Dorothy's House Party Part 14

So they did; and the attendant listened in amus.e.m.e.nt to the performance; till finding themselves of so much interest to others the midgets began again glibly to spell and--both together. Prancing and giggling, fully realizing their own mischievousness, the babies made that hour of shopping one which all concerned--save themselves--long remembered. Also, if there were the slightest difference between the garments selected for them they set up such a violent protest that peace could only be restored by clothing them alike.

So they emerged from the establishment clad in snowy little suits that seemed as fitting for a girl as for a boy, with pretty hats which they elected to wear upon their backs, and sandals on their stubby feet--the nearest approach to shoes to which they would submit. A big box of suitable underwear was put into the wagon and they were lifted in after it, while Molly begged to walk a block or two till she found a confectioner's.

Here she expended all her pocket-money, and climbing back beside Dorothy politely opened her big box and offered it to her friends.

Incidentally, to the twins; who stared, tasted, and stared again!

"My heart! I don't believe they have ever tasted candy! They don't know what it means!" cried Molly, laughing.

They soon found out. In a flash they had seized the pasteboard box and snuggled it between them. Then with it securely wedged beneath their knees they proceeded to empty it at lightning speed.

"Why! I never saw anything eat like that, not even a dog! You can't see them swallow!" said Helena, amazed. "They're getting themselves all daubed with that chocolate, too--The pity!"

"Give it back to me, at once!" commanded Molly sternly, but she spoke to unhearing ears. Then she tried to s.n.a.t.c.h it away, but they were too strong for her, as anybody who has ever thus contested with st.u.r.dy five-year-olds can guess.

"They'll make themselves ill! and they'll ruin their new clothes. What will Mr. Winters say? Molly, how could you!" wailed Dorothy. "I wish we'd never brought them. I mean, I wish you hadn't thought of candy. I wish----"

"You'd hold your tongue!" snapped Molly, so viciously that her friends both stared and Dolly said no more. "I don't mean to be so horrid, girls, but it is so vexatious! I'd spent all I had and meant it to be such an addition to our picnic dinner in the woods. I'm ashamed--course--and I apologize. Though I remember Miss Penelope says that apologies and explanations are almost worse than useless.

Besides----"

Here Molly paused and looked at Dorothy most meaningly; but whatever she meant to say further Dolly stopped by a shake of her head, adding:

"Now it's my turn to apologize, Helena dear, but there's something we two have in mind that we want to spring on the whole lot of you at once. Will you forgive and wait?"

"Surely. But--those children! I hope we'll get back to the others soon and that Mr. Winters will have more influence with them than we've had."

It proved that he had. One glance and word from him and the twins cowered as if they expected cruel blows, and without the slightest resistance permitted him to take away the nearly empty box.

"Doesn't look very tempting now, I think. Best throw it away, especially as I had already provided sweeties for the crowd. Now, lads, westward ho! It's nearly dinner time again, and I believe it's being with so many other hungry youngsters makes me one too!" cried the Master, stepping to his place and saying with an air of authority which n.o.body disputed: "Hand over the twins. I'll take them under my care for the rest of this day!"

The Headquarters which they were next to visit, and on whose grounds they were to picnic, was bordered by a stream that just there widened into a little lake. As they approached the place, cramped by their long ride, most of the lads left the wagons to finish the distance on foot.

"Ever hear the story of General Lafayette and this creek, Melvin?"

asked Herbert. "Good enough to tell and not against your side either."

"Go on," said Melvin, resignedly. "I fancy I can match any yarn of yours with one of my own, don't you know."

"Can't beat this. In those days there was no bridge here, not even a footbridge. One had to ford the stream. The General was going to a party at that very house yonder and was in his best togs. Course, he didn't want to get his pumps wet so he hired an Irishman--more likely a Britisher--to carry him over. Half way over--a little slip--not intentional, of course!--and down goes my General, ker-splash! Just this way it was! Only it's turn and turn about, now. Young America totes old England and----"

"Lads, lads! That footbridge is unsafe! See! The plank's gone in the middle--Oh! the careless fellows!"

Having been a boy himself the farrier was prepared for pranks; and the good-natured badinage between Herbert and the young Canadian had aroused no anxiety till now. He had been near enough to hear Herbert's recital of the Lafayette incident but had merely been amused.

