Dorothy's Travels Part 7

However, here they all were at last; a few hours outward bound on their short ocean trip and looking forward to the most enjoyable of summers in lovely Nova Scotia. They were to make a complete tour of the Province, then settle down in some quiet place near the fishing and hunting grounds where the Judge would go into camp.

Molly was thankful that her table-seat was well removed from that of Captain Murray at its head. But she soon found that she need not have worried, and that the closer she could be to him--when he was off duty--the better she would like it. This wasn't the austere officer in command! who told such amusing tales of life at sea, who kept his guests so interested and absorbed, and who so solicitously watched his waiters lest anybody's wants should be unsupplied! No, indeed. He was simply a most courteous host and delightful talker, and before that first meal was over she had forgotten her dislike of him, and, after her impulsive manner had "fallen in love" with him.

Then back to the deck, to watch the moon rise and to settle themselves comfortably for a long and happy evening; and after awhile, begged Molly:

"Now, Papa darling, if your dinner's 'settled,' please to sing. Remember I haven't heard you do so in almost a year."

"Now, my love, you don't expect me to make an orchestra of myself, I hope? I notice they haven't one aboard this little steamship. n.o.body but Melvin to make music for us. I must tell you girls about that lad. He--"

"Never mind _him_ now, Papa. He will keep. He can wait. But I do want you to sing! Dorothy, go take that chair on Papa's other side; and here comes Number Eight with more rugs. Wouldn't think it could be so cool, almost cold, would you, after that dreadful heat back there in New York?

Now, sir, begin!" and the Judge's adoring "domestic tyrant" patted his hand with great impatience.

"Very well, Miss Tease. Only it must be softly, so as not to disturb other people who may not have as great fancy for my warbling as you have."

Mrs. Hungerford leaned back in her chair and closed her eyes in great content. Like his daughter she thought there was no sweeter singer anywhere than her beloved brother; but the too-correct Miss Isobel drew herself stiffly erect with an unspoken protest against this odd proceeding. She was quite sure that it wasn't good form for anybody to sing in such a public place and under such circ.u.mstances. Least of all a Judge. A Judge of the Supreme Court! More than ever was she amazed when he began with a college song: "My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean," in which Molly presently joined and, after a moment, Dorothy also.

But even her primness could not withstand the witchery of the gentleman's superb tenor voice, with its high culture and feeling; because even into that humdrum refrain he put a pathos and longing which quite transformed it.

People sitting within hearing hitched their chairs nearer, but softly--not to disturb the singers; who sang on quietly, unconsciously, as if in their own private home. Drifting from one song to another, with little pauses between and always beginning by a suggestive note from Molly, the time pa.s.sed unperceived.

Evidently, father and child had thus sung together during all their lives; and long before her that "other Molly," her dead mother, of whom his child was the very counterpart, had also joined her exquisite tones to his. Into many melodies they pa.s.sed, college songs left behind, and deeper feelings stirred by the words they uttered; till finally perceiving that his own mood was growing most un-holiday like, the Judge suddenly burst forth with "John Brown's Body."

Then, indeed, did mirth and jollification begin. Far and near, all sorts and conditions of voices caught up the old melody and added their quota to the music; and when their leader began mischievously to alter the refrain by dropping the last word, and shortening it each time by one word less, delight was general and the fun waxed fast and furious.

The abrupt termination left many a singer in the lurch; and when the last verse was sung and ended only with "John--," "John--," "John,"

there were still some who wandered on into "the grave" and had to join in the laugh their want of observation had brought upon them.

By this time also Miss Isobel Greatorex had become quite resigned to a proceeding which no other pa.s.senger had disapproved and which, she could but confess, had added a charm to that never-to-be-forgotten evening.

Moonlight flooded the sea and the deck. The simplicity and good-fellowship of Judge Breckenridge and his sister had brought all these strangers into a harmony which bridged all distinctions of cla.s.s or interest and rendered that first night afloat a most happy one for all.

