young person--that +may be the answer to her present behavior. But I thought her husband +spoiled her more even than her own family had in the past. Besides, I +can't imagine the Professor doing anything wicked, can you, Olive? Oh +dear, Frank and I always opposed Frieda's marriage. Professor Russell +did seem too old and serious for her." + +Just as she had always done whenever it was possible as a girl, Lady +Kent at this moment took off her hat and flung it on the ground beside +her. It was of brown cloth with a small green and brown feather to match +her walking outfit; nevertheless she looked far handsomer without it. + +Jack was no longer a girl. A good many years had passed since her +marriage to Frank Kent, which was to occur soon after the close of the +last Ranch girls' book, known as "The Ranch Girls At Home Again." Also +in the final chapter, when the family had lately moved into their new +home, built on the ranch not far from the old Rainbow Lodge, where the +Ranch girls had first lived, their cousin Jean Bruce's engagement had +been announced to Ralph Merritt, an old friend and the Rainbow Mine +engineer. Then, as a great surprise to her family, Frieda Ralston, the +youngest of the Ranch girls, at that time only eighteen, had insisted +upon her own engagement to Professor Charles Henry Russell, a Professor +of dead languages at the University of Chicago and more than ten years +her senior. + +"Oh, well, what is an old maid worth in a family if she is not to be +made useful?" Olive answered. "But, of course, Jack, you understand I +don't require a great deal of persuasion to come to you, and besides I +was afraid if I did not come ahead, Frieda would not come at all. You +are the only person who has any influence over her. If she goes back to +the ranch, Ruth and Jean will only make such a fuss over her that she +will become more and more convinced she has been badly treated. Jim, you +know, never has approved of any of his Ranch girls being married, +although he misses none of us as he does you." + +Jack rose. "I hope you are rested, Olive, as we must walk on if we are +to arrive in time to meet Frank. Oh, dear, what a business marriage is! +I suppose we could not expect all the Ranch girls to be successfully +married, although it is odd for it to be Frieda who is in trouble. As +for you, Olive, don't congratulate yourself too soon on being an old +maid; you'll probably yield some day. I do wonder what has happened to +little Frieda? Perhaps things are worse than we imagine." + +Olive shook her head. + +She was recalling an extremely pretty Frieda sitting up in bed at +midnight at the hour of her arrival in New York city, with a blue silk +dressing gown over her nightgown and a box of chocolates open on the +table beside her, which she must have been eating before going to bed. + +It was true Frieda had cried a good deal when making her confession, and +had insisted that she never intended to speak to her husband again. Why, +Olive could not find out. She gathered that Frieda thought her husband +unsympathetic and that their temperaments were too unlike for them ever, +ever to understand each other. But the details of her love tragedy +Frieda had declared she could tell only to her sister Jack. + +Now, as Olive studied her companion's face, she believed that Frieda had +decided wisely. When they were the four Ranch girls, Jack, Jean, Olive +and Frieda, they had always relied upon Jacqueline Ralston's judgment. +Now, as a woman, she seemed even finer than she had been as a girl. +Well, fortunately Jack's marriage seemed to have turned out ideally +happy, although there were reasons why it might not. Jack had never been +fond of society or a conventional life, had hated the indoors and the +management of even so small and casual an establishment as they had at +Rainbow Lodge before the coming of Ruth as governess to take the +responsibility out of Jack's hands. Now Jack was not only mistress of a +great home, but must play "Lady Bountiful" to an entire village, as well +as to the people on the Kent estate, and she was really the most +democratic person in the world. + +They were entering the adjoining village of Granchester now and Lady +Kent had actually forgotten to put on her hat. Yet all the people they +met along the little narrow streets bowed to her, as if she were not +unpopular. Several times Jack stopped to inquire about sick babies and +old ladies in the most approved fashion. However, Olive remembered that +she had been great friends with all the cowboys on her own ranch and the +adjoining ones in the old days, and was interested in their families, +when they chanced to have them, which was not often. Nevertheless this +new life of her friend's did seem extraordinarily different from her old +life. + +Only once since Jack's marriage had Olive visited her and then only for +a few weeks, when her mother-in-law was alive and Frank's sisters had +not yet married. Therefore she had never really seen Frank and Jack +alone. + +As they came to the little railroad station, covered with roses and +surrounded by flower beds, Jack hastily put on her hat. + +"Gracious! why didn't you tell me to do that before, Olive?" she asked +"I must have looked ridiculous. Frank would have been discouraged if he +had seen me. After all, you see, Olive, Frank is an Englishman and fond +of the proprieties. At least I don't think he minds so much himself, but +he does not enjoy having the country people talk about me, especially +now that we have come into the title." + +"But they don't criticize you, do they?" Olive demanded with a good deal +of feeling. + +However, Lady Kent only laughed, "Not more than I deserve." And then +forgetting what she had just said, she took off her hat for the second +time to wave it boyishly at the approaching train. + +The next moment Frank Kent jumped out on the platform. He had changed +much more than his wife. Olive saw that he took his new position and his +responsibilities seriously, for he had only come into the title two +years before. He looked far more like what one feels to be the typical +Englishman, as he had an air of distinction and of firmness. Indeed, +Olive thought he had almost a hardness in the lower part of his face +which had not been there as a younger man. But he greeted her with the +same old cordiality and friendliness. + +"You and I seem often to meet Frank at railroad stations, Olive," Jack +remarked. "Remember when he last came to Wyoming before we were married +and we went together to meet him?" + +Frank appeared so uncertain that Jack laughed. + +"Husbands haven't very good memories for the sentimental past." + +The next instant Frank protested. + +"Of course I remember and how badly you treated me, Jack, so that Olive +had to come to my rescue." And then: "Did you drive over? Where is the +trap?" + +Lady Kent shook her head. "No; Olive and I wanted a walk and it is much +better for you. If you don't look out we shall both be growing as +portly as a dowager duke and duchess." + +Jack was a few steps ahead so that both her friend and husband looked at +her admiringly, Olive appreciating, however, that Frank would have +preferred his own wish to be carried out in this matter. + +But it had always been a pleasure to see Jacqueline Ralston out-of-doors +and it was no less so now. Although she now had two babies she had +managed to keep as slender and erect as a girl--a most unusual +characteristic in a woman. + +Jack was walking on ahead so freely and so unconscious of her own speed +that the others had to hurry to catch up with her. + +When they finally joined one another, Frank slipped his arm through his +wife's. + +"Oh, I have a piece of news for you, dear. I forgot to tell you. I had a +cable from Frieda's husband telling me that he expected to sail for +England in about ten days. He did not give his reason, nor mention +Frieda's coming with him." + +"No," Lady Kent answered apparently in a state of abstraction, "I don't +suppose he did." But at the moment she made no mention of the +information Olive had brought her concerning Frieda. + +As they reached Kent House and were entering the broad hall, Jack said +to her husband under her breath, so that Olive who was a little in +advance of them, did not hear: + +"There is something else you have on your mind, isn't there, Frank--some +news you have not yet told me?" + +Frank Kent nodded. + +"Yes, Jack, something so serious that I dare not speak of it even to +you. Perhaps it will all blow over though, and I may be able to discuss +the subject with you in a few days." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +FRIEDA'S RIFT + + +"DID Frieda say on what ship she would sail? It is odd she does not +cable." + +The two friends were coming down from the third floor of Kent House +where the babies' nurseries were. Jack and Frank had two children--the +oldest a small boy, something over three years old, and called Jimmie, +in honor of Jim Colter, the Ranch Girls' guardian and the one-time +overseer and now part owner of the Rainbow Ranch. The baby, who was only +a year old, had been named for Olive Van Mater, who had never seen her +until her present visit. But there would be no confusion of names, for +almost immediately the small brother had rechristened his tiny sister +with the charming little name "Vive," which was used for her always. And +since Vive was the gayest and liveliest of babies, this name with its +translated meaning, "Life" was supposed to be particularly appropriate. + +"No, Frieda did not say," Olive Van Mater returned. "But I presume she +will cable in a day or so. Frieda will expect you to be in London to +meet her. I am sure she will feel much aggrieved if you do not, but I +think I won't come along, Jack, if I may stay with the babies." + +Lady Kent opened the door of a room. + +"Just as you like, Olive, only I hope Frieda will let me know in time. +Frank is in London most of the week while Parliament is in session, and +I'll have to ask him to make arrangements for us. The season is over, of +course, but the hotels are filled with tourists. It has been a wonderful +English summer. I don't think there were ever more travelers. Well, +Frieda's rooms are at least ready for her. I hope she may enjoy having +the same ones she had when she came over to visit the first year after +Frank and I were married. I wonder if she ever thinks these days of how +hard I tried to persuade her to believe she was too much of a baby to +think of marrying so soon? We should never have allowed her to marry the +first person who ever seriously asked her. Oh, I know Frieda thought she +had already had a great deal of experience with her college boy +admirers, particularly the one we used to call 'The Chocolate Drop +Boy.'" + +In the meantime the two women had entered the apartment which was being +reserved for the expected visitor. The two rooms--a sitting room and a +bed room--were furnished in heavy, old fashioned English furniture +upholstered in delicately faded blue damask. The walls were also of the +same blue, while the panelings of the rooms were of English oak. + +Olive walked at once to a window in Frieda's sitting room. + +"I don't see how she can well help liking these rooms, besides this +window offers one of the most perfect views in the entire house." + +Olive could see across the slope of the park down to a stream, which +twisted its way along the base of the hill. Beyond were the tall towers +of Granchester church and not far away the roofs of the houses which +made up the village. + +Then, to the left, one could acquire a charming view of the beginning of +the Kent gardens--the low, carefully trimmed borders and the masses of +blooms, with a sun dial at the end of the center path. + +"Let us go into the garden for awhile, Jack," Olive suggested. "I think +I enjoy it more in the morning than at any other time. Besides, I have +been intending to ask if you suppose Frieda and her husband have +informed each other that they are both sailing for England? It will be +odd to have them meet each other here unless they do know." + +Jack shook her head. "I haven't any ideas on the subject, but Frank will +have to see that Professor Russell stays in London until we find out +from Frieda. Sorry, but I can't go outdoors with you till this +afternoon. I've hundreds of things to do and have promised Frank to +write some letters which I have been putting off." + +In return Olive said nothing, although, as she was walking about +outdoors alone, she rather marveled at the change in her friend's life. +As a girl Jacqueline Ralston's life had been entirely unordered; she had +done each day, after the sun rose over her beloved prairies, whatever +the day called her to do. Now, each of Jack's days seemed to follow an +established routine. In the morning immediately after breakfast she saw +her housekeeper; then she spent two hours with her babies, afterwards +answering an immense amount of correspondence--and Jack had always hated +letter writing more than any other task. In the afternoon she was +supposed to be free for a few hours, and then there were guests to tea, +or else Lady Kent was supposed to drive or motor over to make calls on +her country neighbors. + +Of course such an existence with money and a high position might be +regarded as ideal by most women. But Olive was puzzled, because that +kind of a life did not appear suited to the girl she remembered. +However, as Jack seemed happy, Olive concluded that she must have +changed, as most girls do after marriage. + +This afternoon a number of friends had been asked to tea at Kent House +in order to meet Olive. When they went down into the garden together, +where tea was to be served, Olive felt that her decision of the morning +had really been nearer the truth than she had then appreciated. Jack +looked like one of the fairest types of society women. She was dressed +in white--an exquisite embroidered material--and had on a big soft white +garden hat, trimmed with deep toned pink roses. The soft, damp English +air had kept her color as vivid as ever and given her yellow brown hair +an even finer gloss. + +On their way to the tea table in the garden, Jack stopped to pick for +her companion a bouquet of lavender primroses and anemones and stars of +the mist--flowers ranging from violet to pure white--for Olive was +wearing a pale grey chiffon, which blended perfectly with her pronounced +oriental coloring. + +To the right of the garden, and a few yards from the flower beds, was a +clump of trees. Because this July was warmer than is usual in England, +Lady Kent had arranged to have tea here. There were small tables and +chairs scattered about over the lawn, which was green as only an English +lawn can be, but the tea table itself stood under the trees. + +Jack and Olive had hoped to have a talk before their guests arrived. But +they had not been outdoors more than a few moments before their guests +appeared, the Rector and his wife, a Mr. and Mrs. Illington, and their +two daughters,--charming, tall, blonde English girls. Afterwards, it +seemed to Olive that Jack was constantly introducing her to people +arriving every few minutes during the next hour, in spite of the fact +that she had also to preside over the serving of the tea. + +As Olive had never entirely recovered from her girlhood shyness, she was +delighted to see how perfectly at ease Jack was. She appeared to be able +to discuss church matters with the Rector, and the latest bill up in +Parliament with an old gentleman who was the Earl of Granchester and as +a Conservative was much opposed to the Liberal party of which Frank Kent +was a representative. + +Half an hour later, Olive wandered off with several of the guests to +watch a game of tennis which was being started by the two Illington +girls and two of their male friends who had come over to play. + +When Olive returned, she discovered that most of the other guests had +either scattered or gone home. In any case Jack was alone, except for a +young army officer, who must have just arrived, since Olive did not +recall having previously seen him. He was a splendid looking fellow, +about twenty-five, with dark hair and eyes, and a skin which must have +been tanned by other than the English sun. + +As Olive approached them she thought he made a particularly handsome +contrast to Jack's fairness. They were both laughing at the moment, but +almost immediately Jack jumped up from the chair where she had been +sitting and waved to Olive. + +"Olive, dear, come meet the nicest kind of an Englishman--one who is +half Scotch and the other half Irish," she called out. "Olive Van +Mater, this is Captain Bryan MacDonnell--an old school friend of Frank's +and sometimes a friend of mine." + +Captain MacDonnell bowed gravely, making no effort to return Jack's +challenge. + +"Bryan is just back from shooting 'big game' somewhere--make him tell +you about it, Olive, while I get rid of the last of these tiresome +people." Jack made a grimace and shrugged her shoulders, her manner more +like her old self than Olive had noticed before. + +For about fifteen minutes she and Captain MacDonnell must have talked +together, but Olive decided that Jack's description of him had been very +nearly true, whether she had meant it or not. Then, observing that +everybody else had gone and Jack was alone, they returned to her. + +"I'm sorry you can't dine with us tonight, Bryan," Lady Kent remarked on +parting. "Olive and I are to be alone. Frank only visits his family now +and then, because he is so busy in town. No; I did not go up to London +this year for the season. I only went for a few days at a time, as I was +not willing to leave the babies. Besides, you know I don't care as much +for society as I should anyway." + +Then Captain MacDonnell said something which Olive did not hear. +However, she did hear Jack's answer. + +"Ride with you tomorrow? I should think I will just as hard and as fast +as possible and jump all the fences and ditches in this part of the +country. I'm awfully glad you are back, Bryan, to help me get rid of +some of my surplus American energy." + +That same evening, after a late dinner, Jack and Olive went into the +library together. As is often the case in English homes of distinction, +the library at Kent House was the pleasantest room in the entire house. +The books were on low shelves encircling the four walls, except for the +opening left for a huge fireplace. Above the mantel was the head of a +stag. On one side hung a shield and on the other the Kent Coat of Arms +with the motto "Semper Paratus" meaning "always prepared." + +Above the book shelves were portraits of Frank's ancestors, who had been +country people in Kent county for a number of years, although the title +was not an old one. + +In the places of honor were Frank's grandfather and grandmother--one of +them a young man of about twenty in Court costume; the other a lovely +girl with fair hair and dark eyes and a particularly bright expression. + +"Frank likes to think Vive, the baby, looks like his grandmother," Jack +declared as she stretched herself on a big leather lounge not far from a +pair of French windows, which opened on the veranda at the side of the +house. + +"I hope you won't feel dull, Olive! As soon as Parliament closes, if you +and Frieda like, we will have some people come to stay with us. I don't +like the responsibility of visitors if Frank is not here. I have never +learned to take guests so simply and easily as an English hostess does. +It is one of the ways in which I am a social failure." + +"Nonsense," Olive announced, without paying much attention to what Jack +had said. She had picked up a magazine and was reading. + +An hour passed and Olive believed that Jack had almost fallen asleep. +Now and then she would close her eyes, although the greater part of the +time she seemed in a reverie. + +As a matter of fact Jack was really thinking of the old ranch and the +people at home, whom Olive's coming had brought to mind more vividly +than usual. + +"I'm glad Jean and Ralph are at the ranch this year with Ruth and Jim," +she said finally. "What a pleasure it must be to Jean that Ralph is such +a successful engineer--one of the biggest in the United States, Jim +writes. But Jim always liked Ralph better than any of the husbands. He +never could altogether forgive Frank for being an Englishman." + +"Oh Ralph has not been at the ranch much," Olive added, looking up from +her book. "He has been working out on the coast and at Panama, but I +think Jean is glad to have a rest because she has traveled with him so +much." + +In the ensuing silence Jack must actually have dozed, and certainly +Olive found a more absorbing article in her magazine. But Jack must also +have dreamed, for she woke thinking she heard a voice calling her from +outdoors, "Jack! Jack!" + +This was, of course, out of the question except in a dream. Kent House +was a mile from any place other than its own Lodge. Besides no one whom +she could possibly imagine would call out "Jack!" in such a fashion and +at such an hour of the night. + +Nevertheless Olive looked surprised, so she too must have heard some +kind of a noise. + +The second time the sound was heard, Jack started up. + +"Please ring the bell for the servants, Olive. I am sure I hear a voice +calling me. It sounds absurd and yet I must find out who it is. Even if +the servants insist this house is haunted, no one has ever yet suggested +that the lawn is also haunted." + +Then, in characteristic fashion, and without putting a wrap over her +white dress or waiting for any one to accompany her, Jack ran through +the library and out into the broad hall. There was no one near, so she +pulled open the heavy front door. + +Leading up to Kent House was a winding avenue of trees. At some little +distance down the avenue, Lady Kent thought she could see a dark object +apparently standing still in the center of the road. Without pausing +even long enough for Olive to join her, she ran through the darkness +toward it. + +"Jack! Jack! be careful!" she heard the voice call, and this time she +recognized whose voice it was. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE VOICE + + +"BUT, Frieda, how could you possibly have arranged to arrive in the +middle of the night like this?" + +Jack had reached the waiting taxicab, which stood transfixed in the +middle of the road and had pulled open the door of the vehicle, only to +find her sister sitting inside, almost completely enveloped in steamer +blankets and bags and boxes. + +"The cab broke down," Frieda remarked plaintively, evidently attempting +to explain last conditions first. It seemed not to have occurred to her +that even in the event of this difficulty, she could have gotten out and +walked up to the house. But it was eminently characteristic of Frieda +simply to sit still and call for her sister, as she always had done in +any emergency when they were both girls. + +The next moment Lady Kent, with the assistance of the driver, had helped +her visitor to alight. If Olive and the butler had not arrived just +then, she might again have forgotten her dignity and begun dragging out +Frieda's bags. But instead, she and Olive, escorted Frieda up the +avenue, leaving the two men to bring her possessions. + +"I was lonely after Olive left me in New York," Frieda explained. "So +when I read in the paper one morning that a particularly comfortable +steamer was sailing, I decided not to wait an entire week, if I could +get a nice stateroom. I thought Olive would not need but a few days to +tell you. You have told, haven't you, Olive?" Frieda demanded, with a +slight change of tone. + +When Olive answered "yes," briefly, she went on: + +"Please don't ask me any questions tonight, Jack. I'm most dead. No; I +didn't have a rough crossing, but I have never arrived anywhere alone +before in my whole life. I knew I could call up Frank at his club in +London, but I did not wish to see him first. Still, I don't care what he +thinks, since I have lost all faith in men. But I don't see why some one +did not meet me at the station here. I telegraphed from Liverpool that I +was on the way." + +Jack shook her head. + +"Curious dear, but we never received your telegram." + +"Oh, well;" Frieda added more indulgently, "I didn't exactly telegraph +myself, but I gave the money to a boy and told him what to say. Perhaps +he made a mistake, or kept the money, or something," she ended +nonchalantly. For they were now entering the great hall at Kent House +and Frieda realized that she did not care very much for small things, so +grateful was she to be again with her sister. + +Impulsively she turned and embraced her. + +Perhaps it was because Frieda was tired, but Jack could see that she was +not so unaffected by what she had been passing through as Olive had +imagined. + +It is true Frieda looked as much like an exquisite wax doll as ever. Her +eyes were as large and delicately blue, and her hair was a mass of soft +yellow curls; yet there was a subtle change in her expression. + +Olive had led the way into the library. + +"We won't talk about anything until you like, Frieda," Jack whispered. + +"Will you go up to your rooms now or have something to eat first down +here with Olive and me?" she asked. + +Frieda permitted Olive and Jack to remove her coat and hat. A few +moments later, however, she announced that she preferred going upstairs +to bed. So Jack finally bade her goodnight, after arranging that she was +to ring her bell for breakfast, when she wished it the next morning. + +When Frieda rang for breakfast it was nearly eleven o'clock and Jack +went into her room with the maid who carried the tray. + +Frieda ate her morning repast languidly, while her sister sat beside her +talking of trivial things. + +"Where is Olive?" Frieda inquired finally. And when informed that Olive +was in the nursery with the children, protested: "I suppose you know I +am jealous of your baby's being named for Olive. Of course I know you +and she are very dear friends; but, after all, I am your sister." + +"I felt that way about it too, Frieda, but Frank seemed not to wish a +German name," Jack answered, "and Vive has her own name now anyhow. +Maybe the next time." + +Frieda frowned. "Don't talk of next time, Jack. I can't imagine your +having a family. I hate being married." And without any other warning +two large tears rolled down Frieda's cheeks. + +"I'd rather tell you what has happened between Henry and me this minute +and get through with it. And I'd prefer to tell you without Olive's +hearing. I don't mean to be impolite, but Olive is almost an old maid +and old maids always take the man's part." + +In spite of her anxiety Jack was compelled to laugh. Frieda had always +been such a funny mixture of babyishness and worldly wisdom. + +She was now sitting up in bed with a number of white pillows piled +behind her and wearing a light blue cashmere jacket over her gown. The +English air was cooler than that to which she was accustomed. + +"I hope nothing very serious, Frieda?" + +"Nevertheless it is so serious that I never intend to speak to Henry +Russell again, if I can avoid it. You see," Frieda sighed, "I suppose it +is better to begin at the beginning and tell the whole thing. But, then, +who knows when anything actually begins? At any rate during the first +two years after Henry and I were married you remember we lived with +Henry's parents. They were awfully nice to me and gave me hundreds of +presents, but after awhile I became tired of living in another's house. +Oh, the house was big and I had plenty of rooms, but you know it isn't +like having a home of one's own is it, Jack?" + +After waiting for her sister to nod agreement, Frieda went on. + +"So I told Henry I wanted a house to myself, and I must say he and his +mother and father were very nice about it--at first." Frieda made a +dramatic pause. + +"It was Henry's fault all through though. You know he is the only child +and his mother and father are dreadfully rich. But what do you suppose +Henry decided? When we went to housekeeping for ourselves we were to +live on the income he made as a Professor! Did you ever hear of anything +so selfish?" + +"Well dear," Jack hesitated "maybe in a way it was selfish, because of +course Henry's father and mother must have been disappointed not to be +able to do for you. But, after all, it was self respecting of Henry. I +suppose a man--especially an American one--likes to feel that he is able +to be responsible for his own family." + +"That is exactly what Ruth and Jim Colter wrote me," Frieda protested +indignantly. "I suppose it never occurs to any one of you to think of +me!" + +"Yes, but you have your own income from our estate, Frieda," Jack added +quickly, not wishing to offend her sister at the beginning of her +confidence. + +"I know," Frieda continued more amiably. "So, at first, when I saw how +much Henry's heart was set on our being independent, I agreed to try. +But you know, Jack, I never have had much experience in managing money, +and even when we were at school at Primrose Hall I got into debt. So, +although Henry told me just what we had to live upon, I couldn't seem to +make things come out even. Then, as I didn't want to worry him, I kept +using my own income till that gave out. And then--" + +"Then what?" Jack inquired anxiously. Really she had been right in +disapproving of Frieda's marrying so young. And more important than +Frieda's youth was the fact that she, and all the people who had ever +had anything to do with Frieda, had never treated her as a responsible +human being. In her entire life she had never had any real care, or any +real demand made upon her. Jack felt deeply uneasy. But whatever had +happened, whatever might happen in the future, Frieda was her own +adored small sister, and she intended to stand by her. + +"Oh nothing much," Frieda conceded, although her voice was less self +assured, "only I told Henry's father. He used to be very fond of me +before I left Henry; I don't know how he feels now," she murmured. "I +believe he thought I was some kind of a joke, for he gave me a lot of +money and told me not to worry. But he told Henry's mother and she did +not think it was fair to Henry and must have let him know. Anyhow he was +dreadfully angry and unkind to me." + +"How unkind?" Jack demanded. For, of course, the fear that Professor +Russell had been unkind to Frieda had been always at the back of her +mind, since learning of her sister's unhappiness. However, when she +recalled the Professor's shyness and gentleness, it was difficult to +imagine him in the role of a brute. But Jack had learned enough of life +not always to trust to exteriors. + +"Oh, nothing very dreadful I suppose," Frieda conceded. "Henry fussed a +lot and said I had not been fair to him and that it wasn't honest to +keep things from him. He was always saying that I was very young and +that I ought to confide everything in him." + +"Was there anything else, dear?" Jack inquired gently. + +Frieda nodded. "Yes. Oh, well, I might as well tell you the whole story +since I have started. I was getting on a little better with the house, +and Henry obtained some extra work to do, so that he made more money. +But it kept him at home more in the evenings and besides he never did +like to go out a great deal. He used to go sometimes because I liked it, +but I never felt he was enjoying himself, and Henry never would learn to +dance." + +This struck Jack as a perfectly absurd reason for a vital difference +between a husband and wife, yet she dared not smile, nor did she wish to +smile, seeing how important this really appeared to Frieda. + +But Frieda must have understood something of what was passing in her +sister's mind, for she said: + +"I know that may sound ridiculous to you, Jack, but it has made a lot of +difference to me." There was a choking note in Frieda's voice. "A lot of +our trouble has come from it. You know I dearly love to dance, so I used +to go out in the afternoons as I didn't like staying at home by myself +and did not want to trouble Henry to take me often." + +"Not by yourself?" + +"Certainly not," Frieda returned pettishly, "one can't very well dance +alone." + +"With any particular person?" + +For a moment Jack held her breath. + +At first Frieda shook her head. Afterwards she contradicted herself and +nodded. + +"There were three or four persons--young fellows--some of them students +at the University, and most of the time other girls, too. At first Henry +did not mind. Then he said people were beginning to talk and there was +one person I liked especially, because he danced better than any one +else, whom Henry said I could not go with at all. But I did go. Then I +told Henry I was bored anyhow and wanted to be free. He was very +disagreeable. So I ran away and just left a note. But I haven't been +very happy for a long time, Jack, darling. I suppose you were right when +you said I ought not to have married so young. Perhaps I am spoiled and +selfish. Henry says I am, but some people like me anyhow." + +Jack leaned over and took Frieda's chin in one of her firm white hands. + +"There isn't anybody else, is there little, sister?" she demanded. + +Returning her gaze straightforwardly, Frieda answered severely. + +"Certainly not, Jack; what do you think of me? Don't you know I am +married. I told you I didn't like men any more, and never intend to have +anything to do with them again." + +"Then I'll leave you now, dear, and send one of the maids to help you +dress, if you like," Jack answered. "Let's don't talk any more today on +this subject and please don't worry. You have lost all your color shut +up by yourself in that wretched New York hotel. Hurry and come out in +the garden with Olive and the babies and me." + +But when Jack had left her sister, she did not dismiss the thought of +their conversation so lightly as her words implied. Perhaps Frieda had +not made out a very good case for herself against her husband. It looked +as if Professor Russell must have a story to tell as well. But the main +fact appeared that Frieda was not happy in her marriage. Whatever the +reasons, or whoever was at fault, it was the _thing_ itself which +worried Jack. It was plain enough that Professor Russell was too old +for Frieda, and that his scholarly tastes were not suited to her girlish +ones. + +"A Professor of Dead Languages married to Frieda!" Jack whispered, +blaming herself once again for allowing the marriage. Well, nothing +could be decided for the present at any rate. One must wait for at least +a little more light! + +Out in the garden Jack and Olive and Frieda played all morning with +Jack's two babies. Jimmie was a little fair haired, blue eyed, rose +cheeked English boy. Vive was a different kind of baby; she had light +yellow hair, and dark eyes unlike either Jack's or Frank's. Perhaps she +was going to resemble the lovely old time portrait in the library. + +Frieda spent several hours with Vive in her arms, although she never had +been particularly interested in any baby before. + +When lunch was over, Jack said unexpectedly: + +"I hope you'll forgive me, Frieda, if I leave you and Olive for a little +while. I promised a friend, Captain MacDonnell, to ride with him this +afternoon before I dreamed you were coming, and I have forgotten to let +him know. Besides," Jack added, since never even in small matters could +she be dishonest, "I really want the ride. Captain MacDonnell is the +one person who likes to ride as hard as I do. Oh, of course, English +women ride marvelously well--far better than I, and there is nothing +they won't attempt in hunting. But what I like now and then is just a +straight cross country ride--as near like the old rides across the +prairies as I can manage, though I must say this country does not look +much like the prairies," Jack ended, as she glanced smiling out the +window at her own beautiful, well kept English lawn. "Wait, Frieda, and +meet Bryan won't you? he is one of Frank's and my dearest friends." + +So Olive and Frieda were standing together on the veranda at the side of +Kent House when Jack and Captain MacDonnell finally rode off, +accompanied by a groom. + +"I declare Jack looks better on horseback than any one in the world," +Frieda announced admiringly. "Her costume is more stylish than the old +khaki or corduroy things she used to wear at the ranch, but I don't +think Jack herself is very much changed, except that she is more +attractive." + +At this instant Jack turned to wave her riding whip back at her sister +and friend. She had on a perfect fitting tan cloth habit with a long +English coat and short trousers and high riding boots. Her yellow brown +hair was braided low on her neck and she wore a small derby. + +"Captain MacDonnell is handsome too, isn't he?" Frieda remarked +reflectively, before moving to go indoors. "I wonder if he and Jack are +very intimate and if Frank minds her riding with him like this? I +suppose not, or Jack wouldn't," she acknowledged. + +Then she turned to Olive. "Don't look so cross, for goodness sake, +Olive. I am not criticizing Jack. I don't suppose you imagine she is any +more perfect than I do, only I was just thinking how you and the entire +family will probably blame me for doing pretty much the same kind of +thing that Jack is doing. Of course, I don't think there is anything +wrong in it. It is absurd and horrid of people to believe there is." + +Olive was about to reply, but before she could speak, Frieda interrupted +her. + +"Oh, I know exactly what you are going to say, Olive. Jack and I are +very different persons! I know that as well as you do. I know, too, that +Jack would never do anything except what was right. She could not if she +tried. But she might do something silly. I don't suppose there is any +human being in the world who fails to be foolish at one time or other in +this life," Frieda concluded. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A LATE ARRIVAL + + +FRANK KENT returned unexpectedly from London early in the same +afternoon. He had not yet heard of Frieda's arrival, so that they at +once spent an hour talking together. + +Lord Kent, as most men did, treated his sister-in-law as a very pretty +and charming young woman, who was not to be taken seriously. His wife +had told him of Frieda's difficulty with her husband, but not of the +cause. At that time she was not aware of it. Also she had instructed him +not to mention the prospect of Professor Russell's appearance in +England. So Frieda and Frank chatted and teased each other, as they had +since she was a little girl just entering her teens, but neither +referred to any unpleasant subject. + +Lord Kent had seemed tired when he first came home and was disappointed +to find his wife absent. + +After his conversation with Frieda he relaxed and appeared more cheerful +and good natured. This was the effect Frieda usually had upon masculine +persons. She was so gentle and pretty, and her eyes were such a clear +blue that one felt she could be easily influenced or persuaded. But the +truth was that Frieda was no more easily controlled than a kitten. If +ever one tries to train a little domestic animal, it will be discovered +that a dog is far more quickly influenced than a kitten. As a matter of +fact a kitten is probably the most unchangeable of all domestic pets. + +Since the early afternoon the July day had altered. A soft rain had +begun falling, so that tea at Kent House was served in the library. + +Olive, Frieda and Lord Kent waited half an hour later than usual, +thinking that Jack and Captain MacDonnell would return. Then they drank +their tea slowly, still believing that the riders would surely appear +before they had finished. + +At half past five, when there was still no sign of his wife and friend, +Lord Kent got up and several times walked back and forth from his chair +to the big French window. + +For the moment Frieda had gone out of the room, so that he finally spoke +to Olive. + +"I suppose it is ridiculous of me, but I am always more or less uneasy +when Jack and Bryan go off for rides together. Jack is the most fearless +horsewoman in the world and Bryan the most all round, fearless man. He +has killed big game in Africa and India and Australia, traveled in the +Congo and in other equally uncivilized places. He never used to stay for +any length of time in England. Now and then I have an idea of forbidding +Jack to ride with him, I am so uncertain of what reckless thing they may +do together." + +"Oh, I don't think you need worry, Frank," Olive returned, "Jack is +fearless but I don't think she has been reckless since the accident she +had when a girl." + +Although she could scarcely speak of it, Olive was smiling to herself +over Frank's use of the word "forbid." She never recalled that any one +had ever forbidden Jack to do anything she wished so long as she had +known her. But probably Frank's forbidding was of the gentlest kind. +Olive felt she must remember that the English attitude toward marriage +was not the same as the American, although when an Englishman marries an +American girl they are supposed to strike the happy medium. + +Entering the room again just as Frank concluded his speech, Frieda was +even more startled when she recalled that the use of this very word had +been one of the reasons for the most serious quarrel she had ever had +with her husband. Henry had never used the word a second time. + +Another hour passed. Still Jack and Captain MacDonnell had not returned. +Moreover, by this time the rain had become a steady downpour. Olive and +Frieda were also uneasy. + +"If you will forgive my leaving you, I believe I will go and see if I +can find what has become of the wanderers," Frank suggested. Then, +without further explanation or discussion, he went away. + +Ten minutes later, mounted on his own horse, he was riding down the +rain-washed road. He had found that the groom, who had accompanied Jack +and Captain MacDonnell, had gotten separated from them and returned home +half an hour before. + +Frank was uncertain whether he were the more angry or uneasy. It seemed +impossible to imagine what misfortune could have befallen his wife and +friend, which would have made it impossible for them to have either +telephoned or sent some message home. Yet it was equally impossible to +conceive that Jack would be so careless as to forget every one else in +the pursuit of her own pleasure. Even if she had been uncertain of his +arrival from London, there was Olive, who had been her guest only a few +days and Frieda not twenty-four hours. But as a matter of fact Jack had +known he would be down sometime during the evening although she did not +know the hour. + +July is one of the long twilight months in England. Nevertheless, +because of the rain, the evening was a kind of smoke grey with the +faintest lavender tones in the sky. A heavy mist was also rising from +the ground, so that with the falling rain one could not see many yards +ahead. + +Lord Kent's plan was to leave word with his lodgekeeper at the lodge +gate to follow after him in case any word came from Lady Kent, or if she +returned home before he did. But a moment or so before reaching the +lodge, while yet in his own avenue, although at some distance from Kent +House, Frank heard laughter and low voices. There was no doubting the +laughter was Jack's. + +Frank pulled up his horse abruptly and stood still. The oncoming +figures were walking and leading their horses instead of riding. That +instant, because he was no longer uneasy, Frank discovered that he was +angrier and more hurt than he cared to show. + +All at once he overheard Jack say: + +"Do hurry, please, Bryan; I'm afraid everybody at home may be uneasy." + +But instead of hurrying, they must have stopped again. For the second +time Jack murmured, "I don't see how I could ever have been such a +wretch, or how I'll ever confess to Frank." + +Then Captain MacDonnell's inquiry: + +"What are you going to say?" + +And his wife's answer: + +"Why, tell the truth and face the music; what else is there to do, +Bryan?" + +In the past few years since his marriage, undoubtedly Frank Kent had +either altered or simply developed. Sometimes it is difficult to +determine which one of these two things a human being has done. Frank +had always been quiet and determined. If he had been otherwise he would +never have tried for so many years to persuade Jacqueline Ralston to +marry him. But now that he had grown older, he certainly appeared +sterner. He seemed to have certain fixed ideas of right and wrong, and +they were not broad ideas, to which he expected at least the members of +his own household to conform. + +The two wayfarers were now in sight and Frank dismounted. + +"I am sorry to have been compelled to play eavesdropper," he said +curtly, when they also caught sight of him. + +Jack was soaked with rain and her boots and riding habit were splashed +with mud. A little river of water filled and overflowed the brim of her +hat. But her cheeks were a deep rose color and her grey eyes dear and +shining. + +Frank would never have confessed that he felt a slight pang of jealousy +at the good time his wife and friend must have been having, while he had +been making himself miserable with the thought that a disaster had +befallen them. + +Jack's hand was resting on the nose of her horse, while Captain +MacDonnell held the bridles of both. + +"You have come out to search for us, haven't you, Frank?" Jack began +penitently. "I am sorry; I did not know you could have arrived from +London so soon." She was now close beside her husband. "The truth is, +Frank, I have had rather a horrid tumble. For a person who thinks she +knows how to ride, I seem to do the stupidest possible things." + +"You don't seem to have hurt yourself seriously, Jack," Frank answered +grimly. For in spite of her penitence, which did not seem very profound, +Jack looked extraordinarily happy and glowing. + +"No, I wasn't hurt in the least. I managed to get clear as we went down. +But my horse's knee was sprained--not so badly as Bryan and I at first +thought. Still I did not like to ride him, so we have been walking along +through the rain for a few miles." + +"How did the accident occur? I am rather surprised, Jack," Frank +answered, now plainly more sympathetic because a little uneasy at what +could have happened to his wife. + +Jack turned aside and even in the dusk one could see she was +embarrassed. + +"Oh, I was disobeying orders," she said with a pretence of lightness. "I +went over a rather high fence, which I had never taken before, without +waiting until Bryan could get up to me. I made the jump without trouble, +but the ground on the other side was so soft that my horse's forefeet +went down into it. He stumbled and fell. That is why I am such a +spectacle," she concluded, touching her mud-stained habit with her whip. + +Whatever he may have felt, Frank would naturally not discuss a +difference between himself and his wife before another person. He +therefore made no comment, but instead suggested: + +"Suppose you get on my horse, Jack, and ride up to the house. Frieda and +Olive are uneasy. Bryan and I will come along together." + +According to the English custom, Lord and Lady Kent occupied separate +bedrooms, which opened into each other. + +A half hour later Jack was dressing for dinner when she heard Frank +enter his room. But he did not come into her apartment or call out to +her, although they were usually in the habit of discussing various +questions through their open door, while they changed their clothes. + +Jack, of course, recognized that her husband was angry with her. Also +she knew that he had a measure of right on his side. She had promised +him not to attempt dangerous jumping in her cross-country riding. Her +accident a number of years before had made him and all the members of +her family more nervous about her than they would ordinarily have been, +knowing that she had spent a large part of her life on horseback. +Moreover, Frank had very rigid ideas about keeping one's word, not +agreeing that one could swerve by a hair's breadth. + +In a good deal of haste, since dinner was to be announced at any moment, +Jack put on a white satin dinner dress. It was an old one, but chanced +to be particularly becoming. The gown was simply made, with a square +neck and a fold of tulle about the throat and a long, severely plain +skirt. Only a woman with a figure as perfect as Jack's could have looked +well in it. Her hair was arranged with equal simplicity, being coiled +closely about her head and held in place with a carved ivory comb. + +Half a dozen guests had been invited to dinner, nevertheless before +going downstairs Jack went first into her husband's room. + +Jack had always had a lovely nature. In the old days at Rainbow Lodge in +any difficulty with one of the Ranch girls, although having a high +temper, she had been quick to confess herself in the wrong. Since her +marriage she had been more than ever inclined to do likewise with her +husband. So it was but natural that Frank should be under the impression +that she would at all times eventually come around to his point of view. +He did not realize that under some circumstances Jack might be as +inflexible as he was. + +However, she waited a moment now with perfect good temper, while Frank +pretended that he had not heard her enter his room. When he finally did +look toward her, she went up to him and put her arms about him. Then, as +he continued to frown, Jack smiled. She knew that her husband took small +matters too seriously, having made this discovery soon after her +marriage, just as all girls make similar discoveries. But Jack was wise +enough to realize that she must try as wisely as she could to discount +this uncomfortable characteristic. + +"Don't be grouchy, please, Frank," she murmured. "I told you I was +sorry, and you know that every now and then I have to get rid of some of +my surplus American energy. After a hard ride with Bryan I can be a +conventional English Lady for weeks." + +In spite of her good intention, Jack's remark was not wise. No matter +how devoted a man and woman may be to each other, there is obliged to +be some difference of opinion in every international marriage. + +Frank was extremely sensitive over the idea that Jack was not as happy +in the English life he offered her, as she had been in the old days on +her own ranch. + +"That is unfortunate, Jack," he returned, "for I have made up my mind +that it will be wiser for you not to ride with Bryan again. I am afraid +you are both too fond of adventure to be trusted." + +Then, as Frank had delivered his edict, his own good temper was +restored. As he was already dressed, putting his arm across Jack's +shoulder, he started for the door. He was really immensely proud of Jack +and thought she looked unusually lovely tonight. In spite of the number +of years he had been married he never introduced her to his friends, or +saw her at the head of his table, without a feeling of pride. Also, +Frank counted on Jack's sweetness of temper. It did not occur to him +that she would disagree with his request, or rather with his command, +since without intending it, he had expressed his wish in such a fashion. + +Nevertheless Jack hesitated. She knew that Frank was not in an agreeable +mood for a discussion then. Also, that they could not keep their guests +waiting while one took place. + +"I think that is rather arbitrary of you, Frank, since neither Bryan nor +I are children and he is one of the friends I most enjoy. But perhaps we +had better talk of this at another time." + +Frank nodded, Jack's manner affording no idea that she would not +ultimately give in to him, nor was she sure herself. It may be that Jack +had become too much of a domestic pacifist--a woman who wishes for peace +at any price. + +On the landing of the steps, just before they went down to dinner, Frank +remarked hastily: + +"Oh Jack, I had a marconigram from Professor Russell. He must have heard +of Frieda's sudden departure from New York. In any case his ship is due +tomorrow, for he left the day after she sailed." + +"Gracious, have you told Frieda?" Jack returned nervously, forgetting +for the instant her own personal quandary. "Frieda announced that she +never would agree to see Professor Russell again. In any case I had +hoped we might have a few weeks of grace, to allow things to quiet down +or perhaps to persuade Frieda to change her mind. The only thing now is +not to allow Professor Russell to come to Kent House until Frieda gives +her consent." + +"Nonsense, Jack," Frank answered reassuringly, "Frieda cannot behave in +any such fashion. You have not told me the trouble, but I suspect that +Frieda has simply been a spoiled child. Besides, in any case, she has no +right to refuse at least to see her husband and talk the situation over. +Don't worry; I'll discuss the matter with Frieda myself in the morning +and bring her around. You see, I telegraphed Russell at the dock to come +directly to us, as I shall spend tomorrow at home." + +"All right," Jack conceded, a good deal worried, but also slightly +amused. If her husband wished to undertake to persuade Frieda to change +her mind, she was glad that the task was his and not hers. Of course +Frank thought it would be a simple matter, since he had yet really to +know his sister-in-law. It was only natural that he should suppose +Frieda would be easier to guide than his wife, judging by Frieda's +manner and appearance! Men are not always wise in their judgment of +feminine character. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN APPARITION + + +THE next morning Frieda received a message from her brother-in-law +asking her to give him half an hour of her time, whenever it was +convenient to her. + +In a way she had anticipated this request, although it had come sooner +than she expected. Frieda knew that Frank was fond of her and regarded +himself as her brother. She had no other. Also, she held a wise idea +inside her blonde head, believing that men were apt to stand together in +many difficulties of the kind in which she and her husband were now +involved. + +However, Frieda did not, of course, anticipate the news of her husband's +having immediately followed her to Europe. She had not written to him or +to any friend in Chicago since her sudden departure. But she had made up +her mind that the last interview between herself and Henry was their +final one. There could be no reason for their ever meeting again. She +supposed, of course, that there were certain matters that would have to +be arranged in the future, but Frieda was not given to troubling herself +over details. Someone else had always attended to such things for her, +in order that she might have her way. Later, Jim Colter, or Frank, or a +lawyer--Frieda was entirely vague as to the method to be employed--would +have to see that she was released from the cause of her unhappiness. + +For since arriving at Jack's house not thirty-six hours before, Frieda +had been happier than she had for several months. Therefore, during the +night she had decided for the hundredth time, that her husband must be +the sole cause of all the upsetting emotions which had been recently +troubling her. So soon as she could learn to forget Henry and put the +recollection of him entirely out of her mind, she would again become the +perfectly care free and irresponsible Frieda of the old days at the +Rainbow Ranch. + +As she was not fond of getting up in the mornings and usually did pretty +much what she liked in her sister's house, Frieda had not gone down to +breakfast. However, she sent word to her brother-in-law that she would +be glad to see him in her own sitting room between eleven and twelve +o'clock. + +Whether it was done intentionally or not, Frieda put on a frock in which +she looked particularly young. It was a simple white muslin, with sprays +of blue flowers and folded kerchief fashion across Frieda's white +throat. Nothing could really make Frieda appear demure; her lips were +too full and crimson; her nose was too retrousée and her hair held too +much pure sunlight. But she could look very innocent and much abused, +and this was the impression she subconsciously wished to make. One must +not believe that Frieda actually thought out matters of this kind, but +she was one of the women who acted on what is supposed to be feminine +instinct. + +Frank thought Frieda looked about sixteen instead of twenty-two when he +arrived to talk matters over with her. So at once it struck him as +absurd that he was forced to discuss so serious a question as leaving +her husband with a mere child like Frieda. Instead of argument Frank +began with persuasion. First he invited Frieda to tell her side of the +story, which he had heard in part from Jack. Although he had said at the +time of his wife's confidence, that Frieda had not made much of a case +for herself, on hearing her story from Frieda's own lips he offered no +such criticism. + +When Frieda ended she was crying, so that Frank sympathetically took her +hand to console her as any other man would. Then, while holding her +hand, he attempted a mild argument in favor of the Professor, finally +concluding: + +"Frieda, your husband is coming to Kent House some time this afternoon. +Since it is really your duty to see him and talk over the +misunderstanding between you, I feel sure you will." + +Nevertheless, Frieda gently but obstinately shook her head. + +"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Frank, and Jack too, if she really feels +as you do, but I never mean to see Henry again." + +However, until lunch time Frank remained in the blue sitting room +discussing the foolishness of her position with Frieda; afterwards he +felt that he had never presented any subject so skillfully in his career +as a member of Parliament, as he argued her own case with his +sister-in-law. Frieda never questioned him, never contradicted him, only +she continued to shake her head and to repeat gently, "I'm sorry, Frank, +but I can't." + +Several times Lord Kent attempted severity because his severity usually +influenced most people. It influenced Frieda, but only to such an +outburst of tears, that he was forced to spend the next five minutes in +apologizing in order to comfort her. + +At one o'clock Jack, appearing at the door, immediately recognized the +situation. Both Frank and Frieda appeared exhausted. Frieda announced +that she would not come to lunch, but would prefer to lie down all the +afternoon. As a matter of fact the possibility that her husband might +make his appearance at Kent House was the real reason which kept Frieda +in her own room, although offering the excuse of a headache. + +Therefore, about four o'clock, when Professor Henry Tilford Russell +finally did arrive, he was able to see only Lord and Lady Kent, his +brother-in-law and sister-in-law. + +Personally, Jack was uncertain how she should greet him. Of what actual +unkindness he was guilty of to Frieda she was not yet certain. +Nevertheless, the fact remaining that he had not made her little sister +happy filled Lady Kent with resentment and dislike. Certainly, Professor +Russell should have realized how much older he was than Frieda and not +expected her to conform to his dullness and routine. + +As a matter of fact Jack also would have preferred not to have to come +in contact with her sister's husband until she understood the situation +between them more thoroughly. Yet, when Professor Russell was announced, +it was she who was forced to go first into the drawing room. + +There must have been a delay of about five minutes since she had waited +that length of time for her husband, who chanced to have gone out to the +stables to give an order. Then, fearing to appear intentionally rude, +Jack approached their visitor alone. + +He could not have heard her as she entered, for he was sitting in a +large chair with his head resting in his hand and looked so exhausted, +possibly from his trip, that Lady Kent forgot for the moment to be +angry. When he aroused himself and later held out his hand, she took it +at once, although a moment before she had not been sure whether she +ought, because of her own loyalty to Frieda. + +"Is Frieda well? If you only realized the relief to find she is safe +here with you! At first I did not know where the child had gone," +Professor Russell began so simply, that any human being would have been +disarmed. + +It will be remembered, that in the last volume of the "Ranch Girls At +Home Again," Professor Russell is introduced to the Ranch girls by Ralph +Merritt, who told them of the Professor's intense dislike for girls. At +first he appeared to regard Frieda only as a child and therefore made an +exception of her. Then, later, after his accident at Rainbow Mine when +his leg was broken and Frieda undertook to keep him amused, an amazing +friendship developed between them which finally resulted in their +marriage. + +In replying to his question Jack found herself answering as reassuringly +as if Frieda really had been a runaway child, since this seemed to be +the spirit in which her husband thought of her. + +"She will see me?" he asked eagerly. But when Jack shook her head he did +not appear surprised, being evidently accustomed to Frieda's vagaries. + +Moreover, Lord Kent then came into the room. + +Afterwards, Professor Russell related his side of the difficulty between +himself and his wife. His story did not after all differ so much from +Frieda's account, for he put the blame upon himself, as she had done. + +"I was too old for her; we ought never to have married. The fault was +all mine," he ended so despondently, that Jack felt as if she could not +accept the very conclusion she had reached the day before. + +Professor Russell could not be persuaded to remain long--not even for +tea. It was agreed, however, that he would spend the next few weeks in +London and that later they might reach some decision. In the meantime +Jack promised to do her best to persuade her sister to have at least one +interview with her husband. + +Lord Kent followed his brother-in-law to the door. + +"Frieda is a spoiled baby; you have simply been too good to her. Some +day she will wake up and find this out for herself," he declared. + +But Professor Russell only shook his head sadly and departed. + +Even after learning of her husband's departure Frieda still refused to +join her family. What she was thinking about alone in her own apartment +no one knew, since she asked that no one disturb her. + +However, at half past five, realizing that her husband then must be +safely on his way back to London, Frieda decided that she could endure +her own rooms no longer. Without a word to anyone, she put on a long, +light weight blue coat and a small, close fitting, blue turban and +passing down through the long halls and through a side entrance vanished +into the outdoors. + +It was Frieda's plan merely to walk about in the gardens until she could +persuade herself into a calmer frame of mind. She was sure, of course, +that she cared nothing for her husband and yet all afternoon she had +found herself wondering if he were not worn out by his journey. +Ordinarily he was not a good traveler and he must also have suffered +through being compelled to desert his summer classes at the University +in order to seek her. + +Frieda discovered one of the gardeners at work in the flower beds and, +as he persisted in talking with her, she started down one of the shaded +avenues along the edge of the park in order to be alone. She did not +often walk for any distance, since she had never been so fond of +exercise as the other girls. + +But Frieda felt unexplainably restless and out of sorts. This was +foolish because, having made up her mind that she wanted her freedom +and being determined to gain it, there was no point in worrying. + +Frieda kept walking hurriedly on. It was a beautiful, soft afternoon, +with the first hint of twilight in the sky and in the atmosphere. + +Kent Park covered several acres and Frieda wandered further from the +house than she knew. After a time the road which she had taken curved +into a path leading into the woods. There was a fairly heavy forest near +by, which was a part of the Kent estate and she strolled into this. + +Later, Frieda sat down for a few minutes. She was in no hurry to return +home, except in time for dinner which was at a late hour, according to +the English custom. Not that she meant to appear at dinner, but that +Jack or Olive would be sure to seek her at that time. + +Frieda made rather a charming picture amid the scene she had +unconsciously chosen for herself. She was sitting on the trunk of a tree +which had fallen from the weight of years and infirmities. There was a +little clearing behind her and, as she had taken off her hat, the sun +shone on her bowed head and shoulders. She wished very much that she +could stop thinking about a number of things, for Frieda was one of the +people who resent having to grow up and there are more of them in this +world than we realize. + +Then, suddenly, Frieda heard an odd noise, which at least startled her +sufficiently to bring the result she had been wishing for, since it made +her stop thinking of unpleasant things. The noise was not loud and it +would have been difficult to have explained exactly what the sound was. +Only Frieda for the first time realized that she had been unwise in +having come so far away from the house without mentioning to anyone +where she was going. + +The woods in which she was resting was a portion of the game preserves +belonging to the Kent Estate, or a portion of land set apart for hunting +at certain times of the year on English estates. But no one is supposed +to hunt on this land except the owner of the estate and the friends whom +he may care to invite. + +Frieda, of course, had stayed long enough in England on other visits to +understand that poachers are more or less frequent. She thought perhaps +the noise she had heard was a man in hiding, who had been hunting and +feared she might report him. The fact that it was summer time, when +hunting was infrequent, made no impression upon her. + +[Illustration: IN A FEW MOMENTS SHE WAS IN A PANIC] + +At first, however, she was not seriously frightened, although she +concluded to hurry back to Kent House as quickly as possible. + +But when she started back through the woods, whoever it was in hiding +evidently attempted to follow her. The faster she walked, the faster the +footsteps came on behind. + +However, Frieda did not turn her head to discover her pursuer. She had +been nervous and worried all day, or she might not have become so +alarmed. Instead of looking back she continued hurrying on faster and +faster until, in a few moments, she was in a panic. Then she started to +run and to her horror realized that a man was also running with long, +easy strides behind her. + +Frieda was totally unaccustomed to looking after herself in any +emergency, and had never been compelled to do so--even in small +adversities. Now she had a sudden impulse to call out for someone, but +had only sufficient breath to increase her speed. If she could get a +little nearer the house, one of the servants could be sure to come to +her assistance. + +But Frieda had run only a few yards when, as a perfectly natural result +of her panic, she tripped over some roots hidden in the underbrush and +fell forward with her face amid the leaves and twigs and with one leg +crumpled under her. + +She must have struck her chin for she felt a dull pain and a queer +numbness in her side. However, when she tried to disentangle herself and +jump up quickly the pain became more acute. Nevertheless, for one +instant Frieda struggled and then lay still, for her pursuer had already +reached her and was bending over her, for what purpose Frieda did not +know. + +Then she heard a slow, inexpressibly familiar voice say: + +"I am afraid I have frightened you, my dear. I do trust you have not +injured yourself." Then a pair of strong, gentle hands attempted to lift +her. + +Naturally, Frieda's first sensation was one of amazement; the second, +relief; and the third, anger. + +She managed, however, with assistance to sit in an upright position. +Then she began brushing off the twigs and dirt which she felt had been +ground into her face. Finally she recovered sufficient breath and self +control to be able to speak. + +"Henry Russell!" she exclaimed, trying to reveal both dignity and +disdain, in spite of her ridiculous position, "will you please tell me +why you are hiding in Frank's woods like a thief, and why, when I +refused to see you, you terrified the life out of me by chasing me until +I nearly killed myself. I think, at least, I have broken my leg," she +ended petulantly. + +Professor Henry Tilford Russell flushed all over his fair, scholarly +face. Taking off his soft grey hat, he ran his hand over the top of his +head, where the hair was already beginning to grow thin. + +"My dear Frieda, you do me an injustice," he began, "although I know my +actions do appear as you have just stated them. The truth is I found +myself unable to go away at once from Kent House. I am not fond of +London. I dreaded the loneliness there; also I longed for a sight of you +to know for myself that you were well. So I wandered about through the +grounds at some distance from the house and finally entered these woods. +When you came into them alone and so unexpectedly, it seemed as if I +must speak to you. I started toward you and you ran. I did not think my +pursuit would alarm you. It was one of the many things, Frieda, I should +have understood and did not." + +In spite of the fact that the fault of the present situation was +undoubtedly Professor Russell's, there was an unconscious dignity and +graciousness about him as he made his apology, which Frieda recognized +was undoubtedly lacking both in her appearance and emotions. She felt +extremely cross and her leg hurt. She could not go up to the house +assisted by a husband whom she had just scornfully refused to see, and +yet she did not believe she could walk alone. + +"Very well, Henry; now that you have accomplished your purpose, I hope +you will be good enough to leave me," Frieda demanded, believing that +she would rather suffer anything than a continuance of her present +humiliation. + +But Professor Russell did not stir. + +"I prefer to see you safely through the woods. When we are nearer the +house I may be able to find someone to take my place." + +Professor Russell then leaned over and lifted Frieda to her feet. As a +result she found that her leg was not broken or sprained, but only +bruised, and that walking was possible if she moved slowly. + +However, Frieda suffered considerable pain and she was not accustomed to +bodily discomfort. At first she tried not to rest her weight upon the +Professor's arm, for he had put his arm under hers and was attempting to +support her almost entirely. But, by and by, as the pain grew worse, she +found herself growing more dependent and, as a matter of fact, her +dependence seemed perfectly natural. Once it occurred to her that, +during her first acquaintance with Professor Russell, he had been hurt +and in more ways than one had leaned upon her. No one ever had asked any +kind of care from her before, and in those days she had at least thought +that she had fallen in love with the Professor. At least she had +insisted upon marrying him, when her entire family had opposed the +union. + +There was no conversation between the husband and wife, except that +several times Professor Russell, without waiting to be asked, stopped +for Frieda to rest. + +Then, by and by, when they had reached the edge of the woods, he saw one +of the men servants at a little distance off and signalled to him. + +"There are many things I would like to talk over with you, Frieda, but +this is not the time. Neither do I want you to think I meant to take an +unfair advantage of you by forcing myself upon you without your +knowledge. I think I scarcely realized myself just what I was doing. I +am sorry you felt compelled to run away from home because we sometimes +quarreled. I do not know just how much I was in the wrong at those +times, but I fear you were not happy with me or you would not have let +the fact that we differed about a good many things have made you wish to +leave me. Please remember, Frieda, if there is ever a time when you wish +to talk matters over with me, I shall be glad to come to you. I will not +come again unless you summon me." + +Then, as the man servant had by this time reached them, Professor +Russell gave Frieda into the man's charge. + +The next instant, bowing to her as if he had been a stranger, he turned +and started in the opposite direction. + +Frieda did not remember whether she even said good-bye. She did think, +however, that she would have liked to have reminded Henry to hold his +shoulders straighter. Really he was not so old--only something over +thirty. He seemed to have been one of the persons born old, caring +always more for books than people--more for study than an active life. +Frieda actually felt a little sorry for him. Always she must have been a +disturbing influence in his life. Perhaps in his way he had been good to +her, or at least had intended to be. She wished that she had told him to +go back home because she could write to him there, or in case she ever +wished to see him, she could also go home. She intended to go to the +Rainbow ranch in the autumn. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE CLOUD + + +THE next weeks in July were extraordinarily beautiful ones in England. +The summer was warmer than usual and the sun shone with greater +radiance. The English country was hauntingly lovely and serene. + +In spite of Frieda's trouble, the three Ranch girls enjoyed one another, +as they had had no opportunity of doing since Jack's marriage and coming +abroad to live. + +There were long walks and rides and exchanges of visits with their +country neighbors. Now and then Lady Kent and Olive went up to London +for a few days of the theatre and the last part of the social season. +They were Lord Kent's guests in the Ladies' Gallery in the House of +Parliament and drank tea on the wonderful old balcony that overlooks the +Thames river. But Frieda preferred not to accompany them. + +London was never more filled with tourists, the greater number +Americans intending to leave later for the continent. + +But so far as Professor Russell was concerned, no word had been heard +from him since his unceremonious meeting with his wife. However, he had +sent his banker's address to Lord Kent, saying that all mail would be +forwarded to him from there. Then he appeared to have dropped completely +out of sight for, in spite of his brother-in-law's effort toward +friendliness, he had not called upon him a second time. + +In discussing the matter between themselves, Jack and Frank decided that +this was possibly the best arrangement for the present. Frieda had never +mentioned her unexpected discovery of her husband; nor did she ever +voluntarily refer to her married life. Therefore, whatever was going on +inside her mind, no one had any knowledge of it. As is often the case +with women and girls of Frieda's temperament, she was better able to +keep her own counsel than the women who are supposed to be strong minded +and who are more apt to be frank. + +So far as Jack was concerned she had never reopened with Frank the +question of her rides with Captain MacDonnell, because the latter had +been away and he had not asked her to ride since his return. + +However, neither of these facts were so important as the feeling Jack +had, that no propitious moment had arrived for a second discussion of +the subject with her husband. She did not intend to defy him, but to +make him see that he had no right to be so arbitrary and--more than +that--so domineering. This had been Jack's usual method in any +difference of opinion between herself and Frank, or in any unlikeness +between the American and English point of view concerning marriage. As a +matter of fact, more than half the time Jack had been successful. + +But, during the past few weeks she had seen that Frank was worried and +unlike himself--that his attention was engaged on matters which were not +personal. For if the weather and the climate appeared serene in these +particular July weeks in England the state of English politics was not. +For the country was being harassed by the questions of Home Rule for +Ireland and by the Militant Suffrage movement. + +The Suffrage question was one which Lord and Lady Kent had agreed not to +discuss with each other. To Jack, who had been brought up in +Wyoming--the first of the Suffrage states in the United States--and who +had seen the success of it there, the fact that the English nation held +the idea of women voting in such abhorrence and with such narrow +mindedness, was more a matter of surprise than anything else. The fact +that her husband, who had also lived for a short time in Wyoming, should +also oppose woman's suffrage was beyond her comprehension, except that +Frank had the Englishman's love for the established order and disliked +any change. Jack would not confess to herself that he also had the +Englishman's idea that a woman should be subservient to her husband and +that he should be master of his own house. To give women the freedom, +which the ballot would bring, might be to allow them an independence in +which the larger majority of the men of the British Isles did not then +believe. Neither did they realize--nor did the suffragists +themselves--how near their women were to being able to prove their +fitness. + +One Saturday afternoon at the close of July, Captain MacDonnell invited +Jack and Olive and Frieda and a number of his other neighbors and +friends to tea at his place. He had no near relatives, and when he was +in Kent county lived alone, except for his housekeeper and servants, in +an odd little house, perhaps a century old, which had been left him by +his guardian. + +The girls drove over together in a pony carriage, usually devoted to +Jack's children. But at the gate they gave it into the charge of a boy +in order that they might walk up to the house, which was of a kind found +only in England. + +The house was built of rough plaster which the years had toned to a soft +grey. Captain MacDonnell had the good taste to allow the roof with its +deep overhanging eaves to remain thatched as it had been in early days. +The building was small and one walked up to the front door through two +long rows of hollyhocks. On either side of the hollyhock sentinels the +earth was a thick carpet of flowers, and the little house seemed to rise +out of its own flower beds. + +There were no steps leading to the front door except a single one, so +the visitor entered directly into the hall which divided the downstairs. +On the left side was a long room with a raftered ceiling and high narrow +windows, and on the right Captain MacDonnell's den--a small room +littered with a young soldier's belongings. Beyond were the dining room +and kitchen and upstairs four bedrooms. As the house was so small +Captain MacDonnell had turned his great, old-fashioned barn into extra +quarters for guests. Between the house and the flower beds and the barn +was an open space of green lawn with an occasional tree, and beyond was +a tennis court. The place was tiny and simple compared to Kent House and +yet had great charm. + +Jack and Olive and Frieda arrived before the other guests. They soon +discovered that Mrs. Naxie--Captain MacDonnell's housekeeper--had +arranged to serve tea in his living room. + +It was through Jack's suggestion that the arrangement was altered. + +"Please don't tell Mrs. Naxie, Bryan, that I spoke of it," she +volunteered as soon as she beheld the preparations, "but don't you think +the summer in England too short for people to spend an hour indoors when +they can avoid it?" + +And Captain MacDonnell good naturedly agreed. + +As a matter of fact, Jack always poured tea for him when he had guests +and she was able to be present, so she felt sufficiently at home to make +her request. + +Captain MacDonnell's mother was an Irishwoman and his father a +Scotchman. But they had both died when he was a little boy and he had +spent the greater part of his boyhood with an old bachelor friend of his +father's, who was his own guardian and had lived in the very house of +which he was now the master. + +As neighbors he and Frank Kent had played together when they were small +boys and had later gone to the same public school. Then Frank's illness +sent him to the United States, where he was introduced into the lives of +the Ranch girls, at about the same time his friend Bryan MacDonnell +entered Cambridge and afterwards the army. But whenever he and Frank +were together the old intimacy had continued, and Jack's coming had only +seemed to turn their friendship into a three-cornered one. + +"Frank told me to tell you that he was sorry not to be able to come over +with us this afternoon, Bryan," Jack announced a few moments later, when +the four of them had gone out to select a place where tea could be +served, "But for some reason or other he telephoned that he could not +come down from London today. I don't know what is wrong with Frank +lately. He has never been so absorbed in political matters. I am afraid +Frieda and Olive will think he neglects his family disgracefully. Please +tell them, Bryan, that he is sometimes an attentive husband." + +But as Captain MacDonnell did not answer at once, Olive remarked in a +more serious tone than Lady Kent had used: + +"I think I am rather glad Frank takes his work as a member of Parliament +as the most important thing he has to do. After all, helping to make the +laws of one's country is a pretty serious occupation. Which do you think +more serious--Captain MacDonnell, being a soldier and fighting when it +is necessary to defend the laws, or making them in the beginning?" + +Captain MacDonnell smiled, but rather seriously. It occurred to Jack, +who knew him so much better than the others, that Bryan did seem +uncommonly grave this afternoon, in spite of his efforts to be an +agreeable host. + +Then she took hold of Frieda's arm and they wandered off a short +distance, leaving Olive and Captain MacDonnell to continue their +conversation alone. + +"Do you know, Frieda," Jack whispered when they were safe from being +overheard, "I would give a great deal if Bryan and Olive would learn to +care for each other. Ordinarily I think it is horrid to be a matchmaker, +but Bryan and Olive are both so lovely and you don't know what it would +mean to me to have Olive live near me. It is heavenly these days, having +you both here. You can't realize how lonely I get for you and my own +country sometimes." + +Frieda looked critically over at Captain MacDonnell and Olive, who were +standing close beside each other talking earnestly. In spite of Captain +MacDonnell's ancestry his coloring was almost as dark as Olive's. + +Then Frieda turned her blue eyes on her sister. + +"Captain MacDonnell and Olive look too much alike," she argued. "I +prefer marriages where the man and woman are contrasts." + +Then, although Lady Kent made no answer, she smiled to herself. If +Frieda believed in contrasts in marriage, surely she did not mean merely +in complexion and general appearance. Important contrasts in human +beings went much deeper than appearances. Surely Frieda's own marriage +had offered a sufficient contrast in years, taste, disposition and a +dozen other things. However, instead of securing happiness, it seemed to +have had the opposite result. + +During the remainder of the afternoon Jack thought nothing more about +their early conversation, as she devoted herself entirely to Captain +MacDonnell's other guests. + +It was just a little after six o'clock, when they were beginning to +think of returning home, that Lady Kent observed one of her servants +coming toward her across the lawn carrying a telegram. + +Never so long as she lived was Jack ever to forget that moment and the +scene about her. There were about a dozen, beautifully costumed persons +present--the women in silks and muslins, and the men in tennis flannels +and other sport costumes. They were all talking in a light hearted +fashion about small matters. + +Without any thought that it might be of particular importance Jack +opened her telegram and before reading it apologized to the persons +nearest her. It happened that Captain MacDonnell was not far away. + +Yet she read her telegram--not once, but several times--before it dawned +upon her what her husband's words meant. Even then she did not really +understand any more than the millions of other women in the world, who +heard the same news and more within the next few days. The sky overhead +was still blue; the earth was green and peaceful, and her companions +were unconscious of tragedy. + +Nevertheless Frank's telegram had stated that the beginning of the war +cloud had appeared over Europe--the cloud which was later to spread over +so large a part of the world. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SO AS BY FIRE + + +"BUT Henry cannot go; it is absurd! He never shot a gun in his life and +besides I--" Frieda hesitated; her face flushing; yet she was trying to +speak calmly. + +She and Olive and Jack and Frank Kent were in the library at Kent House +with Captain MacDonnell talking one morning, several weeks since the +afternoon tea and during, perhaps, the most momentous week in all +history. + +"I think you must be mistaken about your husband's being unable to +shoot, Frieda," Lord Kent answered dryly. "As a matter of fact I believe +he is an expert; he told me himself that he had taken prizes for +marksmanship when he was a boy, but had never cared to use his skill for +hunting. As for your saying he can't go; well, the truth is, Frieda, +Professor Russell has already gone. He came in to see me a few days ago +to say that he had volunteered and was about to be sent somewhere in +France." + +Frank had not intended to be unkind. So many things had happened and +were happening every crowded second of the time that he was simply +forgetting to think of the individual. However, under the circumstances, +he did not suppose that Frieda would care very much what became of her +husband. + +"You mean that Henry has joined the army--that he has crossed over to +France without asking me how I would feel--without even coming to say +good-bye," Frieda returned slowly. And suddenly even her brother-in-law +observed the change in her expression. It was strange to see Frieda with +her face paling; her full, red lips closed tight and her blue eyes dark +and strained. + +"But, my dear child, how could your husband come to say good-bye to you +when you have been steadfastly refusing to see him for weeks?" Frank +continued, still a little impatient over feminine unreasonableness. "He +told me to tell you his plans and that he had made all arrangements in +case--" + +But, that instant, catching a warning glance from his wife, Lord Kent +changed color over his own tactlessness and desisted. This was a time +when everybody's nerves were overstrained; when hearts were torn to +pieces and imaginations were picturing only horrors. + +"Won't you motor down to the station with me, please, Jack?" Lord Kent +added, hastily, anxious to get away as soon as possible from the +situation he had created. + +Jack slipped on a long tan coat and soft hat and went with her husband, +leaving Olive to look after Frieda. + +"Bryan is expecting to be here again this afternoon for a farewell +visit, dear. He has been delayed for some reason or other but hopes to +leave with his regiment tomorrow," Frank announced on the way to his +train. "Do you know I think Bryan is a lucky fellow these days, not to +have anyone very close to him--anyone who cares very much what becomes +of him. Oh, of course, I should care, more than I like to think; but I +mean no mother or father--no family." + +"I should also care a great deal, Frank," Jack interrupted quietly. + +But Lord Kent went on, scarcely hearing her. + +"It is a funny thing that Bryan has never married. He is an uncommonly +fascinating fellow. Of course, he hasn't much money; but that ought not +to stand in his way. He has his profession. Queer, when he was a boy he +used to talk about being an artist; but there is a lot of difference +between an artist and a soldier. He must be glad now of his choice. +Sometimes I think Bryan has never married because he has never seen any +woman as attractive as you are. He has almost said as much to me." + +Jack shook her head almost angrily. "That is nonsense, Frank. After all, +you know Bryan is pretty young; there is no use talking as if he were a +confirmed old bachelor." + +After lunch that same afternoon Captain MacDonnell rode over to Kent +House. He was wearing his service uniform of khaki--the short military +coat, the full trousers drawn close at the knees and the high boots. He +also wore the British officer's cap with the small visor and the other +marks of his rank. + +Hearing the sound of his horse approaching, Jack went out on the veranda +to greet him. Frieda was upstairs in her room and Olive was writing +letters to Ruth Colter and Jean at the Rainbow Ranch. + +In her arms Jack carried her baby, with whom she had been playing. +Indeed, ever since the news of war, some member of the family had +seemed to wish to hold Vive, for her baby softness and sweetness was in +some way a consolation. + +Jack had her baby's little yellow head pressed close against her bronze +colored hair and made the baby wave its hand to the young officer as he +drew nearer. + +When he came up to them on the veranda he kissed Vive's tiny hand. + +"May I have one of Vive's blue ribbons to tie in my buttonhole, please, +Lady Jacqueline?" he asked. "Lady Jacqueline" being a title which +Captain MacDonnell had originated for Jack, but which many other people +also used. "Every knight, when he went off to the wars in the old days, +wore his lady's colors. I should like to have Vive for my lady." + +Jack felt her fingers trembling a little as she unfastened the ribbon +from her baby's sleeve and gave it to her friend. + +"Won't you take a farewell ride with me this afternoon, Jack?" Captain +MacDonnell asked the next instant. "It will be the best way to manage +our good-bye." + +For just the fraction of a second Jack hesitated. Yet, in that time, she +had a sufficient opportunity to think over the entire situation. +Captain MacDonnell had not asked her to ride with him since the +afternoon, when her recklessness had displeased Frank. Since then she +had never attempted to persuade Frank that his demand, that she never +ride with Captain MacDonnell again, was unreasonable. Nevertheless, she +felt fairly sure that under the present circumstance he could not +object. Surely, Frank could not be so ungracious as to be vexed with her +for disobeying his wish at such a time. She would, of course, ride +carefully and take no foolish risks. + +Jack gave Vive into Captain MacDonnell's keeping. + +"Yes, I'll go if you'll come back to dinner with Frank and the rest of +us," she agreed. "I'll be ready in five minutes." + +Jack sent the nurse to look after the baby and in ten minutes was ready +for the ride. + +It was a sultry August afternoon, very still, and yet with a strange +throbbing in the air of many tiny insects. The hawthorn was no longer in +bloom, but the two friends rode along the English lanes sweet with +blossoming elderberry and blackberry bushes. + +Curious how, when one comes to say farewell, there is so little that +seems worth saying! + +During the first part of the ride Jack and Captain MacDonnell were +frequently silent, except that Jack, of course, made the conventional +inquiries one might ask of a soldier. Was he in good condition? Did he +have everything he needed? Was there anything she could do for him--such +as looking after his house while he was gone? + +In response to each question Captain MacDonnell shook his head. He had +turned over his house to be used for the Belgian refugees. + +They were actually on their way home before he began to talk. + +Then he took a letter from his pocket. + +"I wish you would give this to Frank for me, Lady Jack, and if anything +happens to me ask him to read it, and to let you read it afterwards if +he thinks best. Sorry to be mysterious, but this is a kind of cranky +wish of mine." + +Jack slipped the letter inside the coat she was wearing. + +"All right, Bryan. You know I have always felt rather like a big sister +to you; I am nearly a year older. But, today I think I feel like your +mother," she continued, trying to smile, but with her voice breaking a +little. "So you must promise me, if there is anything I can ever do for +you later on you will let me know. In a way I believe I am almost +envious of you, Bryan. I think I have wanted to be a boy ever since I +could sit on the back of a horse and ride over our ranch with my father. +That is why people have always called me 'Jack,' I suppose. Anyhow, just +now, I think I would like to go out to meet a great adventure. I wonder +what a woman's great adventure is. I presume it is marriage for most of +us. At any rate Frank is terribly envious of you, Bryan. He has said so +to me half a dozen times. He does not seem to know whether he ought to +go to the front, which is what he wants to do, or to stay on here doing +his work in Parliament. Of course, he ought to stay," Jack argued, +repeating what she had been saying a good many times to her husband +recently. "There never was a time when a member of Parliament had such +great work to do, and that is Frank's real duty." + +When Jack gave Captain MacDonnell's letter to her husband that night she +spoke of their having had a ride together. Although he made no comment, +she could see that he was not altogether pleased. It occurred to Jack +then, though only vaguely, that if Frank objected to her disobeying him +in small matters, their life might be pretty difficult if ever they had +a difference of opinion and she disobeyed him in a large one. + +"Strange for Bryan to have confided this letter to us," Frank remarked, +as he put it carefully away in a strong box where he kept his important +papers. "I wonder what old Bryan has written? I never dreamed he had a +secret in his life which he has never told to me. But, perhaps he wants +us to do some favor or other for him. Truly I hope we may never have to +open the letter." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +SEVERAL MONTHS LATER + + +FRIEDA read a letter she had just received and laughed. + +Laughter was not frequent at Kent House those days, so that Jack and +Olive looked up from the work they were doing. Olive was rolling +bandages and Jack was writing notes at her desk. The three of them were +in Jack's private sitting room where, only a few moments before, the +afternoon mail bag had been brought in. + +"What is it, Frieda?" Jack asked, turning her head to glance over her +shoulder in some surprise at her sister. She wondered if Frieda realized +that she was fully aware of the way in which she had been watching the +mail for these past few months. For Frieda had watched in vain for the +particular letter which certainly she seemed to expect; even if she did +not greatly desire it. + +"Oh, I have just received a note from a young soldier to whom I sent +the first pair of socks I ever made," she returned. "He may not have +originated the poem, but it is almost worth the trouble and the time +I took on the socks. Do listen:" + + "Thanks, dear lady, for the socks you knit; + Some socks, some fit. + I used one for a hammock and the other for a mitt. + I hope I meet you when I've done my bit, + But where in the h... did you learn to knit?" + +Then Frieda dropped the letter to wave another long grey sock, shot +through with shining knitting needles. It was somewhat narrow in the +ankle and bulged strangely at the heel. + +"I wonder if I am improving?" she inquired anxiously. The utilitarian +nature of Frieda's occupation contrasted curiously with the general +fluffiness of her appearance. For no amount of inward anguish could ever +keep Frieda from the desire to wear pretty clothes and to make herself +as attractive as possible. However, no one had any right to say she was +unhappy, except as every one else was, through sympathy with the added +troubles which the war had lately brought upon the world. + +Like most of the other women in the larger part of Europe and also in +the United States, Jack and Olive were devoting all their energies to +the work of the war. They had both taken short courses in Red Cross +nursing and had organized clubs and classes in the neighborhood for +every kind of relief work, while Frank had turned over several of his +houses to the Belgian refugees. + +Therefore, only Frieda remained more or less on the outside of things. +She had undertaken to learn to knit for the soldiers, but insisted that +since her name meant peace and was a German name as well, she would do +nothing more. The truth was she seemed not to wish to go out or mix with +society a great deal, which was odd, as one of the reasons she had given +for her unhappiness in her own home was that her husband wished to spend +too much time there, so that she had become bored. + +However, Frieda had agreed to visit the poor people on the estate and in +the neighboring village, in order to relieve Jack from this one of her +many duties. + +Moreover, she enjoyed the odd types of old men and women, so unlike any +other people whom she had ever before known, and she became a great +favorite with them. Instead of giving her money for war purposes Frieda +preferred bestowing it on these same queer old persons and the children +who had been left behind. + +This afternoon, after she had finished reading the second of her two +letters, the latter from Jean in Wyoming, Frieda got up from her chair. + +"Jimmie and I are going to drive down to the village to see old Dame +Quick," she announced, "I promised to read to her this afternoon." 