Elizabeth Hobart at Exeter Hall Part 7

Miss Wilson hesitated a moment, standing in the middle of the doorway. She looked quite serious at the mention of Miss O'Day.

"Miss O'Day might--not like to be bothered. Besides, you do not know her very well. I'll send Nancy."

With that she disappeared.

As the gaslight in the bedroom was not satisfactory Elizabeth went into the sitting-room or study, as the students were accustomed to call it, to finish her dressing. Nancy came to the door just as Elizabeth put on the last touches.

"We'll be late," she exclaimed. "I think it's fun to go early and meet all the strangers. Judge Wilson and his friends will be here if the train was on time at Ridgway."

Elizabeth caught up her fan and handkerchief and started forth. Her attention was claimed by the curious fan Nancy carried.

"It is odd, isn't it?" exclaimed Nancy, unfurling it. "It is hand-carved.

You know the Swedes are famous for that kind of work. This is quite old.

My grandfather made it for my grandmother when they were sweethearts over in Sweden."

Elizabeth looked her surprise at this statement. Her companion noticed her expression.

"You knew, of course, that I was of Swedish birth!"

"No, I did not. I knew that you made your home with Miss Wilson's family.

I took it for granted that you must be a relative."

"Not the least bit," was the response, given without a show of embarra.s.sment. "I'm merely a dependent. My father was a Swedish minister, and worked among our people near the Wilson home. When he died, we were left with nothing to live on. Mother did sewing for the Swedish people. I was very strong and quite as able to work as she. So I went to live at the Wilson home where I helped with the little children and also went to school. I grew to love them, and they seemed to really care for me. When I finished the high school, Mrs. Wilson sent me here. I'm to be a teacher after I graduate at Exeter. I always count the Wilson home mine. Each summer I go back there and help with the children while Mrs. Wilson takes a vacation."

She did not add that she had shown such an apt.i.tude for study, and had proved so efficient and trustworthy that Mrs. Wilson had decided to give her the best advantages to fit her for a profession.

As they pa.s.sed the open door of the room occupied by Landis Stoner and Min Kean, the voices of the girls came to them. They had evidently taken it for granted that the other students had gone to the parlors and that there wasn't anyone to hear the conversation.

"Well, for my part, Min," Landis was saying, "I do not think you look at all well in that blue silk. You look so sallow. You are so much sweeter in your white organdy with your pink sash."

"But, Landis, I've worn it so often."

"But not here. It will be new to the girls, and it looks perfectly fresh."

"You said you liked the blue silk when I was buying it."

"I did and I do yet, but it isn't suited to you. Now for me, it would be all right, but--"

"I wish you'd come down, Landis. I always have a better time when you are there."

"How can I? I haven't a dress for a reception. You simply cannot get a dress made at home fit to wear, and my staying up in the country all summer with you made my going to the city impossible."

That was all that reached the girls in the hall, and this was forced upon them. Nancy could not forbear a smile. Elizabeth with the guilelessness of an unexperienced child exclaimed, "Why, Landis seems to have so many beautiful clothes. Her father must be very wealthy. Her rings and pins are simply lovely. Isn't that a diamond she wears?"

"Yes; but it's Min's. Landis has been wearing it for the last two years.

Min is an only child. She has no mother and her father, who is a millionaire oil-man, allows her to spend what she pleases."

"Is Landis' father an oil-man?"

"No, he isn't," was the reply.

Elizabeth was learning how much could be said by silence. During her short acquaintance with Landis, the girl had suggested many of the possibilities of her future--a cruise on a private yacht, a year's study and travel in Europe. She had not said that money was no consideration with her, yet Elizabeth had gained such an impression from her words.

"I am sorry Landis will miss the reception," she said.

Nancy smiled. "She will not miss it. She enjoys the social side of school life too much to miss anything of this kind. She will be down after awhile."

"But you heard what she said--that she had nothing fit to wear."

"But she will have--or has now. She will appear in a gown that puts all other dresses in the shade. Here we are. How fine the reception committee look. Poor Mary Wilson! this is hard for her. She's doing her best not to toss back her hair and laugh."

As she spoke, they entered the parlors. Jimmy Jordan, arrayed in full dress, announced their arrival to Dr. Morgan.

The girls maintained a dignified and elegant composure until they reached the end of the line where Miss Wilson stood. Nancy's appearance distracted her attention from her social duties.

