Five Little Peppers Abroad

  II

  TWO ENGLISH FRIENDS

  "I don't want you," muttered the old gentleman, feebly, turning hishead away from Tom, and then he set his lips tightly together. But heheld to Polly's hand.

  "You would better go out," Dr. Jones nodded to Tom. "It excites him."

  The second time Tom was told to go. He stood quite still. "He's myGrandfather!" he blurted out.

  "Can't help it," said Dr. Jones, curtly; "he's my patient. So I tellyou again it is imperative that you leave this room." Then he turnedback to his work of making the sick man comfortable without taking anymore notice of the boy.

  Tom gave a good long look at as much of his Grandfather's face as hecould see, then slunk out, in a dazed condition, trying to make himselfas small as possible. Jasper found him a half hour afterward, hangingover the rail away from curious eyes, his head buried on his arms.

  "I thought you'd like to know that your Grandfather is better," saidJasper, touching the bent shoulder.

  "Get away, will you?" growled Tom, kicking out his leg, unmindful whereit struck.

  "And the doctor has gotten him into his state-room, and he is ascomfortable as he could be made." Jasper didn't add that Dr. Jones hadasked him to come back, and that the old man was still insisting thatPolly should hold his hand.

  "In that case," declared Tom, suddenly twitching up his head, "I willgo down there." His face was so drawn that Jasper started, and thenlooked away over the sea, and did not appear to notice the clenchedhand down by the boy's side.

  "I--I--didn't know he was sick." Tom brought it out in gusts, and hisface worked worse than ever in his efforts not to show his distress.The only thing he could do was to double up his hand tighter than ever,as he tried to keep it back of him.

  "I understand," nodded Jasper, still looking off over the blue water.

  "And now I'll go down," said Tom, drawing a long breath and startingoff. Oh! and Dr. Jones had said the last thing to Jasper as he rushedoff with the good news to Tom, "On no account let that boy see hisGrandfather. I won't answer for the consequences if you do."

  "See here," Jasper tore his gaze off from the shimmering water. "Thedoctor doesn't--doesn't think you ought to see your Grandfather now."

  "Hey!" cried Tom, his drawn lips flying open, and his big blue eyesdistending in anger. "He's my Grandfather. I rather think I shall do asI've a mind to," and he plunged off.

  "Tom!" Jasper took long steps after him. "Beg your pardon, this is notime for thinking of anything but your Grandfather's life. Dr. Jonessaid you were not to see him at present." The truth must be told, forin another moment the boy would have been off on the wings of the wind.

  "And do you think that I will mind in the least what that beastlydoctor says?" cried Tom, getting redder and redder in the face, hisrage was so great. "Hoh! no, sir."

  "Then your Grandfather's life will be paid as a sacrifice," said Jaspercalmly. And he stood quite still; and surveyed the boy before him.

  Neither spoke. It seemed to Jasper an age that they stood there insilence. At last Tom wavered, put out his hand unsteadily, leanedagainst a steamer chair, and turned his face away.

  "Let us do a bit of a turn on the deck," said Jasper, suddenly,overcoming by a mighty effort his repugnance to the idea.

  Tom shook his head, and swallowed hard.

  "Oh, yes," said Jasper, summoning all the cheerfulness he could musterto his aid. "Come, it's the very thing to do, if you really want tohelp your Grandfather."

  Tom raised his head and looked at him. "I never supposed the old manwas sick," he said brokenly, and down went his head again, this timeupon his hands, which were grasping the top of the chair.

  "I don't believe you did," answered Jasper. "But come, Tom, let's walkaround the deck; we can talk just as well meanwhile."

  Two or three young men, with cigarettes in their mouths, camesauntering up. "Tom Selwyn, you're a pretty fellow--"

  Tom raised his head and looked at them defiantly.

  "To give us the slip like this," cried one, with a sneer, in which theothers joined, with a curious look at Jasper.

  "Well, come on now," said one. "Yes--yes--come along," said another;"we've waited long enough for you to get back."

