CHAPTER XIII
CHRISTMAS HOLIDAYS
"Here's the tack-hammer, Hippy, and don't fall off the ladder, please,"cautioned Grace, as she assisted Hippy Wingate to tack up an evergreengarland in Mrs. Gray's drawing room.
Not in twenty years had the old house taken on such holiday attire.Great bunches of holly and cedar filled the vases and bowls anddecorated the chandeliers. Fires blazed on every hearth and the warmglow from many candles and shaded lamps brightened the fine old rooms.
"My dear young people," exclaimed Mrs. Gray, coming in just then, "howhappy you make me feel! I do wish you were all really my children andcould forever stay just the ages you are now."
"This house would be like the palace of everlasting youth, then,wouldn't it, Mrs. Gray?" suggested Anne.
"Until some meddlesome little Pandora came along, opened the box and letall the troubles out," interposed David, who was still feeling verybitter toward his sister Miriam, and glad to leave home for a time untilhis anger had cooled.
"Ah, well, we have no Pandoras here," answered Mrs. Gray, smiling on theyoung guests. "You are all girls and boys after my own heart, and Itrust we shall have a beautiful time together. But here comes thatnephew of mine, Tom Gray. I wonder if he's grown out of allrecollection."
While she was speaking one of the town hacks had driven up to the steps,and there was a violent ring at the bell.
"Mr. Thomas Gray," announced the old butler at the door and Tom Gray,who had been the subject of endless speculation and conjecture, enteredthe room.
"If he turns out to be disagreeable or stupid or anything," the girlshad been whispering, "it would be such a pity because everybody else isso nice."
Neither had the boys felt inclined to be prepossessed in Tom Gray'sfavor. He was a stranger, from New York, older than themselves and incollege.
"I wish he wasn't going to butt in with his city manners," Reddy Brookswas thinking regretfully. "He is sure to have a swelled head and try toboss the crowd."
They had pictured him as a sort of dandy, with needle-toed patentleather shoes and a coat cut in at the waist and padded over theshoulders.
Even David had voiced a few thoughts on the subject of Tom Gray.
"I'll bet he's an English dude," he said. For Mrs. Gray's nephew hadspent most of his life in England. "He'll probably carry a cane and weara monocle."
They were not surprised, therefore, when a young man entered the roomwho bore out somewhat the picture they had conjured. He was tall andslender, very dapper and rather ladylike in his bearing. His alert, darkeyes were set too close together, and his face had a narrow, sinisterlook that made them all feel uncomfortable. He spoke with a decidedEnglish accent, in a light, flippant voice which sent a quiver ofdislike up and down David's spine, and made Reddy Brooks give his rightarm a vigorous twirl as if he would have liked to pitch something at theyoung man's head.
Mrs. Gray was the most surprised person in the room. It must beremembered that she had not seen her nephew since he was a child, andshe had hoped for better things than this. However, always the mostcourteous and loyal of souls, she now made the best of the situation andgreeted the newcomer cordially, though she did not bestow upon him themotherly kiss she had been saving.
Tom Gray bowed low over his aunt's hand.
"You are so much changed, Tom; I should hardly have known you,"exclaimed the old lady, trying to conceal her disappointment and dismay."England has weaned you away from your own country. You look as if youhad just stepped out of Piccadilly."
"And so I have, aunt," replied the young man, using a very broad "a." "Ihave been in this country only a few months. England is the only placein the world for me, you know. I can't bear America."
Hippy Wingate gave himself an angry shake, which made all the ornamentson the mantelpiece rattle ominously.
"You must let me introduce you to my young friends, Tom," said Mrs.Gray, changing the subject quickly.
The introductions having been accomplished, she took his arm and led theway back to dinner.
"Do you think we can stand him for a week?" whispered David to Grace, asthey followed down the hall.
"We'll have to," replied Grace, "or hurt Mrs. Gray's feelings. But isn'the the limit?"
"Asinine dandy!" hissed Hippy.
"I knew he'd be a Miss Nancy," exclaimed Reddy.
The girls did not express their disappointment, but as the mealprogressed the conversation was strained and stupid.
"How did you leave your cousins in England, Tom?" asked Mrs. Gray,trying to keep the ball rolling and inwardly wishing she had never askedher nephew down.
"Quite well, thank you, aunt," replied Thomas Gray. "I expect to leavethis beastly country and join them very soon."
"Indeed?" answered Mrs. Gray, flushing and with difficulty keeping backthe tears of disappointment. To think a nephew of hers could have turnedout like this!
"Do you play football?" demanded Hippy abruptly.
"Really, I don't care for the game," answered Thomas. "It's awfullyrough, don't you know."
"Perhaps you prefer baseball?" suggested Grace.
"No," continued the young man, "I can't say I do. The truth is, I don'tlike outdoor games at all."
"What do you like, then?" demanded Nora, giving him a glance ofineffable scorn.
"I like afternoon tea," he answered, "and bridge."
Reddy almost groaned aloud, but he remembered his manners and choked hisoutburst of disgust.
"It is a pity," said Tom's aunt, turning her nearsighted blue eyes onhim in amazement and displeasure. "Our Oakdale boys are all athletes.Even David here, the scholar and inventor, I'll venture to say, knowsfootball and baseball as well as his friends."
