Betty Lee, Sophomore Part 3

"Oh, Daddy, my chiffon dress won't muss a bit and I mustn't forget my shoes that go with it!"

Betty forgot all of her duties as a housekeeper, as she laid out on the bed the array of what she wanted to take with her to New York--_New York!_ "How long are we going to stay, Father?" she called from her bedroom.

"Just two or three days--have to be back to meet Mother and the children, you know."

"How long does it take to get there?"

"About a night and half a day," replied Mr. Lee, who was preparing another small surprise for Betty. She was so absorbed that she did not realize how time flew until she ran back into the dining room and found that her father had cleared the table and was washing the last dish.

"How awful! Father, I'm just as sorry as I can be! I never saw you washing dishes before!"

"I have, daughter, in dire emergencies, but this time it was for fun.

Are all the gew-gaws, or doo-dads, ready?"

"I've got everything I ought to have, I think, 'cept washing out some silk stockings. Do you think it would be wicked if I'd do it tonight?"

"That is, indeed, a serious matter," grinned Mr. Lee, looking like d.i.c.k.

"But since it is my fault and not yours, and they will have to get dry to be packed, we might consider it. And matters of necessity are different, though we'd not make a point of saving our stockings to be washed on the Sabbath, would we?"

"Oh, Father, you are just killing! What time tomorrow do we start?"

"Not until night. We get right on the sleeper and go to bed."

"Hurrah. Then I've plenty of time."

"And the muted question can be put off for decision until some other time?"

"Yes. Mother says if we begin to do weekday things on Sunday, we're likely to keep on."

"Your mother is always right, and the oldest daughter has to be an example."

"I never can tell when you are joking and when you aren't! I'm no example, Father! Oh, I'm just almost crazy with delight. Wait till I call up Kathryn and Carolyn and Peggy to tell them what the surprise was! And, oh, I have to leave the house in order!"

In such a fashion the great surprise was inaugurated. A very demure and well-mannered young girl of nearly sixteen years accompanied a dignified but wide-awake business man to the train Monday night. Betty was concerned with the mysteries of a berth in a sleeping car and was glad of her father's clear directions. She would not for "worlds" appear ignorant of what to do, though she might well be excused for not knowing. But Betty was sensitive, quick to learn what was proper and polite, and a little too proud not to be unduly mortified at any mistake.

At the station Mr. Murchison met them, talking for a little with Mr. Lee about business which Betty did not understand, and in which she was only slightly interested. He had met Betty courteously but was preoccupied with plans with her father. As the train was called, however, he turned to Betty. "You are just about the age of my niece, I judge. Her mother is to make the experiment of placing my niece in the public schools. It may be that you will be in the same school. If so, I shall be glad to have her know you, for you can be of great help to her, doubtless. It is unfortunate that she does not want to come to America."

"I shall be very glad if I can be of any service to your niece,"

returned Betty, a bit stiffly, for Mr. Murchison's keen eyes rather disconcerted her. Betty was not sure that she liked him "a bit." But of course she had to, for her father's sake. Who was that foolish girl that didn't want to come to America? Of course Mr. Murchison's sister was one of those American girls who had married a t.i.tled foreigner. So her father had said. But Betty smiled at Mr. Murchison and prettily said her farewell.

How funny the Pullman looked, all green curtains already down, berths all made up. As it had suddenly turned cold, Betty's father asked the porter for extra blankets, showed Betty where to put her things and advised her to know which berth was hers when she came back from the dressing room. But Betty decided to mark hers in some way and finally tucked up the curtain in a certain fashion before she explored the dressing room. It was more private, she decided, to undress in her berth. Also, she would wear her silk kimona all night! It was cold enough.

For a long time Betty could not sleep, but finally Nature overcame unaccustomed nerves and she fell into a sound sleep, not to waken till her father called her. She decided that she liked traveling and would like to go into a "diner" often, to eat the sort of pancakes that were brought on in covered silver dishes, and to help her father decide what would make a good breakfast.