  "I'm not coming," declared Tom, shortly.

  "Not coming back? Well--" One of the young men said something under hisbreath, and the first speaker turned on his heel, tossing his cigaretteover the railing.

  "No," said Tom, "I'm not coming. Did you hear me?"

  "I believe I had that pleasure," said the last named, "as I am notdeaf. Come on, fellows; our little boy has got to wait on hisGrandpappy. Good-by, kid!" He snapped his fingers; the other twolaughed derisively, and sauntered off down the deck as they came.

  Tom shook with passion. "I'd like to walk," he said, drawing a longbreath, and setting off unsteadily.

  "All right," said Jasper, falling into step beside him.

  Meantime the old gentleman, in his large handsome state-room, showed nosign of returning to the consciousness that had come back for a briefmoment. And he held to Polly's hand so tightly, as she sat at the headof the berth, that there was no chance of withdrawing her fingers hadshe so desired. And Father Fisher with whom Dr. Jones had of coursemade acquaintance, before the steamer fairly sailed, sat there keepingwatch too, in a professional way, the ship's doctor having called himin consultation over the case. And Phronsie, who had been in deeppenitence because she had wandered off from the library with anotherlittle girl, to gaze over the railing upon the steerage children below,thereby missing Polly, was in such woe over it all that she was allowedto cuddle up against Polly's side and hold her other hand. And thereshe sat as still as a mouse, hardly daring to breathe. And Mr. King,feeling as if, after all, the case was pretty much under hissupervision, came softly in at intervals to see that all was well, andthat the dreadful boy was kept out.

  And the passengers all drifted back to their steamer chairs, glad ofsome new topic to discuss, for the gossip they had brought on board wasthreadbare now, as they were two days at sea. And the steamer sailedover the blue water that softly lapped the stout vessel's side,careless of the battle that had been waged for a life, even thenholding by slender threads. And Fanny Vanderburgh, whose grandfatherwas a contemporary in the old business days in New York with Mr. King,and who sat with her mother at the next table to the King party, spentmost of her time running to Mrs. Pepper's state-room, or interviewingany one who would be able to give her the slightest encouragement as towhen she could claim Polly Pepper.

  "O dear me!" Fanny cried, on one such occasion, when she happened torun across Jasper. "I've been down to No. 45 four times this morning,and there's nobody there but that stupid Matilda, and she doesn't knowor won't tell when Polly will get through reading to that tiresome oldman. And they won't let me go to his state-room. Mrs. Fisher and yourfather are there, too, or I'd get them to make Polly come out on deck.We all want her for a game of shuffle-board."

  Jasper sighed. So did he long for a game of shuffle-board. Then hebrought himself up, and said as brightly as he could: "Mr. Selwyn begsPolly to stay, and won't have any one else read to him, MissVanderburgh, so I don't see as it can be helped. He's been very sick,you know."

  Fanny Vanderburgh beat the toe of her boot on the deck floor. "It's aperfect shame. And that horrible old man, he's so seedy andcommon--just think of it--and spoiling all our fun!"

  Jasper looked off over the sea, and said nothing.

  "As for that dreadful boy, his grandson, I think he's a boor. Goodnessme--I hope nobody will introduce him. I'm sure I never'll recognise himafterward."

  Jasper turned uneasily. "Please, Mr. King, do make Polly listen toreason," begged Fanny. "There isn't another girl on board I care to gowith--at least not in the way I would with her. The Griswolds are wellenough to play games with, and all that; but you know what I mean. Domake her come out with us this morning, and listen to reason," sherepeated, winding up helplessly.

  "But I think she is just r
ight," said Jasper, stoutly.

  "Right!" cried Fanny, explosively; "oh, how can you say so, Mr. Jasper!Why, she is losing just every bit of the fun."

  "I know it," said Jasper, with a twinge at the thought. "Well, there isnothing more to be said or done, Miss Vanderburgh, since Polly hasdecided the matter. Only I want you to remember that I think she isjust right about it."

  Fanny Vanderburgh pouted her pretty lips in vexation. "At least, don'ttry to get that dreadful boy into our own set to play games," she criedvenomously, "for I won't speak to him. He's a perfect boor. 'Twas onlyyesterday he brushed by me like a clumsy elephant, and knocked my bookout of my hand, and never even picked it up. Think of that, Mr. King!"

  "I know--that was dreadful," assented Jasper, in dismay at the obstacleto the plan he had formed in his own mind, to do that very thing he wasnow being warned against. "But you see, Miss Vanderburgh, he's allupset by his Grandfather's sickness."

  "And I should think he would be," cried Fanny Vanderburgh, with spirit."Mrs. Griswold says she's heard him domineering over the old man, andthen his Grandfather would snarl and scold like everything. She has thenext state-room, you know. I don't see how those Selwyns can affordsuch a nice cabin," continued Fanny, her aristocratic nose in the air,"they look so poor. Anyway that boy is a perfect beast, Mr. King."

  "He's very different now," said Jasper, quickly. "He had no idea hisGrandfather was so poorly. Now I'll tell you, Miss Vanderburgh," Jasperturned sharply around on his heel so that he faced her. It wasnecessary with a girl like her to state plainly what he had to say, andto keep to it. "I am going to ask Tom Selwyn to play games with all usyoung people. If it distresses you, or any one else, so that you cannotjoin, of course I will withdraw, and I know Polly will, and we will getup another circle that will play with him."

  It was almost impossible to keep from laughing at Fanny's face, butJasper was very grave as he waited for an answer. "O dear me, Mr.Jasper," she cried, "haven't I told you I don't really care for any oneon board but Polly Pepper, and Mamma doesn't want me to mix up muchwith those Griswolds?" She lowered her voice and glanced over hershoulder. "It would make it so awkward if they should be much in NewYork, and we should meet. So of course I've got to do as Polly and youdo. Don't you see?--it's awfully hard on me, though," and she claspedher hands in vexation.

  "Very well, then," said Jasper; "now that's decided. And seeing it is,why the next thing to do, is to bring Tom down, and we'll get up a gameof shuffle-board at once. He's not needed by his Grandfather now." Hedidn't think it necessary to add, "for the old gentleman won't see him,and Tom is forbidden the room by the doctor."

  Fanny's aristocratic nose went up in alarm, and her whole face wasoverspread with dismay. It was one thing to anticipate evil, and quiteanother to find it precipitated upon one. "I--I don't--believe I canplay this morning, Mr. Jasper," she began hurriedly, for the first timein her young life finding herself actually embarrassed. She was eventwisting her fingers.

  "Very well," said Jasper, coolly, "then I understand that you will notplay with us at any time, for, as we begin to-day, we shall keep on. Iwill set about getting up another party at once." He touched his yachtcap lightly, and turned off.

  "I'll go right down on the lower deck with you now." Fanny ran afterhim, her little boot heels clicking excitedly on the hard floor. "Thesteward has marked it all for us. I got him to, while I ran to findPolly so as to engage the place," she added breathlessly.

  "That's fine," said Jasper, a smile breaking over the gloom on hisface; "now we'll have a prime game, Miss Vanderburgh."

  Fanny swallowed hard the lump in her throat, and tried to lookpleasant. "Do you go and collect the Griswolds," cried Jasper,radiantly, "and I'll be back with Tom," and he plunged off. It was alldone in a minute. And the thing that had been worrying him--how to getTom into good shape, and to keep him there--seemed fixed in the bestway possible. But Tom wouldn't go. Nothing that Jasper could do or saywould move him out of the gloom into which he was cast, and at lastJasper ran down for a hurried game with the party awaiting him, to whomhe explained matters in the best way he could.