"I'm not much of an inventor, Mrs. Gray," protested David. "You know myairship tumbled down before it got half way across the gym. But I shallnever lose hope."
"Ah, airships?" exclaimed Thomas Gray, and deliberately taking a monoclefrom his pocket, he stuck it in his eye and stared at David, who chokedand sputtered in his glass of water, while Hippy dropped a fork thatfell on his plate with a great clatter.
Mrs. Gray raised her lorgnette and looked at her nephew.
"Thomas," she said sternly, "don't wear that thing here. It's not thecustom in this town or in this country, for that matter. If you arenearsighted, buy yourself a pair of spectacles."
"Certainly, aunt, certainly; it shall be as you wish," replied Thomas,without a tinge of embarrassment. "I am so unused to America, you know."
Then Nora relieved the painful situation by laughing. She was taken withthe giggles and she laughed till the tears rolled down her cheeks. Theothers laughed, too, even Mrs. Gray, who felt that she might give way tohysterics at any moment.
After dinner Thomas Gray detained his aunt in another room, while thegirls and boys returned to the parlor. The two were closeted togetherfor some time, and when they finally appeared, Mrs. Gray lookedstrangely flushed and nervous. But there was a smile on her nephew'sthin lips and a dangerous flicker in his crafty eyes.
"I'll stake my last cent he's been getting money out of his poor littleaunty," said David to Grace. "He's just the kind to do it."
"Poor Mrs. Gray!" exclaimed Grace. "I am so sorry for her. You can'tthink how she's been planning this party for months. Why did she everask down that wretch of a nephew? David, do try and make friends withhim. Maybe there's something good in him after all, and it will helpthings along if Mrs. Gray feels that we want to like him."
"All right," promised David. "It goes against my grain to talk with aMiss Nancy dandy like that. It gives me a feeling in my chest likeindigestion and bronchitis combined--but I'll make the effort."
So he went over and joined the Anglo-American, and began to talk withhim in an easy, friendly sort of way.
"Won't you come over by the fire," he said. "I think we are going toplay some games the girls have planned."
"Thanks, no," said the other, stifling a yawn. "I think I'll retire.I've had a long journey
and I'm awfully knocked out. By the way, oldchap," he continued, coming closer to David and whispering in his ear,which made that sensitive young man draw back with a quiver of dislike,"you couldn't favor me with a few dollars, could you? I left my checkbook in my portmanteau, which is still on the way and I find I haven't acent. I'll return it to-morrow."
David regarded him with amazement. Here was a man whom he had met onlyan hour before, already trying to borrow money from him. Schoolboys arenot likely to have money about them, but David did happen to have fivedollars in his pocket.
"Certainly," was all he said, as he handed over the money.
The transaction had only taken a moment and when David drew out the fivedollar bill, he was careful not to let anyone see him do it. However,Mrs. Gray, who had been out of the room, returned at the very moment themoney was changing hands. In a flash she saw what her nephew had done.Without stopping to think she made straight for the two young men.
"Tom Gray," she said, speaking too low for anyone except her nephew andDavid to hear, "how dare you ask me for money and then borrow from oneof my guests? You are a disgrace to your father, and to the name ofGray! I am ashamed of you and I command you to give that money back toDavid instantly."
Tom Gray was as angry as his aunt. His face went from red to white, andhe looked as if he would like to break a vase or tear something topieces.
"'Eavens, awnt, don't make a scene. I wouldn't a' awsked 'im, h'if I'adn't needed more money. I'll pay him to-morrow."
Mrs. Gray and David were too surprised to speak. It was plain that, whenTom Gray was angry, he dropped his h's.
David looked at him curiously, then he drew the old lady's arm throughhis.
"Don't bother, Mrs. Gray," he said. "It was only a small loan, and I wasglad to be of service. I believe Mr. Gray wants to go to bed now. Hejust said he was very tired. Shall I take him up?"
"If you will," replied Mrs. Gray, quieting down. "His room is nextyours, David. Will you show him the way?"
"Young people," she said, going across to the boys and girls, who hadgathered around the fire and were laughing and talking in low voices,"would you mind if we all went up early to-night? I feel a little out ofsorts--bewildered--I don't know what. Children change so as they growup," she added, sighing.
The poor old lady's eyes filled with tears. She slipped her arm aroundAnne's waist.
"You will never change, my dear boys and girls. You will all grow intofine men and women, I feel certain, and be devoted citizens of thissplendid country of ours, which has always been good enough for ourmothers and fathers, and ought to be quite good enough for us."
"Three cheers for America!" cried Hippy Wingate, giving his plump figurea twist like a whirling dervish.
Mrs. Gray laughed.
"Yes, indeed, my dears, America is a splendid country and every Americanshould be proud to say so."
"And Oakdale is one of the nicest places in America," piped up Anne.
"Hurrah for Oakdale!" cried Hippy again.
"And Oakdale High School!" added Anne.
"And hurrah for the sponsor of the freshman class!" exclaimed Grace.
Whereupon they formed a circle, with Mrs. Gray in the middle, and dancedabout her laughing and singing:
"Hurrah for Mrs. Gray!"
The pretty, little old lady beamed happily upon her adopted family, asshe called them.
"My darling children!" she cried. "Kiss me good night, every one of you,and we'll all go up to our beds."