CHAPTER VI
A "CLOSE-UP" VIEW
Dalton had gone to the town on the railroad, where he had arranged tohave his mail sent for a while, writing to the lawyer again and tellinghim to direct important letters to the general delivery there for thepresent. Sarita had a headache and was lying down for the afternoon,looked in upon occasionally by Elizabeth, who was at her usualoccupation of sketching or painting. Beth ascribed Sarita's headache tosome cheap candy which the girls had bought at the village and washoping that a little soreness about Sarita's throat would not amount toanything.
Leslie, who had been in the ocean earlier in the day with Elizabeth, wasa bit of bright color on the beach in a red frock and sweater to match.She was easily seen from the launch, where figures waved at her andpointed toward the dock, a small one at the end of the town nearest theSecrest headland, as Peggy had begun to call it.
They were beckoning her to come, Leslie saw; and making a pile of hershells, for gathering them was her latest occupation, she ran toward thelittle dock. There, before she arrived the pretty launch was bobbing upand down inside the breakwater.
"Come on for a cruise, Leslie!" called Peggy. "It's grand thisafternoon. We'll bring you back in time for anything."
Jack was out on the rough boards to help Leslie inside of the launch. Itwas really not necessary to accept or refuse, only to climb in.
A large, dark woman looked critically at Leslie and Leslie found nosympathy in her eyes when, after she was seated, she met her glance."Madame Kravetz, this is Leslie Secrest. Madame teaches me, Leslie.Where is Sarita?"
"She has a headache and Beth is hoping that it doesn't mean tonsilitis.Sarita wore a thin dress and forgot her sweater when we went out lastnight, but Beth is dosing her and perhaps it will not amount toanything." Leslie was wondering a little about Peggy's governess. Shedid not look French, and her name was certainly not French. She might beone of those Swiss who are part French and part German. Leslie did notlike her expression.
Jack was running the launch. Out to sea they started; then, after atime, they made for the bay, which was better for launches than the sea,which was growing rough. For a while they cruised around among thefishing boats and a few pretty sail-boats until Peggy directed Jack tohead for Steeple Rocks.
"Take Leslie through the channel, Jack, and show her our little harborin our own bay."
Madam Kravetz started to say something, but closed her thin lips rathertightly instead. Leslie thought that she had been about to make anobjection, but she was having too good a time to think much about theirchaperon.
The channel was interesting. Jack was careful between rocks at theentrance, but the distance widened as they proceeded. At their right anarrow islet with high rocks kept the force of the ocean from thechannel and other rocks made a breakwater for the Ives' harbor, "IvesBay."
"People are often afraid when we take them through the channel for thefirst time," said Peggy, "especially if they have heard the storiesabout Pirates' Cove. But we tell them that the channel is deep and safeeven for a boat of fair size, if they veer away a little from the rockson the Cove side."
Peggy nodded toward the rocks at their left over which tossing watersleft their spray. "Dad showed Jack where to go and where not to go," sheadded. "I just _love_ Steeple Rocks, Leslie, and I wish that you wouldcome here a lot."
Leslie saw that Madame Kravetz looked annoyed. She almost turned herback upon the girls and looked out over the boat's edge with a frown."These are Beth's 'Cathedral Rocks,'" Leslie replied to Peggy. "Sheloves them, more than any of us. Beth is an artist, you know. But we alllove to look at them and I like any rock on the coast. They beat sandfor beauty any day, though I will say that for bathing, you may give mea sandy beach."
Little waves lapped the shore near the dock where Jack skilfully broughttheir boat. Leslie felt thrilled, as she confided to Sarita later, tosee a pretty sailboat tied there, together with other boats of varioussorts. Dear me, they could have everything they wanted, she supposed.
In response to Leslie's exclamation over the number of boats, Peggy saidthat her father had a large yacht, too, that had to be docked in theother bay. "We wondered if that larger dock were not yours," saidLeslie. "I think that you are a very lucky girl, Peggy, to have so muchfun."
"But after all, Leslie, it's _people_ that make fun and good times, not_things_, or even places, though I like to cruise." Peggy frowned andlooked thoughtful, while Leslie wondered again. But now Jack wasoffering to help the ladies out of the boat "What are you going to donow?" asked Madame Kravetz.
"Oh, I want to show Leslie all over Steeple Rocks. Jack and I have beenintending to explore them more ourselves, but we haven't had time, withall the company we have had."
"No,--and you haven't time now," coldly said Peggy's governess. "Yourmother will expect to meet your friend, since you have brought her here;and then it will be necessary to see her home before long, if her sisterdoes not worry about what has become of her."
"Oh, you always think up such horrid things, Madame K," rather pettishlyPeggy said. "All right, though, for I want Mother to see Leslie."
It was quite a climb to reach the top of the headland and then, indeed,they were only at the beginning of the higher mass known as SteepleRocks. But good steps had been made, with a strong railing, that madethe ascent easy to the young people. Madame Kravetz, also, climbedeasily.
When they reached the top of the steps, they walked from the upperplatform to a rocky expanse which was evidently the rear of the SteepleRocks garden, for presently they came among little trees, planted withdecorative intent, and Leslie found herself within a formal garden.Flowers were blossoming and Leslie would have liked to linger, had notPeggy hurried her on to show her the house, an immense affair, of howmany rooms Leslie could only guess. There were gables and ells andcorners and masses of stone. There were chimneys and bay windows andbalconies. From the rear they went around to the front, past aporte-cochere, where a big car was standing.
The entrance was particularly beautiful, Leslie thought, with wide stepsand pillars. Great flags of stone made the porch floor. Light wickerchairs stood about and a long wicker couch was piled with prettycushions in gay colors. "And they don't want _us_ to have even a logcabin!" Leslie thought, in a moment of resentment.
But no one could be resentful with Peggy, who was the most hospitablecreature imaginable. Jack, too, felt the responsibility of making Lesliehave a good time. Peggy took Leslie to her own pretty room first, whereboth girls made themselves a little more presentable. Leslie was gladthat her dress and sweater were respectable, since she was to meet Mrs.Ives. Gathering shells on the beach had not improved the appearance ofher hands, which were now washed with Peggy's pet soap, fragrant andsoothing. Then they joined Jack on the porch again, to find him at alittle table behind tall glasses of delicious lemonade and a dish ofcakes. This was almost better than camping! But never mind. TheSecrests, too, would have a house one of these days!
Through the trees they could see a tennis court where active figureswere playing and other people were about. White, red, blue, orange, allsorts of colors, had a share in the sport costumes. "It's doubles," saidPeggy. "There, it's over. Now they will be coming in, I think."
In a few minutes small groups, perhaps a dozen people in all, saunteredtoward the house, Mrs. Ives hurrying on before the rest. "That's Motherin the white," said Peggy, going to the steps to stop her.
"Oh, Mother, stop a minute, won't you? Leslie's here."
Mrs. Ives halted and turned toward Leslie and Jack. "Yes, Peggy, if Jackwill order some lemonade and cakes for us all. That is what I washurrying for. So this is Leslie?" She cordially extended a hand toLeslie, who rose and stepped forward to greet her, rather surprised tofind her so young, in appearance, at least, with her bobbed hair andyouthful dress. Referring to their kindness to Peggy, Mrs. Ives renewedher invitation.
But Leslie saw that her hostess was not speaking very
seriously. "Thankyou, Mrs. Ives," she said. "We were glad to be invited, but there havebeen things to hinder us (indeed there had), and then, we are scarcelyprepared to mingle with your guests. We came to camp, you know."
"That will make no difference," cordially said Mrs. Ives, "but perhapsyou will best enjoy the beach party that Peggy is planning. Peggy, youarrange it and have what you want. Excuse me, Miss Leslie, I must goon."
Although Leslie felt that Mrs. Ives pleasant cordiality was not assumed,she saw that her mind was wandering toward her older guests during thetime of their brief conversation. One of the ladies was waiting for herand both went into the large room which Leslie had noticed as she passedin the hall. Sounds of music presently reached them.
"Now that's over," coolly Peggy remarked, "and we've gotten rid ofMadame. Jack, I want to take Leslie to my room and talk with her alittle bit. Will you be ready to take her back in the launch when wecome down?"
"I surely will, but you'd better make it snappy if you don't want tohave Miss Beth worrying over what has become of her wandering sister."
Leslie looked at her watch. There was time for a little visit only. Shefollowed Peggy back into the attractive room with its comfortable,summer fittings.
So near the sea, the house was suitably screened from the strong windsby the pile of headland rocks with their two towers. Peggy, however,considered this a decided drawback, since there was no good view of thesea from any of the windows. "But Dad said that I would be gladsometimes not to be blown away or think that I was going to sail offwith the house! He wanted it close up against the rocks, and you can seefor yourself that part of the house fairly joins them. Dad has hisoffice there and his own little library. He's a shivery sort of man,anyhow, used to Florida in the winters, you know."
"How would I know, sweet Peggy?"
"Probably you wouldn't," laughed Peggy. "That is what my own father usedto call me, 'sweet Peggy,' after the old song."
"Oh, then, Mr. Ives is really not your father," said the surprisedLeslie. But that accounted for some of Peggy's rather disrespectfulspeeches.
"No, and I ought to be ashamed of myself for not liking him better. Ican have anything I want and he doesn't care. O Leslie, I wish that youwould let me talk to you about things sometimes! You are all so happy,and we aren't, very, here. I don't know just what is the matter,either!"
"Why, of course you may talk to me, Peggy! It seems to me that you mightbe happy enough, a nice, pretty girl with everything to make you happy.Why, child, we've had real trouble,--well, I suppose that you have beenthrough that, too, losing your father."
"Yes, though I was pretty small, then. Haven't you very much to live on,either?"
Peggy was quite frank in her question, but Leslie, to whom having moneyor not having it was only an agreeable or disagreeable incident, did notmind. "Not so very much, Peggy," she answered, "but enough to get alongand more than some people. Then we are always expecting to do and besomething wonderful, you see!" Leslie was laughing a little, but Peggyunderstood.
"Perhaps that's it," Peggy said. "Nobody here wants to do anything buthave a good time. If I had been allowed to have one of my girl friendshere this summer, I suppose I would have been satisfied. But when Motherinvited Jack, even, Dad made a terrible to-do about it and almost saidthat he should not come; but he had already been invited. Dad said thathe did not want any 'curious boys' around. Leslie, there is somethingfunny going on and I wish I could find out what it is. I'm pretty surethat Mother doesn't know either, and she worries. She has been worriedever since that old foreigner came to be a sort of secretary orsomething to Dad. He manages his business, Dad says sometimes. He's aCount. Madame Kravetz belongs to the nobility, too."
"From what country?" asked Leslie, interested.
"Russia, I think, though she claims to be French. Old Count Herschfeldis supposed to be Austrian. You'll see him sometime. He has fishy eyesand is very straight and tall and pale, and has a slit for a mouth, andwalks like a soldier. Probably he was some sort of a general in thewar."
"If I were you, Peggy, I wouldn't worry over anything that you can'thelp. You will be able to enjoy this wonderful place. It must be greatto be in Florida for the winters, too."
"I suppose it is. I never thought about it. Mother married Dad when Iwas about six years old. He was nicer then than he is now. We travel somuch that I have a teacher with me all the time. But I heard Mothertalking to Dad about _not_ putting me in school, so I suppose thatboarding school will be the next thing for me."
"Do you like your governess?"
"I do _not_. To myself I call her 'Crabby.' Kravetz, Kravy, Crabby, yousee. Sometime I will forget before company!"
"Better not," smiled Leslie. "But if they let you, suppose you stayaround with us a good deal this summer. You and Sarita and I will be asort of--'triumvirate,' you know. Dal will be terribly busy pretty soon,building our log cabin, and we'll have to run our launch half the timewithout him, and fish in the small boat, too. He is taking most of hisfun now, he says, though, of course, he will like to build the house,too. He is crazy about the woods and about making things and having ahouse of our own. We sold our house when Elizabeth got a place to teachin a bigger town only a few miles away."
"I wish Elizabeth taught me," said Peggy. "I could learn more if I likedthe teacher and was sure that what she said was true."
Leslie was quite impressed by that statement. She had not liked the faceof the governess either.
"I'm going to be real good and see if they will not let me off fromlessons, though Mother said that Madame Kravy needed the money and theplace. But she could stay just the same. Dad said the other day that heneeded some one 'to help him in his office.'"
Leslie wondered what his business could be that he carried it on in thisremote spot. But he might be some big executive who had to keep in touchwith affairs and write "letters and things."
Busily they talked. Peggy thanked Leslie for asking her to be a memberof a "triumvirate" and said that if Sarita did not mind she surely wouldbelong. "Jack is sort of lost, too, without anybody of his own age.Perhaps Dalton would not mind if he hung around when he was building."
"Well, Peggy, I think that I ought to tell you something, if you promisenot to say a word to Elizabeth about it. You see Beth was all used upwhen school was out, and if she can only have a little while to be happyand get strong again, why then it won't make so much difference whathappens, and I suppose that she will have to know about this. Now it_might_ interfere with the 'triumvirate.'"
"Tell, me. I'll not say a word. I can't imagine what it is."
"I'm sure you never could. You see, Peggy, your father may not _want_you to come to see us, or have us out here, or anything. Was he therewhen your mother sent word for us to come?"
"No."
"I thought so." Then Leslie gave the details of their first meeting withMr. Ives, summing up the case quite clearly. "So, you see, if Mr. Iveswants to get us off the land, and we stand up for what we think are ourrights, it may not be so very pleasant all around. We'd always like you,Peggy, but it might be embarrassing for you to have much to do with us."
"It would be a great deal more pleasant than not to have anything to dowith you. Little Peggy will try diplomacy. I'll find out what Dad is upto; but if I don't, and the position in the triumvirate is still open,I'll fill it, you can be sure."
"Well, then, Peggy, don't do anything you oughtn't for our sakes."
"How about little Peggy's sake, Leslie?"
"Same thing. But if your mother lets you, you will certainly be welcome_on_ the Sea Crest and in the Eyrie pretty soon."
"When shall we have the first meeting of the 'triumvirate'?"
"Say to-morrow."
"To-morrow it is."
The faintly ticking little wrist watches announced to the girls whoglanced at them that they must bring the visit to a close. They randownstairs and Leslie strolled out, while Peggy hunted up her cousin. Ina few minutes the three were going down the steps to the Ives
' launch,which carried them past the foaming rocks and into the bay towardLeslie's homing spot, the little rude dock at the base of the Secrestheadland. Pirates' Cove looked just as interesting and deadly as ever,as they passed it. The Sea Crest bobbed up and down gently inrecognition of the other boat, and Jack gallantly handed Leslie to asafe foothold and saw her up the more difficult steps, before he tookthe wheel from Peggy and waved a goodbye. The little launch chuggedaway. Leslie stopped at the top to lean upon a rock and watch the boatand her new friends. What a queer household there was at Steeple Rocks.Mr. Ives was not Peggy's father. She was glad of that. She was sure thatothers there beside Madame Kravetz were foreign. The lady who waited forMrs. Ives and joined her had spoken to her in French, probably becauseMrs. Ives knew French; for she heard the guest "jabber" something elseto another lady that followed them.
There was something queer going on, Peggy had said. Of course. It wasthat, perhaps, that made Mr. Ives try to send them all away. Leslie'sthoughts were busy with impressions received at Steeple Rocks.