Five Little Peppers Abroad

  VI

  A LITTLE SURPRISE

  "Sir," said little Mr. Selwyn, bringing his sharp black eyes to bearupon old Mr. King, "you've been very good to me, and I've not beenalways pleasant. But it's my way, sir; it's my way."

  Mr. King nodded pleasantly, although deep in his heart he agreed withthe choleric old gentleman. "But as for Polly, why, she's good--good asgold, sir." There was no mistaking Mr. Selwyn's sentiments there, andhis old cheek glowed while giving what to him meant the most wonderfulpraise to be paid to a person.

  Old Mr. King straightened up. "You've said the right thing now," hedeclared.

  "And I wish I could see that girl when she's grown up," added thelittle old gentleman. "I want really to know what sort of a womanshe'll make. I do, indeed, sir."

  "It isn't necessary to speculate much on it," answered Mr. King,confidently, "when you look at her mother and remember the bringing upthat Polly Pepper has had."

  The little old gentleman squinted hard at the clouds scudding acrossthe blue sky. "That's so," he said at last. "Well, I'm sorry we are topart," he added. "And, sir, I really wish you would come down to myplace with your party and give me a fortnight during your stay inEngland. I really do, sir, upon me word." There was no mistaking hisearnestness as he thrust out one thin, long-fingered hand. With theother, he set a card within Mr. King's fingers.

  "Arthur Selwyn, The Earl of Cavendish," met Mr. King's eyes.

  "I had a fancy to do this thing," said the little old gentleman, "torun across from America in simple fashion, and it pleased the boy, whohates a fuss. And we've gotten rid of all sorts of nuisances by it;interviews, and tiresome people. And I've enjoyed it mightily." Hechuckled away till it seemed as if he were never going to stop. Old Mr.King burst out laughing, too; and the pair were so very jolly that thepassengers, grouped together waiting for the Liverpool landing, turnedto stare at them.

  "Just see how intimate Mr. King is with that tiresome, common, old Mr.Selwyn!" exclaimed Mrs. Vanderburgh to her daughter. "I never was sosurprised at anything in all my life, to see that he keeps it up now,for I thought that aristocratic Horatio King was the most fastidiousbeing alive."

  "The Kings have awfully nice times," grumbled Fanny, picking her glovesdiscontentedly. "And you keep me mewed up, and won't let me speak toanybody whose grandfather wasn't born in our set, and I hate and loatheit all."

  "You'll be glad when you are a few years older, and I bring you out insociety, that I always have been so particular," observed Mrs.Vanderburgh, complacently, lifting her head in its dainty bonnet,higher than ever.

  "I want some nice times and a little fun now," whined Fanny, with anenvious glance over at Polly and Jasper with the dreadful Selwyn boybetween them, and Phronsie running up to join them, and everybody intheir party just bubbling over with happiness.

  "I wish Mr. King and his party would go to Paris now," said her mother,suddenly.

  "Oh, don't I just wish it!" cried Fanny, in a burst. "Did you ask him,Mamma?"

  "Yes, indeed; I talked for fully half an hour yesterday, but it was nouse. And he doesn't seem to know how long he is going to stay inEngland; 'only a few days,' he said, vaguely, then they go to Holland."

  "Oh, why couldn't we go to Holland!" exclaimed Fanny, impulsively, andher eyes brightened; "splendid Holland, that would be something like,Mamma!"

  "You forget the Van Dykes are to be in Paris awaiting us."

  "Oh, those stupid Van Dykes!" exploded Fanny. "Mamma, don't go therenow. Do change, and let us go to Holland with the Kings. Do, Mamma,"she implored.

  "Why, Fanny Vanderburgh!" exclaimed her mother, sharply, "what is thematter with you? You know it was settled long ago, that we should meetMrs. Van Dyke and Eleanor in Paris at just this very time. It wouldnever do to offend them, particularly when Eleanor is going to marryinto the Howard set."

  "And I'll have the most stupid time imaginable," cried Fanny,passionately, "dragging around while you and the Van Dykes are buyingthat trousseau."

  "Yes, that's one thing that I wanted the Kings to go to Paris for,"said Mrs. Vanderburgh; "you could be with them. And really they aremuch more important than any one to get in with. And I'd keep up thefriendship with the Van Dykes. But that Mr. King is so obstinate, youcan't do anything with him." A frown settled all across her prettyface, and she beat her foot impatiently on the deck.