'Dame +Quick' was the title Frieda had borrowed to give to the oldest woman in +Granchester, because she was so extraordinarily lively. + +"What will you do with Jimmie while you read? He will never keep still," +Jack called, as Frieda moved toward the door. + +Frieda paused. "Oh, he and nurse will return back in the governess cart. +I want to walk home. Don't worry if I am a little late," and before +Olive or Jack would speak, she had disappeared. + +"I hope Frieda won't be too long. She does not know this country as I +do," Jack murmured afterwards, but not thinking of the matter seriously. + +Frieda and Jimmie had a way of jogging in the little governess cart on +many afternoons, sometimes taking the nurse with them and more often +not. Jimmie was rather a troublesome small boy of an age when he was +into every kind of mischief, and Frieda was not fond of children. +Therefore, her family had wondered why she appeared to desire so much of +Jimmie's companionship. Frieda might have answered that he asked so many +questions that she did not have time to think of other things; however, +she had never said this, even to herself. + +The governess cart was a little wicker carriage swung low on two wheels, +with an ancient, shaggy pony, who never moved out of a slow trot. + +That afternoon, like all the great ladies in the English novels, Frieda +stored away under the seat of her cart as much jelly and jam as her +sister's housekeeper would allow her. At the nearest grocery shop she +bought a package of tea, some tins of biscuits and a half pound of +tobacco. For the truth was that Frieda's old woman liked a quiet smoke. +This habit was not common among the villagers, but Dame Quick whose real +name was "Huggins" was so very old that she allowed herself certain +privileges. + +It was a dismal late fall afternoon, but English people and +particularly English children do not stay indoors because of bad +weather. + +Frieda wore a blue rain proof coat and a soft hat which she pulled down +over her yellow hair, to keep the soft mist out of her eyes as well as +she could. Jimmie and his nurse were also enveloped in mackintoshes. + +But the rain was not actually falling. There was only a November haze +and a pervading dampness, making Jimmie's cheeks redder than ever and +bringing more color than was usual to Frieda's face. + +On the way to the village Jimmie and his aunt, whom he regarded as of +his own age, sang "America" in not a particularly musical fashion, but +with a great deal of earnest effort, since Frieda was trying to teach +the British Jimmie to be more of an American. + +Jimmie, of course, wished to go into Mrs. Huggins' cottage with his +aunt, but on that point Frieda was resolute. She had a fancy for seeing +her old friend alone this afternoon. Actually she had a reason which had +been developing in her mind for the past twenty-four hours, although +Frieda herself considered her reason nonsensical. + +In answer to her knock the old woman came to the door. She looked like +one of the pictures one remembers in the Mother Goose books, and also +like one of them, "she lived alone, all in her little house of stone." + +Dame Quick's cottage of two rooms was set in the middle of a long row of +little stone houses, in one of the half a dozen streets in Granchester. +Frieda always felt a shiver as she went inside, since the floor was of +stone and there was a dampness about the little house as if it had never +been thoroughly warmed inside by the sun. + +Yet Mrs. Huggins had managed to live there in contentment for about +seventy years. She had come there as a bride before she was twenty and +was now "ninety or thereabouts," as she described herself. + +When Frieda entered she bobbed up and down as quickly as an old brown +cork on a running stream. + +"Sure, I've been waitin' and longin' for the sight of you these two +hours," she said, taking Frieda's packages, or as many as she could get +hold of, as if she thought them too burdensome for the young woman to +carry. + +Frieda laughed and slipped out of her rain coat, which she hung +carefully on a small wooden chair. Then she also laid her hat on the +chair and, as a matter of habit, fluffed up her pretty hair which the +rain and her hat had flattened, and then followed her old hostess. + +"You know you have had half a dozen visitors during the two hours you +say you have been waiting, Mrs. Huggins," Frieda returned. For it was +true that the tiny house and the old woman were the center of all the +gossip in the village. "I expect you to tell me a lot of news." + +The old woman nodded. + +"It is true these are news days in England and elsewhere. Times were, +when the days might be dull without a birth or a death, or a mating. But +now one wakes up to something stirrin' every day--a lad goin' off to the +war, or maybe one gettin' killed; and the girls coomin' in to tell me +their troubles; some of them just married, and some of them not married +at all yet. But all of them worryin' their hearts out. Sure, and if war +is goin' on forever--and it looks like it is--I'm for the women goin' +into battle along with their men." + +While she was talking Frieda had followed her hostess back into her +kitchen--the room in which she really lived and had her being. It was +also of stone, but the floor had a number of bright rag rugs as covering +and the walls were lined with pictures cut from papers and magazines, +and with picture postcards. One could have gotten a pretty fair +knowledge of English history at the moment by studying Mrs. Huggins' +picture gallery. She had on her walls a photograph of nearly every +British officer then in command of the army or navy. She had replicas of +innumerable battleships and also of statesmen. But in the place of honor +over a shelf that held her Bible and a tiny daguerreotype of the late, +lamented Mr. Huggins, hung a picture of England's big little man--Lloyd +George. The aged woman received the old age pension which Lloyd George +had given to the poor of England a few years before the outbreak of the +present war. + +Frieda sat down on a little chair which lovers of antiques would have +given much to possess. There was a small fire burning in the tiny stove, +and its red coals looked more cheerful than the great log fire at Kent +House. + +Frieda knew that Dame Quick would wish to prepare the tea herself. + +She had rather a happy feeling as she watched Mrs. Huggins, as if she +had been a little girl who had gone out one day and grown suddenly tired +and forlorn, and then been unexpectedly invited into the very +gingerbread house itself. But a gingerbread house presided over by a +good spirit, not an evil one. + +Her own little Dame Quick looked like a child's idea of an ancient good +fairy. She may not have been so small to begin with, but at ninety she +was bent over until she seemed very tiny indeed. Her face was brown and +wrinkled and her eyes shone forth as black as elderberries in the late +gathering time. + +She placed a small wooden table in front of Frieda and not far from the +fire and her own chair. Then she got out some heavy plates and two cups +and saucers. And whatever the difference in elegance, tea is never so +good served in a thin cup as in a thick one. Afterwards she opened the +package containing Frieda's biscuits and jam and finally poured boiling +water into her own brown stone tea kettle. + +Then she and Frieda, sitting on opposite sides of the tea table, talked +and talked. + +Several times, as she sat there, Frieda thought that if she had been an +English girl she would like to have had just such an old nurse or foster +mother as Mrs. Huggins. For she might then have been able to confide a +number of things to her--matters she could not talk about even to her +sister, since she was not clear enough how she felt concerning them +herself, and so Jack might get wrong impressions. + +"But you have not told me any special news this afternoon," Frieda +protested, having lifted her cup for a second helping of tea, and making +up her mind that she could not think of herself while visiting, as she +usually did at home. "My sister and brother always expect me to know +something interesting after a visit to you." + +Dame Quick poured the tea carefully. + +"I don't care for gossip," she returned, "yet it seems as if they like +it as much in big houses as in little." Her eyes snapped, so that Frieda +found herself watching them, fascinated. + +"Since you came in I've been wonderin' whether certain information +should be sent to Lord and Lady Kent. I don't think much of it myself, +as there has been such a steady stream of spy talk these months past. +But they are tellin' in Granchester that there is a man there who has +taken a house a short distance from the village, on the road to Kent +House. It seems he keeps to himself too much to please the village. He +says he has been ill, and I'm sure has a right to a mite of peace if he +wants it. It's only the village that's talking. Those higher up must +know things are what they should be, since they don't bother him." + +Frieda was scarcely listening. Mrs. Huggins' news was often +uninteresting in itself. It was only that she so much enjoyed repeating +it. + +She had already finished her second cup of tea and was looking down at +the collection of tea leaves in the bottom of her cup. + +"Suppose you tell my fortune," she suggested rather shyly. For some time +past she had been thinking of just this. "Didn't you say you sometimes +told the fortunes of the boys and girls in Granchester, and that a great +many things you predict come true?" + +The old country woman looked at Frieda sharply. + +"I tell the fortunes, child, of boys and girls whose grandfathers and +grandmothers I once knew. That isn't difficult fortune telling. I know +certain tricks in the faces, I remember what their own people thought +and did long before their day. Like father, like son; or maybe like +mother, like son; and like father, like daughter. But you--" The old +woman shook her head. "I know nothing about you, child; or your country, +or your people, or what you have made of life for yourself with that +pretty face of yours." + +Still Frieda held out her tea cup. + +"Oh, well; just let the tea leaves show you a little," she pleaded, in +the spoiled fashion by which Frieda usually accomplished her purpose. + +Still the old peasant continued to look, not at the tea leaves but at +her young companion. Perhaps she saw something with her fine, tired old +eyes, that were too dim to read print, which even Frieda's own family +did not see. + +"You have had too many of the things you wish without ever having to +work for them, or to wait, little lady," she repeated slowly. Then she +glanced down into the extended tea cup. "I think I see that you will +have to lose something before you find out that you care for it. I also +see a long journey, some clouds and at last a rainbow." + +Frieda put down her cup and laughed a little uncertainly. + +"Oh, the Rainbow Ranch is the name of my own home. I wonder if I have +ever told you that?" she inquired. "But you are mistaken if you think I +have had the things I wish." For, of course, Frieda did not believe she +had been a fortunate person. So few people ever do believe this of +themselves, until misfortune makes them learn through contrast. + +Later, she read a chapter in the Bible and the war news from one of the +morning papers. Then, before six o'clock, she started to return to Kent +House. + +Frieda walked quickly as the distance was not short. Moreover, she had +never entirely recovered from the fright of her unexpected encounter +with her husband several months before. Yet, since then, she had not +only never seen him again, but never heard anything about him, except +the scant information of his departure to France, which she had acquired +through Frank Kent. + +Frieda did think--no matter what the difference between them--that her +husband might have let her know that he was at least alive and well. Of +course she was a selfish, cold-hearted person, as her family and +undoubtedly her own husband believed her to be. However, one could be +interested in the welfare of even a comparative stranger in war times. + +Later, after Frieda left the village, she passed by the little house +which her old friend had tried to involve in a mystery in order to +supply her with gossip. The house was set in a yard by itself. The +lights were lighted and the curtains drawn down, but, as she hurried by, +either a woman's or a man's figure made a dark shadow upon the closed +blind. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +CHURCH AND STATE + + +THE family and a number of the servants from Kent House were on their +way to the small Episcopal church at the edge of the estate. + +Jack and Frank were walking in front, with Olive and Frieda strolling a +little more slowly behind them, and the rest of the company followed in +scattered groups. + +At the beginning of her marriage the English Sundays had been a trial to +Jack. They were so much more quiet, so much more sedate than those of +her rather too unconventional girlhood in Wyoming. Then they had +sometimes held church in the open air, or if they wished to go into the +nearest town, a big wagon was loaded with as many persons as could be +persuaded from the ranch, and ordinarily they stopped on the way back +and had lunch somewhere. Now and then Jack even remembered having ridden +on her own broncho to the church door and fastened it on the outside, +while she went in to the service in a costume which was an odd cross +between a riding habit and a church outfit. + +But now, although the walk across Kent Park was only a short one, Jack +was as correctly attired as if she were in London. Beside her brown +velvet costume which was very smart and becoming, she wore a hat with +feathers, which she particularly disliked. The hat was of the kind +affected by Queen Mary of England, who always wears feather-trimmed +hats. + +However, the mere matter of her hat would not have made Jack feel out of +sorts, if she had not had another more potent reason. Frank was nearly +always cross on Sunday mornings and this morning was no exception. + +It is strange that Sunday should have this effect on many persons, when +one should be more cheerful than usual, and yet it does. + +Frank was really worn out with all his worries and responsibilities, +Jack decided to herself, as she had a number of times recently. It was a +privilege many people take advantage of, by saving their bad humors for +their families. + +"But, Frank, I don't think you understand the situation in the United +States," Jack argued, speaking good naturedly. "You see, we represent +so many nationalities, so many differences of opinion and training, that +we can't all think alike. The President is supposed to represent +everybody." + +"Nonsense," Frank interrupted his wife not too politely. "The United +States has been thinking about nothing but getting rich. They are a +nation of shirkers, willing to stand back and let others do the work and +suffer the loss." + +"There are a good many millions of us for us all to be shirkers, Frank," +Jack answered, still speaking quietly, although her cheeks had flushed +and her eyes darkened. + +Really she and Frank tried very hard not to discuss any differences of +opinion they felt concerning the war. During the last few years the +marriages between men and women of different nationalities have had a +great strain put upon them. At present, Frank as an Englishman, thought +that the United States should immediately have gone in upon the side of +the Allies, while Jack did not; and now and then they unfortunately fell +into a discussion of the subject. + +Therefore, when they entered church this Sunday morning, neither Jack +nor Frank were in a good humor toward each other. Jack felt that, as +she was doing all she could in the service of his country, he should +have made no unkind criticism of hers. Frank did not think at all, +except to wish that Jack would refrain from argument. Certainly a man +wished for peace in his own home when it was nowhere else. But it did +not occur to Frank that it takes two to keep peace as well as two to +make a quarrel; nor did he begin to realize how trying he had been at +home during the past few months. + +As a matter of fact Frank was spoiled, as many Englishmen and some +American men are. He had been an only son who was to inherit the family +title, and his mother and sisters had always put him first in all +things. It was true that when he came to the United States he had fallen +in love with Jacqueline Ralston because, for one reason, she did not +treat him differently at the beginning of their acquaintance from any +cowboy on her ranch. That is, she was perfectly polite to him, when she +remembered his existence; but then she was polite to everybody and +recognized no social distinctions. She liked her own freedom, allowed +other people theirs, and went her way untroubled by the opinion of +others. + +But, at present--as is often the case with men after they marry--the +very things in Jack which had attracted Frank before marriage annoyed +him now. He believed she ought to be more influenced by his views. Of +course, she ordinarily gave in to his wishes. However, he seldom felt as +if she were convinced, but believed she yielded through sheer sweet +temper. + +Moreover, Frank's irritability continued all day, so that several times +after their return home, Jack found herself mortified before Olive and +Frieda. Not that she minded so much about Olive, since Olive and Frank +had always understood each other. But, as Frieda had announced herself +as being disappointed with marriage, Jack did not wish her to think that +her own was also a failure. + +After their midday luncheon on Sunday it was always Lord and Lady Kent's +custom to walk over their estate during the afternoon, visit the stables +and see as much of the condition of the place and the people on it as +was possible. + +This Sunday afternoon Frank arose and started to go on his usual rounds +without suggesting that Jack accompany him. + +However, she paid no attention to this, but followed him. Outdoors he +changed into a better mood. + +There were not many horses left in the stables, as most of them were +being used by the army. But when Jack and Frank went into the kennels, +which adjoined the stables, a dozen great dogs began leaping over them +at once. + +Frank drew a little aside to watch his wife. + +Jack stood in their midst laughing and protesting a little when one big +hound stuck its great head, with wide open jaws and lolling tongue, too +near her face. Yet she managed to make them all happy and quiet again by +patting and stroking each one, or by calling each dog by name. + +"You are not afraid of anything in the world, are you, Jack?" Frank +remarked admiringly, as they again got safely away from the kennels, +Jack finding it necessary at the last moment to remove two large paws +from her shoulders in order to settle a dispute between two of the other +dogs. + +Jack laughed. "Goodness, Frank, what an extraordinary opinion you and a +few other people have of me! I am one of the biggest cowards in the +world about the things I am afraid of. I simply don't happen to be +afraid of animals, as so many women are. And that is not a virtue, but +because I was brought up with them." + +"I should like to know what you do fear, then?" Frank demanded. + +Instead of answering at once Jack slipped her arm inside her husband's. + +"I am dreadfully afraid of the people I care about being angry with me, +though you and the rest of my family may not believe it, as I am +supposed to have once been a wilful person," she returned unexpectedly. +"Sometimes I wonder, Frank, just how much of a coward I would be, if I +had either to give up what I thought was right or else to have some one +seriously angry with me. I have not the courage of my convictions like +Frieda." + +In response Frank uttered a half growl, which was not very complimentary +to Frieda or her convictions. However, Jack went on almost without +pausing. + +"I wonder, Frank, if it is fair to Frieda not to let her know what has +happened to Professor Russell? Sometimes I have thought she has worried +more over his silence than we imagine." + +Frank shook his head. + +"Frieda deserves whatever may come to her. It is an old-fashioned +axiom, dear, but all the more true for that reason: Frieda has made her +bed; now let her lie upon it." + +"But Frieda is hardly more than a child," Jack protested. "Besides, that +is a pretty hard rule to apply to people. I don't think you and I would +like to have it applied to us if we were ever in any difficulty." + +As it struck Frank as utterly impossible that he and Jack ever could +have a disagreement, which could not be settled amiably in a few hours, +he paid no attention to her last statement. Nevertheless he added: + +"After all, Jack, it is not for us to decide anything concerning Frieda +and her husband. That is for them. We are simply doing what Professor +Russell has requested of us." + +"Yes, but Frieda," Jack expostulated more weakly. + +"Frieda is receiving just what she asked for--silence. But you must not +worry over Frieda. She will solve existence happily for herself soon +enough. Almost any man would do anything and forgive anything in behalf +of such blue eyes and yellow hair as Frieda's to say nothing of her +Professor. I may pretend to be severe but I should probably forgive her +as readily." + +"Sooner than you would me?" Jack inquired and laughed. "Oh, of course, +you would. Everybody always has as long as I can remember." + +Frank looked more closely at his wife and his face softened until his +eyes held their old expression of boyish admiration. Always he had been +pleased by her intense loyalty to the people she cared for. It had made +him forgive her in the past when she had some mistaken idea of loyalty +toward Olive. + +"I am afraid you have had to do the forgiving recently, Jack. I expect I +have been difficult. But I feel so torn these days wanting to be over in +France doing the real work with fellows like Bryan, and at the same time +wanting to be here with you and the babies and knowing I am perhaps more +useful in London than I would be elsewhere." + +Jack's clear grey eyes were full of the spiritual understanding that had +made her always so valuable a friend, and a woman must be a friend to +her husband as well as other things. + +"I know, Frank," she answered, "but you are doing the right thing. If I +didn't think so, no matter how I should suffer, do you believe for a +moment that I would stand in your way?" + +And catching her look, Frank replied. + +"No, Jack, I don't; but I thank you for understanding." + +There were no letters delivered at Kent House on Sunday, but on each +Sunday afternoon one of the men drove over to the post-office, which was +open for an hour, and returned with the mail. It was important that Lord +Kent should be kept in touch with every situation that arose, as there +might be grave and tragic developments in the course of the hours he +sometimes spent away from London. + +As he picked up the mail which was lying on the table in the hall as +they entered, Frank extended a letter to his wife. + +"This is from Bryan, I believe, Jack. Do tell me what he says." + +They went into the library where Frieda and Olive were already waiting +for tea to be served. + +Jack walked over to the fire and, before taking off her hat, read her +letter through quietly. + +Then she looked up happily. + +"Bryan says he is all right and sends his love to the family, but more +especially to his Lady Vive. He asks us all to write to him oftener if +we can manage it, as we are his adopted family and he has no other. +Frieda, he says your gift of socks is the most wonderful in all France. +I actually believe Bryan is almost having a good time; but if he is not +he is awfully brave." + +Making no effort to conceal her emotion, Jack's eyes suddenly filled +with tears. + +"Gracious, Jack," Frieda exclaimed. "As long as there is nothing the +matter with Captain MacDonnell, I wouldn't shed any tears over him. You +so seldom cry, it always makes me wretched when you do. I'll bet Jack +has never shed any tears over you, Frank." + +Frieda was not like a kitten in appearance alone. She had also soft +little claws with which she scratched a tiny bit now and then. She had +been entirely conscious that her brother-in-law considered that she was +to blame in a large measure for her trouble with her husband, although +he had never said so to her. Yet she had a desire to get a little bit +even with him now and then. + +Frank's face did flush slightly, although he smiled good humoredly. + +"Oh, I am nothing but a civilian these days and Bryan is a soldier. I +can't expect the same interest to be bestowed upon me, even by my own +wife." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LETTER + + +AS soon as Jack saw Frank's face she realized that something tragic had +occurred. + +She had come down to the train alone to meet him, but said nothing until +they had walked away from the little crowd at the station into the gloom +of the midwinter afternoon. + +"It is Bryan," Frank then exclaimed without waiting to be asked. "I had +word from the War Office today that he had been mortally wounded." + +He put his arm about Jack to support her if she should turn faint, but +this was not the way Jack received bad news. + +She stopped for a moment, standing straight, however, with her head up +and her shoulders braced. + +"Are you sure, Frank, there can be no mistake?" she asked slowly. + +Lord Kent shook his head. + +"I am afraid not, dear. Bryan was leading a charge out of his trench +when a shell hit him. His own men carried him back to a field hospital." + +[Illustration: HIS OWN MEN CARRIED HIM BACK TO A FIELD HOSPITAL] + +Jack and Frank then walked slowly on between the winter fields. The +grass was still green as it remains almost all the year round in +England, but the trees were stripped and bare, and there were no birds +in sight, except a few melancholy crows, which in England are called +rooks. + +Jack was recalling the day when she and Captain MacDonnell had taken +their last ride together; also the smell of the blossoming hedges and +her baby's blue ribbon on his sleeve. + +Since coming to England as a bride, she and Frank and Bryan had enjoyed +a charming friendship. It was to Bryan, Frank had first introduced her, +asking that he help to make her less homesick for the ranch and her own +people. + +In those days Frank's sisters were still unmarried and Bryan had been in +the habit of spending much of his time at Kent House when he was on +leave. + +Yet Frank and Bryan were so utterly unlike in temperament. To say that +Frank was an Englishman and Bryan an Irishman explains a great deal. +Frank was quieter and more reserved and determined; but Bryan was ardent +and emotional, quick to feel an emotion and quick to change. Jack had +always felt that he loved the outdoors as she did, while Frank was +studious, more devoted to books and to political questions than to swift +action. + +At the same time Frank and his wife were thinking along similar lines, +although his recollection of his friend went further back than hers. He +remembered the small boy, whose mother had just died, coming to live +with his old bachelor guardian in the queer little house which had since +belonged to him. He also remembered how shy he had been and yet how +often he had gotten into fights with other boys. But, more than +anything, he recalled how Bryan had always seemed to long for the +companionship of women and how happy he had been to come to Kent House +and spend hours and days with his mother and sisters. This was one of +the reasons why it had always seemed strange to Frank that his friend +had never married. + +"But the news only said that Bryan was fatally hurt--not that things +were over?" Jack asked after their long pause. + +"Yes; but I'm afraid he may be by now," Frank answered. "I have sent +half a dozen cables for more news." + +Jack's grey eyes cleared a little. + +"Then I won't believe the worst until it really happens." + +On their arrival at home Olive and Frieda were sympathetic, but +naturally could not care as much as Jack and Frank, since Captain +MacDonnell was to them only a comparatively new acquaintance. + +But all evening Frieda watched her sister closely, whenever she had the +opportunity without being observed. Only a few times before had she seen +her with the same expression. + +Half a dozen or more of the neighbors came in after dinner to ask for +further information concerning Captain MacDonnell, having heard the news +only indirectly. + +But among them all Jack was the only one who appeared hopeful. She +outwardly showed the effect of the anxiety and grief over their friend +far less than Frank. But Frieda at least realized that courage was her +sister's strongest characteristic. + +There had always been something gallant about Jack from the time she was +a little girl--the carriage of her head; the look in her +eyes--everything about her revealed this. + +And tonight Frieda appreciated the fact more clearly than any one else. +There was no friend in the world so loyal as Jack; and no one more +anxious to help those for whom she cared. Frieda knew that whatever else +she might say during the evening, she was in reality thinking only of +her husband's friend and her own, alone and dying, perhaps with no one +near him for whom he cared. + +As early as possible Jack and Frank went upstairs together, since Frank +showed the effect of the strain by being uncommonly tired. + +They had gone into their own rooms and Jack was slowly beginning to +undress when an idea came to her; and she went at once into her +husband's room. + +Frank, she found sitting on the side of his bed. + +"Bryan's letter, Frank," Jack remarked quickly. "Don't you think you +ought to open it? He said that if anything happened to him you were to +read it first, and afterwards I was to see the letter if you thought +best. I remember he seemed much in earnest when he gave it to me." + +Frank frowned, and then shook his head. + +"Do you know I had forgotten, Jack? But I don't think Bryan meant us to +disturb the letter until we know that the worst has happened to him and +we don't know this yet; we only fear it." + +For a moment Jack was silent, but when she spoke again her voice and +manner expressed a quiet firmness. + +"I think you are mistaken, Frank. There must be something in Bryan's +letter that he wants us to do for him. It may be something that would +come afterwards, but it also may be something that we could do for him +now. Of course you must judge, but this is the way I feel about it." + +Jack, who had put on a deep violet toned velvet dressing gown over her +underclothes, now sat down in an arm chair, leaning thoughtfully forward +and resting her chin in the palm of her hand. + +She did not intend to influence her husband; but having expressed her +own thought, she quietly awaited his decision. + +Frank, however, was worried and undecided. In order to think more +clearly, he got up and began walking nervously up and down his room. + +"I don't know what to do, Jack," he argued. "If Bryan still lives he +may, of course, recover and I would not then like to feel that I have +pryed into his secret. On the other hand, you may be right and Bryan may +have made some simple request of us which we could carry out for him at +once. Bryan is a sentimental chap always. I wish, this time, he had been +more explicit." + +Nevertheless, Frank must have finally decided to accept his wife's point +of view for, after another few moments, he walked over to a small safe +which occupied a corner in his room and opened it. Then he took out the +box in which he had placed Captain MacDonnell's letter and the next +instant had broken the seal and was reading its contents. + +Jack sat watching her husband's face, but offered no interruption. + +She saw Frank first look surprised and then saw him flush and at last +his expression hardened curiously. He then presented her with the +letter. + +"Read this, Jack. It is just as well that you should know what is in it. +Bryan must have been considerably upset over his farewells and the +thought of what might lie ahead of him, or he would never have made such +a request of us. He must have realized afterwards that the thing is +impossible." + +Jack read the letter, but there was nothing in it which seemed strange; +certainly nothing impossible to her point of view. Bryan had simply +requested that Frank allow her to come to him in case he was seriously +injured. Bryan explained simply and boyishly that he had no women in his +own family and that she was his closest woman friend. He had an absurd +horror of dying with no woman near for whom he cared, or who cared for +him. + +"I don't see what you find impossible, Frank," Jack answered, placing +the letter inside the envelope and quickly returning it. "I was only +waiting until we heard more news to ask you to let me go to Bryan, even +if he had not made this request of us." + +Frank appeared distressed, but shook his head resolutely. + +"I don't want to seem unkind, dear. In a way it is pretty hard to refuse +what Bryan asks. Only he could not have appreciated just how much he was +asking." + +Jack brushed her hair back from her forehead with a puzzled gesture. + +"I don't understand what you mean, Frank. Certainly neither of us can +dream of not agreeing. I know you will worry over the discomfort, +perhaps even the danger of the trip to France for me. But hundreds of +women have gone and are going every day to care for the soldiers who are +entire strangers to them. Many times I have wanted to go myself before +this, except for leaving you and my babies behind. But now I may only +need to stay a little time." + +"We won't discuss the matter any further please, Jack," Frank protested, +speaking gently, but with a decision which Jack recognized as having a +serious intention back of it. + +Instantly she went to him and put her hands on his shoulders, looking +directly into his blue eyes with her clear, wide grey ones. + +"Tell me your reason please, Frank. This isn't like you. You can't mean +to be so selfish--even so cruel." + +Frank's eyes held his wife's, but he showed no sign, either of flinching +or yielding. + +"I am sorry to have to say this to you, dear. I wish you could have been +willing to do what I asked, without demanding my reason. But I can't let +my wife go to Bryan; I can't let people think you and he care this much +for each other. People would talk--there would be gossip. I am your +husband and it is my place to safeguard you. You and Bryan never think +of consequences--you are only impetuous children." + +"So you mean--" Jack let her hands drop slowly from her husband's +shoulders to her own sides, "you mean, that because of a little idle +chatter--foolish, unkind gossip--oh, I know some of the neighbors have +already talked of Bryan and me before this--you would keep me from the +friend we both care so much for, at a time like this? I can't believe it +of you, Frank." + +"Then I am sorry to disappoint you, because I do mean it, Jack, dear. I +suppose it does seem narrow and worldly to you, with your wider ideas of +freedom and loyalty. But hard as this may be for us both, you must abide +by my decision." + +For another moment Jack remained silent, her face flooding first with +color and then the color receding until she was curiously pale, so that +the darkness of her lashes showed shadows on her white cheeks. + +"I am sorry, Frank," she answered quietly, "but in this matter I can not +accept your decision. I am a woman--not a child--and this is a matter +for my conscience as well as yours. Even if I am wrong, whatever +consequences I must suffer from your failing ever to see this as I do, I +must go to Bryan if he is still alive." + +Then Jack went quickly into her own room again. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A SURPRISE + + +DURING the night Frank decided that he would not argue with Jack again +the question which was troubling them both, since it was too painful for +discussion. + +However, he did not sleep much, although not once did his conviction +that he was doing the right thing waver. Frank had the belief in his own +judgment which comes to certain people with authority. Also, he disliked +to suggest to his wife any of the little, ugly, suspicious things of +life, which he knew her fine, clean nature would not consider. But all +the more for this reason did he believe that he should protect her, even +against herself. + +Therefore, at breakfast the next morning, Frank made no reference to +Jack's final defiance the night before. Not for an instant did he think +that she had meant anything, except to have him appreciate how utterly +her point of view and her inclination differed from his. This he +accepted, realizing that he really could not, under the circumstances, +expect anything else. But that Jack would ignore his wish--even his +expressed command--was beyond his comprehension. She had always been +perfectly reasonable and amenable, and there was nothing to serve him as +a warning. + +"I'll let you know as soon as I hear from the war office," Frank +remarked, as he left for London. + +Jack simply nodded quietly in response without replying. As a matter of +fact she, too, had made up her mind in the night not to reopen the +subject upon which she and Frank were so completely at variance. + +Perhaps Jack was wrong in this and in the whole proceeding which +followed. Except to say that she had the right to use her own +judgment--she never attempted to justify herself. + +As soon as she had arranged her household matters and had seen her +children, she went into her private sitting room and, by using her +telephone for an hour or more, secured the information which she +desired. + +She was able to locate Captain MacDonnell and also to learn that he was +still alive. Moreover, Frank telegraphed this same fact while she was +still at the telephone. + +Then Jack sent word for Olive and Frieda to come to her bedroom, and +when they arrived she carefully closed the door. + +They found her packing a small bag. + +"What is it, Jack? Are you going up to London to join Frank?" Frieda +inquired, she and Olive having been told nothing of the contents of +Captain MacDonnell's letter, nor that there was such a letter in +existence. + +Jack had taken off her morning dress and put on a light flannel wrapper +of pale grey with a white collar, as she wished to proceed with her +packing more readily. + +At Frieda's question she shook her head quietly and sat down in a big +chair for a moment, asking Olive and Frieda also to be seated. + +"No; I am not going to Frank," she explained, "indeed, although I am +forced to go up to London, I don't want him to know I am there, nor +where he can find me for the next day or so. Afterwards I will, of +course, write to him." + +Seeing that Olive and Frieda were becoming more mystified than +enlightened by her explanation, and that she was in reality talking more +to herself than to them, Jack hesitated for a moment. + +"Perhaps you won't approve what I am planning to do any more than Frank +does," Jack continued, "but Captain MacDonnell has written to ask that I +come to him in France where he may be dying, and I am going. Frank has +said I must not, but I am going anyway. I told him so last night, but I +don't believe he understood I really meant what I said." + +Jack spoke without any nervousness or sentimental excitement. She looked +unhappy, but she also looked perfectly determined. + +A little too surprised to answer at once, Frieda again studied her +sister's face closely. + +It was Olive who protested. + +"I hope you won't be angry with me, Jack, and of course I cannot hope to +influence you if Frank cannot; but I don't think you ought to do so +serious a thing without Frank's consent. In any case, please don't go +away without his knowing. You must know that this is not right and that +Frank will probably be very hurt and angry." + +Jack bit her lip for an instant without replying; then she said slowly, +as if she fully weighed each word she uttered: + +"Of course I realize you are right, Olive, and I am afraid Frank will be +both the things you say, and more than you may realize. I know, also, +that I ought to see him again and tell him definitely just what I intend +to do and why I intend doing it. But candidly, if I do, I fear that +Frank will not permit it. He is not an American husband, and in any +event there would be a scene between us. Frank would not understand at +first that this time I intend to keep to my determination. We might +quarrel and I don't wish that. It would make me even more unhappy and +not save me in any way from Frank's displeasure." + +"But, Jack, why do you think it is more important to do what Captain +MacDonnell desires of you than what Frank wishes?" Frieda inquired, in +the cool, matter of fact voice with which she usually, to other people's +surprise, asked the leading question. + +Jack did not change color. She returned her sister's look with her old +clear, straightforward gaze. + +"I am glad you asked me that, Frieda, dear," she responded, "because I +don't want you or anybody else to think that is true. Nothing is so +important to me as what Frank wishes, only this time I think he is +making a great mistake, and is not being fair. Of course he does not +intend this, and is thinking of me more than of any one else, but at +the same time this is not a matter which I think Frank can decide for +me. His judgment may be right from his point of view, but it isn't from +mine. I have to do what I think is the fair thing, with the hope that I +may be able to persuade Frank to see it the same way later on." + +Olive made no response, but it was self evident that Jack had not +convinced her. + +Frieda, however, got up in her fluffy morning house gown and making a +soft little rush forward, threw her arms about her sister's neck. + +"Go ahead, Jack, then, and no matter what happens I'll stand by you and +swear you've done the right thing to the bitter end. You have been more +right than other people as long as I've known you. I would not pay any +attention to Olive. I told you that Olive was getting to be an old maid +and that old maids always take the men's side. Only you are not being +rash, Jack, are you, so you won't have to suffer uncomfortable +consequences afterwards?" Frieda concluded with a slightly plaintive and +mysterious manner. + +"You'll look after my babies for me, won't you, Olive? And Frieda, won't +you try and get Frank into a good humor with me before I come back? I +shall be gone only a few days; perhaps Bryan won't need me at all when I +arrive. I am going up to London within two hours, but I'll get away from +there as soon as I can and take the first channel boat possible. I must +finish packing, but I'll see you again before I start." + +As Jack's words and manner were both final, Olive and Frieda then left +her. However, they did not separate but went together into Frieda's +sitting-room. + +There Frieda's expression grew as grave as Olive's. + +"Somehow I wish Jack wouldn't. Maybe at the last moment she'll see Frank +and change her mind," Frieda suggested, staring out at the winter +landscape with her small nose pressed mournfully against the window pane +like a discontented child. "I don't understand Frank's disposition very +well. He is so different from Henry. Then he has changed a great deal. +We never thought of his being autocratic when Jack married him, but he +seems rather that way to me lately, though he is terribly nice and I am +fond of him. I wouldn't be, though, if he was ever the least bit +disagreeable to Jack. She is much too good for him or any other man. +Isn't it like her to go rushing off in this quixotic fashion, knowing +that lots of people will misunderstand her, just because Captain +MacDonnell would like to feel her presence beside him, if anything has +to happen to him? Well, I suppose that is exactly what I felt when I +rushed to her the moment I left Henry? Only if Frank decides to be +horrid it would be unfortunate for us both to be having trouble with our +husbands at the same time. I suppose people would say it was because we +did not have the proper bringing up when we were children." + +"Don't be absurd, Frieda," Olive answered irritably. "Of course, Frank +and Jack are not going to have any serious difficulty. She and Frank are +quite different--" + +Frieda swung her pretty self around. + +"Don't you ever get tired of saying that to me, Olive Van Mater? Of +course Jack is different, but I don't see that Frank is entirely unlike +other men. Oh, I know you'll be shocked and angry at this and so would +Frank and Jack, if they ever heard; but just the same I think Frank Kent +is a little bit jealous of Jack's friendship for Captain MacDonnell. He +would rather die than confess it to himself. I at least give him the +credit for not knowing it, but it's true just the same." + +"I think that is very horrid of you, Frieda." + +Frieda shrugged her shoulders. + +"Yes, I thought you would think so. Still, I do wish it was a whole week +from today and Jack was safely home again. I am frightened about her +taking such a trip alone; and as for my attempting to get my +brother-in-law into a good humor after he learns that his august +Highness has been disobeyed--well, the task is beyond my humble powers. +In any case, Olive, you can break the news of Jack's departure to him." + +But Jack spared both her sister and friend this ordeal. Instead, she +wrote a very sweet letter to her husband, asking his pardon for what she +was doing and confessing that she had no right not to have spoken of her +intention to him again. But would he see that she must do what she +believed to be right, and that Bryan might not be able to wait while +they continued to argue the question? + +She left the letter on Frank's bureau. + +Not finding Jack in the library that evening, where she usually awaited +his return home, Frank had gone directly upstairs, and when she was also +not in her room, he entered his apartment. The letter caught his +attention at once, but even then Lord Kent had no faintest idea of what +Jack's letter contained. He supposed she had gone out on some errand and +had written to explain that she might be late. + +When he had finished reading, he quietly tore her letter into small bits +and flung the pieces upon the fire. + +Afterwards, going downstairs to dinner, he said to Olive and Frieda. + +"Jack has written me a note telling me that she has gone to France. You +both probably know I did not wish her to go. Please let us not speak of +this matter again." + +And though there was really nothing in what Frank said, neither Olive +nor Frieda liked his expression or manner. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +NO QUARTER + + +DURING the time of Jack's absence, Frank Kent passed through a strange +state of mind, one which he did not himself understand. He was both +angry and miserable. Resentment against another human being is always +folly, since one suffers as much, if not more than the other person. + +However, Frank did not answer a single one of Jack's letters, although +she managed to write him several times, telling of her safe arrival, of +the kindness which had been shown her along the way, and of Captain +MacDonnell's recognition of her and his pleasure in finding an old +friend near him. Jack also wrote that there was hope of his partial +recovery, but that he would probably be unable to fight again. She would +be able to tell more on her return home. + +Two weeks after the day of her departure, Jack came back to Kent House. +She had telegraphed when she reached British soil so that her family +knew when to expect her. Frank was not at home when she arrived, so she +saw her children and Olive and Frieda first. Then, after dressing for +dinner, she went down into the library alone to wait for her husband. + +Jack was very tired from the strain of her trip and from the sights she +had witnessed in the past fourteen days. She felt as if she were +entering a new world in coming back tonight to her home in the peaceful +Kentish country. Whatever human beings might be suffering inwardly, +there were at least no changes in the tranquillity of the blue hills and +the gentle, mist-veiled English landscape. + +It had required an effort for Jack to dress, but she did not know in +what spirit Frank would meet her and did not wish to have him think she +was too much exhausted by the experience which she had wilfully chosen +for herself. She feared that Frank was still aggrieved, because of his +not having written or sent her a message of any kind, and yet she rather +hoped the reunion with her and the news she brought back would soften +him. + +Partly because of her fatigue, partly because it seemed impossible to +wear gay clothes after those days and nights in the hospital, Jack had +put on a black satin gown which she had had some time. It was made +simply as her evening clothes always were, but the black tulle which +covered it was caught with jet ornaments on each shoulder and loosely +belted in at the waist, falling in beautiful lines to her feet. At her +belt Jack wore a golden rose which the old gardener had brought up to +the house as a special offering. The rose had bloomed that morning in +one of the greenhouses. Jack's hair was coiled closely about her small +head, and she had less color than usual. + +She was resting in one of the big library chairs with her eyes closed, +when she heard her husband enter the hall, and after making some +inquiry, move toward the library door. + +At this she rose up at once and ran forward with her arms outstretched +to meet him, her face glowing with happiness. + +"Oh, Frank, I am so glad to be at home again. It has all been so +distressing. Poor Bryan is going to get well, but I fear he will hate it +when he does, for he may never walk again. He does not know this yet." + +Frank turned his eyes so that he could not see Jack's beauty nor +appreciate her warm sweetness so close beside him. + +"I am horribly sorry for Bryan," he replied. But he made no effort to +kiss Jack or to express the least pleasure in her return. Instead, he +walked away a few steps and began taking off his overcoat, which he had +not removed before. + +"You are still angry with me, Frank?" Jack queried, though the question +was scarcely a necessary one. "You have not yet seen that I had the +right to judge for myself in this thing about Bryan? After all, what +possible wrong have I done? And I did give Bryan pleasure; he does not +dream, of course, that I went to him without your consent." + +Although Frank still remained silent, Jack's sweetness did not desert +her. She followed after him, in spite of the fact that he had turned his +back upon her. + +"After all, Frank, even if you do continue to disapprove of me and to +think I did wrong to disobey you, won't you make friends with me? Please +say I'm forgiven?" + +At this Jack smiled and stood with her hands clasped together against +the soft, black folds of her dress. + +In fact, she had not yet appreciated the extent of Frank's anger against +her, nor the unbending quality of his nature. Though they had been +married a number of years, this was the first serious difficulty between +them. Jack had too great an admiration for her husband, too deep a +belief in him, to think that he could continue to sulk and to hurt her +through a kind of stupid obstinacy. + +And for a single instant Frank did hesitate, but the next he made up his +mind that unless Jack was made to realize the extent of his displeasure +she would probably never yield to him again. He honestly believed that +he had the right to be the master in his own family. + +"I presume, Jack, that you consider it a very simple matter for me to +say I forgive you and to overlook your utter disregard of my wishes, and +your deception in the matter. But I cannot see the thing in that light. +You have not only wounded me, but you have made me ridiculous. To say I +forgive you, or feel as I did before would not be the truth." + +"Very well, Frank," Jack answered quietly and went out of the room. + +A little later she came down to dinner, revealing no sign of what had +taken place between herself and her husband and hoping that Frieda and +Olive would not guess that she was still unforgiven. Frank's manner was +perfectly polite and they talked freely of Captain MacDonnell and of the +tragedy of his recovering only to find his work as a soldier ended. + +Afterwards, Jack excused herself early in the evening, because, of +course, she had every reason to feel weary. + +But even if Frieda and Olive did not grasp the situation at once, they +could not continue to remain long in ignorance, for Jack and Frank did +not return to their old intimacy and devotion. + +But, as the days went on, this was, perhaps, as much Jack's fault as her +husband's. + +Never before had she ever made an overture to any human being who had +not responded. Moreover, she could not tell Frank that she was sorry for +what she had done, for she was not sorry, nor did she regret her own +action. She was merely disillusioned concerning her husband. + +Always Jack had said that she had more of the Indian in her than Olive +ever had, in spite of Olive's upbringing. By this she meant that for one +thing she could hide better the things that hurt her. Yet in a way she +was difficult for anyone to approach on an intimate subject at this +time, certainly neither Olive nor Frieda made any mention that they saw +her continuing trouble with Frank. + +Unconsciously Jack held her head up before people unfailingly. No +outsider would have guessed at any change. Only those who cared for her +deeply realized how she was hurt by Frank's attitude. + +Several times it occurred to Frank that perhaps he and Jack were making +a mistake to allow their estrangement to go on too long. The next time +his wife asked his pardon Lord Kent had concluded to forgive her. + +Moreover, he and Frieda had an interview which annoyed and amused him, +but which he did not forget then, or ever afterwards. + +It was one Sunday afternoon in early March, an unexpected spring-like +day, and he and Frieda were taking a motor ride together. They had only +one small car on the estate, having sent the large one to be turned into +an ambulance. + +After their midday dinner Frank had found himself in need of diversion, +Olive and Jack having explained that they were going to see a friend who +was ill. And as a matter of fact Frieda diverted Frank from serious +affairs more than any other grown up person he knew and consequently he +fell in readily with her suggestion for the ride. He had not the +faintest idea that she was not in a friendly mood toward him, for Frieda +had wisely concealed the fact, although in reality she was thoroughly +enraged. + +It seemed to her that Frank's treatment of Jack was almost unpardonable. +It is true that she, perhaps, had rather an exaggerated opinion of her +sister's virtues, but then Jack had been a kind of mother to her always. +Although they quarreled a little now and then, as most sisters do, it +was beyond Frieda's comprehension that anyone could believe Jack would +wilfully do wrong, or be forced to suffer the consequences. Moreover, +what Frieda still thought of as her own "misfortune" made her +particularly "touchy" at present. + +However, she and Frank started off cheerfully, Frank admiring an +especially pretty bright blue motor coat and small close fitting blue +silk hat, which Frieda had purchased in New York a few days before +sailing. Nevertheless Frieda had already planned to have a talk with +Frank before their return and only awaited the proper opportunity. + +She was quiet at first, allowing her brother-in-law to tell her stories +about the country and his neighbors, stories in which she was really not +much interested. But Frieda smiled and answered, "yes and no," at the +proper times, and this was what Frank really wished. Most men would +rather talk intimately to women than to other men and Frank had missed +his long hours of conversation with Jack more than he appreciated. + +Yet Frieda's inattention finally forced itself upon his notice, so that +her brother-in-law turned and smiled at her. + +"What are you thinking about, Frieda? Certainly not of what I just said +to you." + +Frieda turned her large blue eyes with their heavy golden lashes half +veiling them toward her companion. + +"Still I was thinking of you, Frank," she answered, smiling, "and that +is the attention men like best, isn't it?" + +Lord Kent laughed. "Perhaps as a matter of vanity, yes, Frieda? But of +course a good deal depends upon what one is thinking. What were you +thinking of me?" + +"Oh, only how unlike you and Henry are," she replied sweetly. + +However, Frank understood something of her hidden meaning, for he +flushed. + +"Well, considering the fact that you didn't find it possible to continue +to live with 'Henry,' I suppose I ought to be flattered. Only as a +matter of fact, Frieda, I admire Professor Russell very much." + +This time Frieda flushed, realizing that Frank had scored. + +"Yet even though that is true, Frank, Henry never took the tone with me +of insisting that he was always right and I was always in the wrong. Do +you know, Frank, I am beginning to think--oh well, Henry was never so +horrid to me as you are to Jack. He isn't a bit of a bully." + +"So you think I am 'horrid' to Jack and a bully besides, do you, +Frieda?" Frank returned grimly. He was angry, but not as angry as he +felt he had the right to be. Somehow he could not manage to get into a +violent state of mind with his youthful sister-in-law. + +Frieda nodded energetically in response, without appearing the least bit +frightened. + +"Of course you are going to think I am interfering, Frank, and no one +ever pays any real attention to what I say, but I just thought I'd tell +you anyhow. You are making a big mistake. Of course I realize that you +are not so silly as not to appreciate Jack, but I don't believe you +have ever thought what it might mean to lose her. You see she isn't like +most women, she really does not know how to quarrel for any length of +time. But when she was hurt or seriously angry as a girl she used to +keep still for a long time not saying a word. Then she used to do +something unexpected." Frieda's voice shook a little with stronger +feeling than she often showed. + +"I've been afraid lately that Jack might do something queer now, +something no one of us dreams she would think of doing. She is so very +unhappy. You remember, Frank, don't you, what a long time it took you to +win Jack? I wonder if it might not take you even longer to win her back +again!" + +Frank stiffened. "I cannot discuss my relations with Jack, even with +you, Frieda. That is a matter between us alone." + +Frieda nodded pensively. + +"Certainly I appreciate your point of view, Frank, from my own sad +experience." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BREAK + + +BUT Frank did give careful consideration to what Frieda had said to him. +Her words came as a kind of revelation. Suddenly he began to appreciate +what it would mean to lose Jack, though of course there was no +possibility of such a thing. She was one of the most loyal persons in +the world and they had only had a difference of opinion. + +Yet Frank decided that it would be best to let bygones be bygones and to +mention the fact to Jack at the first possible opportunity. + +But somehow he seemed to have to wait for the opportunity to arrive; +certainly his wife did nothing to help him. + +One night, coming home at the usual hour, Frank discovered that Jack was +not there. She had gone out a little before lunch on some errand, as +Olive and Frieda supposed, but leaving no word except that they were not +to wait luncheon for her. + +Frieda and Olive, Frank found, were both a little uneasy. He laughed at +the idea. Jack had a great many things to attend to in the neighborhood +and knew everybody, while everybody knew her. + +Afterwards, he went upstairs to the nursery and stayed half an hour +watching Vive and Jimmie being put to bed. When he came down to the +library to read, twilight was falling. But instead of reading Frank +found himself turning over the pages of the magazines, gazing at them, +and not knowing a word of their contents. + +In a few moments it would be dinner time. + +He got up and walked nervously up and down the room. + +If Jack did not come in by dinner or send a message what would it be +wise to do? + +A few moments later he telephoned two or three places where he thought +Jack might have remained later than she realized. But she had not been +at any one of the houses during the day, and naturally Frank did not +wish to ask too many questions, since she might return home at any +moment. It would then appear absurd to have started false rumors, or to +have created anxiety among their friends. + +When the butler came in to announce dinner, Lord Kent explained that +Lady Kent was not yet at home and that dinner be kept waiting for +another half an hour. + +Soon after Frieda joined him. + +"I know I am silly, Frank," she confessed, "but I am worried. If Jack +had gone out on horseback, one might understand that she could have +gotten some distance away. But she did not ride, she walked, and could +not have continued walking since before noon." + +"You are an infant, Frieda," Frank remarked. "Of course Jack has been +paying visits and has stayed too long. But perhaps I had best go and +look for her, unless she has found a friend to act as an escort it is +too late for her to be out alone." + +"But where are you going to look?" Frieda questioned. And either her +brother-in-law did not hear her, or preferred to pretend he did not, +since he made no reply. + +The fact of the matter was he had no plan. He thought it was rather +absurd for him to look at all, but had suddenly been overtaken with a +sense of uneasiness, a strange foreboding of disaster. We all yield to +these sensations now and then, but as they were not usual with Lord Kent +he was the more uncomfortable. + +He could not even decide whether it would be wiser for him to ride or to +walk, but concluded he had best ride, in order to cover a greater +distance in a shorter time. + +He searched very carefully for Jack down the long road which divided the +estate. And naturally he remembered the other evening, not so very many +months ago, when he had ridden down this same avenue peering through the +rain for her and Captain MacDonnell. Then he had discovered both of them +with but little difficulty. + +Tonight Frank wished that he felt sure Jack had someone with her to take +care of her, as she had on that other evening. He would not then have +felt so ridiculously worried. + +"Poor Bryan, one did not like to allow oneself to think of him too often +these days, yet he must be brought back home as soon as possible," Frank +thought. Some time ago he had decided that when the time came he would +himself go for Bryan. Perhaps this would be partly an act of expiation, +although Lord Kent had not said this to himself, or to his wife. + +This evening he rode directly into the village, but although it was only +a little after eight o'clock, Granchester had long practiced the +daylight saving habit, not because of the war, but because of a fixed +habit of early sleep and early rising. There were only two or three +scattered lights in the little stone houses and only a few old men +outdoors talking together in front of a closed public house. + +Nevertheless Frank rode up to the home of Frieda's old friend and +dismounted, for he had known Mrs. Huggins many long years. She was +accepted by everybody as a kind of unprinted village newspaper. If Jack +had been in Granchester during the afternoon, Mrs. Huggins would know +just where she had been and what she had done. + +The old woman's light was out, but a moment after his knocking she +opened her door. In her hand she held a lamp and her old eyes shone +through the half darkness. + +She was probably excited by the idea that someone had come to confide a +piece of news to her. + +However, she had heard nothing of Lady Kent's having been in the village +during the day, and was in fact sure she had not been there. + +When Lord Kent went away, however, she still seemed to think he had +brought her news. + +"There is trouble in the big house, also," she said to herself, wagging +her old head. "Funny how when trouble of one kind gets loosed in the +world, so many other kinds follow it." Even after she had gone back to +bed she still kept thinking of Kent House. + +Later, just before he was leaving Granchester, Frank telephoned to his +home. + +Frieda came to the telephone to say that no word had yet come from her +sister. + +Nevertheless Lord Kent could not make up his mind to ask for aid in his +search. He had a curious antipathy toward it, as if Jack herself would +not like this, as if in some way it might lead to a revelation they +would not wish others to share. + +This was what made all his efforts so difficult. For each added moment +he was becoming more and more worried, and yet having to pretend that +Jack's failure to return home, her failure to send any word of her +whereabouts, was the most casual thing in the world. + +There were several places belonging to friends and not far from the +village. Lord Kent stopped by at each place for a few moments, as if he +were making an ordinary visit, but of course to find out if Jack had +called during the day. Apparently no one of her friends had seen her. + +At Captain MacDonnell's home, Frank inquired for the housekeeper. Mrs. +Naxie was still in charge and she and Frank were old friends. She had +been with Captain MacDonnell's uncle years before when he and Bryan were +both little boys. + +Lord Kent was not ashamed to reveal his anxiety to Mrs. Naxie, and she +at least had a little information for him, the first he had secured. + +"Yes, Lady Kent had stopped by a little before tea time and had seemed +tired. She explained that she had eaten no lunch, but enjoyed her tea, +and then started away again. Mrs. Naxie was under the impression she +intended going directly home. + +"There was nothing more for him to do but to go home also," Frank then +concluded. If Jack had not returned and nothing was known of her, he +must throw away his scruples and ask for help. + +It was now fully night and the sky filled with high, sweet stars. + +Although he yearned to be at home at once, still Frank searched all the +roads, stared behind the tall hedges, and now and then in the darkness +called his wife's name. Nevertheless he continued to assure himself that +he was behaving like a fool and there was no real reason for him to feel +so alarmed. He had always been ridiculously nervous about Jack and +always before now she had laughed at him. + +It was not until he had almost reached the beginning of his own land +that Frank was finally honest with himself. He had fought against +confessing the fact that he was to blame every moment since he first +began to grow uneasy about Jack. Had they been good friends these past +few weeks he knew he would not have been half so miserable. Whether he +had been right or wrong, he had realized that Jack had been anxious to +make peace and he had repulsed her. He would wait for no comfortable +opportunity now, as soon as he found his wife, they must be reconciled. + +Near the edge of Kent Park, where the land dipped, there was a small +stream, deep in some places, and yet hardly to be dignified by the title +of river. + +Yielding to an impulse Frank got off his horse here and walked slowly +along the bank. The stream was so narrow he could see almost equally +well on the farther side. + +The trees and underbrush made shadows on the surface where the water was +deepest. + +Suddenly Frank thought he saw one of the slender, young birches move a +step toward him. The next he heard Jack's voice say: + +"Frank, is that you?" + +Then she came slowly toward him. + +The strange fact was that she did not appear surprised, nor did she +begin by offering any explanation of her own strange behavior, nor why +she should be found at such an hour in such a place. + +"Sit down for a little while will you please, Frank? The ground is not +particularly damp in some places, I have been sitting here a long time." + +Frank made no reply except to do what she liked. He knew that something +had happened which was of tremendous seriousness to Jack. If that were +true, then whatever it was, was equally so to him. + +"You are not ill, are you, dear?" he inquired, after he had let go his +bridle and taken a seat beside his wife. His horse would only wander +about near by. + +Jack shook her head. + +"I was dizzy and very tired a little while ago, I don't know just how +long. I sat down here to rest and fell asleep for a time. I am quite all +right now." And indeed Jack was now speaking in a natural voice. One +must remember it was not so unusual for her, as it would be with most +other girls and women, to take her problems outdoors when she wished to +solve them. + +"There is something I want to say to you, Frank. I have been making up +my mind to speak of it for some time. This afternoon I knew I had to +decide. I went off for a long walk and now I have decided." + +Jack was sitting very still a few feet away from her husband. He now +moved over and put his arm about her, but though she made no movement to +resent it, she showed no sign of pleasure or of yielding. + +"I want to go home, Frank?" she continued. + +And for an instant believing she meant Kent House, Frank started to +rise. The next he understood his mistake. + +"I mean I want to go back to the Rainbow ranch to see Jim and Ruth and +Jean, but Jim most of all," she added, this time with a little break in +her usually steady voice. + +"Please don't answer, Frank, until I have explained to you a little +better. I know it seems horrid to leave you alone and to take the babies +away, when you are so worn out with your work and so sad over all the +wretched tragedy of the war. You will miss the babies, even if you will +not particularly miss me. Still I'll have to go, Frank. I can't live on +with you not forgiving, not caring for me any more. I won't stay long +unless you wish it and I'll come back whenever you send for me. But I +must go; it has seemed to me lately as if I could not breathe." + +Jack turned her face directly to her husband, and although it was too +dark to see it distinctly, he could catch the dim outline. + +"You see until lately I never dreamed that when things came to a crisis, +to a question of right, to a question of my judgment, or my conscience, +you would not be willing to let me do as I decided and thought best. I +knew you liked me to follow your way in little things and I never minded +most times. Often I was glad to do as you wished and when I didn't agree +to your way, I never considered the fact seriously one way or the other. +But lately I have seen that if we go on living together, I have got to +be a coward, a kind of traitor to myself by always appearing to agree +with you, or else live with you and have you angry and dissatisfied with +me. I cannot bear either. Marriage does not mean that to me, Frank. I +have to get away for a little while to see if I can find out what I +should do." + +There was no sign of anger in Jack's manner, if she had been feeling +angry lately, and of course she had being perfectly human, her anger had +disappeared tonight during the long hours she had been thinking things +out alone. + +Sitting beside his wife, suddenly as she finished speaking Frank +recalled something Frieda had lately said to him. Perhaps Frieda had +more brains than her family and friends realized. However, what she had +said was that whenever she was angry or wounded, her sister Jack was apt +to go off to herself and then do something unexpected. + +Surely his wife's request tonight was wholly unexpected. + +But Frank only answered, not revealing what he felt, nor what he +intended. + +"I think this is a pretty severe punishment, Jack, if you think I am +unfair. But you must let me take you home to Kent House now; Olive and +Frieda are both dreadfully worried to know what has become of you." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +PROFESSOR AND PROFESSORESS + + +WHEN it was finally decided that Jack was to go home to the Rainbow +ranch with her babies and Olive and Frieda for a visit, Frieda +strenuously objected. No reason was given her by her sister except the +ordinary one, that Jack wished to get away from the sad atmosphere of a +country at war and also to see her family. + +"Certainly you don't show much consideration for Frank," Frieda +protested when she first heard the news. "It seems to me that England is +_his_ country and he has a good deal more work to do and goes through a +lot more than you do, Jacqueline Ralston. I never could make up my mind +to leave my husband under such circumstances." + +Then although Jack flinched, she did not make the reply she might so +obviously have made. + +However, Frieda went on just as if she had. + +"I know what you are thinking of, but it was quite different with Henry +and me. He did not need me, he thought I was a butterfly and my wishing +to go out and dance and do exciting things disturbed his work. He didn't +allow me to go with other people because he thought it was his _duty_ to +look after me. He said so, said I was too young to be expected to take +care of myself. He wasn't a bit jealous like Frank, I shouldn't have +minded a jealous husband. If I said he was jealous, I was only +pretending because I wanted to seem interesting." + +"Frank jealous?" Jack laughed. "You are too silly, Frieda." + +Nevertheless Frieda tossed her yellow head, but also flushed a little, +having said more than she intended. If Frank did not know he was jealous +of Captain MacDonnell and Jack was also unaware how much this had +unconsciously influenced his decision concerning his friend's request, +it was not her place to tell them. + +"Just the same you'll be sorry and ashamed of yourself some day, Jack +Ralston. You need not pretend anything to me, I understand the present +situation perfectly. Frank was rather horrid to you and he ought not to +be allowed to be a bully, but you could really twist him around your +finger if you tried. You can now at any rate because he adores you. And +Frank is pretty nice you know, most women would be glad to have him. +After all he has a title and money, and men are going to be scarce when +this war is over." + +"Frieda!" Jack exclaimed in such a tone of disgust that Frieda departed +hastily, if still gracefully, out of her sister's room. + +However she stopped at the door. + +"You know it will look perfectly absurd for us both to go back home +without husbands," Frieda tossed out. "I didn't mind half so much when +Frank was around and there was at least one man in our family. But of +course it looks now as if we had something the matter with us, horrid +dispositions, so that no man could make up his mind to live with us." + +This time Jack betrayed herself a little more by showing anger. + +"You have no right to assume I am behaving as you did, Frieda, because I +want to go to the old ranch for a time. Frank has given me his consent, +I've no idea of running away." + +Then, as Frieda burst into tears at the allusion, Jack had to draw her +small sister back into her room from the doorway, and do what she could +to apologize and console her. + +She felt rather a hypocrite, too, because after all Frieda was not so +far wrong in some of her suppositions, and she had had no right to +pretend to superiority. + +There was at this time no danger to passenger vessels through +submarines, so that it was arranged for the travelers to leave for the +United States early in April that they might spend the spring at the +Rainbow Ranch. + +Olive was anxious to go. She had not intended remaining in England so +long, and wished to take up some course of study at home, to return +later when she might make herself more useful. + +Jack was torn between her desire to make a visit to her own home, to get +away for a breath of freedom and the chance to decide what she ought to +do in the future when Frank opposed her right to decide important issues +for herself and the thought that, perhaps, Frieda was right and that she +was not playing fair in leaving her husband at so trying a time. But +Frank had not opposed her going, had really said he thought it might be +a good thing, and she did not know whether he meant this from her +standpoint or from his own. It might be that Frank also would enjoy a +certain relief from the presence of a wife who would not trust his +judgment. Certainly Frank's affection had never seemed the same since +that time. He had been wonderfully good in agreeing to her new wish, but +there were moments when, womanlike, Jack wondered if she would not have +liked it better had he shown more opposition. + +So there was only Frieda who unqualifiedly stormed against leaving. Of +course she put it all on disapproving of her sister's action, but +naturally her family wondered if the fact that Frieda wished to be near +her husband, whom she believed to be fighting in France could have +anything to do with her point of view. However, no one dared to make +this suggestion to her. It would have done no good in any case since she +would probably have promptly denied it. + +However, Frieda would not remain in England without her sister and Jack +was unwilling that she should. Nevertheless, insisting on maintaining +the attitude of an aggrieved character, Frieda separated herself from +her own family whenever she could. + +Twice a week for instance she went into Granchester to tea with Mrs. +Huggins. Frieda had a private reason for this. One day she had +overlooked the fact that her own "Dame Quick" had not been her nurse or +foster mother and had confided to the old woman some of the things which +were troubling her. She did not want advice, what she wanted was to say +those things aloud which she had been saying to herself, and she knew +her old friend would simply listen and be kind to her. One might think +she would have feared that the old woman, with her passion for spreading +news, would have gossiped about her, but Frieda knew better than this. + +One afternoon, about ten days before their sailing time, Frieda started +off alone to walk to Granchester. She was earlier than need be since +Olive had asked her a question which had offended her and she had been +irritable. She thought she had caught the suggestion of a lecture in her +sister's expression and so had hurried off before Jack had a chance to +speak. + +Frieda recognized the fact that she was a little difficult to live with +these days. But then she excused herself by saying that no one knew how +worried and nervous she was. There were times when Frieda was afraid she +might be losing her prettiness through worry, until her mirror reassured +her. For Frieda understood her own appearance, just as she understood a +great many things. She knew that Jack had developed into a beauty from a +merely handsome girlhood and that she was only pretty. But she also +realized that prettiness often makes more appeal, especially to men, +than a higher type of loveliness. Therefore, Frieda had no idea of not +preserving her own charms as long as she possibly could. + +She walked slowly so as not to arrive too early and because she was +enjoying the country more than she usually did. The quietness of the +English landscape, its look of a carefully kept garden, appealed to +Frieda more than the vastness of her own windswept western prairies. It +was one of the many odd ironies of fate that Jack, who loved the +prairies must live in England, while until lately Frieda's life had been +cast at least on the edge of the western country. + +The old English laborers passing back and forth from their ploughing of +the spring fields were almost the only persons she met. + +When Frieda reached the little house at the edge of the village, of +which Mrs. Huggins had once told her some story, she stopped for a +moment without any particular motive. + +She did not remember exactly what the story was, if she had ever known. +But the little house rather interested her. For one thing she had +noticed every time she passed, at no matter what hour, the blinds were +always drawn halfway down. + +The house was set in the middle of a small yard and had a little, low +ivy covered stone fence surrounding it and a wooden gate. However, the +front of the house was only a few yards from the street so that one +could see it distinctly. + +Frieda was not standing still, but was loitering a few feet from the +gate, gazing absently toward the lower windows. + +Then suddenly and certainly unexpectedly she heard a strange noise, a +kind of muffled roar. Then an explosion burst forth so that several +panes of window glass broke and puffs of smoke blew out. + +For an instant there appeared back of the window, and surrounded by the +smoke like a cherubim among clouds, a face which Frieda did not really +believe she saw. Yet of course she knew she did see it, or else was +suddenly mad or dreaming. + +As a matter of fact she had the sensation that she was taking part in a +ridiculous and improbable detective story, of the kind one reads in the +weekly magazines. + +Yet without hesitating, or feeling the proper amount of uncertainty, or +fear, Frieda jerked open the little wooden gate and rushed up the path +to the front door of the house. + +There at least she did stop to give the bell a fierce pull, but she +might have rushed in had she supposed the door unlocked. + +However, the next second a little white faced maid appeared at the door, +and Frieda simply swept by her. The door of the room, where she had seen +the apparition, was on the left side of the hall and without knocking +she opened this. Just how Frieda would have explained her own behavior +had she made a mistake did not trouble her. + +But she had not made a mistake. There standing in the centre of the room +and still somewhat surrounded by smoke and with the blood coming from an +injury to his hand, stood the person whose face Frieda believed she had +seen through the broken window. No, she did not really believe she had +seen it, though of course she knew she had. + +[Illustration: I ASSURE YOU I HAVE OFFICIAL PERMISSION] + +"Are you a deserter, Henry, hiding from justice?" Frieda demanded +scathingly, and still following the example of the method employed in +detective stories, since her experience was so exactly of the same kind. + +"I most certainly am not, my dear," Professor Russell answered firmly, +but still somewhat apologetically. + +"I was slightly wounded soon after my arrival at the front. But I also +found that my scientific knowledge could be of more service than my +abilities as a soldier. So I came back to England and have been +experimenting with gas bombs with that in mind. I assure you I have +official permission." + +"Then why have you been hiding and why did you come down here?" + +Professor Russell looked at Frieda and smiled slowly. + +"You are the answer to both those questions, Frieda." + +Unexpectedly Frieda's blue eyes filled with tears. + +"I don't see how you can say that, Henry, when you have never even tried +to see me, or to let me know what had become of you. You knew I was +suffering horribly for fear you might be hurt or dead or something and +you wouldn't write me." + +Professor Russell's lips twitched at the thought of his being blamed for +not writing after the worst had happened to him. But he made no other +sign. + +"You are mistaken, I have seen you, my dear, many a time when you have +passed this window and at least I have had the satisfaction of realizing +you were well and happy." + +"But I am neither," Frieda protested. "Besides I don't understand how +you knew, unless, unless--do you mean Frank and Jack were both aware +that you were here and never told me? They preferred I should suffer. I +shall never forgive either of them, never." And Frieda drew herself up, +very stately and very injured. But in truth her lips were trembling. + +"You are not to blame your sister or brother, Frieda," Professor Russell +interrupted. "They have simply done what I asked, what I required of +them. You came over to England to be rid of my presence. I had neither +the desire nor the right to thrust myself upon you." + +"Then I don't see why you didn't go and live somewhere else," Frieda +remarked petulantly. But at the same instant she sank down into a chair. + +"I do wish, Henry, you would give me some tea. You seem to have an +extraordinary looking little girl to look after you. And I feel very +much overcome from the shock of hearing an explosion outside a strange +house and then seeing your face floating in space on the inside. +Moreover, if you are so extraordinarily scientific I should think you +would know enough to go and wash that gas bomb out of your hand." + +This time Professor Russell openly laughed. + +"It is scarcely a gas bomb inside my hand, Frieda. One of the chemicals +simply went slightly wrong." + +But Frieda had closed her eyes and dropped her head back and really +looked so pale that her husband hurried out after his small maid and the +tea things. + +The moment he had disappeared however she opened her eyes again. + +"I am going to take Henry Russell back to the United States with me in +ten days," she remarked aloud, but in a very small whisper. "I don't +know how I am going to manage him or the British Government, but I am +going to, somehow. I thought I was bored with Henry and I was and I'll +probably be again. But I suppose all women are bored with the men they +live with sometimes. Anyhow, I had to think I had lost Henry to know I +wanted to keep him. He does get a little upset now and then when I want +my own way all the time, but really under the same circumstances I don't +suppose any other man would be half so nice to me as Henry is. Besides, +oh well, I believe I'm pretty fond of him." + +When Professor Russell returned, Frieda again managed to have her eyes +closed and she really was upset by the events of the past few moments, +as was to be expected. + +Therefore she seemed very languid while Professor Russell and his little +maid set out the tea things. She did offer faintly to help, observing +that her husband had full use of only one hand. But as it was his left +hand and he insisted on getting along alone, she permitted it, even to +the actually pouring and handing her of the first cup of tea. + +Later he took a seat in a chair opposite her. + +The unfortunate thing with Frieda was that she seldom could control her +appetite, had never been able to since her chocolate drop days. So she +concluded she had best begin her plan of procedure early. + +"I don't see how Jack and Frank could have told you I was well, Henry," +she said plaintively. "I don't suppose you have noticed but I have lost +a good many pounds." + +As a matter of fact Frieda had lost several pounds, although she was +still reasonably rounded. + +"No, I had not noticed before, but I observe you have," the Professor +returned. "I trust there is nothing serious the matter. What is the +doctor's opinion?" + +Frieda shook her head. "I have not seen a doctor. Really, I have not +spoken of this to any one before, Henry. But do you know I think, +perhaps, I have not been well for a good many months, even before I left +Chicago. Maybe that is what made me cross sometimes, Henry. Maybe that's +why I ran away without telling you I was going. I really think I ought +to have talked the matter over with you, Henry. You would have been +quite willing for me to make Jack a visit wouldn't you, Henry, just as +Frank is allowing Jack to go home to the ranch?" + +Frieda's hand holding the tea cup shook a little. + +"But I didn't know this was a visit, Frieda. I thought you had gone away +for good. Indeed, I am under the impression that you said you never +wished to see me again." + +Frieda shook her head. + +"I never could have really said that, Henry, or if I did, you were +silly to think I meant it. I often say lots of things I don't mean. And +I have wanted to see you lots lately." + +Professor Russell took Frieda's cup away and laid firm hold on both her +hands. + +"Look at me, Frieda," he ordered quietly, "and don't answer me until you +have thought carefully about what you wish to reply. You have been a +child a long time, Frieda, but my dear, you have to grow up. All of us +must sooner or later. I am a good deal older than you and not only that +but I care for a lot of things which seem dull and uninteresting to you. +So do you care for things which do not seem vital to me. But I'm willing +to confess I'm an old fogy and sometimes I believe, Frieda dear, I did +you a great wrong when I married you at such a youthful age. I want you +to know, my dear, that I want to do whatever is best for your happiness. +I am willing to go out of your life, to relieve you of me altogether if +in any way it can be managed without reflection upon you." + +"Then you mean you don't love me any more, Henry, you can't forgive me +for what I did," Frieda gasped, turning really honestly pale this time. +Professor Russell shook his head. + +"I don't mean any such thing, Frieda child. Moreover, you know perfectly +well that I don't and that it is exceedingly reprehensible for you to go +on flirting in this way with your own husband unless you also care for +him." + +Frieda sighed with satisfaction and lifted up her face to her husband, +plainly suggesting by her expression what she expected him to do. + +The moment after, she said, with that funny look of gravity which no one +ever paid any special attention to from her. + +"Do you know, Henry, if you say things like that to me oftener, I feel +sure I will care for you more. But please get your hat and come with me +now, I want to introduce you to a very dear, old friend of mine in +Granchester. Afterwards, if your hand does not hurt, you must go up to +Kent House with me to dinner. I intend to let Jack and Frank know that I +can manage my own affairs and do not in the future intend to be kept in +the dark as if I were a silly child." + +The Professor obeyed orders. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE OLD RANCH + + +IT was a wonderful May day when Frieda and her Professor, Jack and her +two babies and nurse, and Olive arrived at the Rainbow Ranch. + +Jim and Ruth Colter and Jean Merritt, who was their own Jean Bruce, of +the old Ranch Girl days, drove down to the same funny little frame +station to meet them. But beside the automobile they brought a great +wagon, which Jim drove himself, in order that they might take up to the +house as many trunks and as many people as could not be stored away in +the car. + +Jack insisted on returning home alongside Jim, seated on the driver's +seat, her feet still not quite touching the floor. + +She had put her babies in the automobile, with Ruth and Jean, so that +they might make each others' acquaintance. Moreover, she had a sentiment +in wishing to reach the old ranch with Jim as her companion. No matter +what had happened to her, no matter what should happen in the future, +Jim, who was her first friend, the manager of the old ranch, and her own +and Frieda's guardian, would remain her best friend to the end of the +chapter. + +She knew, too, that Olive cherished many happy memories, while Frieda +was beatific these days in the company of her Professor. + +Jack felt a singing in her heart and in her ears as she saw the wide +meadows now blossoming with purple clover and heard the western larks +rising high over the land, dipping toward it again, then soaring higher +up, as if they threw aside the call of the earth for the loftier one of +the air. + +Jim and Ruth with their children, and Jean and Ralph Merritt and their +little girl, when they were at the ranch, lived in the great house which +the Ranch girls had built after coming into their fortune through the +discovery of the mine on their place. But the old Rainbow Lodge, where +they had all lived as little girls when it was rather hard to make +expenses in the dry seasons in Wyoming, had never been torn down. +Indeed, as a special request from Jack it had been kept in perfect +repair and still remained simply and comfortably furnished. + +Whenever there were too many guests at the big house, some of them were +sent down here, and more often, when he could bear the ways of high +society no longer, Jim escaped to the old lodge for a quiet smoke and +perhaps an hour to himself. Now and then Ruth, his wife, would come to +join him, and they would talk of the early days at the ranch and their +first meeting, when Ruth was a prim New England schoolmarm. + +So, as a favor, Jack had asked that the old Lodge be given over to her +use while she was at home. She and the babies would come up to the big +house for their meals, except at night when the babies could be better +taken care of at the Lodge. This would give all the more room for the +others. + +So, as Ruth, Jim and Jean, realized that Jack sincerely wished this +arrangement, they had agreed with her desire. Jack had married so soon +after the building of the house, which Frieda had named "The Rainbow +Castle," that she had never learned to feel any particular affection for +it. So in coming home she wished to return to the house she had loved +and remembered. + +On either side of the old Lodge, Frieda's violet beds were still +carefully tended and today were a mass of bloom. + +Olive and Frieda and the Professor insisted on getting out first at the +Lodge with Jack and Jim. When they entered the old living room it was so +like the one they recalled that the three women, who were girls no +longer, felt a sudden catching of their breath. + +But of course Jim and Jean had arranged the old room to look as much +like it formerly did as possible. They had the Indian rugs on the floor, +the old shelves of books, with just the books the Ranch girls had owned +long before, the great open fireplace and the tall brass candlesticks on +the mantel. + +Then before leaving for the station Jean had filled the room with +bunches of violets, as Frieda had once been accustomed to do. + +"It is still just the loveliest, homiest place in the world!" Frieda +exclaimed. + +Jack did not feel that she could speak for the first minute, and the +next Jean had come running in carrying Vive in her arms and with Jimmie +beside her. They were followed by Jean's own little daughter, +Jacqueline, and by two other little girls, who belonged to Jim and Ruth +and another Jimmie, who was somewhere between the biggest and the +littlest Jim. + +Then there was, of course, the immense confusion of the arrival and the +settling of so large a number of guests. Besides there were so many +children to be looked after who always must be considered first. + +That evening there was a dinner at the big house, at which everybody +talked a great deal, asked a great many questions and answered them. But +in reality they were all too tired and excited to get much satisfaction +from one another. + +Afterwards, although Jim and Jack walked home alone to the Lodge, they +did not try to say a great deal to each other. Only at parting Jim said, +"Have a cup of coffee in the morning early, Jack. I have promised Ruth +not to take you too far, but I've a new horse for you to try and I want +you to have the first ride over the ranch with me, while the others are +still asleep. You and I are the only ones who have ever really loved the +dawn out here in God's country. Ruth has left some riding togs for you +somewhere in your room." + +Waking before six o'clock next morning, Jack was lying in bed breathing +deeply of the sweet clover-scented air, when she heard a never to be +forgotten whistle outside her window. + +She stuck her head out. + +"I'll be down in ten minutes, Jim. Is that the horse for me? Isn't he a +beauty? But hitch yours and mine somewhere outside and open the Lodge +door, I didn't lock it last night, and come in and start my coffee. I +just opened my eyes this minute." + +Ten minutes later, as she had said, Jack slid quietly downstairs so as +not to arouse her children. She smelt the delicious aroma of the coffee +in the old Lodge kitchen, once presided over by old Aunt Ellen, who had +died a few years before. She also discovered Jim helping himself to the +first cup when she appeared. But instead he gave it to her, got another +for himself and handed her a napkin filled with sandwiches which Ruth +had provided. Then they drank and munched as silently and contentedly as +they always had in each other's company during many years and various +experiences. + +But they had both stepped out on the big front porch of the Lodge, when +Jim suddenly swung round and put his hands on Jack's slender shoulders. + +He had seen something in her face which the others had not, perhaps +because he had always cared for her most. + +"Ain't anybody been doin' anything to you, you don't like, Boss?" Jim +demanded, purposely breaking into the old careless speech he had used +before Ruth's coming to Rainbow Ranch to educate them all, and Jim more +than any one. "Because if anyone has, you know you can always count on +your old pardner." + +But Jack only laughed and shook her head rubbing it against his sleeve, +as a young colt does. This had been one of the things she used to do as +a girl, half as an expression of affection and half to conceal her +embarrassment. + +Then Jack ran out to where her horse was waiting. She had on a khaki +riding costume, a new one, but except for that, pretty much of the same +kind that she had been accustomed to wearing as Jacqueline Ralston. + +She was now looking over the horse critically. + +"He is one of the most perfect creatures I ever saw, Jim. I don't care +what other people say, I like our fine western horses better than any +others in the world." + +"Try him, Jack," and Jim lifted her lightly up. + +The next instant she had gone down the avenue like a streak of light, +whirled and come back again. + +"His movement seems perfect, too, but I'll have to give him more of a +test before I can decide." + +She then started off again with Jim Colter beside her. + +"If you like him, Jack, the horse is a present from me. I got him and +had him broken for you. I don't ever want anyone else to use him." + +Jack's face flushed. "Jim, there never was anybody so good to me as you +have always been, and no one who has ever understood me so well. I don't +mean that there is much to understand, but what there is I know you +believe the best of." + +"Well, I don't expect there is anybody who began to know you as soon as +I did, Jack," Jim Colter answered, realizing again that there was +something behind Jack's words which she did not exactly wish to confide +in him. + +It was all very well for the rest of the family to say Jack didn't look +a day older. She was better looking than she used to be, if that was +what they were talking about, and her figure looked very slim and sweet +and girlish, as she rode there beside him, as gracefully and as much at +ease as ever. But Jack's expression was different, there were shadows +under her eyes, no matter how her lips were smiling. Jim remembered +that even if he had liked Frank Kent, he never had thought much of +Englishmen as husbands for American girls. + +But he said nothing more on the subject to Jack, only pointing out +objects in the familiar, old landscape which they both loved, and +realizing that if Jack had anything to tell him she would do so of her +own accord later on. + +They were late to breakfast, of course, so they found that all the +others, having finished, were out on the lawn waiting. + +"I suppose Jim tried to show you every horse and every cow on the ranch, +Jack," Ruth began. "I hope you are not worn out, child. I told him to +allow you one night's rest." + +Ruth Colter was growing very matronly these days with her husband and +son and two daughters to look after. She and Jim were to have two other +daughters, to repeat as they always said, another group of four new +Ranch Girls. But as yet only two had put in their appearance. + +"Yes, and after she has had breakfast I want to take Jack and everybody +down to the Rainbow Mine. I always feel it belongs more to Ralph, and +to me than to the others. Oh, simply because my husband was its first +engineer." + +Jean's eyes were as brown and velvety as ever and she wore that little +expression of pride and self satisfaction that comes into the faces of +so many women who are married to successful men. It is as if they shared +the pride and glory of the success, without any of the effort or +necessary disappointment. + +"Remember, Henry, when you and Ralph were more or less blown up going +down the shaft of the old mine. It was after that, Frieda adopted you." + +The Professor nodded. "I had my legs broken didn't I, so I couldn't get +away? Well, Frieda always prefers her victims helpless." + +Frieda tossed her head and walked away as she always had done when any +member of her family teased her. + +Later in the day all the family and half a dozen visitors did go down to +the old mine, which was still yielding a fair amount of gold, but not +half so much as in the old days. Afterwards, lunch was served in the +neighborhood of Rainbow creek and most of the day was spent outdoors. + +Toward the close of the afternoon, however, everybody else wandered away +leaving the four one time Ranch Girls together. + +They were sitting in the afternoon sunshine on a patch of grass not far +from the neighborhood of the creek. + +Jack was lying down with her head resting in Olive's lap, Frieda was +close to Jean and now and then putting her hand inside her cousin's for +a moment. She and Jean had always been cronies in the old days, when the +four of them had been divided into pairs over some small issue. + +"I don't believe this is far from the place where Frank and I discovered +the first gold in Rainbow creek," Jack remarked drowsily, a little worn +out from the excitement of the day. "How filled the old ranch was with +memories and thoughts of her husband!" Jack smiled to herself. Certainly +she had been the impatient one and Frank the patient in those many +months of her long illness. + +Whatever anger Jack had felt in regard to her husband's autocratic +attitude toward her, had entirely disappeared soon after saying farewell +to him. But the puzzle was still present. Frank had been kind and sweet +to her for the time before she left home. But never once had he frankly +declared that in future he would be willing for Jack to decide important +questions according to her own judgment, even as he must act by his own. +And this was what Jack wanted, the sense of spiritual freedom. + +"When is Frank coming over to join you, Jack?" Jean Merritt asked +unexpectedly. "Ralph hopes to get home from his work at the canal in a +few weeks and it would be a great pleasure if he and Frank could be here +at the same time." + +"Frank, oh, Frank isn't coming at all, Jean. He couldn't possibly leave +his own country now, while they are at war. There is so much he feels he +ought to do." + +Jack hoped she was not blushing, but was painfully aware that Frieda's +eyes were fixed somewhat critically upon her. Frieda was giving herself +more airs than ever, now that she and her Professor were reconciled, and +she had been able to persuade the British Government to allow her to +bring him to the United States. The truth was the Professor had finished +the scientific work he had undertaken, and in coming to his own country +at the present time would be enabled to get hold of materials much +needed in England. + +Not actually realizing, but guessing at Jack's embarrassment, Olive +remarked hastily. + +"After all there is some advantage in being an old maid, one does not +have to worry continually over being in the same place with one's +husband. You will all have to come over to see my Indian School some day +soon. Perhaps I am wedded to that." + +"Nonsense, Olive," Frieda murmured, "but really I don't see why you have +never married. You were obstinate enough about not accepting poor Don +Harmon, but then you got most of your grandmother's money after all. +Still you must have had other chances. You are as good looking as the +rest of us and some people like brunettes best." + +As Frieda's own yellow hair was at this moment unbound, so that it might +get the air and sunshine, and as she looked at it with utter +satisfaction as she spoke, her three companions laughed unrestrainedly. + +"Oh, come now Frieda, you don't really believe anyone has such poor +taste as that," Olive teased. + +But at this instant seeing that Jack's nurse was coming toward them +carrying Vive in her arms, Frieda got the best of the situation as she +often did. + +"Oh, well, perhaps the combination is prettiest after all. Vive is the +only real beauty with her dark eyes and yellow hair." + +Frieda held out her arms for the baby, who came to her with little +ripples of happy laughter, and the two blonde heads, which were so +nearly the same color, were held close together. + +"I believe Vive really is the prettiest of all the children," Jean +remarked critically, which was good of her, since she had a little girl +of her own. