CHAPTER IV
HER MOTHER'S HOME
At Albany, when Miss Hilliard and Janet descended from the train whichbrought them from New York they started into the station but were metat once by an obsequious colored man in livery, who inquired if theywere not the Van Meter guests and took their light bags. Inside, afine-looking woman, in a roomy coat of gray and a close hat, seemed tohave been watching for them, and came forward to meet them. "I am Mrs.Holt, Miss Hilliard. This is our cousin Janet, I suppose. I am glad tosee you both. Allow me to present Mr. Andrew Van Meter, MissHilliard,--Cousin Janet. Now we are hoping that you will come to thefarm with us, Miss Hilliard. My cousin Pieter begs pardon for nothaving urged it, but until your last note came, he did not feel likeasking you to leave your girls."
"He would scarcely think that I could bring Janet myself, I know; but Ioccasionally run away for a few days. However, I have business in NewYork, and it is impossible for me to accept your kind invitation. It isjust as well for you to have Janet to yourselves, also. Perhaps Mr. VanMeter and I may meet some time to talk over matters relating to thislittle girl. She is anticipating this visit with much pleasure." MissHilliard emphasized "visit" a little.
All this was said before and after shaking hands with Mr. Andrew VanMeter and while he was exchanging a few words with Janet. Janet foundhim interesting. She had noticed that he rose with some difficulty froma seat near Mrs. Holt, when they first approached, and leaned a littleupon a light cane in his left hand, while he extended his right. He wastall, thin, with a pale face and large, dark eyes. His nose was alittle long for beauty, but he had a pleasant mouth, which smiled alittle as he told Janet that he was her "Cousin Andy" and her UnclePieter's son.
"I am so glad to have some family," she informed him. "Did you ever seemy mother?" she continued.
"Yes. You look like her."
But it was time to bid Miss Hilliard goodbye. She said that she had anerrand in Albany, but would take the next train back to New York. Janetwondered what that errand was, but would not, of course, ask MissHilliard. Then, too, she was anxious to reach the end of her journey,and that anticipation, with the pleasant impression made by Mrs. Holtand her cousin, helped very much to keep Janet from any regrets atsaying another goodbye. "Write to me very soon, Janet," said MissHilliard, and Janet promised.
The car to which Janet was shown was a good one, but not new. It alsobore evidences of April weather, though the day was a bright one."There were some mud-holes, Janet, as you can see," said Mrs. Holt. "Wecould have directed you to come farther by train, somewhat nearer theVan Meter place, you know. But it seemed troublesome for Miss Hilliardto arrange the change, and we wanted you to see the country. A motortrip is much better for that. Our light truck is getting your baggage."
The three of them stepped within the car and waited for the coloredchauffeur, who was attending to the matter of Janet's trunk and asuit-case with the driver of the light truck referred to. This waitednot far away.
"Now you are wondering, I know, who I am and how we are all related,"said Mrs. Holt. "I could not tell everything in that little note that Idashed off to put in the box. It is better to have your uncle Pieterexplain, perhaps,--"
"If he will," inserted Mr. Andrew Van Meter.
"Yes, if he will," laughed Mrs. Holt. "You will not find your unclevery communicative, Janet, but he is very glad to have you here and itis due to him that you are 'discovered.' As I was about to say, I am adistant cousin and I am supposed to be the housekeeper at the place.Really, old P'lina runs the house and I officiate at the show part ofit, though we have very little company just now. Uncle Pieter isexpecting me to coach you a little in your studies, and what I don'tknow Andrew here can tell you."
"Oh, I'm glad that it is to be the family that teaches me," said Janetwith content. These were lovely people. But she did wonder what was thematter with Cousin Andy. Oh, of course,--he would have been in the war!He must have been injured,--poor Cousin Andy! She would not take anynotice, of course. Some one would tell her.
Little more was said about personal affairs. Mrs. Holt was kept busypointing out interesting spots, hills, places along the roads whichthey took. It was a much longer ride than Janet had supposed. The NewYork country was beautiful, she thought. She had been among thePennsylvania hills and mountains, but never in New York except in thegreat city on her way to the seashore. Cousin Andy said little. Therewas a delicious little lunch which they ate on the way, and in reply toquestions from Mrs. Holt--older people could ask questions, but nevergirls,--Janet chatted about her life at the school, her dearest friendsand the funny farewell that she had had at the last. She did not,however, repeat the "crazy" verse sung about "Uncle Pieter."