  "You spoil everything, Mamma, with your sets and your stupid people,"declared Fanny, her passion by no means cooled. "When I come out insociety I'm going to choose my own friends," she muttered to herself,and set her lips tightly together.

  Mr. King was saying, "Thank you, so much, Mr. Selwyn, for I reallythink I'd prefer to call you so, as I knew you so first."

  "So you shall," cried the little Earl, glancing around on the groups,"and it's better just here, at all events," and he chuckled again."Then you really will come?" and he actually seized Mr. King's hand andwrung it heartily.

  "No, I was about to say it is quite impossible."

  The Earl of Cavendish stared blankly up out of his sharp little blackeyes in utter amazement into the other's face. "My stay in London isshort, only a few days," Mr. King was saying, "and then we go directlyto Holland. I thank you all the same--believe me, I appreciate it. Itis good of you to ask us," he cordially added.

  The little Earl of Cavendish broke away from him, and took a few hastysteps down the deck to get this new idea fairly into his brain that hisinvitation had not been accepted. Then he hurried back. "My dear sir,"he said, laying his hand on Mr. King's arm, "will you do me the favourto try to come at some future time--to consider your plans before youreturn to America, and see if you can't manage to give me this greatpleasure of welcoming you to my home? Think of it, I beg, and drop me aline; if at home, I shall always be most glad to have you with me. Ishould esteem it a privilege." The Earl of Cavendish was astonished tofind himself beseeching the American gentleman without a title. Andthen they awaked to the fact that the groups of passengers were merginginto a solid mass, and a slow procession was beginning to form for thestairway, and the landing episode was well under way.

  Mrs. Vanderburgh, determined not to bid good-by on the steamer but tobe with the Kings till the last moment, rushed up to them on the wharf,followed by Fanny.

  "Oh, we are _so_ sorry you are not going to Paris with us," cried Mrs.Vanderburgh, while Fanny flew at Polly Pepper and engrossed herhungrily. "Can't you reconsider it now?" she asked, with a prettyearnestness.

  "No, it is impossible," answered Mr. King, for about the fiftieth time."Our plans will not allow it. I hope you and your daughter will havethe best of times," he remarked politely.

  "Yes, we shall; we meet old friends there, and Paris is alwaysdelightful." Mrs. Vanderburgh bit her lip in her vexation. "I was goingto see you and beg you even now to change your plans, while we were onthe steamer waiting to land," she went on hurriedly, "but you werebored--I quite pitied you--by that tiresome, common, old Mr. Selwyn."

  "Yes, I was talking with him," said Mr. King, "but excuse me, I was notbored. He is peculiar, but not at all common, and he has many goodqualities as a man; and I like the boy immensely."

  "How can you?" Mrs. Vanderburgh gave a little high-bred laugh. "Theyare so insufferably common, Mr. King, those Selwyns are."

  "Excuse me," said Mr. King, "that was the Earl of Cavendish; it will dono harm to mention it now, as they have gone."

  "Who--who?" demanded Mrs. Vanderburgh in a bewildered way.

  "I did not know it till this morning," Mr. King was explaining, "butour fellow-passenger, Mr. Selwyn, chose to cross over keeping his realidentity unknown, and I must say I admire his taste in the matter; andanyway it was his affair and not mine." It was a long speech, and atits conclusion Mrs. Vanderburgh was still demanding, "Who--who?" in asmuch of a puzzle as ever.

  "The Earl of Cavendish," repeated Mr. King; "Mr. Selwyn is the Earl ofCavendish. As I say, he did not wish it known, and--"

  "Fanny--Fanny!" called her mother, sitting helples
sly on the firstthing that presented itself, a box of merchandise by no means clean."Fan-ny! the--the Earl of Cavendish!" She could get no further.

  Little Dr. Fisher, who administered restoratives and waited on Mrs.Vanderburgh and her daughter to their London train, came skipping backto the Liverpool hotel.

  "I hope, wife, I sha'n't grow uncharitable,"--he actually glaredthrough his big spectacles,--"but Heaven defend us on our travels fromany further specimens like that woman."

  "We shall meet all sorts, probably, Adoniram," said his wife, calmly;"it really doesn't matter with our party of eight; we can take solidcomfort together."

  The little doctor came out of his ill temper, but he said ruefully,"That's all very well, wife, for you and the Hendersons; for yousteered pretty clear, I noticed, of that woman. Well, she's gone." Andhe smiled cheerfully. "Now for dinner, for I suppose Mr. King hasordered it."

  "Yes, he has," said his wife. "And you have a quarter of an hour. I'veput your clothes out all ready."

  "All right." The little doctor was already plunging here and there,tearing off his coat and necktie and boots; and exactly at the timeset, he joined the party, with a bright and shining face, as if no Mrs.Vanderburgh, or any one in the least resembling her, had ever crossedhis path.

  "Jasper," cried Polly, as they hurried along out of the Harwich trainto the steamer that was to take them to the Hook of Holland, "can youreally believe we are almost there?"

  * * * * *

  "No, I can't," said Jasper, "for I've wanted to see Holland for such atime."

  "Wasn't it good of Grandpapa," cried Polly, "to take us here the firstthing after London?"

  "Father always does seem to plan things rightly," answered Jasper, witha good degree of pride. "And then 'it's prime,'" "as Joel used to say,"he was going to add, but thought better of it, as any reference to theboys always set Polly to longing for them.

  "Indeed, he does," exclaimed Polly, in her most earnest fashion; "he'sever and always the most splendid Grandpapa. Oh, I wish I could dothings for him, Jasper," she mourned; "he's so good to us."

  "You do things for him all the while, Polly," Jasper made haste to say,as they ran along to keep up with the Parson and Mrs. Henderson'scomfortable figures just before them; "you are all the while doingsomething for him."

  "Oh, no, I don't," said Polly, "there isn't anything I can do for him.Don't you suppose there ever will be, Jasper?" she asked imploringly.

  "Yes, indeed," said Jasper; "there always are things that hop up to bedone when people keep their eyes open. But don't you worry about yournot doing anything for him, Polly. Promise me that." Jasper took herhand and stopped just a minute to look into her face.

  "I'll try not to," promised Polly, "but, oh, Jasper, I do so very muchwish there might be something that I could do. I do, indeed, Jasper."

  "It was only yesterday," said Jasper, as they began to hurry on oncemore, "that father said 'you can't begin to think, Jasper, what acomfort Polly Pepper is to me.'"

  "Did he, Jasper?" cried Polly, well pleased, the colour flying over hercheek, "that was nice of him, because there isn't anything much I canreally do for him. O dear! there is Grandpapa beckoning to us tohurry." So on they sped, having no breath for words. And presently theywere on the boat, and little Dr. Fisher and Mr. Henderson went forwardinto the saloon, where the rooms reserved beforehand were to be givenout, and the rest of the party waited and watched the stream of peopleof all ages and sizes and nationalities who desired to reach Hollandthe next morning.

  To Polly it was a world of delight, and to Jasper, who watched herkeenly, it was a revelation to see how nothing escaped her, no matterhow noisy and dirty or turbulent the crowd, or how annoying thedetention,--it was all a marvel of happiness from beginning to end. AndJasper looking back over the two times he had been before to Europewith his father, although he had never seen Holland, remembered only asort of dreary drifting about with many pleasant episodes andexperiences, it is true, still with the feeling on the whole of themost distinct gladness when their faces were turned homeward and thejourneying was over.

  "Mamsie," cried Polly, poking her head out from the upper berth of thestuffy little state-room assigned to Mrs. Fisher, Mrs. Henderson,Phronsie, and herself; "was anything ever so delicious as thisboat?--and to think, Mamsie,"--here Polly paused to add as impressivelyas if the idea had never been voiced before,--"that we are really tosee Holland to-morrow."

  "You'd better go to sleep now, then," said Mrs. Fisher, wisely, "if youwant to be bright and ready really to see much of Holland in themorning, Polly."

  "That's so," answered Polly, ducking back her head to its pillow, andwriggling her toes in satisfaction; "Phronsie is asleep already, isn'tshe, Mamsie?"

  "Yes," said Mrs. Fisher, "she dropped off as soon as her head touchedthe pillow. Good night, Polly, you would better do the same."

  "Good night, Mamsie," said Polly, with a sleepy little yawn, "and goodnight, dear Mrs. Henderson," she added, already almost in dreamland.