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +VIVE + + +SO the days and weeks passed on at the Rainbow Ranch, seeming to be +uneventful and yet filled with quantities of pleasures and interests. + +June came and the prairies were covered with wild flowers. + +No one stayed indoors, except to sleep and eat, and oftentimes not for +either of these things. Many nights Jack slept out on the Lodge +verandah, sometimes with Olive or Jean, more often alone. + +There were wonderful white nights such as only the west knows. + +Jack used to love to lie and listen to the sounds she had long known and +loved. A pair of owls in one of the old cottonwood trees held nightly +conversations with each other, now and then screeching in such an +irritated fashion that Jack laughed over their apparently human +qualities. + +Then far away from the house on the neighboring prairies she could hear +the coyotes call to one another with warnings of danger. + +These were excellent nights in which to think, for sometimes the moon +made it almost too light for sleep. And Jack had a great deal to occupy +her mind. Twice a week she wrote Frank and he wrote her with the same +frequency, since at this time there were still two mail boats a week. +But neither made any reference to their conversation on the evening when +Jack had made her request to come home and given her reason. + +Things in England were not going so well at this period as Frank had +hoped, and he wrote chiefly of this. But he also said that he now +received frequent news from Captain MacDonnell, who was growing better +and now knew what fate had in store for him. He might be able to walk in +the future, but only with crutches. + +On several occasions Jack thought of deliberately asking her husband to +come to some kind of an agreement with her for the future. Yet she +hardly dared open a subject that might lead to differences between them, +when they were so far apart, but she was very often lonely for him and +sometimes repented having left England at all. + +Jack, of course, was not always in this frame of mind. During the +greater part of the time she was very happy. + +A number of hours each day she spent on the horse Jim had given her, +which she had named "Britain" in honor of her adopted country. + +Now and then Jean and Olive and Frieda would refuse to ride, preferring +some other amusement, but there was always Jim as a companion. + +Jim Colter was now a successful and fairly wealthy ranchman owning a +half interest in the Rainbow Ranch and having the entire ownership of +the one adjoining it. But he continued to follow much the same routine +as when he was only the manager for the Ranch girls. + +That is, whenever it was possible, he rode over miles of the ranch land, +watching the crops and his water supply, and carefully examining all his +horses and cattle, when they seemed to need his attention. + +Accompanying Jim on these excursions had been, not only one of Jack's +chief amusements, but one of her serious occupations as a girl and it +still greatly interested her. Besides, she and Jim saw each other under +more favorable circumstances in this way than in any other, and had +more real opportunities for conversation. + +But always Jack arranged to get back to the Lodge in time to see her +children before they went to bed. They had an excellent nurse and of +course there was all the rest of the family to look after them, but Jack +had followed this custom at home, except under unusual circumstances and +would not have given it up for a great deal. + +Therefore she was worried one afternoon when Jim insisted upon staying +out later than usual. She would have returned alone, except that Jim had +found a young colt which had injured itself and wished Jack's help and +advice in the care of it. + +Finally, when they did get started for home, Jack rode ahead like the +wind, calling back to her companion not to try to follow her unless he +liked, as she knew he had some other matters on the place to look after. + +By making unusual speed she hoped to reach home a few minutes before +six, when Vive was put into bed and Jimmie ate his supper before +following her. + +Olive was waiting on the porch when Jack came into sight and went out to +meet her before she had dismounted. + +"What is it, Olive?" Jack asked sharply, as soon as she saw her. "Which +one of the children is it? What has happened?" For it is a curious fact +that a mother often feels this premonition of danger. + +"There is nothing to be seriously frightened about, Jack," Olive replied +quietly, "only little Vive isn't very well. Frieda and I had her with us +for a little while this afternoon and she seemed somewhat languid. +Frieda thought she had a little fever, so Ruth saw her and we have sent +for the doctor. He will be here in another few moments." + +Jack made no comment except to go swiftly indoors, leaving Olive to find +some one to care for her horse. + +She knew, of course, that Olive was telling her as little as possible. + +Jimmie had been taken away to the other house, so Vive now occupied +alone the big room at the Lodge which had belonged to Jack and Frieda +when they were little girls. + +It was simply furnished with a few rugs and wicker chairs and bright +pictures and three little white iron cots. + +In the smallest Vive lay apparently asleep on her pillow. + +But Jack saw at once she was not asleep. Her exquisite little face was +flushed a bright scarlet, her lids heavy and closed, and the strangest +fact was that one of her little hands twitched unceasingly. + +Now and then she opened her golden brown eyes, but without seeing or +knowing anyone. + +When the doctor arrived he made no effort to disguise the seriousness of +Vive's condition. If she were to live it would be a fight and one of the +hardest of all kinds, since they must simply wait and watch, with very +little possible to do. + +For some unknown reason, perhaps because there had been too much +excitement from the trip, too much notice taken of her by too many +people, Vive had meningitis. + +But Jack was never a coward and it is scarcely worth saying that a +mother's courage, so long as she thinks it can help her child, is the +purest courage of all. + +As soon as she heard the verdict, Jack went quickly to her own room and +put on a white cotton dress. Afterwards, until Vive was better or worse, +she would never leave her side for a moment. + +But it is one thing to be brave when a shock comes and one has health +and strength to meet it. It is another to keep up that courage hour +after hour, day after day, when the strength is gone and the body and +mind unconsciously sick with weariness. + +There was a trained nurse, of course, and any member of her family would +have done anything that was humanly possible to relieve Jack's vigil. +But she would not be persuaded or argued into going out of her baby's +room, and slept there in the hours when she did sleep, half awake and +half dreaming, on a small cot by Vive's. + +And most of the time Frieda stayed with her. + +In a way it seems strange that it should have been Frieda. Olive, one +would have supposed to be more sympathetic, Jean and Ruth had children +of their own. + +But some change had been taking place in Frieda for a good many months +and she adored little Vive. Whenever any of the others disputed Frieda's +right, she always said quietly that after all, she was Jack's only +sister, and that if anything happened she must be the one to be by her. + +If Jack's husband had been with her, why then it would have been +different. So Frieda even waved away her devoted Professor, who feared +she might be ill, by telling him there would be time enough to think of +her later on. + +Although she and Jack sat side by side for many hours with their eyes on +the baby, they but rarely spoke to each other. + +Yet it was too pitiful to continue always to watch the movement of +Vive's baby hands and her heavy breathing. + +"If Vive dies do you think Frank will ever forgive me," Jack asked one +night. + +And true to herself Frieda tossed her yellow head. + +"I don't see what Frank has to forgive? The point is will he ever +forgive himself for having you go through all this alone?" + +"But I ought not to have brought Vive away. Still I wouldn't mind +anything if only Frank were with me." + +A little later when the doctor arrived he said that the crisis would +come within the hour and he would remain. + +Olive and Jean waited in the Lodge living room, Jim had disappeared +somewhere an hour before. Ruth Colter came into the nursery and stayed +by Jack. + +Half an hour passed. Then suddenly there was a strange, almost an +unearthly silence in the room, and it was as if one could see the +little white soul rise and float softly away like a bird. + +The little figure in the cradle was still. + +The doctor rose up. + +"It is over," he said pitifully. + +Frieda covered up her face, but Jack went over and looked down at Vive +for a moment and then turned to the others. + +"Please do not let anyone come with me," she asked. "I must go outdoors +alone." + +Then Jack went out past the living room, through the long avenue of tall +trees, on farther and farther, not knowing where she was going. + +The Rainbow Ranch, which she had loved better than any place in the +world, had taken from her the human being, whom at this moment she +believed she loved most. + +Over Rainbow creek there hung a tiny yellow, crescent moon. It seemed to +Jack that this, too, made her think of her baby, it was just as cold, +just as perfect and as far away. + +She stayed there a long time, then getting up she wandered on. She did +not think whether her family would be uneasy, she did not care. + +It seemed to her she never wished to go back again to the Lodge. + +But finally a little clearer judgment came to her and she turned back. + +It was almost dawn. + +There, standing on the porch of the Rainbow Lodge, was a man's figure. +Jack supposed it was Jim. + +He started toward her and the next moment Jack was in his arms. + +"Do you know, Frank?" Jack queried. + +Frank drew her closer to him. + +A little later she allowed Frank to lead her into the house, where she +undressed and went to bed, with him sitting beside her. + +She had made no inquiry about how he had arrived at such a moment. Jack +had but one thought at this time, no others could enter her mind. + +The facts were that Frank had left England ten days before bringing +Captain MacDonnell with him. He had a mission from his Government so as +to make the trip possible. But more than anything else he felt he must +see his wife. + +He had tried to write Jack, to tell her that he believed he had been +unfair, that his obstinacy should never make an issue between them +again. But it had all been so difficult to write and it must be so long +before he could receive Jack's answer. + +Moreover, Frank wanted to bring Captain MacDonnell to the ranch to stay +during his convalescence. Soon after Jack's departure he had gone over +to France, as an act of expiation both to his wife and friend. There he +had found Captain MacDonnell recovering, but infinitely depressed with +the thought that he could no longer serve his country, but must be only +a burden. + +On the arrival of his steamer in New York Lord Kent had wired Jim +Colter, but Jim had thought it best not to speak to Jack until Frank was +able to reach her. + +He had therefore sent him a wire telling of Vive's illness, and Frank +had hurried west, leaving Captain MacDonnell with friends in New York +city. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +FAREWELL + + +ABOUT a week later Captain MacDonnell arrived at the Rainbow Ranch +accompanied by a man servant who waited upon him. He looked better than +any of his friends had anticipated. + +Since there was so much sorrow in the world at the present time, Jack +and Frank had made up their minds that they would not let their own +influence other people more than they could avoid. Moreover, they had +found each other again at just the right moment and were more devoted, +more united than ever before. Frank explained his own change of attitude +to his wife, but all the events of the past seemed small in comparison +with their loss. + +It was Frieda who for a while seemed the more outwardly inconsolable. + +Actually the Professor came one day in distress to Jack herself. + +"My dear Jack, I don't know what I shall do with my little Frieda when +you have gone home to England!" he exclaimed. For it had been decided +that Jack and Jimmie were to return home when Frank did. + +"But you will both be coming over soon," Jack answered, showing no sign +that it might be strange under the circumstances to expect her to +comfort Frieda. + +The Professor did not see this. He really saw very little else in the +world except his wife and his work. + +"We may not be able to come for several months. In the meantime if she +frets herself ill?" + +Jack promised to talk to her sister. + +One evening when Frieda complained of a headache and did not come down +to dinner, Jack went up to her. + +She found her sister lying on a couch and looking very young and sweet. + +"You are not to worry too much on my account, Frieda dear," Jack began. + +"I am not supposed to be unselfish," Frieda murmured. + +But Jack paid no attention to her speech. "Perhaps you'll have a baby +some day yourself, dear." + +At this Frieda pulled her sister down and whispered something in her +ear. Jack's face flushed. + +"I should be happier than anything! Remember you and Henry are to come +to us as soon as it can be arranged." + +A few days later Lord and Lady Kent with their little boy left for the +East. They were to stop a few days in Washington and then sail. + +Not long afterwards Frieda and the Professor also went away from the +ranch, as Professor Russell had a good many things to look after and +Frieda would not be separated from him. + +As Ralph Merritt had arrived for a visit, Jean's attention was occupied +with him. So as a matter of fact Captain MacDonnell was rather left to +Olive's care. + +At first it did not seem a large duty simply to try and keep Captain +MacDonnell amused and she had wanted to do something. But Olive had not +reckoned with her task. + +Captain MacDonnell was an Irishman and a Scotchman, which means he was +able to be very gay and also very melancholy. And always in times past, +when his melancholy mood had taken hold on him, he could mount his horse +and ride the spectre away, or else engage in some other active outdoor +occupation. + +But here he was still so young a man, with all his future before him, +and compelled to sit all day in a wheeled chair, or else hobble about on +crutches. + +It has not been the illness that has been hardest for the soldiers to +bear, but oftentimes this coming back to accept with resignation a new +kind of life. + +Yet Captain MacDonnell tried to be patient, tried to let no one guess +what he was suffering at thus having his career ended so soon, and being +also unable to go on with the service to his country which he so longed +to give. + +But Olive, who had always more of a gift for sympathy than any one of +the Ranch girls, appreciated what he was enduring more than she even +revealed to him. + +She had been reading him a volume of Kipling one day, and happening to +raise her eyes, saw that he was not listening. She even stopped a few +moments and found that he was unaware of it. + +When Captain MacDonnell did discover his own absorption, he turned to +Olive with a charming smile. + +"Forgive me," he explained. "I do not intend to be ungrateful, indeed I +am more grateful than I know how to express. But those stories of India +started me to thinking of the first years I was out there. It is a +strange country, India. I don't think we western people understand it." + +He and Olive were sitting on the Lodge verandah. + +Olive nodded, "I do understand what you must feel and I do wish there +was something else to interest you." + +Then she remained silent. After all Captain MacDonnell could not go on +in idleness like this. There must be something he could find to do, some +real thing. Poorer men were learning trades. It would be better for him +to do this if only he could be persuaded to feel enough interest. + +Olive did not realize she was frowning. + +Suddenly she exclaimed. + +"Look here, Captain MacDonnell, didn't I hear Frank say once that you +used to be fond of drawing when you were a small boy, that you were once +undecided whether to be an artist or a soldier?" + +Captain MacDonnell smiled. "I believe so, I've an idea I was a pretty +conceited youngster and would have made as much of a failure at one as +I have of the other." + +But Olive refused to pay any attention to this speech. + +For a moment Captain MacDonnell forgot himself thinking of how +attractive Olive looked. + +He had not remembered thinking of this especially when they had met in +England, only that she was unusual looking and not in the least like an +American or English woman. It was almost as if she might be Spanish. +Captain MacDonnell also had some Spanish blood farther back in his own +family, when the Spanish were the great voyagers and visited and settled +on the coasts of Ireland. + +But Olive went on talking. + +"I do wish you would undertake the drawing again, it might at least +amuse you, and there are so many interesting people and scenes you could +attempt out here." + +Captain MacDonnell shook his head. + +"I'm afraid the time has gone by for that," he returned. + +But Olive had a kind of gentle, sensible persistency that nearly always +wins its way. + +"Still, there wouldn't be any harm in just seeing if it might amuse +you," she went on. "I am sure it would be a kind of relief." + +Captain MacDonnell again looked at Olive. Her deep toned skin was softly +flushed and her dark eyes brilliant with earnestness. + +He laughed a little. "Of course it will, a relief to you, so for that +reason I'll attempt it. But on one condition?" + +Olive flushed a little with embarrassment, since she had never wholly +gotten over her shyness. However, she realized that Captain MacDonnell +was teasing her. He did very often when he was in a gay humor and Olive +felt it was good for her, as she was too inclined to be grave. + +"What is the condition?" she inquired. "Of course it will be relief to +me to know you are happier," at which Captain MacDonnell felt that Olive +had scored. + +"Why, that I won't have to keep on calling you Miss Van Mater. It is too +much of a name, just as mine is." + +Captain MacDonnell was doubtful as to how Olive would receive this +suggestion. She seemed more formal than the rest of the family and he +had thought her colder until her great kindness to him. Now he at least +knew better than to misunderstand her shyness for coldness, as a good +many people did. + +Olive replied perfectly naturally. + +"Of course I will. The truth is I have always thought of you as Bryan, +as Jack and Frank always talked of you by this name." + +His promise would have really passed out of Captain MacDonnell's mind if +Olive had not supplied him with a great variety of drawing materials +within a few days, which she had taken a good deal of trouble to secure +for him. + +But as a matter of fact she was really surprised to discover how much +talent he had. But then Captain MacDonnell used to work for many hours +each day, so that it was not long before his former facility came back +to him. More than this, he discovered to his own surprise as well, that +he could do a great deal better work than he had as a boy. Somehow the +skill must have developed in him unheeded as he was growing older. + +She came out on the lawn one afternoon and discovered Captain MacDonnell +at work a little distance off. + +He had evidently persuaded one of the cowboys to pose for him, as the +man and his horse were standing in a picturesque attitude only a few +feet away. + +Olive walked over to them and stood studying the drawing until Captain +MacDonnell turned round to speak to her. + +"Why don't you say it is good?" he demanded boyishly. "You know I've +half an idea it is." + +Olive nodded enthusiastically. + +"It's like Remington." + +Captain MacDonnell laughed. "Not quite. Still I am getting on. But it +seems to me you are neglecting me lately. I say, suppose you pose for +me. That would be ripping. You won't be sensitive if I don't make much +of a go just at first." + +For a moment Olive hesitated. Then it struck her that she would enjoy +sitting outdoors in the early autumn sunshine for a few hours each day +with her friend. For Captain MacDonnell had become her friend by this +time, she had no doubts on this point. Moreover, she had made up her +mind she must soon go away. She had planned to take a course in nursing +so as to fit herself to be more useful, and there was really no reason +for further delay. + +She happened to mention this fact to Captain MacDonnell one day and it +was remarkable after that what a time he took to finish his sketch. + +The truth was the artist made not one sketch but half a dozen. + +Jim and Ruth were delighted with his success, so that Captain MacDonnell +finally persuaded Olive to allow him to attempt a painting. + +The work was undertaken inside the Lodge living room. Olive was dressed +in an old gold silk, and the artist insisted that she needed a +background of strange oriental colors. + +One end of the great room was therefore changed into a studio. + +Fortunately Ruth and Olive had still in their possession a number of +lovely old silks and draperies which the Ranch girls had brought back +from their trip to Italy many years before. + +One day, after he had been working for about a month, Olive slipped +quietly into the studio without the artist's hearing her. She found him +sitting before his easel smoking, but frowning and looking less happy +than he had in some time. + +But as he caught sight of Olive his expression changed. + +"I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you for making me so +lovely? I don't mind being handed down to posterity in such a +delightfully untruthful picture," Olive remarked gayly. + +"Oh, it's untruthful enough," Captain MacDonnell answered. "It is well +you came in just when you did, as I was thinking of making an end of +it." + +"Then I shouldn't have forgiven you." + +Captain MacDonnell nodded. + +"That is what I was afraid of, that and that you would not be willing to +sit for me again." + +Olive laughed. "Oh, you must get hold of someone more attractive than I +am for the next portrait. After a while, as you are so much better, +you'll be wanting to go back to London to work seriously. You know you +have promised me that?" + +Captain MacDonnell shook his head. + +"No," he returned. "Oh, I don't mean that I did not promise, I only mean +that I shall probably not keep my word. I think I shall give up and +allow myself to become a kind of good for nothing, half invalid, as soon +as I am separated from you." + +However, as she had by this time grown accustomed to her companion's +swift changes of mood, so unlike her own, Olive only laughed? + +"Shall I pose for you again today?" + +Then there was silence in the room for half an hour while Bryan worked. +Finally he put down his brushes. + +"I am no good for work today, Olive. The truth is I want to say +something to you and I don't know whether I have the right. + +"Olive!" + +For an instant Olive changed color. Then she answered. + +"I can hardly imagine anything you haven't the right to say to me, +Bryan. You often talk of your gratitude for what I have done for you. +But I wonder if you know what you have done for me? I have never had so +kind a friend except Jack. It is always difficult for me to think of her +as Lady Kent." + +"But I am not your friend," Bryan returned brusquely, "and it is about +that and about Lady Jack I want to talk to you. The truth is it's absurd +to call a man your friend when he loves you. Of course I feel I am not +all of a man these days and I have not much money and my art may never +come to anything." + +"Any more disqualifications, Bryan?" Olive asked softly. Perhaps she was +not altogether surprised at what she was at present hearing. + +"Oh yes, a great many," Captain MacDonnell returned, "only I think I +won't tell you about them just now." + +"And what has Jack to do with what you wish to say to me?" Olive asked, +and this time spoke more seriously. + +"Oh, she has nothing at all to do with it now," Captain MacDonnell +returned. "Only once upon a time before I met you, I used to think Lady +Jack was the most attractive woman I had ever known. I used also to +believe that as long as Frank had gotten ahead of me I never wished to +marry. But I suppose the real fact was that I wanted one of what Lady +Jack told me you called yourselves? The Ranch Girls, wasn't it? Only I +had not seen the real one in those days." + +"Look here, Bryan, you need not think I ever forget you are an +Irishman," Olive laughed. "Yet I think I like your flattery." + +However, Captain MacDonnell was waiting for another kind of answer, and +after a little Olive gave him the one he desired. + +So began for Olive, what still remains, in spite of all the other +adventures in life, the great adventure of marriage. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +"UNDER TWO FLAGS" + + +ON an afternoon in summer nearly a year later, two flags might be seen +flying from the towers of Kent House. + +Over the English meadows the wind blew softly, but strongly enough to +whip the flags out straight so that from some distance one could see the +British Lion and the Stars and Stripes. + +Since Olive's engagement to Captain MacDonnell, the United States had +entered the war and was now one of the great Allies. + +Inside Kent House there was a peculiar atmosphere of excitement and +expectancy. + +The house was filled with flowers from the big garden, a profusion of +roses and the simpler flowers for which England is famous, wall flowers, +daisies, sweet-peas and canterbury bells, named in honor of the great +Cathedral at Canterbury. + +In the dining room, which opened just back of the library, the table was +already laid for dinner. + +Evidently there was to be a gala occasion, and yet this was unusual, for +since the war began there had been few entertainments at Kent House or +in any great English home. + +Nevertheless Lady Kent herself presently came into the dining room and +looked with the deepest interest at the beautiful table, touching things +here and there and making slight alterations in the arrangement of the +flowers. + +The table was in white except for a stripe of rose-colored satin through +the center and a bowl of pink roses. + +Jack had on a house dress of some soft white material, as she was not +wearing mourning and had not worn it after Vive's death. There was too +much black being used in the world. + +She was standing still for a moment, frowning slightly, but with +interest, not dissatisfaction, when another person entered and came up +beside her. + +"I have been taking a long walk, Jack, trying to get rid of my +restlessness and to make the time pass more swiftly. I wish you had been +with me. But how beautiful your place is! I don't see how you have +managed to keep things in such splendid condition with so many of your +men at the front. I have been talking to some real English dairymaids +down in the left paddock. They made me think of the stories and nursery +rhymes we used to read when we were children. Then England seemed as far +away from the old Wyoming ranch as the planet Mars. However, I am the +last one of the Ranch Girls to visit you in England. Ralph's work has +made our coming to you impossible before and now the war has brought us +to this side of the world, for how long none of us can say. Have you +heard anything from Frieda?" + +Lady Kent shook her head slowly. + +She was watching Jean and at the same time thinking how pretty and +untroubled she looked. Jean's marriage to Ralph Merritt seemed to have +turned out an unqualified success. Ralph had come to be known as a +leading American engineer, but now had given up all the other work he +had been engaged in to offer his services as an engineer to France. And +Jean had left her little girl at home with Jim and Ruth at the Rainbow +Ranch so that she could be nearer her husband. + +"I wish Frieda had not gone to London today. Suppose something happens +and she is not back in time for our dinner! Then everything will be +disarranged. We cannot have our dinner party tomorrow, for by that time +we will have separated again. Tomorrows are uncertain quantities these +days, aren't they?" And Jean's expression changed for an instant. + +But Jack answered her quickly. This was to be Ralph Merritt's last night +in England for an indefinite time, as he was leaving for France the next +day, while Jean was to remain with Lord and Lady Kent. + +"Oh, Frieda will be here on time; I don't think we need worry. You see, +she is to go to his office and get hold of the Professor, else, Frieda +says, if he chances to be especially interested in his work, he will +forget all about our plan, and of course to have one of the eight of us +missing tonight would ruin everything." Again Jack glanced about her +dinner table, which was laid for eight covers. "Still, I think Frieda +does Henry an injustice, for, in spite of the absorbing scientific work +he is doing, he is far less absent-minded than he used to be. And I +never saw a more attentive husband. Since Frieda's baby came I believe +he regards her as more wonderful than ever." + +As she finished speaking Jack laughed and Jean slipped her arm about her +as they walked out of the dining room. Jean was thinking of another +baby, who had gone away before the new one came and of Jack's +inexhaustible courage. They had not realized in the old Rainbow Ranch +days that she had so much spiritual as well as physical courage. + +"Well, I am glad Frieda has your old nurse for her baby, Jack, and is +living here with you, for I cannot take her seriously as a mother, never +having been able to realize thoroughly that she is properly and sedately +married. However, we at least have our guests of honor safe." + +Lady Kent nodded in response. + +"Yes, I have just seen Olive. She and Bryan are both resting, so as to +get the most out of their wedding dinner tonight. It was wise of them to +come up so early from London this morning. I declare, Jean, it is one of +the most beautiful things that ever happened for Olive and Bryan to have +married. + +"Just from a selfish standpoint you can't imagine what it will mean to +have Olive living so near me. I have so missed my family!" + +Smiling Jean shook her brown head thoughtfully. + +"At present there is not much danger of your missing your family for +some time to come, dear. You and Frank will probably grow exceedingly +tired of them. Now I must go upstairs to rest for a while myself. I +don't wish to have Ralph decide tonight that he is the least fortunate +of the four husbands." + +Jean Merritt went on ahead, Jack seeing her disappear, and then stopping +for a moment to speak to her butler. + +Although it was to be only a family party tonight, she was taking far +more interest in the arrangements for her dinner than she had ever been +known to do before for the most formal occasions. + +But then this dinner was to be unusual, since it was the first time the +four old-time Ranch Girls had ever been her own and her husband's guests +at Kent House. Moreover, their husbands were also with them, even Olive +and Captain MacDonnell, who had been married only a few weeks. + +Nearly a year had passed since Olive's and Captain MacDonnell's +engagement, although the wedding had not taken place until the present +summer. The scene of the marriage was the Rainbow Ranch, with only Jim +and Ruth, their children, and a few friends present, since the rest of +the family were in Europe. But immediately after the ceremony Olive and +Bryan had decided to risk the dangers of sailing for home and had landed +safely in England only the day before. + +Having spent the night in London, they had come directly to Kent House, +knowing that Jack planned a family party in their honor. + +A good many months before, Frieda and her Professor had arrived at Kent +House, so that Frieda's baby might be born with Frieda in her sister's +care. Moreover, the Professor was working harder than ever, since his +own country had entered the war, to accomplish certain scientific +discoveries which should counteract the German terrorism. + +A little more than an hour later Lady Kent was slowly getting ready for +dinner. She wished to be dressed first and downstairs ready to receive +her family. + +Nevertheless she was frowning and looking slightly disturbed. + +She had left word that she was to be informed as soon as her sister, +Mrs. Russell, returned from London. In the meantime she knew a train +had arrived from town, yet no word came to her. + +Jack was about to ring the bell and find out if her order had been +forgotten, when a light knock came at the door and her husband entered. + +"I came out early, Jack, dear, in order to do honor to your party and I +managed to corral the two other husbands, Ralph and the Professor, so +there need be no delay. It is good to be at home now and then." + +Frank had looked a little tired, but his face cleared at the sight of +his wife. Jack was very beautiful in a white evening gown. The frock was +not new, since she was buying nothing of the kind during the war, but it +was the handsomest one she owned and the most becoming. She had planned +with Jean and Frieda that they were to look as well as possible, since +the dinner was to be one they would never forget. Moreover, Olive was a +bride and they must also do her honor. + +Since the change in government Frank Kent had been made a member of the +War Cabinet and devoted most of his time to the great intellectual +labors it demanded of him. Frequently it was impossible for him to +return more than two or three times a week to Kent House. + +As Jack kissed her husband her expression lightened. + +"I would like to give a dinner party every night, Frank, if I thought it +would bring you home. Are things going well?" + +Then, as Frank nodded his head gravely (he and Jack did not often +discuss details of his work, since government secrets were not to be +mentioned even with her), she added, with a little sigh partly of relief +and partly vexation: + +"Well, thank goodness you got hold of Frieda! Jean has been worrying for +fear Frieda would get lost in London and not come back in time. Years +ago, when we first came to Europe, Frieda had a tiresome fashion of +disappearing and getting us all into a dreadful state of mind for fear +she might be permanently lost. Then she usually turned up quite blandly +with some agreeable person who had discovered her." + +"But, Jack dear," Frank interrupted, as soon as his wife gave him the +opportunity, "Frieda did not come home with us. Indeed, neither the +Professor nor I had any idea except that she was with you." + +Jack changed color. + +"Oh, dear, I do wish Frieda would come in! What do you suppose could +have happened to her, Frank? She only went into London to attend to some +mysterious errand which she insisted was very important. I know she +would not have stayed so late unless something unavoidable had kept her. +Besides our party, she has never been away from her baby so long." + +Man-like, Frank did not appear particularly agitated. + +"Oh, Frieda will turn up all right. The good fates have her in charge." +Then he disappeared to begin his own toilet. + +Finishing her toilet as quickly as possible, Jack hurried downstairs. + +There was no train now from London until after eight o'clock and dinner +had been ordered for half-past seven. + +In the hall Jack discovered her Professor brother-in-law wandering +disconsolately about. He wore a mystified and slightly harassed air. + +"Do you know, Jack, I am unable for some reason to find Frieda. She is +not in her bedroom and not in the nursery. Nurse is unable to give me +any information concerning her, save that she left early in the day for +London. Curious that she did not telephone me. Will you please find her +for me? She gave me certain instructions about dressing for dinner +tonight, which, as a matter of fact, I have forgotten. Am I to wear an +evening or a dinner coat?" + +The distinguished Professor looked so uncertain and so uncomfortable +that Jack laughed in spite of her own anxiety and annoyance. However, +she hated to confide Frieda's disappearance to her husband, knowing he +would be frightened about her. + +She was hesitating as to what to reply when there was a sudden noise at +the front door. Opening it, an excited and somewhat disheveled Frieda +Russell rushed in and up to her husband. + +"Oh, Henry dear, do let me have two pounds, won't you, at once. I know +it is dreadful to be so extravagant, but so many things have happened to +me! I had to wait and wait for the things I just had to have for tonight +and then I missed the last train. I wasn't going to spoil our dinner +party and so I took a taxi the entire way out from London. I know the +cabby is robbing me, but he did come very fast and I haven't a great +deal of my own money left." + +The Professor shook his head, not fully understanding all that Frieda +was saying so hurriedly. But he produced the two pounds and went out to +settle with his wife's cabman, while Frieda rushed upstairs, calling +down over the balustrade: + +"How is my adored baby, Jack? I have nearly died being separated from +her such hours! Don't worry, I'll be ready in time for dinner." + +Not long after, Frank and Jack were in their library waiting for their +guests to appear. + +Olive and Captain MacDonnell slipped in quietly before the others. + +Olive was wearing her wedding gown. But as the affair had been a quiet +one, owing to the war and to Captain MacDonnell's injury, it was a +simple dress of white silk and chiffon. + +Except for her husband's wedding gift, a brooch of emeralds and diamonds +in the form of a shamrock, she wore no jewels. + +Captain MacDonnell was still lame, would probably always remain so. +Nevertheless Jack and Frank thought they had never seen their old friend +looking better or handsomer. Olive's shyness, her seriousness, seemed +just the spur his Irish wit and gayety needed. + +"I do hope, Bryan, you and Olive are going to stay on at home for a time +now you are safely here," Lord Kent remarked, stretching himself lazily +in a great arm chair and glancing with an admiration he made no effort +to conceal from his wife to Olive. "Jack more or less needs some one to +look after her, since I am giving so much time to my war work I am +having to neglect my family." + +Olive flushed slightly. She knew Frank had not intended it, could not +dream how sensitive Captain MacDonnell was over the thought that he +could no longer be of service to his country at a time when she so +required the knowledge and effort he had once been so gallantly ready +and able to give. + +"Oh, I shall be at home the greater part of the time, and Bryan whenever +it is possible for him," Olive answered quickly. "But Bryan has already +promised to begin _camouflage_ work for the government within the next +few days. We were not in London very long, but were there long enough to +see a few of Bryan's old friends. They asked him if he would not have +his commission transferred to the camouflage corps, as they needed him +at once. I suppose he will be able to do some of the painting here in +England. But later Bryan will probably have to go over to France to find +out what is required of him." + +"Bully, Bryan! I had not thought of that," Lord Kent answered, appearing +as tremendously gratified as if he himself had first conceived the idea +of this work for his friend. He went on to explain to his mystified +hearers that _camouflage_ consisted of painted artificial scenery used +to conceal artillery or other important positions from the enemy +airplanes, and that Bryan was especially fitted to engage in this work +on account of his military knowledge and artistic ability. + +But at this moment Jean and Ralph Merritt joined the little group. + +No one spoke of Frieda's being the last to appear, since this had always +been her custom so long as the other Ranch Girls could recall. + +Jean Merritt wore her favorite rose color, a dress of satin with an +overdress of tulle. And in spite of all the flowers blooming in Kent +garden, Ralph had not forgotten to bring her a box from London of the +deep pink roses she had always loved. + +However, before dinner was announced the Professor strolled placidly in, +garbed in entirely proper evening clothes. + +"Frieda says if you will be kind enough to wait dinner for her a few +moments, she will be with you almost at once. There was some little +errand, some little commission she still wished to attend to before we +leave the library." + +The Professor sat quietly down, asked Frank Kent an important question +concerning the war and straightway fell into earnest conversation. + +However Frieda did make her appearance within a short time. She was +dainty and lovely as ever in a misty, pale blue gown, but, unlike her +usual self, she seemed a little embarrassed and apologetic. + +The four Ranch Girls and their husbands went into dinner together. +Perhaps it was absurd that they should feel any especial emotion over so +simple a matter as having their first dinner party with one another +since their marriages. + +Nevertheless it was true that each girl in her own fashion did feel this +emotion. + +Since Jack's and Jean's few moments in the dining room some hours +before, a slight change had taken place in the decoration of the table. + +Two little silk flags stood near the center; as a matter of course +under the present circumstances, they were the American and the British +emblems. + +Lord Kent saluted before he sat down, nodding to Captain MacDonnell. + +"To our international marriages!" he said. "Long may they wave!" + +Then he turned to Frieda and Jean, the Professor and Ralph. + +"And to our great American Ally!" + +As the little party took their seats they observed a small white velvet +box near each plate. + +Jack opened hers first and discovered inside a tiny pair of crossed +flags set with jewels. + +Glancing toward her husband, Lady Kent discovered that he appeared as +surprised as she was at the unexpected souvenir of their dinner. + +Then she chanced to catch sight of Frieda and Frieda's self-conscious +expression betrayed her. Moreover, her mission to London was explained. + +"I move," announced the Professor gravely, "that we offer a toast first +to our wives and then to that beautiful and enduring land which has ever +made the appeal of a woman to her lovers the world over. I mean, of +course, 'La belle France'." + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Text sometimes capitalizes Ranch +with Rainbow Ranch and sometimes does not. This was retained. + +Page 27, "anenomes" changed to "anemones" (primroses and anemones) + +Page 30, "soceity" changed to "society" (much for society) + +Page 50, "unchangable" changed to "unchangeable" (the most unchangeable) + +Page 61, "personall" changed to "personal" (her own personal) + +Page 64, "hundreth" changed to "hundredth" (hundredth time, that her) + +Page 77, "graciousnesss" changed to "graciousness" (graciousness about +him) + +Page 133, "prsented" changed to "presented" (then presented her) + +Page 157, "every" changed to "ever" (no one ever pays) + +Page 179, "uncertainity" changed to "uncertainty" (amount of +uncertainty) + +Page 189, word "of" added to text (either side of the old) + +Page 191, "every" changed to "ever" (who have ever really) + +Page 214, "whispering" changed to "whispered" (whispered something in +her) + +Page 221, "persuded" changed to "persuaded" (MacDonnell finally +persuaded) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Great +Adventure, by Margaret Vandercook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS GREAT ADVENTURE *** + +***** This file should be named 34927-8.txt or 34927-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/2/34927/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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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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: The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + +Author: Margaret Vandercook + +Illustrator: Wilson V. Chambers + +Release Date: January 12, 2011 [EBook #34927] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS GREAT ADVENTURE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + +</pre> + + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 325px;"> +<img src="images/coverpage.jpg" width="325" height="500" alt="Cover" title="" /> +</div> +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_1" id="Page_1">[1]</a></span></p> + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<h3>THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES</h3> + +<h1>The Ranch Girls and Their<br /> +Great Adventure</h1> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_2" id="Page_2">[2]</a></span></p> + +<div class='bbox'><h2>BOOKS BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Books by Margaret Vandercook"> +<tr><td align='center'><br />THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls at Rainbow Lodge</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls' Pot of Gold</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls at Boarding School</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls in Europe</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls at Home Again</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Ranch Girls and their Great Adventure</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />THE RED CROSS GIRLS SERIES</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Red Cross Girls in the British Trenches</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Red Cross Girls on the French Firing Line</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Red Cross Girls in Belgium</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Red Cross Girls with the Russian Army</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Red Cross Girls with the Italian Army</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Red Cross Girls Under the Stars and Stripes</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='center'><br />STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS</td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls at Sunrise Hill</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls Amid the Snows</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls in the Outside World</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls Across the Sea</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls' Careers</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls in After Years</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls in the Desert</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Camp Fire Girls at the End of the Trail</span></td></tr> +</table></div> +</div> +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p> + +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 316px;"><a name="frontis" id="frontis"></a> +<img src="images/illus01.jpg" width="316" height="500" alt="You Must Abide by my Decision" title="" /> +<span class="caption">You Must Abide by my Decision</span> +</div> + + + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span></p> +<div class='bbox'><h3>THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES</h3></div> +<div class='bbox'> + +<h1>The Ranch Girls<br /> +and Their<br /> +Great Adventure</h1> + + +<div class='center'><br /><br />—BY—<br /> +<span class='author'>MARGARET VANDERCOOK</span><br /> + +<br /><br /><br /> +ILLUSTRATED BY<br /> +WILSON V. CHAMBERS<br /> +<br /><br /><br /></div> +</div> +<div class='bbox'><div class='center'> +THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY<br /> +<span class='small'>PHILADELPHIA</span><br /> +</div></div> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> + + + + +<div class='copyright'> +Copyright, 1917, by<br /> +<span class="smcap">The John C. Winston Company</span><br /> +</div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span></p> +<h2>CONTENTS</h2> + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="4" cellspacing="0" summary="Book spine and table of contents"> +<tr><td align='left'><img src="images/spine.jpg" width="95" height="500" alt="Book Spine" title="" /> +</td><td align='left'><div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Contents"> +<tr><td align='left' colspan='2'><span class='small'>CHAPTER</span></td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>I. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Kent House</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_9">9</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>II. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Frieda's Rift</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_22">22</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>III. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Voice</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Late Arrival</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_49">49</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>V. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">An Apparition</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_63">63</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Cloud</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_81">81</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">So As By Fire</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_92">92</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>VIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Several Months Later</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_101">101</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>IX. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Church and State</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_116">116</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>X. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Letter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_127">127</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">A Surprise</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_138">138</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">No Quarter</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_148">148</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Break</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_159">159</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XIV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Professor and Professoress</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_171">171</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XV. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">The Old Ranch</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_187">187</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVI. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Vive</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_201">201</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVII. </td><td align='left'><span class="smcap">Farewell</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_212">212</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='right'>XVIII. </td><td align='left'>"<span class="smcap">Under Two Flags</span>"</td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_225">225</a></td></tr> +</table></div> +</td></tr> +</table></div> + + + + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span></p> +<h2>ILLUSTRATIONS</h2> + + + + +<div class='center'> +<table border="0" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" summary="Illustrations"> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">You Must Abide by my Decision</span></td><td align='right'><i><a href="#frontis">Frontispiece</a></i></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'> </td><td align='right'><span class='small'>PAGE</span></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">In a Few Moments She was in a Panic</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_74">74</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">His Own Men Carried Him Back to a Field Hospital</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_128">128</a></td></tr> +<tr><td align='left'><span class="smcap">I Assure You I Have Official Permission</span></td><td align='right'><a href="#Page_180">180</a></td></tr> +</table></div> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span></p> +<h2>The Ranch Girls and Their<br /> +Great Adventure</h2> + + + + +<h2>CHAPTER I</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>KENT HOUSE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE deep-rutted English lane was +bordered with high box hedges. On +one side was a sloping park with trees +a century old and on the other side a wide +field filled with meadow grass and scarlet +poppies. It was in July.</div> + +<p>"In all the world there is nothing so peaceful +as this English country, is there? It is like +another world when one first gets away from +the turmoil of New York."</p> + +<p>The girl who said this was undoubtedly an +American, both in her manner and appearance, +although her dark hair and eyes and her +deep-toned olive skin were almost Spanish in +coloring.</p> + +<p>Her companion—in spite of the fact that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> +her costume was a typical English walking +one, a mixed brown tweed skirt, Norfolk +jacket and high boots,—was equally an American. +She smiled before replying.</p> + +<p>"I don't know that I agree with you, Olive. +Of course that is what people from home +always say. Jim Colter declares he is half +asleep the entire time he is in England. But +that is because Americans, particularly my +beloved westerners, don't understand England +and the English. Things are not always +peaceful just because they are quiet. We +think so because we are noisy. Frank says +there was never more unrest."</p> + +<p>But at this Lady Kent, who a number of +years ago was Jacqueline Ralston and one of +the four Ranch girls at Rainbow Lodge, +slipped her arm through her friend's, Olive +Van Mater's.</p> + +<p>"But, Olive dear, for goodness sake don't +let us talk politics the day after your arrival. +It is so English. Sometimes I feel scarcely +fitted to play the part of an English 'Lady,' +now that Frank has come into the title of +'Lord' and is a member of Parliament. I +often long for a ride with Jim over my own +prairies to search for lost cattle." Lady +Kent laughed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Once a Ranch girl, always a Ranch girl, +so far as I'm concerned, Olive; and yet I'm +farther away from the old place than any of +you. But, tell me, what made you decide to +come abroad so suddenly without even writing? +I have had letters from everybody at +home except that lazy Frieda, and yet not +one with a suggestion of your trip in it. Tell +me about every member of my family—Ruth +and Jim and their babies and Jean and Ralph +and Frieda and her Professor. Funny, I +never can think of Frieda really being married. +You see, although it has been nearly four +years, I have never seen her since we went +over for the great event."</p> + +<p>Jack ceased talking for a moment, for she +was still "Jack" to her own family and the +friends who knew her intimately. Olive +never had talked so much as the other Ranch +girls, but now it occurred to Jack that she was +asking a great many questions, without +allowing an opportunity for them to be +answered.</p> + +<p>Olive turned, apparently to glance through +the opening in the hedge at the splendid mass +of colour in the field.</p> + +<p>"Suppose we sit down a while, Jack," she +suggested. "Remember, I haven't had the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +English habit of walking for a long time. +You told me Frank's train would not get in +from London for another hour."</p> + +<p>In spite of the fact that her tone was as +casual as she knew how to make it, her companion +understood at once.</p> + +<p>"You have come to tell me bad news, +haven't you? and I never dreamed of it until +this instant. You have been brave, Olive."</p> + +<p>In spite of her nervousness over having so +suddenly guessed the reason for her friend's +unexpected visit, Jack quietly looked about +for a comfortable resting place, remembering +that Olive had just had a long trip and was +never so strong as the other Ranch girls.</p> + +<p>A few yards farther on a gate led into Kent +Park.</p> + +<p>Lady Kent opened this and a moment or +two later the two friends were seated under +one of the great oak trees for which the Kent +estate was famous—the estate now presided +over by Jacqueline Ralston and the Frank +Kent, whom we once knew as a guest at a +neighboring ranch to the Ralstons' in Wyoming, +but who were now Lord and Lady Kent +of the county of Kent, England.</p> + +<p>"Don't be frightened, Jack; my news +isn't so bad as you may think. At least I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> +don't know just how bad it is," and Olive +smiled and then frowned the next moment. +"The truth of the matter is that Frieda +Ralston Russell has left her Professor. I +was out in Wyoming having a peaceful visit +at Rainbow Ranch when I received a mysterious +telegram from Frieda telling me to +come to her at once in New York city—not +in Chicago, where she was supposed to be safe +with her Professor husband. Of course I +went at once to her. In New York I found +a yellow-haired and not so miserable Frieda, +who calmly told me she had decided that +marriage was a failure. I could not find out +her special reasons for thinking so, but perhaps +she will tell you more herself, Jack. +She is coming to you on the next steamer, +only she preferred my first breaking the news +to you and Frank."</p> + +<p>Jack whistled, after a boyish fashion of her +youth, which was not becoming to her present +age and position.</p> + +<p>"And you came, Olive dear, all the way +across the ocean by yourself, just because +my spoiled small sister wished to save herself +the trouble of a confession? You are an +angel, Olive. And I am afraid it is Frieda's +selfishness—her remaining such a completely<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> +spoiled young person—that may be the +answer to her present behavior. But I +thought her husband spoiled her more even +than her own family had in the past. Besides, +I can't imagine the Professor doing anything +wicked, can you, Olive? Oh dear, Frank +and I always opposed Frieda's marriage. +Professor Russell did seem too old and serious +for her."</p> + +<p>Just as she had always done whenever it +was possible as a girl, Lady Kent at this +moment took off her hat and flung it on the +ground beside her. It was of brown cloth +with a small green and brown feather to +match her walking outfit; nevertheless she +looked far handsomer without it.</p> + +<p>Jack was no longer a girl. A good many +years had passed since her marriage to Frank +Kent, which was to occur soon after the close +of the last Ranch girls' book, known as "The +Ranch Girls At Home Again." Also in the +final chapter, when the family had lately +moved into their new home, built on the +ranch not far from the old Rainbow Lodge, +where the Ranch girls had first lived, their +cousin Jean Bruce's engagement had been +announced to Ralph Merritt, an old friend +and the Rainbow Mine engineer. Then, as a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> +great surprise to her family, Frieda Ralston, +the youngest of the Ranch girls, at that +time only eighteen, had insisted upon her +own engagement to Professor Charles Henry +Russell, a Professor of dead languages at the +University of Chicago and more than ten +years her senior.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well, what is an old maid worth in a +family if she is not to be made useful?" Olive +answered. "But, of course, Jack, you understand +I don't require a great deal of persuasion +to come to you, and besides I was afraid if I +did not come ahead, Frieda would not come +at all. You are the only person who has any +influence over her. If she goes back to the +ranch, Ruth and Jean will only make such a +fuss over her that she will become more and +more convinced she has been badly treated. +Jim, you know, never has approved of any +of his Ranch girls being married, although +he misses none of us as he does you."</p> + +<p>Jack rose. "I hope you are rested, Olive, +as we must walk on if we are to arrive in time +to meet Frank. Oh, dear, what a business +marriage is! I suppose we could not expect +all the Ranch girls to be successfully married, +although it is odd for it to be Frieda who is +in trouble. As for you, Olive, don't congratulate<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> +yourself too soon on being an old +maid; you'll probably yield some day. I do +wonder what has happened to little Frieda? +Perhaps things are worse than we imagine."</p> + +<p>Olive shook her head.</p> + +<p>She was recalling an extremely pretty +Frieda sitting up in bed at midnight at the +hour of her arrival in New York city, with a +blue silk dressing gown over her nightgown +and a box of chocolates open on the table +beside her, which she must have been eating +before going to bed.</p> + +<p>It was true Frieda had cried a good deal +when making her confession, and had insisted +that she never intended to speak to her husband +again. Why, Olive could not find out. +She gathered that Frieda thought her husband +unsympathetic and that their temperaments +were too unlike for them ever, ever to understand +each other. But the details of her +love tragedy Frieda had declared she could +tell only to her sister Jack.</p> + +<p>Now, as Olive studied her companion's +face, she believed that Frieda had decided +wisely. When they were the four Ranch +girls, Jack, Jean, Olive and Frieda, they had +always relied upon Jacqueline Ralston's judgment. +Now, as a woman, she seemed even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> +finer than she had been as a girl. Well, +fortunately Jack's marriage seemed to have +turned out ideally happy, although there +were reasons why it might not. Jack had +never been fond of society or a conventional +life, had hated the indoors and the management +of even so small and casual an establishment +as they had at Rainbow Lodge before the +coming of Ruth as governess to take the +responsibility out of Jack's hands. Now +Jack was not only mistress of a great home, +but must play "Lady Bountiful" to an entire +village, as well as to the people on the Kent +estate, and she was really the most democratic +person in the world.</p> + +<p>They were entering the adjoining village +of Granchester now and Lady Kent had +actually forgotten to put on her hat. Yet +all the people they met along the little narrow +streets bowed to her, as if she were not +unpopular. Several times Jack stopped to +inquire about sick babies and old ladies in +the most approved fashion. However, Olive +remembered that she had been great friends +with all the cowboys on her own ranch and +the adjoining ones in the old days, and was +interested in their families, when they chanced +to have them, which was not often. Nevertheless<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> +this new life of her friend's did seem +extraordinarily different from her old life.</p> + +<p>Only once since Jack's marriage had Olive +visited her and then only for a few weeks, +when her mother-in-law was alive and Frank's +sisters had not yet married. Therefore she +had never really seen Frank and Jack alone.</p> + +<p>As they came to the little railroad station, +covered with roses and surrounded by flower +beds, Jack hastily put on her hat.</p> + +<p>"Gracious! why didn't you tell me to do +that before, Olive?" she asked "I must have +looked ridiculous. Frank would have been +discouraged if he had seen me. After all, +you see, Olive, Frank is an Englishman and +fond of the proprieties. At least I don't +think he minds so much himself, but he does +not enjoy having the country people talk +about me, especially now that we have come +into the title."</p> + +<p>"But they don't criticize you, do they?" +Olive demanded with a good deal of feeling.</p> + +<p>However, Lady Kent only laughed, "Not +more than I deserve." And then forgetting +what she had just said, she took off her hat +for the second time to wave it boyishly at the +approaching train.</p> + +<p>The next moment Frank Kent jumped out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +on the platform. He had changed much more +than his wife. Olive saw that he took his +new position and his responsibilities seriously, +for he had only come into the title two years +before. He looked far more like what one +feels to be the typical Englishman, as he had +an air of distinction and of firmness. Indeed, +Olive thought he had almost a hardness in the +lower part of his face which had not been +there as a younger man. But he greeted her +with the same old cordiality and friendliness.</p> + +<p>"You and I seem often to meet Frank at +railroad stations, Olive," Jack remarked. +"Remember when he last came to Wyoming +before we were married and we went together +to meet him?"</p> + +<p>Frank appeared so uncertain that Jack +laughed.</p> + +<p>"Husbands haven't very good memories +for the sentimental past."</p> + +<p>The next instant Frank protested.</p> + +<p>"Of course I remember and how badly you +treated me, Jack, so that Olive had to come +to my rescue." And then: "Did you drive +over? Where is the trap?"</p> + +<p>Lady Kent shook her head. "No; Olive +and I wanted a walk and it is much better for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> +you. If you don't look out we shall both be +growing as portly as a dowager duke and +duchess."</p> + +<p>Jack was a few steps ahead so that both her +friend and husband looked at her admiringly, +Olive appreciating, however, that Frank would +have preferred his own wish to be carried out +in this matter.</p> + +<p>But it had always been a pleasure to see +Jacqueline Ralston out-of-doors and it was +no less so now. Although she now had two +babies she had managed to keep as slender +and erect as a girl—a most unusual characteristic +in a woman.</p> + +<p>Jack was walking on ahead so freely and so +unconscious of her own speed that the others +had to hurry to catch up with her.</p> + +<p>When they finally joined one another, +Frank slipped his arm through his wife's.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have a piece of news for you, dear. +I forgot to tell you. I had a cable from +Frieda's husband telling me that he expected +to sail for England in about ten days. He did +not give his reason, nor mention Frieda's +coming with him."</p> + +<p>"No," Lady Kent answered apparently +in a state of abstraction, "I don't suppose +he did." But at the moment she made no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> +mention of the information Olive had brought +her concerning Frieda.</p> + +<p>As they reached Kent House and were +entering the broad hall, Jack said to her +husband under her breath, so that Olive who +was a little in advance of them, did not hear:</p> + +<p>"There is something else you have on your +mind, isn't there, Frank—some news you +have not yet told me?"</p> + +<p>Frank Kent nodded.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Jack, something so serious that I +dare not speak of it even to you. Perhaps +it will all blow over though, and I may be +able to discuss the subject with you in a few +days."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER II</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>FRIEDA'S RIFT<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"DID Frieda say on what ship she +would sail? It is odd she does +not cable."</div> + +<p>The two friends were coming down from the +third floor of Kent House where the babies' +nurseries were. Jack and Frank had two +children—the oldest a small boy, something +over three years old, and called Jimmie, in +honor of Jim Colter, the Ranch Girls' guardian +and the one-time overseer and now part owner +of the Rainbow Ranch. The baby, who was +only a year old, had been named for Olive +Van Mater, who had never seen her until her +present visit. But there would be no confusion +of names, for almost immediately the +small brother had rechristened his tiny sister +with the charming little name "Vive," which +was used for her always. And since Vive was +the gayest and liveliest of babies, this name +with its translated meaning, "Life" was +supposed to be particularly appropriate.</p> + +<p>"No, Frieda did not say," Olive Van<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span> +Mater returned. "But I presume she will +cable in a day or so. Frieda will expect you +to be in London to meet her. I am sure she +will feel much aggrieved if you do not, but I +think I won't come along, Jack, if I may stay +with the babies."</p> + +<p>Lady Kent opened the door of a room.</p> + +<p>"Just as you like, Olive, only I hope Frieda +will let me know in time. Frank is in London +most of the week while Parliament is in +session, and I'll have to ask him to make +arrangements for us. The season is over, of +course, but the hotels are filled with tourists. +It has been a wonderful English summer. +I don't think there were ever more travelers. +Well, Frieda's rooms are at least ready for her. +I hope she may enjoy having the same ones +she had when she came over to visit the first +year after Frank and I were married. I +wonder if she ever thinks these days of how +hard I tried to persuade her to believe she was +too much of a baby to think of marrying so +soon? We should never have allowed her to +marry the first person who ever seriously +asked her. Oh, I know Frieda thought she +had already had a great deal of experience +with her college boy admirers, particularly the +one we used to call 'The Chocolate Drop Boy.'"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span></p> + +<p>In the meantime the two women had +entered the apartment which was being +reserved for the expected visitor. The two +rooms—a sitting room and a bed room—were +furnished in heavy, old fashioned English +furniture upholstered in delicately faded blue +damask. The walls were also of the same +blue, while the panelings of the rooms were of +English oak.</p> + +<p>Olive walked at once to a window in Frieda's +sitting room.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how she can well help liking +these rooms, besides this window offers one +of the most perfect views in the entire house."</p> + +<p>Olive could see across the slope of the park +down to a stream, which twisted its way along +the base of the hill. Beyond were the tall +towers of Granchester church and not far +away the roofs of the houses which made up +the village.</p> + +<p>Then, to the left, one could acquire a +charming view of the beginning of the Kent +gardens—the low, carefully trimmed borders +and the masses of blooms, with a sun dial at +the end of the center path.</p> + +<p>"Let us go into the garden for awhile, +Jack," Olive suggested. "I think I enjoy +it more in the morning than at any other<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> +time. Besides, I have been intending to ask +if you suppose Frieda and her husband have +informed each other that they are both sailing +for England? It will be odd to have them +meet each other here unless they do know."</p> + +<p>Jack shook her head. "I haven't any ideas +on the subject, but Frank will have to see that +Professor Russell stays in London until we +find out from Frieda. Sorry, but I can't go +outdoors with you till this afternoon. I've +hundreds of things to do and have promised +Frank to write some letters which I have been +putting off."</p> + +<p>In return Olive said nothing, although, as +she was walking about outdoors alone, she +rather marveled at the change in her friend's +life. As a girl Jacqueline Ralston's life had +been entirely unordered; she had done each +day, after the sun rose over her beloved +prairies, whatever the day called her to do. +Now, each of Jack's days seemed to follow +an established routine. In the morning +immediately after breakfast she saw her +housekeeper; then she spent two hours with +her babies, afterwards answering an immense +amount of correspondence—and Jack had +always hated letter writing more than any +other task. In the afternoon she was supposed<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> +to be free for a few hours, and then +there were guests to tea, or else Lady Kent +was supposed to drive or motor over to make +calls on her country neighbors.</p> + +<p>Of course such an existence with money +and a high position might be regarded as +ideal by most women. But Olive was puzzled, +because that kind of a life did not appear +suited to the girl she remembered. However, +as Jack seemed happy, Olive concluded that +she must have changed, as most girls do +after marriage.</p> + +<p>This afternoon a number of friends had +been asked to tea at Kent House in order to +meet Olive. When they went down into the +garden together, where tea was to be served, +Olive felt that her decision of the morning +had really been nearer the truth than she +had then appreciated. Jack looked like one +of the fairest types of society women. She +was dressed in white—an exquisite embroidered +material—and had on a big soft white +garden hat, trimmed with deep toned pink +roses. The soft, damp English air had kept +her color as vivid as ever and given her yellow +brown hair an even finer gloss.</p> + +<p>On their way to the tea table in the garden, +Jack stopped to pick for her companion a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span> +bouquet of lavender primroses and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'anenomes'">anemones</ins> +and stars of the mist—flowers ranging from +violet to pure white—for Olive was wearing a +pale grey chiffon, which blended perfectly +with her pronounced oriental coloring.</p> + +<p>To the right of the garden, and a few yards +from the flower beds, was a clump of trees. +Because this July was warmer than is usual +in England, Lady Kent had arranged to have +tea here. There were small tables and chairs +scattered about over the lawn, which was +green as only an English lawn can be, but +the tea table itself stood under the trees.</p> + +<p>Jack and Olive had hoped to have a talk +before their guests arrived. But they had +not been outdoors more than a few moments +before their guests appeared, the Rector and +his wife, a Mr. and Mrs. Illington, and their +two daughters,—charming, tall, blonde English +girls. Afterwards, it seemed to Olive +that Jack was constantly introducing her to +people arriving every few minutes during +the next hour, in spite of the fact that she had +also to preside over the serving of the tea.</p> + +<p>As Olive had never entirely recovered from +her girlhood shyness, she was delighted to see +how perfectly at ease Jack was. She appeared +to be able to discuss church matters with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> +Rector, and the latest bill up in Parliament +with an old gentleman who was the Earl of +Granchester and as a Conservative was much +opposed to the Liberal party of which Frank +Kent was a representative.</p> + +<p>Half an hour later, Olive wandered off with +several of the guests to watch a game of +tennis which was being started by the two +Illington girls and two of their male friends +who had come over to play.</p> + +<p>When Olive returned, she discovered that +most of the other guests had either scattered +or gone home. In any case Jack was alone, +except for a young army officer, who must +have just arrived, since Olive did not recall +having previously seen him. He was a +splendid looking fellow, about twenty-five, +with dark hair and eyes, and a skin which +must have been tanned by other than the +English sun.</p> + +<p>As Olive approached them she thought he +made a particularly handsome contrast to +Jack's fairness. They were both laughing at +the moment, but almost immediately Jack +jumped up from the chair where she had been +sitting and waved to Olive.</p> + +<p>"Olive, dear, come meet the nicest kind of +an Englishman—one who is half Scotch and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span> +the other half Irish," she called out. "Olive +Van Mater, this is Captain Bryan MacDonnell—an +old school friend of Frank's and sometimes +a friend of mine."</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell bowed gravely, +making no effort to return Jack's challenge.</p> + +<p>"Bryan is just back from shooting 'big +game' somewhere—make him tell you about +it, Olive, while I get rid of the last of these +tiresome people." Jack made a grimace and +shrugged her shoulders, her manner more +like her old self than Olive had noticed +before.</p> + +<p>For about fifteen minutes she and Captain +MacDonnell must have talked together, but +Olive decided that Jack's description of him +had been very nearly true, whether she had +meant it or not. Then, observing that +everybody else had gone and Jack was alone, +they returned to her.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry you can't dine with us tonight, +Bryan," Lady Kent remarked on parting. +"Olive and I are to be alone. Frank only +visits his family now and then, because he is +so busy in town. No; I did not go up to +London this year for the season. I only went +for a few days at a time, as I was not willing +to leave the babies. Besides, you know I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> +don't care as much for <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'soceity'">society</ins> as I should +anyway."</p> + +<p>Then Captain MacDonnell said something +which Olive did not hear. However, she did +hear Jack's answer.</p> + +<p>"Ride with you tomorrow? I should +think I will just as hard and as fast as possible +and jump all the fences and ditches in this +part of the country. I'm awfully glad you are +back, Bryan, to help me get rid of some of my +surplus American energy."</p> + +<p>That same evening, after a late dinner, +Jack and Olive went into the library together. +As is often the case in English homes of distinction, +the library at Kent House was the +pleasantest room in the entire house. The +books were on low shelves encircling the four +walls, except for the opening left for a huge +fireplace. Above the mantel was the head +of a stag. On one side hung a shield and on +the other the Kent Coat of Arms with the +motto "Semper Paratus" meaning "always +prepared."</p> + +<p>Above the book shelves were portraits of +Frank's ancestors, who had been country +people in Kent county for a number of years, +although the title was not an old one.</p> + +<p>In the places of honor were Frank's grandfather<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> +and grandmother—one of them a +young man of about twenty in Court costume; +the other a lovely girl with fair hair and dark +eyes and a particularly bright expression.</p> + +<p>"Frank likes to think Vive, the baby, looks +like his grandmother," Jack declared as she +stretched herself on a big leather lounge not far +from a pair of French windows, which opened +on the veranda at the side of the house.</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't feel dull, Olive! As soon +as Parliament closes, if you and Frieda like, +we will have some people come to stay with us. +I don't like the responsibility of visitors if +Frank is not here. I have never learned to +take guests so simply and easily as an English +hostess does. It is one of the ways in which +I am a social failure."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," Olive announced, without +paying much attention to what Jack had said. +She had picked up a magazine and was reading.</p> + +<p>An hour passed and Olive believed that +Jack had almost fallen asleep. Now and then +she would close her eyes, although the greater +part of the time she seemed in a reverie.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact Jack was really thinking +of the old ranch and the people at home, whom +Olive's coming had brought to mind more +vividly than usual.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'm glad Jean and Ralph are at the ranch +this year with Ruth and Jim," she said finally. +"What a pleasure it must be to Jean that +Ralph is such a successful engineer—one of +the biggest in the United States, Jim writes. +But Jim always liked Ralph better than any +of the husbands. He never could altogether +forgive Frank for being an Englishman."</p> + +<p>"Oh Ralph has not been at the ranch +much," Olive added, looking up from her +book. "He has been working out on the coast +and at Panama, but I think Jean is glad to +have a rest because she has traveled with him +so much."</p> + +<p>In the ensuing silence Jack must actually +have dozed, and certainly Olive found a more +absorbing article in her magazine. But Jack +must also have dreamed, for she woke thinking +she heard a voice calling her from outdoors, +"Jack! Jack!"</p> + +<p>This was, of course, out of the question +except in a dream. Kent House was a mile +from any place other than its own Lodge. +Besides no one whom she could possibly +imagine would call out "Jack!" in such a +fashion and at such an hour of the night.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Olive looked surprised, so she +too must have heard some kind of a noise.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p> + +<p>The second time the sound was heard, Jack +started up.</p> + +<p>"Please ring the bell for the servants, +Olive. I am sure I hear a voice calling me. +It sounds absurd and yet I must find out +who it is. Even if the servants insist this +house is haunted, no one has ever yet suggested +that the lawn is also haunted."</p> + +<p>Then, in characteristic fashion, and without +putting a wrap over her white dress or waiting +for any one to accompany her, Jack ran +through the library and out into the broad +hall. There was no one near, so she pulled +open the heavy front door.</p> + +<p>Leading up to Kent House was a winding +avenue of trees. At some little distance down +the avenue, Lady Kent thought she could +see a dark object apparently standing still in +the center of the road. Without pausing +even long enough for Olive to join her, she +ran through the darkness toward it.</p> + +<p>"Jack! Jack! be careful!" she heard the +voice call, and this time she recognized whose +voice it was.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER III</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE VOICE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"BUT, Frieda, how could you possibly +have arranged to arrive in the +middle of the night like this?"</div> + +<p>Jack had reached the waiting taxicab, +which stood transfixed in the middle of the +road and had pulled open the door of the +vehicle, only to find her sister sitting inside, +almost completely enveloped in steamer +blankets and bags and boxes.</p> + +<p>"The cab broke down," Frieda remarked +plaintively, evidently attempting to explain +last conditions first. It seemed not to have +occurred to her that even in the event of this +difficulty, she could have gotten out and +walked up to the house. But it was eminently +characteristic of Frieda simply to sit +still and call for her sister, as she always had +done in any emergency when they were both +girls.</p> + +<p>The next moment Lady Kent, with the +assistance of the driver, had helped her visitor +to alight. If Olive and the butler had not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> +arrived just then, she might again have forgotten +her dignity and begun dragging out +Frieda's bags. But instead, she and Olive, +escorted Frieda up the avenue, leaving the +two men to bring her possessions.</p> + +<p>"I was lonely after Olive left me in New +York," Frieda explained. "So when I read +in the paper one morning that a particularly +comfortable steamer was sailing, I decided not +to wait an entire week, if I could get a nice +stateroom. I thought Olive would not need +but a few days to tell you. You have told, +haven't you, Olive?" Frieda demanded, with +a slight change of tone.</p> + +<p>When Olive answered "yes," briefly, she +went on:</p> + +<p>"Please don't ask me any questions tonight, +Jack. I'm most dead. No; I didn't have a +rough crossing, but I have never arrived +anywhere alone before in my whole life. I +knew I could call up Frank at his club in +London, but I did not wish to see him first. +Still, I don't care what he thinks, since I have +lost all faith in men. But I don't see why +some one did not meet me at the station here. +I telegraphed from Liverpool that I was +on the way."</p> + +<p>Jack shook her head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Curious dear, but we never received your +telegram."</p> + +<p>"Oh, well;" Frieda added more indulgently, +"I didn't exactly telegraph myself, +but I gave the money to a boy and told him +what to say. Perhaps he made a mistake, +or kept the money, or something," she ended +nonchalantly. For they were now entering +the great hall at Kent House and Frieda +realized that she did not care very much for +small things, so grateful was she to be again +with her sister.</p> + +<p>Impulsively she turned and embraced her.</p> + +<p>Perhaps it was because Frieda was tired, +but Jack could see that she was not so +unaffected by what she had been passing +through as Olive had imagined.</p> + +<p>It is true Frieda looked as much like an +exquisite wax doll as ever. Her eyes were as +large and delicately blue, and her hair was a +mass of soft yellow curls; yet there was a +subtle change in her expression.</p> + +<p>Olive had led the way into the library.</p> + +<p>"We won't talk about anything until you +like, Frieda," Jack whispered.</p> + +<p>"Will you go up to your rooms now or have +something to eat first down here with Olive +and me?" she asked.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frieda permitted Olive and Jack to remove +her coat and hat. A few moments later, +however, she announced that she preferred +going upstairs to bed. So Jack finally bade +her goodnight, after arranging that she was +to ring her bell for breakfast, when she wished +it the next morning.</p> + +<p>When Frieda rang for breakfast it was +nearly eleven o'clock and Jack went into her +room with the maid who carried the tray.</p> + +<p>Frieda ate her morning repast languidly, +while her sister sat beside her talking of +trivial things.</p> + +<p>"Where is Olive?" Frieda inquired finally. +And when informed that Olive was in the +nursery with the children, protested: "I +suppose you know I am jealous of your baby's +being named for Olive. Of course I know you +and she are very dear friends; but, after all, +I am your sister."</p> + +<p>"I felt that way about it too, Frieda, +but Frank seemed not to wish a German +name," Jack answered, "and Vive has her +own name now anyhow. Maybe the next +time."</p> + +<p>Frieda frowned. "Don't talk of next time, +Jack. I can't imagine your having a family. +I hate being married." And without any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> +other warning two large tears rolled down +Frieda's cheeks.</p> + +<p>"I'd rather tell you what has happened +between Henry and me this minute and get +through with it. And I'd prefer to tell you +without Olive's hearing. I don't mean to be +impolite, but Olive is almost an old maid and +old maids always take the man's part."</p> + +<p>In spite of her anxiety Jack was compelled +to laugh. Frieda had always been such a +funny mixture of babyishness and worldly +wisdom.</p> + +<p>She was now sitting up in bed with a number +of white pillows piled behind her and wearing +a light blue cashmere jacket over her gown. +The English air was cooler than that to which +she was accustomed.</p> + +<p>"I hope nothing very serious, Frieda?"</p> + +<p>"Nevertheless it is so serious that I never +intend to speak to Henry Russell again, if I +can avoid it. You see," Frieda sighed, "I +suppose it is better to begin at the beginning +and tell the whole thing. But, then, who +knows when anything actually begins? At +any rate during the first two years after Henry +and I were married you remember we lived +with Henry's parents. They were awfully +nice to me and gave me hundreds of presents,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> +but after awhile I became tired of living in +another's house. Oh, the house was big +and I had plenty of rooms, but you know it +isn't like having a home of one's own is it, +Jack?"</p> + +<p>After waiting for her sister to nod agreement, +Frieda went on.</p> + +<p>"So I told Henry I wanted a house to +myself, and I must say he and his mother and +father were very nice about it—at first." +Frieda made a dramatic pause.</p> + +<p>"It was Henry's fault all through though. +You know he is the only child and his mother +and father are dreadfully rich. But what do +you suppose Henry decided? When we went +to housekeeping for ourselves we were to live +on the income he made as a Professor! Did +you ever hear of anything so selfish?"</p> + +<p>"Well dear," Jack hesitated "maybe in a +way it was selfish, because of course Henry's +father and mother must have been disappointed +not to be able to do for you. But, +after all, it was self respecting of Henry. I +suppose a man—especially an American one—likes +to feel that he is able to be responsible +for his own family."</p> + +<p>"That is exactly what Ruth and Jim Colter +wrote me," Frieda protested indignantly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> +"I suppose it never occurs to any one of you +to think of me!"</p> + +<p>"Yes, but you have your own income from +our estate, Frieda," Jack added quickly, not +wishing to offend her sister at the beginning +of her confidence.</p> + +<p>"I know," Frieda continued more amiably. +"So, at first, when I saw how much Henry's +heart was set on our being independent, I +agreed to try. But you know, Jack, I never +have had much experience in managing money, +and even when we were at school at Primrose +Hall I got into debt. So, although Henry +told me just what we had to live upon, I +couldn't seem to make things come out even. +Then, as I didn't want to worry him, I kept +using my own income till that gave out. +And then—"</p> + +<p>"Then what?" Jack inquired anxiously. +Really she had been right in disapproving of +Frieda's marrying so young. And more +important than Frieda's youth was the fact +that she, and all the people who had ever had +anything to do with Frieda, had never treated +her as a responsible human being. In her +entire life she had never had any real care, or +any real demand made upon her. Jack felt +deeply uneasy. But whatever had happened,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> +whatever might happen in the future, Frieda +was her own adored small sister, and she +intended to stand by her.</p> + +<p>"Oh nothing much," Frieda conceded, +although her voice was less self assured, +"only I told Henry's father. He used to be +very fond of me before I left Henry; I don't +know how he feels now," she murmured. "I +believe he thought I was some kind of a joke, +for he gave me a lot of money and told me not +to worry. But he told Henry's mother and +she did not think it was fair to Henry and +must have let him know. Anyhow he was +dreadfully angry and unkind to me."</p> + +<p>"How unkind?" Jack demanded. For, +of course, the fear that Professor Russell had +been unkind to Frieda had been always at the +back of her mind, since learning of her sister's +unhappiness. However, when she recalled +the Professor's shyness and gentleness, it was +difficult to imagine him in the role of a brute. +But Jack had learned enough of life not +always to trust to exteriors.</p> + +<p>"Oh, nothing very dreadful I suppose," +Frieda conceded. "Henry fussed a lot and +said I had not been fair to him and that it +wasn't honest to keep things from him. He +was always saying that I was very young<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> +and that I ought to confide everything in +him."</p> + +<p>"Was there anything else, dear?" Jack +inquired gently.</p> + +<p>Frieda nodded. "Yes. Oh, well, I might +as well tell you the whole story since I have +started. I was getting on a little better with +the house, and Henry obtained some extra +work to do, so that he made more money. +But it kept him at home more in the evenings +and besides he never did like to go out a great +deal. He used to go sometimes because I liked +it, but I never felt he was enjoying himself, +and Henry never would learn to dance."</p> + +<p>This struck Jack as a perfectly absurd reason +for a vital difference between a husband and +wife, yet she dared not smile, nor did she +wish to smile, seeing how important this +really appeared to Frieda.</p> + +<p>But Frieda must have understood something +of what was passing in her sister's mind, +for she said:</p> + +<p>"I know that may sound ridiculous to you, +Jack, but it has made a lot of difference to +me." There was a choking note in Frieda's +voice. "A lot of our trouble has come from it. +You know I dearly love to dance, so I used +to go out in the afternoons as I didn't like<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> +staying at home by myself and did not want +to trouble Henry to take me often."</p> + +<p>"Not by yourself?"</p> + +<p>"Certainly not," Frieda returned pettishly, +"one can't very well dance alone."</p> + +<p>"With any particular person?"</p> + +<p>For a moment Jack held her breath.</p> + +<p>At first Frieda shook her head. Afterwards +she contradicted herself and nodded.</p> + +<p>"There were three or four persons—young +fellows—some of them students at the University, +and most of the time other girls, too. +At first Henry did not mind. Then he said +people were beginning to talk and there was +one person I liked especially, because he +danced better than any one else, whom Henry +said I could not go with at all. But I did go. +Then I told Henry I was bored anyhow and +wanted to be free. He was very disagreeable. +So I ran away and just left a note. But I +haven't been very happy for a long time, +Jack, darling. I suppose you were right when +you said I ought not to have married so +young. Perhaps I am spoiled and selfish. +Henry says I am, but some people like me +anyhow."</p> + +<p>Jack leaned over and took Frieda's chin in +one of her firm white hands.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There isn't anybody else, is there little, +sister?" she demanded.</p> + +<p>Returning her gaze straightforwardly, +Frieda answered severely.</p> + +<p>"Certainly not, Jack; what do you think +of me? Don't you know I am married. I +told you I didn't like men any more, and +never intend to have anything to do with +them again."</p> + +<p>"Then I'll leave you now, dear, and send +one of the maids to help you dress, if you +like," Jack answered. "Let's don't talk any +more today on this subject and please don't +worry. You have lost all your color shut up +by yourself in that wretched New York +hotel. Hurry and come out in the garden +with Olive and the babies and me."