Polly and Her Friends Abroad Part 4

"Dodo tells me that you got a wireless that your wife and daughter would meet you at the wharf, in Dover," continued Mrs. Alexander.

"Yes, and the invitation from Sir James, includes my party, I hear, so it is all right. We are all going there for an informal dinner-party and to spend the night. Then we will hire an auto and continue on our trip in the morning," explained Mr. Fabian.

"Dear, dear! I am so upset," sighed the amateur actress. "I find _my_ car-it was shipped over before we left Noo York-was left in London instead of going on to France. So we have to get off when you do, and go to London just to get our car."

"Oh, really! I didn't know you had sent a car across," said Mr. Fabian.

"Dear yes! You might as well, when you have one, you know. But I expect to buy myself a new French car whiles I am in Paris. Just for myself, and a friend or two, to use, you know; and that lets Pa drive his own touring car, 'cause he is crazy about motoring."

Mr. Alexander had not mentioned a car, nor had Dodo said anything about the trouble in the delivery of a car to the wrong port, so Mr. Fabian mistrusted the truth of the statement made by Mrs. Alexander; but he forbore saying anything about the matter to any of his companions.

Evidently the lady's husband and daughter had just previously been warned about the car, also, for they looked troubled and made no comment when Mrs. Alexander surprised everyone by saying: "We find we have to land at Dover, also, as our car went astray during shipment and we have to see about it in London."

"Oh, how nice! Then Dodo can remain with us a bit longer," said Ruth, guilelessly.

"And her mother, of course," said Mrs. Alexander pointedly, lifting her shoulders as well as her eye-brows.

"And her old man, too," chuckled Mr. Alexander, causing everyone who heard him to laugh.

His spouse sent him a most disquieting look, however, and he subsided in his chair. But Eleanor, who sat beside him at the table, nudged him encouragingly when Mrs. Alexander was not looking.

So, when the lighter touched at the Dover dock, the entire party got off, and soon Mr. Fabian was encircled by four arms, while two heads were pressed close to his face. A younger woman stood a bit aside, smiling sympathetically at the reunion.

Then she was introduced to the Americans as Angela Osgood, Nancy Fabian's friend. And in turn, Mr. Fabian introduced his two protegees, Polly and Eleanor, and the Ashbys, and the Alexanders.

When Mrs. Alexander really found herself face to face with the daughter of an English Baronet, she was speechless with joy. Now she could write home and tell everyone she ever knew about meeting Sir James Osgood's daughter!

But Angela never dreamed of the disturbance she had caused in the breast of this unusual-looking woman.

"Now, how shall we dispose of all the pa.s.sengers, Nancy?" laughed Angela, counting the heads of the party she expected to drive to the town house for dinner.

"The car only holds seven, you see," explained she, turning to the Ashbys. "I counted on Nancy's father and two girls driving with me, and the three Ashbys taking the seat in the road-car where the luggage will be placed. The groom drives that. Or we can rearrange it any way you say."

Mrs. Alexander instantly pushed herself forward and said: "Oh, how very kind of you to include us in your party! I really can't accept a seat in the car if anyone else must be crowded."

Dodo looked like a thunder-cloud and pulled at her mother's arm, but Mr.

Alexander spoke out bluntly.

"I ain't invited to n.o.body's house, so I'm going on to London to get that car you told me about. Dodo can come with me."

His spouse instantly silenced him with a glowering look, and Angela hoped to smooth matters out by what she now said.

"Mother and father will be delighted to have all of you come, and I'm sure they will feel _dreadfully_, if anyone is left out. We never stand on ceremony, you know, and this is an occasion where you all must come without formality."

"We're delighted, I a.s.sure you, Miss Osgood, and I will accept for my family and myself. The only question now, is, how shall we manage about the cars. If only my seven-pa.s.senger car was here instead of in London!"

exclaimed Mrs. Alexander, eagerly.

"Why, the ladies will use this car, of course," said Mr. Fabian, "while we men go in the baggage-car. You may be uncomfortably crowded, but I see no other way."

So Mrs. Fabian, Mrs. Ashby and Mrs. Alexander sat in the back seat while Polly, Eleanor, Ruth and Dodo had to crowd upon the folding seats in the middle of the car. Nancy sat in front and Angela drove the car. The groom with the baggage and the three men followed directly after in his car.

Mrs. Alexander certainly was a general when she wanted to win a battle of wits, but it was a pity she had no better ambitions than the mere forcing a way into society and marrying her daughter to a t.i.tle.

As they started for London, she leaned back in the seat and said: "If only the company hadn't mistaken the directions about my car. It is such a great roomy affair, that everyone could have traveled in it with the utmost comfort."

"But it wouldn't have been here at all, for us to travel in, if they had sent it as you directed-to Havre, instead of London," said Mrs. Ashby.

"Oh true! But I meant-if it had been left over at Dover instead of going on to London," quickly corrected the lady.

The conversation drifted to other topics but was switched back again when Mrs. Alexander remarked: "I was just thinking how nice it would be for the Fabians and Ashbys to tour Great Britain first instead of Europe; then they could use my big car whiles Dodo and I go in my new runabout that I expect to buy immediately."

"Why, Ma! you know you're talking-" began Dodo, from the seat in front of her mother, but Mrs. Alexander interrupted instantly.

"Oh yes, deary, I know what you would say! That I must try a new car, first, and get acquainted with it. But I can select a make similar to our big one, can't I? and that is quite familiar to me."

"Oh yes, if you want to duplicate our old car, you can do it. But you said you wanted an up-to-date car with all the latest equipment, this time, and such a car won't seem familiar to you, be--"

"Never mind, Dodo! Our friends are not interested in our old cars, or what we have done with them," cut in Mrs. Alexander.

So Dodo subsided for the time, while her mother continued: "So there will be ample room for you to tour in my large car, ladies, while Dodo and I use the roadster and follow you."

"We cannot say, one way or another, Mrs. Alexander, because nothing has been said about a change in the itinerary. It all depends upon Mr.

Fabian and Mr. Ashby," replied Mrs. Ashby, politely.

But Mrs. Alexander was satisfied with the progress she had made by mentioning the tour, and so she left the rest to time.

After a long drive through the highly cultivated countryside that spread out between Dover and London, Angela drove up in front of an imposing mansion on one of the avenues of England's great city. As a uniformed man came down the wide marble steps to take orders from Angela, Mrs.

Alexander sat breathless with pleasure at the success of her maneuvering.

The baggage-car came up shortly after the ladies had alighted from the first automobile, and the servants carried the bags indoors, then waited to be directed to the proper rooms.

Sir James and his wife welcomed the party of Americans, but Mrs.

Alexander felt disappointed when she saw a plain little lady dressed in grey taffeta, and found Sir James to be a short fat man with a genial expression, but a horsy manner. The others seemed quite at home with these English people and all were soon exchanging opinions about the recent problems in politics.

Not a word or look from either Sir James, or his lady, led anyone to think that three extra visitors were thrust upon the hospitable family, nor did any hint escape them that the unexpected guests were other than socially their equals. Mrs. Alexander was looking for some sign of this superiority in them because of the t.i.tle, and felt most uneasy because she detected none of it; but finding she and her family were accepted on the same standard as the Fabians and Ashbys, she recovered her wonted habit of pushing a way to the foreground in everything.

As the group separated to go to their separate suites, Sir James reminded them: "Quite informal dinner, you know. We are only tarrying in town a few days, before going on to Osgood Hall, so we make no pretence at dressing formally."

The Ashbys and Fabians knew this to be a courtesy extended them because of their lack of baggage, but Mrs. Alexander thought Sir James meant that their own trunks had gone to the country and so they were not able to dress in dinner clothes. But she determined to show how _she_ could dress, with her money.

Before Dorothy could lock the door of her room, her mother entered and handed her the dress she was to wear for dinner.

"Why, Ma! we were told _not_ to dress!" exclaimed she.

"That's only bluff. You put this on and show folks that we know what's what, even if we haven't a t.i.tle!" declared her mother.

Reluctantly Dodo took the beaded georgette evening dress and then closed the door after her mother's commanding figure. As she went to the toilet-table she thought: "I wonder what poor Pa will have to wear tonight!" But she was to learn about that sooner than she thought for.