Dorothy at Oak Knowe Part 12

"Guess who I am!"

He didn't even try, but entered into the fun with as great zest as any youngster present, and it must be admitted, making a greater noise than any. Around and around the great hall sped the goat, somebody having mischievously closed the doors to prevent its escape; and across and about chased the merrymakers, tossing off their masks to see and careless now who guessed their ident.i.ty.

"Baal!" "Baal here!" "Who owns him? Where did he come from?" "What makes him so slippery? I wonder if he's been greased!"

At last answered the farmer:

"I guess I could tell you who owns him, but I'd better not. I don't want to get n.o.body into trouble, much as he deserves it."

"'He?' Is it a 'he' then and not one of the girls?" demanded Winifred.

But he did not inform her, merely asking when it would be time to bob for apples.

"Because I know they're prime. They come out Dame's choisest bar'l.

Grew on a tree she'll let n.o.body touch, not even me."

"Apples! Apples! My turn first!" cried Florita Sheraton, stooping her fat body above the "caldron" into which some of the fruit had been tossed. But she failed, of course, her frantic efforts to plant her white teeth in any one of the apples resulting only in the wetting of her paper crown and ruff, as well as the ripping of her hastily made "robe." Then the others crowded around the great kettle, good naturedly pushing first comers aside while but a few succeeded in obtaining a prize. Old John was one of these; so gay and lively that the audience found him the most amusing feature of the entertainment.

Till finally Mrs. Locke gained courage to cross to his side and whisper something in his ear; at which he looked, abashed and with a furtive glance in the direction of the Lady Princ.i.p.al, he murmured:

"Right you be. I 'low I've forgot myself and I'm afraid she'd blush to see me so cuttin' up again. And too, I clean forgot that bag! I'll step-an'-fetch it right away."

With his disappearance half the noise and nonsense ended, but more than satisfaction greeted his return, with Jack, the boot-boy, in close attendance. The latter bore in each hand a jug of freshly made sweet cider but his expression was not a happy one, and he kept a watchful eye upon the old man he followed. The latter carried two baskets; one heavy with well cracked nuts, the other as light with its heap of white popped corn. Bowing low to the Lady Princ.i.p.al he remarked:

"With your permission, Ma'am;" then set the articles down beside the "caldron," clapping his hands to attract the schoolgirls' attention and bid them gather around his "treat" to enjoy it. Then, stumbling over a fallen mask, he sternly ordered Jack:

"Get to work and clear these things up, and don't you forget to save Baal's, for, likely, 'twill be needed again."

At which the boot-boy's face turned crimson, though that might have come from stooping.

n.o.body waited a second invitation to enjoy the good things that John's thoughtfulness had provided; but, sitting on the floor around his baskets, they made him act the host in dispensing fair portions to all, a maid having quickly brought plates, nutpicks and cups for their service.

After the feast followed games and dances galore, till the hour grew late for schoolgirls, and the Bishop begged:

"Before we part, my children, please give us a little music. A song from the Minims, a bit from the Sevenths on the piano, and a violin melody from our girl from the South. For it is she, really, who is responsible for this delightful party. Now she has coaxed us into trying it once, I propose that we make Hallowe'en an annual junketing affair, and--All in favor of so doing say 'Aye.'"

After which the "Ayes" and hand claps were so deafening, that the good man bowed his head as if before a storm. Then the room quieted and the music followed; but when it came to Dorothy's turn she was nowhere to be seen. Girlish cries for "Queenie!" "Miss Dixie!" "Dolly! Dolly Doodles!" "Miss Calvert to the front!" failed to bring her.

"Gone to 'step-an'-fetch' her fiddle--or Mr. Gilpin's, maybe!"

suggested Winifred, with a mischievous glance at the old man who sat on the floor in the midst of the girls, gay now as any of them and still urging them to take "just a han'ful more" of the nuts he had been at such pains to crack for them.

But neither Dorothy nor "fiddle" appeared; and the festivities came to a close without her.

"Queer where Queenie went to!" said Florita, walking along the hall toward her dormitory, "and as queer, too, where that goat came from."

"Seemed to be an old acquaintance of the farmer's, didn't it? He called it 'Baal,' as if that was its name; and wasn't it too funny for words? to see him chasing after it, catching it and letting it slip away so, till Jack caught it and led it away. From the way he acted I believe _he_ was the one who owns it and rigged it up so," said Ernesta, beside her.

"Well, no matter. I'm so sleepy I can hardly keep my eyes open! But what a glorious time we've had; and what a mess a.s.sembly Hall is in."

"Who cares? We're had the fun and now Jack and the scullery boy will have to put it in order for us. Matron'll see to that. Good night."