</p> + +<p>But when Jack had left her sister, she did +not dismiss the thought of their conversation +so lightly as her words implied. Perhaps +Frieda had not made out a very good case for +herself against her husband. It looked as if +Professor Russell must have a story to tell +as well. But the main fact appeared that +Frieda was not happy in her marriage. Whatever +the reasons, or whoever was at fault, it +was the <i>thing</i> itself which worried Jack. It +was plain enough that Professor Russell was<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> +too old for Frieda, and that his scholarly +tastes were not suited to her girlish ones.</p> + +<p>"A Professor of Dead Languages married +to Frieda!" Jack whispered, blaming herself +once again for allowing the marriage. Well, +nothing could be decided for the present at +any rate. One must wait for at least a little +more light!</p> + +<p>Out in the garden Jack and Olive and +Frieda played all morning with Jack's two +babies. Jimmie was a little fair haired, blue +eyed, rose cheeked English boy. Vive was a +different kind of baby; she had light yellow +hair, and dark eyes unlike either Jack's or +Frank's. Perhaps she was going to resemble +the lovely old time portrait in the library.</p> + +<p>Frieda spent several hours with Vive in her +arms, although she never had been particularly +interested in any baby before.</p> + +<p>When lunch was over, Jack said unexpectedly:</p> + +<p>"I hope you'll forgive me, Frieda, if I leave +you and Olive for a little while. I promised +a friend, Captain MacDonnell, to ride with +him this afternoon before I dreamed you +were coming, and I have forgotten to let him +know. Besides," Jack added, since never +even in small matters could she be dishonest,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> +"I really want the ride. Captain MacDonnell +is the one person who likes to ride as hard as +I do. Oh, of course, English women ride +marvelously well—far better than I, and +there is nothing they won't attempt in hunting. +But what I like now and then is just a +straight cross country ride—as near like the +old rides across the prairies as I can manage, +though I must say this country does not look +much like the prairies," Jack ended, as she +glanced smiling out the window at her own +beautiful, well kept English lawn. "Wait, +Frieda, and meet Bryan won't you? he is one +of Frank's and my dearest friends."</p> + +<p>So Olive and Frieda were standing together +on the veranda at the side of Kent House +when Jack and Captain MacDonnell finally +rode off, accompanied by a groom.</p> + +<p>"I declare Jack looks better on horseback +than any one in the world," Frieda announced +admiringly. "Her costume is more stylish +than the old khaki or corduroy things she +used to wear at the ranch, but I don't think +Jack herself is very much changed, except +that she is more attractive."</p> + +<p>At this instant Jack turned to wave her +riding whip back at her sister and friend. +She had on a perfect fitting tan cloth habit<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> +with a long English coat and short trousers +and high riding boots. Her yellow brown +hair was braided low on her neck and she +wore a small derby.</p> + +<p>"Captain MacDonnell is handsome too, +isn't he?" Frieda remarked reflectively, before +moving to go indoors. "I wonder if he and +Jack are very intimate and if Frank minds +her riding with him like this? I suppose not, +or Jack wouldn't," she acknowledged.</p> + +<p>Then she turned to Olive. "Don't look so +cross, for goodness sake, Olive. I am not +criticizing Jack. I don't suppose you imagine +she is any more perfect than I do, only I was +just thinking how you and the entire family +will probably blame me for doing pretty much +the same kind of thing that Jack is doing. +Of course, I don't think there is anything +wrong in it. It is absurd and horrid of people +to believe there is."</p> + +<p>Olive was about to reply, but before she +could speak, Frieda interrupted her.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I know exactly what you are going +to say, Olive. Jack and I are very different +persons! I know that as well as you do. I +know, too, that Jack would never do anything +except what was right. She could not if she +tried. But she might do something silly.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> +I don't suppose there is any human being in +the world who fails to be foolish at one time +or other in this life," Frieda concluded.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A LATE ARRIVAL<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>FRANK KENT returned unexpectedly +from London early in the same afternoon. +He had not yet heard of Frieda's +arrival, so that they at once spent an hour +talking together.</div> + +<p>Lord Kent, as most men did, treated his +sister-in-law as a very pretty and charming +young woman, who was not to be taken +seriously. His wife had told him of Frieda's +difficulty with her husband, but not of the +cause. At that time she was not aware of it. +Also she had instructed him not to mention +the prospect of Professor Russell's appearance +in England. So Frieda and Frank chatted +and teased each other, as they had since she +was a little girl just entering her teens, but +neither referred to any unpleasant subject.</p> + +<p>Lord Kent had seemed tired when he first +came home and was disappointed to find his +wife absent.</p> + +<p>After his conversation with Frieda he +relaxed and appeared more cheerful and good<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> +natured. This was the effect Frieda usually +had upon masculine persons. She was so +gentle and pretty, and her eyes were such a +clear blue that one felt she could be easily +influenced or persuaded. But the truth was +that Frieda was no more easily controlled than +a kitten. If ever one tries to train a little +domestic animal, it will be discovered that a +dog is far more quickly influenced than a +kitten. As a matter of fact a kitten is probably +the most <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'unchangable'">unchangeable</ins> of all domestic +pets.</p> + +<p>Since the early afternoon the July day had +altered. A soft rain had begun falling, so +that tea at Kent House was served in the +library.</p> + +<p>Olive, Frieda and Lord Kent waited half +an hour later than usual, thinking that Jack +and Captain MacDonnell would return. +Then they drank their tea slowly, still believing +that the riders would surely appear before +they had finished.</p> + +<p>At half past five, when there was still no +sign of his wife and friend, Lord Kent got +up and several times walked back and forth +from his chair to the big French window.</p> + +<p>For the moment Frieda had gone out of the +room, so that he finally spoke to Olive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I suppose it is ridiculous of me, but I am +always more or less uneasy when Jack and +Bryan go off for rides together. Jack is the +most fearless horsewoman in the world and +Bryan the most all round, fearless man. He +has killed big game in Africa and India and +Australia, traveled in the Congo and in other +equally uncivilized places. He never used to +stay for any length of time in England. Now +and then I have an idea of forbidding Jack +to ride with him, I am so uncertain of what +reckless thing they may do together."</p> + +<p>"Oh, I don't think you need worry, Frank," +Olive returned, "Jack is fearless but I don't +think she has been reckless since the accident +she had when a girl."</p> + +<p>Although she could scarcely speak of it, +Olive was smiling to herself over Frank's use +of the word "forbid." She never recalled +that any one had ever forbidden Jack to do +anything she wished so long as she had +known her. But probably Frank's forbidding +was of the gentlest kind. Olive felt she must +remember that the English attitude toward +marriage was not the same as the American, +although when an Englishman marries an +American girl they are supposed to strike the +happy medium.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span></p> + +<p>Entering the room again just as Frank concluded +his speech, Frieda was even more +startled when she recalled that the use of this +very word had been one of the reasons for the +most serious quarrel she had ever had with +her husband. Henry had never used the +word a second time.</p> + +<p>Another hour passed. Still Jack and +Captain MacDonnell had not returned. +Moreover, by this time the rain had become +a steady downpour. Olive and Frieda were +also uneasy.</p> + +<p>"If you will forgive my leaving you, I +believe I will go and see if I can find what +has become of the wanderers," Frank suggested. +Then, without further explanation +or discussion, he went away.</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later, mounted on his own +horse, he was riding down the rain-washed +road. He had found that the groom, who +had accompanied Jack and Captain MacDonnell, +had gotten separated from them and +returned home half an hour before.</p> + +<p>Frank was uncertain whether he were the +more angry or uneasy. It seemed impossible +to imagine what misfortune could have +befallen his wife and friend, which would +have made it impossible for them to have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> +either telephoned or sent some message home. +Yet it was equally impossible to conceive +that Jack would be so careless as to forget +every one else in the pursuit of her own +pleasure. Even if she had been uncertain of +his arrival from London, there was Olive, +who had been her guest only a few days +and Frieda not twenty-four hours. But as +a matter of fact Jack had known he would +be down sometime during the evening +although she did not know the hour.</p> + +<p>July is one of the long twilight months +in England. Nevertheless, because of the +rain, the evening was a kind of smoke grey +with the faintest lavender tones in the sky. +A heavy mist was also rising from the ground, +so that with the falling rain one could not +see many yards ahead.</p> + +<p>Lord Kent's plan was to leave word with his +lodgekeeper at the lodge gate to follow after +him in case any word came from Lady Kent, +or if she returned home before he did. But a +moment or so before reaching the lodge, while +yet in his own avenue, although at some +distance from Kent House, Frank heard +laughter and low voices. There was no +doubting the laughter was Jack's.</p> + +<p>Frank pulled up his horse abruptly and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span> +stood still. The oncoming figures were walking +and leading their horses instead of riding. +That instant, because he was no longer uneasy, +Frank discovered that he was angrier and +more hurt than he cared to show.</p> + +<p>All at once he overheard Jack say:</p> + +<p>"Do hurry, please, Bryan; I'm afraid +everybody at home may be uneasy."</p> + +<p>But instead of hurrying, they must have +stopped again. For the second time Jack +murmured, "I don't see how I could ever +have been such a wretch, or how I'll ever +confess to Frank."</p> + +<p>Then Captain MacDonnell's inquiry:</p> + +<p>"What are you going to say?"</p> + +<p>And his wife's answer:</p> + +<p>"Why, tell the truth and face the music; +what else is there to do, Bryan?"</p> + +<p>In the past few years since his marriage, +undoubtedly Frank Kent had either altered +or simply developed. Sometimes it is difficult +to determine which one of these two things +a human being has done. Frank had always +been quiet and determined. If he had been +otherwise he would never have tried for so +many years to persuade Jacqueline Ralston +to marry him. But now that he had grown +older, he certainly appeared sterner. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> +seemed to have certain fixed ideas of right +and wrong, and they were not broad ideas, +to which he expected at least the members of +his own household to conform.</p> + +<p>The two wayfarers were now in sight and +Frank dismounted.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to have been compelled to +play eavesdropper," he said curtly, when +they also caught sight of him.</p> + +<p>Jack was soaked with rain and her boots +and riding habit were splashed with mud. A +little river of water filled and overflowed the +brim of her hat. But her cheeks were a deep +rose color and her grey eyes dear and shining.</p> + +<p>Frank would never have confessed that he +felt a slight pang of jealousy at the good time +his wife and friend must have been having, +while he had been making himself miserable +with the thought that a disaster had befallen +them.</p> + +<p>Jack's hand was resting on the nose of her +horse, while Captain MacDonnell held the +bridles of both.</p> + +<p>"You have come out to search for us, +haven't you, Frank?" Jack began penitently. +"I am sorry; I did not know you could have +arrived from London so soon." She was +now close beside her husband. "The truth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span> +is, Frank, I have had rather a horrid tumble. +For a person who thinks she knows how to +ride, I seem to do the stupidest possible +things."</p> + +<p>"You don't seem to have hurt yourself +seriously, Jack," Frank answered grimly. +For in spite of her penitence, which did not +seem very profound, Jack looked extraordinarily +happy and glowing.</p> + +<p>"No, I wasn't hurt in the least. I managed +to get clear as we went down. But my horse's +knee was sprained—not so badly as Bryan +and I at first thought. Still I did not like +to ride him, so we have been walking along +through the rain for a few miles."</p> + +<p>"How did the accident occur? I am rather +surprised, Jack," Frank answered, now plainly +more sympathetic because a little uneasy at +what could have happened to his wife.</p> + +<p>Jack turned aside and even in the dusk one +could see she was embarrassed.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I was disobeying orders," she said +with a pretence of lightness. "I went over +a rather high fence, which I had never taken +before, without waiting until Bryan could +get up to me. I made the jump without +trouble, but the ground on the other side was +so soft that my horse's forefeet went down<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> +into it. He stumbled and fell. That is why +I am such a spectacle," she concluded, touching +her mud-stained habit with her whip.</p> + +<p>Whatever he may have felt, Frank would +naturally not discuss a difference between +himself and his wife before another person. +He therefore made no comment, but instead +suggested:</p> + +<p>"Suppose you get on my horse, Jack, and +ride up to the house. Frieda and Olive are +uneasy. Bryan and I will come along +together."</p> + +<p>According to the English custom, Lord +and Lady Kent occupied separate bedrooms, +which opened into each other.</p> + +<p>A half hour later Jack was dressing for +dinner when she heard Frank enter his room. +But he did not come into her apartment or +call out to her, although they were usually +in the habit of discussing various questions +through their open door, while they changed +their clothes.</p> + +<p>Jack, of course, recognized that her husband +was angry with her. Also she knew that he +had a measure of right on his side. She had +promised him not to attempt dangerous +jumping in her cross-country riding. Her +accident a number of years before had made<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span> +him and all the members of her family more +nervous about her than they would ordinarily +have been, knowing that she had spent a large +part of her life on horseback. Moreover, +Frank had very rigid ideas about keeping +one's word, not agreeing that one could +swerve by a hair's breadth.</p> + +<p>In a good deal of haste, since dinner was +to be announced at any moment, Jack put +on a white satin dinner dress. It was an old +one, but chanced to be particularly becoming. +The gown was simply made, with a square +neck and a fold of tulle about the throat and a +long, severely plain skirt. Only a woman +with a figure as perfect as Jack's could have +looked well in it. Her hair was arranged +with equal simplicity, being coiled closely +about her head and held in place with a +carved ivory comb.</p> + +<p>Half a dozen guests had been invited to +dinner, nevertheless before going downstairs +Jack went first into her husband's room.</p> + +<p>Jack had always had a lovely nature. In +the old days at Rainbow Lodge in any difficulty +with one of the Ranch girls, although +having a high temper, she had been quick +to confess herself in the wrong. Since her +marriage she had been more than ever inclined<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> +to do likewise with her husband. So it was but +natural that Frank should be under the +impression that she would at all times eventually +come around to his point of view. He +did not realize that under some circumstances +Jack might be as inflexible as he was.</p> + +<p>However, she waited a moment now with +perfect good temper, while Frank pretended +that he had not heard her enter his room. +When he finally did look toward her, she went +up to him and put her arms about him. +Then, as he continued to frown, Jack smiled. +She knew that her husband took small matters +too seriously, having made this discovery +soon after her marriage, just as all girls make +similar discoveries. But Jack was wise +enough to realize that she must try as wisely +as she could to discount this uncomfortable +characteristic.</p> + +<p>"Don't be grouchy, please, Frank," she +murmured. "I told you I was sorry, and you +know that every now and then I have to get +rid of some of my surplus American energy. +After a hard ride with Bryan I can be a conventional +English Lady for weeks."</p> + +<p>In spite of her good intention, Jack's +remark was not wise. No matter how +devoted a man and woman may be to each<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span> +other, there is obliged to be some difference +of opinion in every international marriage.</p> + +<p>Frank was extremely sensitive over the +idea that Jack was not as happy in the English +life he offered her, as she had been in the old +days on her own ranch.</p> + +<p>"That is unfortunate, Jack," he returned, +"for I have made up my mind that it will be +wiser for you not to ride with Bryan again. +I am afraid you are both too fond of adventure +to be trusted."</p> + +<p>Then, as Frank had delivered his edict, his +own good temper was restored. As he was +already dressed, putting his arm across Jack's +shoulder, he started for the door. He was +really immensely proud of Jack and thought +she looked unusually lovely tonight. In spite +of the number of years he had been married he +never introduced her to his friends, or saw +her at the head of his table, without a feeling +of pride. Also, Frank counted on Jack's +sweetness of temper. It did not occur to +him that she would disagree with his request, +or rather with his command, since without +intending it, he had expressed his wish in +such a fashion.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Jack hesitated. She knew +that Frank was not in an agreeable mood<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> +for a discussion then. Also, that they could +not keep their guests waiting while one took +place.</p> + +<p>"I think that is rather arbitrary of you, +Frank, since neither Bryan nor I are children +and he is one of the friends I most enjoy. +But perhaps we had better talk of this at +another time."</p> + +<p>Frank nodded, Jack's manner affording no +idea that she would not ultimately give in +to him, nor was she sure herself. It may be +that Jack had become too much of a domestic +pacifist—a woman who wishes for peace at +any price.</p> + +<p>On the landing of the steps, just before they +went down to dinner, Frank remarked hastily:</p> + +<p>"Oh Jack, I had a marconigram from +Professor Russell. He must have heard of +Frieda's sudden departure from New York. +In any case his ship is due tomorrow, for he +left the day after she sailed."</p> + +<p>"Gracious, have you told Frieda?" Jack +returned nervously, forgetting for the instant +her own <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'personall'">personal</ins> quandary. "Frieda +announced that she never would agree to see +Professor Russell again. In any case I had +hoped we might have a few weeks of grace, +to allow things to quiet down or perhaps to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +persuade Frieda to change her mind. The +only thing now is not to allow Professor Russell +to come to Kent House until Frieda gives +her consent."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Jack," Frank answered reassuringly, +"Frieda cannot behave in any such +fashion. You have not told me the trouble, +but I suspect that Frieda has simply been a +spoiled child. Besides, in any case, she has +no right to refuse at least to see her husband +and talk the situation over. Don't worry; +I'll discuss the matter with Frieda myself +in the morning and bring her around. You +see, I telegraphed Russell at the dock to come +directly to us, as I shall spend tomorrow at +home."</p> + +<p>"All right," Jack conceded, a good deal +worried, but also slightly amused. If her +husband wished to undertake to persuade +Frieda to change her mind, she was glad that +the task was his and not hers. Of course +Frank thought it would be a simple matter, +since he had yet really to know his sister-in-law. +It was only natural that he should +suppose Frieda would be easier to guide +than his wife, judging by Frieda's manner +and appearance! Men are not always wise +in their judgment of feminine character.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER V</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>AN APPARITION<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE next morning Frieda received a +message from her brother-in-law +asking her to give him half an hour +of her time, whenever it was convenient to +her.</div> + +<p>In a way she had anticipated this request, +although it had come sooner than she expected. +Frieda knew that Frank was fond of her and +regarded himself as her brother. She had +no other. Also, she held a wise idea inside her +blonde head, believing that men were apt to +stand together in many difficulties of the +kind in which she and her husband were now +involved.</p> + +<p>However, Frieda did not, of course, anticipate +the news of her husband's having immediately +followed her to Europe. She had not written +to him or to any friend in Chicago since her +sudden departure. But she had made up her +mind that the last interview between herself +and Henry was their final one. There could +be no reason for their ever meeting again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> +She supposed, of course, that there were +certain matters that would have to be arranged +in the future, but Frieda was not given to +troubling herself over details. Someone +else had always attended to such things for +her, in order that she might have her way. +Later, Jim Colter, or Frank, or a lawyer—Frieda +was entirely vague as to the method +to be employed—would have to see that she +was released from the cause of her unhappiness.</p> + +<p>For since arriving at Jack's house not thirty-six +hours before, Frieda had been happier than +she had for several months. Therefore, +during the night she had decided for the +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'hundreth'">hundredth</ins> time, that her husband must be the +sole cause of all the upsetting emotions which +had been recently troubling her. So soon as +she could learn to forget Henry and put the +recollection of him entirely out of her mind, +she would again become the perfectly care +free and irresponsible Frieda of the old days at +the Rainbow Ranch.</p> + +<p>As she was not fond of getting up in the +mornings and usually did pretty much what +she liked in her sister's house, Frieda had +not gone down to breakfast. However, she +sent word to her brother-in-law that she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> +would be glad to see him in her own sitting +room between eleven and twelve o'clock.</p> + +<p>Whether it was done intentionally or not, +Frieda put on a frock in which she looked +particularly young. It was a simple white +muslin, with sprays of blue flowers and folded +kerchief fashion across Frieda's white throat. +Nothing could really make Frieda appear +demure; her lips were too full and crimson; +her nose was too retrousée and her hair held +too much pure sunlight. But she could look +very innocent and much abused, and this was +the impression she subconsciously wished to +make. One must not believe that Frieda +actually thought out matters of this kind, but +she was one of the women who acted on what +is supposed to be feminine instinct.</p> + +<p>Frank thought Frieda looked about sixteen +instead of twenty-two when he arrived to talk +matters over with her. So at once it struck +him as absurd that he was forced to discuss +so serious a question as leaving her husband +with a mere child like Frieda. Instead of +argument Frank began with persuasion. +First he invited Frieda to tell her side of the +story, which he had heard in part from Jack. +Although he had said at the time of his wife's +confidence, that Frieda had not made much<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_66" id="Page_66">[66]</a></span> +of a case for herself, on hearing her story from +Frieda's own lips he offered no such criticism.</p> + +<p>When Frieda ended she was crying, so that +Frank sympathetically took her hand to console +her as any other man would. Then, while +holding her hand, he attempted a mild argument +in favor of the Professor, finally concluding:</p> + +<p>"Frieda, your husband is coming to Kent +House some time this afternoon. Since it is +really your duty to see him and talk over the +misunderstanding between you, I feel sure +you will."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Frieda gently but obstinately +shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Frank, and +Jack too, if she really feels as you do, but I +never mean to see Henry again."</p> + +<p>However, until lunch time Frank remained +in the blue sitting room discussing the foolishness +of her position with Frieda; afterwards +he felt that he had never presented any +subject so skillfully in his career as a member +of Parliament, as he argued her own case with +his sister-in-law. Frieda never questioned +him, never contradicted him, only she continued +to shake her head and to repeat +gently, "I'm sorry, Frank, but I can't."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_67" id="Page_67">[67]</a></span></p> + +<p>Several times Lord Kent attempted severity +because his severity usually influenced most +people. It influenced Frieda, but only to +such an outburst of tears, that he was forced +to spend the next five minutes in apologizing +in order to comfort her.</p> + +<p>At one o'clock Jack, appearing at the door, +immediately recognized the situation. Both +Frank and Frieda appeared exhausted. +Frieda announced that she would not come to +lunch, but would prefer to lie down all the +afternoon. As a matter of fact the possibility +that her husband might make his appearance +at Kent House was the real reason which +kept Frieda in her own room, although offering +the excuse of a headache.</p> + +<p>Therefore, about four o'clock, when Professor +Henry Tilford Russell finally did +arrive, he was able to see only Lord and Lady +Kent, his brother-in-law and sister-in-law.</p> + +<p>Personally, Jack was uncertain how she +should greet him. Of what actual unkindness +he was guilty of to Frieda she was not yet +certain. Nevertheless, the fact remaining +that he had not made her little sister happy +filled Lady Kent with resentment and dislike. +Certainly, Professor Russell should have +realized how much older he was than<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_68" id="Page_68">[68]</a></span> +Frieda and not expected her to conform to his +dullness and routine.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact Jack also would have +preferred not to have to come in contact with +her sister's husband until she understood +the situation between them more thoroughly. +Yet, when Professor Russell was announced, +it was she who was forced to go first into the +drawing room.</p> + +<p>There must have been a delay of about five +minutes since she had waited that length of +time for her husband, who chanced to have +gone out to the stables to give an order. +Then, fearing to appear intentionally rude, +Jack approached their visitor alone.</p> + +<p>He could not have heard her as she entered, +for he was sitting in a large chair with his +head resting in his hand and looked so +exhausted, possibly from his trip, that Lady +Kent forgot for the moment to be angry. +When he aroused himself and later held out +his hand, she took it at once, although a +moment before she had not been sure whether +she ought, because of her own loyalty to +Frieda.</p> + +<p>"Is Frieda well? If you only realized the +relief to find she is safe here with you! At +first I did not know where the child had gone,"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_69" id="Page_69">[69]</a></span> +Professor Russell began so simply, that any +human being would have been disarmed.</p> + +<p>It will be remembered, that in the last +volume of the "Ranch Girls At Home Again," +Professor Russell is introduced to the Ranch +girls by Ralph Merritt, who told them of the +Professor's intense dislike for girls. At first +he appeared to regard Frieda only as a child +and therefore made an exception of her. +Then, later, after his accident at Rainbow +Mine when his leg was broken and Frieda +undertook to keep him amused, an amazing +friendship developed between them which +finally resulted in their marriage.</p> + +<p>In replying to his question Jack found +herself answering as reassuringly as if Frieda +really had been a runaway child, since this +seemed to be the spirit in which her husband +thought of her.</p> + +<p>"She will see me?" he asked eagerly. But +when Jack shook her head he did not appear +surprised, being evidently accustomed to +Frieda's vagaries.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Lord Kent then came into the +room.</p> + +<p>Afterwards, Professor Russell related his +side of the difficulty between himself and his +wife. His story did not after all differ so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_70" id="Page_70">[70]</a></span> +much from Frieda's account, for he put the +blame upon himself, as she had done.</p> + +<p>"I was too old for her; we ought never to +have married. The fault was all mine," he +ended so despondently, that Jack felt as if she +could not accept the very conclusion she had +reached the day before.</p> + +<p>Professor Russell could not be persuaded +to remain long—not even for tea. It was +agreed, however, that he would spend the +next few weeks in London and that later they +might reach some decision. In the meantime +Jack promised to do her best to persuade her +sister to have at least one interview with her +husband.</p> + +<p>Lord Kent followed his brother-in-law to +the door.</p> + +<p>"Frieda is a spoiled baby; you have simply +been too good to her. Some day she will +wake up and find this out for herself," he +declared.</p> + +<p>But Professor Russell only shook his head +sadly and departed.</p> + +<p>Even after learning of her husband's +departure Frieda still refused to join her +family. What she was thinking about alone +in her own apartment no one knew, since she +asked that no one disturb her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_71" id="Page_71">[71]</a></span></p> + +<p>However, at half past five, realizing that +her husband then must be safely on his way +back to London, Frieda decided that she +could endure her own rooms no longer. +Without a word to anyone, she put on a long, +light weight blue coat and a small, close +fitting, blue turban and passing down +through the long halls and through a side +entrance vanished into the outdoors.</p> + +<p>It was Frieda's plan merely to walk about +in the gardens until she could persuade herself +into a calmer frame of mind. She was sure, +of course, that she cared nothing for her +husband and yet all afternoon she had found +herself wondering if he were not worn out by +his journey. Ordinarily he was not a good +traveler and he must also have suffered +through being compelled to desert his summer +classes at the University in order to seek her.</p> + +<p>Frieda discovered one of the gardeners at +work in the flower beds and, as he persisted +in talking with her, she started down one of +the shaded avenues along the edge of the park +in order to be alone. She did not often walk +for any distance, since she had never been +so fond of exercise as the other girls.</p> + +<p>But Frieda felt unexplainably restless and +out of sorts. This was foolish because, having<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_72" id="Page_72">[72]</a></span> +made up her mind that she wanted her freedom +and being determined to gain it, there +was no point in worrying.</p> + +<p>Frieda kept walking hurriedly on. It was +a beautiful, soft afternoon, with the first hint +of twilight in the sky and in the atmosphere.</p> + +<p>Kent Park covered several acres and Frieda +wandered further from the house than she +knew. After a time the road which she had +taken curved into a path leading into the +woods. There was a fairly heavy forest +near by, which was a part of the Kent estate +and she strolled into this.</p> + +<p>Later, Frieda sat down for a few minutes. +She was in no hurry to return home, except +in time for dinner which was at a late hour, +according to the English custom. Not that +she meant to appear at dinner, but that Jack +or Olive would be sure to seek her at that +time.</p> + +<p>Frieda made rather a charming picture +amid the scene she had unconsciously chosen +for herself. She was sitting on the trunk of a +tree which had fallen from the weight of +years and infirmities. There was a little +clearing behind her and, as she had taken off +her hat, the sun shone on her bowed head +and shoulders. She wished very much that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_73" id="Page_73">[73]</a></span> +she could stop thinking about a number of +things, for Frieda was one of the people who +resent having to grow up and there are more +of them in this world than we realize.</p> + +<p>Then, suddenly, Frieda heard an odd noise, +which at least startled her sufficiently to +bring the result she had been wishing for, +since it made her stop thinking of unpleasant +things. The noise was not loud +and it would have been difficult to have +explained exactly what the sound was. Only +Frieda for the first time realized that she had +been unwise in having come so far away from +the house without mentioning to anyone +where she was going.</p> + +<p>The woods in which she was resting was a +portion of the game preserves belonging to the +Kent Estate, or a portion of land set apart +for hunting at certain times of the year on +English estates. But no one is supposed to +hunt on this land except the owner of the +estate and the friends whom he may care to +invite.</p> + +<p>Frieda, of course, had stayed long enough +in England on other visits to understand that +poachers are more or less frequent. She +thought perhaps the noise she had heard +was a man in hiding, who had been hunting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_74" id="Page_74">[74]</a></span> +and feared she might report him. The fact +that it was summer time, when hunting was +infrequent, made no impression upon her.</p> + +<div class="figleft" style="width: 316px;"> +<img src="images/illus02.jpg" width="316" height="500" alt="In a Few Moments She was in a Panic" title="" /> +<span class="caption">In a Few Moments She was in a Panic</span> +</div> + +<p>At first, however, she was not seriously +frightened, although she concluded to hurry +back to Kent House as quickly as possible.</p> + +<p>But when she started back through the +woods, whoever it was in hiding evidently attempted +to follow her. The faster she walked, +the faster the footsteps came on behind.</p> + +<p>However, Frieda did not turn her head to +discover her pursuer. She had been nervous +and worried all day, or she might not have +become so alarmed. Instead of looking back +she continued hurrying on faster and faster +until, in a few moments, she was in a panic. +Then she started to run and to her horror +realized that a man was also running with +long, easy strides behind her.</p> + +<p>Frieda was totally unaccustomed to looking +after herself in any emergency, and had never +been compelled to do so—even in small +adversities. Now she had a sudden impulse +to call out for someone, but had only sufficient +breath to increase her speed. If she +could get a little nearer the house, one of the +servants could be sure to come to her +assistance.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_75" id="Page_75">[75]</a></span></p> + +<p>But Frieda had run only a few yards when, +as a perfectly natural result of her panic, she +tripped over some roots hidden in the underbrush +and fell forward with her face amid the +leaves and twigs and with one leg crumpled +under her.</p> + +<p>She must have struck her chin for she felt +a dull pain and a queer numbness in her side. +However, when she tried to disentangle herself +and jump up quickly the pain became more +acute. Nevertheless, for one instant Frieda +struggled and then lay still, for her pursuer +had already reached her and was bending +over her, for what purpose Frieda did not +know.</p> + +<p>Then she heard a slow, inexpressibly familiar +voice say:</p> + +<p>"I am afraid I have frightened you, my +dear. I do trust you have not injured yourself." +Then a pair of strong, gentle hands +attempted to lift her.</p> + +<p>Naturally, Frieda's first sensation was one +of amazement; the second, relief; and the +third, anger.</p> + +<p>She managed, however, with assistance to +sit in an upright position. Then she began +brushing off the twigs and dirt which she felt +had been ground into her face. Finally she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_76" id="Page_76">[76]</a></span> +recovered sufficient breath and self control +to be able to speak.</p> + +<p>"Henry Russell!" she exclaimed, trying +to reveal both dignity and disdain, in spite +of her ridiculous position, "will you please +tell me why you are hiding in Frank's woods +like a thief, and why, when I refused to see +you, you terrified the life out of me by chasing +me until I nearly killed myself. I think, at +least, I have broken my leg," she ended +petulantly.</p> + +<p>Professor Henry Tilford Russell flushed +all over his fair, scholarly face. Taking off +his soft grey hat, he ran his hand over the +top of his head, where the hair was already +beginning to grow thin.</p> + +<p>"My dear Frieda, you do me an injustice," +he began, "although I know my actions do +appear as you have just stated them. The +truth is I found myself unable to go away at +once from Kent House. I am not fond of London. +I dreaded the loneliness there; also I +longed for a sight of you to know for myself +that you were well. So I wandered about +through the grounds at some distance from +the house and finally entered these woods. +When you came into them alone and so +unexpectedly, it seemed as if I must speak to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_77" id="Page_77">[77]</a></span> +you. I started toward you and you ran. I +did not think my pursuit would alarm you. +It was one of the many things, Frieda, I +should have understood and did not."</p> + +<p>In spite of the fact that the fault of the +present situation was undoubtedly Professor +Russell's, there was an unconscious dignity +and <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'graciousnesss'">graciousness</ins> about him as he made his +apology, which Frieda recognized was +undoubtedly lacking both in her appearance +and emotions. She felt extremely cross and +her leg hurt. She could not go up to the +house assisted by a husband whom she had +just scornfully refused to see, and yet she +did not believe she could walk alone.</p> + +<p>"Very well, Henry; now that you have +accomplished your purpose, I hope you will +be good enough to leave me," Frieda +demanded, believing that she would rather +suffer anything than a continuance of her +present humiliation.</p> + +<p>But Professor Russell did not stir.</p> + +<p>"I prefer to see you safely through the +woods. When we are nearer the house I may +be able to find someone to take my place."</p> + +<p>Professor Russell then leaned over and +lifted Frieda to her feet. As a result she +found that her leg was not broken or sprained,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_78" id="Page_78">[78]</a></span> +but only bruised, and that walking was +possible if she moved slowly.</p> + +<p>However, Frieda suffered considerable pain +and she was not accustomed to bodily discomfort. +At first she tried not to rest her +weight upon the Professor's arm, for he had +put his arm under hers and was attempting +to support her almost entirely. But, by and +by, as the pain grew worse, she found herself +growing more dependent and, as a matter of +fact, her dependence seemed perfectly natural. +Once it occurred to her that, during her first +acquaintance with Professor Russell, he had +been hurt and in more ways than one had +leaned upon her. No one ever had asked any +kind of care from her before, and in those +days she had at least thought that she had +fallen in love with the Professor. At least +she had insisted upon marrying him, when +her entire family had opposed the union.</p> + +<p>There was no conversation between the +husband and wife, except that several times +Professor Russell, without waiting to be asked, +stopped for Frieda to rest.</p> + +<p>Then, by and by, when they had reached +the edge of the woods, he saw one of the men +servants at a little distance off and signalled +to him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_79" id="Page_79">[79]</a></span></p> + +<p>"There are many things I would like to +talk over with you, Frieda, but this is not the +time. Neither do I want you to think I +meant to take an unfair advantage of you by +forcing myself upon you without your knowledge. +I think I scarcely realized myself just +what I was doing. I am sorry you felt compelled +to run away from home because we +sometimes quarreled. I do not know just +how much I was in the wrong at those times, +but I fear you were not happy with me or +you would not have let the fact that we +differed about a good many things have made +you wish to leave me. Please remember, +Frieda, if there is ever a time when you wish +to talk matters over with me, I shall be glad +to come to you. I will not come again unless +you summon me."</p> + +<p>Then, as the man servant had by this time +reached them, Professor Russell gave Frieda +into the man's charge.</p> + +<p>The next instant, bowing to her as if he +had been a stranger, he turned and started +in the opposite direction.</p> + +<p>Frieda did not remember whether she even +said good-bye. She did think, however, that +she would have liked to have reminded Henry +to hold his shoulders straighter. Really he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_80" id="Page_80">[80]</a></span> +was not so old—only something over thirty. +He seemed to have been one of the persons +born old, caring always more for books than +people—more for study than an active life. +Frieda actually felt a little sorry for him. +Always she must have been a disturbing +influence in his life. Perhaps in his way he +had been good to her, or at least had intended +to be. She wished that she had told him to +go back home because she could write to him +there, or in case she ever wished to see him, +she could also go home. She intended to go +to the Rainbow ranch in the autumn.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_81" id="Page_81">[81]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE CLOUD<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE next weeks in July were extraordinarily +beautiful ones in England. +The summer was warmer than usual +and the sun shone with greater radiance. +The English country was hauntingly lovely +and serene.</div> + +<p>In spite of Frieda's trouble, the three +Ranch girls enjoyed one another, as they +had had no opportunity of doing since Jack's +marriage and coming abroad to live.</p> + +<p>There were long walks and rides and +exchanges of visits with their country neighbors. +Now and then Lady Kent and Olive +went up to London for a few days of the +theatre and the last part of the social season. +They were Lord Kent's guests in the Ladies' +Gallery in the House of Parliament and drank +tea on the wonderful old balcony that overlooks +the Thames river. But Frieda preferred +not to accompany them.</p> + +<p>London was never more filled with tourists,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_82" id="Page_82">[82]</a></span> +the greater number Americans intending to +leave later for the continent.</p> + +<p>But so far as Professor Russell was concerned, +no word had been heard from him +since his unceremonious meeting with his +wife. However, he had sent his banker's +address to Lord Kent, saying that all mail +would be forwarded to him from there. Then +he appeared to have dropped completely out of +sight for, in spite of his brother-in-law's +effort toward friendliness, he had not called +upon him a second time.</p> + +<p>In discussing the matter between themselves, +Jack and Frank decided that this was +possibly the best arrangement for the present. +Frieda had never mentioned her unexpected +discovery of her husband; nor did she ever +voluntarily refer to her married life. Therefore, +whatever was going on inside her mind, +no one had any knowledge of it. As is often +the case with women and girls of Frieda's +temperament, she was better able to keep her +own counsel than the women who are supposed +to be strong minded and who are more apt to +be frank.</p> + +<p>So far as Jack was concerned she had never +reopened with Frank the question of her rides +with Captain MacDonnell, because the latter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_83" id="Page_83">[83]</a></span> +had been away and he had not asked her to +ride since his return.</p> + +<p>However, neither of these facts were so +important as the feeling Jack had, that no +propitious moment had arrived for a second +discussion of the subject with her husband. +She did not intend to defy him, but to make +him see that he had no right to be so arbitrary +and—more than that—so domineering. This +had been Jack's usual method in any difference +of opinion between herself and Frank, or +in any unlikeness between the American and +English point of view concerning marriage. +As a matter of fact, more than half the time +Jack had been successful.</p> + +<p>But, during the past few weeks she had +seen that Frank was worried and unlike himself—that +his attention was engaged on +matters which were not personal. For if the +weather and the climate appeared serene in +these particular July weeks in England the +state of English politics was not. For the +country was being harassed by the questions +of Home Rule for Ireland and by the Militant +Suffrage movement.</p> + +<p>The Suffrage question was one which Lord +and Lady Kent had agreed not to discuss with +each other. To Jack, who had been brought<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_84" id="Page_84">[84]</a></span> +up in Wyoming—the first of the Suffrage +states in the United States—and who had +seen the success of it there, the fact that the +English nation held the idea of women voting +in such abhorrence and with such narrow +mindedness, was more a matter of surprise +than anything else. The fact that her husband, +who had also lived for a short time in +Wyoming, should also oppose woman's +suffrage was beyond her comprehension, except +that Frank had the Englishman's love for the +established order and disliked any change. +Jack would not confess to herself that he also +had the Englishman's idea that a woman +should be subservient to her husband and +that he should be master of his own house. +To give women the freedom, which the ballot +would bring, might be to allow them an independence +in which the larger majority of the +men of the British Isles did not then believe. +Neither did they realize—nor did the suffragists +themselves—how near their women were +to being able to prove their fitness.</p> + +<p>One Saturday afternoon at the close of +July, Captain MacDonnell invited Jack and +Olive and Frieda and a number of his other +neighbors and friends to tea at his place. He +had no near relatives, and when he was in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_85" id="Page_85">[85]</a></span> +Kent county lived alone, except for his housekeeper +and servants, in an odd little house, +perhaps a century old, which had been left +him by his guardian.</p> + +<p>The girls drove over together in a pony +carriage, usually devoted to Jack's children. +But at the gate they gave it into the charge +of a boy in order that they might walk up to +the house, which was of a kind found only in +England.</p> + +<p>The house was built of rough plaster which +the years had toned to a soft grey. Captain +MacDonnell had the good taste to allow the +roof with its deep overhanging eaves to remain +thatched as it had been in early days. The +building was small and one walked up to the +front door through two long rows of hollyhocks. +On either side of the hollyhock sentinels +the earth was a thick carpet of flowers, +and the little house seemed to rise out of its +own flower beds.</p> + +<p>There were no steps leading to the front +door except a single one, so the visitor entered +directly into the hall which divided the downstairs. +On the left side was a long room with +a raftered ceiling and high narrow windows, +and on the right Captain MacDonnell's den—a +small room littered with a young soldier's<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_86" id="Page_86">[86]</a></span> +belongings. Beyond were the dining room +and kitchen and upstairs four bedrooms. +As the house was so small Captain MacDonnell +had turned his great, old-fashioned barn into +extra quarters for guests. Between the +house and the flower beds and the barn was +an open space of green lawn with an occasional +tree, and beyond was a tennis court. The +place was tiny and simple compared to Kent +House and yet had great charm.</p> + +<p>Jack and Olive and Frieda arrived before the +other guests. They soon discovered that Mrs. +Naxie—Captain MacDonnell's housekeeper—had +arranged to serve tea in his living room.</p> + +<p>It was through Jack's suggestion that the +arrangement was altered.</p> + +<p>"Please don't tell Mrs. Naxie, Bryan, +that I spoke of it," she volunteered as soon +as she beheld the preparations, "but don't +you think the summer in England too short +for people to spend an hour indoors when they +can avoid it?"</p> + +<p>And Captain MacDonnell good naturedly +agreed.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact, Jack always poured +tea for him when he had guests and she was +able to be present, so she felt sufficiently at +home to make her request.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_87" id="Page_87">[87]</a></span></p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell's mother was an +Irishwoman and his father a Scotchman. But +they had both died when he was a little boy +and he had spent the greater part of his +boyhood with an old bachelor friend of his +father's, who was his own guardian and had +lived in the very house of which he was now +the master.</p> + +<p>As neighbors he and Frank Kent had +played together when they were small boys +and had later gone to the same public school. +Then Frank's illness sent him to the United +States, where he was introduced into the lives +of the Ranch girls, at about the same time his +friend Bryan MacDonnell entered Cambridge +and afterwards the army. But whenever he +and Frank were together the old intimacy had +continued, and Jack's coming had only seemed +to turn their friendship into a three-cornered +one.</p> + +<p>"Frank told me to tell you that he was sorry +not to be able to come over with us this +afternoon, Bryan," Jack announced a few +moments later, when the four of them had +gone out to select a place where tea could be +served, "But for some reason or other he +telephoned that he could not come down from +London today. I don't know what is wrong<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_88" id="Page_88">[88]</a></span> +with Frank lately. He has never been so +absorbed in political matters. I am afraid +Frieda and Olive will think he neglects his +family disgracefully. Please tell them, Bryan, +that he is sometimes an attentive husband."</p> + +<p>But as Captain MacDonnell did not answer +at once, Olive remarked in a more serious +tone than Lady Kent had used:</p> + +<p>"I think I am rather glad Frank takes his +work as a member of Parliament as the most +important thing he has to do. After all, +helping to make the laws of one's country is +a pretty serious occupation. Which do you +think more serious—Captain MacDonnell, +being a soldier and fighting when it is necessary +to defend the laws, or making them in the +beginning?"</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell smiled, but rather +seriously. It occurred to Jack, who knew +him so much better than the others, that +Bryan did seem uncommonly grave this +afternoon, in spite of his efforts to be an +agreeable host.</p> + +<p>Then she took hold of Frieda's arm and +they wandered off a short distance, leaving +Olive and Captain MacDonnell to continue +their conversation alone.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Frieda," Jack whispered<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_89" id="Page_89">[89]</a></span> +when they were safe from being overheard, +"I would give a great deal if Bryan and Olive +would learn to care for each other. Ordinarily +I think it is horrid to be a matchmaker, but +Bryan and Olive are both so lovely and you +don't know what it would mean to me to have +Olive live near me. It is heavenly these days, +having you both here. You can't realize how +lonely I get for you and my own country +sometimes."</p> + +<p>Frieda looked critically over at Captain +MacDonnell and Olive, who were standing +close beside each other talking earnestly. In +spite of Captain MacDonnell's ancestry his +coloring was almost as dark as Olive's.</p> + +<p>Then Frieda turned her blue eyes on her +sister.</p> + +<p>"Captain MacDonnell and Olive look too +much alike," she argued. "I prefer marriages +where the man and woman are contrasts."</p> + +<p>Then, although Lady Kent made no answer, +she smiled to herself. If Frieda believed in +contrasts in marriage, surely she did not mean +merely in complexion and general appearance. +Important contrasts in human beings went +much deeper than appearances. Surely +Frieda's own marriage had offered a sufficient +contrast in years, taste, disposition and a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_90" id="Page_90">[90]</a></span> +dozen other things. However, instead of +securing happiness, it seemed to have had the +opposite result.</p> + +<p>During the remainder of the afternoon Jack +thought nothing more about their early conversation, +as she devoted herself entirely to +Captain MacDonnell's other guests.</p> + +<p>It was just a little after six o'clock, when +they were beginning to think of returning +home, that Lady Kent observed one of her +servants coming toward her across the lawn +carrying a telegram.</p> + +<p>Never so long as she lived was Jack ever +to forget that moment and the scene about +her. There were about a dozen, beautifully +costumed persons present—the women in +silks and muslins, and the men in tennis +flannels and other sport costumes. They +were all talking in a light hearted fashion +about small matters.</p> + +<p>Without any thought that it might be of +particular importance Jack opened her telegram +and before reading it apologized to the +persons nearest her. It happened that Captain +MacDonnell was not far away.</p> + +<p>Yet she read her telegram—not once, but +several times—before it dawned upon her +what her husband's words meant. Even<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_91" id="Page_91">[91]</a></span> +then she did not really understand any more +than the millions of other women in the world, +who heard the same news and more within +the next few days. The sky overhead was +still blue; the earth was green and peaceful, +and her companions were unconscious of +tragedy.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Frank's telegram had stated +that the beginning of the war cloud had +appeared over Europe—the cloud which was +later to spread over so large a part of the +world.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_92" id="Page_92">[92]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SO AS BY FIRE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>"BUT Henry cannot go; it is absurd! +He never shot a gun in his life and +besides I—" Frieda hesitated; her +face flushing; yet she was trying to speak +calmly.</div> + +<p>She and Olive and Jack and Frank Kent +were in the library at Kent House with Captain +MacDonnell talking one morning, several +weeks since the afternoon tea and during, +perhaps, the most momentous week in all +history.</p> + +<p>"I think you must be mistaken about your +husband's being unable to shoot, Frieda," +Lord Kent answered dryly. "As a matter of +fact I believe he is an expert; he told me +himself that he had taken prizes for marksmanship +when he was a boy, but had never +cared to use his skill for hunting. As for +your saying he can't go; well, the truth is, +Frieda, Professor Russell has already gone. +He came in to see me a few days ago to say<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_93" id="Page_93">[93]</a></span> +that he had volunteered and was about to be +sent somewhere in France."</p> + +<p>Frank had not intended to be unkind. So +many things had happened and were happening +every crowded second of the time that he +was simply forgetting to think of the individual. +However, under the circumstances, +he did not suppose that Frieda would care +very much what became of her husband.</p> + +<p>"You mean that Henry has joined the +army—that he has crossed over to France +without asking me how I would feel—without +even coming to say good-bye," Frieda returned +slowly. And suddenly even her brother-in-law +observed the change in her expression. It +was strange to see Frieda with her face paling; +her full, red lips closed tight and her blue +eyes dark and strained.</p> + +<p>"But, my dear child, how could your husband +come to say good-bye to you when you +have been steadfastly refusing to see him for +weeks?" Frank continued, still a little impatient +over feminine unreasonableness. "He +told me to tell you his plans and that he had +made all arrangements in case—"</p> + +<p>But, that instant, catching a warning +glance from his wife, Lord Kent changed +color over his own tactlessness and desisted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_94" id="Page_94">[94]</a></span> +This was a time when everybody's nerves +were overstrained; when hearts were torn to +pieces and imaginations were picturing only +horrors.</p> + +<p>"Won't you motor down to the station +with me, please, Jack?" Lord Kent added, +hastily, anxious to get away as soon as possible +from the situation he had created.</p> + +<p>Jack slipped on a long tan coat and soft +hat and went with her husband, leaving +Olive to look after Frieda.</p> + +<p>"Bryan is expecting to be here again this +afternoon for a farewell visit, dear. He has +been delayed for some reason or other but +hopes to leave with his regiment tomorrow," +Frank announced on the way to his train. "Do +you know I think Bryan is a lucky fellow these +days, not to have anyone very close to him—anyone +who cares very much what becomes +of him. Oh, of course, I should care, more +than I like to think; but I mean no mother +or father—no family."</p> + +<p>"I should also care a great deal, Frank," +Jack interrupted quietly.</p> + +<p>But Lord Kent went on, scarcely hearing +her.</p> + +<p>"It is a funny thing that Bryan has never +married. He is an uncommonly fascinating<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_95" id="Page_95">[95]</a></span> +fellow. Of course, he hasn't much money; +but that ought not to stand in his way. He +has his profession. Queer, when he was a boy +he used to talk about being an artist; but +there is a lot of difference between an artist +and a soldier. He must be glad now of his +choice. Sometimes I think Bryan has never +married because he has never seen any woman +as attractive as you are. He has almost +said as much to me."</p> + +<p>Jack shook her head almost angrily. "That +is nonsense, Frank. After all, you know +Bryan is pretty young; there is no use talking +as if he were a confirmed old bachelor."</p> + +<p>After lunch that same afternoon Captain +MacDonnell rode over to Kent House. He +was wearing his service uniform of khaki—the +short military coat, the full trousers drawn +close at the knees and the high boots. He +also wore the British officer's cap with the +small visor and the other marks of his rank.</p> + +<p>Hearing the sound of his horse approaching, +Jack went out on the veranda to greet him. +Frieda was upstairs in her room and Olive was +writing letters to Ruth Colter and Jean at +the Rainbow Ranch.</p> + +<p>In her arms Jack carried her baby, with +whom she had been playing. Indeed, ever<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_96" id="Page_96">[96]</a></span> +since the news of war, some member of the +family had seemed to wish to hold Vive, for +her baby softness and sweetness was in some +way a consolation.</p> + +<p>Jack had her baby's little yellow head +pressed close against her bronze colored hair +and made the baby wave its hand to the +young officer as he drew nearer.</p> + +<p>When he came up to them on the veranda +he kissed Vive's tiny hand.</p> + +<p>"May I have one of Vive's blue ribbons +to tie in my buttonhole, please, Lady +Jacqueline?" he asked. "Lady Jacqueline" +being a title which Captain MacDonnell had +originated for Jack, but which many other +people also used. "Every knight, when he +went off to the wars in the old days, wore his +lady's colors. I should like to have Vive for +my lady."</p> + +<p>Jack felt her fingers trembling a little as she +unfastened the ribbon from her baby's sleeve +and gave it to her friend.</p> + +<p>"Won't you take a farewell ride with me +this afternoon, Jack?" Captain MacDonnell +asked the next instant. "It will be the best +way to manage our good-bye."</p> + +<p>For just the fraction of a second Jack hesitated. +Yet, in that time, she had a sufficient<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_97" id="Page_97">[97]</a></span> +opportunity to think over the entire situation. +Captain MacDonnell had not asked her to +ride with him since the afternoon, when her +recklessness had displeased Frank. Since +then she had never attempted to persuade +Frank that his demand, that she never ride +with Captain MacDonnell again, was unreasonable. +Nevertheless, she felt fairly sure that +under the present circumstance he could not +object. Surely, Frank could not be so +ungracious as to be vexed with her for disobeying +his wish at such a time. She would, +of course, ride carefully and take no foolish +risks.</p> + +<p>Jack gave Vive into Captain MacDonnell's +keeping.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I'll go if you'll come back to dinner +with Frank and the rest of us," she agreed. +"I'll be ready in five minutes."</p> + +<p>Jack sent the nurse to look after the baby +and in ten minutes was ready for the ride.</p> + +<p>It was a sultry August afternoon, very still, +and yet with a strange throbbing in the air +of many tiny insects. The hawthorn was no +longer in bloom, but the two friends rode +along the English lanes sweet with blossoming +elderberry and blackberry bushes.</p> + +<p>Curious how, when one comes to say farewell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_98" id="Page_98">[98]</a></span> +there is so little that seems worth +saying!</p> + +<p>During the first part of the ride Jack and +Captain MacDonnell were frequently silent, +except that Jack, of course, made the conventional +inquiries one might ask of a soldier. +Was he in good condition? Did he have +everything he needed? Was there anything +she could do for him—such as looking after +his house while he was gone?</p> + +<p>In response to each question Captain +MacDonnell shook his head. He had turned +over his house to be used for the Belgian +refugees.</p> + +<p>They were actually on their way home +before he began to talk.</p> + +<p>Then he took a letter from his pocket.</p> + +<p>"I wish you would give this to Frank for +me, Lady Jack, and if anything happens to +me ask him to read it, and to let you read it +afterwards if he thinks best. Sorry to be +mysterious, but this is a kind of cranky wish +of mine."</p> + +<p>Jack slipped the letter inside the coat she +was wearing.</p> + +<p>"All right, Bryan. You know I have +always felt rather like a big sister to you; I +am nearly a year older. But, today I think<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_99" id="Page_99">[99]</a></span> +I feel like your mother," she continued, trying +to smile, but with her voice breaking a little. +"So you must promise me, if there is anything +I can ever do for you later on you will let me +know. In a way I believe I am almost +envious of you, Bryan. I think I have wanted +to be a boy ever since I could sit on the back +of a horse and ride over our ranch with my +father. That is why people have always +called me 'Jack,' I suppose. Anyhow, just +now, I think I would like to go out to meet a +great adventure. I wonder what a woman's +great adventure is. I presume it is marriage +for most of us. At any rate Frank is terribly +envious of you, Bryan. He has said so to me +half a dozen times. He does not seem to +know whether he ought to go to the front, +which is what he wants to do, or to stay on +here doing his work in Parliament. Of course, +he ought to stay," Jack argued, repeating +what she had been saying a good many times +to her husband recently. "There never was +a time when a member of Parliament had +such great work to do, and that is Frank's +real duty."</p> + +<p>When Jack gave Captain MacDonnell's +letter to her husband that night she spoke of +their having had a ride together. Although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_100" id="Page_100">[100]</a></span> +he made no comment, she could see that he +was not altogether pleased. It occurred to +Jack then, though only vaguely, that if +Frank objected to her disobeying him in small +matters, their life might be pretty difficult +if ever they had a difference of opinion and +she disobeyed him in a large one.</p> + +<p>"Strange for Bryan to have confided this +letter to us," Frank remarked, as he put it +carefully away in a strong box where he kept +his important papers. "I wonder what old +Bryan has written? I never dreamed he had a +secret in his life which he has never told to +me. But, perhaps he wants us to do some +favor or other for him. Truly I hope we +may never have to open the letter."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_101" id="Page_101">[101]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER VIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>SEVERAL MONTHS LATER<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>FRIEDA read a letter she had just +received and laughed.</div> + +<p>Laughter was not frequent at Kent +House those days, so that Jack and Olive +looked up from the work they were doing. +Olive was rolling bandages and Jack was +writing notes at her desk. The three of them +were in Jack's private sitting room where, only +a few moments before, the afternoon mail bag +had been brought in.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Frieda?" Jack asked, turning +her head to glance over her shoulder in some +surprise at her sister. She wondered if Frieda +realized that she was fully aware of the way +in which she had been watching the mail for +these past few months. For Frieda had +watched in vain for the particular letter which +certainly she seemed to expect; even if she did +not greatly desire it.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I have just received a note from a +young soldier to whom I sent the first pair of +socks I ever made," she returned. "He may<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_102" id="Page_102">[102]</a></span> +not have originated the poem, but it is almost +worth the trouble and the time I took on the +socks. Do listen:"</p> + +<div class='poem'> +"Thanks, dear lady, for the socks you knit;<br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">Some socks, some fit.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">I used one for a hammock and the other for a mitt.</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">I hope I meet you when I've done my bit,</span><br /> +<span style="margin-left: 0.5em;">But where in the h... did you learn to knit?"</span><br /> +</div> + +<p>Then Frieda dropped the letter to wave +another long grey sock, shot through with +shining knitting needles. It was somewhat +narrow in the ankle and bulged strangely at +the heel.</p> + +<p>"I wonder if I am improving?" she +inquired anxiously. The utilitarian nature +of Frieda's occupation contrasted curiously +with the general fluffiness of her appearance. +For no amount of inward anguish could ever +keep Frieda from the desire to wear pretty +clothes and to make herself as attractive as +possible. However, no one had any right +to say she was unhappy, except as every one +else was, through sympathy with the added +troubles which the war had lately brought +upon the world.</p> + +<p>Like most of the other women in the +larger part of Europe and also in the United<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_103" id="Page_103">[103]</a></span> +States, Jack and Olive were devoting all their +energies to the work of the war. They had +both taken short courses in Red Cross nursing +and had organized clubs and classes in the +neighborhood for every kind of relief work, +while Frank had turned over several of his +houses to the Belgian refugees.</p> + +<p>Therefore, only Frieda remained more or +less on the outside of things. She had undertaken +to learn to knit for the soldiers, but +insisted that since her name meant peace and +was a German name as well, she would do +nothing more. The truth was she seemed not +to wish to go out or mix with society a great +deal, which was odd, as one of the reasons she +had given for her unhappiness in her own +home was that her husband wished to spend +too much time there, so that she had become +bored.</p> + +<p>However, Frieda had agreed to visit the +poor people on the estate and in the neighboring +village, in order to relieve Jack from this +one of her many duties.</p> + +<p>Moreover, she enjoyed the odd types of +old men and women, so unlike any other +people whom she had ever before known, and +she became a great favorite with them. +Instead of giving her money for war purposes<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_104" id="Page_104">[104]</a></span> +Frieda preferred bestowing it on these same +queer old persons and the children who had +been left behind.</p> + +<p>This afternoon, after she had finished +reading the second of her two letters, the +latter from Jean in Wyoming, Frieda got up +from her chair.</p> + +<p>"Jimmie and I are going to drive down to +the village to see old Dame Quick," she +announced, "I promised to read to her this +afternoon." 'Dame Quick' was the title +Frieda had borrowed to give to the oldest +woman in Granchester, because she was so +extraordinarily lively.</p> + +<p>"What will you do with Jimmie while you +read? He will never keep still," Jack called, +as Frieda moved toward the door.</p> + +<p>Frieda paused. "Oh, he and nurse will +return back in the governess cart. I want +to walk home. Don't worry if I am a little +late," and before Olive or Jack would speak, +she had disappeared.</p> + +<p>"I hope Frieda won't be too long. She +does not know this country as I do," Jack +murmured afterwards, but not thinking of +the matter seriously.</p> + +<p>Frieda and Jimmie had a way of jogging in +the little governess cart on many afternoons,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_105" id="Page_105">[105]</a></span> +sometimes taking the nurse with them and +more often not. Jimmie was rather a troublesome +small boy of an age when he was into +every kind of mischief, and Frieda was not +fond of children. Therefore, her family had +wondered why she appeared to desire so much +of Jimmie's companionship. Frieda might +have answered that he asked so many +questions that she did not have time to think +of other things; however, she had never said +this, even to herself.</p> + +<p>The governess cart was a little wicker +carriage swung low on two wheels, with an +ancient, shaggy pony, who never moved out +of a slow trot.</p> + +<p>That afternoon, like all the great ladies in +the English novels, Frieda stored away under +the seat of her cart as much jelly and jam as +her sister's housekeeper would allow her. +At the nearest grocery shop she bought a +package of tea, some tins of biscuits and a +half pound of tobacco. For the truth was +that Frieda's old woman liked a quiet smoke. +This habit was not common among the +villagers, but Dame Quick whose real name +was "Huggins" was so very old that she +allowed herself certain privileges.</p> + +<p>It was a dismal late fall afternoon, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_106" id="Page_106">[106]</a></span> +English people and particularly English children +do not stay indoors because of bad +weather.</p> + +<p>Frieda wore a blue rain proof coat and a +soft hat which she pulled down over her +yellow hair, to keep the soft mist out of her +eyes as well as she could. Jimmie and his +nurse were also enveloped in mackintoshes.</p> + +<p>But the rain was not actually falling. There +was only a November haze and a pervading +dampness, making Jimmie's cheeks redder +than ever and bringing more color than was +usual to Frieda's face.</p> + +<p>On the way to the village Jimmie and his +aunt, whom he regarded as of his own age, +sang "America" in not a particularly musical +fashion, but with a great deal of earnest +effort, since Frieda was trying to teach the +British Jimmie to be more of an American.</p> + +<p>Jimmie, of course, wished to go into Mrs. +Huggins' cottage with his aunt, but on that +point Frieda was resolute. She had a fancy +for seeing her old friend alone this afternoon. +Actually she had a reason which had been +developing in her mind for the past twenty-four +hours, although Frieda herself considered +her reason nonsensical.</p> + +<p>In answer to her knock the old woman came<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_107" id="Page_107">[107]</a></span> +to the door. She looked like one of the +pictures one remembers in the Mother Goose +books, and also like one of them, "she lived +alone, all in her little house of stone."</p> + +<p>Dame Quick's cottage of two rooms was +set in the middle of a long row of little stone +houses, in one of the half a dozen streets in +Granchester. Frieda always felt a shiver as +she went inside, since the floor was of stone +and there was a dampness about the little +house as if it had never been thoroughly +warmed inside by the sun.</p> + +<p>Yet Mrs. Huggins had managed to live +there in contentment for about seventy years. +She had come there as a bride before she was +twenty and was now "ninety or thereabouts," +as she described herself.</p> + +<p>When Frieda entered she bobbed up and +down as quickly as an old brown cork on a +running stream.</p> + +<p>"Sure, I've been waitin' and longin' for the +sight of you these two hours," she said, taking +Frieda's packages, or as many as she could get +hold of, as if she thought them too burdensome +for the young woman to carry.</p> + +<p>Frieda laughed and slipped out of her rain +coat, which she hung carefully on a small +wooden chair. Then she also laid her hat on<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_108" id="Page_108">[108]</a></span> +the chair and, as a matter of habit, fluffed +up her pretty hair which the rain and her hat +had flattened, and then followed her old +hostess.</p> + +<p>"You know you have had half a dozen +visitors during the two hours you say you +have been waiting, Mrs. Huggins," Frieda +returned. For it was true that the tiny house +and the old woman were the center of all the +gossip in the village. "I expect you to tell +me a lot of news."</p> + +<p>The old woman nodded.</p> + +<p>"It is true these are news days in England +and elsewhere. Times were, when the days +might be dull without a birth or a death, or a +mating. But now one wakes up to something +stirrin' every day—a lad goin' off to the +war, or maybe one gettin' killed; and the girls +coomin' in to tell me their troubles; some of +them just married, and some of them not +married at all yet. But all of them worryin' +their hearts out. Sure, and if war is goin' on +forever—and it looks like it is—I'm for the +women goin' into battle along with their +men."</p> + +<p>While she was talking Frieda had followed +her hostess back into her kitchen—the room +in which she really lived and had her being.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_109" id="Page_109">[109]</a></span> +It was also of stone, but the floor had a number +of bright rag rugs as covering and the +walls were lined with pictures cut from papers +and magazines, and with picture postcards. +One could have gotten a pretty fair knowledge +of English history at the moment by studying +Mrs. Huggins' picture gallery. She had on +her walls a photograph of nearly every +British officer then in command of the army +or navy. She had replicas of innumerable +battleships and also of statesmen. But in +the place of honor over a shelf that held her +Bible and a tiny daguerreotype of the late, +lamented Mr. Huggins, hung a picture of +England's big little man—Lloyd George. +The aged woman received the old age pension +which Lloyd George had given to the poor of +England a few years before the outbreak of +the present war.</p> + +<p>Frieda sat down on a little chair which +lovers of antiques would have given much +to possess. There was a small fire burning +in the tiny stove, and its red coals looked +more cheerful than the great log fire at Kent +House.</p> + +<p>Frieda knew that Dame Quick would wish +to prepare the tea herself.</p> + +<p>She had rather a happy feeling as she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_110" id="Page_110">[110]</a></span> +watched Mrs. Huggins, as if she had been a +little girl who had gone out one day and +grown suddenly tired and forlorn, and then +been unexpectedly invited into the very +gingerbread house itself. But a gingerbread +house presided over by a good spirit, not an +evil one.</p> + +<p>Her own little Dame Quick looked like a +child's idea of an ancient good fairy. She +may not have been so small to begin with, +but at ninety she was bent over until she +seemed very tiny indeed. Her face was +brown and wrinkled and her eyes shone forth +as black as elderberries in the late gathering +time.</p> + +<p>She placed a small wooden table in front of +Frieda and not far from the fire and her own +chair. Then she got out some heavy plates +and two cups and saucers. And whatever +the difference in elegance, tea is never so +good served in a thin cup as in a thick one. +Afterwards she opened the package containing +Frieda's biscuits and jam and finally poured +boiling water into her own brown stone tea +kettle.</p> + +<p>Then she and Frieda, sitting on opposite +sides of the tea table, talked and talked.</p> + +<p>Several times, as she sat there, Frieda<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_111" id="Page_111">[111]</a></span> +thought that if she had been an English girl +she would like to have had just such an old +nurse or foster mother as Mrs. Huggins. For +she might then have been able to confide a +number of things to her—matters she could +not talk about even to her sister, since she +was not clear enough how she felt concerning +them herself, and so Jack might get wrong +impressions.</p> + +<p>"But you have not told me any special news +this afternoon," Frieda protested, having +lifted her cup for a second helping of tea, +and making up her mind that she could not +think of herself while visiting, as she usually +did at home. "My sister and brother always +expect me to know something interesting +after a visit to you."</p> + +<p>Dame Quick poured the tea carefully.</p> + +<p>"I don't care for gossip," she returned, +"yet it seems as if they like it as much in big +houses as in little." Her eyes snapped, so +that Frieda found herself watching them, +fascinated.</p> + +<p>"Since you came in I've been wonderin' +whether certain information should +be sent to Lord and Lady Kent. I don't +think much of it myself, as there has been +such a steady stream of spy talk these<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_112" id="Page_112">[112]</a></span> +months past. But they are tellin' in Granchester +that there is a man there who has +taken a house a short distance from the +village, on the road to Kent House. It seems +he keeps to himself too much to please the +village. He says he has been ill, and I'm +sure has a right to a mite of peace if he wants +it. It's only the village that's talking. Those +higher up must know things are what they +should be, since they don't bother him."</p> + +<p>Frieda was scarcely listening. Mrs. Huggins' +news was often uninteresting in itself. +It was only that she so much enjoyed repeating +it.</p> + +<p>She had already finished her second cup of +tea and was looking down at the collection of +tea leaves in the bottom of her cup.</p> + +<p>"Suppose you tell my fortune," she suggested +rather shyly. For some time past she +had been thinking of just this. "Didn't you +say you sometimes told the fortunes of the +boys and girls in Granchester, and that a +great many things you predict come true?"</p> + +<p>The old country woman looked at Frieda +sharply.</p> + +<p>"I tell the fortunes, child, of boys and girls +whose grandfathers and grandmothers I once +knew. That isn't difficult fortune telling. I<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_113" id="Page_113">[113]</a></span> +know certain tricks in the faces, I remember +what their own people thought and did long +before their day. Like father, like son; or +maybe like mother, like son; and like father, +like daughter. But you—" The old woman +shook her head. "I know nothing about you, +child; or your country, or your people, or +what you have made of life for yourself with +that pretty face of yours."</p> + +<p>Still Frieda held out her tea cup.</p> + +<p>"Oh, well; just let the tea leaves show you +a little," she pleaded, in the spoiled fashion +by which Frieda usually accomplished her +purpose.</p> + +<p>Still the old peasant continued to look, not +at the tea leaves but at her young companion. +Perhaps she saw something with her fine, +tired old eyes, that were too dim to read +print, which even Frieda's own family did +not see.</p> + +<p>"You have had too many of the things +you wish without ever having to work for +them, or to wait, little lady," she repeated +slowly. Then she glanced down into the +extended tea cup. "I think I see that you +will have to lose something before you find +out that you care for it. I also see a long +journey, some clouds and at last a rainbow."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_114" id="Page_114">[114]</a></span></p> + +<p>Frieda put down her cup and laughed a +little uncertainly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, the Rainbow Ranch is the name of my +own home. I wonder if I have ever told you +that?" she inquired. "But you are mistaken +if you think I have had the things I wish." +For, of course, Frieda did not believe she had +been a fortunate person. So few people ever +do believe this of themselves, until misfortune +makes them learn through contrast.</p> + +<p>Later, she read a chapter in the Bible and +the war news from one of the morning papers. +Then, before six o'clock, she started to return +to Kent House.</p> + +<p>Frieda walked quickly as the distance was +not short. Moreover, she had never entirely +recovered from the fright of her unexpected +encounter with her husband several months +before. Yet, since then, she had not only +never seen him again, but never heard anything +about him, except the scant information +of his departure to France, which she had +acquired through Frank Kent.</p> + +<p>Frieda did think—no matter what the +difference between them—that her husband +might have let her know that he was at least +alive and well. Of course she was a selfish, +cold-hearted person, as her family and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_115" id="Page_115">[115]</a></span> +undoubtedly her own husband believed her +to be. However, one could be interested in +the welfare of even a comparative stranger +in war times.</p> + +<p>Later, after Frieda left the village, she +passed by the little house which her old +friend had tried to involve in a mystery in +order to supply her with gossip. The house +was set in a yard by itself. The lights were +lighted and the curtains drawn down, but, as +she hurried by, either a woman's or a man's +figure made a dark shadow upon the closed +blind.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_116" id="Page_116">[116]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER IX</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>CHURCH AND STATE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>THE family and a number of the +servants from Kent House were on +their way to the small Episcopal +church at the edge of the estate.</div> + +<p>Jack and Frank were walking in front, with +Olive and Frieda strolling a little more slowly +behind them, and the rest of the company +followed in scattered groups.</p> + +<p>At the beginning of her marriage the English +Sundays had been a trial to Jack. They were +so much more quiet, so much more sedate +than those of her rather too unconventional +girlhood in Wyoming. Then they had sometimes +held church in the open air, or if they +wished to go into the nearest town, a big +wagon was loaded with as many persons as +could be persuaded from the ranch, and +ordinarily they stopped on the way back and +had lunch somewhere. Now and then Jack +even remembered having ridden on her own +broncho to the church door and fastened +it on the outside, while she went in to the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_117" id="Page_117">[117]</a></span> +service in a costume which was an odd cross +between a riding habit and a church outfit.</p> + +<p>But now, although the walk across Kent +Park was only a short one, Jack was as correctly +attired as if she were in London. +Beside her brown velvet costume which was +very smart and becoming, she wore a hat +with feathers, which she particularly disliked. +The hat was of the kind affected by Queen +Mary of England, who always wears feather-trimmed +hats.</p> + +<p>However, the mere matter of her hat would +not have made Jack feel out of sorts, if she +had not had another more potent reason. +Frank was nearly always cross on Sunday +mornings and this morning was no exception.</p> + +<p>It is strange that Sunday should have this +effect on many persons, when one should be +more cheerful than usual, and yet it does.</p> + +<p>Frank was really worn out with all his +worries and responsibilities, Jack decided to +herself, as she had a number of times recently. +It was a privilege many people take advantage +of, by saving their bad humors for their +families.</p> + +<p>"But, Frank, I don't think you understand +the situation in the United States," +Jack argued, speaking good naturedly. "You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_118" id="Page_118">[118]</a></span> +see, we represent so many nationalities, so +many differences of opinion and training, that +we can't all think alike. The President is +supposed to represent everybody."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense," Frank interrupted his wife +not too politely. "The United States has +been thinking about nothing but getting rich. +They are a nation of shirkers, willing to stand +back and let others do the work and suffer +the loss."</p> + +<p>"There are a good many millions of us for +us all to be shirkers, Frank," Jack answered, +still speaking quietly, although her cheeks had +flushed and her eyes darkened.</p> + +<p>Really she and Frank tried very hard not to +discuss any differences of opinion they felt +concerning the war. During the last few +years the marriages between men and women +of different nationalities have had a great +strain put upon them. At present, Frank as +an Englishman, thought that the United +States should immediately have gone in upon +the side of the Allies, while Jack did not; +and now and then they unfortunately fell into +a discussion of the subject.</p> + +<p>Therefore, when they entered church this +Sunday morning, neither Jack nor Frank were +in a good humor toward each other. Jack<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_119" id="Page_119">[119]</a></span> +felt that, as she was doing all she could in the +service of his country, he should have made +no unkind criticism of hers. Frank did not +think at all, except to wish that Jack would +refrain from argument. Certainly a man +wished for peace in his own home when it was +nowhere else. But it did not occur to Frank +that it takes two to keep peace as well as two +to make a quarrel; nor did he begin to realize +how trying he had been at home during the +past few months.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact Frank was spoiled, as +many Englishmen and some American men +are. He had been an only son who was to +inherit the family title, and his mother and +sisters had always put him first in all things. +It was true that when he came to the United +States he had fallen in love with Jacqueline +Ralston because, for one reason, she did not +treat him differently at the beginning of their +acquaintance from any cowboy on her ranch. +That is, she was perfectly polite to him, when +she remembered his existence; but then she +was polite to everybody and recognized no +social distinctions. She liked her own freedom, +allowed other people theirs, and went +her way untroubled by the opinion of others.</p> + +<p>But, at present—as is often the case with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_120" id="Page_120">[120]</a></span> +men after they marry—the very things in +Jack which had attracted Frank before +marriage annoyed him now. He believed +she ought to be more influenced by his views. +Of course, she ordinarily gave in to his wishes. +However, he seldom felt as if she were convinced, +but believed she yielded through +sheer sweet temper.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Frank's irritability continued +all day, so that several times after their +return home, Jack found herself mortified +before Olive and Frieda. Not that she minded +so much about Olive, since Olive and Frank +had always understood each other. But, as +Frieda had announced herself as being +disappointed with marriage, Jack did not +wish her to think that her own was also a +failure.</p> + +<p>After their midday luncheon on Sunday it +was always Lord and Lady Kent's custom to +walk over their estate during the afternoon, +visit the stables and see as much of the condition +of the place and the people on it as was +possible.</p> + +<p>This Sunday afternoon Frank arose and +started to go on his usual rounds without +suggesting that Jack accompany him.</p> + +<p>However, she paid no attention to this, but<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_121" id="Page_121">[121]</a></span> +followed him. Outdoors he changed into a +better mood.</p> + +<p>There were not many horses left in the +stables, as most of them were being used by +the army. But when Jack and Frank went +into the kennels, which adjoined the stables, +a dozen great dogs began leaping over them at +once.</p> + +<p>Frank drew a little aside to watch his wife.</p> + +<p>Jack stood in their midst laughing and +protesting a little when one big hound stuck +its great head, with wide open jaws and lolling +tongue, too near her face. Yet she managed +to make them all happy and quiet again by +patting and stroking each one, or by calling +each dog by name.</p> + +<p>"You are not afraid of anything in the +world, are you, Jack?" Frank remarked +admiringly, as they again got safely away +from the kennels, Jack finding it necessary +at the last moment to remove two large paws +from her shoulders in order to settle a dispute +between two of the other dogs.</p> + +<p>Jack laughed. "Goodness, Frank, what +an extraordinary opinion you and a few other +people have of me! I am one of the biggest +cowards in the world about the things I am +afraid of. I simply don't happen to be afraid<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_122" id="Page_122">[122]</a></span> +of animals, as so many women are. And +that is not a virtue, but because I was brought +up with them."</p> + +<p>"I should like to know what you do fear, +then?" Frank demanded.</p> + +<p>Instead of answering at once Jack slipped +her arm inside her husband's.</p> + +<p>"I am dreadfully afraid of the people I care +about being angry with me, though you and +the rest of my family may not believe it, as +I am supposed to have once been a wilful +person," she returned unexpectedly. "Sometimes +I wonder, Frank, just how much of a +coward I would be, if I had either to give up +what I thought was right or else to have some +one seriously angry with me. I have not the +courage of my convictions like Frieda."</p> + +<p>In response Frank uttered a half growl, +which was not very complimentary to Frieda +or her convictions. However, Jack went on +almost without pausing.</p> + +<p>"I wonder, Frank, if it is fair to Frieda not +to let her know what has happened to Professor +Russell? Sometimes I have thought +she has worried more over his silence than we +imagine."</p> + +<p>Frank shook his head.</p> + +<p>"Frieda deserves whatever may come to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_123" id="Page_123">[123]</a></span> +her. It is an old-fashioned axiom, dear, +but all the more true for that reason: Frieda +has made her bed; now let her lie upon it."</p> + +<p>"But Frieda is hardly more than a child," +Jack protested. "Besides, that is a pretty +hard rule to apply to people. I don't think +you and I would like to have it applied to us +if we were ever in any difficulty."</p> + +<p>As it struck Frank as utterly impossible +that he and Jack ever could have a disagreement, +which could not be settled amiably in +a few hours, he paid no attention to her last +statement. Nevertheless he added:</p> + +<p>"After all, Jack, it is not for us to decide +anything concerning Frieda and her husband. +That is for them. We are simply doing what +Professor Russell has requested of us."</p> + +<p>"Yes, but Frieda," Jack expostulated more +weakly.</p> + +<p>"Frieda is receiving just what she asked for—silence. +But you must not worry over +Frieda. She will solve existence happily for +herself soon enough. Almost any man would +do anything and forgive anything in behalf +of such blue eyes and yellow hair as Frieda's +to say nothing of her Professor. I may pretend +to be severe but I should probably forgive +her as readily."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_124" id="Page_124">[124]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Sooner than you would me?" Jack inquired +and laughed. "Oh, of course, you would. +Everybody always has as long as I can +remember."</p> + +<p>Frank looked more closely at his wife and +his face softened until his eyes held their old +expression of boyish admiration. Always he +had been pleased by her intense loyalty to the +people she cared for. It had made him forgive +her in the past when she had some mistaken +idea of loyalty toward Olive.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid you have had to do the forgiving +recently, Jack. I expect I have been +difficult. But I feel so torn these days wanting +to be over in France doing the real work with +fellows like Bryan, and at the same time +wanting to be here with you and the babies +and knowing I am perhaps more useful in +London than I would be elsewhere."</p> + +<p>Jack's clear grey eyes were full of the spiritual +understanding that had made her always +so valuable a friend, and a woman must be a +friend to her husband as well as other things.</p> + +<p>"I know, Frank," she answered, "but you +are doing the right thing. If I didn't think +so, no matter how I should suffer, do you +believe for a moment that I would stand in +your way?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_125" id="Page_125">[125]</a></span></p> + +<p>And catching her look, Frank replied.</p> + +<p>"No, Jack, I don't; but I thank you for +understanding."</p> + +<p>There were no letters delivered at Kent +House on Sunday, but on each Sunday afternoon +one of the men drove over to the post-office, +which was open for an hour, and +returned with the mail. It was important +that Lord Kent should be kept in touch with +every situation that arose, as there might be +grave and tragic developments in the course +of the hours he sometimes spent away from +London.</p> + +<p>As he picked up the mail which was lying +on the table in the hall as they entered, Frank +extended a letter to his wife.</p> + +<p>"This is from Bryan, I believe, Jack. Do +tell me what he says."</p> + +<p>They went into the library where Frieda and +Olive were already waiting for tea to be served.</p> + +<p>Jack walked over to the fire and, before +taking off her hat, read her letter through +quietly.</p> + +<p>Then she looked up happily.</p> + +<p>"Bryan says he is all right and sends his +love to the family, but more especially to his +Lady Vive. He asks us all to write to him +oftener if we can manage it, as we are his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_126" id="Page_126">[126]</a></span> +adopted family and he has no other. Frieda, +he says your gift of socks is the most wonderful +in all France. I actually believe Bryan is +almost having a good time; but if he is not +he is awfully brave."</p> + +<p>Making no effort to conceal her emotion, +Jack's eyes suddenly filled with tears.