Janet did not forget to speak with enthusiasm of the box and itscontents. "I had never had one sent me in my life. Whoever baked thatcake certainly can cook! The girls thought it just wonderful."
Mrs. Holt laughed. "That was old P'lina herself, I think. You will findher a bit difficult, perhaps, Janet, but you must remember that her'bark' is considerably worse than her 'bite,' as they say."
What a funny name that was, P'lina. Janet wondered how they spelled it.Was it a Dutch name, too?
In silence they drove into the drive of the Van Meter place. A grove oftrees in early spring beginnings of foliage had impeded the view of ituntil they were almost at the entrance. Janet sat forward eagerly tolook.
It was not different from much of the country which she had alreadyseen, with its sweep of undulating valley and background of hills. Itwas really a farm, then; but the land immediately surrounding the housewas laid out formally for beauty. The house stood behind some great oakand elm trees upon an elevation which was terraced. Behind it werehills. Janet wondered if the Catskill mountains could be seen from thehouse. She had forgotten those, which she had seen from the train. Shewas not far from Rip Van Winkle country anyhow.
"This is all different from when your mother was here," Cousin Andyvolunteered. "Father has made all this improvement in and about thehouse, and the whole front of it is new. The old Dutch house stillstands, though."
"Yes," said Mrs. Holt, "and if you like, you may have the room that wasyour mother's."
"Oh, I should like that above all things!"
"I wouldn't give her that one, Diana," said Andrew. "It may not turnout as well as she thinks."
"We shall see," returned Mrs. Holt, and Janet wondered why Cousin Andyhad said that.
"Has the 'old Dutch house' stood since 'way back in 'Knickerbocker'times?" asked Janet, looking curiously at the more modern front, madein "Dutch Colonial" style, with its porch and two high-backed benchesone on each side. The house, in front of which the car now stopped, wasof red brick, its woodwork, in entrance and windows, painted white.
Janet had a slight feeling of disappointment to know that the place hadbeen so modernized, but common sense told her that it would be in allprobability much more comfortable. How big it was!
Andrew Van Meter answered Janet's question, as he slowly left the carand stood leaning on his cane and stretching one hand to assist Mrs.Holt and Janet. "The original house was burned by the Indians," hesaid. "All this land was given by grant from the English government,back in about sixteen hundred and seventy, to one of our ancestors, nota Van Meter, however, if I remember correctly. It will please Father ifyou care to ask him all about it. He will show you what we have on theearly history of New York and of our particular family."
"I will ask him," said Janet, whose study of American history wasrecent.
Next, there she was inside of the big room, where a fire burnedbrightly and a tall, stooped man rose from an armchair to meet her. Itwas Uncle Pieter. Why, he must have been ever so much older than hermother! His hair was quite white, though his face did not look so old.
Mr. Van Meter senior, took Janet's hand and shook it limply a little."I am glad that you are here," he said. "I expect it to be your homefrom now on. While your moth
er had her share of the estate, herdaughter has some rights in the home of her ancestors."
Janet's uncle was looking at her rather tensely, while he spoke in adeliberate way, as if he had thought beforehand what he intended tosay. "You look like your mother," he added, dropping her hand. "Whatroom has been made ready for her, Diana?"
"She may have either a room in the new part of the house, or hermother's room in the old part," returned Mrs. Holt.
"I should prefer my mother's room," timidly Janet offered.
"Show her both of them," said Pieter Van Meter. "You will be morecomfortable in this part, I should say."
With this comment, Uncle Pieter resumed his seat, picking up the paperwhich he had been reading, and apparently dismissing the matter, Janetas well. But Mrs. Holt beckoned Janet to follow her.
Janet Eldon's feelings were indescribable, as Diana Holt conducted herover the house of her forefathers. She kept thinking, "This place iswhere my mother lived when she was a girl like me!"
The new part was large and beautiful, the whole arrangement a littleunusual. In order to preserve the front and appearance of the oldhouse, the new building was attached to it in such a way that it faceda sort of court, which it helped to form.
Widely the new "Dutch Colonial" stretched across, facing the main road,but at a great distance from it. There were large rooms here, parlors,library and hall downstairs, and suites of smaller rooms upstairs forMr. Van Meter and his son.