They parted, each entering her own cubicle and each wondering somewhat why Dorothy did not come to hers. Commonly she was the most prompt of all in retiring and this was long past the usual hour. Could they have seen her at that moment their surprise would have been even greater.

Long before, while the feast was at its height, the girl had quietly slipped away.

Despite the fun she had so heartily enjoyed, thoughts of the visit to Gwendolyn's sick room, which she had made just before it, kept coming into her mind: and her thoughts running thus:

"Gwen was ill, she really was, although Lady Jane seemed to think her only whimsical. She looked so unhappy and maybe partly because she couldn't be in this first Hallowe'en party. It was too bad. I felt as if she must come and when I said so to Winnie she just laughed and answered: 'Serves her right. Gwendolyn has always felt herself the top of the heap, that nothing could go on just right if she didn't boss the job. Now she'll find out that a little "Commoner" like you can do what no "Peer" ever did. Don't go worrying over that girl, Queen Baltimore. A lesson or two like this will do her good. She'd be as nice as anybody if it wasn't for her wretched stuck-up-ness. Miss Muriel says it's no harm to be proud if it's pride of the right sort.

But pride of rank--Huh! How can anybody help where they're born or who their parents are? Don't you be silly, too, Dorothy Calvert, and pity somebody who'd resent the pity. I never knew a girl like you. You make me provoked. Never have a really, truly good time because you happen to know of somebody else that isn't having it. I say again: If the Honorable Gwendolyn Borst-Kennard feels bad because she isn't in this racket I'm downright glad of it. She has spoiled lots of good times for other girls and 'turn about's fair play.'"

"Now, Winnie dear, your 'bark is worse than your bite' if I can quote maxims, too. In your heart, down deep, you're just as sorry for poor Gwen as I am. Only you won't admit it."

"Well, if you think so, all right. You're a stubborn little thing and once you take a notion into your brain n.o.body can take it out. 'Where are you going, my pretty maid? I'm going a studying, sir, she said;'"

and tossing an airy kiss in Dorothy's direction, ran swiftly away.

Yet events proved that, as Winifred had argued, Dorothy's opinion did not alter. Neither could she be sorry for anyone without trying to help them in some way.

The simple country treat of nuts, popped corn, and cider had proved enjoyable to other schoolmates--why shouldn't it to Gwendolyn? She'd try it, anyway. So, unnoticed by those around her, Dolly heaped her own plate with the good things, placing a tumbler of cider in the middle and hurried away, or rather glided away, so gently she moved until she reached the doorway. There she ran as swiftly down the long hall toward the west wing and Gwendolyn's room in it.

Tapping at the door Lady Jane soon opened it, but with finger on lip requesting silence. But she smiled as she recognized who stood there and at the plate of goodies Dorothy had brought. Then she gently drew her in, nodding toward the cot where her daughter seemed asleep.

She was not, however, but had been lying still, thinking of many things and among them her present visitor. She was not surprised to see her and this time was not pained. It seemed to the imaginative invalid that her own thoughts had compelled Dorothy to come, in response to them.

"I'm awake, Mamma. You needn't keep so quiet."

"Are you, dearest? Well, that's good; for here has come our little maid with something tempting for your appet.i.te. A share of the Hallowe'en treat, is it, Dorothy?"

"Yes, Lady Jane, and it's something different from what we often have.

The farmer, Mr. Gilpin, brought it for us girls and I couldn't bear--I mean I thought Gwendolyn should have--might like, her share, even if--if _I_ brought it. I'm sorry the plate is a cracked one, but you see there were so many needed and the maids brought what they could find handiest, I suppose. But--the gla.s.s of cider is all right. That's from the regular table and--and it's really very sweet and nice."

Now that she had come poor Dorothy wished that she hadn't. Lady Jane seemed pleased enough and had promptly turned on a stronger light which clearly showed the face of the girl on the bed. She could talk readily enough to the mother but whenever she glanced toward Gwendolyn her tongue faltered and hesitated woefully. It seemed as if the sick girl's eyes were still hard and forbidding and their steady stare made her uncomfortable. So she did not speak to the invalid and was promptly retreating when Gwendolyn suddenly asked, yet with apparent effort:

"Mamma, will you please go away for a few minutes? I've--I've got to speak to Dorothy--alone."

"Why, certainly, dearest, if you think you're strong enough. But wouldn't you better wait another day? Wouldn't I be able to talk for you?"

"No, no. Oh! no, no. n.o.body but I can--Please go--go quick!"

"'Stand not upon the order of your going but go at once!'" quoted Lady Jane, jestingly.

But she failed to make her daughter smile and went away, warning:

"Don't talk of that accident again to-night, girls."

"That's exactly what I must talk about, Mamma, but you mustn't care."

Lady Jane's heart was anxious as she closed the door behind her and she would have been amazed had she heard Gwendolyn's exclamation: