XX
"I SHOULD MAKE HIM HAPPY," SAID PHRONSIE
Polly got Jasper away into a side corridor by a beseeching little pullon his sleeve. "Oh, just to think," she mourned, "I called that greatman such unpleasant things--that he was big and fat, and--oh, oh!"
"Well, he _is_ big and fat," declared Jasper. "We can't say he isn't,Polly."
"But I meant it all against him," said Polly, shaking her head. "Youknow I did, Jasper," she added remorsefully.
"Yes, we neither of us liked him," said Jasper, "and that's the honesttruth, Polly."
"And to think it was that _great_ Herr Bauricke!" exclaimed Polly. Thenher feelings overcame her, and she sank down on the cushioned seat inthe angle.
Jasper sat down beside her. "I suppose it won't do to say anythingabout people after this until we know them. Will it, Polly?"
"Jasper," declared Polly, clasping her hands, while the rosy colourflew over her cheek, "I'm never going to say a single--"
Just then the big form of Herr Bauricke loomed up before them, as heturned into the corridor.
Polly shrank up in her corner as small as she could, wishing she was aslittle as Phronsie, and could hop up and run away.
Herr Bauricke turned his sharp eyes on them for a moment, hesitated,then came directly up, and stopped in front of them. "I meant--I_in_tended to speak to your grandfader first. Dat not seem best _now_."The great man was really talking to them, and Polly held her breath,not daring to look into his face, but keeping her gaze on his wonderfulfingers. "My child," those wonderful fingers seized her own, andclasped them tightly, "you have great promise, mind you, you know onlya leedle now, and you must work--_work--work_." He brought it out sosharply, that the last word was fairly shrill. "But I tink you will,"he added kindly, dropping his tone. Then he laid her fingers gently inher lap.
"Oh, she does, sir," exclaimed Jasper, finding his tongue first, forPolly was beyond speaking. "Polly works all the time she can."
"Dat is right." Herr Bauricke bobbed his head in approval, so that hisspectacles almost fell off. "I hear dat, in de music she play. Noleedle girl play like dat, who doesn't work. I will hear you sometimeat de hotel," he added abruptly, "and tell you some tings dat will helpyou. To-morrow, maybe, when we go down from dis place, eh?"
"Oh, sir," exclaimed Polly, springing off from her cushion beforeJasper could stop her. "You are _so_ good--but--but--I cannot," thenher breath gave out, and she stood quite still.
"Eh?" exclaimed Herr Bauricke, and pushing up his spectacles to stareinto her flushed and troubled face. "Perhaps I not make my meaningclear; I mean I _geef_ you of my time and my best _ad_vice. Now youunderstand--eh?" He included Jasper in his puzzled glance.
"Yes, sir," Jasper made haste to say. "We do understand; and it is sovery good of you, and Polly will accept it, sir." "For father will makeit all right with him as to the payment," he reflected easily.
"Ah, now," exclaimed Herr Bauricke, joyfully, a light beaming all overhis fat face, "dat is someting like--to-morrow, den, we--"
"But, oh, sir," Polly interrupted, "I cannot," and she twisted herhands in distress. "I--I--didn't like you, and I said so." Then sheturned very pale, and her head drooped.
Jasper leaned over, and took her hand. "Neither did I, sir," he said."I was just as bad as Polly."
"You not tink me nice looking--so?" said Herr Bauricke. "Well, I nottink so myself, eeder. And I scare you maybe, wid dis," and he twistedhis black beard with his long fingers. "Ah, so; well, we will forgetall dis, leedle girl," and he bent down and took Polly's other fingersthat hung by her side. "And eef you not let me come to-morrow to yourleedle music room, and tell you sometings to help you learn better, Ishall know dat you no like me _now_--eh?"
"Oh, sir," Polly lifted her face, flooded with rosy colour up to herbrown hair, "if you only will forgive me?"
"I no forgeef; I not remember at all," said Herr Bauricke, waving hislong fingers in the air. "And I go to-morrow to help you, leedle girl,"and he strode down the corridor.
Polly and Jasper rushed off, they scarcely knew how, to Grandpapa, totell him the wonderful news,--to find him in a truly dreadful state ofmind. When they had told their story, he was as much worse as couldwell be imagined.
"Impossible, impossible!" was all he could say, but he brought his handdown on the table before him with so much force that Jasper felt astrange sinking of heart. What could be the matter?
"Why, children, and you all" (for his whole party was before him),exclaimed Mr. King, "Herr Bauricke is that impertinent person whoannoyed me this morning, and I called him 'fellow' to his face!"
It was so very much worse than Jasper had dreamed, that he collapsedinto the first chair, all Polly's prospects melting off like dew beforethe sun.
"Hum!" Little Dr. Fisher was the first to speak. He took off his bigspectacles and wiped them; then put them on his nose and adjusted themcarefully, and glared around the group, his gaze resting on old Mr.King's face.
Polly, who had never seen Jasper give way like this, forgot her owndistress, and rushed up to him. "Oh, don't, Jasper," she begged.