At the left, an extension, which contained a large dining-room andkitchen downstairs, and bedrooms upstairs, ran back for some distance,to connect at its right by corridors only with the old house, whichthus formed the third side of the court and in width equalled the newfront; for even in its time the old Van Meter home had been more orless imposing, the connecting corridors now supplying the difference inextent. By this arrangement the old house received almost as much lightin all its rooms as of yore. Beautiful trees and a pergola with aconcrete floor, rustic seats and a swing were at the right of the courtand the house walls, which made the court more or less retired. Wingsthat had been built upon the old house with the growth of the familyhad been removed and stood as small buildings for stores, some distanceback from the now fairly symmetrical home.
"John says that the only reason your uncle Pieter did not take down theold house was that he did not want to disturb the 'ha'nts,'" said Mrs.Holt, with a slight laugh of amusement. "But that can not be true, forPieter took great pains to fix the old kitchen in the most accuraterepresentation of an old colonial kitchen, and he has left some oldpaintings, which would grace the new parlors very well, for the oldones, just because they always hung there. He made quite a show placeof it at first, P'lina tells me."
"It's a real 'haunted house,' then?" Janet inquired, as they steppedfrom a rear door of the new part to the green spaces of the court. Withinterest she looked at the well preserved front of the aged dwelling,approached by a walk of flat stones sunk in the turf. It was all veryquaint and beautiful, Janet thought.
"Yes, it has the reputation of being haunted, Janet, but of course thatis all nonsense. However, if you are timid, you'd better stay in thenew part."
"I'd love to have it haunted by my mother," smiled Janet. "She wouldmake a lovely ghost, I'm sure."
"She would," said Mrs. Holt, unlocking the front door. "I thought thatit would interest you more to enter here, Janet. Step over thethreshold, now, where all your ancestors before you have trod! No,--thefirst house was burned by Indians. But this has stood for many a longyear."
Thoughtfully Janet entered the door and stood looking about the centralhall. There they had placed the old spinning wheel. The antlers of alarge deer's head stretched from the wall above her.
As they went from room to room, Janet was almost confused. There werethe big fireplaces. Some of them, Mrs. Holt explained, had been boardedup and stoves used, but these Mr. Van Meter had restored to theiroriginal appearance, with old andirons, found in the attic, and otherancient appurtenances, like the queer old leather bellows, used tocreate a blaze, and the long-handled brass warming-pan that stood, orhung, in a corner of the kitchen. Old dishes, the cranes, and old ironkettles, even an old gun, hung above the plain mantel, were arevelation of the antique to Janet. She could scarcely have lived inPhiladelphia without knowing something about such things, but she hadnever had any personal interest before. Although she said little, Mrs.Holt saw that her young companion was interested.
"Friends from New York, Albany and Troy often visit us, Janet, and arebrought here to admire. We sometimes have a house full in the summer."
"Who is John, Cousin Diana?" asked Janet suddenly, "John that spoke ofthe 'ha'nts'?"
"Oh, yes. I haven't told you about my son, Janet. He will be here in afew days, for his spring vacation begins, late this year, on account ofa contagious disease that some of them had, and the boys were notallowed to leave. He was christened Jan, but prefers to be called John."
"I wouldn't," said Janet. "From now on, I'm going to spell my name withtwo n's."
"You think so now," said Mrs. Holt with an indulgent smile.
From room to room they went, Mrs. Holt pointing out the old highboys,claw-footed mahogany tables and desks, and telling Janet whose were thefaces in the pictures upon the walls. At last they went up thebeautiful old staircase, through bedrooms made comfortable with modernsprings upon the old four posters, and Mrs. Holt stopped before one ofthe doors, drawing a key from her pocket.
"This, Janet, is your mother's room. Your uncle gave direction to haveit kept locked and to permit no one to enter on any tour of inspection.So you may be sure that it has not been looked at with curious eyes.Only P'lina and I are ever supposed to enter it, though I think thatyour uncle has a key, and it is possible that he comes in occasionally.
"You see how this corridor runs over to the new part, where my bedroomopens directly upon the hall there. Old P'lina sleeps near you, if youdecide to take this room. You will see a picture of your mother thatwill give you great pleasure, I think, and I'm leaving you alone now,child,--to go in by yourself. You will find me in my bedroom for awhile, but if you want to stay here, I will see that you are called forsupper. It will be late, I think. We have supper, not dinner, at night,except when we have guests. May you be happy, my dear, to find yourmother's room at last."