</p> + +<p>"Gracious, Jack," Frieda exclaimed. "As +long as there is nothing the matter with +Captain MacDonnell, I wouldn't shed any +tears over him. You so seldom cry, it always +makes me wretched when you do. I'll bet Jack +has never shed any tears over you, Frank."</p> + +<p>Frieda was not like a kitten in appearance +alone. She had also soft little claws with which +she scratched a tiny bit now and then. She +had been entirely conscious that her brother-in-law +considered that she was to blame in a +large measure for her trouble with her husband, +although he had never said so to her. +Yet she had a desire to get a little bit even with +him now and then.</p> + +<p>Frank's face did flush slightly, although +he smiled good humoredly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I am nothing but a civilian these days +and Bryan is a soldier. I can't expect the +same interest to be bestowed upon me, even +by my own wife."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_127" id="Page_127">[127]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER X</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE LETTER<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>AS soon as Jack saw Frank's face she +realized that something tragic had +occurred.</div> + +<p>She had come down to the train alone to +meet him, but said nothing until they had +walked away from the little crowd at the +station into the gloom of the midwinter +afternoon.</p> + +<p>"It is Bryan," Frank then exclaimed without +waiting to be asked. "I had word from +the War Office today that he had been +mortally wounded."</p> + +<p>He put his arm about Jack to support her if +she should turn faint, but this was not the way +Jack received bad news.</p> + +<p>She stopped for a moment, standing +straight, however, with her head up and her +shoulders braced.</p> + +<p>"Are you sure, Frank, there can be no +mistake?" she asked slowly.</p> + +<p>Lord Kent shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I am afraid not, dear. Bryan was leading<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_128" id="Page_128">[128]</a></span> +a charge out of his trench when a shell hit +him. His own men carried him back to a +field hospital."</p> + +<div class="figright" style="width: 316px;"> +<img src="images/illus03.jpg" width="316" height="500" alt="His Own Men Carried Him Back to a Field Hospital" title="" /> +<span class="caption">His Own Men Carried Him Back to a Field Hospital</span> +</div> + +<p>Jack and Frank then walked slowly on +between the winter fields. The grass was +still green as it remains almost all the year +round in England, but the trees were stripped +and bare, and there were no birds in sight, +except a few melancholy crows, which in +England are called rooks.</p> + +<p>Jack was recalling the day when she and +Captain MacDonnell had taken their last +ride together; also the smell of the blossoming +hedges and her baby's blue ribbon on his +sleeve.</p> + +<p>Since coming to England as a bride, she +and Frank and Bryan had enjoyed a charming +friendship. It was to Bryan, Frank had +first introduced her, asking that he help to +make her less homesick for the ranch and +her own people.</p> + +<p>In those days Frank's sisters were still +unmarried and Bryan had been in the habit +of spending much of his time at Kent House +when he was on leave.</p> + +<p>Yet Frank and Bryan were so utterly unlike +in temperament. To say that Frank was an +Englishman and Bryan an Irishman explains<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_129" id="Page_129">[129]</a></span> +a great deal. Frank was quieter and more +reserved and determined; but Bryan was +ardent and emotional, quick to feel an emotion +and quick to change. Jack had always +felt that he loved the outdoors as she did, +while Frank was studious, more devoted to +books and to political questions than to swift +action.</p> + +<p>At the same time Frank and his wife were +thinking along similar lines, although his +recollection of his friend went further back +than hers. He remembered the small boy, +whose mother had just died, coming to live +with his old bachelor guardian in the queer +little house which had since belonged to him. +He also remembered how shy he had been and +yet how often he had gotten into fights with +other boys. But, more than anything, he +recalled how Bryan had always seemed to +long for the companionship of women and how +happy he had been to come to Kent House +and spend hours and days with his mother +and sisters. This was one of the reasons why +it had always seemed strange to Frank that +his friend had never married.</p> + +<p>"But the news only said that Bryan was +fatally hurt—not that things were over?" +Jack asked after their long pause.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_130" id="Page_130">[130]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Yes; but I'm afraid he may be by now," +Frank answered. "I have sent half a dozen +cables for more news."</p> + +<p>Jack's grey eyes cleared a little.</p> + +<p>"Then I won't believe the worst until it +really happens."</p> + +<p>On their arrival at home Olive and Frieda +were sympathetic, but naturally could not +care as much as Jack and Frank, since Captain +MacDonnell was to them only a comparatively +new acquaintance.</p> + +<p>But all evening Frieda watched her sister +closely, whenever she had the opportunity +without being observed. Only a few times +before had she seen her with the same +expression.</p> + +<p>Half a dozen or more of the neighbors +came in after dinner to ask for further information +concerning Captain MacDonnell, having +heard the news only indirectly.</p> + +<p>But among them all Jack was the only one +who appeared hopeful. She outwardly showed +the effect of the anxiety and grief over their +friend far less than Frank. But Frieda at +least realized that courage was her sister's +strongest characteristic.</p> + +<p>There had always been something gallant +about Jack from the time she was a little girl—the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_131" id="Page_131">[131]</a></span> +carriage of her head; the look in her eyes—everything +about her revealed this.</p> + +<p>And tonight Frieda appreciated the fact +more clearly than any one else. There was +no friend in the world so loyal as Jack; and +no one more anxious to help those for whom +she cared. Frieda knew that whatever else +she might say during the evening, she was in +reality thinking only of her husband's friend +and her own, alone and dying, perhaps with +no one near him for whom he cared.</p> + +<p>As early as possible Jack and Frank went +upstairs together, since Frank showed the +effect of the strain by being uncommonly tired.</p> + +<p>They had gone into their own rooms and +Jack was slowly beginning to undress when +an idea came to her; and she went at once +into her husband's room.</p> + +<p>Frank, she found sitting on the side of his +bed.</p> + +<p>"Bryan's letter, Frank," Jack remarked +quickly. "Don't you think you ought to +open it? He said that if anything happened +to him you were to read it first, and afterwards +I was to see the letter if you thought best. +I remember he seemed much in earnest when +he gave it to me."</p> + +<p>Frank frowned, and then shook his head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_132" id="Page_132">[132]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Do you know I had forgotten, Jack? +But I don't think Bryan meant us to disturb +the letter until we know that the worst has +happened to him and we don't know this +yet; we only fear it."</p> + +<p>For a moment Jack was silent, but when she +spoke again her voice and manner expressed +a quiet firmness.</p> + +<p>"I think you are mistaken, Frank. There +must be something in Bryan's letter that he +wants us to do for him. It may be something +that would come afterwards, but it also may +be something that we could do for him now. +Of course you must judge, but this is the way +I feel about it."</p> + +<p>Jack, who had put on a deep violet toned +velvet dressing gown over her underclothes, +now sat down in an arm chair, leaning thoughtfully +forward and resting her chin in the palm +of her hand.</p> + +<p>She did not intend to influence her husband; +but having expressed her own thought, she +quietly awaited his decision.</p> + +<p>Frank, however, was worried and undecided. +In order to think more clearly, he got up and +began walking nervously up and down his +room.</p> + +<p>"I don't know what to do, Jack," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_133" id="Page_133">[133]</a></span> +argued. "If Bryan still lives he may, of +course, recover and I would not then like +to feel that I have pryed into his secret. +On the other hand, you may be right and +Bryan may have made some simple request +of us which we could carry out for +him at once. Bryan is a sentimental chap +always. I wish, this time, he had been more +explicit."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless, Frank must have finally +decided to accept his wife's point of view for, +after another few moments, he walked over +to a small safe which occupied a corner in his +room and opened it. Then he took out the +box in which he had placed Captain MacDonnell's +letter and the next instant had +broken the seal and was reading its contents.</p> + +<p>Jack sat watching her husband's face, but +offered no interruption.</p> + +<p>She saw Frank first look surprised and then +saw him flush and at last his expression +hardened curiously. He then <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'prsented'">presented</ins> her +with the letter.</p> + +<p>"Read this, Jack. It is just as well that +you should know what is in it. Bryan must +have been considerably upset over his farewells +and the thought of what might lie ahead +of him, or he would never have made such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_134" id="Page_134">[134]</a></span> +request of us. He must have realized afterwards +that the thing is impossible."</p> + +<p>Jack read the letter, but there was nothing +in it which seemed strange; certainly nothing +impossible to her point of view. Bryan had +simply requested that Frank allow her to +come to him in case he was seriously injured. +Bryan explained simply and boyishly that +he had no women in his own family and that +she was his closest woman friend. He had an +absurd horror of dying with no woman near +for whom he cared, or who cared for him.</p> + +<p>"I don't see what you find impossible, +Frank," Jack answered, placing the letter +inside the envelope and quickly returning it. +"I was only waiting until we heard more +news to ask you to let me go to Bryan, even +if he had not made this request of us."</p> + +<p>Frank appeared distressed, but shook his +head resolutely.</p> + +<p>"I don't want to seem unkind, dear. In +a way it is pretty hard to refuse what Bryan +asks. Only he could not have appreciated +just how much he was asking."</p> + +<p>Jack brushed her hair back from her forehead +with a puzzled gesture.</p> + +<p>"I don't understand what you mean, +Frank. Certainly neither of us can dream of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_135" id="Page_135">[135]</a></span> +not agreeing. I know you will worry over the +discomfort, perhaps even the danger of the +trip to France for me. But hundreds of +women have gone and are going every day +to care for the soldiers who are entire strangers +to them. Many times I have wanted to go +myself before this, except for leaving you +and my babies behind. But now I may only +need to stay a little time."</p> + +<p>"We won't discuss the matter any further +please, Jack," Frank protested, speaking +gently, but with a decision which Jack +recognized as having a serious intention back +of it.</p> + +<p>Instantly she went to him and put her +hands on his shoulders, looking directly into +his blue eyes with her clear, wide grey ones.</p> + +<p>"Tell me your reason please, Frank. This +isn't like you. You can't mean to be so +selfish—even so cruel."</p> + +<p>Frank's eyes held his wife's, but he showed +no sign, either of flinching or yielding.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry to have to say this to you, dear. +I wish you could have been willing to do what +I asked, without demanding my reason. But +I can't let my wife go to Bryan; I can't let +people think you and he care this much for +each other. People would talk—there would<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_136" id="Page_136">[136]</a></span> +be gossip. I am your husband and it is my +place to safeguard you. You and Bryan +never think of consequences—you are only +impetuous children."</p> + +<p>"So you mean—" Jack let her hands drop +slowly from her husband's shoulders to her +own sides, "you mean, that because of a little +idle chatter—foolish, unkind gossip—oh, I +know some of the neighbors have already +talked of Bryan and me before this—you +would keep me from the friend we both care +so much for, at a time like this? I can't +believe it of you, Frank."</p> + +<p>"Then I am sorry to disappoint you, +because I do mean it, Jack, dear. I suppose +it does seem narrow and worldly to you, with +your wider ideas of freedom and loyalty. +But hard as this may be for us both, you must +abide by my decision."</p> + +<p>For another moment Jack remained silent, +her face flooding first with color and then the +color receding until she was curiously pale, so +that the darkness of her lashes showed +shadows on her white cheeks.</p> + +<p>"I am sorry, Frank," she answered quietly, +"but in this matter I can not accept your +decision. I am a woman—not a child—and +this is a matter for my conscience as well as<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_137" id="Page_137">[137]</a></span> +yours. Even if I am wrong, whatever consequences +I must suffer from your failing ever to +see this as I do, I must go to Bryan if he is +still alive."</p> + +<p>Then Jack went quickly into her own room +again.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_138" id="Page_138">[138]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>A SURPRISE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>DURING the night Frank decided that +he would not argue with Jack again +the question which was troubling +them both, since it was too painful for +discussion.</div> + +<p>However, he did not sleep much, although +not once did his conviction that he was doing +the right thing waver. Frank had the belief +in his own judgment which comes to certain +people with authority. Also, he disliked +to suggest to his wife any of the little, ugly, +suspicious things of life, which he knew her +fine, clean nature would not consider. But +all the more for this reason did he believe that +he should protect her, even against herself.</p> + +<p>Therefore, at breakfast the next morning, +Frank made no reference to Jack's final defiance +the night before. Not for an instant +did he think that she had meant anything, +except to have him appreciate how utterly her +point of view and her inclination differed from +his. This he accepted, realizing that he really<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_139" id="Page_139">[139]</a></span> +could not, under the circumstances, expect +anything else. But that Jack would ignore +his wish—even his expressed command—was +beyond his comprehension. She had always +been perfectly reasonable and amenable, and +there was nothing to serve him as a warning.</p> + +<p>"I'll let you know as soon as I hear from +the war office," Frank remarked, as he left +for London.</p> + +<p>Jack simply nodded quietly in response +without replying. As a matter of fact she, +too, had made up her mind in the night not to +reopen the subject upon which she and Frank +were so completely at variance.</p> + +<p>Perhaps Jack was wrong in this and in the +whole proceeding which followed. Except +to say that she had the right to use her own +judgment—she never attempted to justify +herself.</p> + +<p>As soon as she had arranged her household +matters and had seen her children, she went +into her private sitting room and, by using her +telephone for an hour or more, secured the +information which she desired.</p> + +<p>She was able to locate Captain MacDonnell +and also to learn that he was still alive. +Moreover, Frank telegraphed this same fact +while she was still at the telephone.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_140" id="Page_140">[140]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then Jack sent word for Olive and Frieda +to come to her bedroom, and when they +arrived she carefully closed the door.</p> + +<p>They found her packing a small bag.</p> + +<p>"What is it, Jack? Are you going up to +London to join Frank?" Frieda inquired, she +and Olive having been told nothing of the +contents of Captain MacDonnell's letter, nor +that there was such a letter in existence.</p> + +<p>Jack had taken off her morning dress and +put on a light flannel wrapper of pale grey +with a white collar, as she wished to proceed +with her packing more readily.</p> + +<p>At Frieda's question she shook her head +quietly and sat down in a big chair for a +moment, asking Olive and Frieda also to be +seated.</p> + +<p>"No; I am not going to Frank," she +explained, "indeed, although I am forced to go +up to London, I don't want him to know I +am there, nor where he can find me for the +next day or so. Afterwards I will, of course, +write to him."</p> + +<p>Seeing that Olive and Frieda were becoming +more mystified than enlightened by her +explanation, and that she was in reality +talking more to herself than to them, Jack +hesitated for a moment.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_141" id="Page_141">[141]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Perhaps you won't approve what I am +planning to do any more than Frank does," +Jack continued, "but Captain MacDonnell +has written to ask that I come to him in +France where he may be dying, and I am +going. Frank has said I must not, but I am +going anyway. I told him so last night, but +I don't believe he understood I really meant +what I said."</p> + +<p>Jack spoke without any nervousness or +sentimental excitement. She looked unhappy, +but she also looked perfectly determined.</p> + +<p>A little too surprised to answer at once, +Frieda again studied her sister's face closely.</p> + +<p>It was Olive who protested.</p> + +<p>"I hope you won't be angry with me, Jack, +and of course I cannot hope to influence you +if Frank cannot; but I don't think you ought +to do so serious a thing without Frank's consent. +In any case, please don't go away +without his knowing. You must know that +this is not right and that Frank will probably +be very hurt and angry."</p> + +<p>Jack bit her lip for an instant without +replying; then she said slowly, as if she fully +weighed each word she uttered:</p> + +<p>"Of course I realize you are right, Olive, +and I am afraid Frank will be both the things<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_142" id="Page_142">[142]</a></span> +you say, and more than you may realize. +I know, also, that I ought to see him again +and tell him definitely just what I intend to +do and why I intend doing it. But candidly, +if I do, I fear that Frank will not permit it. +He is not an American husband, and in any +event there would be a scene between us. +Frank would not understand at first that +this time I intend to keep to my determination. +We might quarrel and I don't wish that. It +would make me even more unhappy and not +save me in any way from Frank's displeasure."</p> + +<p>"But, Jack, why do you think it is more +important to do what Captain MacDonnell +desires of you than what Frank wishes?" +Frieda inquired, in the cool, matter of fact +voice with which she usually, to other people's +surprise, asked the leading question.</p> + +<p>Jack did not change color. She returned +her sister's look with her old clear, straightforward +gaze.</p> + +<p>"I am glad you asked me that, Frieda, +dear," she responded, "because I don't want +you or anybody else to think that is true. +Nothing is so important to me as what +Frank wishes, only this time I think he is +making a great mistake, and is not being fair. +Of course he does not intend this, and is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_143" id="Page_143">[143]</a></span> +thinking of me more than of any one else, but +at the same time this is not a matter which I +think Frank can decide for me. His judgment +may be right from his point of view, but it +isn't from mine. I have to do what I think +is the fair thing, with the hope that I may be +able to persuade Frank to see it the same way +later on."</p> + +<p>Olive made no response, but it was self evident +that Jack had not convinced her.</p> + +<p>Frieda, however, got up in her fluffy morning +house gown and making a soft little rush +forward, threw her arms about her sister's +neck.</p> + +<p>"Go ahead, Jack, then, and no matter what +happens I'll stand by you and swear you've +done the right thing to the bitter end. You +have been more right than other people as long +as I've known you. I would not pay any attention +to Olive. I told you that Olive +was getting to be an old maid and that old +maids always take the men's side. Only you +are not being rash, Jack, are you, so you +won't have to suffer uncomfortable consequences +afterwards?" Frieda concluded with +a slightly plaintive and mysterious manner.</p> + +<p>"You'll look after my babies for me, won't +you, Olive? And Frieda, won't you try and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_144" id="Page_144">[144]</a></span> +get Frank into a good humor with me before +I come back? I shall be gone only a few +days; perhaps Bryan won't need me at all +when I arrive. I am going up to London +within two hours, but I'll get away from there +as soon as I can and take the first channel +boat possible. I must finish packing, but I'll +see you again before I start."</p> + +<p>As Jack's words and manner were both +final, Olive and Frieda then left her. However, +they did not separate but went together +into Frieda's sitting-room.</p> + +<p>There Frieda's expression grew as grave +as Olive's.</p> + +<p>"Somehow I wish Jack wouldn't. Maybe +at the last moment she'll see Frank and +change her mind," Frieda suggested, staring +out at the winter landscape with her small +nose pressed mournfully against the window +pane like a discontented child. "I don't +understand Frank's disposition very well. +He is so different from Henry. Then he +has changed a great deal. We never thought +of his being autocratic when Jack married +him, but he seems rather that way to me +lately, though he is terribly nice and I am +fond of him. I wouldn't be, though, if he +was ever the least bit disagreeable to Jack.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_145" id="Page_145">[145]</a></span> +She is much too good for him or any other man. +Isn't it like her to go rushing off in this +quixotic fashion, knowing that lots of people +will misunderstand her, just because Captain +MacDonnell would like to feel her presence +beside him, if anything has to happen to him? +Well, I suppose that is exactly what I felt +when I rushed to her the moment I left +Henry? Only if Frank decides to be horrid +it would be unfortunate for us both to be +having trouble with our husbands at the +same time. I suppose people would say it +was because we did not have the proper +bringing up when we were children."</p> + +<p>"Don't be absurd, Frieda," Olive answered +irritably. "Of course, Frank and Jack are +not going to have any serious difficulty. She +and Frank are quite different—"</p> + +<p>Frieda swung her pretty self around.</p> + +<p>"Don't you ever get tired of saying that +to me, Olive Van Mater? Of course Jack is +different, but I don't see that Frank is entirely +unlike other men. Oh, I know you'll be +shocked and angry at this and so would Frank +and Jack, if they ever heard; but just the +same I think Frank Kent is a little bit jealous +of Jack's friendship for Captain MacDonnell. +He would rather die than confess it to himself.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_146" id="Page_146">[146]</a></span> +I at least give him the credit for not knowing +it, but it's true just the same."</p> + +<p>"I think that is very horrid of you, Frieda."</p> + +<p>Frieda shrugged her shoulders.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I thought you would think so. Still, +I do wish it was a whole week from today and +Jack was safely home again. I am frightened +about her taking such a trip alone; and as for +my attempting to get my brother-in-law +into a good humor after he learns that his +august Highness has been disobeyed—well, +the task is beyond my humble powers. In +any case, Olive, you can break the news of +Jack's departure to him."</p> + +<p>But Jack spared both her sister and friend +this ordeal. Instead, she wrote a very sweet +letter to her husband, asking his pardon for +what she was doing and confessing that she +had no right not to have spoken of her intention +to him again. But would he see that she +must do what she believed to be right, and +that Bryan might not be able to wait while +they continued to argue the question?</p> + +<p>She left the letter on Frank's bureau.</p> + +<p>Not finding Jack in the library that evening, +where she usually awaited his return home, +Frank had gone directly upstairs, and when +she was also not in her room, he entered his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_147" id="Page_147">[147]</a></span> +apartment. The letter caught his attention +at once, but even then Lord Kent had no +faintest idea of what Jack's letter contained. +He supposed she had gone out on some errand +and had written to explain that she might be +late.</p> + +<p>When he had finished reading, he quietly +tore her letter into small bits and flung the +pieces upon the fire.</p> + +<p>Afterwards, going downstairs to dinner, he +said to Olive and Frieda.</p> + +<p>"Jack has written me a note telling me that +she has gone to France. You both probably +know I did not wish her to go. Please let us +not speak of this matter again."</p> + +<p>And though there was really nothing in +what Frank said, neither Olive nor Frieda +liked his expression or manner.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_148" id="Page_148">[148]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>NO QUARTER<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>DURING the time of Jack's absence, +Frank Kent passed through a strange +state of mind, one which he did not +himself understand. He was both angry and +miserable. Resentment against another +human being is always folly, since one suffers +as much, if not more than the other person.</div> + +<p>However, Frank did not answer a single one +of Jack's letters, although she managed to +write him several times, telling of her safe +arrival, of the kindness which had been +shown her along the way, and of Captain +MacDonnell's recognition of her and his +pleasure in finding an old friend near him. +Jack also wrote that there was hope of his +partial recovery, but that he would probably +be unable to fight again. She would be able +to tell more on her return home.</p> + +<p>Two weeks after the day of her departure, +Jack came back to Kent House. She had +telegraphed when she reached British soil +so that her family knew when to expect her.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_149" id="Page_149">[149]</a></span> +Frank was not at home when she arrived, so +she saw her children and Olive and Frieda first. +Then, after dressing for dinner, she went +down into the library alone to wait for her +husband.</p> + +<p>Jack was very tired from the strain of her +trip and from the sights she had witnessed +in the past fourteen days. She felt as if she +were entering a new world in coming back +tonight to her home in the peaceful Kentish +country. Whatever human beings might be +suffering inwardly, there were at least no +changes in the tranquillity of the blue hills +and the gentle, mist-veiled English landscape.</p> + +<p>It had required an effort for Jack to dress, +but she did not know in what spirit Frank +would meet her and did not wish to have him +think she was too much exhausted by the +experience which she had wilfully chosen +for herself. She feared that Frank was still +aggrieved, because of his not having written +or sent her a message of any kind, and yet +she rather hoped the reunion with her and the +news she brought back would soften him.</p> + +<p>Partly because of her fatigue, partly because +it seemed impossible to wear gay clothes after +those days and nights in the hospital, Jack +had put on a black satin gown which she had<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_150" id="Page_150">[150]</a></span> +had some time. It was made simply as her +evening clothes always were, but the black +tulle which covered it was caught with jet +ornaments on each shoulder and loosely +belted in at the waist, falling in beautiful +lines to her feet. At her belt Jack wore a +golden rose which the old gardener had +brought up to the house as a special offering. +The rose had bloomed that morning in one of +the greenhouses. Jack's hair was coiled +closely about her small head, and she had +less color than usual.</p> + +<p>She was resting in one of the big library +chairs with her eyes closed, when she heard +her husband enter the hall, and after making +some inquiry, move toward the library door.</p> + +<p>At this she rose up at once and ran forward +with her arms outstretched to meet him, her +face glowing with happiness.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Frank, I am so glad to be at home +again. It has all been so distressing. Poor +Bryan is going to get well, but I fear he will +hate it when he does, for he may never walk +again. He does not know this yet."</p> + +<p>Frank turned his eyes so that he could not +see Jack's beauty nor appreciate her warm +sweetness so close beside him.</p> + +<p>"I am horribly sorry for Bryan," he replied.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_151" id="Page_151">[151]</a></span> +But he made no effort to kiss Jack or to +express the least pleasure in her return. +Instead, he walked away a few steps and +began taking off his overcoat, which he had +not removed before.</p> + +<p>"You are still angry with me, Frank?" +Jack queried, though the question was +scarcely a necessary one. "You have not +yet seen that I had the right to judge for +myself in this thing about Bryan? After all, +what possible wrong have I done? And I +did give Bryan pleasure; he does not dream, +of course, that I went to him without your +consent."</p> + +<p>Although Frank still remained silent, Jack's +sweetness did not desert her. She followed +after him, in spite of the fact that he had +turned his back upon her.</p> + +<p>"After all, Frank, even if you do continue +to disapprove of me and to think I did wrong +to disobey you, won't you make friends with +me? Please say I'm forgiven?"</p> + +<p>At this Jack smiled and stood with her +hands clasped together against the soft, +black folds of her dress.</p> + +<p>In fact, she had not yet appreciated the +extent of Frank's anger against her, nor the +unbending quality of his nature. Though<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_152" id="Page_152">[152]</a></span> +they had been married a number of years, +this was the first serious difficulty between +them. Jack had too great an admiration for +her husband, too deep a belief in him, to think +that he could continue to sulk and to hurt her +through a kind of stupid obstinacy.</p> + +<p>And for a single instant Frank did hesitate, +but the next he made up his mind that unless +Jack was made to realize the extent of his +displeasure she would probably never yield +to him again. He honestly believed that he +had the right to be the master in his own +family.</p> + +<p>"I presume, Jack, that you consider it a +very simple matter for me to say I forgive +you and to overlook your utter disregard of +my wishes, and your deception in the matter. +But I cannot see the thing in that light. You +have not only wounded me, but you have +made me ridiculous. To say I forgive you, +or feel as I did before would not be the +truth."</p> + +<p>"Very well, Frank," Jack answered quietly +and went out of the room.</p> + +<p>A little later she came down to dinner, +revealing no sign of what had taken place +between herself and her husband and hoping +that Frieda and Olive would not guess that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_153" id="Page_153">[153]</a></span> +she was still unforgiven. Frank's manner +was perfectly polite and they talked freely of +Captain MacDonnell and of the tragedy of +his recovering only to find his work as a +soldier ended.</p> + +<p>Afterwards, Jack excused herself early in the +evening, because, of course, she had every +reason to feel weary.</p> + +<p>But even if Frieda and Olive did not grasp +the situation at once, they could not continue +to remain long in ignorance, for Jack and +Frank did not return to their old intimacy and +devotion.</p> + +<p>But, as the days went on, this was, perhaps, +as much Jack's fault as her husband's.</p> + +<p>Never before had she ever made an overture +to any human being who had not responded. +Moreover, she could not tell Frank that she +was sorry for what she had done, for she was +not sorry, nor did she regret her own action. +She was merely disillusioned concerning her +husband.</p> + +<p>Always Jack had said that she had more of +the Indian in her than Olive ever had, in +spite of Olive's upbringing. By this she +meant that for one thing she could hide +better the things that hurt her. Yet in a +way she was difficult for anyone to approach<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_154" id="Page_154">[154]</a></span> +on an intimate subject at this time, certainly +neither Olive nor Frieda made any mention +that they saw her continuing trouble with +Frank.</p> + +<p>Unconsciously Jack held her head up before +people unfailingly. No outsider would have +guessed at any change. Only those who +cared for her deeply realized how she was +hurt by Frank's attitude.</p> + +<p>Several times it occurred to Frank that +perhaps he and Jack were making a mistake +to allow their estrangement to go on too long. +The next time his wife asked his pardon +Lord Kent had concluded to forgive her.</p> + +<p>Moreover, he and Frieda had an interview +which annoyed and amused him, but which +he did not forget then, or ever afterwards.</p> + +<p>It was one Sunday afternoon in early March, +an unexpected spring-like day, and he and +Frieda were taking a motor ride together. +They had only one small car on the estate, +having sent the large one to be turned into an +ambulance.</p> + +<p>After their midday dinner Frank had found +himself in need of diversion, Olive and Jack +having explained that they were going to see +a friend who was ill. And as a matter of fact +Frieda diverted Frank from serious affairs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_155" id="Page_155">[155]</a></span> +more than any other grown up person he +knew and consequently he fell in readily with +her suggestion for the ride. He had not the +faintest idea that she was not in a friendly +mood toward him, for Frieda had wisely concealed +the fact, although in reality she was +thoroughly enraged.</p> + +<p>It seemed to her that Frank's treatment of +Jack was almost unpardonable. It is true +that she, perhaps, had rather an exaggerated +opinion of her sister's virtues, but then Jack +had been a kind of mother to her always. +Although they quarreled a little now and +then, as most sisters do, it was beyond Frieda's +comprehension that anyone could believe Jack +would wilfully do wrong, or be forced to suffer +the consequences. Moreover, what Frieda still +thought of as her own "misfortune" made her +particularly "touchy" at present.</p> + +<p>However, she and Frank started off cheerfully, +Frank admiring an especially pretty +bright blue motor coat and small close fitting +blue silk hat, which Frieda had purchased in +New York a few days before sailing. Nevertheless +Frieda had already planned to have a +talk with Frank before their return and only +awaited the proper opportunity.</p> + +<p>She was quiet at first, allowing her brother-in-law<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_156" id="Page_156">[156]</a></span> +to tell her stories about the country and +his neighbors, stories in which she was really +not much interested. But Frieda smiled +and answered, "yes and no," at the proper +times, and this was what Frank really wished. +Most men would rather talk intimately to +women than to other men and Frank had +missed his long hours of conversation with +Jack more than he appreciated.</p> + +<p>Yet Frieda's inattention finally forced itself +upon his notice, so that her brother-in-law +turned and smiled at her.</p> + +<p>"What are you thinking about, Frieda? +Certainly not of what I just said to you."</p> + +<p>Frieda turned her large blue eyes with their +heavy golden lashes half veiling them toward +her companion.</p> + +<p>"Still I was thinking of you, Frank," she +answered, smiling, "and that is the attention +men like best, isn't it?"</p> + +<p>Lord Kent laughed. "Perhaps as a matter +of vanity, yes, Frieda? But of course a good +deal depends upon what one is thinking. +What were you thinking of me?"</p> + +<p>"Oh, only how unlike you and Henry are," +she replied sweetly.</p> + +<p>However, Frank understood something of +her hidden meaning, for he flushed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_157" id="Page_157">[157]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Well, considering the fact that you didn't +find it possible to continue to live with +'Henry,' I suppose I ought to be flattered. +Only as a matter of fact, Frieda, I admire +Professor Russell very much."</p> + +<p>This time Frieda flushed, realizing that +Frank had scored.</p> + +<p>"Yet even though that is true, Frank, +Henry never took the tone with me of insisting +that he was always right and I was always +in the wrong. Do you know, Frank, I am +beginning to think—oh well, Henry was never +so horrid to me as you are to Jack. He isn't a +bit of a bully."</p> + +<p>"So you think I am 'horrid' to Jack and a +bully besides, do you, Frieda?" Frank +returned grimly. He was angry, but not as +angry as he felt he had the right to be. Somehow +he could not manage to get into a violent +state of mind with his youthful sister-in-law.</p> + +<p>Frieda nodded energetically in response, +without appearing the least bit frightened.</p> + +<p>"Of course you are going to think I am +interfering, Frank, and no one <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'every'">ever</ins> pays any +real attention to what I say, but I just thought +I'd tell you anyhow. You are making a big +mistake. Of course I realize that you are not +so silly as not to appreciate Jack, but I don't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_158" id="Page_158">[158]</a></span> +believe you have ever thought what it might +mean to lose her. You see she isn't like most +women, she really does not know how to +quarrel for any length of time. But when +she was hurt or seriously angry as a girl she +used to keep still for a long time not saying +a word. Then she used to do something +unexpected." Frieda's voice shook a little +with stronger feeling than she often showed.</p> + +<p>"I've been afraid lately that Jack might do +something queer now, something no one of us +dreams she would think of doing. She is +so very unhappy. You remember, Frank, +don't you, what a long time it took you to win +Jack? I wonder if it might not take you even +longer to win her back again!"</p> + +<p>Frank stiffened. "I cannot discuss my +relations with Jack, even with you, Frieda. +That is a matter between us alone."</p> + +<p>Frieda nodded pensively.</p> + +<p>"Certainly I appreciate your point of view, +Frank, from my own sad experience."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_159" id="Page_159">[159]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE BREAK<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>BUT Frank did give careful consideration +to what Frieda had said to him. Her +words came as a kind of revelation. +Suddenly he began to appreciate what it +would mean to lose Jack, though of course +there was no possibility of such a thing. +She was one of the most loyal persons in the +world and they had only had a difference of +opinion.</div> + +<p>Yet Frank decided that it would be best to +let bygones be bygones and to mention the +fact to Jack at the first possible opportunity.</p> + +<p>But somehow he seemed to have to wait +for the opportunity to arrive; certainly his +wife did nothing to help him.</p> + +<p>One night, coming home at the usual hour, +Frank discovered that Jack was not there. +She had gone out a little before lunch on some +errand, as Olive and Frieda supposed, but +leaving no word except that they were not to +wait luncheon for her.</p> + +<p>Frieda and Olive, Frank found, were both a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_160" id="Page_160">[160]</a></span> +little uneasy. He laughed at the idea. Jack +had a great many things to attend to in the +neighborhood and knew everybody, while +everybody knew her.</p> + +<p>Afterwards, he went upstairs to the nursery +and stayed half an hour watching Vive and +Jimmie being put to bed. When he came +down to the library to read, twilight was +falling. But instead of reading Frank found +himself turning over the pages of the magazines, +gazing at them, and not knowing a +word of their contents.</p> + +<p>In a few moments it would be dinner time.</p> + +<p>He got up and walked nervously up and +down the room.</p> + +<p>If Jack did not come in by dinner or send a +message what would it be wise to do?</p> + +<p>A few moments later he telephoned two or +three places where he thought Jack might +have remained later than she realized. But +she had not been at any one of the houses +during the day, and naturally Frank did not +wish to ask too many questions, since she +might return home at any moment. It would +then appear absurd to have started false +rumors, or to have created anxiety among +their friends.</p> + +<p>When the butler came in to announce dinner,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_161" id="Page_161">[161]</a></span> +Lord Kent explained that Lady Kent was not +yet at home and that dinner be kept waiting +for another half an hour.</p> + +<p>Soon after Frieda joined him.</p> + +<p>"I know I am silly, Frank," she confessed, +"but I am worried. If Jack had gone out on +horseback, one might understand that she +could have gotten some distance away. But +she did not ride, she walked, and could not +have continued walking since before noon."</p> + +<p>"You are an infant, Frieda," Frank +remarked. "Of course Jack has been paying +visits and has stayed too long. But perhaps +I had best go and look for her, unless she has +found a friend to act as an escort it is too late +for her to be out alone."</p> + +<p>"But where are you going to look?" Frieda +questioned. And either her brother-in-law +did not hear her, or preferred to pretend he +did not, since he made no reply.</p> + +<p>The fact of the matter was he had no plan. +He thought it was rather absurd for him to +look at all, but had suddenly been overtaken +with a sense of uneasiness, a strange +foreboding of disaster. We all yield to these +sensations now and then, but as they were +not usual with Lord Kent he was the more +uncomfortable.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_162" id="Page_162">[162]</a></span></p> + +<p>He could not even decide whether it would +be wiser for him to ride or to walk, but concluded +he had best ride, in order to cover a +greater distance in a shorter time.</p> + +<p>He searched very carefully for Jack down +the long road which divided the estate. And +naturally he remembered the other evening, +not so very many months ago, when he had +ridden down this same avenue peering through +the rain for her and Captain MacDonnell. +Then he had discovered both of them with +but little difficulty.</p> + +<p>Tonight Frank wished that he felt sure +Jack had someone with her to take care of +her, as she had on that other evening. He +would not then have felt so ridiculously +worried.</p> + +<p>"Poor Bryan, one did not like to allow +oneself to think of him too often these days, +yet he must be brought back home as soon +as possible," Frank thought. Some time ago +he had decided that when the time came he +would himself go for Bryan. Perhaps this +would be partly an act of expiation, although +Lord Kent had not said this to himself, or to +his wife.</p> + +<p>This evening he rode directly into the +village, but although it was only a little after<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_163" id="Page_163">[163]</a></span> +eight o'clock, Granchester had long practiced +the daylight saving habit, not because of the +war, but because of a fixed habit of early +sleep and early rising. There were only two +or three scattered lights in the little stone +houses and only a few old men outdoors +talking together in front of a closed public +house.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Frank rode up to the home of +Frieda's old friend and dismounted, for he +had known Mrs. Huggins many long years. +She was accepted by everybody as a kind of +unprinted village newspaper. If Jack had +been in Granchester during the afternoon, +Mrs. Huggins would know just where she +had been and what she had done.</p> + +<p>The old woman's light was out, but a +moment after his knocking she opened her +door. In her hand she held a lamp and her +old eyes shone through the half darkness.</p> + +<p>She was probably excited by the idea that +someone had come to confide a piece of news +to her.</p> + +<p>However, she had heard nothing of Lady +Kent's having been in the village during the +day, and was in fact sure she had not been +there.</p> + +<p>When Lord Kent went away, however,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_164" id="Page_164">[164]</a></span> +she still seemed to think he had brought her +news.</p> + +<p>"There is trouble in the big house, also," +she said to herself, wagging her old head. +"Funny how when trouble of one kind gets +loosed in the world, so many other kinds +follow it." Even after she had gone back to +bed she still kept thinking of Kent House.</p> + +<p>Later, just before he was leaving Granchester, +Frank telephoned to his home.</p> + +<p>Frieda came to the telephone to say that no +word had yet come from her sister.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Lord Kent could not make +up his mind to ask for aid in his search. +He had a curious antipathy toward it, as if +Jack herself would not like this, as if in some +way it might lead to a revelation they would +not wish others to share.</p> + +<p>This was what made all his efforts so difficult. +For each added moment he was +becoming more and more worried, and yet +having to pretend that Jack's failure to return +home, her failure to send any word of her +whereabouts, was the most casual thing in the +world.</p> + +<p>There were several places belonging to +friends and not far from the village. Lord +Kent stopped by at each place for a few<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_165" id="Page_165">[165]</a></span> +moments, as if he were making an ordinary +visit, but of course to find out if Jack had +called during the day. Apparently no one +of her friends had seen her.</p> + +<p>At Captain MacDonnell's home, Frank +inquired for the housekeeper. Mrs. Naxie +was still in charge and she and Frank were old +friends. She had been with Captain MacDonnell's +uncle years before when he and +Bryan were both little boys.</p> + +<p>Lord Kent was not ashamed to reveal his +anxiety to Mrs. Naxie, and she at least had a +little information for him, the first he had +secured.</p> + +<p>"Yes, Lady Kent had stopped by a little +before tea time and had seemed tired. She +explained that she had eaten no lunch, but +enjoyed her tea, and then started away +again. Mrs. Naxie was under the impression +she intended going directly home.</p> + +<p>"There was nothing more for him to do but +to go home also," Frank then concluded. +If Jack had not returned and nothing was +known of her, he must throw away his +scruples and ask for help.</p> + +<p>It was now fully night and the sky filled +with high, sweet stars.</p> + +<p>Although he yearned to be at home at once,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_166" id="Page_166">[166]</a></span> +still Frank searched all the roads, stared +behind the tall hedges, and now and then in +the darkness called his wife's name. Nevertheless +he continued to assure himself that +he was behaving like a fool and there was no +real reason for him to feel so alarmed. He +had always been ridiculously nervous about +Jack and always before now she had laughed +at him.</p> + +<p>It was not until he had almost reached the +beginning of his own land that Frank was +finally honest with himself. He had fought +against confessing the fact that he was to +blame every moment since he first began to +grow uneasy about Jack. Had they been +good friends these past few weeks he knew he +would not have been half so miserable. +Whether he had been right or wrong, he had +realized that Jack had been anxious to make +peace and he had repulsed her. He would +wait for no comfortable opportunity now, as +soon as he found his wife, they must be +reconciled.</p> + +<p>Near the edge of Kent Park, where the land +dipped, there was a small stream, deep in +some places, and yet hardly to be dignified by +the title of river.</p> + +<p>Yielding to an impulse Frank got off his<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_167" id="Page_167">[167]</a></span> +horse here and walked slowly along the bank. +The stream was so narrow he could see +almost equally well on the farther side.</p> + +<p>The trees and underbrush made shadows on +the surface where the water was deepest.</p> + +<p>Suddenly Frank thought he saw one of the +slender, young birches move a step toward +him. The next he heard Jack's voice say:</p> + +<p>"Frank, is that you?"</p> + +<p>Then she came slowly toward him.</p> + +<p>The strange fact was that she did not +appear surprised, nor did she begin by offering +any explanation of her own strange behavior, +nor why she should be found at such an hour +in such a place.</p> + +<p>"Sit down for a little while will you please, +Frank? The ground is not particularly damp +in some places, I have been sitting here a +long time."</p> + +<p>Frank made no reply except to do what she +liked. He knew that something had happened +which was of tremendous seriousness to Jack. +If that were true, then whatever it was, was +equally so to him.</p> + +<p>"You are not ill, are you, dear?" he inquired, +after he had let go his bridle and taken a +seat beside his wife. His horse would only +wander about near by.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_168" id="Page_168">[168]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I was dizzy and very tired a little while +ago, I don't know just how long. I sat down +here to rest and fell asleep for a time. I am +quite all right now." And indeed Jack was +now speaking in a natural voice. One must +remember it was not so unusual for her, as it +would be with most other girls and women, +to take her problems outdoors when she +wished to solve them.</p> + +<p>"There is something I want to say to you, +Frank. I have been making up my mind to +speak of it for some time. This afternoon +I knew I had to decide. I went off for a long +walk and now I have decided."</p> + +<p>Jack was sitting very still a few feet away +from her husband. He now moved over and +put his arm about her, but though she made +no movement to resent it, she showed no sign +of pleasure or of yielding.</p> + +<p>"I want to go home, Frank?" she continued.</p> + +<p>And for an instant believing she meant +Kent House, Frank started to rise. The +next he understood his mistake.</p> + +<p>"I mean I want to go back to the Rainbow +ranch to see Jim and Ruth and Jean, but +Jim most of all," she added, this time with a +little break in her usually steady voice.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_169" id="Page_169">[169]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Please don't answer, Frank, until I have +explained to you a little better. I know it +seems horrid to leave you alone and to take +the babies away, when you are so worn out +with your work and so sad over all the +wretched tragedy of the war. You will miss +the babies, even if you will not particularly +miss me. Still I'll have to go, Frank. I +can't live on with you not forgiving, not caring +for me any more. I won't stay long unless +you wish it and I'll come back whenever you +send for me. But I must go; it has seemed to +me lately as if I could not breathe."</p> + +<p>Jack turned her face directly to her husband, +and although it was too dark to see it distinctly, +he could catch the dim outline.</p> + +<p>"You see until lately I never dreamed that +when things came to a crisis, to a question of +right, to a question of my judgment, or my +conscience, you would not be willing to let +me do as I decided and thought best. I knew +you liked me to follow your way in little +things and I never minded most times. Often +I was glad to do as you wished and when I +didn't agree to your way, I never considered +the fact seriously one way or the other. But +lately I have seen that if we go on living +together, I have got to be a coward, a kind of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_170" id="Page_170">[170]</a></span> +traitor to myself by always appearing to agree +with you, or else live with you and have you +angry and dissatisfied with me. I cannot +bear either. Marriage does not mean that +to me, Frank. I have to get away for a little +while to see if I can find out what I should do."</p> + +<p>There was no sign of anger in Jack's manner, +if she had been feeling angry lately, and of +course she had being perfectly human, her +anger had disappeared tonight during the long +hours she had been thinking things out alone.</p> + +<p>Sitting beside his wife, suddenly as she +finished speaking Frank recalled something +Frieda had lately said to him. Perhaps Frieda +had more brains than her family and friends +realized. However, what she had said was +that whenever she was angry or wounded, +her sister Jack was apt to go off to herself +and then do something unexpected.</p> + +<p>Surely his wife's request tonight was wholly +unexpected.</p> + +<p>But Frank only answered, not revealing +what he felt, nor what he intended.</p> + +<p>"I think this is a pretty severe punishment, +Jack, if you think I am unfair. But you must +let me take you home to Kent House now; +Olive and Frieda are both dreadfully worried +to know what has become of you."</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_171" id="Page_171">[171]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XIV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>PROFESSOR AND PROFESSORESS<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>WHEN it was finally decided that +Jack was to go home to the Rainbow +ranch with her babies and Olive and +Frieda for a visit, Frieda strenuously objected. +No reason was given her by her sister except +the ordinary one, that Jack wished to get +away from the sad atmosphere of a country +at war and also to see her family.</div> + +<p>"Certainly you don't show much consideration +for Frank," Frieda protested when she +first heard the news. "It seems to me that +England is <i>his</i> country and he has a good deal +more work to do and goes through a lot more +than you do, Jacqueline Ralston. I never +could make up my mind to leave my husband +under such circumstances."</p> + +<p>Then although Jack flinched, she did not +make the reply she might so obviously have +made.</p> + +<p>However, Frieda went on just as if she had.</p> + +<p>"I know what you are thinking of, but it +was quite different with Henry and me. He<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_172" id="Page_172">[172]</a></span> +did not need me, he thought I was a butterfly +and my wishing to go out and dance and do +exciting things disturbed his work. He didn't +allow me to go with other people because he +thought it was his <i>duty</i> to look after me. +He said so, said I was too young to be expected +to take care of myself. He wasn't a bit +jealous like Frank, I shouldn't have minded a +jealous husband. If I said he was jealous, I +was only pretending because I wanted to +seem interesting."</p> + +<p>"Frank jealous?" Jack laughed. "You +are too silly, Frieda."</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Frieda tossed her yellow head, +but also flushed a little, having said more +than she intended. If Frank did not know +he was jealous of Captain MacDonnell and +Jack was also unaware how much this had +unconsciously influenced his decision concerning +his friend's request, it was not her place +to tell them.</p> + +<p>"Just the same you'll be sorry and ashamed +of yourself some day, Jack Ralston. You +need not pretend anything to me, I understand +the present situation perfectly. Frank +was rather horrid to you and he ought not to +be allowed to be a bully, but you could really +twist him around your finger if you tried. You<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_173" id="Page_173">[173]</a></span> +can now at any rate because he adores you. +And Frank is pretty nice you know, most +women would be glad to have him. After all +he has a title and money, and men are going +to be scarce when this war is over."</p> + +<p>"Frieda!" Jack exclaimed in such a tone +of disgust that Frieda departed hastily, if still +gracefully, out of her sister's room.</p> + +<p>However she stopped at the door.</p> + +<p>"You know it will look perfectly absurd for +us both to go back home without husbands," +Frieda tossed out. "I didn't mind half so +much when Frank was around and there was +at least one man in our family. But of course +it looks now as if we had something the +matter with us, horrid dispositions, so that +no man could make up his mind to live with +us."</p> + +<p>This time Jack betrayed herself a little more +by showing anger.</p> + +<p>"You have no right to assume I am +behaving as you did, Frieda, because I want +to go to the old ranch for a time. Frank has +given me his consent, I've no idea of running +away."</p> + +<p>Then, as Frieda burst into tears at the +allusion, Jack had to draw her small sister +back into her room from the doorway, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_174" id="Page_174">[174]</a></span> +do what she could to apologize and console +her.</p> + +<p>She felt rather a hypocrite, too, because +after all Frieda was not so far wrong in some +of her suppositions, and she had had no right +to pretend to superiority.</p> + +<p>There was at this time no danger to passenger +vessels through submarines, so that it was +arranged for the travelers to leave for the +United States early in April that they might +spend the spring at the Rainbow Ranch.</p> + +<p>Olive was anxious to go. She had not +intended remaining in England so long, and +wished to take up some course of study at +home, to return later when she might make +herself more useful.</p> + +<p>Jack was torn between her desire to make a +visit to her own home, to get away for a +breath of freedom and the chance to decide +what she ought to do in the future when +Frank opposed her right to decide important +issues for herself and the thought that, perhaps, +Frieda was right and that she was not playing +fair in leaving her husband at so trying a time. +But Frank had not opposed her going, had +really said he thought it might be a good +thing, and she did not know whether he meant +this from her standpoint or from his own.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_175" id="Page_175">[175]</a></span> +It might be that Frank also would enjoy a +certain relief from the presence of a wife who +would not trust his judgment. Certainly +Frank's affection had never seemed the same +since that time. He had been wonderfully good +in agreeing to her new wish, but there were +moments when, womanlike, Jack wondered +if she would not have liked it better had he +shown more opposition.</p> + +<p>So there was only Frieda who unqualifiedly +stormed against leaving. Of course she put +it all on disapproving of her sister's action, +but naturally her family wondered if the +fact that Frieda wished to be near her husband, +whom she believed to be fighting in +France could have anything to do with her +point of view. However, no one dared to +make this suggestion to her. It would have +done no good in any case since she would +probably have promptly denied it.</p> + +<p>However, Frieda would not remain in +England without her sister and Jack was +unwilling that she should. Nevertheless, +insisting on maintaining the attitude of an +aggrieved character, Frieda separated herself +from her own family whenever she could.</p> + +<p>Twice a week for instance she went into +Granchester to tea with Mrs. Huggins.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_176" id="Page_176">[176]</a></span> +Frieda had a private reason for this. One day +she had overlooked the fact that her own +"Dame Quick" had not been her nurse or +foster mother and had confided to the old +woman some of the things which were troubling +her. She did not want advice, what she +wanted was to say those things aloud which +she had been saying to herself, and she knew +her old friend would simply listen and be kind +to her. One might think she would have +feared that the old woman, with her passion +for spreading news, would have gossiped about +her, but Frieda knew better than this.</p> + +<p>One afternoon, about ten days before their +sailing time, Frieda started off alone to walk +to Granchester. She was earlier than need +be since Olive had asked her a question which +had offended her and she had been irritable. +She thought she had caught the suggestion of a +lecture in her sister's expression and so had +hurried off before Jack had a chance to speak.</p> + +<p>Frieda recognized the fact that she was a +little difficult to live with these days. But +then she excused herself by saying that no +one knew how worried and nervous she was. +There were times when Frieda was afraid +she might be losing her prettiness through +worry, until her mirror reassured her. For<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_177" id="Page_177">[177]</a></span> +Frieda understood her own appearance, just +as she understood a great many things. +She knew that Jack had developed into a +beauty from a merely handsome girlhood and +that she was only pretty. But she also +realized that prettiness often makes more +appeal, especially to men, than a higher type +of loveliness. Therefore, Frieda had no idea +of not preserving her own charms as long +as she possibly could.</p> + +<p>She walked slowly so as not to arrive too +early and because she was enjoying the +country more than she usually did. The +quietness of the English landscape, its look of +a carefully kept garden, appealed to Frieda +more than the vastness of her own windswept +western prairies. It was one of the many +odd ironies of fate that Jack, who loved the +prairies must live in England, while until +lately Frieda's life had been cast at least on the +edge of the western country.</p> + +<p>The old English laborers passing back and +forth from their ploughing of the spring fields +were almost the only persons she met.</p> + +<p>When Frieda reached the little house at the +edge of the village, of which Mrs. Huggins +had once told her some story, she stopped +for a moment without any particular motive.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_178" id="Page_178">[178]</a></span></p> + +<p>She did not remember exactly what the story +was, if she had ever known. But the little +house rather interested her. For one thing +she had noticed every time she passed, at no +matter what hour, the blinds were always +drawn halfway down.</p> + +<p>The house was set in the middle of a small +yard and had a little, low ivy covered stone +fence surrounding it and a wooden gate. +However, the front of the house was only a +few yards from the street so that one could see +it distinctly.</p> + +<p>Frieda was not standing still, but was +loitering a few feet from the gate, gazing +absently toward the lower windows.</p> + +<p>Then suddenly and certainly unexpectedly +she heard a strange noise, a kind of muffled +roar. Then an explosion burst forth so that +several panes of window glass broke and +puffs of smoke blew out.</p> + +<p>For an instant there appeared back of the +window, and surrounded by the smoke like +a cherubim among clouds, a face which +Frieda did not really believe she saw. Yet +of course she knew she did see it, or else was +suddenly mad or dreaming.</p> + +<p>As a matter of fact she had the sensation +that she was taking part in a ridiculous and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_179" id="Page_179">[179]</a></span> +improbable detective story, of the kind one +reads in the weekly magazines.</p> + +<p>Yet without hesitating, or feeling the +proper amount of <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'uncertainity'">uncertainty</ins>, or fear, Frieda +jerked open the little wooden gate and rushed +up the path to the front door of the house.</p> + +<p>There at least she did stop to give the bell +a fierce pull, but she might have rushed in +had she supposed the door unlocked.</p> + +<p>However, the next second a little white faced +maid appeared at the door, and Frieda +simply swept by her. The door of the room, +where she had seen the apparition, was on +the left side of the hall and without knocking +she opened this. Just how Frieda would +have explained her own behavior had she +made a mistake did not trouble her.</p> + +<p>But she had not made a mistake. There +standing in the centre of the room and still +somewhat surrounded by smoke and with +the blood coming from an injury to his hand, +stood the person whose face Frieda believed +she had seen through the broken window. +No, she did not really believe she had seen it, +though of course she knew she had.</p> + + +<p>"Are you a deserter, Henry, hiding from +justice?" Frieda demanded scathingly, and +still following the example of the method<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_180" id="Page_180">[180]</a></span> +employed in detective stories, since her experience +was so exactly of the same kind.</p> +<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"> +<img src="images/illus04.jpg" width="500" height="313" alt="I Assure You I Have Official Permission" title="" /> +<span class="caption">I Assure You I Have Official Permission</span> +</div> + +<p>"I most certainly am not, my dear," Professor +Russell answered firmly, but still somewhat +apologetically.</p> + +<p>"I was slightly wounded soon after my +arrival at the front. But I also found that +my scientific knowledge could be of more +service than my abilities as a soldier. So I +came back to England and have been experimenting +with gas bombs with that in mind. +I assure you I have official permission."</p> + +<p>"Then why have you been hiding and why +did you come down here?"</p> + +<p>Professor Russell looked at Frieda and +smiled slowly.</p> + +<p>"You are the answer to both those questions, +Frieda."</p> + +<p>Unexpectedly Frieda's blue eyes filled with +tears.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how you can say that, Henry, +when you have never even tried to see me, or +to let me know what had become of you. +You knew I was suffering horribly for fear you +might be hurt or dead or something and you +wouldn't write me."</p> + +<p>Professor Russell's lips twitched at the +thought of his being blamed for not writing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_181" id="Page_181">[181]</a></span> +after the worst had happened to him. But +he made no other sign.</p> + +<p>"You are mistaken, I have seen you, my +dear, many a time when you have passed this +window and at least I have had the satisfaction +of realizing you were well and happy."</p> + +<p>"But I am neither," Frieda protested. +"Besides I don't understand how you knew, +unless, unless—do you mean Frank and Jack +were both aware that you were here and never +told me? They preferred I should suffer. I +shall never forgive either of them, never." +And Frieda drew herself up, very stately and +very injured. But in truth her lips were +trembling.</p> + +<p>"You are not to blame your sister or brother, +Frieda," Professor Russell interrupted. +"They have simply done what I asked, what +I required of them. You came over to +England to be rid of my presence. I had +neither the desire nor the right to thrust +myself upon you."</p> + +<p>"Then I don't see why you didn't go and +live somewhere else," Frieda remarked +petulantly. But at the same instant she +sank down into a chair.</p> + +<p>"I do wish, Henry, you would give me some +tea. You seem to have an extraordinary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_182" id="Page_182">[182]</a></span> +looking little girl to look after you. And I feel +very much overcome from the shock of hearing +an explosion outside a strange house and then +seeing your face floating in space on the +inside. Moreover, if you are so extraordinarily +scientific I should think you would know +enough to go and wash that gas bomb out of +your hand."</p> + +<p>This time Professor Russell openly laughed.</p> + +<p>"It is scarcely a gas bomb inside my hand, +Frieda. One of the chemicals simply went +slightly wrong."</p> + +<p>But Frieda had closed her eyes and dropped +her head back and really looked so pale that +her husband hurried out after his small maid +and the tea things.</p> + +<p>The moment he had disappeared however +she opened her eyes again.</p> + +<p>"I am going to take Henry Russell back to +the United States with me in ten days," she +remarked aloud, but in a very small whisper. +"I don't know how I am going to manage him +or the British Government, but I am going to, +somehow. I thought I was bored with Henry +and I was and I'll probably be again. But I +suppose all women are bored with the men +they live with sometimes. Anyhow, I had to +think I had lost Henry to know I wanted to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_183" id="Page_183">[183]</a></span> +keep him. He does get a little upset now +and then when I want my own way all the +time, but really under the same circumstances +I don't suppose any other man would be half +so nice to me as Henry is. Besides, oh well, +I believe I'm pretty fond of him."</p> + +<p>When Professor Russell returned, Frieda +again managed to have her eyes closed and +she really was upset by the events of the past +few moments, as was to be expected.</p> + +<p>Therefore she seemed very languid while +Professor Russell and his little maid set out +the tea things. She did offer faintly to help, +observing that her husband had full use of +only one hand. But as it was his left hand +and he insisted on getting along alone, she +permitted it, even to the actually pouring +and handing her of the first cup of tea.</p> + +<p>Later he took a seat in a chair opposite her.</p> + +<p>The unfortunate thing with Frieda was that +she seldom could control her appetite, had +never been able to since her chocolate drop +days. So she concluded she had best begin +her plan of procedure early.</p> + +<p>"I don't see how Jack and Frank could +have told you I was well, Henry," she said +plaintively. "I don't suppose you have +noticed but I have lost a good many pounds."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_184" id="Page_184">[184]</a></span></p> + +<p>As a matter of fact Frieda had lost several +pounds, although she was still reasonably +rounded.</p> + +<p>"No, I had not noticed before, but I observe +you have," the Professor returned. "I trust +there is nothing serious the matter. What is +the doctor's opinion?"</p> + +<p>Frieda shook her head. "I have not seen +a doctor. Really, I have not spoken of this +to any one before, Henry. But do you know +I think, perhaps, I have not been well for a +good many months, even before I left Chicago. +Maybe that is what made me cross sometimes, +Henry. Maybe that's why I ran away +without telling you I was going. I really +think I ought to have talked the matter over +with you, Henry. You would have been quite +willing for me to make Jack a visit wouldn't +you, Henry, just as Frank is allowing Jack +to go home to the ranch?"</p> + +<p>Frieda's hand holding the tea cup shook a +little.</p> + +<p>"But I didn't know this was a visit, Frieda. +I thought you had gone away for good. +Indeed, I am under the impression that you +said you never wished to see me again."</p> + +<p>Frieda shook her head.</p> + +<p>"I never could have really said that,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_185" id="Page_185">[185]</a></span> +Henry, or if I did, you were silly to think I +meant it. I often say lots of things I don't +mean. And I have wanted to see you lots +lately."</p> + +<p>Professor Russell took Frieda's cup away +and laid firm hold on both her hands.</p> + +<p>"Look at me, Frieda," he ordered quietly, +"and don't answer me until you have thought +carefully about what you wish to reply. +You have been a child a long time, Frieda, +but my dear, you have to grow up. All of us +must sooner or later. I am a good deal older +than you and not only that but I care for a lot +of things which seem dull and uninteresting +to you. So do you care for things which do +not seem vital to me. But I'm willing to +confess I'm an old fogy and sometimes I +believe, Frieda dear, I did you a great wrong +when I married you at such a youthful age. +I want you to know, my dear, that I want to +do whatever is best for your happiness. I am +willing to go out of your life, to relieve you +of me altogether if in any way it can be managed +without reflection upon you."</p> + +<p>"Then you mean you don't love me any +more, Henry, you can't forgive me for what I +did," Frieda gasped, turning really honestly pale +this time. Professor Russell shook his head.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_186" id="Page_186">[186]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I don't mean any such thing, Frieda +child. Moreover, you know perfectly well that +I don't and that it is exceedingly reprehensible +for you to go on flirting in this way with your +own husband unless you also care for him."</p> + +<p>Frieda sighed with satisfaction and lifted +up her face to her husband, plainly suggesting +by her expression what she expected him +to do.</p> + +<p>The moment after, she said, with that +funny look of gravity which no one ever paid +any special attention to from her.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Henry, if you say things +like that to me oftener, I feel sure I will care +for you more. But please get your hat and +come with me now, I want to introduce you +to a very dear, old friend of mine in Granchester. +Afterwards, if your hand does not +hurt, you must go up to Kent House with me +to dinner. I intend to let Jack and Frank +know that I can manage my own affairs and +do not in the future intend to be kept in the +dark as if I were a silly child."</p> + +<p>The Professor obeyed orders.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_187" id="Page_187">[187]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XV</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>THE OLD RANCH<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>IT was a wonderful May day when Frieda +and her Professor, Jack and her two +babies and nurse, and Olive arrived at the +Rainbow Ranch.</div> + +<p>Jim and Ruth Colter and Jean Merritt, +who was their own Jean Bruce, of the old +Ranch Girl days, drove down to the same +funny little frame station to meet them. +But beside the automobile they brought a +great wagon, which Jim drove himself, in +order that they might take up to the house +as many trunks and as many people as could +not be stored away in the car.</p> + +<p>Jack insisted on returning home alongside +Jim, seated on the driver's seat, her feet still +not quite touching the floor.</p> + +<p>She had put her babies in the automobile, +with Ruth and Jean, so that they might make +each others' acquaintance. Moreover, she +had a sentiment in wishing to reach the old +ranch with Jim as her companion. No +matter what had happened to her, no matter<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_188" id="Page_188">[188]</a></span> +what should happen in the future, Jim, who was +her first friend, the manager of the old ranch, +and her own and Frieda's guardian, would remain +her best friend to the end of the chapter.</p> + +<p>She knew, too, that Olive cherished many +happy memories, while Frieda was beatific +these days in the company of her Professor.</p> + +<p>Jack felt a singing in her heart and in her +ears as she saw the wide meadows now +blossoming with purple clover and heard the +western larks rising high over the land, +dipping toward it again, then soaring higher +up, as if they threw aside the call of the earth +for the loftier one of the air.</p> + +<p>Jim and Ruth with their children, and Jean +and Ralph Merritt and their little girl, when +they were at the ranch, lived in the great +house which the Ranch girls had built after +coming into their fortune through the discovery +of the mine on their place. But the +old Rainbow Lodge, where they had all lived +as little girls when it was rather hard to make +expenses in the dry seasons in Wyoming, had +never been torn down. Indeed, as a special +request from Jack it had been kept in perfect +repair and still remained simply and comfortably +furnished.</p> + +<p>Whenever there were too many guests at<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_189" id="Page_189">[189]</a></span> +the big house, some of them were sent down +here, and more often, when he could bear the +ways of high society no longer, Jim escaped +to the old lodge for a quiet smoke and perhaps +an hour to himself. Now and then Ruth, his +wife, would come to join him, and they would +talk of the early days at the ranch and their +first meeting, when Ruth was a prim New +England schoolmarm.</p> + +<p>So, as a favor, Jack had asked that the old +Lodge be given over to her use while she was +at home. She and the babies would come up +to the big house for their meals, except at +night when the babies could be better taken +care of at the Lodge. This would give all the +more room for the others.</p> + +<p>So, as Ruth, Jim and Jean, realized that +Jack sincerely wished this arrangement, they +had agreed with her desire. Jack had married +so soon after the building of the house, which +Frieda had named "The Rainbow Castle," +that she had never learned to feel any particular +affection for it. So in coming home +she wished to return to the house she had +loved and remembered.</p> + +<p>On either side <ins title="Transcriber's Note: this word not present in original text">of</ins> the old Lodge, Frieda's violet +beds were still carefully tended and today +were a mass of bloom.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_190" id="Page_190">[190]</a></span></p> + +<p>Olive and Frieda and the Professor insisted +on getting out first at the Lodge with Jack +and Jim. When they entered the old living +room it was so like the one they recalled that +the three women, who were girls no longer, +felt a sudden catching of their breath.</p> + +<p>But of course Jim and Jean had arranged +the old room to look as much like it formerly +did as possible. They had the Indian rugs on +the floor, the old shelves of books, with just +the books the Ranch girls had owned long +before, the great open fireplace and the tall +brass candlesticks on the mantel.</p> + +<p>Then before leaving for the station Jean +had filled the room with bunches of violets, +as Frieda had once been accustomed to do.</p> + +<p>"It is still just the loveliest, homiest place +in the world!" Frieda exclaimed.</p> + +<p>Jack did not feel that she could speak for the +first minute, and the next Jean had come +running in carrying Vive in her arms and with +Jimmie beside her. They were followed by +Jean's own little daughter, Jacqueline, and by +two other little girls, who belonged to Jim +and Ruth and another Jimmie, who was +somewhere between the biggest and the +littlest Jim.</p> + +<p>Then there was, of course, the immense confusion<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_191" id="Page_191">[191]</a></span> +of the arrival and the settling of so +large a number of guests. Besides there were +so many children to be looked after who +always must be considered first.</p> + +<p>That evening there was a dinner at the big +house, at which everybody talked a great +deal, asked a great many questions and +answered them. But in reality they were all +too tired and excited to get much satisfaction +from one another.</p> + +<p>Afterwards, although Jim and Jack walked +home alone to the Lodge, they did not try to +say a great deal to each other. Only at parting +Jim said, "Have a cup of coffee in the morning +early, Jack. I have promised Ruth not to +take you too far, but I've a new horse for you +to try and I want you to have the first ride +over the ranch with me, while the others are +still asleep. You and I are the only ones +who have <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'every'">ever</ins> really loved the dawn out +here in God's country. Ruth has left some +riding togs for you somewhere in your room."</p> + +<p>Waking before six o'clock next morning, +Jack was lying in bed breathing deeply of the +sweet clover-scented air, when she heard a +never to be forgotten whistle outside her +window.</p> + +<p>She stuck her head out.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_192" id="Page_192">[192]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I'll be down in ten minutes, Jim. Is that +the horse for me? Isn't he a beauty? But +hitch yours and mine somewhere outside and +open the Lodge door, I didn't lock it last +night, and come in and start my coffee. I +just opened my eyes this minute."</p> + +<p>Ten minutes later, as she had said, Jack slid +quietly downstairs so as not to arouse her +children. She smelt the delicious aroma of +the coffee in the old Lodge kitchen, once presided +over by old Aunt Ellen, who had died a +few years before. She also discovered Jim +helping himself to the first cup when she +appeared. But instead he gave it to her, got +another for himself and handed her a napkin +filled with sandwiches which Ruth had provided. +Then they drank and munched as +silently and contentedly as they always had +in each other's company during many years +and various experiences.</p> + +<p>But they had both stepped out on the big +front porch of the Lodge, when Jim suddenly +swung round and put his hands on Jack's +slender shoulders.</p> + +<p>He had seen something in her face which +the others had not, perhaps because he had +always cared for her most.</p> + +<p>"Ain't anybody been doin' anything to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_193" id="Page_193">[193]</a></span> +you, you don't like, Boss?" Jim demanded, +purposely breaking into the old careless speech +he had used before Ruth's coming to Rainbow +Ranch to educate them all, and Jim more than +any one. "Because if anyone has, you know +you can always count on your old pardner."</p> + +<p>But Jack only laughed and shook her head +rubbing it against his sleeve, as a young colt +does. This had been one of the things she +used to do as a girl, half as an expression of +affection and half to conceal her embarrassment.</p> + +<p>Then Jack ran out to where her horse was +waiting. She had on a khaki riding costume, +a new one, but except for that, pretty much of +the same kind that she had been accustomed +to wearing as Jacqueline Ralston.</p> + +<p>She was now looking over the horse +critically.</p> + +<p>"He is one of the most perfect creatures I +ever saw, Jim. I don't care what other +people say, I like our fine western horses +better than any others in the world."</p> + +<p>"Try him, Jack," and Jim lifted her lightly +up.</p> + +<p>The next instant she had gone down the +avenue like a streak of light, whirled and +come back again.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_194" id="Page_194">[194]</a></span></p> + +<p>"His movement seems perfect, too, but I'll +have to give him more of a test before I can +decide."</p> + +<p>She then started off again with Jim Colter +beside her.</p> + +<p>"If you like him, Jack, the horse is a +present from me. I got him and had him +broken for you. I don't ever want anyone +else to use him."</p> + +<p>Jack's face flushed. "Jim, there never was +anybody so good to me as you have always +been, and no one who has ever understood +me so well. I don't mean that there is much +to understand, but what there is I know you +believe the best of."</p> + +<p>"Well, I don't expect there is anybody who +began to know you as soon as I did, Jack," +Jim Colter answered, realizing again that there +was something behind Jack's words which she +did not exactly wish to confide in him.</p> + +<p>It was all very well for the rest of the family +to say Jack didn't look a day older. She was +better looking than she used to be, if that was +what they were talking about, and her figure +looked very slim and sweet and girlish, as she +rode there beside him, as gracefully and as +much at ease as ever. But Jack's expression +was different, there were shadows under her<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_195" id="Page_195">[195]</a></span> +eyes, no matter how her lips were smiling. +Jim remembered that even if he had liked +Frank Kent, he never had thought much of +Englishmen as husbands for American girls.</p> + +<p>But he said nothing more on the subject to +Jack, only pointing out objects in the +familiar, old landscape which they both +loved, and realizing that if Jack had anything +to tell him she would do so of her own accord +later on.</p> + +<p>They were late to breakfast, of course, so +they found that all the others, having finished, +were out on the lawn waiting.</p> + +<p>"I suppose Jim tried to show you every +horse and every cow on the ranch, Jack," +Ruth began. "I hope you are not worn out, +child. I told him to allow you one night's +rest."</p> + +<p>Ruth Colter was growing very matronly +these days with her husband and son and two +daughters to look after. She and Jim were +to have two other daughters, to repeat as they +always said, another group of four new Ranch +Girls. But as yet only two had put in their +appearance.</p> + +<p>"Yes, and after she has had breakfast I +want to take Jack and everybody down to the +Rainbow Mine. I always feel it belongs<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_196" id="Page_196">[196]</a></span> +more to Ralph, and to me than to the others. +Oh, simply because my husband was its first +engineer."</p> + +<p>Jean's eyes were as brown and velvety as +ever and she wore that little expression of pride +and self satisfaction that comes into the faces +of so many women who are married to successful +men. It is as if they shared the pride +and glory of the success, without any of the +effort or necessary disappointment.</p> + +<p>"Remember, Henry, when you and Ralph +were more or less blown up going down the +shaft of the old mine. It was after that, +Frieda adopted you."</p> + +<p>The Professor nodded. "I had my legs +broken didn't I, so I couldn't get away? +Well, Frieda always prefers her victims +helpless."</p> + +<p>Frieda tossed her head and walked away as +she always had done when any member of her +family teased her.</p> + +<p>Later in the day all the family and half a +dozen visitors did go down to the old mine, +which was still yielding a fair amount of gold, +but not half so much as in the old days. +Afterwards, lunch was served in the neighborhood +of Rainbow creek and most of the day +was spent outdoors.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_197" id="Page_197">[197]</a></span></p> + +<p>Toward the close of the afternoon, however, +everybody else wandered away leaving the +four one time Ranch Girls together.</p> + +<p>They were sitting in the afternoon sunshine +on a patch of grass not far from the neighborhood +of the creek.</p> + +<p>Jack was lying down with her head resting +in Olive's lap, Frieda was close to Jean +and now and then putting her hand inside +her cousin's for a moment. She and Jean +had always been cronies in the old days, when +the four of them had been divided into pairs +over some small issue.</p> + +<p>"I don't believe this is far from the place +where Frank and I discovered the first gold in +Rainbow creek," Jack remarked drowsily, a +little worn out from the excitement of the +day. "How filled the old ranch was with +memories and thoughts of her husband!" +Jack smiled to herself. Certainly she had +been the impatient one and Frank the patient +in those many months of her long illness.</p> + +<p>Whatever anger Jack had felt in regard to +her husband's autocratic attitude toward her, +had entirely disappeared soon after saying +farewell to him. But the puzzle was still +present. Frank had been kind and sweet to +her for the time before she left home. But<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_198" id="Page_198">[198]</a></span> +never once had he frankly declared that in +future he would be willing for Jack to decide +important questions according to her +own judgment, even as he must act by his +own. And this was what Jack wanted, the +sense of spiritual freedom.</p> + +<p>"When is Frank coming over to join you, +Jack?" Jean Merritt asked unexpectedly. +"Ralph hopes to get home from his work at +the canal in a few weeks and it would be a +great pleasure if he and Frank could be here +at the same time."</p> + +<p>"Frank, oh, Frank isn't coming at all, +Jean. He couldn't possibly leave his own +country now, while they are at war. There +is so much he feels he ought to do."</p> + +<p>Jack hoped she was not blushing, but was +painfully aware that Frieda's eyes were fixed +somewhat critically upon her. Frieda was +giving herself more airs than ever, now that +she and her Professor were reconciled, and she +had been able to persuade the British Government +to allow her to bring him to the United +States. The truth was the Professor had +finished the scientific work he had undertaken, +and in coming to his own country at the +present time would be enabled to get hold of +materials much needed in England.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_199" id="Page_199">[199]</a></span></p> + +<p>Not actually realizing, but guessing at +Jack's embarrassment, Olive remarked hastily.</p> + +<p>"After all there is some advantage in being +an old maid, one does not have to worry continually +over being in the same place with +one's husband. You will all have to come +over to see my Indian School some day soon. +Perhaps I am wedded to that."</p> + +<p>"Nonsense, Olive," Frieda murmured, "but +really I don't see why you have never married. +You were obstinate enough about not accepting +poor Don Harmon, but then you got most +of your grandmother's money after all. Still +you must have had other chances. You are +as good looking as the rest of us and some +people like brunettes best."</p> + +<p>As Frieda's own yellow hair was at this +moment unbound, so that it might get the air +and sunshine, and as she looked at it with +utter satisfaction as she spoke, her three +companions laughed unrestrainedly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, come now Frieda, you don't really +believe anyone has such poor taste as that," +Olive teased.</p> + +<p>But at this instant seeing that Jack's nurse +was coming toward them carrying Vive in her +arms, Frieda got the best of the situation as +she often did.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_200" id="Page_200">[200]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, well, perhaps the combination is +prettiest after all. Vive is the only real +beauty with her dark eyes and yellow hair."</p> + +<p>Frieda held out her arms for the baby, who +came to her with little ripples of happy +laughter, and the two blonde heads, which +were so nearly the same color, were held close +together.</p> + +<p>"I believe Vive really is the prettiest of all +the children," Jean remarked critically, which +was good of her, since she had a little girl of +her own.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_201" id="Page_201">[201]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVI</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>VIVE<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>SO the days and weeks passed on at the +Rainbow Ranch, seeming to be uneventful +and yet filled with quantities of +pleasures and interests.</div> + +<p>June came and the prairies were covered +with wild flowers.</p> + +<p>No one stayed indoors, except to sleep and +eat, and oftentimes not for either of these +things. Many nights Jack slept out on the +Lodge verandah, sometimes with Olive or +Jean, more often alone.</p> + +<p>There were wonderful white nights such as +only the west knows.</p> + +<p>Jack used to love to lie and listen to the +sounds she had long known and loved. A +pair of owls in one of the old cottonwood trees +held nightly conversations with each other, +now and then screeching in such an irritated +fashion that Jack laughed over their apparently +human qualities.</p> + +<p>Then far away from the house on the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_202" id="Page_202">[202]</a></span> +neighboring prairies she could hear the coyotes +call to one another with warnings of danger.</p> + +<p>These were excellent nights in which to +think, for sometimes the moon made it almost +too light for sleep. And Jack had a great +deal to occupy her mind. Twice a week she +wrote Frank and he wrote her with the same +frequency, since at this time there were still +two mail boats a week. But neither made any +reference to their conversation on the evening +when Jack had made her request to come +home and given her reason.</p> + +<p>Things in England were not going so well +at this period as Frank had hoped, and he +wrote chiefly of this. But he also said that he +now received frequent news from Captain +MacDonnell, who was growing better and now +knew what fate had in store for him. He +might be able to walk in the future, but only +with crutches.</p> + +<p>On several occasions Jack thought of deliberately +asking her husband to come to some +kind of an agreement with her for the future. +Yet she hardly dared open a subject that +might lead to differences between them, when +they were so far apart, but she was very +often lonely for him and sometimes repented +having left England at all.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_203" id="Page_203">[203]</a></span></p> + +<p>Jack, of course, was not always in this +frame of mind. During the greater part of the +time she was very happy.</p> + +<p>A number of hours each day she spent on +the horse Jim had given her, which she had +named "Britain" in honor of her adopted +country.</p> + +<p>Now and then Jean and Olive and Frieda +would refuse to ride, preferring some other +amusement, but there was always Jim as a +companion.</p> + +<p>Jim Colter was now a successful and fairly +wealthy ranchman owning a half interest in +the Rainbow Ranch and having the entire +ownership of the one adjoining it. But he continued +to follow much the same routine as when +he was only the manager for the Ranch girls.</p> + +<p>That is, whenever it was possible, he rode +over miles of the ranch land, watching the +crops and his water supply, and carefully +examining all his horses and cattle, when they +seemed to need his attention.</p> + +<p>Accompanying Jim on these excursions had +been, not only one of Jack's chief amusements, +but one of her serious occupations as a girl +and it still greatly interested her. Besides, +she and Jim saw each other under more favorable +circumstances in this way than in any<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_204" id="Page_204">[204]</a></span> +other, and had more real opportunities for +conversation.</p> + +<p>But always Jack arranged to get back to the +Lodge in time to see her children before they +went to bed. They had an excellent nurse and +of course there was all the rest of the family +to look after them, but Jack had followed this +custom at home, except under unusual circumstances +and would not have given it up +for a great deal.</p> + +<p>Therefore she was worried one afternoon +when Jim insisted upon staying out later than +usual. She would have returned alone, except +that Jim had found a young colt which had +injured itself and wished Jack's help and +advice in the care of it.</p> + +<p>Finally, when they did get started for home, +Jack rode ahead like the wind, calling back +to her companion not to try to follow her +unless he liked, as she knew he had some other +matters on the place to look after.</p> + +<p>By making unusual speed she hoped to +reach home a few minutes before six, when +Vive was put into bed and Jimmie ate his +supper before following her.</p> + +<p>Olive was waiting on the porch when Jack +came into sight and went out to meet her +before she had dismounted.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_205" id="Page_205">[205]</a></span></p> + +<p>"What is it, Olive?" Jack asked sharply, as +soon as she saw her. "Which one of the +children is it? What has happened?" For it +is a curious fact that a mother often feels this +premonition of danger.</p> + +<p>"There is nothing to be seriously frightened +about, Jack," Olive replied quietly, "only +little Vive isn't very well. Frieda and I had +her with us for a little while this afternoon and +she seemed somewhat languid. Frieda +thought she had a little fever, so Ruth saw her +and we have sent for the doctor. He will be +here in another few moments."</p> + +<p>Jack made no comment except to go +swiftly indoors, leaving Olive to find some one +to care for her horse.</p> + +<p>She knew, of course, that Olive was telling +her as little as possible.</p> + +<p>Jimmie had been taken away to the other +house, so Vive now occupied alone the big +room at the Lodge which had belonged to +Jack and Frieda when they were little girls.</p> + +<p>It was simply furnished with a few rugs and +wicker chairs and bright pictures and three +little white iron cots.</p> + +<p>In the smallest Vive lay apparently asleep +on her pillow.</p> + +<p>But Jack saw at once she was not asleep.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_206" id="Page_206">[206]</a></span> +Her exquisite little face was flushed a bright +scarlet, her lids heavy and closed, and the +strangest fact was that one of her little hands +twitched unceasingly.</p> + +<p>Now and then she opened her golden brown +eyes, but without seeing or knowing anyone.</p> + +<p>When the doctor arrived he made no effort +to disguise the seriousness of Vive's condition. +If she were to live it would be a fight and one +of the hardest of all kinds, since they must +simply wait and watch, with very little possible +to do.</p> + +<p>For some unknown reason, perhaps because +there had been too much excitement from the +trip, too much notice taken of her by too many +people, Vive had meningitis.</p> + +<p>But Jack was never a coward and it is +scarcely worth saying that a mother's courage, +so long as she thinks it can help her child, +is the purest courage of all.</p> + +<p>As soon as she heard the verdict, Jack +went quickly to her own room and put on a +white cotton dress. Afterwards, until Vive +was better or worse, she would never leave +her side for a moment.</p> + +<p>But it is one thing to be brave when a +shock comes and one has health and strength +to meet it. It is another to keep up that<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_207" id="Page_207">[207]</a></span> +courage hour after hour, day after day, when +the strength is gone and the body and mind +unconsciously sick with weariness.</p> + +<p>There was a trained nurse, of course, and any +member of her family would have done anything +that was humanly possible to relieve +Jack's vigil. But she would not be persuaded +or argued into going out of her baby's room, +and slept there in the hours when she did +sleep, half awake and half dreaming, on a +small cot by Vive's.</p> + +<p>And most of the time Frieda stayed with +her.</p> + +<p>In a way it seems strange that it should +have been Frieda. Olive, one would have +supposed to be more sympathetic, Jean and +Ruth had children of their own.</p> + +<p>But some change had been taking place in +Frieda for a good many months and she +adored little Vive. Whenever any of the +others disputed Frieda's right, she always +said quietly that after all, she was Jack's only +sister, and that if anything happened she +must be the one to be by her.</p> + +<p>If Jack's husband had been with her, why +then it would have been different. So Frieda +even waved away her devoted Professor, +who feared she might be ill, by telling him<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_208" id="Page_208">[208]</a></span> +there would be time enough to think of her +later on.</p> + +<p>Although she and Jack sat side by side for +many hours with their eyes on the baby, they +but rarely spoke to each other.</p> + +<p>Yet it was too pitiful to continue always to +watch the movement of Vive's baby hands +and her heavy breathing.</p> + +<p>"If Vive dies do you think Frank will ever +forgive me," Jack asked one night.</p> + +<p>And true to herself Frieda tossed her yellow +head.</p> + +<p>"I don't see what Frank has to forgive? +The point is will he ever forgive himself for +having you go through all this alone?"</p> + +<p>"But I ought not to have brought Vive +away. Still I wouldn't mind anything if +only Frank were with me."</p> + +<p>A little later when the doctor arrived he +said that the crisis would come within the +hour and he would remain.</p> + +<p>Olive and Jean waited in the Lodge living +room, Jim had disappeared somewhere an +hour before. Ruth Colter came into the +nursery and stayed by Jack.</p> + +<p>Half an hour passed. Then suddenly there +was a strange, almost an unearthly silence in +the room, and it was as if one could see the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_209" id="Page_209">[209]</a></span> +little white soul rise and float softly away like +a bird.</p> + +<p>The little figure in the cradle was still.</p> + +<p>The doctor rose up.</p> + +<p>"It is over," he said pitifully.</p> + +<p>Frieda covered up her face, but Jack went +over and looked down at Vive for a moment +and then turned to the others.</p> + +<p>"Please do not let anyone come with me," +she asked. "I must go outdoors alone."</p> + +<p>Then Jack went out past the living room, +through the long avenue of tall trees, on +farther and farther, not knowing where she +was going.</p> + +<p>The Rainbow Ranch, which she had loved +better than any place in the world, had taken +from her the human being, whom at this +moment she believed she loved most.</p> + +<p>Over Rainbow creek there hung a tiny +yellow, crescent moon. It seemed to Jack that +this, too, made her think of her baby, it was +just as cold, just as perfect and as far away.</p> + +<p>She stayed there a long time, then getting +up she wandered on. She did not think +whether her family would be uneasy, she did +not care.</p> + +<p>It seemed to her she never wished to go +back again to the Lodge.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_210" id="Page_210">[210]</a></span></p> + +<p>But finally a little clearer judgment came to +her and she turned back.</p> + +<p>It was almost dawn.</p> + +<p>There, standing on the porch of the Rainbow +Lodge, was a man's figure. Jack supposed it +was Jim.</p> + +<p>He started toward her and the next moment +Jack was in his arms.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Frank?" Jack queried.</p> + +<p>Frank drew her closer to him.</p> + +<p>A little later she allowed Frank to lead +her into the house, where she undressed +and went to bed, with him sitting beside +her.</p> + +<p>She had made no inquiry about how he had +arrived at such a moment. Jack had but one +thought at this time, no others could enter +her mind.</p> + +<p>The facts were that Frank had left England +ten days before bringing Captain MacDonnell +with him. He had a mission from his Government +so as to make the trip possible. But +more than anything else he felt he must see +his wife.</p> + +<p>He had tried to write Jack, to tell her +that he believed he had been unfair, that +his obstinacy should never make an issue +between them again. But it had all been so<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_211" id="Page_211">[211]</a></span> +difficult to write and it must be so long before +he could receive Jack's answer.</p> + +<p>Moreover, Frank wanted to bring Captain +MacDonnell to the ranch to stay during his +convalescence. Soon after Jack's departure +he had gone over to France, as an act of +expiation both to his wife and friend. There +he had found Captain MacDonnell recovering, +but infinitely depressed with the thought that +he could no longer serve his country, but must +be only a burden.</p> + +<p>On the arrival of his steamer in New York +Lord Kent had wired Jim Colter, but Jim had +thought it best not to speak to Jack until +Frank was able to reach her.</p> + +<p>He had therefore sent him a wire telling +of Vive's illness, and Frank had hurried west, +leaving Captain MacDonnell with friends in +New York city.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_212" id="Page_212">[212]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>FAREWELL<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>ABOUT a week later Captain MacDonnell +arrived at the Rainbow Ranch +accompanied by a man servant who +waited upon him. He looked better than +any of his friends had anticipated.</div> + +<p>Since there was so much sorrow in the +world at the present time, Jack and Frank +had made up their minds that they would not +let their own influence other people more than +they could avoid. Moreover, they had found +each other again at just the right moment and +were more devoted, more united than ever +before. Frank explained his own change of +attitude to his wife, but all the events of the +past seemed small in comparison with their +loss.</p> + +<p>It was Frieda who for a while seemed the +more outwardly inconsolable.</p> + +<p>Actually the Professor came one day in distress +to Jack herself.</p> + +<p>"My dear Jack, I don't know what I shall<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_213" id="Page_213">[213]</a></span> +do with my little Frieda when you have gone +home to England!" he exclaimed. For it had +been decided that Jack and Jimmie were to +return home when Frank did.</p> + +<p>"But you will both be coming over soon," +Jack answered, showing no sign that it might +be strange under the circumstances to expect +her to comfort Frieda.</p> + +<p>The Professor did not see this. He really +saw very little else in the world except his +wife and his work.</p> + +<p>"We may not be able to come for several +months. In the meantime if she frets herself +ill?"</p> + +<p>Jack promised to talk to her sister.</p> + +<p>One evening when Frieda complained of a +headache and did not come down to dinner, +Jack went up to her.</p> + +<p>She found her sister lying on a couch and +looking very young and sweet.</p> + +<p>"You are not to worry too much on my +account, Frieda dear," Jack began.</p> + +<p>"I am not supposed to be unselfish," Frieda +murmured.</p> + +<p>But Jack paid no attention to her speech. +"Perhaps you'll have a baby some day yourself, +dear."</p> + +<p>At this Frieda pulled her sister down and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_214" id="Page_214">[214]</a></span> +<ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'whispering'">whispered</ins> something in her ear. Jack's face +flushed.</p> + +<p>"I should be happier than anything! +Remember you and Henry are to come to us +as soon as it can be arranged."</p> + +<p>A few days later Lord and Lady Kent with +their little boy left for the East. They were +to stop a few days in Washington and then +sail.</p> + +<p>Not long afterwards Frieda and the Professor +also went away from the ranch, as +Professor Russell had a good many things +to look after and Frieda would not be separated +from him.</p> + +<p>As Ralph Merritt had arrived for a visit, +Jean's attention was occupied with him. So +as a matter of fact Captain MacDonnell was +rather left to Olive's care.</p> + +<p>At first it did not seem a large duty simply +to try and keep Captain MacDonnell amused +and she had wanted to do something. But +Olive had not reckoned with her task.</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell was an Irishman and +a Scotchman, which means he was able to be +very gay and also very melancholy. And +always in times past, when his melancholy +mood had taken hold on him, he could mount +his horse and ride the spectre away, or else<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_215" id="Page_215">[215]</a></span> +engage in some other active outdoor occupation.</p> + +<p>But here he was still so young a man, with +all his future before him, and compelled to sit +all day in a wheeled chair, or else hobble about +on crutches.</p> + +<p>It has not been the illness that has been +hardest for the soldiers to bear, but oftentimes +this coming back to accept with resignation +a new kind of life.</p> + +<p>Yet Captain MacDonnell tried to be +patient, tried to let no one guess what he was +suffering at thus having his career ended so +soon, and being also unable to go on with the +service to his country which he so longed to +give.</p> + +<p>But Olive, who had always more of a gift +for sympathy than any one of the Ranch girls, +appreciated what he was enduring more than +she even revealed to him.</p> + +<p>She had been reading him a volume of Kipling +one day, and happening to raise her eyes, +saw that he was not listening. She even +stopped a few moments and found that he was +unaware of it.</p> + +<p>When Captain MacDonnell did discover his +own absorption, he turned to Olive with a +charming smile.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_216" id="Page_216">[216]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Forgive me," he explained. "I do not +intend to be ungrateful, indeed I am more +grateful than I know how to express. But +those stories of India started me to thinking +of the first years I was out there. It is a +strange country, India. I don't think we +western people understand it."</p> + +<p>He and Olive were sitting on the Lodge +verandah.</p> + +<p>Olive nodded, "I do understand what you +must feel and I do wish there was something +else to interest you."</p> + +<p>Then she remained silent. After all Captain +MacDonnell could not go on in idleness like +this. There must be something he could +find to do, some real thing. Poorer men were +learning trades. It would be better for him +to do this if only he could be persuaded to +feel enough interest.</p> + +<p>Olive did not realize she was frowning.</p> + +<p>Suddenly she exclaimed.</p> + +<p>"Look here, Captain MacDonnell, didn't +I hear Frank say once that you used to be +fond of drawing when you were a small boy, +that you were once undecided whether to be +an artist or a soldier?"</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell smiled. "I believe so, +I've an idea I was a pretty conceited youngster<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_217" id="Page_217">[217]</a></span> +and would have made as much of a failure at +one as I have of the other."</p> + +<p>But Olive refused to pay any attention to +this speech.</p> + +<p>For a moment Captain MacDonnell forgot +himself thinking of how attractive Olive +looked.</p> + +<p>He had not remembered thinking of this +especially when they had met in England, +only that she was unusual looking and not in +the least like an American or English woman. +It was almost as if she might be Spanish. +Captain MacDonnell also had some Spanish +blood farther back in his own family, when the +Spanish were the great voyagers and visited +and settled on the coasts of Ireland.</p> + +<p>But Olive went on talking.</p> + +<p>"I do wish you would undertake the drawing +again, it might at least amuse you, and +there are so many interesting people and +scenes you could attempt out here."</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell shook his head.</p> + +<p>"I'm afraid the time has gone by for that," +he returned.</p> + +<p>But Olive had a kind of gentle, sensible +persistency that nearly always wins its +way.</p> + +<p>"Still, there wouldn't be any harm in just<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_218" id="Page_218">[218]</a></span> +seeing if it might amuse you," she went on. +"I am sure it would be a kind of relief."</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell again looked at +Olive. Her deep toned skin was softly flushed +and her dark eyes brilliant with earnestness.</p> + +<p>He laughed a little. "Of course it will, a +relief to you, so for that reason I'll attempt it. +But on one condition?"</p> + +<p>Olive flushed a little with embarrassment, +since she had never wholly gotten over her +shyness. However, she realized that Captain +MacDonnell was teasing her. He did very +often when he was in a gay humor and Olive +felt it was good for her, as she was too inclined +to be grave.</p> + +<p>"What is the condition?" she inquired. +"Of course it will be relief to me to know you +are happier," at which Captain MacDonnell +felt that Olive had scored.</p> + +<p>"Why, that I won't have to keep on calling +you Miss Van Mater. It is too much of a +name, just as mine is."</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell was doubtful as to +how Olive would receive this suggestion. +She seemed more formal than the rest of the +family and he had thought her colder until her +great kindness to him. Now he at least knew<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_219" id="Page_219">[219]</a></span> +better than to misunderstand her shyness for +coldness, as a good many people did.</p> + +<p>Olive replied perfectly naturally.</p> + +<p>"Of course I will. The truth is I have +always thought of you as Bryan, as Jack and +Frank always talked of you by this name."</p> + +<p>His promise would have really passed out of +Captain MacDonnell's mind if Olive had not +supplied him with a great variety of drawing +materials within a few days, which she had +taken a good deal of trouble to secure for him.</p> + +<p>But as a matter of fact she was really surprised +to discover how much talent he had. +But then Captain MacDonnell used to work +for many hours each day, so that it was not +long before his former facility came back to +him. More than this, he discovered to his own +surprise as well, that he could do a great deal +better work than he had as a boy. Somehow +the skill must have developed in him unheeded +as he was growing older.</p> + +<p>She came out on the lawn one afternoon and +discovered Captain MacDonnell at work a +little distance off.</p> + +<p>He had evidently persuaded one of the cowboys +to pose for him, as the man and his +horse were standing in a picturesque attitude +only a few feet away.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_220" id="Page_220">[220]</a></span></p> + +<p>Olive walked over to them and stood +studying the drawing until Captain MacDonnell +turned round to speak to her.</p> + +<p>"Why don't you say it is good?" he +demanded boyishly. "You know I've half +an idea it is."</p> + +<p>Olive nodded enthusiastically.</p> + +<p>"It's like Remington."</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell laughed. "Not quite. +Still I am getting on. But it seems to me you +are neglecting me lately. I say, suppose you +pose for me. That would be ripping. You +won't be sensitive if I don't make much of a +go just at first."</p> + +<p>For a moment Olive hesitated. Then it +struck her that she would enjoy sitting outdoors +in the early autumn sunshine for a few +hours each day with her friend. For Captain +MacDonnell had become her friend by this +time, she had no doubts on this point. Moreover, +she had made up her mind she must soon +go away. She had planned to take a course in +nursing so as to fit herself to be more useful, and +there was really no reason for further delay.</p> + +<p>She happened to mention this fact to Captain +MacDonnell one day and it was remarkable +after that what a time he took to finish +his sketch.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_221" id="Page_221">[221]</a></span></p> + +<p>The truth was the artist made not one +sketch but half a dozen.</p> + +<p>Jim and Ruth were delighted with his success, +so that Captain MacDonnell finally <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'persuded'">persuaded</ins> +Olive to allow him to attempt a painting.</p> + +<p>The work was undertaken inside the Lodge +living room. Olive was dressed in an old +gold silk, and the artist insisted that she +needed a background of strange oriental colors.</p> + +<p>One end of the great room was therefore +changed into a studio.</p> + +<p>Fortunately Ruth and Olive had still in +their possession a number of lovely old silks +and draperies which the Ranch girls had +brought back from their trip to Italy many +years before.</p> + +<p>One day, after he had been working for +about a month, Olive slipped quietly into the +studio without the artist's hearing her. She +found him sitting before his easel smoking, +but frowning and looking less happy than he +had in some time.</p> + +<p>But as he caught sight of Olive his expression +changed.</p> + +<p>"I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank +you for making me so lovely? I don't mind +being handed down to posterity in such a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_222" id="Page_222">[222]</a></span> +delightfully untruthful picture," Olive remarked +gayly.</p> + +<p>"Oh, it's untruthful enough," Captain +MacDonnell answered. "It is well you came +in just when you did, as I was thinking of +making an end of it."</p> + +<p>"Then I shouldn't have forgiven you."</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell nodded.</p> + +<p>"That is what I was afraid of, that and +that you would not be willing to sit for me +again."</p> + +<p>Olive laughed. "Oh, you must get hold of +someone more attractive than I am for the +next portrait. After a while, as you are so +much better, you'll be wanting to go back to +London to work seriously. You know you +have promised me that?"</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell shook his head.</p> + +<p>"No," he returned. "Oh, I don't mean +that I did not promise, I only mean that I +shall probably not keep my word. I think +I shall give up and allow myself to become a +kind of good for nothing, half invalid, as soon +as I am separated from you."</p> + +<p>However, as she had by this time grown accustomed +to her companion's swift changes +of mood, so unlike her own, Olive only laughed?</p> + +<p>"Shall I pose for you again today?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_223" id="Page_223">[223]</a></span></p> + +<p>Then there was silence in the room for +half an hour while Bryan worked. Finally +he put down his brushes.</p> + +<p>"I am no good for work today, Olive. The +truth is I want to say something to you and I +don't know whether I have the right.</p> + +<p>"Olive!"</p> + +<p>For an instant Olive changed color. Then +she answered.</p> + +<p>"I can hardly imagine anything you haven't +the right to say to me, Bryan. You often +talk of your gratitude for what I have done +for you. But I wonder if you know what +you have done for me? I have never had so +kind a friend except Jack. It is always difficult +for me to think of her as Lady Kent."</p> + +<p>"But I am not your friend," Bryan returned +brusquely, "and it is about that and about +Lady Jack I want to talk to you. The truth +is it's absurd to call a man your friend when +he loves you. Of course I feel I am not all +of a man these days and I have not much +money and my art may never come to anything."</p> + +<p>"Any more disqualifications, Bryan?" +Olive asked softly. Perhaps she was not +altogether surprised at what she was at +present hearing.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_224" id="Page_224">[224]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh yes, a great many," Captain MacDonnell +returned, "only I think I won't tell you +about them just now."</p> + +<p>"And what has Jack to do with what you +wish to say to me?" Olive asked, and this +time spoke more seriously.</p> + +<p>"Oh, she has nothing at all to do with it +now," Captain MacDonnell returned. "Only +once upon a time before I met you, I used to +think Lady Jack was the most attractive +woman I had ever known. I used also to +believe that as long as Frank had gotten ahead +of me I never wished to marry. But I suppose +the real fact was that I wanted one of what +Lady Jack told me you called yourselves? +The Ranch Girls, wasn't it? Only I had not +seen the real one in those days."</p> + +<p>"Look here, Bryan, you need not think I +ever forget you are an Irishman," Olive +laughed. "Yet I think I like your flattery."</p> + +<p>However, Captain MacDonnell was waiting +for another kind of answer, and after a little +Olive gave him the one he desired.</p> + +<p>So began for Olive, what still remains, in +spite of all the other adventures in life, the +great adventure of marriage.</p> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /><p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_225" id="Page_225">[225]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHAPTER XVIII</h2> + +<div class='chaptertitle'>"UNDER TWO FLAGS"<br /><br /><br /></div> + + +<div class='cap'>ON an afternoon in summer nearly +a year later, two flags might be seen +flying from the towers of Kent House.</div> + +<p>Over the English meadows the wind blew +softly, but strongly enough to whip the flags +out straight so that from some distance one +could see the British Lion and the Stars +and Stripes.</p> + +<p>Since Olive's engagement to Captain MacDonnell, +the United States had entered the +war and was now one of the great Allies.</p> + +<p>Inside Kent House there was a peculiar +atmosphere of excitement and expectancy.</p> + +<p>The house was filled with flowers from the +big garden, a profusion of roses and the simpler +flowers for which England is famous, +wall flowers, daisies, sweet-peas and canterbury +bells, named in honor of the great +Cathedral at Canterbury.</p> + +<p>In the dining room, which opened just +back of the library, the table was already +laid for dinner.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_226" id="Page_226">[226]</a></span></p> + +<p>Evidently there was to be a gala occasion, +and yet this was unusual, for since the war +began there had been few entertainments +at Kent House or in any great English +home.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless Lady Kent herself presently +came into the dining room and looked with +the deepest interest at the beautiful table, +touching things here and there and making +slight alterations in the arrangement of the +flowers.</p> + +<p>The table was in white except for a stripe +of rose-colored satin through the center and +a bowl of pink roses.</p> + +<p>Jack had on a house dress of some soft +white material, as she was not wearing +mourning and had not worn it after Vive's +death. There was too much black being +used in the world.</p> + +<p>She was standing still for a moment, +frowning slightly, but with interest, not +dissatisfaction, when another person entered +and came up beside her.</p> + +<p>"I have been taking a long walk, Jack, +trying to get rid of my restlessness and to +make the time pass more swiftly. I wish +you had been with me. But how beautiful +your place is! I don't see how you have<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_227" id="Page_227">[227]</a></span> +managed to keep things in such splendid +condition with so many of your men at the +front. I have been talking to some real +English dairymaids down in the left paddock. +They made me think of the stories +and nursery rhymes we used to read when +we were children. Then England seemed as +far away from the old Wyoming ranch as +the planet Mars. However, I am the last one +of the Ranch Girls to visit you in England. +Ralph's work has made our coming to you +impossible before and now the war has +brought us to this side of the world, for how +long none of us can say. Have you heard +anything from Frieda?"</p> + +<p>Lady Kent shook her head slowly.</p> + +<p>She was watching Jean and at the same +time thinking how pretty and untroubled +she looked. Jean's marriage to Ralph Merritt +seemed to have turned out an unqualified +success. Ralph had come to be known +as a leading American engineer, but now had +given up all the other work he had been +engaged in to offer his services as an engineer +to France. And Jean had left her little +girl at home with Jim and Ruth at the Rainbow +Ranch so that she could be nearer +her husband.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_228" id="Page_228">[228]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I wish Frieda had not gone to London +today. Suppose something happens and she +is not back in time for our dinner! Then +everything will be disarranged. We cannot +have our dinner party tomorrow, for by that +time we will have separated again. Tomorrows +are uncertain quantities these days, +aren't they?" And Jean's expression changed +for an instant.</p> + +<p>But Jack answered her quickly. This +was to be Ralph Merritt's last night in +England for an indefinite time, as he was +leaving for France the next day, while Jean +was to remain with Lord and Lady Kent.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Frieda will be here on time; I don't +think we need worry. You see, she is to go +to his office and get hold of the Professor, +else, Frieda says, if he chances to be especially +interested in his work, he will forget all +about our plan, and of course to have one +of the eight of us missing tonight would +ruin everything." Again Jack glanced about +her dinner table, which was laid for eight +covers. "Still, I think Frieda does Henry +an injustice, for, in spite of the absorbing +scientific work he is doing, he is far less +absent-minded than he used to be. And I +never saw a more attentive husband. Since<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_229" id="Page_229">[229]</a></span> +Frieda's baby came I believe he regards +her as more wonderful than ever."</p> + +<p>As she finished speaking Jack laughed +and Jean slipped her arm about her as they +walked out of the dining room. Jean was +thinking of another baby, who had gone +away before the new one came and of Jack's +inexhaustible courage. They had not realized +in the old Rainbow Ranch days that +she had so much spiritual as well as physical +courage.</p> + +<p>"Well, I am glad Frieda has your old +nurse for her baby, Jack, and is living here +with you, for I cannot take her seriously as +a mother, never having been able to realize +thoroughly that she is properly and sedately +married. However, we at least have our +guests of honor safe."</p> + +<p>Lady Kent nodded in response.</p> + +<p>"Yes, I have just seen Olive. She and +Bryan are both resting, so as to get the most +out of their wedding dinner tonight. It +was wise of them to come up so early from +London this morning. I declare, Jean, it +is one of the most beautiful things that ever +happened for Olive and Bryan to have +married.</p> + +<p>"Just from a selfish standpoint you can't<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_230" id="Page_230">[230]</a></span> +imagine what it will mean to have Olive living +so near me. I have so missed my family!"</p> + +<p>Smiling Jean shook her brown head +thoughtfully.</p> + +<p>"At present there is not much danger of +your missing your family for some time to +come, dear. You and Frank will probably +grow exceedingly tired of them. Now I must +go upstairs to rest for a while myself. I don't +wish to have Ralph decide tonight that he is +the least fortunate of the four husbands."</p> + +<p>Jean Merritt went on ahead, Jack seeing +her disappear, and then stopping for a moment +to speak to her butler.</p> + +<p>Although it was to be only a family party +tonight, she was taking far more interest +in the arrangements for her dinner than she +had ever been known to do before for the +most formal occasions.</p> + +<p>But then this dinner was to be unusual, +since it was the first time the four old-time +Ranch Girls had ever been her own and her +husband's guests at Kent House. Moreover, +their husbands were also with them, +even Olive and Captain MacDonnell, who +had been married only a few weeks.</p> + +<p>Nearly a year had passed since Olive's and +Captain MacDonnell's engagement, although<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_231" id="Page_231">[231]</a></span> +the wedding had not taken place until the +present summer. The scene of the marriage +was the Rainbow Ranch, with only Jim and +Ruth, their children, and a few friends +present, since the rest of the family were in +Europe. But immediately after the ceremony +Olive and Bryan had decided to risk +the dangers of sailing for home and had +landed safely in England only the day before.</p> + +<p>Having spent the night in London, they +had come directly to Kent House, knowing that +Jack planned a family party in their honor.</p> + +<p>A good many months before, Frieda and +her Professor had arrived at Kent House, +so that Frieda's baby might be born with +Frieda in her sister's care. Moreover, the +Professor was working harder than ever, +since his own country had entered the war, to +accomplish certain scientific discoveries which +should counteract the German terrorism.</p> + +<p>A little more than an hour later Lady Kent +was slowly getting ready for dinner. She +wished to be dressed first and downstairs +ready to receive her family.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless she was frowning and looking +slightly disturbed.</p> + +<p>She had left word that she was to be +informed as soon as her sister, Mrs. Russell,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_232" id="Page_232">[232]</a></span> +returned from London. In the meantime +she knew a train had arrived from town, +yet no word came to her.</p> + +<p>Jack was about to ring the bell and find +out if her order had been forgotten, when +a light knock came at the door and her +husband entered.</p> + +<p>"I came out early, Jack, dear, in order to do +honor to your party and I managed to corral +the two other husbands, Ralph and the Professor, +so there need be no delay. It is good +to be at home now and then."</p> + +<p>Frank had looked a little tired, but his +face cleared at the sight of his wife. Jack +was very beautiful in a white evening gown. +The frock was not new, since she was buying +nothing of the kind during the war, +but it was the handsomest one she owned +and the most becoming. She had planned +with Jean and Frieda that they were to look as +well as possible, since the dinner was to be one +they would never forget. Moreover, Olive was +a bride and they must also do her honor.</p> + +<p>Since the change in government Frank +Kent had been made a member of the War +Cabinet and devoted most of his time to the +great intellectual labors it demanded of him. +Frequently it was impossible for him to<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_233" id="Page_233">[233]</a></span> +return more than two or three times a week +to Kent House.</p> + +<p>As Jack kissed her husband her expression +lightened.</p> + +<p>"I would like to give a dinner party every +night, Frank, if I thought it would bring +you home. Are things going well?"</p> + +<p>Then, as Frank nodded his head gravely (he +and Jack did not often discuss details of his +work, since government secrets were not to be +mentioned even with her), she added, with a +little sigh partly of relief and partly vexation:</p> + +<p>"Well, thank goodness you got hold of +Frieda! Jean has been worrying for fear +Frieda would get lost in London and not +come back in time. Years ago, when we +first came to Europe, Frieda had a tiresome +fashion of disappearing and getting us all +into a dreadful state of mind for fear she +might be permanently lost. Then she usually +turned up quite blandly with some agreeable +person who had discovered her."</p> + +<p>"But, Jack dear," Frank interrupted, as +soon as his wife gave him the opportunity, +"Frieda did not come home with us. Indeed, +neither the Professor nor I had any idea +except that she was with you."</p> + +<p>Jack changed color.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_234" id="Page_234">[234]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Oh, dear, I do wish Frieda would come +in! What do you suppose could have happened +to her, Frank? She only went into +London to attend to some mysterious errand +which she insisted was very important. I +know she would not have stayed so late +unless something unavoidable had kept her. +Besides our party, she has never been away +from her baby so long."</p> + +<p>Man-like, Frank did not appear particularly +agitated.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Frieda will turn up all right. The +good fates have her in charge." Then he +disappeared to begin his own toilet.</p> + +<p>Finishing her toilet as quickly as possible, +Jack hurried downstairs.</p> + +<p>There was no train now from London until +after eight o'clock and dinner had been +ordered for half-past seven.</p> + +<p>In the hall Jack discovered her Professor +brother-in-law wandering disconsolately +about. He wore a mystified and slightly +harassed air.</p> + +<p>"Do you know, Jack, I am unable for +some reason to find Frieda. She is not in +her bedroom and not in the nursery. Nurse +is unable to give me any information concerning +her, save that she left early in the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_235" id="Page_235">[235]</a></span> +day for London. Curious that she did not +telephone me. Will you please find her +for me? She gave me certain instructions +about dressing for dinner tonight, which, +as a matter of fact, I have forgotten. Am +I to wear an evening or a dinner coat?"</p> + +<p>The distinguished Professor looked so uncertain +and so uncomfortable that Jack laughed +in spite of her own anxiety and annoyance. +However, she hated to confide Frieda's disappearance +to her husband, knowing he would +be frightened about her.</p> + +<p>She was hesitating as to what to reply when +there was a sudden noise at the front door. +Opening it, an excited and somewhat disheveled +Frieda Russell rushed in and up to her +husband.</p> + +<p>"Oh, Henry dear, do let me have two +pounds, won't you, at once. I know it is +dreadful to be so extravagant, but so many +things have happened to me! I had to wait +and wait for the things I just had to have +for tonight and then I missed the last train. +I wasn't going to spoil our dinner party and +so I took a taxi the entire way out from +London. I know the cabby is robbing +me, but he did come very fast and I haven't +a great deal of my own money left."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_236" id="Page_236">[236]</a></span></p> + +<p>The Professor shook his head, not fully +understanding all that Frieda was saying +so hurriedly. But he produced the two +pounds and went out to settle with his wife's +cabman, while Frieda rushed upstairs, calling +down over the balustrade:</p> + +<p>"How is my adored baby, Jack? I have +nearly died being separated from her such +hours! Don't worry, I'll be ready in time +for dinner."</p> + +<p>Not long after, Frank and Jack were in +their library waiting for their guests to appear.</p> + +<p>Olive and Captain MacDonnell slipped in +quietly before the others.</p> + +<p>Olive was wearing her wedding gown. +But as the affair had been a quiet one, +owing to the war and to Captain MacDonnell's +injury, it was a simple dress of white +silk and chiffon.</p> + +<p>Except for her husband's wedding gift, a +brooch of emeralds and diamonds in the form +of a shamrock, she wore no jewels.</p> + +<p>Captain MacDonnell was still lame, would +probably always remain so. Nevertheless +Jack and Frank thought they had never seen +their old friend looking better or handsomer. +Olive's shyness, her seriousness, seemed +just the spur his Irish wit and gayety needed.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_237" id="Page_237">[237]</a></span></p> + +<p>"I do hope, Bryan, you and Olive are going +to stay on at home for a time now you are +safely here," Lord Kent remarked, stretching +himself lazily in a great arm chair and glancing +with an admiration he made no effort to +conceal from his wife to Olive. "Jack more +or less needs some one to look after her, +since I am giving so much time to my war +work I am having to neglect my family."</p> + +<p>Olive flushed slightly. She knew Frank +had not intended it, could not dream how +sensitive Captain MacDonnell was over the +thought that he could no longer be of service +to his country at a time when she so required +the knowledge and effort he had once been +so gallantly ready and able to give.</p> + +<p>"Oh, I shall be at home the greater part +of the time, and Bryan whenever it is possible +for him," Olive answered quickly. "But +Bryan has already promised to begin <i>camouflage</i> +work for the government within the +next few days. We were not in London very +long, but were there long enough to see a +few of Bryan's old friends. They asked him +if he would not have his commission transferred +to the camouflage corps, as they +needed him at once. I suppose he will be +able to do some of the painting here in<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_238" id="Page_238">[238]</a></span> +England. But later Bryan will probably +have to go over to France to find out what is +required of him."</p> + +<p>"Bully, Bryan! I had not thought of +that," Lord Kent answered, appearing as +tremendously gratified as if he himself had +first conceived the idea of this work for his +friend. He went on to explain to his mystified +hearers that <i>camouflage</i> consisted of painted +artificial scenery used to conceal artillery or +other important positions from the enemy +airplanes, and that Bryan was especially fitted +to engage in this work on account of his military +knowledge and artistic ability.</p> + +<p>But at this moment Jean and Ralph Merritt +joined the little group.</p> + +<p>No one spoke of Frieda's being the last to +appear, since this had always been her custom +so long as the other Ranch Girls could recall.</p> + +<p>Jean Merritt wore her favorite rose color, a +dress of satin with an overdress of tulle. And +in spite of all the flowers blooming in Kent +garden, Ralph had not forgotten to bring her +a box from London of the deep pink roses she +had always loved.</p> + +<p>However, before dinner was announced the +Professor strolled placidly in, garbed in entirely +proper evening clothes.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_239" id="Page_239">[239]</a></span></p> + +<p>"Frieda says if you will be kind enough +to wait dinner for her a few moments, she +will be with you almost at once. There was +some little errand, some little commission she +still wished to attend to before we leave the +library."</p> + +<p>The Professor sat quietly down, asked +Frank Kent an important question concerning +the war and straightway fell into earnest +conversation.</p> + +<p>However Frieda did make her appearance +within a short time. She was dainty and +lovely as ever in a misty, pale blue gown, but, +unlike her usual self, she seemed a little +embarrassed and apologetic.</p> + +<p>The four Ranch Girls and their husbands +went into dinner together. Perhaps it was +absurd that they should feel any especial +emotion over so simple a matter as having +their first dinner party with one another since +their marriages.</p> + +<p>Nevertheless it was true that each girl in +her own fashion did feel this emotion.</p> + +<p>Since Jack's and Jean's few moments in +the dining room some hours before, a slight +change had taken place in the decoration of +the table.</p> + +<p>Two little silk flags stood near the center;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_240" id="Page_240">[240]</a></span> +as a matter of course under the present circumstances, +they were the American and the +British emblems.</p> + +<p>Lord Kent saluted before he sat down, +nodding to Captain MacDonnell.</p> + +<p>"To our international marriages!" he said. +"Long may they wave!"</p> + +<p>Then he turned to Frieda and Jean, the +Professor and Ralph.</p> + +<p>"And to our great American Ally!"</p> + +<p>As the little party took their seats they +observed a small white velvet box near each +plate.</p> + +<p>Jack opened hers first and discovered inside +a tiny pair of crossed flags set with jewels.</p> + +<p>Glancing toward her husband, Lady Kent +discovered that he appeared as surprised as she +was at the unexpected souvenir of their dinner.</p> + +<p>Then she chanced to catch sight of Frieda +and Frieda's self-conscious expression betrayed +her. Moreover, her mission to London +was explained.</p> + +<p>"I move," announced the Professor gravely, +"that we offer a toast first to our wives and +then to that beautiful and enduring land +which has ever made the appeal of a woman +to her lovers the world over. I mean, of +course, 'La belle France'."</p> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<div class='tnote'><h3>Transcriber's Notes:</h3> +<p>Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Text sometimes capitalizes Ranch with Rainbow Ranch +and sometimes does not. This was retained.</p> + +<p>The remaining corrections made are indicated by dotted lines under the corrections. Scroll the mouse over the word and the original text will <ins title="Transcriber's Note: original reads 'apprear'">appear</ins>.</p></div> + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Great +Adventure, by Margaret Vandercook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS GREAT ADVENTURE *** + +***** This file should be named 34927-h.htm or 34927-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/2/34927/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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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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: The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + +Author: Margaret Vandercook + +Illustrator: Wilson V. Chambers + +Release Date: January 12, 2011 [EBook #34927] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS GREAT ADVENTURE *** + + + + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + + + + + +THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES + +The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + + + + +BOOKS BY MARGARET VANDERCOOK + + +THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES + + THE RANCH GIRLS AT RAINBOW LODGE + THE RANCH GIRLS' POT OF GOLD + THE RANCH GIRLS AT BOARDING SCHOOL + THE RANCH GIRLS IN EUROPE + THE RANCH GIRLS AT HOME AGAIN + THE RANCH GIRLS AND THEIR GREAT ADVENTURE + + +THE RED CROSS GIRLS SERIES + + THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN THE BRITISH TRENCHES + THE RED CROSS GIRLS ON THE FRENCH FIRING LINE + THE RED CROSS GIRLS IN BELGIUM + THE RED CROSS GIRLS WITH THE RUSSIAN ARMY + THE RED CROSS GIRLS WITH THE ITALIAN ARMY + THE RED CROSS GIRLS UNDER THE STARS AND STRIPES + + +STORIES ABOUT CAMP FIRE GIRLS + + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT SUNRISE HILL + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AMID THE SNOWS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE OUTSIDE WORLD + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS ACROSS THE SEA + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS' CAREERS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN AFTER YEARS + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS IN THE DESERT + THE CAMP FIRE GIRLS AT THE END OF THE TRAIL + +[Illustration: YOU MUST ABIDE BY MY DECISION] + + + + +THE RANCH GIRLS SERIES + + +The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + + + --BY-- + MARGARET VANDERCOOK + + ILLUSTRATED BY + WILSON V. CHAMBERS + + + THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY + PHILADELPHIA + + + + + Copyright, 1917, by + THE JOHN C. WINSTON COMPANY + + + + +CONTENTS + + + CHAPTER PAGE + I. KENT HOUSE 9 + II. FRIEDA'S RIFT 22 + III. THE VOICE 34 + IV. A LATE ARRIVAL 49 + V. AN APPARITION 63 + VI. THE CLOUD 81 + VII. SO AS BY FIRE 92 + VIII. SEVERAL MONTHS LATER 101 + IX. CHURCH AND STATE 116 + X. THE LETTER 127 + XI. A SURPRISE 138 + XII. NO QUARTER 148 + XIII. THE BREAK 159 + XIV. PROFESSOR AND PROFESSORESS 171 + XV. THE OLD RANCH 187 + XVI. VIVE 201 + XVII. FAREWELL 212 + XVIII. "UNDER TWO FLAGS" 225 + + + + +ILLUSTRATIONS + + + YOU MUST ABIDE BY MY DECISION _Frontispiece_ + PAGE + IN A FEW MOMENTS SHE WAS IN A PANIC 74 + HIS OWN MEN CARRIED HIM BACK TO A FIELD HOSPITAL 128 + I ASSURE YOU I HAVE OFFICIAL PERMISSION 180 + + + + +The Ranch Girls and Their Great Adventure + + + + +CHAPTER I + +KENT HOUSE + + +THE deep-rutted English lane was bordered with high box hedges. On one +side was a sloping park with trees a century old and on the other side a +wide field filled with meadow grass and scarlet poppies. It was in July. + +"In all the world there is nothing so peaceful as this English country, +is there? It is like another world when one first gets away from the +turmoil of New York." + +The girl who said this was undoubtedly an American, both in her manner +and appearance, although her dark hair and eyes and her deep-toned olive +skin were almost Spanish in coloring. + +Her companion--in spite of the fact that her costume was a typical +English walking one, a mixed brown tweed skirt, Norfolk jacket and high +boots,--was equally an American. She smiled before replying. + +"I don't know that I agree with you, Olive. Of course that is what +people from home always say. Jim Colter declares he is half asleep the +entire time he is in England. But that is because Americans, +particularly my beloved westerners, don't understand England and the +English. Things are not always peaceful just because they are quiet. We +think so because we are noisy. Frank says there was never more unrest." + +But at this Lady Kent, who a number of years ago was Jacqueline Ralston +and one of the four Ranch girls at Rainbow Lodge, slipped her arm +through her friend's, Olive Van Mater's. + +"But, Olive dear, for goodness sake don't let us talk politics the day +after your arrival. It is so English. Sometimes I feel scarcely fitted +to play the part of an English 'Lady,' now that Frank has come into the +title of 'Lord' and is a member of Parliament. I often long for a ride +with Jim over my own prairies to search for lost cattle." Lady Kent +laughed. + +"Once a Ranch girl, always a Ranch girl, so far as I'm concerned, Olive; +and yet I'm farther away from the old place than any of you. But, tell +me, what made you decide to come abroad so suddenly without even +writing? I have had letters from everybody at home except that lazy +Frieda, and yet not one with a suggestion of your trip in it. Tell me +about every member of my family--Ruth and Jim and their babies and Jean +and Ralph and Frieda and her Professor. Funny, I never can think of +Frieda really being married. You see, although it has been nearly four +years, I have never seen her since we went over for the great event." + +Jack ceased talking for a moment, for she was still "Jack" to her own +family and the friends who knew her intimately. Olive never had talked +so much as the other Ranch girls, but now it occurred to Jack that she +was asking a great many questions, without allowing an opportunity for +them to be answered. + +Olive turned, apparently to glance through the opening in the hedge at +the splendid mass of colour in the field. + +"Suppose we sit down a while, Jack," she suggested. "Remember, I haven't +had the English habit of walking for a long time. You told me Frank's +train would not get in from London for another hour." + +In spite of the fact that her tone was as casual as she knew how to make +it, her companion understood at once. + +"You have come to tell me bad news, haven't you? and I never dreamed of +it until this instant. You have been brave, Olive." + +In spite of her nervousness over having so suddenly guessed the reason +for her friend's unexpected visit, Jack quietly looked about for a +comfortable resting place, remembering that Olive had just had a long +trip and was never so strong as the other Ranch girls. + +A few yards farther on a gate led into Kent Park. + +Lady Kent opened this and a moment or two later the two friends were +seated under one of the great oak trees for which the Kent estate was +famous--the estate now presided over by Jacqueline Ralston and the Frank +Kent, whom we once knew as a guest at a neighboring ranch to the +Ralstons' in Wyoming, but who were now Lord and Lady Kent of the county +of Kent, England. + +"Don't be frightened, Jack; my news isn't so bad as you may think. At +least I don't know just how bad it is," and Olive smiled and then +frowned the next moment. "The truth of the matter is that Frieda Ralston +Russell has left her Professor. I was out in Wyoming having a peaceful +visit at Rainbow Ranch when I received a mysterious telegram from Frieda +telling me to come to her at once in New York city--not in Chicago, +where she was supposed to be safe with her Professor husband. Of course +I went at once to her. In New York I found a yellow-haired and not so +miserable Frieda, who calmly told me she had decided that marriage was a +failure. I could not find out her special reasons for thinking so, but +perhaps she will tell you more herself, Jack. She is coming to you on +the next steamer, only she preferred my first breaking the news to you +and Frank." + +Jack whistled, after a boyish fashion of her youth, which was not +becoming to her present age and position. + +"And you came, Olive dear, all the way across the ocean by yourself, +just because my spoiled small sister wished to save herself the trouble +of a confession? You are an angel, Olive. And I am afraid it is Frieda's +selfishness--her remaining such a completely spoiled young person--that +may be the answer to her present behavior. But I thought her husband +spoiled her more even than her own family had in the past. Besides, I +can't imagine the Professor doing anything wicked, can you, Olive? Oh +dear, Frank and I always opposed Frieda's marriage. Professor Russell +did seem too old and serious for her." + +Just as she had always done whenever it was possible as a girl, Lady +Kent at this moment took off her hat and flung it on the ground beside +her. It was of brown cloth with a small green and brown feather to match +her walking outfit; nevertheless she looked far handsomer without it. + +Jack was no longer a girl. A good many years had passed since her +marriage to Frank Kent, which was to occur soon after the close of the +last Ranch girls' book, known as "The Ranch Girls At Home Again." Also +in the final chapter, when the family had lately moved into their new +home, built on the ranch not far from the old Rainbow Lodge, where the +Ranch girls had first lived, their cousin Jean Bruce's engagement had +been announced to Ralph Merritt, an old friend and the Rainbow Mine +engineer. Then, as a great surprise to her family, Frieda Ralston, the +youngest of the Ranch girls, at that time only eighteen, had insisted +upon her own engagement to Professor Charles Henry Russell, a Professor +of dead languages at the University of Chicago and more than ten years +her senior. + +"Oh, well, what is an old maid worth in a family if she is not to be +made useful?" Olive answered. "But, of course, Jack, you understand I +don't require a great deal of persuasion to come to you, and besides I +was afraid if I did not come ahead, Frieda would not come at all. You +are the only person who has any influence over her. If she goes back to +the ranch, Ruth and Jean will only make such a fuss over her that she +will become more and more convinced she has been badly treated. Jim, you +know, never has approved of any of his Ranch girls being married, +although he misses none of us as he does you." + +Jack rose. "I hope you are rested, Olive, as we must walk on if we are +to arrive in time to meet Frank. Oh, dear, what a business marriage is! +I suppose we could not expect all the Ranch girls to be successfully +married, although it is odd for it to be Frieda who is in trouble. As +for you, Olive, don't congratulate yourself too soon on being an old +maid; you'll probably yield some day. I do wonder what has happened to +little Frieda? Perhaps things are worse than we imagine." + +Olive shook her head. + +She was recalling an extremely pretty Frieda sitting up in bed at +midnight at the hour of her arrival in New York city, with a blue silk +dressing gown over her nightgown and a box of chocolates open on the +table beside her, which she must have been eating before going to bed. + +It was true Frieda had cried a good deal when making her confession, and +had insisted that she never intended to speak to her husband again. Why, +Olive could not find out. She gathered that Frieda thought her husband +unsympathetic and that their temperaments were too unlike for them ever, +ever to understand each other. But the details of her love tragedy +Frieda had declared she could tell only to her sister Jack. + +Now, as Olive studied her companion's face, she believed that Frieda had +decided wisely. When they were the four Ranch girls, Jack, Jean, Olive +and Frieda, they had always relied upon Jacqueline Ralston's judgment. +Now, as a woman, she seemed even finer than she had been as a girl. +Well, fortunately Jack's marriage seemed to have turned out ideally +happy, although there were reasons why it might not. Jack had never been +fond of society or a conventional life, had hated the indoors and the +management of even so small and casual an establishment as they had at +Rainbow Lodge before the coming of Ruth as governess to take the +responsibility out of Jack's hands. Now Jack was not only mistress of a +great home, but must play "Lady Bountiful" to an entire village, as well +as to the people on the Kent estate, and she was really the most +democratic person in the world. + +They were entering the adjoining village of Granchester now and Lady +Kent had actually forgotten to put on her hat. Yet all the people they +met along the little narrow streets bowed to her, as if she were not +unpopular. Several times Jack stopped to inquire about sick babies and +old ladies in the most approved fashion. However, Olive remembered that +she had been great friends with all the cowboys on her own ranch and the +adjoining ones in the old days, and was interested in their families, +when they chanced to have them, which was not often. Nevertheless this +new life of her friend's did seem extraordinarily different from her old +life. + +Only once since Jack's marriage had Olive visited her and then only for +a few weeks, when her mother-in-law was alive and Frank's sisters had +not yet married. Therefore she had never really seen Frank and Jack +alone. + +As they came to the little railroad station, covered with roses and +surrounded by flower beds, Jack hastily put on her hat. + +"Gracious! why didn't you tell me to do that before, Olive?" she asked +"I must have looked ridiculous. Frank would have been discouraged if he +had seen me. After all, you see, Olive, Frank is an Englishman and fond +of the proprieties. At least I don't think he minds so much himself, but +he does not enjoy having the country people talk about me, especially +now that we have come into the title." + +"But they don't criticize you, do they?" Olive demanded with a good deal +of feeling. + +However, Lady Kent only laughed, "Not more than I deserve." And then +forgetting what she had just said, she took off her hat for the second +time to wave it boyishly at the approaching train. + +The next moment Frank Kent jumped out on the platform. He had changed +much more than his wife. Olive saw that he took his new position and his +responsibilities seriously, for he had only come into the title two +years before. He looked far more like what one feels to be the typical +Englishman, as he had an air of distinction and of firmness. Indeed, +Olive thought he had almost a hardness in the lower part of his face +which had not been there as a younger man. But he greeted her with the +same old cordiality and friendliness. + +"You and I seem often to meet Frank at railroad stations, Olive," Jack +remarked. "Remember when he last came to Wyoming before we were married +and we went together to meet him?" + +Frank appeared so uncertain that Jack laughed. + +"Husbands haven't very good memories for the sentimental past." + +The next instant Frank protested. + +"Of course I remember and how badly you treated me, Jack, so that Olive +had to come to my rescue." And then: "Did you drive over? Where is the +trap?" + +Lady Kent shook her head. "No; Olive and I wanted a walk and it is much +better for you. If you don't look out we shall both be growing as +portly as a dowager duke and duchess." + +Jack was a few steps ahead so that both her friend and husband looked at +her admiringly, Olive appreciating, however, that Frank would have +preferred his own wish to be carried out in this matter. + +But it had always been a pleasure to see Jacqueline Ralston out-of-doors +and it was no less so now. Although she now had two babies she had +managed to keep as slender and erect as a girl--a most unusual +characteristic in a woman. + +Jack was walking on ahead so freely and so unconscious of her own speed +that the others had to hurry to catch up with her. + +When they finally joined one another, Frank slipped his arm through his +wife's. + +"Oh, I have a piece of news for you, dear. I forgot to tell you. I had a +cable from Frieda's husband telling me that he expected to sail for +England in about ten days. He did not give his reason, nor mention +Frieda's coming with him." + +"No," Lady Kent answered apparently in a state of abstraction, "I don't +suppose he did." But at the moment she made no mention of the +information Olive had brought her concerning Frieda. + +As they reached Kent House and were entering the broad hall, Jack said +to her husband under her breath, so that Olive who was a little in +advance of them, did not hear: + +"There is something else you have on your mind, isn't there, Frank--some +news you have not yet told me?" + +Frank Kent nodded. + +"Yes, Jack, something so serious that I dare not speak of it even to +you. Perhaps it will all blow over though, and I may be able to discuss +the subject with you in a few days." + + + + +CHAPTER II + +FRIEDA'S RIFT + + +"DID Frieda say on what ship she would sail? It is odd she does not +cable." + +The two friends were coming down from the third floor of Kent House +where the babies' nurseries were. Jack and Frank had two children--the +oldest a small boy, something over three years old, and called Jimmie, +in honor of Jim Colter, the Ranch Girls' guardian and the one-time +overseer and now part owner of the Rainbow Ranch. The baby, who was only +a year old, had been named for Olive Van Mater, who had never seen her +until her present visit. But there would be no confusion of names, for +almost immediately the small brother had rechristened his tiny sister +with the charming little name "Vive," which was used for her always. And +since Vive was the gayest and liveliest of babies, this name with its +translated meaning, "Life" was supposed to be particularly appropriate. + +"No, Frieda did not say," Olive Van Mater returned. "But I presume she +will cable in a day or so. Frieda will expect you to be in London to +meet her. I am sure she will feel much aggrieved if you do not, but I +think I won't come along, Jack, if I may stay with the babies." + +Lady Kent opened the door of a room. + +"Just as you like, Olive, only I hope Frieda will let me know in time. +Frank is in London most of the week while Parliament is in session, and +I'll have to ask him to make arrangements for us. The season is over, of +course, but the hotels are filled with tourists. It has been a wonderful +English summer. I don't think there were ever more travelers. Well, +Frieda's rooms are at least ready for her. I hope she may enjoy having +the same ones she had when she came over to visit the first year after +Frank and I were married. I wonder if she ever thinks these days of how +hard I tried to persuade her to believe she was too much of a baby to +think of marrying so soon? We should never have allowed her to marry the +first person who ever seriously asked her. Oh, I know Frieda thought she +had already had a great deal of experience with her college boy +admirers, particularly the one we used to call 'The Chocolate Drop +Boy.'" + +In the meantime the two women had entered the apartment which was being +reserved for the expected visitor. The two rooms--a sitting room and a +bed room--were furnished in heavy, old fashioned English furniture +upholstered in delicately faded blue damask. The walls were also of the +same blue, while the panelings of the rooms were of English oak. + +Olive walked at once to a window in Frieda's sitting room. + +"I don't see how she can well help liking these rooms, besides this +window offers one of the most perfect views in the entire house." + +Olive could see across the slope of the park down to a stream, which +twisted its way along the base of the hill. Beyond were the tall towers +of Granchester church and not far away the roofs of the houses which +made up the village. + +Then, to the left, one could acquire a charming view of the beginning of +the Kent gardens--the low, carefully trimmed borders and the masses of +blooms, with a sun dial at the end of the center path. + +"Let us go into the garden for awhile, Jack," Olive suggested. "I think +I enjoy it more in the morning than at any other time. Besides, I have +been intending to ask if you suppose Frieda and her husband have +informed each other that they are both sailing for England? It will be +odd to have them meet each other here unless they do know." + +Jack shook her head. "I haven't any ideas on the subject, but Frank will +have to see that Professor Russell stays in London until we find out +from Frieda. Sorry, but I can't go outdoors with you till this +afternoon. I've hundreds of things to do and have promised Frank to +write some letters which I have been putting off." + +In return Olive said nothing, although, as she was walking about +outdoors alone, she rather marveled at the change in her friend's life. +As a girl Jacqueline Ralston's life had been entirely unordered; she had +done each day, after the sun rose over her beloved prairies, whatever +the day called her to do. Now, each of Jack's days seemed to follow an +established routine. In the morning immediately after breakfast she saw +her housekeeper; then she spent two hours with her babies, afterwards +answering an immense amount of correspondence--and Jack had always hated +letter writing more than any other task. In the afternoon she was +supposed to be free for a few hours, and then there were guests to tea, +or else Lady Kent was supposed to drive or motor over to make calls on +her country neighbors. + +Of course such an existence with money and a high position might be +regarded as ideal by most women. But Olive was puzzled, because that +kind of a life did not appear suited to the girl she remembered. +However, as Jack seemed happy, Olive concluded that she must have +changed, as most girls do after marriage. + +This afternoon a number of friends had been asked to tea at Kent House +in order to meet Olive. When they went down into the garden together, +where tea was to be served, Olive felt that her decision of the morning +had really been nearer the truth than she had then appreciated. Jack +looked like one of the fairest types of society women. She was dressed +in white--an exquisite embroidered material--and had on a big soft white +garden hat, trimmed with deep toned pink roses. The soft, damp English +air had kept her color as vivid as ever and given her yellow brown hair +an even finer gloss. + +On their way to the tea table in the garden, Jack stopped to pick for +her companion a bouquet of lavender primroses and anemones and stars of +the mist--flowers ranging from violet to pure white--for Olive was +wearing a pale grey chiffon, which blended perfectly with her pronounced +oriental coloring. + +To the right of the garden, and a few yards from the flower beds, was a +clump of trees. Because this July was warmer than is usual in England, +Lady Kent had arranged to have tea here. There were small tables and +chairs scattered about over the lawn, which was green as only an English +lawn can be, but the tea table itself stood under the trees. + +Jack and Olive had hoped to have a talk before their guests arrived. But +they had not been outdoors more than a few moments before their guests +appeared, the Rector and his wife, a Mr. and Mrs. Illington, and their +two daughters,--charming, tall, blonde English girls. Afterwards, it +seemed to Olive that Jack was constantly introducing her to people +arriving every few minutes during the next hour, in spite of the fact +that she had also to preside over the serving of the tea. + +As Olive had never entirely recovered from her girlhood shyness, she was +delighted to see how perfectly at ease Jack was. She appeared to be able +to discuss church matters with the Rector, and the latest bill up in +Parliament with an old gentleman who was the Earl of Granchester and as +a Conservative was much opposed to the Liberal party of which Frank Kent +was a representative. + +Half an hour later, Olive wandered off with several of the guests to +watch a game of tennis which was being started by the two Illington +girls and two of their male friends who had come over to play. + +When Olive returned, she discovered that most of the other guests had +either scattered or gone home. In any case Jack was alone, except for a +young army officer, who must have just arrived, since Olive did not +recall having previously seen him. He was a splendid looking fellow, +about twenty-five, with dark hair and eyes, and a skin which must have +been tanned by other than the English sun. + +As Olive approached them she thought he made a particularly handsome +contrast to Jack's fairness. They were both laughing at the moment, but +almost immediately Jack jumped up from the chair where she had been +sitting and waved to Olive. + +"Olive, dear, come meet the nicest kind of an Englishman--one who is +half Scotch and the other half Irish," she called out. "Olive Van +Mater, this is Captain Bryan MacDonnell--an old school friend of Frank's +and sometimes a friend of mine." + +Captain MacDonnell bowed gravely, making no effort to return Jack's +challenge. + +"Bryan is just back from shooting 'big game' somewhere--make him tell +you about it, Olive, while I get rid of the last of these tiresome +people." Jack made a grimace and shrugged her shoulders, her manner more +like her old self than Olive had noticed before. + +For about fifteen minutes she and Captain MacDonnell must have talked +together, but Olive decided that Jack's description of him had been very +nearly true, whether she had meant it or not. Then, observing that +everybody else had gone and Jack was alone, they returned to her. + +"I'm sorry you can't dine with us tonight, Bryan," Lady Kent remarked on +parting. "Olive and I are to be alone. Frank only visits his family now +and then, because he is so busy in town. No; I did not go up to London +this year for the season. I only went for a few days at a time, as I was +not willing to leave the babies. Besides, you know I don't care as much +for society as I should anyway." + +Then Captain MacDonnell said something which Olive did not hear. +However, she did hear Jack's answer. + +"Ride with you tomorrow? I should think I will just as hard and as fast +as possible and jump all the fences and ditches in this part of the +country. I'm awfully glad you are back, Bryan, to help me get rid of +some of my surplus American energy." + +That same evening, after a late dinner, Jack and Olive went into the +library together. As is often the case in English homes of distinction, +the library at Kent House was the pleasantest room in the entire house. +The books were on low shelves encircling the four walls, except for the +opening left for a huge fireplace. Above the mantel was the head of a +stag. On one side hung a shield and on the other the Kent Coat of Arms +with the motto "Semper Paratus" meaning "always prepared." + +Above the book shelves were portraits of Frank's ancestors, who had been +country people in Kent county for a number of years, although the title +was not an old one. + +In the places of honor were Frank's grandfather and grandmother--one of +them a young man of about twenty in Court costume; the other a lovely +girl with fair hair and dark eyes and a particularly bright expression. + +"Frank likes to think Vive, the baby, looks like his grandmother," Jack +declared as she stretched herself on a big leather lounge not far from a +pair of French windows, which opened on the veranda at the side of the +house. + +"I hope you won't feel dull, Olive! As soon as Parliament closes, if you +and Frieda like, we will have some people come to stay with us. I don't +like the responsibility of visitors if Frank is not here. I have never +learned to take guests so simply and easily as an English hostess does. +It is one of the ways in which I am a social failure." + +"Nonsense," Olive announced, without paying much attention to what Jack +had said. She had picked up a magazine and was reading. + +An hour passed and Olive believed that Jack had almost fallen asleep. +Now and then she would close her eyes, although the greater part of the +time she seemed in a reverie. + +As a matter of fact Jack was really thinking of the old ranch and the +people at home, whom Olive's coming had brought to mind more vividly +than usual. + +"I'm glad Jean and Ralph are at the ranch this year with Ruth and Jim," +she said finally. "What a pleasure it must be to Jean that Ralph is such +a successful engineer--one of the biggest in the United States, Jim +writes. But Jim always liked Ralph better than any of the husbands. He +never could altogether forgive Frank for being an Englishman." + +"Oh Ralph has not been at the ranch much," Olive added, looking up from +her book. "He has been working out on the coast and at Panama, but I +think Jean is glad to have a rest because she has traveled with him so +much." + +In the ensuing silence Jack must actually have dozed, and certainly +Olive found a more absorbing article in her magazine. But Jack must also +have dreamed, for she woke thinking she heard a voice calling her from +outdoors, "Jack! Jack!" + +This was, of course, out of the question except in a dream. Kent House +was a mile from any place other than its own Lodge. Besides no one whom +she could possibly imagine would call out "Jack!" in such a fashion and +at such an hour of the night. + +Nevertheless Olive looked surprised, so she too must have heard some +kind of a noise. + +The second time the sound was heard, Jack started up. + +"Please ring the bell for the servants, Olive. I am sure I hear a voice +calling me. It sounds absurd and yet I must find out who it is. Even if +the servants insist this house is haunted, no one has ever yet suggested +that the lawn is also haunted." + +Then, in characteristic fashion, and without putting a wrap over her +white dress or waiting for any one to accompany her, Jack ran through +the library and out into the broad hall. There was no one near, so she +pulled open the heavy front door. + +Leading up to Kent House was a winding avenue of trees. At some little +distance down the avenue, Lady Kent thought she could see a dark object +apparently standing still in the center of the road. Without pausing +even long enough for Olive to join her, she ran through the darkness +toward it. + +"Jack! Jack! be careful!" she heard the voice call, and this time she +recognized whose voice it was. + + + + +CHAPTER III + +THE VOICE + + +"BUT, Frieda, how could you possibly have arranged to arrive in the +middle of the night like this?" + +Jack had reached the waiting taxicab, which stood transfixed in the +middle of the road and had pulled open the door of the vehicle, only to +find her sister sitting inside, almost completely enveloped in steamer +blankets and bags and boxes. + +"The cab broke down," Frieda remarked plaintively, evidently attempting +to explain last conditions first. It seemed not to have occurred to her +that even in the event of this difficulty, she could have gotten out and +walked up to the house. But it was eminently characteristic of Frieda +simply to sit still and call for her sister, as she always had done in +any emergency when they were both girls. + +The next moment Lady Kent, with the assistance of the driver, had helped +her visitor to alight. If Olive and the butler had not arrived just +then, she might again have forgotten her dignity and begun dragging out +Frieda's bags. But instead, she and Olive, escorted Frieda up the +avenue, leaving the two men to bring her possessions. + +"I was lonely after Olive left me in New York," Frieda explained. "So +when I read in the paper one morning that a particularly comfortable +steamer was sailing, I decided not to wait an entire week, if I could +get a nice stateroom. I thought Olive would not need but a few days to +tell you. You have told, haven't you, Olive?" Frieda demanded, with a +slight change of tone. + +When Olive answered "yes," briefly, she went on: + +"Please don't ask me any questions tonight, Jack. I'm most dead. No; I +didn't have a rough crossing, but I have never arrived anywhere alone +before in my whole life. I knew I could call up Frank at his club in +London, but I did not wish to see him first. Still, I don't care what he +thinks, since I have lost all faith in men. But I don't see why some one +did not meet me at the station here. I telegraphed from Liverpool that I +was on the way." + +Jack shook her head. + +"Curious dear, but we never received your telegram." + +"Oh, well;" Frieda added more indulgently, "I didn't exactly telegraph +myself, but I gave the money to a boy and told him what to say. Perhaps +he made a mistake, or kept the money, or something," she ended +nonchalantly. For they were now entering the great hall at Kent House +and Frieda realized that she did not care very much for small things, so +grateful was she to be again with her sister. + +Impulsively she turned and embraced her. + +Perhaps it was because Frieda was tired, but Jack could see that she was +not so unaffected by what she had been passing through as Olive had +imagined. + +It is true Frieda looked as much like an exquisite wax doll as ever. Her +eyes were as large and delicately blue, and her hair was a mass of soft +yellow curls; yet there was a subtle change in her expression. + +Olive had led the way into the library. + +"We won't talk about anything until you like, Frieda," Jack whispered. + +"Will you go up to your rooms now or have something to eat first down +here with Olive and me?" she asked. + +Frieda permitted Olive and Jack to remove her coat and hat. A few +moments later, however, she announced that she preferred going upstairs +to bed. So Jack finally bade her goodnight, after arranging that she was +to ring her bell for breakfast, when she wished it the next morning. + +When Frieda rang for breakfast it was nearly eleven o'clock and Jack +went into her room with the maid who carried the tray. + +Frieda ate her morning repast languidly, while her sister sat beside her +talking of trivial things. + +"Where is Olive?" Frieda inquired finally. And when informed that Olive +was in the nursery with the children, protested: "I suppose you know I +am jealous of your baby's being named for Olive. Of course I know you +and she are very dear friends; but, after all, I am your sister." + +"I felt that way about it too, Frieda, but Frank seemed not to wish a +German name," Jack answered, "and Vive has her own name now anyhow. +Maybe the next time." + +Frieda frowned. "Don't talk of next time, Jack. I can't imagine your +having a family. I hate being married." And without any other warning +two large tears rolled down Frieda's cheeks. + +"I'd rather tell you what has happened between Henry and me this minute +and get through with it. And I'd prefer to tell you without Olive's +hearing. I don't mean to be impolite, but Olive is almost an old maid +and old maids always take the man's part." + +In spite of her anxiety Jack was compelled to laugh. Frieda had always +been such a funny mixture of babyishness and worldly wisdom. + +She was now sitting up in bed with a number of white pillows piled +behind her and wearing a light blue cashmere jacket over her gown. The +English air was cooler than that to which she was accustomed. + +"I hope nothing very serious, Frieda?" + +"Nevertheless it is so serious that I never intend to speak to Henry +Russell again, if I can avoid it. You see," Frieda sighed, "I suppose it +is better to begin at the beginning and tell the whole thing. But, then, +who knows when anything actually begins? At any rate during the first +two years after Henry and I were married you remember we lived with +Henry's parents. They were awfully nice to me and gave me hundreds of +presents, but after awhile I became tired of living in another's house. +Oh, the house was big and I had plenty of rooms, but you know it isn't +like having a home of one's own is it, Jack?" + +After waiting for her sister to nod agreement, Frieda went on. + +"So I told Henry I wanted a house to myself, and I must say he and his +mother and father were very nice about it--at first." Frieda made a +dramatic pause. + +"It was Henry's fault all through though. You know he is the only child +and his mother and father are dreadfully rich. But what do you suppose +Henry decided? When we went to housekeeping for ourselves we were to +live on the income he made as a Professor! Did you ever hear of anything +so selfish?" + +"Well dear," Jack hesitated "maybe in a way it was selfish, because of +course Henry's father and mother must have been disappointed not to be +able to do for you. But, after all, it was self respecting of Henry. I +suppose a man--especially an American one--likes to feel that he is able +to be responsible for his own family." + +"That is exactly what Ruth and Jim Colter wrote me," Frieda protested +indignantly. "I suppose it never occurs to any one of you to think of +me!" + +"Yes, but you have your own income from our estate, Frieda," Jack added +quickly, not wishing to offend her sister at the beginning of her +confidence. + +"I know," Frieda continued more amiably. "So, at first, when I saw how +much Henry's heart was set on our being independent, I agreed to try. +But you know, Jack, I never have had much experience in managing money, +and even when we were at school at Primrose Hall I got into debt. So, +although Henry told me just what we had to live upon, I couldn't seem to +make things come out even. Then, as I didn't want to worry him, I kept +using my own income till that gave out. And then--" + +"Then what?" Jack inquired anxiously. Really she had been right in +disapproving of Frieda's marrying so young. And more important than +Frieda's youth was the fact that she, and all the people who had ever +had anything to do with Frieda, had never treated her as a responsible +human being. In her entire life she had never had any real care, or any +real demand made upon her. Jack felt deeply uneasy. But whatever had +happened, whatever might happen in the future, Frieda was her own +adored small sister, and she intended to stand by her. + +"Oh nothing much," Frieda conceded, although her voice was less self +assured, "only I told Henry's father. He used to be very fond of me +before I left Henry; I don't know how he feels now," she murmured. "I +believe he thought I was some kind of a joke, for he gave me a lot of +money and told me not to worry. But he told Henry's mother and she did +not think it was fair to Henry and must have let him know. Anyhow he was +dreadfully angry and unkind to me." + +"How unkind?" Jack demanded. For, of course, the fear that Professor +Russell had been unkind to Frieda had been always at the back of her +mind, since learning of her sister's unhappiness. However, when she +recalled the Professor's shyness and gentleness, it was difficult to +imagine him in the role of a brute. But Jack had learned enough of life +not always to trust to exteriors. + +"Oh, nothing very dreadful I suppose," Frieda conceded. "Henry fussed a +lot and said I had not been fair to him and that it wasn't honest to +keep things from him. He was always saying that I was very young and +that I ought to confide everything in him." + +"Was there anything else, dear?" Jack inquired gently. + +Frieda nodded. "Yes. Oh, well, I might as well tell you the whole story +since I have started. I was getting on a little better with the house, +and Henry obtained some extra work to do, so that he made more money. +But it kept him at home more in the evenings and besides he never did +like to go out a great deal. He used to go sometimes because I liked it, +but I never felt he was enjoying himself, and Henry never would learn to +dance." + +This struck Jack as a perfectly absurd reason for a vital difference +between a husband and wife, yet she dared not smile, nor did she wish to +smile, seeing how important this really appeared to Frieda. + +But Frieda must have understood something of what was passing in her +sister's mind, for she said: + +"I know that may sound ridiculous to you, Jack, but it has made a lot of +difference to me." There was a choking note in Frieda's voice. "A lot of +our trouble has come from it. You know I dearly love to dance, so I used +to go out in the afternoons as I didn't like staying at home by myself +and did not want to trouble Henry to take me often." + +"Not by yourself?" + +"Certainly not," Frieda returned pettishly, "one can't very well dance +alone." + +"With any particular person?" + +For a moment Jack held her breath. + +At first Frieda shook her head. Afterwards she contradicted herself and +nodded. + +"There were three or four persons--young fellows--some of them students +at the University, and most of the time other girls, too. At first Henry +did not mind. Then he said people were beginning to talk and there was +one person I liked especially, because he danced better than any one +else, whom Henry said I could not go with at all. But I did go. Then I +told Henry I was bored anyhow and wanted to be free. He was very +disagreeable. So I ran away and just left a note. But I haven't been +very happy for a long time, Jack, darling. I suppose you were right when +you said I ought not to have married so young. Perhaps I am spoiled and +selfish. Henry says I am, but some people like me anyhow." + +Jack leaned over and took Frieda's chin in one of her firm white hands. + +"There isn't anybody else, is there little, sister?" she demanded. + +Returning her gaze straightforwardly, Frieda answered severely. + +"Certainly not, Jack; what do you think of me? Don't you know I am +married. I told you I didn't like men any more, and never intend to have +anything to do with them again." + +"Then I'll leave you now, dear, and send one of the maids to help you +dress, if you like," Jack answered. "Let's don't talk any more today on +this subject and please don't worry. You have lost all your color shut +up by yourself in that wretched New York hotel. Hurry and come out in +the garden with Olive and the babies and me." + +But when Jack had left her sister, she did not dismiss the thought of +their conversation so lightly as her words implied. Perhaps Frieda had +not made out a very good case for herself against her husband. It looked +as if Professor Russell must have a story to tell as well. But the main +fact appeared that Frieda was not happy in her marriage. Whatever the +reasons, or whoever was at fault, it was the _thing_ itself which +worried Jack. It was plain enough that Professor Russell was too old +for Frieda, and that his scholarly tastes were not suited to her girlish +ones. + +"A Professor of Dead Languages married to Frieda!" Jack whispered, +blaming herself once again for allowing the marriage. Well, nothing +could be decided for the present at any rate. One must wait for at least +a little more light! + +Out in the garden Jack and Olive and Frieda played all morning with +Jack's two babies. Jimmie was a little fair haired, blue eyed, rose +cheeked English boy. Vive was a different kind of baby; she had light +yellow hair, and dark eyes unlike either Jack's or Frank's. Perhaps she +was going to resemble the lovely old time portrait in the library. + +Frieda spent several hours with Vive in her arms, although she never had +been particularly interested in any baby before. + +When lunch was over, Jack said unexpectedly: + +"I hope you'll forgive me, Frieda, if I leave you and Olive for a little +while. I promised a friend, Captain MacDonnell, to ride with him this +afternoon before I dreamed you were coming, and I have forgotten to let +him know. Besides," Jack added, since never even in small matters could +she be dishonest, "I really want the ride. Captain MacDonnell is the +one person who likes to ride as hard as I do. Oh, of course, English +women ride marvelously well--far better than I, and there is nothing +they won't attempt in hunting. But what I like now and then is just a +straight cross country ride--as near like the old rides across the +prairies as I can manage, though I must say this country does not look +much like the prairies," Jack ended, as she glanced smiling out the +window at her own beautiful, well kept English lawn. "Wait, Frieda, and +meet Bryan won't you? he is one of Frank's and my dearest friends." + +So Olive and Frieda were standing together on the veranda at the side of +Kent House when Jack and Captain MacDonnell finally rode off, +accompanied by a groom. + +"I declare Jack looks better on horseback than any one in the world," +Frieda announced admiringly. "Her costume is more stylish than the old +khaki or corduroy things she used to wear at the ranch, but I don't +think Jack herself is very much changed, except that she is more +attractive." + +At this instant Jack turned to wave her riding whip back at her sister +and friend. She had on a perfect fitting tan cloth habit with a long +English coat and short trousers and high riding boots. Her yellow brown +hair was braided low on her neck and she wore a small derby. + +"Captain MacDonnell is handsome too, isn't he?" Frieda remarked +reflectively, before moving to go indoors. "I wonder if he and Jack are +very intimate and if Frank minds her riding with him like this? I +suppose not, or Jack wouldn't," she acknowledged. + +Then she turned to Olive. "Don't look so cross, for goodness sake, +Olive. I am not criticizing Jack. I don't suppose you imagine she is any +more perfect than I do, only I was just thinking how you and the entire +family will probably blame me for doing pretty much the same kind of +thing that Jack is doing. Of course, I don't think there is anything +wrong in it. It is absurd and horrid of people to believe there is." + +Olive was about to reply, but before she could speak, Frieda interrupted +her. + +"Oh, I know exactly what you are going to say, Olive. Jack and I are +very different persons! I know that as well as you do. I know, too, that +Jack would never do anything except what was right. She could not if she +tried. But she might do something silly. I don't suppose there is any +human being in the world who fails to be foolish at one time or other in +this life," Frieda concluded. + + + + +CHAPTER IV + +A LATE ARRIVAL + + +FRANK KENT returned unexpectedly from London early in the same +afternoon. He had not yet heard of Frieda's arrival, so that they at +once spent an hour talking together. + +Lord Kent, as most men did, treated his sister-in-law as a very pretty +and charming young woman, who was not to be taken seriously. His wife +had told him of Frieda's difficulty with her husband, but not of the +cause. At that time she was not aware of it. Also she had instructed him +not to mention the prospect of Professor Russell's appearance in +England. So Frieda and Frank chatted and teased each other, as they had +since she was a little girl just entering her teens, but neither +referred to any unpleasant subject. + +Lord Kent had seemed tired when he first came home and was disappointed +to find his wife absent. + +After his conversation with Frieda he relaxed and appeared more cheerful +and good natured. This was the effect Frieda usually had upon masculine +persons. She was so gentle and pretty, and her eyes were such a clear +blue that one felt she could be easily influenced or persuaded. But the +truth was that Frieda was no more easily controlled than a kitten. If +ever one tries to train a little domestic animal, it will be discovered +that a dog is far more quickly influenced than a kitten. As a matter of +fact a kitten is probably the most unchangeable of all domestic pets. + +Since the early afternoon the July day had altered. A soft rain had +begun falling, so that tea at Kent House was served in the library. + +Olive, Frieda and Lord Kent waited half an hour later than usual, +thinking that Jack and Captain MacDonnell would return. Then they drank +their tea slowly, still believing that the riders would surely appear +before they had finished. + +At half past five, when there was still no sign of his wife and friend, +Lord Kent got up and several times walked back and forth from his chair +to the big French window. + +For the moment Frieda had gone out of the room, so that he finally spoke +to Olive. + +"I suppose it is ridiculous of me, but I am always more or less uneasy +when Jack and Bryan go off for rides together. Jack is the most fearless +horsewoman in the world and Bryan the most all round, fearless man. He +has killed big game in Africa and India and Australia, traveled in the +Congo and in other equally uncivilized places. He never used to stay for +any length of time in England. Now and then I have an idea of forbidding +Jack to ride with him, I am so uncertain of what reckless thing they may +do together." + +"Oh, I don't think you need worry, Frank," Olive returned, "Jack is +fearless but I don't think she has been reckless since the accident she +had when a girl." + +Although she could scarcely speak of it, Olive was smiling to herself +over Frank's use of the word "forbid." She never recalled that any one +had ever forbidden Jack to do anything she wished so long as she had +known her. But probably Frank's forbidding was of the gentlest kind. +Olive felt she must remember that the English attitude toward marriage +was not the same as the American, although when an Englishman marries an +American girl they are supposed to strike the happy medium. + +Entering the room again just as Frank concluded his speech, Frieda was +even more startled when she recalled that the use of this very word had +been one of the reasons for the most serious quarrel she had ever had +with her husband. Henry had never used the word a second time. + +Another hour passed. Still Jack and Captain MacDonnell had not returned. +Moreover, by this time the rain had become a steady downpour. Olive and +Frieda were also uneasy. + +"If you will forgive my leaving you, I believe I will go and see if I +can find what has become of the wanderers," Frank suggested. Then, +without further explanation or discussion, he went away. + +Ten minutes later, mounted on his own horse, he was riding down the +rain-washed road. He had found that the groom, who had accompanied Jack +and Captain MacDonnell, had gotten separated from them and returned home +half an hour before. + +Frank was uncertain whether he were the more angry or uneasy. It seemed +impossible to imagine what misfortune could have befallen his wife and +friend, which would have made it impossible for them to have either +telephoned or sent some message home. Yet it was equally impossible to +conceive that Jack would be so careless as to forget every one else in +the pursuit of her own pleasure. Even if she had been uncertain of his +arrival from London, there was Olive, who had been her guest only a few +days and Frieda not twenty-four hours. But as a matter of fact Jack had +known he would be down sometime during the evening although she did not +know the hour. + +July is one of the long twilight months in England. Nevertheless, +because of the rain, the evening was a kind of smoke grey with the +faintest lavender tones in the sky. A heavy mist was also rising from +the ground, so that with the falling rain one could not see many yards +ahead. + +Lord Kent's plan was to leave word with his lodgekeeper at the lodge +gate to follow after him in case any word came from Lady Kent, or if she +returned home before he did. But a moment or so before reaching the +lodge, while yet in his own avenue, although at some distance from Kent +House, Frank heard laughter and low voices. There was no doubting the +laughter was Jack's. + +Frank pulled up his horse abruptly and stood still. The oncoming +figures were walking and leading their horses instead of riding. That +instant, because he was no longer uneasy, Frank discovered that he was +angrier and more hurt than he cared to show. + +All at once he overheard Jack say: + +"Do hurry, please, Bryan; I'm afraid everybody at home may be uneasy." + +But instead of hurrying, they must have stopped again. For the second +time Jack murmured, "I don't see how I could ever have been such a +wretch, or how I'll ever confess to Frank." + +Then Captain MacDonnell's inquiry: + +"What are you going to say?" + +And his wife's answer: + +"Why, tell the truth and face the music; what else is there to do, +Bryan?" + +In the past few years since his marriage, undoubtedly Frank Kent had +either altered or simply developed. Sometimes it is difficult to +determine which one of these two things a human being has done. Frank +had always been quiet and determined. If he had been otherwise he would +never have tried for so many years to persuade Jacqueline Ralston to +marry him. But now that he had grown older, he certainly appeared +sterner. He seemed to have certain fixed ideas of right and wrong, and +they were not broad ideas, to which he expected at least the members of +his own household to conform. + +The two wayfarers were now in sight and Frank dismounted. + +"I am sorry to have been compelled to play eavesdropper," he said +curtly, when they also caught sight of him. + +Jack was soaked with rain and her boots and riding habit were splashed +with mud. A little river of water filled and overflowed the brim of her +hat. But her cheeks were a deep rose color and her grey eyes dear and +shining. + +Frank would never have confessed that he felt a slight pang of jealousy +at the good time his wife and friend must have been having, while he had +been making himself miserable with the thought that a disaster had +befallen them. + +Jack's hand was resting on the nose of her horse, while Captain +MacDonnell held the bridles of both. + +"You have come out to search for us, haven't you, Frank?" Jack began +penitently. "I am sorry; I did not know you could have arrived from +London so soon." She was now close beside her husband. "The truth is, +Frank, I have had rather a horrid tumble. For a person who thinks she +knows how to ride, I seem to do the stupidest possible things." + +"You don't seem to have hurt yourself seriously, Jack," Frank answered +grimly. For in spite of her penitence, which did not seem very profound, +Jack looked extraordinarily happy and glowing. + +"No, I wasn't hurt in the least. I managed to get clear as we went down. +But my horse's knee was sprained--not so badly as Bryan and I at first +thought. Still I did not like to ride him, so we have been walking along +through the rain for a few miles." + +"How did the accident occur? I am rather surprised, Jack," Frank +answered, now plainly more sympathetic because a little uneasy at what +could have happened to his wife. + +Jack turned aside and even in the dusk one could see she was +embarrassed. + +"Oh, I was disobeying orders," she said with a pretence of lightness. "I +went over a rather high fence, which I had never taken before, without +waiting until Bryan could get up to me. I made the jump without trouble, +but the ground on the other side was so soft that my horse's forefeet +went down into it. He stumbled and fell. That is why I am such a +spectacle," she concluded, touching her mud-stained habit with her whip. + +Whatever he may have felt, Frank would naturally not discuss a +difference between himself and his wife before another person. He +therefore made no comment, but instead suggested: + +"Suppose you get on my horse, Jack, and ride up to the house. Frieda and +Olive are uneasy. Bryan and I will come along together." + +According to the English custom, Lord and Lady Kent occupied separate +bedrooms, which opened into each other. + +A half hour later Jack was dressing for dinner when she heard Frank +enter his room. But he did not come into her apartment or call out to +her, although they were usually in the habit of discussing various +questions through their open door, while they changed their clothes. + +Jack, of course, recognized that her husband was angry with her. Also +she knew that he had a measure of right on his side. She had promised +him not to attempt dangerous jumping in her cross-country riding. Her +accident a number of years before had made him and all the members of +her family more nervous about her than they would ordinarily have been, +knowing that she had spent a large part of her life on horseback. +Moreover, Frank had very rigid ideas about keeping one's word, not +agreeing that one could swerve by a hair's breadth. + +In a good deal of haste, since dinner was to be announced at any moment, +Jack put on a white satin dinner dress. It was an old one, but chanced +to be particularly becoming. The gown was simply made, with a square +neck