Until--was the moonlight growing clouded? Did those six strokes of the bell actually mean eleven o'clock? So late--and suddenly so--so--_so queer_!

Even if the little concert had not already ended n.o.body could have sung just then.

"I guess we've left the Sound and struck the ocean;" remarked one gentleman, in a peculiar tone. "Good night all," and he disappeared.

A lady next Miss Greatorex made an effort to extricate herself from her rugs and chair and observed:

"I've such a curious feeling. So--so dizzy. My head swims. Is--is there a different--motion to the boat? Have you noticed?"

Yes, Miss Greatorex had noticed, but she couldn't reply just then. Nor was this because of her "stiffness" toward a person who had not been properly "introduced." It was simply that--that--dear, dear! She felt so very queer herself. She would try and get to her stateroom. In any case it was very late and everybody was moving.

A petulant cry from Molly expressed her own desires exactly.

"Papa, dear Papa! What makes the folks go wobbling around the way they do? I wish they wouldn't! I wish they would--would keep real--perfectly--still! I wish! Oh! dear!"

The Judge rose at once and, despite her size, caught up his daughter and marched off with her toward Mrs. Hungerford's stateroom, whither that experienced voyager had as suddenly preceded him. When he came back, a few minutes later, he found that Miss Greatorex had vanished, and that Dorothy sat alone on the deserted deck wondering what in the world was the matter to make everybody rush off at once, or almost everybody.

Wondering whether she should follow, and if her guardian would return and need her rugs again; yet placidly thinking over the delightful evening she had spent and how strange it was for her, "just plain Dorothy," to be having such a splendid trip in such charming company.

"Well, la.s.sie, are you all right? Don't _you_ feel a 'little queer,'

too?"

"Yes, thank you, Judge Breckenridge. I'm right enough but I don't know whether Miss Greatorex wants me to come to our room now or whether she'll need her things again. She went away in a great hurry, seems if; and so--so did 'most everybody else. Funny for them all to get sleepy just in a minute so."

The old traveler laughed and patted Dorothy's shoulder.

"A 'fog swell' is what we've struck. That explains the darkness and the hasty departure of our neighbors. Seasick, poor creatures! and no suffering worse, while it lasts. Sure you aren't yourself, Dorothy?"

"No. I don't feel any different from ever, yet, Judge Breckenridge."

"Good enough. I'm mighty glad for you. Poor little Moll will be apt to have a sorry time of it until we reach Yarmouth and land. By the way, la.s.sie, I observe that you've been well trained to give a person their name and t.i.tle when you speak to them. But we're on our holiday now, you know, and mustn't work more than we can help. So, my dear, suppose you call me Uncle Schuy, or simply Uncle, while we are together. 'Judge Breckenridge' is considerable of a mouthful for a small maid who, I hope, will have to address me a great many times. I shall find it pleasant to be 'Uncled' for I greatly miss our boy, Tom."

He did not add, as he might, that some pity mingled in this desire.

Coming un.o.bserved upon the little figure sitting alone in the steamer-chair, amid a pile of rugs which almost hid her from sight, deserted, and possibly also in the throes of illness, he had resolved to make her time with him and his as happy as he could. He would have done this under any circ.u.mstances; but Molly's fervid description of Dorothy's orphanage and ignorance of her real parentage had touched him profoundly.

Loving his own little daughter beyond all others in the world he loved this deserted child for Molly's sake; and felt that he should promptly love her for her own.

Sitting down again beside her he covered himself with rugs and begged permission to smoke; remarking:

"It's a shame to keep you up longer but I fancy that your stateroom wouldn't be very pleasant just now. It's next to my sister's, you know, and I saw Number Eight coming out of it with considerable haste. Miss Greatorex is probably ill, but should be better once she gets settled in bed. Then you must go and also get to rest. Quite likely you'll be the only little girl-companion I'll have for the rest of the trip. I was afraid Molly would make a poor sailor, and she's proving me correct. My sister, though, never suffers from seasickness and is a charming traveling companion as you'll find."