Now--Oh! why didn't they keep to the wide, safe bridge, that wagons used!

Already it was too late even for his warning. Herbert had only meant to catch up the slighter Melvin, scare him by pretending to drop him, but in reality carry him pick-a-pack safely to the further sh.o.r.e. He considered himself an athlete and wished to show "young England how they do things in Yankeeland," and with a shout he darted forward.

Headlong he came to the spot above the water where no foothold was--a s.p.a.ce too wide for even his long legs to cover, and all the watchers shivered in fear.

But from his elevation on Herbert's back, Melvin had already seen the chasm and as if he had been shot from a catapult--he cleared it!

"Hip, hip, hooray! England forever!" yelled Frazer Moore and every other lad in the company added his cheers.

Then Melvin, from his side the chasm, doffed his cap and bowed his graceful acknowledgments for his country's sake. And at sight of that the girls cheered, too, for Herbert had already regained his feet in that shallow stream and they could see that he had taken no hurt beyond a slight wetting.

"Never mind that. He'll dry off, same as the twins did," laughed Molly Breckenridge. Which he did, for the sun was warm and his plunge had been a brief one; and in fact this "little international episode," as Monty called it, but served to increase the jollity of that day.

Such a day it proved; without cloud or untoward incident to mar its happiness; and as they wandered here and there, inspecting for the last time the historical spot which had given them hospitable shelter, none dreamed of any mishap to come. Even the twins were tired enough to behave with uncommon docility, beyond continually removing from one another the ribbon which should have designated Ananias from Sapphira.

"They've changed it so often I've really forgotten which is which, but I'm sure--that is I think--I'm really positive--that the hair with a kink belongs to Sapphira! After all, that isn't such a dreadful name when you say it softly," said Molly.

"I think this is the loveliest old house I ever saw. I'd just like to stay here forever, seems if. The funny roof, so high up in front and away down, low almost as the ground behind. The great chimney--think of standing in a chimney so big you can look straight up, clear through to the sky!" murmured studious Jane Potter.

"'Tisn't as big as the Newburgh one, and they haven't any such Hessian boots, though it does have a secret staircase and chamber," answered Jim who, also, was greatly interested in the ancient building. "But come on, Janie; they're getting ready to leave."

"In just a minute. Just one single minute, 'cause I shan't ever likely come here again, even if I do live so near it as our mountain."

Home through the twilight they drove, for kindly Seth couldn't abridge for his beloved young folks that long, delightful day; and they were ready to declare, most of them, that even the circus to come could hardly be more enjoyable than this day's "Headquartering" had been.

It was then, on that happy return, that Dorothy had found the telegram awaiting, and had caught it up with a loving thought of her indulgent Aunt Betty. Then her happiness dashed as by cold water she had flown out of the room and shut herself in her pretty chamber to cry and feel herself the most unhappy girl in all the world.

Twice had Norah come to her door to summon her to supper before she felt composed enough to go below among her guests.

Over and over she a.s.sured herself that none of them should ever know how badly she had been treated. n.o.body, of course, except Alfaretta, and the first thing that girl would be sure to ask would be:

"Have you caught your hare?" In other words: "Did she send the money?"

But in this she did poor Alfy great injustice. It had needed but one glance to tell her--being in the secret--what sort of an answer had come to Dorothy by way of that unexplained yellow envelope. Well, it was too bad! After all, Mrs. Betty Calvert must be a terribly stingy old woman not to give all the money she wanted to her new-found, or new-acknowledged great niece! Huh! She was awful sorry for Dolly Doodles, to have to belong to just--great aunts! She'd rather have Ma Babc.o.c.k, a thousand times over, than a rich old creature like Dolly had to live with. She would so!

Therefore it was not at all of news from town that warm-hearted Alfaretta inquired, as Dorothy at last appeared in the supper room, but with an indifferent glance around:

"Why, where's Jane Potter?"

CHAPTER X

MUSIC AND APPARITIONS

Where, indeed, was good Jane Potter! The least troublesome, the most self-effacing, staidest girl of them all.

"Didn't she ride home with _you_?"

"Why no. I supposed she did with _you_. That is--I never thought."

"But--somebody should have thought!" cried Dorothy, diverted from her own unhappiness by this strange happening.

"Yes, and that 'somebody' should have been myself," admitted Mr. Seth, after question had followed question and paling faces had turned toward one another.