and a fold of tulle about the throat and a long, severely plain +skirt. Only a woman with a figure as perfect as Jack's could have looked +well in it. Her hair was arranged with equal simplicity, being coiled +closely about her head and held in place with a carved ivory comb. + +Half a dozen guests had been invited to dinner, nevertheless before +going downstairs Jack went first into her husband's room. + +Jack had always had a lovely nature. In the old days at Rainbow Lodge in +any difficulty with one of the Ranch girls, although having a high +temper, she had been quick to confess herself in the wrong. Since her +marriage she had been more than ever inclined to do likewise with her +husband. So it was but natural that Frank should be under the impression +that she would at all times eventually come around to his point of view. +He did not realize that under some circumstances Jack might be as +inflexible as he was. + +However, she waited a moment now with perfect good temper, while Frank +pretended that he had not heard her enter his room. When he finally did +look toward her, she went up to him and put her arms about him. Then, as +he continued to frown, Jack smiled. She knew that her husband took small +matters too seriously, having made this discovery soon after her +marriage, just as all girls make similar discoveries. But Jack was wise +enough to realize that she must try as wisely as she could to discount +this uncomfortable characteristic. + +"Don't be grouchy, please, Frank," she murmured. "I told you I was +sorry, and you know that every now and then I have to get rid of some of +my surplus American energy. After a hard ride with Bryan I can be a +conventional English Lady for weeks." + +In spite of her good intention, Jack's remark was not wise. No matter +how devoted a man and woman may be to each other, there is obliged to +be some difference of opinion in every international marriage. + +Frank was extremely sensitive over the idea that Jack was not as happy +in the English life he offered her, as she had been in the old days on +her own ranch. + +"That is unfortunate, Jack," he returned, "for I have made up my mind +that it will be wiser for you not to ride with Bryan again. I am afraid +you are both too fond of adventure to be trusted." + +Then, as Frank had delivered his edict, his own good temper was +restored. As he was already dressed, putting his arm across Jack's +shoulder, he started for the door. He was really immensely proud of Jack +and thought she looked unusually lovely tonight. In spite of the number +of years he had been married he never introduced her to his friends, or +saw her at the head of his table, without a feeling of pride. Also, +Frank counted on Jack's sweetness of temper. It did not occur to him +that she would disagree with his request, or rather with his command, +since without intending it, he had expressed his wish in such a fashion. + +Nevertheless Jack hesitated. She knew that Frank was not in an agreeable +mood for a discussion then. Also, that they could not keep their guests +waiting while one took place. + +"I think that is rather arbitrary of you, Frank, since neither Bryan nor +I are children and he is one of the friends I most enjoy. But perhaps we +had better talk of this at another time." + +Frank nodded, Jack's manner affording no idea that she would not +ultimately give in to him, nor was she sure herself. It may be that Jack +had become too much of a domestic pacifist--a woman who wishes for peace +at any price. + +On the landing of the steps, just before they went down to dinner, Frank +remarked hastily: + +"Oh Jack, I had a marconigram from Professor Russell. He must have heard +of Frieda's sudden departure from New York. In any case his ship is due +tomorrow, for he left the day after she sailed." + +"Gracious, have you told Frieda?" Jack returned nervously, forgetting +for the instant her own personal quandary. "Frieda announced that she +never would agree to see Professor Russell again. In any case I had +hoped we might have a few weeks of grace, to allow things to quiet down +or perhaps to persuade Frieda to change her mind. The only thing now is +not to allow Professor Russell to come to Kent House until Frieda gives +her consent." + +"Nonsense, Jack," Frank answered reassuringly, "Frieda cannot behave in +any such fashion. You have not told me the trouble, but I suspect that +Frieda has simply been a spoiled child. Besides, in any case, she has no +right to refuse at least to see her husband and talk the situation over. +Don't worry; I'll discuss the matter with Frieda myself in the morning +and bring her around. You see, I telegraphed Russell at the dock to come +directly to us, as I shall spend tomorrow at home." + +"All right," Jack conceded, a good deal worried, but also slightly +amused. If her husband wished to undertake to persuade Frieda to change +her mind, she was glad that the task was his and not hers. Of course +Frank thought it would be a simple matter, since he had yet really to +know his sister-in-law. It was only natural that he should suppose +Frieda would be easier to guide than his wife, judging by Frieda's +manner and appearance! Men are not always wise in their judgment of +feminine character. + + + + +CHAPTER V + +AN APPARITION + + +THE next morning Frieda received a message from her brother-in-law +asking her to give him half an hour of her time, whenever it was +convenient to her. + +In a way she had anticipated this request, although it had come sooner +than she expected. Frieda knew that Frank was fond of her and regarded +himself as her brother. She had no other. Also, she held a wise idea +inside her blonde head, believing that men were apt to stand together in +many difficulties of the kind in which she and her husband were now +involved. + +However, Frieda did not, of course, anticipate the news of her husband's +having immediately followed her to Europe. She had not written to him or +to any friend in Chicago since her sudden departure. But she had made up +her mind that the last interview between herself and Henry was their +final one. There could be no reason for their ever meeting again. She +supposed, of course, that there were certain matters that would have to +be arranged in the future, but Frieda was not given to troubling herself +over details. Someone else had always attended to such things for her, +in order that she might have her way. Later, Jim Colter, or Frank, or a +lawyer--Frieda was entirely vague as to the method to be employed--would +have to see that she was released from the cause of her unhappiness. + +For since arriving at Jack's house not thirty-six hours before, Frieda +had been happier than she had for several months. Therefore, during the +night she had decided for the hundredth time, that her husband must be +the sole cause of all the upsetting emotions which had been recently +troubling her. So soon as she could learn to forget Henry and put the +recollection of him entirely out of her mind, she would again become the +perfectly care free and irresponsible Frieda of the old days at the +Rainbow Ranch. + +As she was not fond of getting up in the mornings and usually did pretty +much what she liked in her sister's house, Frieda had not gone down to +breakfast. However, she sent word to her brother-in-law that she would +be glad to see him in her own sitting room between eleven and twelve +o'clock. + +Whether it was done intentionally or not, Frieda put on a frock in which +she looked particularly young. It was a simple white muslin, with sprays +of blue flowers and folded kerchief fashion across Frieda's white +throat. Nothing could really make Frieda appear demure; her lips were +too full and crimson; her nose was too retrousee and her hair held too +much pure sunlight. But she could look very innocent and much abused, +and this was the impression she subconsciously wished to make. One must +not believe that Frieda actually thought out matters of this kind, but +she was one of the women who acted on what is supposed to be feminine +instinct. + +Frank thought Frieda looked about sixteen instead of twenty-two when he +arrived to talk matters over with her. So at once it struck him as +absurd that he was forced to discuss so serious a question as leaving +her husband with a mere child like Frieda. Instead of argument Frank +began with persuasion. First he invited Frieda to tell her side of the +story, which he had heard in part from Jack. Although he had said at the +time of his wife's confidence, that Frieda had not made much of a case +for herself, on hearing her story from Frieda's own lips he offered no +such criticism. + +When Frieda ended she was crying, so that Frank sympathetically took her +hand to console her as any other man would. Then, while holding her +hand, he attempted a mild argument in favor of the Professor, finally +concluding: + +"Frieda, your husband is coming to Kent House some time this afternoon. +Since it is really your duty to see him and talk over the +misunderstanding between you, I feel sure you will." + +Nevertheless, Frieda gently but obstinately shook her head. + +"I'm sorry to disappoint you, Frank, and Jack too, if she really feels +as you do, but I never mean to see Henry again." + +However, until lunch time Frank remained in the blue sitting room +discussing the foolishness of her position with Frieda; afterwards he +felt that he had never presented any subject so skillfully in his career +as a member of Parliament, as he argued her own case with his +sister-in-law. Frieda never questioned him, never contradicted him, only +she continued to shake her head and to repeat gently, "I'm sorry, Frank, +but I can't." + +Several times Lord Kent attempted severity because his severity usually +influenced most people. It influenced Frieda, but only to such an +outburst of tears, that he was forced to spend the next five minutes in +apologizing in order to comfort her. + +At one o'clock Jack, appearing at the door, immediately recognized the +situation. Both Frank and Frieda appeared exhausted. Frieda announced +that she would not come to lunch, but would prefer to lie down all the +afternoon. As a matter of fact the possibility that her husband might +make his appearance at Kent House was the real reason which kept Frieda +in her own room, although offering the excuse of a headache. + +Therefore, about four o'clock, when Professor Henry Tilford Russell +finally did arrive, he was able to see only Lord and Lady Kent, his +brother-in-law and sister-in-law. + +Personally, Jack was uncertain how she should greet him. Of what actual +unkindness he was guilty of to Frieda she was not yet certain. +Nevertheless, the fact remaining that he had not made her little sister +happy filled Lady Kent with resentment and dislike. Certainly, Professor +Russell should have realized how much older he was than Frieda and not +expected her to conform to his dullness and routine. + +As a matter of fact Jack also would have preferred not to have to come +in contact with her sister's husband until she understood the situation +between them more thoroughly. Yet, when Professor Russell was announced, +it was she who was forced to go first into the drawing room. + +There must have been a delay of about five minutes since she had waited +that length of time for her husband, who chanced to have gone out to the +stables to give an order. Then, fearing to appear intentionally rude, +Jack approached their visitor alone. + +He could not have heard her as she entered, for he was sitting in a +large chair with his head resting in his hand and looked so exhausted, +possibly from his trip, that Lady Kent forgot for the moment to be +angry. When he aroused himself and later held out his hand, she took it +at once, although a moment before she had not been sure whether she +ought, because of her own loyalty to Frieda. + +"Is Frieda well? If you only realized the relief to find she is safe +here with you! At first I did not know where the child had gone," +Professor Russell began so simply, that any human being would have been +disarmed. + +It will be remembered, that in the last volume of the "Ranch Girls At +Home Again," Professor Russell is introduced to the Ranch girls by Ralph +Merritt, who told them of the Professor's intense dislike for girls. At +first he appeared to regard Frieda only as a child and therefore made an +exception of her. Then, later, after his accident at Rainbow Mine when +his leg was broken and Frieda undertook to keep him amused, an amazing +friendship developed between them which finally resulted in their +marriage. + +In replying to his question Jack found herself answering as reassuringly +as if Frieda really had been a runaway child, since this seemed to be +the spirit in which her husband thought of her. + +"She will see me?" he asked eagerly. But when Jack shook her head he did +not appear surprised, being evidently accustomed to Frieda's vagaries. + +Moreover, Lord Kent then came into the room. + +Afterwards, Professor Russell related his side of the difficulty between +himself and his wife. His story did not after all differ so much from +Frieda's account, for he put the blame upon himself, as she had done. + +"I was too old for her; we ought never to have married. The fault was +all mine," he ended so despondently, that Jack felt as if she could not +accept the very conclusion she had reached the day before. + +Professor Russell could not be persuaded to remain long--not even for +tea. It was agreed, however, that he would spend the next few weeks in +London and that later they might reach some decision. In the meantime +Jack promised to do her best to persuade her sister to have at least one +interview with her husband. + +Lord Kent followed his brother-in-law to the door. + +"Frieda is a spoiled baby; you have simply been too good to her. Some +day she will wake up and find this out for herself," he declared. + +But Professor Russell only shook his head sadly and departed. + +Even after learning of her husband's departure Frieda still refused to +join her family. What she was thinking about alone in her own apartment +no one knew, since she asked that no one disturb her. + +However, at half past five, realizing that her husband then must be +safely on his way back to London, Frieda decided that she could endure +her own rooms no longer. Without a word to anyone, she put on a long, +light weight blue coat and a small, close fitting, blue turban and +passing down through the long halls and through a side entrance vanished +into the outdoors. + +It was Frieda's plan merely to walk about in the gardens until she could +persuade herself into a calmer frame of mind. She was sure, of course, +that she cared nothing for her husband and yet all afternoon she had +found herself wondering if he were not worn out by his journey. +Ordinarily he was not a good traveler and he must also have suffered +through being compelled to desert his summer classes at the University +in order to seek her. + +Frieda discovered one of the gardeners at work in the flower beds and, +as he persisted in talking with her, she started down one of the shaded +avenues along the edge of the park in order to be alone. She did not +often walk for any distance, since she had never been so fond of +exercise as the other girls. + +But Frieda felt unexplainably restless and out of sorts. This was +foolish because, having made up her mind that she wanted her freedom +and being determined to gain it, there was no point in worrying. + +Frieda kept walking hurriedly on. It was a beautiful, soft afternoon, +with the first hint of twilight in the sky and in the atmosphere. + +Kent Park covered several acres and Frieda wandered further from the +house than she knew. After a time the road which she had taken curved +into a path leading into the woods. There was a fairly heavy forest near +by, which was a part of the Kent estate and she strolled into this. + +Later, Frieda sat down for a few minutes. She was in no hurry to return +home, except in time for dinner which was at a late hour, according to +the English custom. Not that she meant to appear at dinner, but that +Jack or Olive would be sure to seek her at that time. + +Frieda made rather a charming picture amid the scene she had +unconsciously chosen for herself. She was sitting on the trunk of a tree +which had fallen from the weight of years and infirmities. There was a +little clearing behind her and, as she had taken off her hat, the sun +shone on her bowed head and shoulders. She wished very much that she +could stop thinking about a number of things, for Frieda was one of the +people who resent having to grow up and there are more of them in this +world than we realize. + +Then, suddenly, Frieda heard an odd noise, which at least startled her +sufficiently to bring the result she had been wishing for, since it made +her stop thinking of unpleasant things. The noise was not loud and it +would have been difficult to have explained exactly what the sound was. +Only Frieda for the first time realized that she had been unwise in +having come so far away from the house without mentioning to anyone +where she was going. + +The woods in which she was resting was a portion of the game preserves +belonging to the Kent Estate, or a portion of land set apart for hunting +at certain times of the year on English estates. But no one is supposed +to hunt on this land except the owner of the estate and the friends whom +he may care to invite. + +Frieda, of course, had stayed long enough in England on other visits to +understand that poachers are more or less frequent. She thought perhaps +the noise she had heard was a man in hiding, who had been hunting and +feared she might report him. The fact that it was summer time, when +hunting was infrequent, made no impression upon her. + +[Illustration: IN A FEW MOMENTS SHE WAS IN A PANIC] + +At first, however, she was not seriously frightened, although she +concluded to hurry back to Kent House as quickly as possible. + +But when she started back through the woods, whoever it was in hiding +evidently attempted to follow her. The faster she walked, the faster the +footsteps came on behind. + +However, Frieda did not turn her head to discover her pursuer. She had +been nervous and worried all day, or she might not have become so +alarmed. Instead of looking back she continued hurrying on faster and +faster until, in a few moments, she was in a panic. Then she started to +run and to her horror realized that a man was also running with long, +easy strides behind her. + +Frieda was totally unaccustomed to looking after herself in any +emergency, and had never been compelled to do so--even in small +adversities. Now she had a sudden impulse to call out for someone, but +had only sufficient breath to increase her speed. If she could get a +little nearer the house, one of the servants could be sure to come to +her assistance. + +But Frieda had run only a few yards when, as a perfectly natural result +of her panic, she tripped over some roots hidden in the underbrush and +fell forward with her face amid the leaves and twigs and with one leg +crumpled under her. + +She must have struck her chin for she felt a dull pain and a queer +numbness in her side. However, when she tried to disentangle herself and +jump up quickly the pain became more acute. Nevertheless, for one +instant Frieda struggled and then lay still, for her pursuer had already +reached her and was bending over her, for what purpose Frieda did not +know. + +Then she heard a slow, inexpressibly familiar voice say: + +"I am afraid I have frightened you, my dear. I do trust you have not +injured yourself." Then a pair of strong, gentle hands attempted to lift +her. + +Naturally, Frieda's first sensation was one of amazement; the second, +relief; and the third, anger. + +She managed, however, with assistance to sit in an upright position. +Then she began brushing off the twigs and dirt which she felt had been +ground into her face. Finally she recovered sufficient breath and self +control to be able to speak. + +"Henry Russell!" she exclaimed, trying to reveal both dignity and +disdain, in spite of her ridiculous position, "will you please tell me +why you are hiding in Frank's woods like a thief, and why, when I +refused to see you, you terrified the life out of me by chasing me until +I nearly killed myself. I think, at least, I have broken my leg," she +ended petulantly. + +Professor Henry Tilford Russell flushed all over his fair, scholarly +face. Taking off his soft grey hat, he ran his hand over the top of his +head, where the hair was already beginning to grow thin. + +"My dear Frieda, you do me an injustice," he began, "although I know my +actions do appear as you have just stated them. The truth is I found +myself unable to go away at once from Kent House. I am not fond of +London. I dreaded the loneliness there; also I longed for a sight of you +to know for myself that you were well. So I wandered about through the +grounds at some distance from the house and finally entered these woods. +When you came into them alone and so unexpectedly, it seemed as if I +must speak to you. I started toward you and you ran. I did not think my +pursuit would alarm you. It was one of the many things, Frieda, I should +have understood and did not." + +In spite of the fact that the fault of the present situation was +undoubtedly Professor Russell's, there was an unconscious dignity and +graciousness about him as he made his apology, which Frieda recognized +was undoubtedly lacking both in her appearance and emotions. She felt +extremely cross and her leg hurt. She could not go up to the house +assisted by a husband whom she had just scornfully refused to see, and +yet she did not believe she could walk alone. + +"Very well, Henry; now that you have accomplished your purpose, I hope +you will be good enough to leave me," Frieda demanded, believing that +she would rather suffer anything than a continuance of her present +humiliation. + +But Professor Russell did not stir. + +"I prefer to see you safely through the woods. When we are nearer the +house I may be able to find someone to take my place." + +Professor Russell then leaned over and lifted Frieda to her feet. As a +result she found that her leg was not broken or sprained, but only +bruised, and that walking was possible if she moved slowly. + +However, Frieda suffered considerable pain and she was not accustomed to +bodily discomfort. At first she tried not to rest her weight upon the +Professor's arm, for he had put his arm under hers and was attempting to +support her almost entirely. But, by and by, as the pain grew worse, she +found herself growing more dependent and, as a matter of fact, her +dependence seemed perfectly natural. Once it occurred to her that, +during her first acquaintance with Professor Russell, he had been hurt +and in more ways than one had leaned upon her. No one ever had asked any +kind of care from her before, and in those days she had at least thought +that she had fallen in love with the Professor. At least she had +insisted upon marrying him, when her entire family had opposed the +union. + +There was no conversation between the husband and wife, except that +several times Professor Russell, without waiting to be asked, stopped +for Frieda to rest. + +Then, by and by, when they had reached the edge of the woods, he saw one +of the men servants at a little distance off and signalled to him. + +"There are many things I would like to talk over with you, Frieda, but +this is not the time. Neither do I want you to think I meant to take an +unfair advantage of you by forcing myself upon you without your +knowledge. I think I scarcely realized myself just what I was doing. I +am sorry you felt compelled to run away from home because we sometimes +quarreled. I do not know just how much I was in the wrong at those +times, but I fear you were not happy with me or you would not have let +the fact that we differed about a good many things have made you wish to +leave me. Please remember, Frieda, if there is ever a time when you wish +to talk matters over with me, I shall be glad to come to you. I will not +come again unless you summon me." + +Then, as the man servant had by this time reached them, Professor +Russell gave Frieda into the man's charge. + +The next instant, bowing to her as if he had been a stranger, he turned +and started in the opposite direction. + +Frieda did not remember whether she even said good-bye. She did think, +however, that she would have liked to have reminded Henry to hold his +shoulders straighter. Really he was not so old--only something over +thirty. He seemed to have been one of the persons born old, caring +always more for books than people--more for study than an active life. +Frieda actually felt a little sorry for him. Always she must have been a +disturbing influence in his life. Perhaps in his way he had been good to +her, or at least had intended to be. She wished that she had told him to +go back home because she could write to him there, or in case she ever +wished to see him, she could also go home. She intended to go to the +Rainbow ranch in the autumn. + + + + +CHAPTER VI + +THE CLOUD + + +THE next weeks in July were extraordinarily beautiful ones in England. +The summer was warmer than usual and the sun shone with greater +radiance. The English country was hauntingly lovely and serene. + +In spite of Frieda's trouble, the three Ranch girls enjoyed one another, +as they had had no opportunity of doing since Jack's marriage and coming +abroad to live. + +There were long walks and rides and exchanges of visits with their +country neighbors. Now and then Lady Kent and Olive went up to London +for a few days of the theatre and the last part of the social season. +They were Lord Kent's guests in the Ladies' Gallery in the House of +Parliament and drank tea on the wonderful old balcony that overlooks the +Thames river. But Frieda preferred not to accompany them. + +London was never more filled with tourists, the greater number +Americans intending to leave later for the continent. + +But so far as Professor Russell was concerned, no word had been heard +from him since his unceremonious meeting with his wife. However, he had +sent his banker's address to Lord Kent, saying that all mail would be +forwarded to him from there. Then he appeared to have dropped completely +out of sight for, in spite of his brother-in-law's effort toward +friendliness, he had not called upon him a second time. + +In discussing the matter between themselves, Jack and Frank decided that +this was possibly the best arrangement for the present. Frieda had never +mentioned her unexpected discovery of her husband; nor did she ever +voluntarily refer to her married life. Therefore, whatever was going on +inside her mind, no one had any knowledge of it. As is often the case +with women and girls of Frieda's temperament, she was better able to +keep her own counsel than the women who are supposed to be strong minded +and who are more apt to be frank. + +So far as Jack was concerned she had never reopened with Frank the +question of her rides with Captain MacDonnell, because the latter had +been away and he had not asked her to ride since his return. + +However, neither of these facts were so important as the feeling Jack +had, that no propitious moment had arrived for a second discussion of +the subject with her husband. She did not intend to defy him, but to +make him see that he had no right to be so arbitrary and--more than +that--so domineering. This had been Jack's usual method in any +difference of opinion between herself and Frank, or in any unlikeness +between the American and English point of view concerning marriage. As a +matter of fact, more than half the time Jack had been successful. + +But, during the past few weeks she had seen that Frank was worried and +unlike himself--that his attention was engaged on matters which were not +personal. For if the weather and the climate appeared serene in these +particular July weeks in England the state of English politics was not. +For the country was being harassed by the questions of Home Rule for +Ireland and by the Militant Suffrage movement. + +The Suffrage question was one which Lord and Lady Kent had agreed not to +discuss with each other. To Jack, who had been brought up in +Wyoming--the first of the Suffrage states in the United States--and who +had seen the success of it there, the fact that the English nation held +the idea of women voting in such abhorrence and with such narrow +mindedness, was more a matter of surprise than anything else. The fact +that her husband, who had also lived for a short time in Wyoming, should +also oppose woman's suffrage was beyond her comprehension, except that +Frank had the Englishman's love for the established order and disliked +any change. Jack would not confess to herself that he also had the +Englishman's idea that a woman should be subservient to her husband and +that he should be master of his own house. To give women the freedom, +which the ballot would bring, might be to allow them an independence in +which the larger majority of the men of the British Isles did not then +believe. Neither did they realize--nor did the suffragists +themselves--how near their women were to being able to prove their +fitness. + +One Saturday afternoon at the close of July, Captain MacDonnell invited +Jack and Olive and Frieda and a number of his other neighbors and +friends to tea at his place. He had no near relatives, and when he was +in Kent county lived alone, except for his housekeeper and servants, in +an odd little house, perhaps a century old, which had been left him by +his guardian. + +The girls drove over together in a pony carriage, usually devoted to +Jack's children. But at the gate they gave it into the charge of a boy +in order that they might walk up to the house, which was of a kind found +only in England. + +The house was built of rough plaster which the years had toned to a soft +grey. Captain MacDonnell had the good taste to allow the roof with its +deep overhanging eaves to remain thatched as it had been in early days. +The building was small and one walked up to the front door through two +long rows of hollyhocks. On either side of the hollyhock sentinels the +earth was a thick carpet of flowers, and the little house seemed to rise +out of its own flower beds. + +There were no steps leading to the front door except a single one, so +the visitor entered directly into the hall which divided the downstairs. +On the left side was a long room with a raftered ceiling and high narrow +windows, and on the right Captain MacDonnell's den--a small room +littered with a young soldier's belongings. Beyond were the dining room +and kitchen and upstairs four bedrooms. As the house was so small +Captain MacDonnell had turned his great, old-fashioned barn into extra +quarters for guests. Between the house and the flower beds and the barn +was an open space of green lawn with an occasional tree, and beyond was +a tennis court. The place was tiny and simple compared to Kent House and +yet had great charm. + +Jack and Olive and Frieda arrived before the other guests. They soon +discovered that Mrs. Naxie--Captain MacDonnell's housekeeper--had +arranged to serve tea in his living room. + +It was through Jack's suggestion that the arrangement was altered. + +"Please don't tell Mrs. Naxie, Bryan, that I spoke of it," she +volunteered as soon as she beheld the preparations, "but don't you think +the summer in England too short for people to spend an hour indoors when +they can avoid it?" + +And Captain MacDonnell good naturedly agreed. + +As a matter of fact, Jack always poured tea for him when he had guests +and she was able to be present, so she felt sufficiently at home to make +her request. + +Captain MacDonnell's mother was an Irishwoman and his father a +Scotchman. But they had both died when he was a little boy and he had +spent the greater part of his boyhood with an old bachelor friend of his +father's, who was his own guardian and had lived in the very house of +which he was now the master. + +As neighbors he and Frank Kent had played together when they were small +boys and had later gone to the same public school. Then Frank's illness +sent him to the United States, where he was introduced into the lives of +the Ranch girls, at about the same time his friend Bryan MacDonnell +entered Cambridge and afterwards the army. But whenever he and Frank +were together the old intimacy had continued, and Jack's coming had only +seemed to turn their friendship into a three-cornered one. + +"Frank told me to tell you that he was sorry not to be able to come over +with us this afternoon, Bryan," Jack announced a few moments later, when +the four of them had gone out to select a place where tea could be +served, "But for some reason or other he telephoned that he could not +come down from London today. I don't know what is wrong with Frank +lately. He has never been so absorbed in political matters. I am afraid +Frieda and Olive will think he neglects his family disgracefully. Please +tell them, Bryan, that he is sometimes an attentive husband." + +But as Captain MacDonnell did not answer at once, Olive remarked in a +more serious tone than Lady Kent had used: + +"I think I am rather glad Frank takes his work as a member of Parliament +as the most important thing he has to do. After all, helping to make the +laws of one's country is a pretty serious occupation. Which do you think +more serious--Captain MacDonnell, being a soldier and fighting when it +is necessary to defend the laws, or making them in the beginning?" + +Captain MacDonnell smiled, but rather seriously. It occurred to Jack, +who knew him so much better than the others, that Bryan did seem +uncommonly grave this afternoon, in spite of his efforts to be an +agreeable host. + +Then she took hold of Frieda's arm and they wandered off a short +distance, leaving Olive and Captain MacDonnell to continue their +conversation alone. + +"Do you know, Frieda," Jack whispered when they were safe from being +overheard, "I would give a great deal if Bryan and Olive would learn to +care for each other. Ordinarily I think it is horrid to be a matchmaker, +but Bryan and Olive are both so lovely and you don't know what it would +mean to me to have Olive live near me. It is heavenly these days, having +you both here. You can't realize how lonely I get for you and my own +country sometimes." + +Frieda looked critically over at Captain MacDonnell and Olive, who were +standing close beside each other talking earnestly. In spite of Captain +MacDonnell's ancestry his coloring was almost as dark as Olive's. + +Then Frieda turned her blue eyes on her sister. + +"Captain MacDonnell and Olive look too much alike," she argued. "I +prefer marriages where the man and woman are contrasts." + +Then, although Lady Kent made no answer, she smiled to herself. If +Frieda believed in contrasts in marriage, surely she did not mean merely +in complexion and general appearance. Important contrasts in human +beings went much deeper than appearances. Surely Frieda's own marriage +had offered a sufficient contrast in years, taste, disposition and a +dozen other things. However, instead of securing happiness, it seemed to +have had the opposite result. + +During the remainder of the afternoon Jack thought nothing more about +their early conversation, as she devoted herself entirely to Captain +MacDonnell's other guests. + +It was just a little after six o'clock, when they were beginning to +think of returning home, that Lady Kent observed one of her servants +coming toward her across the lawn carrying a telegram. + +Never so long as she lived was Jack ever to forget that moment and the +scene about her. There were about a dozen, beautifully costumed persons +present--the women in silks and muslins, and the men in tennis flannels +and other sport costumes. They were all talking in a light hearted +fashion about small matters. + +Without any thought that it might be of particular importance Jack +opened her telegram and before reading it apologized to the persons +nearest her. It happened that Captain MacDonnell was not far away. + +Yet she read her telegram--not once, but several times--before it dawned +upon her what her husband's words meant. Even then she did not really +understand any more than the millions of other women in the world, who +heard the same news and more within the next few days. The sky overhead +was still blue; the earth was green and peaceful, and her companions +were unconscious of tragedy. + +Nevertheless Frank's telegram had stated that the beginning of the war +cloud had appeared over Europe--the cloud which was later to spread over +so large a part of the world. + + + + +CHAPTER VII + +SO AS BY FIRE + + +"BUT Henry cannot go; it is absurd! He never shot a gun in his life and +besides I--" Frieda hesitated; her face flushing; yet she was trying to +speak calmly. + +She and Olive and Jack and Frank Kent were in the library at Kent House +with Captain MacDonnell talking one morning, several weeks since the +afternoon tea and during, perhaps, the most momentous week in all +history. + +"I think you must be mistaken about your husband's being unable to +shoot, Frieda," Lord Kent answered dryly. "As a matter of fact I believe +he is an expert; he told me himself that he had taken prizes for +marksmanship when he was a boy, but had never cared to use his skill for +hunting. As for your saying he can't go; well, the truth is, Frieda, +Professor Russell has already gone. He came in to see me a few days ago +to say that he had volunteered and was about to be sent somewhere in +France." + +Frank had not intended to be unkind. So many things had happened and +were happening every crowded second of the time that he was simply +forgetting to think of the individual. However, under the circumstances, +he did not suppose that Frieda would care very much what became of her +husband. + +"You mean that Henry has joined the army--that he has crossed over to +France without asking me how I would feel--without even coming to say +good-bye," Frieda returned slowly. And suddenly even her brother-in-law +observed the change in her expression. It was strange to see Frieda with +her face paling; her full, red lips closed tight and her blue eyes dark +and strained. + +"But, my dear child, how could your husband come to say good-bye to you +when you have been steadfastly refusing to see him for weeks?" Frank +continued, still a little impatient over feminine unreasonableness. "He +told me to tell you his plans and that he had made all arrangements in +case--" + +But, that instant, catching a warning glance from his wife, Lord Kent +changed color over his own tactlessness and desisted. This was a time +when everybody's nerves were overstrained; when hearts were torn to +pieces and imaginations were picturing only horrors. + +"Won't you motor down to the station with me, please, Jack?" Lord Kent +added, hastily, anxious to get away as soon as possible from the +situation he had created. + +Jack slipped on a long tan coat and soft hat and went with her husband, +leaving Olive to look after Frieda. + +"Bryan is expecting to be here again this afternoon for a farewell +visit, dear. He has been delayed for some reason or other but hopes to +leave with his regiment tomorrow," Frank announced on the way to his +train. "Do you know I think Bryan is a lucky fellow these days, not to +have anyone very close to him--anyone who cares very much what becomes +of him. Oh, of course, I should care, more than I like to think; but I +mean no mother or father--no family." + +"I should also care a great deal, Frank," Jack interrupted quietly. + +But Lord Kent went on, scarcely hearing her. + +"It is a funny thing that Bryan has never married. He is an uncommonly +fascinating fellow. Of course, he hasn't much money; but that ought not +to stand in his way. He has his profession. Queer, when he was a boy he +used to talk about being an artist; but there is a lot of difference +between an artist and a soldier. He must be glad now of his choice. +Sometimes I think Bryan has never married because he has never seen any +woman as attractive as you are. He has almost said as much to me." + +Jack shook her head almost angrily. "That is nonsense, Frank. After all, +you know Bryan is pretty young; there is no use talking as if he were a +confirmed old bachelor." + +After lunch that same afternoon Captain MacDonnell rode over to Kent +House. He was wearing his service uniform of khaki--the short military +coat, the full trousers drawn close at the knees and the high boots. He +also wore the British officer's cap with the small visor and the other +marks of his rank. + +Hearing the sound of his horse approaching, Jack went out on the veranda +to greet him. Frieda was upstairs in her room and Olive was writing +letters to Ruth Colter and Jean at the Rainbow Ranch. + +In her arms Jack carried her baby, with whom she had been playing. +Indeed, ever since the news of war, some member of the family had +seemed to wish to hold Vive, for her baby softness and sweetness was in +some way a consolation. + +Jack had her baby's little yellow head pressed close against her bronze +colored hair and made the baby wave its hand to the young officer as he +drew nearer. + +When he came up to them on the veranda he kissed Vive's tiny hand. + +"May I have one of Vive's blue ribbons to tie in my buttonhole, please, +Lady Jacqueline?" he asked. "Lady Jacqueline" being a title which +Captain MacDonnell had originated for Jack, but which many other people +also used. "Every knight, when he went off to the wars in the old days, +wore his lady's colors. I should like to have Vive for my lady." + +Jack felt her fingers trembling a little as she unfastened the ribbon +from her baby's sleeve and gave it to her friend. + +"Won't you take a farewell ride with me this afternoon, Jack?" Captain +MacDonnell asked the next instant. "It will be the best way to manage +our good-bye." + +For just the fraction of a second Jack hesitated. Yet, in that time, she +had a sufficient opportunity to think over the entire situation. +Captain MacDonnell had not asked her to ride with him since the +afternoon, when her recklessness had displeased Frank. Since then she +had never attempted to persuade Frank that his demand, that she never +ride with Captain MacDonnell again, was unreasonable. Nevertheless, she +felt fairly sure that under the present circumstance he could not +object. Surely, Frank could not be so ungracious as to be vexed with her +for disobeying his wish at such a time. She would, of course, ride +carefully and take no foolish risks. + +Jack gave Vive into Captain MacDonnell's keeping. + +"Yes, I'll go if you'll come back to dinner with Frank and the rest of +us," she agreed. "I'll be ready in five minutes." + +Jack sent the nurse to look after the baby and in ten minutes was ready +for the ride. + +It was a sultry August afternoon, very still, and yet with a strange +throbbing in the air of many tiny insects. The hawthorn was no longer in +bloom, but the two friends rode along the English lanes sweet with +blossoming elderberry and blackberry bushes. + +Curious how, when one comes to say farewell, there is so little that +seems worth saying! + +During the first part of the ride Jack and Captain MacDonnell were +frequently silent, except that Jack, of course, made the conventional +inquiries one might ask of a soldier. Was he in good condition? Did he +have everything he needed? Was there anything she could do for him--such +as looking after his house while he was gone? + +In response to each question Captain MacDonnell shook his head. He had +turned over his house to be used for the Belgian refugees. + +They were actually on their way home before he began to talk. + +Then he took a letter from his pocket. + +"I wish you would give this to Frank for me, Lady Jack, and if anything +happens to me ask him to read it, and to let you read it afterwards if +he thinks best. Sorry to be mysterious, but this is a kind of cranky +wish of mine." + +Jack slipped the letter inside the coat she was wearing. + +"All right, Bryan. You know I have always felt rather like a big sister +to you; I am nearly a year older. But, today I think I feel like your +mother," she continued, trying to smile, but with her voice breaking a +little. "So you must promise me, if there is anything I can ever do for +you later on you will let me know. In a way I believe I am almost +envious of you, Bryan. I think I have wanted to be a boy ever since I +could sit on the back of a horse and ride over our ranch with my father. +That is why people have always called me 'Jack,' I suppose. Anyhow, just +now, I think I would like to go out to meet a great adventure. I wonder +what a woman's great adventure is. I presume it is marriage for most of +us. At any rate Frank is terribly envious of you, Bryan. He has said so +to me half a dozen times. He does not seem to know whether he ought to +go to the front, which is what he wants to do, or to stay on here doing +his work in Parliament. Of course, he ought to stay," Jack argued, +repeating what she had been saying a good many times to her husband +recently. "There never was a time when a member of Parliament had such +great work to do, and that is Frank's real duty." + +When Jack gave Captain MacDonnell's letter to her husband that night she +spoke of their having had a ride together. Although he made no comment, +she could see that he was not altogether pleased. It occurred to Jack +then, though only vaguely, that if Frank objected to her disobeying him +in small matters, their life might be pretty difficult if ever they had +a difference of opinion and she disobeyed him in a large one. + +"Strange for Bryan to have confided this letter to us," Frank remarked, +as he put it carefully away in a strong box where he kept his important +papers. "I wonder what old Bryan has written? I never dreamed he had a +secret in his life which he has never told to me. But, perhaps he wants +us to do some favor or other for him. Truly I hope we may never have to +open the letter." + + + + +CHAPTER VIII + +SEVERAL MONTHS LATER + + +FRIEDA read a letter she had just received and laughed. + +Laughter was not frequent at Kent House those days, so that Jack and +Olive looked up from the work they were doing. Olive was rolling +bandages and Jack was writing notes at her desk. The three of them were +in Jack's private sitting room where, only a few moments before, the +afternoon mail bag had been brought in. + +"What is it, Frieda?" Jack asked, turning her head to glance over her +shoulder in some surprise at her sister. She wondered if Frieda realized +that she was fully aware of the way in which she had been watching the +mail for these past few months. For Frieda had watched in vain for the +particular letter which certainly she seemed to expect; even if she did +not greatly desire it. + +"Oh, I have just received a note from a young soldier to whom I sent +the first pair of socks I ever made," she returned. "He may not have +originated the poem, but it is almost worth the trouble and the time +I took on the socks. Do listen:" + + "Thanks, dear lady, for the socks you knit; + Some socks, some fit. + I used one for a hammock and the other for a mitt. + I hope I meet you when I've done my bit, + But where in the h... did you learn to knit?" + +Then Frieda dropped the letter to wave another long grey sock, shot +through with shining knitting needles. It was somewhat narrow in the +ankle and bulged strangely at the heel. + +"I wonder if I am improving?" she inquired anxiously. The utilitarian +nature of Frieda's occupation contrasted curiously with the general +fluffiness of her appearance. For no amount of inward anguish could ever +keep Frieda from the desire to wear pretty clothes and to make herself +as attractive as possible. However, no one had any right to say she was +unhappy, except as every one else was, through sympathy with the added +troubles which the war had lately brought upon the world. + +Like most of the other women in the larger part of Europe and also in +the United States, Jack and Olive were devoting all their energies to +the work of the war. They had both taken short courses in Red Cross +nursing and had organized clubs and classes in the neighborhood for +every kind of relief work, while Frank had turned over several of his +houses to the Belgian refugees. + +Therefore, only Frieda remained more or less on the outside of things. +She had undertaken to learn to knit for the soldiers, but insisted that +since her name meant peace and was a German name as well, she would do +nothing more. The truth was she seemed not to wish to go out or mix with +society a great deal, which was odd, as one of the reasons she had given +for her unhappiness in her own home was that her husband wished to spend +too much time there, so that she had become bored. + +However, Frieda had agreed to visit the poor people on the estate and in +the neighboring village, in order to relieve Jack from this one of her +many duties. + +Moreover, she enjoyed the odd types of old men and women, so unlike any +other people whom she had ever before known, and she became a great +favorite with them. Instead of giving her money for war purposes Frieda +preferred bestowing it on these same queer old persons and the children +who had been left behind. + +This afternoon, after she had finished reading the second of her two +letters, the latter from Jean in Wyoming, Frieda got up from her chair. + +"Jimmie and I are going to drive down to the village to see old Dame +Quick," she announced, "I promised to read to her this afternoon." 'Dame +Quick' was the title Frieda had borrowed to give to the oldest woman in +Granchester, because she was so extraordinarily lively. + +"What will you do with Jimmie while you read? He will never keep still," +Jack called, as Frieda moved toward the door. + +Frieda paused. "Oh, he and nurse will return back in the governess cart. +I want to walk home. Don't worry if I am a little late," and before +Olive or Jack would speak, she had disappeared. + +"I hope Frieda won't be too long. She does not know this country as I +do," Jack murmured afterwards, but not thinking of the matter seriously. + +Frieda and Jimmie had a way of jogging in the little governess cart on +many afternoons, sometimes taking the nurse with them and more often +not. Jimmie was rather a troublesome small boy of an age when he was +into every kind of mischief, and Frieda was not fond of children. +Therefore, her family had wondered why she appeared to desire so much of +Jimmie's companionship. Frieda might have answered that he asked so many +questions that she did not have time to think of other things; however, +she had never said this, even to herself. + +The governess cart was a little wicker carriage swung low on two wheels, +with an ancient, shaggy pony, who never moved out of a slow trot. + +That afternoon, like all the great ladies in the English novels, Frieda +stored away under the seat of her cart as much jelly and jam as her +sister's housekeeper would allow her. At the nearest grocery shop she +bought a package of tea, some tins of biscuits and a half pound of +tobacco. For the truth was that Frieda's old woman liked a quiet smoke. +This habit was not common among the villagers, but Dame Quick whose real +name was "Huggins" was so very old that she allowed herself certain +privileges. + +It was a dismal late fall afternoon, but English people and +particularly English children do not stay indoors because of bad +weather. + +Frieda wore a blue rain proof coat and a soft hat which she pulled down +over her yellow hair, to keep the soft mist out of her eyes as well as +she could. Jimmie and his nurse were also enveloped in mackintoshes. + +But the rain was not actually falling. There was only a November haze +and a pervading dampness, making Jimmie's cheeks redder than ever and +bringing more color than was usual to Frieda's face. + +On the way to the village Jimmie and his aunt, whom he regarded as of +his own age, sang "America" in not a particularly musical fashion, but +with a great deal of earnest effort, since Frieda was trying to teach +the British Jimmie to be more of an American. + +Jimmie, of course, wished to go into Mrs. Huggins' cottage with his +aunt, but on that point Frieda was resolute. She had a fancy for seeing +her old friend alone this afternoon. Actually she had a reason which had +been developing in her mind for the past twenty-four hours, although +Frieda herself considered her reason nonsensical. + +In answer to her knock the old woman came to the door. She looked like +one of the pictures one remembers in the Mother Goose books, and also +like one of them, "she lived alone, all in her little house of stone." + +Dame Quick's cottage of two rooms was set in the middle of a long row of +little stone houses, in one of the half a dozen streets in Granchester. +Frieda always felt a shiver as she went inside, since the floor was of +stone and there was a dampness about the little house as if it had never +been thoroughly warmed inside by the sun. + +Yet Mrs. Huggins had managed to live there in contentment for about +seventy years. She had come there as a bride before she was twenty and +was now "ninety or thereabouts," as she described herself. + +When Frieda entered she bobbed up and down as quickly as an old brown +cork on a running stream. + +"Sure, I've been waitin' and longin' for the sight of you these two +hours," she said, taking Frieda's packages, or as many as she could get +hold of, as if she thought them too burdensome for the young woman to +carry. + +Frieda laughed and slipped out of her rain coat, which she hung +carefully on a small wooden chair. Then she also laid her hat on the +chair and, as a matter of habit, fluffed up her pretty hair which the +rain and her hat had flattened, and then followed her old hostess. + +"You know you have had half a dozen visitors during the two hours you +say you have been waiting, Mrs. Huggins," Frieda returned. For it was +true that the tiny house and the old woman were the center of all the +gossip in the village. "I expect you to tell me a lot of news." + +The old woman nodded. + +"It is true these are news days in England and elsewhere. Times were, +when the days might be dull without a birth or a death, or a mating. But +now one wakes up to something stirrin' every day--a lad goin' off to the +war, or maybe one gettin' killed; and the girls coomin' in to tell me +their troubles; some of them just married, and some of them not married +at all yet. But all of them worryin' their hearts out. Sure, and if war +is goin' on forever--and it looks like it is--I'm for the women goin' +into battle along with their men." + +While she was talking Frieda had followed her hostess back into her +kitchen--the room in which she really lived and had her being. It was +also of stone, but the floor had a number of bright rag rugs as covering +and the walls were lined with pictures cut from papers and magazines, +and with picture postcards. One could have gotten a pretty fair +knowledge of English history at the moment by studying Mrs. Huggins' +picture gallery. She had on her walls a photograph of nearly every +British officer then in command of the army or navy. She had replicas of +innumerable battleships and also of statesmen. But in the place of honor +over a shelf that held her Bible and a tiny daguerreotype of the late, +lamented Mr. Huggins, hung a picture of England's big little man--Lloyd +George. The aged woman received the old age pension which Lloyd George +had given to the poor of England a few years before the outbreak of the +present war. + +Frieda sat down on a little chair which lovers of antiques would have +given much to possess. There was a small fire burning in the tiny stove, +and its red coals looked more cheerful than the great log fire at Kent +House. + +Frieda knew that Dame Quick would wish to prepare the tea herself. + +She had rather a happy feeling as she watched Mrs. Huggins, as if she +had been a little girl who had gone out one day and grown suddenly tired +and forlorn, and then been unexpectedly invited into the very +gingerbread house itself. But a gingerbread house presided over by a +good spirit, not an evil one. + +Her own little Dame Quick looked like a child's idea of an ancient good +fairy. She may not have been so small to begin with, but at ninety she +was bent over until she seemed very tiny indeed. Her face was brown and +wrinkled and her eyes shone forth as black as elderberries in the late +gathering time. + +She placed a small wooden table in front of Frieda and not far from the +fire and her own chair. Then she got out some heavy plates and two cups +and saucers. And whatever the difference in elegance, tea is never so +good served in a thin cup as in a thick one. Afterwards she opened the +package containing Frieda's biscuits and jam and finally poured boiling +water into her own brown stone tea kettle. + +Then she and Frieda, sitting on opposite sides of the tea table, talked +and talked. + +Several times, as she sat there, Frieda thought that if she had been an +English girl she would like to have had just such an old nurse or foster +mother as Mrs. Huggins. For she might then have been able to confide a +number of things to her--matters she could not talk about even to her +sister, since she was not clear enough how she felt concerning them +herself, and so Jack might get wrong impressions. + +"But you have not told me any special news this afternoon," Frieda +protested, having lifted her cup for a second helping of tea, and making +up her mind that she could not think of herself while visiting, as she +usually did at home. "My sister and brother always expect me to know +something interesting after a visit to you." + +Dame Quick poured the tea carefully. + +"I don't care for gossip," she returned, "yet it seems as if they like +it as much in big houses as in little." Her eyes snapped, so that Frieda +found herself watching them, fascinated. + +"Since you came in I've been wonderin' whether certain information +should be sent to Lord and Lady Kent. I don't think much of it myself, +as there has been such a steady stream of spy talk these months past. +But they are tellin' in Granchester that there is a man there who has +taken a house a short distance from the village, on the road to Kent +House. It seems he keeps to himself too much to please the village. He +says he has been ill, and I'm sure has a right to a mite of peace if he +wants it. It's only the village that's talking. Those higher up must +know things are what they should be, since they don't bother him." + +Frieda was scarcely listening. Mrs. Huggins' news was often +uninteresting in itself. It was only that she so much enjoyed repeating +it. + +She had already finished her second cup of tea and was looking down at +the collection of tea leaves in the bottom of her cup. + +"Suppose you tell my fortune," she suggested rather shyly. For some time +past she had been thinking of just this. "Didn't you say you sometimes +told the fortunes of the boys and girls in Granchester, and that a great +many things you predict come true?" + +The old country woman looked at Frieda sharply. + +"I tell the fortunes, child, of boys and girls whose grandfathers and +grandmothers I once knew. That isn't difficult fortune telling. I know +certain tricks in the faces, I remember what their own people thought +and did long before their day. Like father, like son; or maybe like +mother, like son; and like father, like daughter. But you--" The old +woman shook her head. "I know nothing about you, child; or your country, +or your people, or what you have made of life for yourself with that +pretty face of yours." + +Still Frieda held out her tea cup. + +"Oh, well; just let the tea leaves show you a little," she pleaded, in +the spoiled fashion by which Frieda usually accomplished her purpose. + +Still the old peasant continued to look, not at the tea leaves but at +her young companion. Perhaps she saw something with her fine, tired old +eyes, that were too dim to read print, which even Frieda's own family +did not see. + +"You have had too many of the things you wish without ever having to +work for them, or to wait, little lady," she repeated slowly. Then she +glanced down into the extended tea cup. "I think I see that you will +have to lose something before you find out that you care for it. I also +see a long journey, some clouds and at last a rainbow." + +Frieda put down her cup and laughed a little uncertainly. + +"Oh, the Rainbow Ranch is the name of my own home. I wonder if I have +ever told you that?" she inquired. "But you are mistaken if you think I +have had the things I wish." For, of course, Frieda did not believe she +had been a fortunate person. So few people ever do believe this of +themselves, until misfortune makes them learn through contrast. + +Later, she read a chapter in the Bible and the war news from one of the +morning papers. Then, before six o'clock, she started to return to Kent +House. + +Frieda walked quickly as the distance was not short. Moreover, she had +never entirely recovered from the fright of her unexpected encounter +with her husband several months before. Yet, since then, she had not +only never seen him again, but never heard anything about him, except +the scant information of his departure to France, which she had acquired +through Frank Kent. + +Frieda did think--no matter what the difference between them--that her +husband might have let her know that he was at least alive and well. Of +course she was a selfish, cold-hearted person, as her family and +undoubtedly her own husband believed her to be. However, one could be +interested in the welfare of even a comparative stranger in war times. + +Later, after Frieda left the village, she passed by the little house +which her old friend had tried to involve in a mystery in order to +supply her with gossip. The house was set in a yard by itself. The +lights were lighted and the curtains drawn down, but, as she hurried by, +either a woman's or a man's figure made a dark shadow upon the closed +blind. + + + + +CHAPTER IX + +CHURCH AND STATE + + +THE family and a number of the servants from Kent House were on their +way to the small Episcopal church at the edge of the estate. + +Jack and Frank were walking in front, with Olive and Frieda strolling a +little more slowly behind them, and the rest of the company followed in +scattered groups. + +At the beginning of her marriage the English Sundays had been a trial to +Jack. They were so much more quiet, so much more sedate than those of +her rather too unconventional girlhood in Wyoming. Then they had +sometimes held church in the open air, or if they wished to go into the +nearest town, a big wagon was loaded with as many persons as could be +persuaded from the ranch, and ordinarily they stopped on the way back +and had lunch somewhere. Now and then Jack even remembered having ridden +on her own broncho to the church door and fastened it on the outside, +while she went in to the service in a costume which was an odd cross +between a riding habit and a church outfit. + +But now, although the walk across Kent Park was only a short one, Jack +was as correctly attired as if she were in London. Beside her brown +velvet costume which was very smart and becoming, she wore a hat with +feathers, which she particularly disliked. The hat was of the kind +affected by Queen Mary of England, who always wears feather-trimmed +hats. + +However, the mere matter of her hat would not have made Jack feel out of +sorts, if she had not had another more potent reason. Frank was nearly +always cross on Sunday mornings and this morning was no exception. + +It is strange that Sunday should have this effect on many persons, when +one should be more cheerful than usual, and yet it does. + +Frank was really worn out with all his worries and responsibilities, +Jack decided to herself, as she had a number of times recently. It was a +privilege many people take advantage of, by saving their bad humors for +their families. + +"But, Frank, I don't think you understand the situation in the United +States," Jack argued, speaking good naturedly. "You see, we represent +so many nationalities, so many differences of opinion and training, that +we can't all think alike. The President is supposed to represent +everybody." + +"Nonsense," Frank interrupted his wife not too politely. "The United +States has been thinking about nothing but getting rich. They are a +nation of shirkers, willing to stand back and let others do the work and +suffer the loss." + +"There are a good many millions of us for us all to be shirkers, Frank," +Jack answered, still speaking quietly, although her cheeks had flushed +and her eyes darkened. + +Really she and Frank tried very hard not to discuss any differences of +opinion they felt concerning the war. During the last few years the +marriages between men and women of different nationalities have had a +great strain put upon them. At present, Frank as an Englishman, thought +that the United States should immediately have gone in upon the side of +the Allies, while Jack did not; and now and then they unfortunately fell +into a discussion of the subject. + +Therefore, when they entered church this Sunday morning, neither Jack +nor Frank were in a good humor toward each other. Jack felt that, as +she was doing all she could in the service of his country, he should +have made no unkind criticism of hers. Frank did not think at all, +except to wish that Jack would refrain from argument. Certainly a man +wished for peace in his own home when it was nowhere else. But it did +not occur to Frank that it takes two to keep peace as well as two to +make a quarrel; nor did he begin to realize how trying he had been at +home during the past few months. + +As a matter of fact Frank was spoiled, as many Englishmen and some +American men are. He had been an only son who was to inherit the family +title, and his mother and sisters had always put him first in all +things. It was true that when he came to the United States he had fallen +in love with Jacqueline Ralston because, for one reason, she did not +treat him differently at the beginning of their acquaintance from any +cowboy on her ranch. That is, she was perfectly polite to him, when she +remembered his existence; but then she was polite to everybody and +recognized no social distinctions. She liked her own freedom, allowed +other people theirs, and went her way untroubled by the opinion of +others. + +But, at present--as is often the case with men after they marry--the +very things in Jack which had attracted Frank before marriage annoyed +him now. He believed she ought to be more influenced by his views. Of +course, she ordinarily gave in to his wishes. However, he seldom felt as +if she were convinced, but believed she yielded through sheer sweet +temper. + +Moreover, Frank's irritability continued all day, so that several times +after their return home, Jack found herself mortified before Olive and +Frieda. Not that she minded so much about Olive, since Olive and Frank +had always understood each other. But, as Frieda had announced herself +as being disappointed with marriage, Jack did not wish her to think that +her own was also a failure. + +After their midday luncheon on Sunday it was always Lord and Lady Kent's +custom to walk over their estate during the afternoon, visit the stables +and see as much of the condition of the place and the people on it as +was possible. + +This Sunday afternoon Frank arose and started to go on his usual rounds +without suggesting that Jack accompany him. + +However, she paid no attention to this, but followed him. Outdoors he +changed into a better mood. + +There were not many horses left in the stables, as most of them were +being used by the army. But when Jack and Frank went into the kennels, +which adjoined the stables, a dozen great dogs began leaping over them +at once. + +Frank drew a little aside to watch his wife. + +Jack stood in their midst laughing and protesting a little when one big +hound stuck its great head, with wide open jaws and lolling tongue, too +near her face. Yet she managed to make them all happy and quiet again by +patting and stroking each one, or by calling each dog by name. + +"You are not afraid of anything in the world, are you, Jack?" Frank +remarked admiringly, as they again got safely away from the kennels, +Jack finding it necessary at the last moment to remove two large paws +from her shoulders in order to settle a dispute between two of the other +dogs. + +Jack laughed. "Goodness, Frank, what an extraordinary opinion you and a +few other people have of me! I am one of the biggest cowards in the +world about the things I am afraid of. I simply don't happen to be +afraid of animals, as so many women are. And that is not a virtue, but +because I was brought up with them." + +"I should like to know what you do fear, then?" Frank demanded. + +Instead of answering at once Jack slipped her arm inside her husband's. + +"I am dreadfully afraid of the people I care about being angry with me, +though you and the rest of my family may not believe it, as I am +supposed to have once been a wilful person," she returned unexpectedly. +"Sometimes I wonder, Frank, just how much of a coward I would be, if I +had either to give up what I thought was right or else to have some one +seriously angry with me. I have not the courage of my convictions like +Frieda." + +In response Frank uttered a half growl, which was not very complimentary +to Frieda or her convictions. However, Jack went on almost without +pausing. + +"I wonder, Frank, if it is fair to Frieda not to let her know what has +happened to Professor Russell? Sometimes I have thought she has worried +more over his silence than we imagine." + +Frank shook his head. + +"Frieda deserves whatever may come to her. It is an old-fashioned +axiom, dear, but all the more true for that reason: Frieda has made her +bed; now let her lie upon it." + +"But Frieda is hardly more than a child," Jack protested. "Besides, that +is a pretty hard rule to apply to people. I don't think you and I would +like to have it applied to us if we were ever in any difficulty." + +As it struck Frank as utterly impossible that he and Jack ever could +have a disagreement, which could not be settled amiably in a few hours, +he paid no attention to her last statement. Nevertheless he added: + +"After all, Jack, it is not for us to decide anything concerning Frieda +and her husband. That is for them. We are simply doing what Professor +Russell has requested of us." + +"Yes, but Frieda," Jack expostulated more weakly. + +"Frieda is receiving just what she asked for--silence. But you must not +worry over Frieda. She will solve existence happily for herself soon +enough. Almost any man would do anything and forgive anything in behalf +of such blue eyes and yellow hair as Frieda's to say nothing of her +Professor. I may pretend to be severe but I should probably forgive her +as readily." + +"Sooner than you would me?" Jack inquired and laughed. "Oh, of course, +you would. Everybody always has as long as I can remember." + +Frank looked more closely at his wife and his face softened until his +eyes held their old expression of boyish admiration. Always he had been +pleased by her intense loyalty to the people she cared for. It had made +him forgive her in the past when she had some mistaken idea of loyalty +toward Olive. + +"I am afraid you have had to do the forgiving recently, Jack. I expect I +have been difficult. But I feel so torn these days wanting to be over in +France doing the real work with fellows like Bryan, and at the same time +wanting to be here with you and the babies and knowing I am perhaps more +useful in London than I would be elsewhere." + +Jack's clear grey eyes were full of the spiritual understanding that had +made her always so valuable a friend, and a woman must be a friend to +her husband as well as other things. + +"I know, Frank," she answered, "but you are doing the right thing. If I +didn't think so, no matter how I should suffer, do you believe for a +moment that I would stand in your way?" + +And catching her look, Frank replied. + +"No, Jack, I don't; but I thank you for understanding." + +There were no letters delivered at Kent House on Sunday, but on each +Sunday afternoon one of the men drove over to the post-office, which was +open for an hour, and returned with the mail. It was important that Lord +Kent should be kept in touch with every situation that arose, as there +might be grave and tragic developments in the course of the hours he +sometimes spent away from London. + +As he picked up the mail which was lying on the table in the hall as +they entered, Frank extended a letter to his wife. + +"This is from Bryan, I believe, Jack. Do tell me what he says." + +They went into the library where Frieda and Olive were already waiting +for tea to be served. + +Jack walked over to the fire and, before taking off her hat, read her +letter through quietly. + +Then she looked up happily. + +"Bryan says he is all right and sends his love to the family, but more +especially to his Lady Vive. He asks us all to write to him oftener if +we can manage it, as we are his adopted family and he has no other. +Frieda, he says your gift of socks is the most wonderful in all France. +I actually believe Bryan is almost having a good time; but if he is not +he is awfully brave." + +Making no effort to conceal her emotion, Jack's eyes suddenly filled +with tears. + +"Gracious, Jack," Frieda exclaimed. "As long as there is nothing the +matter with Captain MacDonnell, I wouldn't shed any tears over him. You +so seldom cry, it always makes me wretched when you do. I'll bet Jack +has never shed any tears over you, Frank." + +Frieda was not like a kitten in appearance alone. She had also soft +little claws with which she scratched a tiny bit now and then. She had +been entirely conscious that her brother-in-law considered that she was +to blame in a large measure for her trouble with her husband, although +he had never said so to her. Yet she had a desire to get a little bit +even with him now and then. + +Frank's face did flush slightly, although he smiled good humoredly. + +"Oh, I am nothing but a civilian these days and Bryan is a soldier. I +can't expect the same interest to be bestowed upon me, even by my own +wife." + + + + +CHAPTER X + +THE LETTER + + +AS soon as Jack saw Frank's face she realized that something tragic had +occurred. + +She had come down to the train alone to meet him, but said nothing until +they had walked away from the little crowd at the station into the gloom +of the midwinter afternoon. + +"It is Bryan," Frank then exclaimed without waiting to be asked. "I had +word from the War Office today that he had been mortally wounded." + +He put his arm about Jack to support her if she should turn faint, but +this was not the way Jack received bad news. + +She stopped for a moment, standing straight, however, with her head up +and her shoulders braced. + +"Are you sure, Frank, there can be no mistake?" she asked slowly. + +Lord Kent shook his head. + +"I am afraid not, dear. Bryan was leading a charge out of his trench +when a shell hit him. His own men carried him back to a field hospital." + +[Illustration: HIS OWN MEN CARRIED HIM BACK TO A FIELD HOSPITAL] + +Jack and Frank then walked slowly on between the winter fields. The +grass was still green as it remains almost all the year round in +England, but the trees were stripped and bare, and there were no birds +in sight, except a few melancholy crows, which in England are called +rooks. + +Jack was recalling the day when she and Captain MacDonnell had taken +their last ride together; also the smell of the blossoming hedges and +her baby's blue ribbon on his sleeve. + +Since coming to England as a bride, she and Frank and Bryan had enjoyed +a charming friendship. It was to Bryan, Frank had first introduced her, +asking that he help to make her less homesick for the ranch and her own +people. + +In those days Frank's sisters were still unmarried and Bryan had been in +the habit of spending much of his time at Kent House when he was on +leave. + +Yet Frank and Bryan were so utterly unlike in temperament. To say that +Frank was an Englishman and Bryan an Irishman explains a great deal. +Frank was quieter and more reserved and determined; but Bryan was ardent +and emotional, quick to feel an emotion and quick to change. Jack had +always felt that he loved the outdoors as she did, while Frank was +studious, more devoted to books and to political questions than to swift +action. + +At the same time Frank and his wife were thinking along similar lines, +although his recollection of his friend went further back than hers. He +remembered the small boy, whose mother had just died, coming to live +with his old bachelor guardian in the queer little house which had since +belonged to him. He also remembered how shy he had been and yet how +often he had gotten into fights with other boys. But, more than +anything, he recalled how Bryan had always seemed to long for the +companionship of women and how happy he had been to come to Kent House +and spend hours and days with his mother and sisters. This was one of +the reasons why it had always seemed strange to Frank that his friend +had never married. + +"But the news only said that Bryan was fatally hurt--not that things +were over?" Jack asked after their long pause. + +"Yes; but I'm afraid he may be by now," Frank answered. "I have sent +half a dozen cables for more news." + +Jack's grey eyes cleared a little. + +"Then I won't believe the worst until it really happens." + +On their arrival at home Olive and Frieda were sympathetic, but +naturally could not care as much as Jack and Frank, since Captain +MacDonnell was to them only a comparatively new acquaintance. + +But all evening Frieda watched her sister closely, whenever she had the +opportunity without being observed. Only a few times before had she seen +her with the same expression. + +Half a dozen or more of the neighbors came in after dinner to ask for +further information concerning Captain MacDonnell, having heard the news +only indirectly. + +But among them all Jack was the only one who appeared hopeful. She +outwardly showed the effect of the anxiety and grief over their friend +far less than Frank. But Frieda at least realized that courage was her +sister's strongest characteristic. + +There had always been something gallant about Jack from the time she was +a little girl--the carriage of her head; the look in her +eyes--everything about her revealed this. + +And tonight Frieda appreciated the fact more clearly than any one else. +There was no friend in the world so loyal as Jack; and no one more +anxious to help those for whom she cared. Frieda knew that whatever else +she might say during the evening, she was in reality thinking only of +her husband's friend and her own, alone and dying, perhaps with no one +near him for whom he cared. + +As early as possible Jack and Frank went upstairs together, since Frank +showed the effect of the strain by being uncommonly tired. + +They had gone into their own rooms and Jack was slowly beginning to +undress when an idea came to her; and she went at once into her +husband's room. + +Frank, she found sitting on the side of his bed. + +"Bryan's letter, Frank," Jack remarked quickly. "Don't you think you +ought to open it? He said that if anything happened to him you were to +read it first, and afterwards I was to see the letter if you thought +best. I remember he seemed much in earnest when he gave it to me." + +Frank frowned, and then shook his head. + +"Do you know I had forgotten, Jack? But I don't think Bryan meant us to +disturb the letter until we know that the worst has happened to him and +we don't know this yet; we only fear it." + +For a moment Jack was silent, but when she spoke again her voice and +manner expressed a quiet firmness. + +"I think you are mistaken, Frank. There must be something in Bryan's +letter that he wants us to do for him. It may be something that would +come afterwards, but it also may be something that we could do for him +now. Of course you must judge, but this is the way I feel about it." + +Jack, who had put on a deep violet toned velvet dressing gown over her +underclothes, now sat down in an arm chair, leaning thoughtfully forward +and resting her chin in the palm of her hand. + +She did not intend to influence her husband; but having expressed her +own thought, she quietly awaited his decision. + +Frank, however, was worried and undecided. In order to think more +clearly, he got up and began walking nervously up and down his room. + +"I don't know what to do, Jack," he argued. "If Bryan still lives he +may, of course, recover and I would not then like to feel that I have +pryed into his secret. On the other hand, you may be right and Bryan may +have made some simple request of us which we could carry out for him at +once. Bryan is a sentimental chap always. I wish, this time, he had been +more explicit." + +Nevertheless, Frank must have finally decided to accept his wife's point +of view for, after another few moments, he walked over to a small safe +which occupied a corner in his room and opened it. Then he took out the +box in which he had placed Captain MacDonnell's letter and the next +instant had broken the seal and was reading its contents. + +Jack sat watching her husband's face, but offered no interruption. + +She saw Frank first look surprised and then saw him flush and at last +his expression hardened curiously. He then presented her with the +letter. + +"Read this, Jack. It is just as well that you should know what is in it. +Bryan must have been considerably upset over his farewells and the +thought of what might lie ahead of him, or he would never have made such +a request of us. He must have realized afterwards that the thing is +impossible." + +Jack read the letter, but there was nothing in it which seemed strange; +certainly nothing impossible to her point of view. Bryan had simply +requested that Frank allow her to come to him in case he was seriously +injured. Bryan explained simply and boyishly that he had no women in his +own family and that she was his closest woman friend. He had an absurd +horror of dying with no woman near for whom he cared, or who cared for +him. + +"I don't see what you find impossible, Frank," Jack answered, placing +the letter inside the envelope and quickly returning it. "I was only +waiting until we heard more news to ask you to let me go to Bryan, even +if he had not made this request of us." + +Frank appeared distressed, but shook his head resolutely. + +"I don't want to seem unkind, dear. In a way it is pretty hard to refuse +what Bryan asks. Only he could not have appreciated just how much he was +asking." + +Jack brushed her hair back from her forehead with a puzzled gesture. + +"I don't understand what you mean, Frank. Certainly neither of us can +dream of not agreeing. I know you will worry over the discomfort, +perhaps even the danger of the trip to France for me. But hundreds of +women have gone and are going every day to care for the soldiers who are +entire strangers to them. Many times I have wanted to go myself before +this, except for leaving you and my babies behind. But now I may only +need to stay a little time." + +"We won't discuss the matter any further please, Jack," Frank protested, +speaking gently, but with a decision which Jack recognized as having a +serious intention back of it. + +Instantly she went to him and put her hands on his shoulders, looking +directly into his blue eyes with her clear, wide grey ones. + +"Tell me your reason please, Frank. This isn't like you. You can't mean +to be so selfish--even so cruel." + +Frank's eyes held his wife's, but he showed no sign, either of flinching +or yielding. + +"I am sorry to have to say this to you, dear. I wish you could have been +willing to do what I asked, without demanding my reason. But I can't let +my wife go to Bryan; I can't let people think you and he care this much +for each other. People would talk--there would be gossip. I am your +husband and it is my place to safeguard you. You and Bryan never think +of consequences--you are only impetuous children." + +"So you mean--" Jack let her hands drop slowly from her husband's +shoulders to her own sides, "you mean, that because of a little idle +chatter--foolish, unkind gossip--oh, I know some of the neighbors have +already talked of Bryan and me before this--you would keep me from the +friend we both care so much for, at a time like this? I can't believe it +of you, Frank." + +"Then I am sorry to disappoint you, because I do mean it, Jack, dear. I +suppose it does seem narrow and worldly to you, with your wider ideas of +freedom and loyalty. But hard as this may be for us both, you must abide +by my decision." + +For another moment Jack remained silent, her face flooding first with +color and then the color receding until she was curiously pale, so that +the darkness of her lashes showed shadows on her white cheeks. + +"I am sorry, Frank," she answered quietly, "but in this matter I can not +accept your decision. I am a woman--not a child--and this is a matter +for my conscience as well as yours. Even if I am wrong, whatever +consequences I must suffer from your failing ever to see this as I do, I +must go to Bryan if he is still alive." + +Then Jack went quickly into her own room again. + + + + +CHAPTER XI + +A SURPRISE + + +DURING the night Frank decided that he would not argue with Jack again +the question which was troubling them both, since it was too painful for +discussion. + +However, he did not sleep much, although not once did his conviction +that he was doing the right thing waver. Frank had the belief in his own +judgment which comes to certain people with authority. Also, he disliked +to suggest to his wife any of the little, ugly, suspicious things of +life, which he knew her fine, clean nature would not consider. But all +the more for this reason did he believe that he should protect her, even +against herself. + +Therefore, at breakfast the next morning, Frank made no reference to +Jack's final defiance the night before. Not for an instant did he think +that she had meant anything, except to have him appreciate how utterly +her point of view and her inclination differed from his. This he +accepted, realizing that he really could not, under the circumstances, +expect anything else. But that Jack would ignore his wish--even his +expressed command--was beyond his comprehension. She had always been +perfectly reasonable and amenable, and there was nothing to serve him as +a warning. + +"I'll let you know as soon as I hear from the war office," Frank +remarked, as he left for London. + +Jack simply nodded quietly in response without replying. As a matter of +fact she, too, had made up her mind in the night not to reopen the +subject upon which she and Frank were so completely at variance. + +Perhaps Jack was wrong in this and in the whole proceeding which +followed. Except to say that she had the right to use her own +judgment--she never attempted to justify herself. + +As soon as she had arranged her household matters and had seen her +children, she went into her private sitting room and, by using her +telephone for an hour or more, secured the information which she +desired. + +She was able to locate Captain MacDonnell and also to learn that he was +still alive. Moreover, Frank telegraphed this same fact while she was +still at the telephone. + +Then Jack sent word for Olive and Frieda to come to her bedroom, and +when they arrived she carefully closed the door. + +They found her packing a small bag. + +"What is it, Jack? Are you going up to London to join Frank?" Frieda +inquired, she and Olive having been told nothing of the contents of +Captain MacDonnell's letter, nor that there was such a letter in +existence. + +Jack had taken off her morning dress and put on a light flannel wrapper +of pale grey with a white collar, as she wished to proceed with her +packing more readily. + +At Frieda's question she shook her head quietly and sat down in a big +chair for a moment, asking Olive and Frieda also to be seated. + +"No; I am not going to Frank," she explained, "indeed, although I am +forced to go up to London, I don't want him to know I am there, nor +where he can find me for the next day or so. Afterwards I will, of +course, write to him." + +Seeing that Olive and Frieda were becoming more mystified than +enlightened by her explanation, and that she was in reality talking more +to herself than to them, Jack hesitated for a moment. + +"Perhaps you won't approve what I am planning to do any more than Frank +does," Jack continued, "but Captain MacDonnell has written to ask that I +come to him in France where he may be dying, and I am going. Frank has +said I must not, but I am going anyway. I told him so last night, but I +don't believe he understood I really meant what I said." + +Jack spoke without any nervousness or sentimental excitement. She looked +unhappy, but she also looked perfectly determined. + +A little too surprised to answer at once, Frieda again studied her +sister's face closely. + +It was Olive who protested. + +"I hope you won't be angry with me, Jack, and of course I cannot hope to +influence you if Frank cannot; but I don't think you ought to do so +serious a thing without Frank's consent. In any case, please don't go +away without his knowing. You must know that this is not right and that +Frank will probably be very hurt and angry." + +Jack bit her lip for an instant without replying; then she said slowly, +as if she fully weighed each word she uttered: + +"Of course I realize you are right, Olive, and I am afraid Frank will be +both the things you say, and more than you may realize. I know, also, +that I ought to see him again and tell him definitely just what I intend +to do and why I intend doing it. But candidly, if I do, I fear that +Frank will not permit it. He is not an American husband, and in any +event there would be a scene between us. Frank would not understand at +first that this time I intend to keep to my determination. We might +quarrel and I don't wish that. It would make me even more unhappy and +not save me in any way from Frank's displeasure." + +"But, Jack, why do you think it is more important to do what Captain +MacDonnell desires of you than what Frank wishes?" Frieda inquired, in +the cool, matter of fact voice with which she usually, to other people's +surprise, asked the leading question. + +Jack did not change color. She returned her sister's look with her old +clear, straightforward gaze. + +"I am glad you asked me that, Frieda, dear," she responded, "because I +don't want you or anybody else to think that is true. Nothing is so +important to me as what Frank wishes, only this time I think he is +making a great mistake, and is not being fair. Of course he does not +intend this, and is thinking of me more than of any one else, but at +the same time this is not a matter which I think Frank can decide for +me. His judgment may be right from his point of view, but it isn't from +mine. I have to do what I think is the fair thing, with the hope that I +may be able to persuade Frank to see it the same way later on." + +Olive made no response, but it was self evident that Jack had not +convinced her. + +Frieda, however, got up in her fluffy morning house gown and making a +soft little rush forward, threw her arms about her sister's neck. + +"Go ahead, Jack, then, and no matter what happens I'll stand by you and +swear you've done the right thing to the bitter end. You have been more +right than other people as long as I've known you. I would not pay any +attention to Olive. I told you that Olive was getting to be an old maid +and that old maids always take the men's side. Only you are not being +rash, Jack, are you, so you won't have to suffer uncomfortable +consequences afterwards?" Frieda concluded with a slightly plaintive and +mysterious manner. + +"You'll look after my babies for me, won't you, Olive? And Frieda, won't +you try and get Frank into a good humor with me before I come back? I +shall be gone only a few days; perhaps Bryan won't need me at all when I +arrive. I am going up to London within two hours, but I'll get away from +there as soon as I can and take the first channel boat possible. I must +finish packing, but I'll see you again before I start." + +As Jack's words and manner were both final, Olive and Frieda then left +her. However, they did not separate but went together into Frieda's +sitting-room. + +There Frieda's expression grew as grave as Olive's. + +"Somehow I wish Jack wouldn't. Maybe at the last moment she'll see Frank +and change her mind," Frieda suggested, staring out at the winter +landscape with her small nose pressed mournfully against the window pane +like a discontented child. "I don't understand Frank's disposition very +well. He is so different from Henry. Then he has changed a great deal. +We never thought of his being autocratic when Jack married him, but he +seems rather that way to me lately, though he is terribly nice and I am +fond of him. I wouldn't be, though, if he was ever the least bit +disagreeable to Jack. She is much too good for him or any other man. +Isn't it like her to go rushing off in this quixotic fashion, knowing +that lots of people will misunderstand her, just because Captain +MacDonnell would like to feel her presence beside him, if anything has +to happen to him? Well, I suppose that is exactly what I felt when I +rushed to her the moment I left Henry? Only if Frank decides to be +horrid it would be unfortunate for us both to be having trouble with our +husbands at the same time. I suppose people would say it was because we +did not have the proper bringing up when we were children." + +"Don't be absurd, Frieda," Olive answered irritably. "Of course, Frank +and Jack are not going to have any serious difficulty. She and Frank are +quite different--" + +Frieda swung her pretty self around. + +"Don't you ever get tired of saying that to me, Olive Van Mater? Of +course Jack is different, but I don't see that Frank is entirely unlike +other men. Oh, I know you'll be shocked and angry at this and so would +Frank and Jack, if they ever heard; but just the same I think Frank Kent +is a little bit jealous of Jack's friendship for Captain MacDonnell. He +would rather die than confess it to himself. I at least give him the +credit for not knowing it, but it's true just the same." + +"I think that is very horrid of you, Frieda." + +Frieda shrugged her shoulders. + +"Yes, I thought you would think so. Still, I do wish it was a whole week +from today and Jack was safely home again. I am frightened about her +taking such a trip alone; and as for my attempting to get my +brother-in-law into a good humor after he learns that his august +Highness has been disobeyed--well, the task is beyond my humble powers. +In any case, Olive, you can break the news of Jack's departure to him." + +But Jack spared both her sister and friend this ordeal. Instead, she +wrote a very sweet letter to her husband, asking his pardon for what she +was doing and confessing that she had no right not to have spoken of her +intention to him again. But would he see that she must do what she +believed to be right, and that Bryan might not be able to wait while +they continued to argue the question? + +She left the letter on Frank's bureau. + +Not finding Jack in the library that evening, where she usually awaited +his return home, Frank had gone directly upstairs, and when she was also +not in her room, he entered his apartment. The letter caught his +attention at once, but even then Lord Kent had no faintest idea of what +Jack's letter contained. He supposed she had gone out on some errand and +had written to explain that she might be late. + +When he had finished reading, he quietly tore her letter into small bits +and flung the pieces upon the fire. + +Afterwards, going downstairs to dinner, he said to Olive and Frieda. + +"Jack has written me a note telling me that she has gone to France. You +both probably know I did not wish her to go. Please let us not speak of +this matter again." + +And though there was really nothing in what Frank said, neither Olive +nor Frieda liked his expression or manner. + + + + +CHAPTER XII + +NO QUARTER + + +DURING the time of Jack's absence, Frank Kent passed through a strange +state of mind, one which he did not himself understand. He was both +angry and miserable. Resentment against another human being is always +folly, since one suffers as much, if not more than the other person. + +However, Frank did not answer a single one of Jack's letters, although +she managed to write him several times, telling of her safe arrival, of +the kindness which had been shown her along the way, and of Captain +MacDonnell's recognition of her and his pleasure in finding an old +friend near him. Jack also wrote that there was hope of his partial +recovery, but that he would probably be unable to fight again. She would +be able to tell more on her return home. + +Two weeks after the day of her departure, Jack came back to Kent House. +She had telegraphed when she reached British soil so that her family +knew when to expect her. Frank was not at home when she arrived, so she +saw her children and Olive and Frieda first. Then, after dressing for +dinner, she went down into the library alone to wait for her husband. + +Jack was very tired from the strain of her trip and from the sights she +had witnessed in the past fourteen days. She felt as if she were +entering a new world in coming back tonight to her home in the peaceful +Kentish country. Whatever human beings might be suffering inwardly, +there were at least no changes in the tranquillity of the blue hills and +the gentle, mist-veiled English landscape. + +It had required an effort for Jack to dress, but she did not know in +what spirit Frank would meet her and did not wish to have him think she +was too much exhausted by the experience which she had wilfully chosen +for herself. She feared that Frank was still aggrieved, because of his +not having written or sent her a message of any kind, and yet she rather +hoped the reunion with her and the news she brought back would soften +him. + +Partly because of her fatigue, partly because it seemed impossible to +wear gay clothes after those days and nights in the hospital, Jack had +put on a black satin gown which she had had some time. It was made +simply as her evening clothes always were, but the black tulle which +covered it was caught with jet ornaments on each shoulder and loosely +belted in at the waist, falling in beautiful lines to her feet. At her +belt Jack wore a golden rose which the old gardener had brought up to +the house as a special offering. The rose had bloomed that morning in +one of the greenhouses. Jack's hair was coiled closely about her small +head, and she had less color than usual. + +She was resting in one of the big library chairs with her eyes closed, +when she heard her husband enter the hall, and after making some +inquiry, move toward the library door. + +At this she rose up at once and ran forward with her arms outstretched +to meet him, her face glowing with happiness. + +"Oh, Frank, I am so glad to be at home again. It has all been so +distressing. Poor Bryan is going to get well, but I fear he will hate it +when he does, for he may never walk again. He does not know this yet." + +Frank turned his eyes so that he could not see Jack's beauty nor +appreciate her warm sweetness so close beside him. + +"I am horribly sorry for Bryan," he replied. But he made no effort to +kiss Jack or to express the least pleasure in her return. Instead, he +walked away a few steps and began taking off his overcoat, which he had +not removed before. + +"You are still angry with me, Frank?" Jack queried, though the question +was scarcely a necessary one. "You have not yet seen that I had the +right to judge for myself in this thing about Bryan? After all, what +possible wrong have I done? And I did give Bryan pleasure; he does not +dream, of course, that I went to him without your consent." + +Although Frank still remained silent, Jack's sweetness did not desert +her. She followed after him, in spite of the fact that he had turned his +back upon her. + +"After all, Frank, even if you do continue to disapprove of me and to +think I did wrong to disobey you, won't you make friends with me? Please +say I'm forgiven?" + +At this Jack smiled and stood with her hands clasped together against +the soft, black folds of her dress. + +In fact, she had not yet appreciated the extent of Frank's anger against +her, nor the unbending quality of his nature. Though they had been +married a number of years, this was the first serious difficulty between +them. Jack had too great an admiration for her husband, too deep a +belief in him, to think that he could continue to sulk and to hurt her +through a kind of stupid obstinacy. + +And for a single instant Frank did hesitate, but the next he made up his +mind that unless Jack was made to realize the extent of his displeasure +she would probably never yield to him again. He honestly believed that +he had the right to be the master in his own family. + +"I presume, Jack, that you consider it a very simple matter for me to +say I forgive you and to overlook your utter disregard of my wishes, and +your deception in the matter. But I cannot see the thing in that light. +You have not only wounded me, but you have made me ridiculous. To say I +forgive you, or feel as I did before would not be the truth." + +"Very well, Frank," Jack answered quietly and went out of the room. + +A little later she came down to dinner, revealing no sign of what had +taken place between herself and her husband and hoping that Frieda and +Olive would not guess that she was still unforgiven. Frank's manner was +perfectly polite and they talked freely of Captain MacDonnell and of the +tragedy of his recovering only to find his work as a soldier ended. + +Afterwards, Jack excused herself early in the evening, because, of +course, she had every reason to feel weary. + +But even if Frieda and Olive did not grasp the situation at once, they +could not continue to remain long in ignorance, for Jack and Frank did +not return to their old intimacy and devotion. + +But, as the days went on, this was, perhaps, as much Jack's fault as her +husband's. + +Never before had she ever made an overture to any human being who had +not responded. Moreover, she could not tell Frank that she was sorry for +what she had done, for she was not sorry, nor did she regret her own +action. She was merely disillusioned concerning her husband. + +Always Jack had said that she had more of the Indian in her than Olive +ever had, in spite of Olive's upbringing. By this she meant that for one +thing she could hide better the things that hurt her. Yet in a way she +was difficult for anyone to approach on an intimate subject at this +time, certainly neither Olive nor Frieda made any mention that they saw +her continuing trouble with Frank. + +Unconsciously Jack held her head up before people unfailingly. No +outsider would have guessed at any change. Only those who cared for her +deeply realized how she was hurt by Frank's attitude. + +Several times it occurred to Frank that perhaps he and Jack were making +a mistake to allow their estrangement to go on too long. The next time +his wife asked his pardon Lord Kent had concluded to forgive her. + +Moreover, he and Frieda had an interview which annoyed and amused him, +but which he did not forget then, or ever afterwards. + +It was one Sunday afternoon in early March, an unexpected spring-like +day, and he and Frieda were taking a motor ride together. They had only +one small car on the estate, having sent the large one to be turned into +an ambulance. + +After their midday dinner Frank had found himself in need of diversion, +Olive and Jack having explained that they were going to see a friend who +was ill. And as a matter of fact Frieda diverted Frank from serious +affairs more than any other grown up person he knew and consequently he +fell in readily with her suggestion for the ride. He had not the +faintest idea that she was not in a friendly mood toward him, for Frieda +had wisely concealed the fact, although in reality she was thoroughly +enraged. + +It seemed to her that Frank's treatment of Jack was almost unpardonable. +It is true that she, perhaps, had rather an exaggerated opinion of her +sister's virtues, but then Jack had been a kind of mother to her always. +Although they quarreled a little now and then, as most sisters do, it +was beyond Frieda's comprehension that anyone could believe Jack would +wilfully do wrong, or be forced to suffer the consequences. Moreover, +what Frieda still thought of as her own "misfortune" made her +particularly "touchy" at present. + +However, she and Frank started off cheerfully, Frank admiring an +especially pretty bright blue motor coat and small close fitting blue +silk hat, which Frieda had purchased in New York a few days before +sailing. Nevertheless Frieda had already planned to have a talk with +Frank before their return and only awaited the proper opportunity. + +She was quiet at first, allowing her brother-in-law to tell her stories +about the country and his neighbors, stories in which she was really not +much interested. But Frieda smiled and answered, "yes and no," at the +proper times, and this was what Frank really wished. Most men would +rather talk intimately to women than to other men and Frank had missed +his long hours of conversation with Jack more than he appreciated. + +Yet Frieda's inattention finally forced itself upon his notice, so that +her brother-in-law turned and smiled at her. + +"What are you thinking about, Frieda? Certainly not of what I just said +to you." + +Frieda turned her large blue eyes with their heavy golden lashes half +veiling them toward her companion. + +"Still I was thinking of you, Frank," she answered, smiling, "and that +is the attention men like best, isn't it?" + +Lord Kent laughed. "Perhaps as a matter of vanity, yes, Frieda? But of +course a good deal depends upon what one is thinking. What were you +thinking of me?" + +"Oh, only how unlike you and Henry are," she replied sweetly. + +However, Frank understood something of her hidden meaning, for he +flushed. + +"Well, considering the fact that you didn't find it possible to continue +to live with 'Henry,' I suppose I ought to be flattered. Only as a +matter of fact, Frieda, I admire Professor Russell very much." + +This time Frieda flushed, realizing that Frank had scored. + +"Yet even though that is true, Frank, Henry never took the tone with me +of insisting that he was always right and I was always in the wrong. Do +you know, Frank, I am beginning to think--oh well, Henry was never so +horrid to me as you are to Jack. He isn't a bit of a bully." + +"So you think I am 'horrid' to Jack and a bully besides, do you, +Frieda?" Frank returned grimly. He was angry, but not as angry as he +felt he had the right to be. Somehow he could not manage to get into a +violent state of mind with his youthful sister-in-law. + +Frieda nodded energetically in response, without appearing the least bit +frightened. + +"Of course you are going to think I am interfering, Frank, and no one +ever pays any real attention to what I say, but I just thought I'd tell +you anyhow. You are making a big mistake. Of course I realize that you +are not so silly as not to appreciate Jack, but I don't believe you +have ever thought what it might mean to lose her. You see she isn't like +most women, she really does not know how to quarrel for any length of +time. But when she was hurt or seriously angry as a girl she used to +keep still for a long time not saying a word. Then she used to do +something unexpected." Frieda's voice shook a little with stronger +feeling than she often showed. + +"I've been afraid lately that Jack might do something queer now, +something no one of us dreams she would think of doing. She is so very +unhappy. You remember, Frank, don't you, what a long time it took you to +win Jack? I wonder if it might not take you even longer to win her back +again!" + +Frank stiffened. "I cannot discuss my relations with Jack, even with +you, Frieda. That is a matter between us alone." + +Frieda nodded pensively. + +"Certainly I appreciate your point of view, Frank, from my own sad +experience." + + + + +CHAPTER XIII + +THE BREAK + + +BUT Frank did give careful consideration to what Frieda had said to him. +Her words came as a kind of revelation. Suddenly he began to appreciate +what it would mean to lose Jack, though of course there was no +possibility of such a thing. She was one of the most loyal persons in +the world and they had only had a difference of opinion. + +Yet Frank decided that it would be best to let bygones be bygones and to +mention the fact to Jack at the first possible opportunity. + +But somehow he seemed to have to wait for the opportunity to arrive; +certainly his wife did nothing to help him. + +One night, coming home at the usual hour, Frank discovered that Jack was +not there. She had gone out a little before lunch on some errand, as +Olive and Frieda supposed, but leaving no word except that they were not +to wait luncheon for her. + +Frieda and Olive, Frank found, were both a little uneasy. He laughed at +the idea. Jack had a great many things to attend to in the neighborhood +and knew everybody, while everybody knew her. + +Afterwards, he went upstairs to the nursery and stayed half an hour +watching Vive and Jimmie being put to bed. When he came down to the +library to read, twilight was falling. But instead of reading Frank +found himself turning over the pages of the magazines, gazing at them, +and not knowing a word of their contents. + +In a few moments it would be dinner time. + +He got up and walked nervously up and down the room. + +If Jack did not come in by dinner or send a message what would it be +wise to do? + +A few moments later he telephoned two or three places where he thought +Jack might have remained later than she realized. But she had not been +at any one of the houses during the day, and naturally Frank did not +wish to ask too many questions, since she might return home at any +moment. It would then appear absurd to have started false rumors, or to +have created anxiety among their friends. + +When the butler came in to announce dinner, Lord Kent explained that +Lady Kent was not yet at home and that dinner be kept waiting for +another half an hour. + +Soon after Frieda joined him. + +"I know I am silly, Frank," she confessed, "but I am worried. If Jack +had gone out on horseback, one might understand that she could have +gotten some distance away. But she did not ride, she walked, and could +not have continued walking since before noon." + +"You are an infant, Frieda," Frank remarked. "Of course Jack has been +paying visits and has stayed too long. But perhaps I had best go and +look for her, unless she has found a friend to act as an escort it is +too late for her to be out alone." + +"But where are you going to look?" Frieda questioned. And either her +brother-in-law did not hear her, or preferred to pretend he did not, +since he made no reply. + +The fact of the matter was he had no plan. He thought it was rather +absurd for him to look at all, but had suddenly been overtaken with a +sense of uneasiness, a strange foreboding of disaster. We all yield to +these sensations now and then, but as they were not usual with Lord Kent +he was the more uncomfortable. + +He could not even decide whether it would be wiser for him to ride or to +walk, but concluded he had best ride, in order to cover a greater +distance in a shorter time. + +He searched very carefully for Jack down the long road which divided the +estate. And naturally he remembered the other evening, not so very many +months ago, when he had ridden down this same avenue peering through the +rain for her and Captain MacDonnell. Then he had discovered both of them +with but little difficulty. + +Tonight Frank wished that he felt sure Jack had someone with her to take +care of her, as she had on that other evening. He would not then have +felt so ridiculously worried. + +"Poor Bryan, one did not like to allow oneself to think of him too often +these days, yet he must be brought back home as soon as possible," Frank +thought. Some time ago he had decided that when the time came he would +himself go for Bryan. Perhaps this would be partly an act of expiation, +although Lord Kent had not said this to himself, or to his wife. + +This evening he rode directly into the village, but although it was only +a little after eight o'clock, Granchester had long practiced the +daylight saving habit, not because of the war, but because of a fixed +habit of early sleep and early rising. There were only two or three +scattered lights in the little stone houses and only a few old men +outdoors talking together in front of a closed public house. + +Nevertheless Frank rode up to the home of Frieda's old friend and +dismounted, for he had known Mrs. Huggins many long years. She was +accepted by everybody as a kind of unprinted village newspaper. If Jack +had been in Granchester during the afternoon, Mrs. Huggins would know +just where she had been and what she had done. + +The old woman's light was out, but a moment after his knocking she +opened her door. In her hand she held a lamp and her old eyes shone +through the half darkness. + +She was probably excited by the idea that someone had come to confide a +piece of news to her. + +However, she had heard nothing of Lady Kent's having been in the village +during the day, and was in fact sure she had not been there. + +When Lord Kent went away, however, she still seemed to think he had +brought her news. + +"There is trouble in the big house, also," she said to herself, wagging +her old head. "Funny how when trouble of one kind gets loosed in the +world, so many other kinds follow it." Even after she had gone back to +bed she still kept thinking of Kent House. + +Later, just before he was leaving Granchester, Frank telephoned to his +home. + +Frieda came to the telephone to say that no word had yet come from her +sister. + +Nevertheless Lord Kent could not make up his mind to ask for aid in his +search. He had a curious antipathy toward it, as if Jack herself would +not like this, as if in some way it might lead to a revelation they +would not wish others to share. + +This was what made all his efforts so difficult. For each added moment +he was becoming more and more worried, and yet having to pretend that +Jack's failure to return home, her failure to send any word of her +whereabouts, was the most casual thing in the world. + +There were several places belonging to friends and not far from the +village. Lord Kent stopped by at each place for a few moments, as if he +were making an ordinary visit, but of course to find out if Jack had +called during the day. Apparently no one of her friends had seen her. + +At Captain MacDonnell's home, Frank inquired for the housekeeper. Mrs. +Naxie was still in charge and she and Frank were old friends. She had +been with Captain MacDonnell's uncle years before when he and Bryan were +both little boys. + +Lord Kent was not ashamed to reveal his anxiety to Mrs. Naxie, and she +at least had a little information for him, the first he had secured. + +"Yes, Lady Kent had stopped by a little before tea time and had seemed +tired. She explained that she had eaten no lunch, but enjoyed her tea, +and then started away again. Mrs. Naxie was under the impression she +intended going directly home. + +"There was nothing more for him to do but to go home also," Frank then +concluded. If Jack had not returned and nothing was known of her, he +must throw away his scruples and ask for help. + +It was now fully night and the sky filled with high, sweet stars. + +Although he yearned to be at home at once, still Frank searched all the +roads, stared behind the tall hedges, and now and then in the darkness +called his wife's name. Nevertheless he continued to assure himself that +he was behaving like a fool and there was no real reason for him to feel +so alarmed. He had always been ridiculously nervous about Jack and +always before now she had laughed at him. + +It was not until he had almost reached the beginning of his own land +that Frank was finally honest with himself. He had fought against +confessing the fact that he was to blame every moment since he first +began to grow uneasy about Jack. Had they been good friends these past +few weeks he knew he would not have been half so miserable. Whether he +had been right or wrong, he had realized that Jack had been anxious to +make peace and he had repulsed her. He would wait for no comfortable +opportunity now, as soon as he found his wife, they must be reconciled. + +Near the edge of Kent Park, where the land dipped, there was a small +stream, deep in some places, and yet hardly to be dignified by the title +of river. + +Yielding to an impulse Frank got off his horse here and walked slowly +along the bank. The stream was so narrow he could see almost equally +well on the farther side. + +The trees and underbrush made shadows on the surface where the water was +deepest. + +Suddenly Frank thought he saw one of the slender, young birches move a +step toward him. The next he heard Jack's voice say: + +"Frank, is that you?" + +Then she came slowly toward him. + +The strange fact was that she did not appear surprised, nor did she +begin by offering any explanation of her own strange behavior, nor why +she should be found at such an hour in such a place. + +"Sit down for a little while will you please, Frank? The ground is not +particularly damp in some places, I have been sitting here a long time." + +Frank made no reply except to do what she liked. He knew that something +had happened which was of tremendous seriousness to Jack. If that were +true, then whatever it was, was equally so to him. + +"You are not ill, are you, dear?" he inquired, after he had let go his +bridle and taken a seat beside his wife. His horse would only wander +about near by. + +Jack shook her head. + +"I was dizzy and very tired a little while ago, I don't know just how +long. I sat down here to rest and fell asleep for a time. I am quite all +right now." And indeed Jack was now speaking in a natural voice. One +must remember it was not so unusual for her, as it would be with most +other girls and women, to take her problems outdoors when she wished to +solve them. + +"There is something I want to say to you, Frank. I have been making up +my mind to speak of it for some time. This afternoon I knew I had to +decide. I went off for a long walk and now I have decided." + +Jack was sitting very still a few feet away from her husband. He now +moved over and put his arm about her, but though she made no movement to +resent it, she showed no sign of pleasure or of yielding. + +"I want to go home, Frank?" she continued. + +And for an instant believing she meant Kent House, Frank started to +rise. The next he understood his mistake. + +"I mean I want to go back to the Rainbow ranch to see Jim and Ruth and +Jean, but Jim most of all," she added, this time with a little break in +her usually steady voice. + +"Please don't answer, Frank, until I have explained to you a little +better. I know it seems horrid to leave you alone and to take the babies +away, when you are so worn out with your work and so sad over all the +wretched tragedy of the war. You will miss the babies, even if you will +not particularly miss me. Still I'll have to go, Frank. I can't live on +with you not forgiving, not caring for me any more. I won't stay long +unless you wish it and I'll come back whenever you send for me. But I +must go; it has seemed to me lately as if I could not breathe." + +Jack turned her face directly to her husband, and although it was too +dark to see it distinctly, he could catch the dim outline. + +"You see until lately I never dreamed that when things came to a crisis, +to a question of right, to a question of my judgment, or my conscience, +you would not be willing to let me do as I decided and thought best. I +knew you liked me to follow your way in little things and I never minded +most times. Often I was glad to do as you wished and when I didn't agree +to your way, I never considered the fact seriously one way or the other. +But lately I have seen that if we go on living together, I have got to +be a coward, a kind of traitor to myself by always appearing to agree +with you, or else live with you and have you angry and dissatisfied with +me. I cannot bear either. Marriage does not mean that to me, Frank. I +have to get away for a little while to see if I can find out what I +should do." + +There was no sign of anger in Jack's manner, if she had been feeling +angry lately, and of course she had being perfectly human, her anger had +disappeared tonight during the long hours she had been thinking things +out alone. + +Sitting beside his wife, suddenly as she finished speaking Frank +recalled something Frieda had lately said to him. Perhaps Frieda had +more brains than her family and friends realized. However, what she had +said was that whenever she was angry or wounded, her sister Jack was apt +to go off to herself and then do something unexpected. + +Surely his wife's request tonight was wholly unexpected. + +But Frank only answered, not revealing what he felt, nor what he +intended. + +"I think this is a pretty severe punishment, Jack, if you think I am +unfair. But you must let me take you home to Kent House now; Olive and +Frieda are both dreadfully worried to know what has become of you." + + + + +CHAPTER XIV + +PROFESSOR AND PROFESSORESS + + +WHEN it was finally decided that Jack was to go home to the Rainbow +ranch with her babies and Olive and Frieda for a visit, Frieda +strenuously objected. No reason was given her by her sister except the +ordinary one, that Jack wished to get away from the sad atmosphere of a +country at war and also to see her family. + +"Certainly you don't show much consideration for Frank," Frieda +protested when she first heard the news. "It seems to me that England is +_his_ country and he has a good deal more work to do and goes through a +lot more than you do, Jacqueline Ralston. I never could make up my mind +to leave my husband under such circumstances." + +Then although Jack flinched, she did not make the reply she might so +obviously have made. + +However, Frieda went on just as if she had. + +"I know what you are thinking of, but it was quite different with Henry +and me. He did not need me, he thought I was a butterfly and my wishing +to go out and dance and do exciting things disturbed his work. He didn't +allow me to go with other people because he thought it was his _duty_ to +look after me. He said so, said I was too young to be expected to take +care of myself. He wasn't a bit jealous like Frank, I shouldn't have +minded a jealous husband. If I said he was jealous, I was only +pretending because I wanted to seem interesting." + +"Frank jealous?" Jack laughed. "You are too silly, Frieda." + +Nevertheless Frieda tossed her yellow head, but also flushed a little, +having said more than she intended. If Frank did not know he was jealous +of Captain MacDonnell and Jack was also unaware how much this had +unconsciously influenced his decision concerning his friend's request, +it was not her place to tell them. + +"Just the same you'll be sorry and ashamed of yourself some day, Jack +Ralston. You need not pretend anything to me, I understand the present +situation perfectly. Frank was rather horrid to you and he ought not to +be allowed to be a bully, but you could really twist him around your +finger if you tried. You can now at any rate because he adores you. And +Frank is pretty nice you know, most women would be glad to have him. +After all he has a title and money, and men are going to be scarce when +this war is over." + +"Frieda!" Jack exclaimed in such a tone of disgust that Frieda departed +hastily, if still gracefully, out of her sister's room. + +However she stopped at the door. + +"You know it will look perfectly absurd for us both to go back home +without husbands," Frieda tossed out. "I didn't mind half so much when +Frank was around and there was at least one man in our family. But of +course it looks now as if we had something the matter with us, horrid +dispositions, so that no man could make up his mind to live with us." + +This time Jack betrayed herself a little more by showing anger. + +"You have no right to assume I am behaving as you did, Frieda, because I +want to go to the old ranch for a time. Frank has given me his consent, +I've no idea of running away." + +Then, as Frieda burst into tears at the allusion, Jack had to draw her +small sister back into her room from the doorway, and do what she could +to apologize and console her. + +She felt rather a hypocrite, too, because after all Frieda was not so +far wrong in some of her suppositions, and she had had no right to +pretend to superiority. + +There was at this time no danger to passenger vessels through +submarines, so that it was arranged for the travelers to leave for the +United States early in April that they might spend the spring at the +Rainbow Ranch. + +Olive was anxious to go. She had not intended remaining in England so +long, and wished to take up some course of study at home, to return +later when she might make herself more useful. + +Jack was torn between her desire to make a visit to her own home, to get +away for a breath of freedom and the chance to decide what she ought to +do in the future when Frank opposed her right to decide important issues +for herself and the thought that, perhaps, Frieda was right and that she +was not playing fair in leaving her husband at so trying a time. But +Frank had not opposed her going, had really said he thought it might be +a good thing, and she did not know whether he meant this from her +standpoint or from his own. It might be that Frank also would enjoy a +certain relief from the presence of a wife who would not trust his +judgment. Certainly Frank's affection had never seemed the same since +that time. He had been wonderfully good in agreeing to her new wish, but +there were moments when, womanlike, Jack wondered if she would not have +liked it better had he shown more opposition. + +So there was only Frieda who unqualifiedly stormed against leaving. Of +course she put it all on disapproving of her sister's action, but +naturally her family wondered if the fact that Frieda wished to be near +her husband, whom she believed to be fighting in France could have +anything to do with her point of view. However, no one dared to make +this suggestion to her. It would have done no good in any case since she +would probably have promptly denied it. + +However, Frieda would not remain in England without her sister and Jack +was unwilling that she should. Nevertheless, insisting on maintaining +the attitude of an aggrieved character, Frieda separated herself from +her own family whenever she could. + +Twice a week for instance she went into Granchester to tea with Mrs. +Huggins. Frieda had a private reason for this. One day she had +overlooked the fact that her own "Dame Quick" had not been her nurse or +foster mother and had confided to the old woman some of the things which +were troubling her. She did not want advice, what she wanted was to say +those things aloud which she had been saying to herself, and she knew +her old friend would simply listen and be kind to her. One might think +she would have feared that the old woman, with her passion for spreading +news, would have gossiped about her, but Frieda knew better than this. + +One afternoon, about ten days before their sailing time, Frieda started +off alone to walk to Granchester. She was earlier than need be since +Olive had asked her a question which had offended her and she had been +irritable. She thought she had caught the suggestion of a lecture in her +sister's expression and so had hurried off before Jack had a chance to +speak. + +Frieda recognized the fact that she was a little difficult to live with +these days. But then she excused herself by saying that no one knew how +worried and nervous she was. There were times when Frieda was afraid she +might be losing her prettiness through worry, until her mirror reassured +her. For Frieda understood her own appearance, just as she understood a +great many things. She knew that Jack had developed into a beauty from a +merely handsome girlhood and that she was only pretty. But she also +realized that prettiness often makes more appeal, especially to men, +than a higher type of loveliness. Therefore, Frieda had no idea of not +preserving her own charms as long as she possibly could. + +She walked slowly so as not to arrive too early and because she was +enjoying the country more than she usually did. The quietness of the +English landscape, its look of a carefully kept garden, appealed to +Frieda more than the vastness of her own windswept western prairies. It +was one of the many odd ironies of fate that Jack, who loved the +prairies must live in England, while until lately Frieda's life had been +cast at least on the edge of the western country. + +The old English laborers passing back and forth from their ploughing of +the spring fields were almost the only persons she met. + +When Frieda reached the little house at the edge of the village, of +which Mrs. Huggins had once told her some story, she stopped for a +moment without any particular motive. + +She did not remember exactly what the story was, if she had ever known. +But the little house rather interested her. For one thing she had +noticed every time she passed, at no matter what hour, the blinds were +always drawn halfway down. + +The house was set in the middle of a small yard and had a little, low +ivy covered stone fence surrounding it and a wooden gate. However, the +front of the house was only a few yards from the street so that one +could see it distinctly. + +Frieda was not standing still, but was loitering a few feet from the +gate, gazing absently toward the lower windows. + +Then suddenly and certainly unexpectedly she heard a strange noise, a +kind of muffled roar. Then an explosion burst forth so that several +panes of window glass broke and puffs of smoke blew out. + +For an instant there appeared back of the window, and surrounded by the +smoke like a cherubim among clouds, a face which Frieda did not really +believe she saw. Yet of course she knew she did see it, or else was +suddenly mad or dreaming. + +As a matter of fact she had the sensation that she was taking part in a +ridiculous and improbable detective story, of the kind one reads in the +weekly magazines. + +Yet without hesitating, or feeling the proper amount of uncertainty, or +fear, Frieda jerked open the little wooden gate and rushed up the path +to the front door of the house. + +There at least she did stop to give the bell a fierce pull, but she +might have rushed in had she supposed the door unlocked. + +However, the next second a little white faced maid appeared at the door, +and Frieda simply swept by her. The door of the room, where she had seen +the apparition, was on the left side of the hall and without knocking +she opened this. Just how Frieda would have explained her own behavior +had she made a mistake did not trouble her. + +But she had not made a mistake. There standing in the centre of the room +and still somewhat surrounded by smoke and with the blood coming from an +injury to his hand, stood the person whose face Frieda believed she had +seen through the broken window. No, she did not really believe she had +seen it, though of course she knew she had. + +[Illustration: I ASSURE YOU I HAVE OFFICIAL PERMISSION] + +"Are you a deserter, Henry, hiding from justice?" Frieda demanded +scathingly, and still following the example of the method employed in +detective stories, since her experience was so exactly of the same kind. + +"I most certainly am not, my dear," Professor Russell answered firmly, +but still somewhat apologetically. + +"I was slightly wounded soon after my arrival at the front. But I also +found that my scientific knowledge could be of more service than my +abilities as a soldier. So I came back to England and have been +experimenting with gas bombs with that in mind. I assure you I have +official permission." + +"Then why have you been hiding and why did you come down here?" + +Professor Russell looked at Frieda and smiled slowly. + +"You are the answer to both those questions, Frieda." + +Unexpectedly Frieda's blue eyes filled with tears. + +"I don't see how you can say that, Henry, when you have never even tried +to see me, or to let me know what had become of you. You knew I was +suffering horribly for fear you might be hurt or dead or something and +you wouldn't write me." + +Professor Russell's lips twitched at the thought of his being blamed for +not writing after the worst had happened to him. But he made no other +sign. + +"You are mistaken, I have seen you, my dear, many a time when you have +passed this window and at least I have had the satisfaction of realizing +you were well and happy." + +"But I am neither," Frieda protested. "Besides I don't understand how +you knew, unless, unless--do you mean Frank and Jack were both aware +that you were here and never told me? They preferred I should suffer. I +shall never forgive either of them, never." And Frieda drew herself up, +very stately and very injured. But in truth her lips were trembling. + +"You are not to blame your sister or brother, Frieda," Professor Russell +interrupted. "They have simply done what I asked, what I required of +them. You came over to England to be rid of my presence. I had neither +the desire nor the right to thrust myself upon you." + +"Then I don't see why you didn't go and live somewhere else," Frieda +remarked petulantly. But at the same instant she sank down into a chair. + +"I do wish, Henry, you would give me some tea. You seem to have an +extraordinary looking little girl to look after you. And I feel very +much overcome from the shock of hearing an explosion outside a strange +house and then seeing your face floating in space on the inside. +Moreover, if you are so extraordinarily scientific I should think you +would know enough to go and wash that gas bomb out of your hand." + +This time Professor Russell openly laughed. + +"It is scarcely a gas bomb inside my hand, Frieda. One of the chemicals +simply went slightly wrong." + +But Frieda had closed her eyes and dropped her head back and really +looked so pale that her husband hurried out after his small maid and the +tea things. + +The moment he had disappeared however she opened her eyes again. + +"I am going to take Henry Russell back to the United States with me in +ten days," she remarked aloud, but in a very small whisper. "I don't +know how I am going to manage him or the British Government, but I am +going to, somehow. I thought I was bored with Henry and I was and I'll +probably be again. But I suppose all women are bored with the men they +live with sometimes. Anyhow, I had to think I had lost Henry to know I +wanted to keep him. He does get a little upset now and then when I want +my own way all the time, but really under the same circumstances I don't +suppose any other man would be half so nice to me as Henry is. Besides, +oh well, I believe I'm pretty fond of him." + +When Professor Russell returned, Frieda again managed to have her eyes +closed and she really was upset by the events of the past few moments, +as was to be expected. + +Therefore she seemed very languid while Professor Russell and his little +maid set out the tea things. She did offer faintly to help, observing +that her husband had full use of only one hand. But as it was his left +hand and he insisted on getting along alone, she permitted it, even to +the actually pouring and handing her of the first cup of tea. + +Later he took a seat in a chair opposite her. + +The unfortunate thing with Frieda was that she seldom could control her +appetite, had never been able to since her chocolate drop days. So she +concluded she had best begin her plan of procedure early. + +"I don't see how Jack and Frank could have told you I was well, Henry," +she said plaintively. "I don't suppose you have noticed but I have lost +a good many pounds." + +As a matter of fact Frieda had lost several pounds, although she was +still reasonably rounded. + +"No, I had not noticed before, but I observe you have," the Professor +returned. "I trust there is nothing serious the matter. What is the +doctor's opinion?" + +Frieda shook her head. "I have not seen a doctor. Really, I have not +spoken of this to any one before, Henry. But do you know I think, +perhaps, I have not been well for a good many months, even before I left +Chicago. Maybe that is what made me cross sometimes, Henry. Maybe that's +why I ran away without telling you I was going. I really think I ought +to have talked the matter over with you, Henry. You would have been +quite willing for me to make Jack a visit wouldn't you, Henry, just as +Frank is allowing Jack to go home to the ranch?" + +Frieda's hand holding the tea cup shook a little. + +"But I didn't know this was a visit, Frieda. I thought you had gone away +for good. Indeed, I am under the impression that you said you never +wished to see me again." + +Frieda shook her head. + +"I never could have really said that, Henry, or if I did, you were +silly to think I meant it. I often say lots of things I don't mean. And +I have wanted to see you lots lately." + +Professor Russell took Frieda's cup away and laid firm hold on both her +hands. + +"Look at me, Frieda," he ordered quietly, "and don't answer me until you +have thought carefully about what you wish to reply. You have been a +child a long time, Frieda, but my dear, you have to grow up. All of us +must sooner or later. I am a good deal older than you and not only that +but I care for a lot of things which seem dull and uninteresting to you. +So do you care for things which do not seem vital to me. But I'm willing +to confess I'm an old fogy and sometimes I believe, Frieda dear, I did +you a great wrong when I married you at such a youthful age. I want you +to know, my dear, that I want to do whatever is best for your happiness. +I am willing to go out of your life, to relieve you of me altogether if +in any way it can be managed without reflection upon you." + +"Then you mean you don't love me any more, Henry, you can't forgive me +for what I did," Frieda gasped, turning really honestly pale this time. +Professor Russell shook his head. + +"I don't mean any such thing, Frieda child. Moreover, you know perfectly +well that I don't and that it is exceedingly reprehensible for you to go +on flirting in this way with your own husband unless you also care for +him." + +Frieda sighed with satisfaction and lifted up her face to her husband, +plainly suggesting by her expression what she expected him to do. + +The moment after, she said, with that funny look of gravity which no one +ever paid any special attention to from her. + +"Do you know, Henry, if you say things like that to me oftener, I feel +sure I will care for you more. But please get your hat and come with me +now, I want to introduce you to a very dear, old friend of mine in +Granchester. Afterwards, if your hand does not hurt, you must go up to +Kent House with me to dinner. I intend to let Jack and Frank know that I +can manage my own affairs and do not in the future intend to be kept in +the dark as if I were a silly child." + +The Professor obeyed orders. + + + + +CHAPTER XV + +THE OLD RANCH + + +IT was a wonderful May day when Frieda and her Professor, Jack and her +two babies and nurse, and Olive arrived at the Rainbow Ranch. + +Jim and Ruth Colter and Jean Merritt, who was their own Jean Bruce, of +the old Ranch Girl days, drove down to the same funny little frame +station to meet them. But beside the automobile they brought a great +wagon, which Jim drove himself, in order that they might take up to the +house as many trunks and as many people as could not be stored away in +the car. + +Jack insisted on returning home alongside Jim, seated on the driver's +seat, her feet still not quite touching the floor. + +She had put her babies in the automobile, with Ruth and Jean, so that +they might make each others' acquaintance. Moreover, she had a sentiment +in wishing to reach the old ranch with Jim as her companion. No matter +what had happened to her, no matter what should happen in the future, +Jim, who was her first friend, the manager of the old ranch, and her own +and Frieda's guardian, would remain her best friend to the end of the +chapter. + +She knew, too, that Olive cherished many happy memories, while Frieda +was beatific these days in the company of her Professor. + +Jack felt a singing in her heart and in her ears as she saw the wide +meadows now blossoming with purple clover and heard the western larks +rising high over the land, dipping toward it again, then soaring higher +up, as if they threw aside the call of the earth for the loftier one of +the air. + +Jim and Ruth with their children, and Jean and Ralph Merritt and their +little girl, when they were at the ranch, lived in the great house which +the Ranch girls had built after coming into their fortune through the +discovery of the mine on their place. But the old Rainbow Lodge, where +they had all lived as little girls when it was rather hard to make +expenses in the dry seasons in Wyoming, had never been torn down. +Indeed, as a special request from Jack it had been kept in perfect +repair and still remained simply and comfortably furnished. + +Whenever there were too many guests at the big house, some of them were +sent down here, and more often, when he could bear the ways of high +society no longer, Jim escaped to the old lodge for a quiet smoke and +perhaps an hour to himself. Now and then Ruth, his wife, would come to +join him, and they would talk of the early days at the ranch and their +first meeting, when Ruth was a prim New England schoolmarm. + +So, as a favor, Jack had asked that the old Lodge be given over to her +use while she was at home. She and the babies would come up to the big +house for their meals, except at night when the babies could be better +taken care of at the Lodge. This would give all the more room for the +others. + +So, as Ruth, Jim and Jean, realized that Jack sincerely wished this +arrangement, they had agreed with her desire. Jack had married so soon +after the building of the house, which Frieda had named "The Rainbow +Castle," that she had never learned to feel any particular affection for +it. So in coming home she wished to return to the house she had loved +and remembered. + +On either side of the old Lodge, Frieda's violet beds were still +carefully tended and today were a mass of bloom. + +Olive and Frieda and the Professor insisted on getting out first at the +Lodge with Jack and Jim. When they entered the old living room it was so +like the one they recalled that the three women, who were girls no +longer, felt a sudden catching of their breath. + +But of course Jim and Jean had arranged the old room to look as much +like it formerly did as possible. They had the Indian rugs on the floor, +the old shelves of books, with just the books the Ranch girls had owned +long before, the great open fireplace and the tall brass candlesticks on +the mantel. + +Then before leaving for the station Jean had filled the room with +bunches of violets, as Frieda had once been accustomed to do. + +"It is still just the loveliest, homiest place in the world!" Frieda +exclaimed. + +Jack did not feel that she could speak for the first minute, and the +next Jean had come running in carrying Vive in her arms and with Jimmie +beside her. They were followed by Jean's own little daughter, +Jacqueline, and by two other little girls, who belonged to Jim and Ruth +and another Jimmie, who was somewhere between the biggest and the +littlest Jim. + +Then there was, of course, the immense confusion of the arrival and the +settling of so large a number of guests. Besides there were so many +children to be looked after who always must be considered first. + +That evening there was a dinner at the big house, at which everybody +talked a great deal, asked a great many questions and answered them. But +in reality they were all too tired and excited to get much satisfaction +from one another. + +Afterwards, although Jim and Jack walked home alone to the Lodge, they +did not try to say a great deal to each other. Only at parting Jim said, +"Have a cup of coffee in the morning early, Jack. I have promised Ruth +not to take you too far, but I've a new horse for you to try and I want +you to have the first ride over the ranch with me, while the others are +still asleep. You and I are the only ones who have ever really loved the +dawn out here in God's country. Ruth has left some riding togs for you +somewhere in your room." + +Waking before six o'clock next morning, Jack was lying in bed breathing +deeply of the sweet clover-scented air, when she heard a never to be +forgotten whistle outside her window. + +She stuck her head out. + +"I'll be down in ten minutes, Jim. Is that the horse for me? Isn't he a +beauty? But hitch yours and mine somewhere outside and open the Lodge +door, I didn't lock it last night, and come in and start my coffee. I +just opened my eyes this minute." + +Ten minutes later, as she had said, Jack slid quietly downstairs so as +not to arouse her children. She smelt the delicious aroma of the coffee +in the old Lodge kitchen, once presided over by old Aunt Ellen, who had +died a few years before. She also discovered Jim helping himself to the +first cup when she appeared. But instead he gave it to her, got another +for himself and handed her a napkin filled with sandwiches which Ruth +had provided. Then they drank and munched as silently and contentedly as +they always had in each other's company during many years and various +experiences. + +But they had both stepped out on the big front porch of the Lodge, when +Jim suddenly swung round and put his hands on Jack's slender shoulders. + +He had seen something in her face which the others had not, perhaps +because he had always cared for her most. + +"Ain't anybody been doin' anything to you, you don't like, Boss?" Jim +demanded, purposely breaking into the old careless speech he had used +before Ruth's coming to Rainbow Ranch to educate them all, and Jim more +than any one. "Because if anyone has, you know you can always count on +your old pardner." + +But Jack only laughed and shook her head rubbing it against his sleeve, +as a young colt does. This had been one of the things she used to do as +a girl, half as an expression of affection and half to conceal her +embarrassment. + +Then Jack ran out to where her horse was waiting. She had on a khaki +riding costume, a new one, but except for that, pretty much of the same +kind that she had been accustomed to wearing as Jacqueline Ralston. + +She was now looking over the horse critically. + +"He is one of the most perfect creatures I ever saw, Jim. I don't care +what other people say, I like our fine western horses better than any +others in the world." + +"Try him, Jack," and Jim lifted her lightly up. + +The next instant she had gone down the avenue like a streak of light, +whirled and come back again. + +"His movement seems perfect, too, but I'll have to give him more of a +test before I can decide." + +She then started off again with Jim Colter beside her. + +"If you like him, Jack, the horse is a present from me. I got him and +had him broken for you. I don't ever want anyone else to use him." + +Jack's face flushed. "Jim, there never was anybody so good to me as you +have always been, and no one who has ever understood me so well. I don't +mean that there is much to understand, but what there is I know you +believe the best of." + +"Well, I don't expect there is anybody who began to know you as soon as +I did, Jack," Jim Colter answered, realizing again that there was +something behind Jack's words which she did not exactly wish to confide +in him. + +It was all very well for the rest of the family to say Jack didn't look +a day older. She was better looking than she used to be, if that was +what they were talking about, and her figure looked very slim and sweet +and girlish, as she rode there beside him, as gracefully and as much at +ease as ever. But Jack's expression was different, there were shadows +under her eyes, no matter how her lips were smiling. Jim remembered +that even if he had liked Frank Kent, he never had thought much of +Englishmen as husbands for American girls. + +But he said nothing more on the subject to Jack, only pointing out +objects in the familiar, old landscape which they both loved, and +realizing that if Jack had anything to tell him she would do so of her +own accord later on. + +They were late to breakfast, of course, so they found that all the +others, having finished, were out on the lawn waiting. + +"I suppose Jim tried to show you every horse and every cow on the ranch, +Jack," Ruth began. "I hope you are not worn out, child. I told him to +allow you one night's rest." + +Ruth Colter was growing very matronly these days with her husband and +son and two daughters to look after. She and Jim were to have two other +daughters, to repeat as they always said, another group of four new +Ranch Girls. But as yet only two had put in their appearance. + +"Yes, and after she has had breakfast I want to take Jack and everybody +down to the Rainbow Mine. I always feel it belongs more to Ralph, and +to me than to the others. Oh, simply because my husband was its first +engineer." + +Jean's eyes were as brown and velvety as ever and she wore that little +expression of pride and self satisfaction that comes into the faces of +so many women who are married to successful men. It is as if they shared +the pride and glory of the success, without any of the effort or +necessary disappointment. + +"Remember, Henry, when you and Ralph were more or less blown up going +down the shaft of the old mine. It was after that, Frieda adopted you." + +The Professor nodded. "I had my legs broken didn't I, so I couldn't get +away? Well, Frieda always prefers her victims helpless." + +Frieda tossed her head and walked away as she always had done when any +member of her family teased her. + +Later in the day all the family and half a dozen visitors did go down to +the old mine, which was still yielding a fair amount of gold, but not +half so much as in the old days. Afterwards, lunch was served in the +neighborhood of Rainbow creek and most of the day was spent outdoors. + +Toward the close of the afternoon, however, everybody else wandered away +leaving the four one time Ranch Girls together. + +They were sitting in the afternoon sunshine on a patch of grass not far +from the neighborhood of the creek. + +Jack was lying down with her head resting in Olive's lap, Frieda was +close to Jean and now and then putting her hand inside her cousin's for +a moment. She and Jean had always been cronies in the old days, when the +four of them had been divided into pairs over some small issue. + +"I don't believe this is far from the place where Frank and I discovered +the first gold in Rainbow creek," Jack remarked drowsily, a little worn +out from the excitement of the day. "How filled the old ranch was with +memories and thoughts of her husband!" Jack smiled to herself. Certainly +she had been the impatient one and Frank the patient in those many +months of her long illness. + +Whatever anger Jack had felt in regard to her husband's autocratic +attitude toward her, had entirely disappeared soon after saying farewell +to him. But the puzzle was still present. Frank had been kind and sweet +to her for the time before she left home. But never once had he frankly +declared that in future he would be willing for Jack to decide important +questions according to her own judgment, even as he must act by his own. +And this was what Jack wanted, the sense of spiritual freedom. + +"When is Frank coming over to join you, Jack?" Jean Merritt asked +unexpectedly. "Ralph hopes to get home from his work at the canal in a +few weeks and it would be a great pleasure if he and Frank could be here +at the same time." + +"Frank, oh, Frank isn't coming at all, Jean. He couldn't possibly leave +his own country now, while they are at war. There is so much he feels he +ought to do." + +Jack hoped she was not blushing, but was painfully aware that Frieda's +eyes were fixed somewhat critically upon her. Frieda was giving herself +more airs than ever, now that she and her Professor were reconciled, and +she had been able to persuade the British Government to allow her to +bring him to the United States. The truth was the Professor had finished +the scientific work he had undertaken, and in coming to his own country +at the present time would be enabled to get hold of materials much +needed in England. + +Not actually realizing, but guessing at Jack's embarrassment, Olive +remarked hastily. + +"After all there is some advantage in being an old maid, one does not +have to worry continually over being in the same place with one's +husband. You will all have to come over to see my Indian School some day +soon. Perhaps I am wedded to that." + +"Nonsense, Olive," Frieda murmured, "but really I don't see why you have +never married. You were obstinate enough about not accepting poor Don +Harmon, but then you got most of your grandmother's money after all. +Still you must have had other chances. You are as good looking as the +rest of us and some people like brunettes best." + +As Frieda's own yellow hair was at this moment unbound, so that it might +get the air and sunshine, and as she looked at it with utter +satisfaction as she spoke, her three companions laughed unrestrainedly. + +"Oh, come now Frieda, you don't really believe anyone has such poor +taste as that," Olive teased. + +But at this instant seeing that Jack's nurse was coming toward them +carrying Vive in her arms, Frieda got the best of the situation as she +often did. + +"Oh, well, perhaps the combination is prettiest after all. Vive is the +only real beauty with her dark eyes and yellow hair." + +Frieda held out her arms for the baby, who came to her with little +ripples of happy laughter, and the two blonde heads, which were so +nearly the same color, were held close together. + +"I believe Vive really is the prettiest of all the children," Jean +remarked critically, which was good of her, since she had a little girl +of her own. + + + + +CHAPTER XVI + +VIVE + + +SO the days and weeks passed on at the Rainbow Ranch, seeming to be +uneventful and yet filled with quantities of pleasures and interests. + +June came and the prairies were covered with wild flowers. + +No one stayed indoors, except to sleep and eat, and oftentimes not for +either of these things. Many nights Jack slept out on the Lodge +verandah, sometimes with Olive or Jean, more often alone. + +There were wonderful white nights such as only the west knows. + +Jack used to love to lie and listen to the sounds she had long known and +loved. A pair of owls in one of the old cottonwood trees held nightly +conversations with each other, now and then screeching in such an +irritated fashion that Jack laughed over their apparently human +qualities. + +Then far away from the house on the neighboring prairies she could hear +the coyotes call to one another with warnings of danger. + +These were excellent nights in which to think, for sometimes the moon +made it almost too light for sleep. And Jack had a great deal to occupy +her mind. Twice a week she wrote Frank and he wrote her with the same +frequency, since at this time there were still two mail boats a week. +But neither made any reference to their conversation on the evening when +Jack had made her request to come home and given her reason. + +Things in England were not going so well at this period as Frank had +hoped, and he wrote chiefly of this. But he also said that he now +received frequent news from Captain MacDonnell, who was growing better +and now knew what fate had in store for him. He might be able to walk in +the future, but only with crutches. + +On several occasions Jack thought of deliberately asking her husband to +come to some kind of an agreement with her for the future. Yet she +hardly dared open a subject that might lead to differences between them, +when they were so far apart, but she was very often lonely for him and +sometimes repented having left England at all. + +Jack, of course, was not always in this frame of mind. During the +greater part of the time she was very happy. + +A number of hours each day she spent on the horse Jim had given her, +which she had named "Britain" in honor of her adopted country. + +Now and then Jean and Olive and Frieda would refuse to ride, preferring +some other amusement, but there was always Jim as a companion. + +Jim Colter was now a successful and fairly wealthy ranchman owning a +half interest in the Rainbow Ranch and having the entire ownership of +the one adjoining it. But he continued to follow much the same routine +as when he was only the manager for the Ranch girls. + +That is, whenever it was possible, he rode over miles of the ranch land, +watching the crops and his water supply, and carefully examining all his +horses and cattle, when they seemed to need his attention. + +Accompanying Jim on these excursions had been, not only one of Jack's +chief amusements, but one of her serious occupations as a girl and it +still greatly interested her. Besides, she and Jim saw each other under +more favorable circumstances in this way than in any other, and had +more real opportunities for conversation. + +But always Jack arranged to get back to the Lodge in time to see her +children before they went to bed. They had an excellent nurse and of +course there was all the rest of the family to look after them, but Jack +had followed this custom at home, except under unusual circumstances and +would not have given it up for a great deal. + +Therefore she was worried one afternoon when Jim insisted upon staying +out later than usual. She would have returned alone, except that Jim had +found a young colt which had injured itself and wished Jack's help and +advice in the care of it. + +Finally, when they did get started for home, Jack rode ahead like the +wind, calling back to her companion not to try to follow her unless he +liked, as she knew he had some other matters on the place to look after. + +By making unusual speed she hoped to reach home a few minutes before +six, when Vive was put into bed and Jimmie ate his supper before +following her. + +Olive was waiting on the porch when Jack came into sight and went out to +meet her before she had dismounted. + +"What is it, Olive?" Jack asked sharply, as soon as she saw her. "Which +one of the children is it? What has happened?" For it is a curious fact +that a mother often feels this premonition of danger. + +"There is nothing to be seriously frightened about, Jack," Olive replied +quietly, "only little Vive isn't very well. Frieda and I had her with us +for a little while this afternoon and she seemed somewhat languid. +Frieda thought she had a little fever, so Ruth saw her and we have sent +for the doctor. He will be here in another few moments." + +Jack made no comment except to go swiftly indoors, leaving Olive to find +some one to care for her horse. + +She knew, of course, that Olive was telling her as little as possible. + +Jimmie had been taken away to the other house, so Vive now occupied +alone the big room at the Lodge which had belonged to Jack and Frieda +when they were little girls. + +It was simply furnished with a few rugs and wicker chairs and bright +pictures and three little white iron cots. + +In the smallest Vive lay apparently asleep on her pillow. + +But Jack saw at once she was not asleep. Her exquisite little face was +flushed a bright scarlet, her lids heavy and closed, and the strangest +fact was that one of her little hands twitched unceasingly. + +Now and then she opened her golden brown eyes, but without seeing or +knowing anyone. + +When the doctor arrived he made no effort to disguise the seriousness of +Vive's condition. If she were to live it would be a fight and one of the +hardest of all kinds, since they must simply wait and watch, with very +little possible to do. + +For some unknown reason, perhaps because there had been too much +excitement from the trip, too much notice taken of her by too many +people, Vive had meningitis. + +But Jack was never a coward and it is scarcely worth saying that a +mother's courage, so long as she thinks it can help her child, is the +purest courage of all. + +As soon as she heard the verdict, Jack went quickly to her own room and +put on a white cotton dress. Afterwards, until Vive was better or worse, +she would never leave her side for a moment. + +But it is one thing to be brave when a shock comes and one has health +and strength to meet it. It is another to keep up that courage hour +after hour, day after day, when the strength is gone and the body and +mind unconsciously sick with weariness. + +There was a trained nurse, of course, and any member of her family would +have done anything that was humanly possible to relieve Jack's vigil. +But she would not be persuaded or argued into going out of her baby's +room, and slept there in the hours when she did sleep, half awake and +half dreaming, on a small cot by Vive's. + +And most of the time Frieda stayed with her. + +In a way it seems strange that it should have been Frieda. Olive, one +would have supposed to be more sympathetic, Jean and Ruth had children +of their own. + +But some change had been taking place in Frieda for a good many months +and she adored little Vive. Whenever any of the others disputed Frieda's +right, she always said quietly that after all, she was Jack's only +sister, and that if anything happened she must be the one to be by her. + +If Jack's husband had been with her, why then it would have been +different. So Frieda even waved away her devoted Professor, who feared +she might be ill, by telling him there would be time enough to think of +her later on. + +Although she and Jack sat side by side for many hours with their eyes on +the baby, they but rarely spoke to each other. + +Yet it was too pitiful to continue always to watch the movement of +Vive's baby hands and her heavy breathing. + +"If Vive dies do you think Frank will ever forgive me," Jack asked one +night. + +And true to herself Frieda tossed her yellow head. + +"I don't see what Frank has to forgive? The point is will he ever +forgive himself for having you go through all this alone?" + +"But I ought not to have brought Vive away. Still I wouldn't mind +anything if only Frank were with me." + +A little later when the doctor arrived he said that the crisis would +come within the hour and he would remain. + +Olive and Jean waited in the Lodge living room, Jim had disappeared +somewhere an hour before. Ruth Colter came into the nursery and stayed +by Jack. + +Half an hour passed. Then suddenly there was a strange, almost an +unearthly silence in the room, and it was as if one could see the +little white soul rise and float softly away like a bird. + +The little figure in the cradle was still. + +The doctor rose up. + +"It is over," he said pitifully. + +Frieda covered up her face, but Jack went over and looked down at Vive +for a moment and then turned to the others. + +"Please do not let anyone come with me," she asked. "I must go outdoors +alone." + +Then Jack went out past the living room, through the long avenue of tall +trees, on farther and farther, not knowing where she was going. + +The Rainbow Ranch, which she had loved better than any place in the +world, had taken from her the human being, whom at this moment she +believed she loved most. + +Over Rainbow creek there hung a tiny yellow, crescent moon. It seemed to +Jack that this, too, made her think of her baby, it was just as cold, +just as perfect and as far away. + +She stayed there a long time, then getting up she wandered on. She did +not think whether her family would be uneasy, she did not care. + +It seemed to her she never wished to go back again to the Lodge. + +But finally a little clearer judgment came to her and she turned back. + +It was almost dawn. + +There, standing on the porch of the Rainbow Lodge, was a man's figure. +Jack supposed it was Jim. + +He started toward her and the next moment Jack was in his arms. + +"Do you know, Frank?" Jack queried. + +Frank drew her closer to him. + +A little later she allowed Frank to lead her into the house, where she +undressed and went to bed, with him sitting beside her. + +She had made no inquiry about how he had arrived at such a moment. Jack +had but one thought at this time, no others could enter her mind. + +The facts were that Frank had left England ten days before bringing +Captain MacDonnell with him. He had a mission from his Government so as +to make the trip possible. But more than anything else he felt he must +see his wife. + +He had tried to write Jack, to tell her that he believed he had been +unfair, that his obstinacy should never make an issue between them +again. But it had all been so difficult to write and it must be so long +before he could receive Jack's answer. + +Moreover, Frank wanted to bring Captain MacDonnell to the ranch to stay +during his convalescence. Soon after Jack's departure he had gone over +to France, as an act of expiation both to his wife and friend. There he +had found Captain MacDonnell recovering, but infinitely depressed with +the thought that he could no longer serve his country, but must be only +a burden. + +On the arrival of his steamer in New York Lord Kent had wired Jim +Colter, but Jim had thought it best not to speak to Jack until Frank was +able to reach her. + +He had therefore sent him a wire telling of Vive's illness, and Frank +had hurried west, leaving Captain MacDonnell with friends in New York +city. + + + + +CHAPTER XVII + +FAREWELL + + +ABOUT a week later Captain MacDonnell arrived at the Rainbow Ranch +accompanied by a man servant who waited upon him. He looked better than +any of his friends had anticipated. + +Since there was so much sorrow in the world at the present time, Jack +and Frank had made up their minds that they would not let their own +influence other people more than they could avoid. Moreover, they had +found each other again at just the right moment and were more devoted, +more united than ever before. Frank explained his own change of attitude +to his wife, but all the events of the past seemed small in comparison +with their loss. + +It was Frieda who for a while seemed the more outwardly inconsolable. + +Actually the Professor came one day in distress to Jack herself. + +"My dear Jack, I don't know what I shall do with my little Frieda when +you have gone home to England!" he exclaimed. For it had been decided +that Jack and Jimmie were to return home when Frank did. + +"But you will both be coming over soon," Jack answered, showing no sign +that it might be strange under the circumstances to expect her to +comfort Frieda. + +The Professor did not see this. He really saw very little else in the +world except his wife and his work. + +"We may not be able to come for several months. In the meantime if she +frets herself ill?" + +Jack promised to talk to her sister. + +One evening when Frieda complained of a headache and did not come down +to dinner, Jack went up to her. + +She found her sister lying on a couch and looking very young and sweet. + +"You are not to worry too much on my account, Frieda dear," Jack began. + +"I am not supposed to be unselfish," Frieda murmured. + +But Jack paid no attention to her speech. "Perhaps you'll have a baby +some day yourself, dear." + +At this Frieda pulled her sister down and whispered something in her +ear. Jack's face flushed. + +"I should be happier than anything! Remember you and Henry are to come +to us as soon as it can be arranged." + +A few days later Lord and Lady Kent with their little boy left for the +East. They were to stop a few days in Washington and then sail. + +Not long afterwards Frieda and the Professor also went away from the +ranch, as Professor Russell had a good many things to look after and +Frieda would not be separated from him. + +As Ralph Merritt had arrived for a visit, Jean's attention was occupied +with him. So as a matter of fact Captain MacDonnell was rather left to +Olive's care. + +At first it did not seem a large duty simply to try and keep Captain +MacDonnell amused and she had wanted to do something. But Olive had not +reckoned with her task. + +Captain MacDonnell was an Irishman and a Scotchman, which means he was +able to be very gay and also very melancholy. And always in times past, +when his melancholy mood had taken hold on him, he could mount his horse +and ride the spectre away, or else engage in some other active outdoor +occupation. + +But here he was still so young a man, with all his future before him, +and compelled to sit all day in a wheeled chair, or else hobble about on +crutches. + +It has not been the illness that has been hardest for the soldiers to +bear, but oftentimes this coming back to accept with resignation a new +kind of life. + +Yet Captain MacDonnell tried to be patient, tried to let no one guess +what he was suffering at thus having his career ended so soon, and being +also unable to go on with the service to his country which he so longed +to give. + +But Olive, who had always more of a gift for sympathy than any one of +the Ranch girls, appreciated what he was enduring more than she even +revealed to him. + +She had been reading him a volume of Kipling one day, and happening to +raise her eyes, saw that he was not listening. She even stopped a few +moments and found that he was unaware of it. + +When Captain MacDonnell did discover his own absorption, he turned to +Olive with a charming smile. + +"Forgive me," he explained. "I do not intend to be ungrateful, indeed I +am more grateful than I know how to express. But those stories of India +started me to thinking of the first years I was out there. It is a +strange country, India. I don't think we western people understand it." + +He and Olive were sitting on the Lodge verandah. + +Olive nodded, "I do understand what you must feel and I do wish there +was something else to interest you." + +Then she remained silent. After all Captain MacDonnell could not go on +in idleness like this. There must be something he could find to do, some +real thing. Poorer men were learning trades. It would be better for him +to do this if only he could be persuaded to feel enough interest. + +Olive did not realize she was frowning. + +Suddenly she exclaimed. + +"Look here, Captain MacDonnell, didn't I hear Frank say once that you +used to be fond of drawing when you were a small boy, that you were once +undecided whether to be an artist or a soldier?" + +Captain MacDonnell smiled. "I believe so, I've an idea I was a pretty +conceited youngster and would have made as much of a failure at one as +I have of the other." + +But Olive refused to pay any attention to this speech. + +For a moment Captain MacDonnell forgot himself thinking of how +attractive Olive looked. + +He had not remembered thinking of this especially when they had met in +England, only that she was unusual looking and not in the least like an +American or English woman. It was almost as if she might be Spanish. +Captain MacDonnell also had some Spanish blood farther back in his own +family, when the Spanish were the great voyagers and visited and settled +on the coasts of Ireland. + +But Olive went on talking. + +"I do wish you would undertake the drawing again, it might at least +amuse you, and there are so many interesting people and scenes you could +attempt out here." + +Captain MacDonnell shook his head. + +"I'm afraid the time has gone by for that," he returned. + +But Olive had a kind of gentle, sensible persistency that nearly always +wins its way. + +"Still, there wouldn't be any harm in just seeing if it might amuse +you," she went on. "I am sure it would be a kind of relief." + +Captain MacDonnell again looked at Olive. Her deep toned skin was softly +flushed and her dark eyes brilliant with earnestness. + +He laughed a little. "Of course it will, a relief to you, so for that +reason I'll attempt it. But on one condition?" + +Olive flushed a little with embarrassment, since she had never wholly +gotten over her shyness. However, she realized that Captain MacDonnell +was teasing her. He did very often when he was in a gay humor and Olive +felt it was good for her, as she was too inclined to be grave. + +"What is the condition?" she inquired. "Of course it will be relief to +me to know you are happier," at which Captain MacDonnell felt that Olive +had scored. + +"Why, that I won't have to keep on calling you Miss Van Mater. It is too +much of a name, just as mine is." + +Captain MacDonnell was doubtful as to how Olive would receive this +suggestion. She seemed more formal than the rest of the family and he +had thought her colder until her great kindness to him. Now he at least +knew better than to misunderstand her shyness for coldness, as a good +many people did. + +Olive replied perfectly naturally. + +"Of course I will. The truth is I have always thought of you as Bryan, +as Jack and Frank always talked of you by this name." + +His promise would have really passed out of Captain MacDonnell's mind if +Olive had not supplied him with a great variety of drawing materials +within a few days, which she had taken a good deal of trouble to secure +for him. + +But as a matter of fact she was really surprised to discover how much +talent he had. But then Captain MacDonnell used to work for many hours +each day, so that it was not long before his former facility came back +to him. More than this, he discovered to his own surprise as well, that +he could do a great deal better work than he had as a boy. Somehow the +skill must have developed in him unheeded as he was growing older. + +She came out on the lawn one afternoon and discovered Captain MacDonnell +at work a little distance off. + +He had evidently persuaded one of the cowboys to pose for him, as the +man and his horse were standing in a picturesque attitude only a few +feet away. + +Olive walked over to them and stood studying the drawing until Captain +MacDonnell turned round to speak to her. + +"Why don't you say it is good?" he demanded boyishly. "You know I've +half an idea it is." + +Olive nodded enthusiastically. + +"It's like Remington." + +Captain MacDonnell laughed. "Not quite. Still I am getting on. But it +seems to me you are neglecting me lately. I say, suppose you pose for +me. That would be ripping. You won't be sensitive if I don't make much +of a go just at first." + +For a moment Olive hesitated. Then it struck her that she would enjoy +sitting outdoors in the early autumn sunshine for a few hours each day +with her friend. For Captain MacDonnell had become her friend by this +time, she had no doubts on this point. Moreover, she had made up her +mind she must soon go away. She had planned to take a course in nursing +so as to fit herself to be more useful, and there was really no reason +for further delay. + +She happened to mention this fact to Captain MacDonnell one day and it +was remarkable after that what a time he took to finish his sketch. + +The truth was the artist made not one sketch but half a dozen. + +Jim and Ruth were delighted with his success, so that Captain MacDonnell +finally persuaded Olive to allow him to attempt a painting. + +The work was undertaken inside the Lodge living room. Olive was dressed +in an old gold silk, and the artist insisted that she needed a +background of strange oriental colors. + +One end of the great room was therefore changed into a studio. + +Fortunately Ruth and Olive had still in their possession a number of +lovely old silks and draperies which the Ranch girls had brought back +from their trip to Italy many years before. + +One day, after he had been working for about a month, Olive slipped +quietly into the studio without the artist's hearing her. She found him +sitting before his easel smoking, but frowning and looking less happy +than he had in some time. + +But as he caught sight of Olive his expression changed. + +"I don't know how I'll ever be able to thank you for making me so +lovely? I don't mind being handed down to posterity in such a +delightfully untruthful picture," Olive remarked gayly. + +"Oh, it's untruthful enough," Captain MacDonnell answered. "It is well +you came in just when you did, as I was thinking of making an end of +it." + +"Then I shouldn't have forgiven you." + +Captain MacDonnell nodded. + +"That is what I was afraid of, that and that you would not be willing to +sit for me again." + +Olive laughed. "Oh, you must get hold of someone more attractive than I +am for the next portrait. After a while, as you are so much better, +you'll be wanting to go back to London to work seriously. You know you +have promised me that?" + +Captain MacDonnell shook his head. + +"No," he returned. "Oh, I don't mean that I did not promise, I only mean +that I shall probably not keep my word. I think I shall give up and +allow myself to become a kind of good for nothing, half invalid, as soon +as I am separated from you." + +However, as she had by this time grown accustomed to her companion's +swift changes of mood, so unlike her own, Olive only laughed? + +"Shall I pose for you again today?" + +Then there was silence in the room for half an hour while Bryan worked. +Finally he put down his brushes. + +"I am no good for work today, Olive. The truth is I want to say +something to you and I don't know whether I have the right. + +"Olive!" + +For an instant Olive changed color. Then she answered. + +"I can hardly imagine anything you haven't the right to say to me, +Bryan. You often talk of your gratitude for what I have done for you. +But I wonder if you know what you have done for me? I have never had so +kind a friend except Jack. It is always difficult for me to think of her +as Lady Kent." + +"But I am not your friend," Bryan returned brusquely, "and it is about +that and about Lady Jack I want to talk to you. The truth is it's absurd +to call a man your friend when he loves you. Of course I feel I am not +all of a man these days and I have not much money and my art may never +come to anything." + +"Any more disqualifications, Bryan?" Olive asked softly. Perhaps she was +not altogether surprised at what she was at present hearing. + +"Oh yes, a great many," Captain MacDonnell returned, "only I think I +won't tell you about them just now." + +"And what has Jack to do with what you wish to say to me?" Olive asked, +and this time spoke more seriously. + +"Oh, she has nothing at all to do with it now," Captain MacDonnell +returned. "Only once upon a time before I met you, I used to think Lady +Jack was the most attractive woman I had ever known. I used also to +believe that as long as Frank had gotten ahead of me I never wished to +marry. But I suppose the real fact was that I wanted one of what Lady +Jack told me you called yourselves? The Ranch Girls, wasn't it? Only I +had not seen the real one in those days." + +"Look here, Bryan, you need not think I ever forget you are an +Irishman," Olive laughed. "Yet I think I like your flattery." + +However, Captain MacDonnell was waiting for another kind of answer, and +after a little Olive gave him the one he desired. + +So began for Olive, what still remains, in spite of all the other +adventures in life, the great adventure of marriage. + + + + +CHAPTER XVIII + +"UNDER TWO FLAGS" + + +ON an afternoon in summer nearly a year later, two flags might be seen +flying from the towers of Kent House. + +Over the English meadows the wind blew softly, but strongly enough to +whip the flags out straight so that from some distance one could see the +British Lion and the Stars and Stripes. + +Since Olive's engagement to Captain MacDonnell, the United States had +entered the war and was now one of the great Allies. + +Inside Kent House there was a peculiar atmosphere of excitement and +expectancy. + +The house was filled with flowers from the big garden, a profusion of +roses and the simpler flowers for which England is famous, wall flowers, +daisies, sweet-peas and canterbury bells, named in honor of the great +Cathedral at Canterbury. + +In the dining room, which opened just back of the library, the table was +already laid for dinner. + +Evidently there was to be a gala occasion, and yet this was unusual, for +since the war began there had been few entertainments at Kent House or +in any great English home. + +Nevertheless Lady Kent herself presently came into the dining room and +looked with the deepest interest at the beautiful table, touching things +here and there and making slight alterations in the arrangement of the +flowers. + +The table was in white except for a stripe of rose-colored satin through +the center and a bowl of pink roses. + +Jack had on a house dress of some soft white material, as she was not +wearing mourning and had not worn it after Vive's death. There was too +much black being used in the world. + +She was standing still for a moment, frowning slightly, but with +interest, not dissatisfaction, when another person entered and came up +beside her. + +"I have been taking a long walk, Jack, trying to get rid of my +restlessness and to make the time pass more swiftly. I wish you had been +with me. But how beautiful your place is! I don't see how you have +managed to keep things in such splendid condition with so many of your +men at the front. I have been talking to some real English dairymaids +down in the left paddock. They made me think of the stories and nursery +rhymes we used to read when we were children. Then England seemed as far +away from the old Wyoming ranch as the planet Mars. However, I am the +last one of the Ranch Girls to visit you in England. Ralph's work has +made our coming to you impossible before and now the war has brought us +to this side of the world, for how long none of us can say. Have you +heard anything from Frieda?" + +Lady Kent shook her head slowly. + +She was watching Jean and at the same time thinking how pretty and +untroubled she looked. Jean's marriage to Ralph Merritt seemed to have +turned out an unqualified success. Ralph had come to be known as a +leading American engineer, but now had given up all the other work he +had been engaged in to offer his services as an engineer to France. And +Jean had left her little girl at home with Jim and Ruth at the Rainbow +Ranch so that she could be nearer her husband. + +"I wish Frieda had not gone to London today. Suppose something happens +and she is not back in time for our dinner! Then everything will be +disarranged. We cannot have our dinner party tomorrow, for by that time +we will have separated again. Tomorrows are uncertain quantities these +days, aren't they?" And Jean's expression changed for an instant. + +But Jack answered her quickly. This was to be Ralph Merritt's last night +in England for an indefinite time, as he was leaving for France the next +day, while Jean was to remain with Lord and Lady Kent. + +"Oh, Frieda will be here on time; I don't think we need worry. You see, +she is to go to his office and get hold of the Professor, else, Frieda +says, if he chances to be especially interested in his work, he will +forget all about our plan, and of course to have one of the eight of us +missing tonight would ruin everything." Again Jack glanced about her +dinner table, which was laid for eight covers. "Still, I think Frieda +does Henry an injustice, for, in spite of the absorbing scientific work +he is doing, he is far less absent-minded than he used to be. And I +never saw a more attentive husband. Since Frieda's baby came I believe +he regards her as more wonderful than ever." + +As she finished speaking Jack laughed and Jean slipped her arm about her +as they walked out of the dining room. Jean was thinking of another +baby, who had gone away before the new one came and of Jack's +inexhaustible courage. They had not realized in the old Rainbow Ranch +days that she had so much spiritual as well as physical courage. + +"Well, I am glad Frieda has your old nurse for her baby, Jack, and is +living here with you, for I cannot take her seriously as a mother, never +having been able to realize thoroughly that she is properly and sedately +married. However, we at least have our guests of honor safe." + +Lady Kent nodded in response. + +"Yes, I have just seen Olive. She and Bryan are both resting, so as to +get the most out of their wedding dinner tonight. It was wise of them to +come up so early from London this morning. I declare, Jean, it is one of +the most beautiful things that ever happened for Olive and Bryan to have +married. + +"Just from a selfish standpoint you can't imagine what it will mean to +have Olive living so near me. I have so missed my family!" + +Smiling Jean shook her brown head thoughtfully. + +"At present there is not much danger of your missing your family for +some time to come, dear. You and Frank will probably grow exceedingly +tired of them. Now I must go upstairs to rest for a while myself. I +don't wish to have Ralph decide tonight that he is the least fortunate +of the four husbands." + +Jean Merritt went on ahead, Jack seeing her disappear, and then stopping +for a moment to speak to her butler. + +Although it was to be only a family party tonight, she was taking far +more interest in the arrangements for her dinner than she had ever been +known to do before for the most formal occasions. + +But then this dinner was to be unusual, since it was the first time the +four old-time Ranch Girls had ever been her own and her husband's guests +at Kent House. Moreover, their husbands were also with them, even Olive +and Captain MacDonnell, who had been married only a few weeks. + +Nearly a year had passed since Olive's and Captain MacDonnell's +engagement, although the wedding had not taken place until the present +summer. The scene of the marriage was the Rainbow Ranch, with only Jim +and Ruth, their children, and a few friends present, since the rest of +the family were in Europe. But immediately after the ceremony Olive and +Bryan had decided to risk the dangers of sailing for home and had landed +safely in England only the day before. + +Having spent the night in London, they had come directly to Kent House, +knowing that Jack planned a family party in their honor. + +A good many months before, Frieda and her Professor had arrived at Kent +House, so that Frieda's baby might be born with Frieda in her sister's +care. Moreover, the Professor was working harder than ever, since his +own country had entered the war, to accomplish certain scientific +discoveries which should counteract the German terrorism. + +A little more than an hour later Lady Kent was slowly getting ready for +dinner. She wished to be dressed first and downstairs ready to receive +her family. + +Nevertheless she was frowning and looking slightly disturbed. + +She had left word that she was to be informed as soon as her sister, +Mrs. Russell, returned from London. In the meantime she knew a train +had arrived from town, yet no word came to her. + +Jack was about to ring the bell and find out if her order had been +forgotten, when a light knock came at the door and her husband entered. + +"I came out early, Jack, dear, in order to do honor to your party and I +managed to corral the two other husbands, Ralph and the Professor, so +there need be no delay. It is good to be at home now and then." + +Frank had looked a little tired, but his face cleared at the sight of +his wife. Jack was very beautiful in a white evening gown. The frock was +not new, since she was buying nothing of the kind during the war, but it +was the handsomest one she owned and the most becoming. She had planned +with Jean and Frieda that they were to look as well as possible, since +the dinner was to be one they would never forget. Moreover, Olive was a +bride and they must also do her honor. + +Since the change in government Frank Kent had been made a member of the +War Cabinet and devoted most of his time to the great intellectual +labors it demanded of him. Frequently it was impossible for him to +return more than two or three times a week to Kent House. + +As Jack kissed her husband her expression lightened. + +"I would like to give a dinner party every night, Frank, if I thought it +would bring you home. Are things going well?" + +Then, as Frank nodded his head gravely (he and Jack did not often +discuss details of his work, since government secrets were not to be +mentioned even with her), she added, with a little sigh partly of relief +and partly vexation: + +"Well, thank goodness you got hold of Frieda! Jean has been worrying for +fear Frieda would get lost in London and not come back in time. Years +ago, when we first came to Europe, Frieda had a tiresome fashion of +disappearing and getting us all into a dreadful state of mind for fear +she might be permanently lost. Then she usually turned up quite blandly +with some agreeable person who had discovered her." + +"But, Jack dear," Frank interrupted, as soon as his wife gave him the +opportunity, "Frieda did not come home with us. Indeed, neither the +Professor nor I had any idea except that she was with you." + +Jack changed color. + +"Oh, dear, I do wish Frieda would come in! What do you suppose could +have happened to her, Frank? She only went into London to attend to some +mysterious errand which she insisted was very important. I know she +would not have stayed so late unless something unavoidable had kept her. +Besides our party, she has never been away from her baby so long." + +Man-like, Frank did not appear particularly agitated. + +"Oh, Frieda will turn up all right. The good fates have her in charge." +Then he disappeared to begin his own toilet. + +Finishing her toilet as quickly as possible, Jack hurried downstairs. + +There was no train now from London until after eight o'clock and dinner +had been ordered for half-past seven. + +In the hall Jack discovered her Professor brother-in-law wandering +disconsolately about. He wore a mystified and slightly harassed air. + +"Do you know, Jack, I am unable for some reason to find Frieda. She is +not in her bedroom and not in the nursery. Nurse is unable to give me +any information concerning her, save that she left early in the day for +London. Curious that she did not telephone me. Will you please find her +for me? She gave me certain instructions about dressing for dinner +tonight, which, as a matter of fact, I have forgotten. Am I to wear an +evening or a dinner coat?" + +The distinguished Professor looked so uncertain and so uncomfortable +that Jack laughed in spite of her own anxiety and annoyance. However, +she hated to confide Frieda's disappearance to her husband, knowing he +would be frightened about her. + +She was hesitating as to what to reply when there was a sudden noise at +the front door. Opening it, an excited and somewhat disheveled Frieda +Russell rushed in and up to her husband. + +"Oh, Henry dear, do let me have two pounds, won't you, at once. I know +it is dreadful to be so extravagant, but so many things have happened to +me! I had to wait and wait for the things I just had to have for tonight +and then I missed the last train. I wasn't going to spoil our dinner +party and so I took a taxi the entire way out from London. I know the +cabby is robbing me, but he did come very fast and I haven't a great +deal of my own money left." + +The Professor shook his head, not fully understanding all that Frieda +was saying so hurriedly. But he produced the two pounds and went out to +settle with his wife's cabman, while Frieda rushed upstairs, calling +down over the balustrade: + +"How is my adored baby, Jack? I have nearly died being separated from +her such hours! Don't worry, I'll be ready in time for dinner." + +Not long after, Frank and Jack were in their library waiting for their +guests to appear. + +Olive and Captain MacDonnell slipped in quietly before the others. + +Olive was wearing her wedding gown. But as the affair had been a quiet +one, owing to the war and to Captain MacDonnell's injury, it was a +simple dress of white silk and chiffon. + +Except for her husband's wedding gift, a brooch of emeralds and diamonds +in the form of a shamrock, she wore no jewels. + +Captain MacDonnell was still lame, would probably always remain so. +Nevertheless Jack and Frank thought they had never seen their old friend +looking better or handsomer. Olive's shyness, her seriousness, seemed +just the spur his Irish wit and gayety needed. + +"I do hope, Bryan, you and Olive are going to stay on at home for a time +now you are safely here," Lord Kent remarked, stretching himself lazily +in a great arm chair and glancing with an admiration he made no effort +to conceal from his wife to Olive. "Jack more or less needs some one to +look after her, since I am giving so much time to my war work I am +having to neglect my family." + +Olive flushed slightly. She knew Frank had not intended it, could not +dream how sensitive Captain MacDonnell was over the thought that he +could no longer be of service to his country at a time when she so +required the knowledge and effort he had once been so gallantly ready +and able to give. + +"Oh, I shall be at home the greater part of the time, and Bryan whenever +it is possible for him," Olive answered quickly. "But Bryan has already +promised to begin _camouflage_ work for the government within the next +few days. We were not in London very long, but were there long enough to +see a few of Bryan's old friends. They asked him if he would not have +his commission transferred to the camouflage corps, as they needed him +at once. I suppose he will be able to do some of the painting here in +England. But later Bryan will probably have to go over to France to find +out what is required of him." + +"Bully, Bryan! I had not thought of that," Lord Kent answered, appearing +as tremendously gratified as if he himself had first conceived the idea +of this work for his friend. He went on to explain to his mystified +hearers that _camouflage_ consisted of painted artificial scenery used +to conceal artillery or other important positions from the enemy +airplanes, and that Bryan was especially fitted to engage in this work +on account of his military knowledge and artistic ability. + +But at this moment Jean and Ralph Merritt joined the little group. + +No one spoke of Frieda's being the last to appear, since this had always +been her custom so long as the other Ranch Girls could recall. + +Jean Merritt wore her favorite rose color, a dress of satin with an +overdress of tulle. And in spite of all the flowers blooming in Kent +garden, Ralph had not forgotten to bring her a box from London of the +deep pink roses she had always loved. + +However, before dinner was announced the Professor strolled placidly in, +garbed in entirely proper evening clothes. + +"Frieda says if you will be kind enough to wait dinner for her a few +moments, she will be with you almost at once. There was some little +errand, some little commission she still wished to attend to before we +leave the library." + +The Professor sat quietly down, asked Frank Kent an important question +concerning the war and straightway fell into earnest conversation. + +However Frieda did make her appearance within a short time. She was +dainty and lovely as ever in a misty, pale blue gown, but, unlike her +usual self, she seemed a little embarrassed and apologetic. + +The four Ranch Girls and their husbands went into dinner together. +Perhaps it was absurd that they should feel any especial emotion over so +simple a matter as having their first dinner party with one another +since their marriages. + +Nevertheless it was true that each girl in her own fashion did feel this +emotion. + +Since Jack's and Jean's few moments in the dining room some hours +before, a slight change had taken place in the decoration of the table. + +Two little silk flags stood near the center; as a matter of course +under the present circumstances, they were the American and the British +emblems. + +Lord Kent saluted before he sat down, nodding to Captain MacDonnell. + +"To our international marriages!" he said. "Long may they wave!" + +Then he turned to Frieda and Jean, the Professor and Ralph. + +"And to our great American Ally!" + +As the little party took their seats they observed a small white velvet +box near each plate. + +Jack opened hers first and discovered inside a tiny pair of crossed +flags set with jewels. + +Glancing toward her husband, Lady Kent discovered that he appeared as +surprised as she was at the unexpected souvenir of their dinner. + +Then she chanced to catch sight of Frieda and Frieda's self-conscious +expression betrayed her. Moreover, her mission to London was explained. + +"I move," announced the Professor gravely, "that we offer a toast first +to our wives and then to that beautiful and enduring land which has ever +made the appeal of a woman to her lovers the world over. I mean, of +course, 'La belle France'." + + * * * * * + +Transcriber's Notes: + +Obvious punctuation errors repaired. Text sometimes capitalizes Ranch +with Rainbow Ranch and sometimes does not. This was retained. + +Page 27, "anenomes" changed to "anemones" (primroses and anemones) + +Page 30, "soceity" changed to "society" (much for society) + +Page 50, "unchangable" changed to "unchangeable" (the most unchangeable) + +Page 61, "personall" changed to "personal" (her own personal) + +Page 64, "hundreth" changed to "hundredth" (hundredth time, that her) + +Page 77, "graciousnesss" changed to "graciousness" (graciousness about +him) + +Page 133, "prsented" changed to "presented" (then presented her) + +Page 157, "every" changed to "ever" (no one ever pays) + +Page 179, "uncertainity" changed to "uncertainty" (amount of +uncertainty) + +Page 189, word "of" added to text (either side of the old) + +Page 191, "every" changed to "ever" (who have ever really) + +Page 214, "whispering" changed to "whispered" (whispered something in +her) + +Page 221, "persuded" changed to "persuaded" (MacDonnell finally +persuaded) + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Ranch Girls and Their Great +Adventure, by Margaret Vandercook + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK RANCH GIRLS GREAT ADVENTURE *** + +***** This file should be named 34927.txt or 34927.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/4/9/2/34927/ + +Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Emmy and the Online +Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +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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