"You see I can't allow Herr Bauricke to give any lessons or advice toPolly after this," went on Mr. King, hastily. "Of course he would bepaid; but, under the circumstances, it wouldn't do, not in the least.It is quite out of the question," he went on, as if some one had beencontradicting him. But no one said a word.
"Why don't some of you speak?" he asked, breaking the pause. "Dr.Fisher, you don't generally keep us waiting for your opinion. Speak outnow, man, and let us have it."
"It is an awkward affair, surely," began the little doctor, slowly.
"Awkward? I should say so," frowned Mr. King; "it's awkward to the lastdegree. Here's a man who bumps into me in a hotel passage,--though, forthat matter, I suppose it's really my fault as much as his,--and Ioffer to pick up his spectacles that were dropped in the encounter. Andhe tells me that he is glad that we ran up against each other, for itgives him a chance to tell me what is on his mind. As if I cared whatwas on his mind, or on the mind of any one else, for that matter," hedeclared, in extreme irritation. "And I told him to his face that hewas an impertinent fellow, and to get out of my way. Yes, I did!"
A light began to break on little Dr. Fisher's face, that presentlyshone through his big spectacles, fairly beaming on them all. Then heburst into a laugh, hearty and long.
"Why, Adoniram!" exclaimed Mother Fisher, in surprise. Polly turned adistressed face at him; and to say that old Mr. King stared would bestating the case very mildly indeed.
"Can't you see, oh, can't you see," exploded the little doctor, moppingup his face with his big handkerchief, "that your big German was tryingto tell you of Polly's playing, and to say something, probably prettymuch the same that he has said to her and to Jasper? O dear me, Ishould like to have been there to see you both," ended Dr. Fisher,faintly. Then he went off into another laugh.
"I don't see much cause for amusement," said old Mr. King, grimly, whenthis idea broke into his mind, "for it's a certain fact that I calledhim a fellow, and told him to get out of the way."
"Well, he doesn't bear you any malice, apparently," said the littledoctor, who, having been requested to speak, saw no reason forwithholding any opinion he might chance to have, "for, if he did, hewouldn't have made that handsome offer to Polly."
"That may be; the offer is handsome enough," answered Mr. King, "thatis the trouble, it's too handsome. I cannot possibly accept it underthe awkward circumstances. No, children," he turned to Polly andJasper, as if they had been beseeching him all the while, "you needn'task it, or expect it," and he got out of his chair, and stalked fromthe room.
Jasper buried his face in his hands, and a deep gloom settled over thewhole party, on all but little Dr. Fisher. He pranced over to Polly andJasper just as merrily as if nothing dreadful had happened. "Don't yoube afraid, my boy," he said; "your father is a dreadfully sensible man,and there's no manner of doubt but that he will fix this thing up."
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"Oh, you don't know father," groaned Jasper, his head in his hands,"when he thinks the right thing hasn't been done or said. And now Pollywill miss it all!" And his head sank lower yet.
"Nonsense!" exclaimed Dr. Fisher. Yet he had a dreadful feeling comingover him, and he turned to Polly imploringly.
"Oh, I do believe it, Jasper," cried Polly, "what Papa-Doctor says. Andjust look at Mamsie!" she cried, beneath her breath.
And truly Mother Fisher was having a hard time to control herself. ThatJasper could see as he lifted his head. And the little doctor also saw,and skipped back across the room to her side. And Phronsie, feelingplunged into the deepest woe by all this dreadful state of affairs,that had come too bewilderingly for her to rally to Grandpapa's side,first began to cry. And then, thinking better of it, went softly out ofthe door, and no one noticed her when she went--with the tears runningdown her cheeks.
Down the long corridor she hurried, not knowing which way Grandpapawent, but turning into the little reading room, she spied him sittingby the table. The apartment was otherwise empty. He wasn't reading, noteven looking at a paper, but sitting bolt upright, and lost in thought.
"Grandpapa," she said, laying a soft little hand on his arm. "Oh, I'mso glad I found you." And she nestled up to his side.
"Eh? Oh, Phronsie, child." Old Mr. King put his arm around her, anddrew her closely to him. "So you came after your old Grand-daddy, didyou?"
"Yes, I did," said Phronsie, with a glad little cry, snuggling uptighter to him, while the tears trailed off down his waistcoat, but notbefore he had seen them.
"Now, Phronsie, you are not to cry any more," he said, with a pang atthe sight. "You won't, dear; promise me that."
So Phronsie promised; and he held her hands, and, clearing his throat,he began, "Well, now I suppose they felt pretty badly, back there inthe room, your mother and all--eh, Phronsie?"
"Yes, Grandpapa," said Phronsie, her round face falling. Yet she hadpromised not to cry, and, although she had a hard time of it, everytear was kept back valiantly.
"And Polly, now--" asked old Mr. King, cautiously, "and Jasper--howwere they feeling?"
"Grandpapa," Phronsie did not trust herself to reply, but, springingup, she laid her rosy little mouth close to his ear. "What does itall--the dreadful thing mean?" she whispered.