The scenery was interesting. It was new to pa.s.s through the different states. She would never forget it. And New York! Was this really Betty Lee, riding in a taxi up Broadway and along Fifth Avenue?

Owing to her father's different errands, which he accomplished by taxi for the most part, to expedite matters, Betty was taken to various parts of the city, even to the docks.

They crossed the Hudson on a ferry boat without getting out of their taxi. Birds flew about. Different kinds of crafts floated upon the river. A great liner was just entering a s.p.a.ce between piers. "Will Mr.

Murchison's sister come in on a boat like that?" asked Betty.

"Something like that," answered Mr. Lee. "How do you like this incidental sight-seeing?"

"Ever so much, especially since you bought me the map. I look it all up, and I'm glad to go over the same streets more than once, especially Fifth Avenue and Broadway. I know Madison Square Park and the City Hall Square already."

Betty had one rather lonesome day at the hotel when her father could not let her accompany him, but after that he took her on regular sight-seeing trips, during which she saw more than most strangers because of her father's familiarity with the city. She decided that she could find her way by herself, but her father preferred not to have her attempt any "solo flights," he said.

Business was completed in comparatively short order. Mr. Lee sent telegrams to his firm; but then they were held, as Betty, at least, could not regret, by the non-arrival of the expected countess. Day by day the reports of the incoming ships were changed somewhat. There had been storms and fog. Sea traffic was held up, said Betty, and her father said that if the ships all came in safely they would do well. At the same time, he was rather restless. It did not look as if they would be able to carry out their plans. "Oh, what if we can't get there before Mother?" Betty asked.

"In that case, I shall merely telegraph her. The key is with the people upstairs, you know. Your mother will understand. But I'd rather meet my own wife than any countess!"

"And I'll be a day late at school, if the ship puts off coming in much longer! But Father, I can't be sorry to have these great days in New York. What shall we do today?"

"We shall see. Wait till I telephone the steamship company at the pier again."

Then came a telegram from home. A cablegram had been received stating that the countess and her daughter had sailed on a different ship from the one she had written her brother to meet. It was the _Statendam_, Holland-American line, due Sat.u.r.day.

That settled it. Mother could not be met. Mr. Lee telegraphed to Mr.

Murchison that he would meet the _Statendam_. To the farm and to the home, in case there was some delay in the country, word went that Mr.

Lee and Betty were unavoidably detained in New York. Betty was rather worried about missing school Monday, as was most likely, but she enjoyed the excitement and the extra expeditions due to the delay. It was an ill wind that didn't blow _anybody_ any good, she remarked. "Can we leave as soon as the ship comes?"

"That, Betty, is in the hands of a very uncertain woman, I judge,"

smiled Mr. Lee. "It will be necessary to do whatever Mr. Murchison himself would be obliged to do. I shall handle the matter as well as I can."

"Are you scared because she is a countess?"

"Scarcely. But be as polite and helpful as you can, Betty. Having you will make it all easier, I think. Privately, Betty, I gathered that Miss Murchison was very badly spoiled as a girl. People exist to do her pleasure. See?"

"And we pretend that we like it?"

"No--it is not necessary to pretend anything. We really want to help them, do we not?"

"Oh, yes; but I _dee-spise_ being patronized."

"Of course. A true lady, however, does not show it--indeed, it is almost impossible to patronize a true lady."

"Hum. That is all very well in theory, my precious father, but--well, I suppose I'm not a true lady inside!"

The _Statendam_, due on Sat.u.r.day, arrived on Sunday, and Betty with her father, was somewhat annoyed as they crossed on the ferry, to see the tall smoke stacks and funnels of the liner already at the pier. "Stars!"

cried Betty. "Now we're late, and no knowing what has happened to the countess!"

CHAPTER IV: BETTY MEETS THE COUNTESS

"We shall not worry about being late, Betty. They have to get through customs first and it is doubtful if all the baggage is off the vessel as yet. It can not have been in long."