CHAPTER VIII
LOLA TELLS FALSEHOODS
"I thought I heard the elevator stop!" John exclaimed nervously as hewent to the door and looked anxiously down the hall.
"She knew we were to have dinner at seven," Dr. Barnhelm said as hestepped to the window and peered out into the gathering darkness.
They had been waiting now for a long time, patiently at first, but asthe hours passed, and the lights began to come out along the Drive andin the windows of the apartment opposite, John and Barnhelm began toshow the anxiety they had at first attempted to conceal. The chessgame had ended long ago, and they had sat together in the twilighttalking, until Maria had brought in the evening papers and switched onthe light. John, remembering the coldness Lola had shown to himearlier in the day, was hurt and offended. "Surely," he thought, "sheshould have forgiven me before now, but she is staying away purposelyto show me that she is still angry."
Dr. Barnhelm was anxious because he felt a host's responsibility andknew that Maria and Jane, the cook, were depending upon Lola for finalinstructions about the rather elaborate dinner he had demanded inhonor of his old friend's arrival. Of the three Dr. Crossett alone wascalm and unruffled and rather inclined to be amused by the others'obvious impatience.
"She was detained, no doubt," he remarked easily, glancing up from hispaper. "Are your subways never blocked? Your cars never stalled? La! athousand things!"
"Almost five hours," exclaimed John impatiently. "Even our subway canhardly be accused of that. I think I had better go there, Doctor. Iknow where Mrs. Mooney lives."
"It would take you at least an hour," responded the Doctor, "and ifthere had been anything unusually wrong with Nellie, Lola would havetelephoned."
"Who is this Nellie Mooney?" inquired Dr. Crossett.
"A poor little girl," explained Dr. Barnhelm, "the daughter of ahard-working Irish woman. The child has suffered for years with atubercular disease of the bone of her arm; before we moved I used tosee her almost every day, but I had not been able to do much for her."
"So. She is young?"
"About twelve."
"These cases are, to me, most interesting. I have had success in theirtreatment. If this child is dear to you I will see her. I do not meanthat I can do more than you have done, but my treatment has often beensuccessful."
"It would make Lola very happy, Paul," replied Dr. Barnhelm. "She metthe child in the Park over a year ago and brought her to me. Of allher protegees Nellie has always been the one she seemed to care themost about. I have been glad to see that she still thinks of her."
"And now," said Dr. Crossett smilingly, "you two are both out ofpatience because Lola is doing the very thing you wanted her to do."
"I want her to be charitable," broke in John. "It was her almostdivine pity for this very child that first showed me the sort of girlshe was. But she has spent three whole afternoons there this week.Surely that is overdoing it."
"Ah! The selfishness of the young," remarked Dr. Crossett, turning thepages of his paper and carelessly looking over the headlines. "Becauseshe loves you, she must love no one else? Is that it? Because she isgoing to give her whole life to you, she must not take any littleminutes for herself?"
"Oh, I know!" John spoke regretfully, uneasily conscious of thejealousy that for some time had been creeping into all his thoughts ofher. "I am getting to be a beast. I am sure I don't know why. I wasnever jealous before or nervous, never in my life! There must besomething wrong with me."
"There is," replied the Doctor in his best professional manner. "Willyou allow me," and he took John's unresisting hand and put his fingerto his pulse. "You are suffering from an ailment that requires themost careful nursing. For most ailments we nurse the patient, but thisparticular disease, commonly called love, must itself be nursed or itwill die!"
"You are laughing at me, Doctor, and I don't at all blame you," saidJohn as the Doctor dropped his hand and started to resume his readingof the paper. "I can't think what can have detained Lola, but it isabsurd of me to be out of patience with her about it."
"Doctor." Maria stood in the doorway, and spoke rather timidly. "Janesays that you won't have any dinner at all unless you take it now."
"Ah!" exclaimed Dr. Crossett. "Now matters are growing serious. Ifind, Martin, that our long walk has given me an appetite."
"I could keep something hot for Miss Lola," suggested Maria, who hadcome to the end of her powers of persuasion with the indignant Jane,and knew that unless dinner could be served at once there was a strongprobability of her having to serve it alone, without the help of thishaughty stranger who had been engaged by Lola soon after they hadgiven up their old simple manner of living. "It was such a nicedinner, Doctor, but there won't be anything fit to eat left; it's beenready over an hour."
"You are right, Maria, I think," said Dr. Barnhelm; "perhaps itwould----" As he spoke the bell rang.
"There she is now!" exclaimed Maria joyfully. "She never remembers totake her key."
She left the room hurriedly and went down the hall to the door as Johnsighed with relief and even Dr. Crossett beamed gratefully as he rosefrom his chair.
"You see! You two gloomy ones! Everything is all right. At least shehas left her little Nellie, and at last we dine."
As he spoke Maria reentered the room looking startled, perhaps alittle frightened.
"Mrs. Mooney, Doctor," she announced. "Mrs. Mooney and Nellie!"
Mrs. Mooney and Nellie had followed Maria, and as she saw the threegentlemen, all of them now thoroughly alarmed, Mrs. Mooney hesitated,and put her arm about Nellie, who drew closer to her, awed by themagnificence of the brilliantly lighted room, and vaguely troubled bythe unspoken question in the faces turned to her.
"Miss Lola?" inquired Dr. Barnhelm quietly.
"I made bold to come, sir," she answered, "because the child's arm isthat bad she can't seem to stand it."
"Where is my daughter?"
"Your daughter, Doctor? Miss Lola?"
"Why did she not come with you?"
"I--I don't understand you, sir."
"She was with you this afternoon."
"No, sir," replied Mrs. Mooney in surprise. "I haven't seen Miss Lolasince you folks moved away from Eighth Avenue."
It was impossible to doubt the truth of the woman's statement, and asimpossible to forget that day after day Lola had left them with theintention of going to her. John and Dr. Barnhelm had often asked her,on her return, how Nellie was getting on, and Lola had answered them,seemingly much grieved over the child's condition. Dr. Crossett feltsome of their amazement, and the three stood there, for a momentunable to speak until another sharp ring at the bell sent Mariahurrying to the door.
No one spoke--what was there to say? They stood there waiting untilthey heard the door open, and heard Lola's gay laugh as she brushedpast Maria, calling out to them cheerfully as she hurried down thehall:
"Here I am at last. Did you think I was never coming?"
There was something in their manner that made her hesitate as shestepped into the room and, glancing about for an explanation, her eyesfell upon Mrs. Mooney and Nellie. For a moment, as she turned on Mrs.Mooney, a look of such fierce rage and hatred flashed over her face,that the poor woman stepped back in terror, throwing her arms abouther child instinctively, as though to shield her from danger.
What was it? Why did this girl who had done so much for them, who hadbeen the good angel of their lives, look at them like that? Mrs.Mooney looked at her in return, and as she looked she saw Lola smilingsweetly, lovingly. No trace of anything on her calm, happy face buttenderness and sympathy, and she was bitterly ashamed of her folly,and humbly grateful as Lola came and put her arms about Nellie ineager welcome.
"Why, Nellie," she exclaimed, "I am so glad to see you!"
"You--you have not seen her before then?" inquired her father gravely.
"Oh, dear, no," answered Lola lightly. "Hasn't she told you that?"
John stepped forward impatiently.
There must be some good reason forher deceit of them. Surely she should give it, and as Lola turned tospeak to Dr. Crossett, he stepped in front of her. "Lola, why didyou----"
"Now, John," she interrupted him, "please don't be silly. I see thatthere is nothing for me to do but confess. I had not meant to tell youuntil after dinner. I have been very selfish. I have been riding, inan automobile."
"With whom?"
"With nobody dreadful, I assure you." She turned to her father,laughing at John's frowning face. "With the wife of one of your oldfriends, Mrs. Dr. Rupert."
"You see," Dr. Crossett sighed with perfect relief. "Why makemountains out of nothing? Surely we do not begrudge our girl a ride."
"Of course you don't. I met her as I went out of the house. I fullymeant to call on you, Nellie dear, but Mrs. Rupert wanted me verymuch, and besides, I knew that she could help me."
The others were smiling now, quite satisfied, but John's face had notchanged, and as he spoke to her, his voice was hard, suspicious.
"Mrs. Mooney says that you have never been to her house. Not once ofall the times you have left me to go there."
"If you don't stop interrupting me, John, I will never be able tofinish my story. I was just trying to tell you that I had beendeceiving you. But now Mrs. Rupert has promised to help me, so I don'tmind telling you all about it."
She looked at them, her face slightly flushed, a little embarrassed;but calm and earnest. To Dr. Crossett she seemed like a child, aboutto confess some little fault, a fault it knows to be already forgiven.
"I am not quite the heartless, selfish girl you seem to think me."There were tears in her eyes now, and her voice trembled. The lasttrace of displeasure had gone from her father's face. John alone wasstill standing out against her.
"I know," she continued, "that I have been extravagant, and I am goingto make up for it. I have been trying to get pupils for a privatekindergarten. I have called upon hundreds of wealthy mothers, and, atlast, I think that I have the promise of children enough for a start.That is why I wanted to postpone our marriage, John." She turned tohim appealingly: "I could not marry you, dear, before I had earnedback the money I had spent so foolishly."
"My dear." Her father stepped forward, but John was before him. "Canyou forgive me, Lola?" Shame and regret made his voice low and husky.
"My friends!" Dr. Crossett's cheerful tone broke in upon them. "Theman who has a jewel, and does not know its value is an ass. Now thatyou two can make no more trouble for yourselves, in mercy's name giveme my dinner."
"I am ashamed, Lola," said her father remorsefully.
"But you shall not work any more. After to-morrow night there will beno need for it."
He put his arm about her lovingly, thinking proudly of how much hisapproaching triumph would allow him to do for her. Dr. Crossett turnedfrom them delighted at her triumph, but as he turned the look ofsuffering on little Nellie's face sobered him.
"This child is in pain, Martin!"
He stepped quickly to where she sat, forgotten all this time, andbravely trying to conceal her suffering.
"My dear Nellie." Dr. Barnhelm went to her remorsefully. "Is it sobad?"
"It is bad enough, sir." The child's lip trembled as his kind tone didwhat the pain could not do, and tears came to her eyes, and she beganto sob.
"Them dispensary doctors have made it worse," said the motherbitterly. "They say it's no use at all. They--they say her arm's gotto go."
"When did they tell you this?"
"This afternoon, sir; that's why I had to come to you. I can't standit, Doctor. I've stood a lot, but I can't, can't let 'em do that toher. She's all that's left, and it seems like some one must be able tohelp her."
"Paul, will you look at this child? You say that you have worked onthese cases. Can't you and I together help this little girl?"
"Yes, Martin," Dr. Crossett exclaimed with resolution. "Yes! Come! Iwill examine her!"
"Let her wait until after dinner," interrupted Lola impatiently. Theyall looked at her astounded, the agony in the mother's voice had movedthem deeply. Dr. Crossett's kind eyes were full of tears. Dr. Barnhelmwas more surprised at her tone than indignant at her heartlessness,but he responded rather sharply:
"Lola! The child is suffering."
"Naturally, I am very sorry for her," replied Lola, "but you can'tstop all the suffering in the world, and I'm sure Jane will be furiousif we keep her waiting much longer."
"Come, Nellie," said Dr. Barnhelm, replying to Lola only with a lookof reproach. "We will use the library, Paul. You can be making us acocktail, John; we won't be long." He turned kindly to Mrs. Mooney."It would be better for you to remain here. This gentleman is Dr.Crossett, one of the leading surgeons of Paris. He will do his best tohelp us."
"God bless you, sir," cried the grateful woman to Dr. Crossett,impressed, as all whom he met were, by his air of quiet confidence. "Ithink you would help her, if you could."
"I am going to try, very earnestly, very hopefully. She is young; thatis in our favor. Very shortly now I shall tell you, quite frankly,just what our chances are."
He left the room with Dr. Barnhelm and Nellie. John had stepped intothe dining-room to mix the cocktail. Mrs. Mooney stood watching Nellieuntil she had passed out of sight, then turned and crossed to whereLola stood looking indolently out of the window.
"You say you can't stop all the suffering in the world," she began,trying hard to control herself. "No, you can't! That child of mine wasborn to it. She's had it every hour of her life. Don't think I amforgetting what I owe to your father, and to you. But I never thoughtto hear you speak like that!"
"Why did you come here?" Lola turned on her with a fierceness thatmade her own seem tame. "How dared you and your sickly child put me ina false position? Do you think that my father has nothing to do butdevote his skill to you? For what?" She hissed the question at her,her voice shrill with scorn and contempt. "You won't pay him. You knowthat! His time is his wealth, and you rob him of it. Do you know whatthey call a person who robs another of his wealth? A thief!"
Mrs. Mooney drew back, almost cowering before the flashing brilliancyin Lola's eyes, heart-sick at the bitter insult of her words. But shewas proud, with the decent pride of a woman who has lived a hard lifeblamelessly, and there was a trace of Lola's own bitterness in hervoice as she answered.
"I've been an honest woman always, but if it would bring health to herI'd be a thief. Maybe it's just as hard for me to take your charity asit is for you to give it. After what you've said I'd rather cut my ownarm off than come here, but it ain't my arm that's in danger, it'sNellie's, and she's got to have her chance. God knows best what's comeover you, Miss, but your heart ain't the same as it used to be."
She turned and left the room, waiting patiently, humbly in the halloutside the library door, straining her ears to catch a sentence hereand there from the murmurs of the doctors' voices, and as she waitedshe prayed, over and over and over again. "Don't take her from me,God! Don't! Don't! Don't take her! Don't take her!"
They found her there when at last the door opened and the twophysicians stepped into the hall with Nellie between them. At thesound of the opening door she turned and looked straight into Dr.Crossett's eyes. Judges on the bench have seen such a look on the faceof poor, desperate creatures, waiting for the words that would meanlife or death.
From one face to the other her eyes turned, at first not daring toread, not daring to credit what she seemed to see.
"You tell the doctor at the dispensary," Dr. Crossett's voice washusky, but his face beamed with triumph, "that he happens to be ajackass. You tell him that I, Dr. Paul Crossett, will make thischild's arm as good as new!"
"Oh, no! I don't ask that, Doctor. Just help her a little."
"I will cure her. I give you my word."
"Is it true?" She turned to Dr. Barnhelm, not daring to believe.
"Yes. It is true."
"Gentlemen!" She was not without dignity as she faced them, her armsabout her dau
ghter. "You can't expect a woman like me to know how tothank you. I can't ever pay you, not with money, or with words. All Ican ever do is--is to pray for you."
"That," replied Dr. Crossett, with the bow he usually reserved for thegreatest ladies of his own brilliant world, "that is not often done.It is enough."