"It means," old Mr. King whispered back, but very distinctly, "thatyour old Granddaddy is an idiot, Phronsie, and that he has been rude,and let his temper run away with him."
"Oh, no, Grandpapa dear," contradicted Phronsie, falling back from himin horror. "You couldn't ever be that what you say." And she flung botharms around his neck and hugged him tightly.
"What? An idiot? Yes, I have been an idiot of the worst kind," declaredMr. King, "and all the rest just as I say; rude and--why, what is thematter, Phronsie?" for the little arms clutched him so tightly he couldhardly breathe.
"Oh, Grandpapa," she wailed, and drawing away a bit to look at him, hesaw her face convulsed with the effort not to cry. "Don't say suchthings. You are never naughty, Grandpapa dear; you can't be," shegasped.
"There, there, there," ejaculated old Mr. King, frightened at theeffect of his words and patting her yellow hair, at his wits' end whatto say. So he broke out, "Well, now, Phronsie, you must tell me what todo."
Thereupon Phronsie, seeing there was something she could really do tohelp Grandpapa, came out of her distress enough to sit up quitestraight and attentive in his lap. "You see I spoke rudely to a man,and I called him a fellow, and he was a gentleman, Phronsie; you mustremember that."
"Yes, I will, Grandpapa," she replied obediently, while her eyes neverwandered from his face.
"And I told him to get out of the way and he did," said Mr. King,forcing himself to a repetition of the unpleasant truth. "O dear me,nothing could be worse," he groaned.
"And you are sorry, Grandpapa dear?" Phronsie leaned over and laid hercheek softly against his.
"Yes, I am, Phronsie, awfully sorry," confessed the old gentleman; "butwhat good will that do now? My temper has made a terrible mess of itall."
"But you can tell the gentleman you are sorry," said Phronsie. "Oh,Grandpapa dear, do go and tell him now, this very minute." She brokeaway from him again, and sat straight on his knee, while a glad littlesmile ran all over her face.
"I can't--you don't understand--O dear me!" Mr. King set her abruptlyon the floor, and took a few turns up and down the room. Phronsie'seyes followed him with a grieved expression. When she saw the distresson his face, she ran up to him and seized his hand, but didn't speak.
"You see, child,"--he grasped her fingers and held them closely,--"it'sjust this way: the gentleman wants to do me a favour; that is, to helpPolly with her music."
"Does he?" cried Phronsie, and she laughed in delight. "Oh, Grandpapa,how nice! And Polly will be so happy."
"But I cannot possibly accept it," groaned old Mr. King; "don't yousee, child, after treating him so? Why, how could I? The idea is toomonstrous!" He set off now at such a brisk pace down the room thatPhronsie had hard work to keep up with him. But he clung to her hand.
"Won't that make the gentleman sorry?" panted Phronsie, trotting alongby his side.
"Eh--oh, what?" exclaimed old Mr. King, coming to a dead stop suddenly."What's that you say, Phronsie?"
"Won't the gentleman feel sorry?" repeated Phronsie, pushing back thewaves of yellow hair that had fallen over her face, to look up at him."And won't he feel badly then, Grandpapa?"
"Eh--oh, perhaps," assented Mr. King, slowly, and passing a troubledhand across his brow. "Well, now, Phronsie, you come and sit in my lapagain, and we'll talk it over, and you tell me what I ought to do."
So the two got into the big chair again, and Phronsie folded her handsin her lap.
"Now begin," said old Mr. King.
"I should make the gentleman happy, Grandpapa," said Phronsie,decidedly.
"You would--no matter what you had to do to bring it about?" askedGrandpapa, with a keen pair of eyes on her face. "Eh? think now,Phronsie."
"I should make the gentleman happy," repeated Phronsie, and she bobbedher head decidedly. "I really should, Grandpapa."
"Then the best way is to have it over with as soon as possible," saidold Mr. King; "so come on, child, and you can see that the business isdone up in good shape." He gathered her little fingers up in his hand,and setting her once more on the floor, they passed out of theapartment.
The door of the private parlour belonging to Mr. King's rooms was flungwide open, and into the gloomy interior, for Mother Fisher and Jasperwere still inconsolable, marched old Mr. King. He was arm in arm, sofar as the two could at once compass the doorway, with Herr Bauricke;while Phronsie ducked and scuttled in as she could, for the big German,with ever so many honorary degrees to his name, held her hand fast.
Old Mr. King continued his march up to Mother Fisher. "Allow me tointroduce Herr Bauricke, Professor and Doctor of Music, of world-widedistinction," he said, bowing his courtly old head.
And then Mother Fisher, self-controlled as she had always been,astonished him by turning to her husband to supply the answering word.
"Glad to see you!" exclaimed the little doctor, bubbling over withhappiness, and wringing the long fingers extended. "My wife is overcomewith delight," which the big German understood very well; and he smiledhis knowledge of it, as he looked into her black eyes. "She is like tomein Frau," he thought, having no higher praise. And then he turnedquickly to Polly and Jasper.