  At last, old Mr. Selwyn was able to emerge from his state-room. Mr.King and he were the best of friends by this time, the former always,when Polly read aloud, being one of the listeners. At all such hours,indeed, and whenever Polly went to sit by the invalid, Phronsie wouldcurl up at Polly's side, and fondle the doll that Grandpapa gave herlast, which had the honour to take the European trip with the family.Phronsie would smooth the little dress down carefully, and then withher hand in Polly's, she would sit motionless till the reading wasover. Mamsie, whose fingers could not be idle, although the big mendingbasket was left at home, would be over on the sofa, sewing busily; andlittle Dr. Fisher would run in and out, and beaming at them all throughhis spectacles, would cry cheerily, "Well, I declare, you have the mostcomfortable place on the whole boat, Mr. Selwyn." Or Dr. Jones, whomPolly thought, next to Papa Fisher, was the very nicest doctor in allthe world, would appear suddenly around the curtain, and smile approvalthrough his white teeth. At last on the fifth day out, the old man washelped up to sun himself in his steamer chair on deck. And then he hada perfect coterie around him, oh-ing and ah-ing over his illness, andexpressing sympathy in every shape, for since Mr. King and his partytook him up, it was quite the thing for all the other passengers tofollow suit.

  When a few hours of this sort of thing had been going on, the old mancalled abruptly to Polly Pepper, who had left him, seeing he had suchgood company about him, and had now skipped up with Jasper to toss hima merry word, or to see if his steamer rug was all tucked in snuglyaround him.

  "See here, Polly Pepper, do you play chess?"

  "What, sir?" Polly thought she had not heard correctly.

  "Do you play chess, I say?" demanded old Mr. Selwyn, bringing his sharplittle eyes to bear on her.

  "No, sir, that is--only a little," stammered Polly.

  "Well, that will do for a start," the old gentleman nodded insatisfaction. "And I'll give you some points later on about the game.Well, and you play backgammon, of course." He didn't wait for her toanswer, but finished, "These people here drive me almost crazy, askingme how I feel, and what was the matter with me, and all that rubbish.Now, I'm going into the library, and you shall go too, and we'll have agame of backgammon."

  He flung back his steamer rug with a determined hand.

  Jasper began, "Oh, Polly!" in dismay, but she broke in, "Yes, indeed, Ido play backgammon, Mr. Selwyn, and it will be fine to have a game."And together they helped him up and into a cosey corner of the library.

  "There, now," said Polly, with a final little pat on the sofa pillowstucked up at his back. "I believe you are as comfortable as you can be,Mr. Selwyn."

  "Indeed I am," he declared.

  "And now, Jasper, do get the backgammon board," cried Polly. "There itis over there," spying it on a further table.

  Old Mr. Selwyn cast a hungry glance on it as it was brought forward,and his sharp little eyes sparkled, as Polly threw it open. He evenchuckled in delight as he set the men.

  Tom Selwyn came up to the door, and standing in its shadow, looked in.Jasper flung himself down on the sofa by the old gentleman's side towatch the game. Suddenly he glanced up, caught sight of Tom, althoughthe latter's head was quickly withdrawn, and jumping up, he dashedafter him.

  "Here--see here, Tom!" he called to the big figure before him, makinggood time down the stairs. "I can't go chasing you all over the boat inthis fashion. Stop, will you?"

  "What do you want?" demanded Tom, crossly, feeling it impossible toelude such a pursuer, and backing up against a convenient angle.

  "I want you to come up into the library and watch the game. Do, it'llbe the best time,"--he didn't say "to make it all up."

  "Can't," said Tom, "he won't see me."

  "Oh, yes, he will; I almost know he will," declared Jasper, eagerlyfeeling this minute as if the most unheard-of things were possible.

  "And beside,
your sister--I mean the Pepper girl--Miss Pepper--" Tomcorrected himself clumsily. "She can't bear me--I won't come."

  "Oh, yes, she can now," said Jasper, just as eagerly, "especially sinceI've told her all you've told me."

  "Well, I hate girls anyway," declared Tom, in his most savage fashion;"always have hated 'em, and always shall. I won't come!"