He relapsed into silence and a great drowsiness began to overpower Dorothy. Her day had been long and most eventful and the sea air was strong. Presently, her head drooped against the back of her chair, the Judge grew indistinct in her sight, and she fell asleep.

He considered then what was best to do; and presently decided that, if she wasn't sent for, she might well and safely pa.s.s the night on deck as he intended to do.

Indeed, so often had he voyaged on that ship that its employees had learned his wishes without telling; and now there came to him one Number Seven, his own room attendant, bringing a pillow and more rugs. He was dispatched for another pillow and between them they gently lowered the back of Dorothy's chair, placed a pillow under her unconscious head and tucked her warmly in. Then he settled himself to rest and neither of them knew distinctly anything more until the daylight came and the sunshine struggled with the enwrapping fog.

She, indeed, had had vague dreams of what went on about her. Had heard m.u.f.fled bells and pa.s.sing footsteps, but these had mingled only pleasantly with her sense of rest and happiness; and it was a very surprised young person who at last opened her eyes upon a gray expanse of mist-covered ocean and a gray-haired man asleep on a chair beside her.

Sitting up, she stared about her for a moment till she realized what had happened; then smiled to think she had actually slept out of doors.

Afterward, she wondered with some anxiety if Miss Greatorex had sent for her during the night, or if she were still too ill to care about anybody save herself.

"Anyhow, I must go and see. My! how damp these rugs are and yet I am as warm as can be. That's what dear Miss Penelope said she meant to do--sleep on deck. But she didn't come and I've done it in her stead.

What a queer world it is and how things do get twisted round! Now I must be still as still and not wake that dear Judge--'Uncle', who's so lovely to me!"

With these thoughts she slipped softly out of her rugs and tiptoed away, having some slight trouble to locate "Number Thirteen" stateroom; and, having done so, discovered its door ajar, fastened against intrusion by a chain.

She peeped through the opening. Miss Isobel lay with her eyes closed, but whether asleep or not Dorothy couldn't decide. She was very pale and perfectly motionless, and a too-suggestive tin basin was fastened to the railing of her berth.

"Ugh! I can't go in there and wake her, if she's asleep; or to go any way. I'll slip around to this other side the boat where there are such heaps of chairs and n.o.body in them. My! It's cold and I haven't anything to put over me here. Never mind, I'll stay. If I go back to where I was I might wake Judge Breckenridge, and I shouldn't like to do that. I don't wonder Molly called him a handsome man. He looked better than handsome to me, sleeping there, he looked _n.o.ble_."

Thus reflecting she settled herself on a chair against the inner wall and watched the men at work mopping the wet decks and putting the steamer generally "ship-shape" against the day's voyage. It was a forlorn outlook into the world of fog, through which the sound of the bells rang strangely. Also, there was an almost continuous blowing of whistles and a look of some anxiety on the faces of such of the crew as pa.s.sed by.

Finally, out of some far-off stairway, young bugler Melvin came tripping and hurried along the deck in her direction. She fancied a look of surprise in his eyes as he perceived her and that he would pa.s.s on without further notice. Yet, just as he reached a point opposite her chair, he flashed one glance toward her; and almost as quickly turned about to retrace his steps. Shivering and rather miserable she watched him idly, and now the surprise was her own.

He returned and still without speaking, yet with an almost painful flush on his face, tossed two heavy rugs into her lap and instantly pa.s.sed on.

She had no chance to thank him, but readily answered a laugh from a deck-hand near by who had witnessed the little incident and enjoyed it.

The "Bashful Bugler" was Melvin's shipboard nickname and no lad ever better deserved such. Yet he had been well "raised" and there was something very appealing to the chivalry of any lad in the look of Dorothy's just now sad eyes; though commonly their brown depths held only sunshine.