"You've got too much powder on your nose, Nancy," and with a flutter of her handkerchief, she made Nancy presentable. Then she remembered where she was. Her face flushed. She looked about her. Her words had carried across the room. The smiles of the committee about her were almost audible.

Elizabeth in company with Nancy moved through the room. "Here is someone I wish you to meet," said Nancy, "that is, if you are really interested in people of strong, though peculiar character. She is a Miss Rice. She owns a little farm not far from where my father preached. She works the whole place herself."

They came up to Miss Rice, a woman far past middle age. Her features showed exposure to the sun. Her red-bronze hair was turning into a grizzled, faded gray.

"I'm glad to meet Miss Hobart," she said. "You are from Bitumen, I hear. I have planned to go there as soon as I get my potatoes in, and those odd ch.o.r.es done for the winter. I heard your father had a peculiar plant--something unusual hereabout."

Elizabeth repeated the story of his having found an odd seed in an importation of tea and having planted it. Miss Rice's conversation was interesting. Her voice was full and melodious, but even Elizabeth who was used to the eccentricities of Miss Hale's attire could not repress a smile.

Miss Rice talked of the wheat blight and the damaging effects of potato-bugs, then with equal interest quoted Browning, and debated the question whether there was a present-day literature worthy of the name.

"She's a quaint character," Miss Cresswell said later to Elizabeth. "She might have been independently rich, but she has no idea of the value of money, and she is the sort who always finds someone who needs it more than she. It's been years since she's had a respectable winter coat because she pledged herself to provide for several old ladies in the Home for the Friendless. She has a whole host of doless relatives, whom she props up whenever they need it, and," as though an afterthought, "they always need it."

"Do you know if Landis is coming down?" asked Miss Rice a few moments later, turning to Elizabeth. "I really came purposely to see her. We've been a little uncertain about her finishing the year, but last week I sold four hundred bushels of potatoes. That means she can stay. She'll be pleased, but no more than I'll be." Then in a confidential tone, "When I was a girl, I didn't have the advantages that I'm trying to give Landis.

We were poor, and father and mother were getting on in years, and I couldn't leave them. What I learned I dug out of books and other people's minds. Julia Hale--you know her--got me interested in botany, and someone else came along with a book or so. I was ambitious to go to Exeter, and then be a missionary. That seemed to be such a beautiful life of self-sacrifice; but it seems it wasn't to be. There never was a day when someone right there at home didn't need me, so that after a while I didn't ever have time to think of going. But there was Landis. I mean to prepare her well and send her in my place. When the potatoes turned out better than I'd been counting on, I just sat down and laughed. Then I got ready and came down here to tell Landis. There she is now." She arose, a trace of pleasurable excitement showing in her manner and lighting up her weather-beaten face, and moved to where Landis, radiant and self-confident, stood with Min and others of her satellites.

Elizabeth's eyes followed. She gave a little start of surprise at the sight. Min was wearing an organdy plainly showing signs of service, while Landis was arrayed in a handsome gown of soft blue silk. Elizabeth knew not the reason for it, but as she looked at the girls she had a sensation of being out-of-sorts, and at variance with the world. She might have given up to her feelings had not her roommate joined her. Mary's eyes were a little brighter than usual. She was fairly bubbling over with excitement.

"I've been looking almost everywhere for you, Elizabeth," she cried, tucking her hand within Elizabeth's arm, and leading her into a small room adjoining. "I want you to meet the best father and mother this country ever produced."

"I've met them," responded Elizabeth. "They are in Bitumen at this minute."

Mary laughed and gave her arm a squeeze. "You're getting on, Elizabeth. A month ago you couldn't have made such a remark. You were too literally literal. But as to the best parents; I have them shut up in this room."

"Not my parents," decidedly.

"I should say not. My own. Why should I be wanting anyone's else?"

They entered the room where a little group of the older guests had gathered. Leading Elizabeth to her father and mother, "This is Elizabeth,"

Mary said. Both father and mother held out their hands to her. Elizabeth felt that they were not strangers. They knew of her father. She was very glad to note the tone in which all people spoke of him. Nothing was said of his being a brilliant man, although he had been that, but all spoke of him as a good man and doing good work.

"The liquor people are getting it strong up your way, Judge," said a little old man in the group. "What is going to happen to our friend Bill?"