CHAPTER XI
A DINNER PARTY
DINNER at Rainbow Lodge on the evening of Frank Kent's arrival wassufficiently gay and delightful to make up for many preceding weeks ofquietness.
For not only was Frank's appearance an unexpected pleasure to the entirefamily, but a few hours before sundown Ralph Merrit had returned homewith an old friend of his, whom quite by accident he had met in a nearbytown and persuaded to come with him for a short visit at the ranch.Henry Tilford Russell was to be a new experience to the four girls,since never in their wandering either at home or abroad had they met anyother young man in the least like him.
Before bringing his guest up to the Lodge for dinner Ralph had managedto escape from him for a few moments in order to see Ruth privately andto explain to her a few of his friend's peculiarities, so that no memberof the family need be unnecessarily surprised. For one thing, thestranger was inordinately shy, disliking girls more than anything in thewhole world. In fact Ralph was at last obliged to confess that had hisfriend guessed how many maidens he would be obliged to face at dinner,gladly would he have preferred starvation to joining them. But sinceRussell had asked no uncomfortable questions, Ralph had not felt in dutybound to forewarn him. Then, as his guest was about thirty years old,according to Frieda Ralston's calculations he was much too elderlyanyhow for the Ranch girls' consideration.
Yet notwithstanding all these drawbacks Ralph Merrit had beenexceedingly anxious to bring his friend to the Rainbow Ranch. For inspite of the young man's shyness and social awkwardness, he wasexceptionally brilliant, and was regarded almost a genius in his chosenline of work. Henry Tilford Russell was the assistant professor ofancient languages in the University of Chicago and Ralph had known himthere in his own student days. However, he had recently suffered abreakdown from overwork and was now in the West on a trip for hishealth. But the fact about his former friend over which Ralph Merritwas particularly enthusiastic and desired to have Ruth impart to thegirls, was that of his own free will Professor Russell had chosen thelife of a student. His father was a wealthy and prominent Chicagolawyer, at one time the American Ambassador to Greece, so had the sondesired he might have followed the idle existence of most other richyoung men.
In the midst of seeing that the baby was safely stored away in hissilk-lined crib and that the table was set for extra guests, and thatAunt Ellen prepare a specially good dinner, Ruth had no time forextended conversation with the girls. She did manage to mention to Jeanand Frieda that Ralph had brought home a stranger to whom they were totry to be agreeable. But this bit of information was almost swallowed upin the more important news that Ralph had at last succeeded in gettinghold of a new set of men and that work on Rainbow Mine was to beginagain within the next day or so.
Then, soon after, Frank appeared, and everything else was forgotten inthe welcome to him.
Just as though he had been her older brother and Frieda a little girl,Frank kissed her, insisting that she had grown, although at eighteenFrieda certainly considered herself quite past the growing stage.
Introduced to the new baby, Frank did not seem in the least nervous orabashed as most men are by such very tiny persons. Indeed, he apparentlyhad overcome all his old reserve and shyness and without this was simpleand charming, as persons of high birth and breeding are most apt to be.
Fifteen minutes before dinner Ruth had positively to force the fourgirls to dress. Then, as Jim was getting ready at the same time, she hada few moments alone with Frank Kent.
"You know what I have come for, don't you, Mrs. Colter--Ruth?" Frankbegan with the directness that the woman had always admired in him.
Ruth made no pretense of not understanding. "It would be hard for all ofus, and I don't see how Jim would be able to get along on the ranchwithout Jack," she replied. "For you see he and Jack really are like'partners,' their old name for each other. But if it is for Jack'shappiness you know how we should all feel. But, Frank, I feel I mustwarn you that Jack won't be easy to win, and it is because I care foryou so much that I hope you will not be discouraged. She is not justlike most girls, and----"
Frank nodded. "I have understood that all along," he interrupted. "Stillthere is one thing, Ruth, that you do not know. Last summer I persuadedJack to confess that she did care for me. Yet she insisted that therewas something, she could not explain to me what it was, that stood inour way--some barrier that had to be broken down before she couldconsent to marry me. What it was I don't know and that is one of thethings I have come half way across the world to find out. Can you guessof any possible obstacle to Jack's feeling for me?"
In a puzzled fashion Ruth Colter drew her delicate brows together.Frank's remark had startled and surprised her. "No, not unless it is heraffection for us and the ranch," she replied.
Before another confidence could be exchanged, Jim had stamped into theliving room, looking bigger and more splendid than ever, suggesting thestrong wind from his own beloved prairies. A few moments later RalphMerrit and his guest followed, and afterwards Olive, Jean and Jack.
Perhaps because she remembered that Frank had always liked her best inwhite, Jack wore a plain white silk dress cut square in the neck andwith no trimming but the girdle and little ruffle of lace. It was adress which she had owned for over a year, and Frieda was annoyed withher for wearing it on the evening of Frank's arrival. Notwithstanding,as there was no time to change after her sister's protest, Friedafinally conceded as Jack left the room that she did look fairly well.For the truth was that no one of the older girl's more elaborate toiletscould have suited her half so well.
Jack was pale and not altogether sure whether she was the more happy orunhappy over Frank's presence, yet somehow her unusual pallor was notunattractive, with her burnished brown and gold hair and the healthyscarlet of her lips. Then in some indefinable fashion Jack's expressionhad recently grown gentler, indeed tonight her manner held a certaintimidity, giving her one of the charms that she sometimes lacked.
Both Olive and Jean were also simply dressed, since their dinner partywas an impromptu one and entirely informal. Olive had on a lavendermuslin with a bunch of Frieda's violets at her waist, while Jean wasdressed in a pale yellow voile frock with primroses embroidered upon it.
Ralph Merrit frowned and then tried to smile as Jean came forward toshake hands, congratulate him and meet his guest, "What right had a poorfellow even to dream of a girl so fitted by beauty and grace to everyhigh position? Suppose by some miracle Jean should in time learn to carefor him, what would he have to offer her? Here was Frank Kent (and Ralphwas perfectly aware of Frank's intention), and if Jack cared for him shewould have all the things of this world that Jean so frankly loved,wealth, a high social position and one day an old English title."
But while Ralph Merrit was continuing to pursue this wholly futile trainof thought, Jean was every now and then glancing toward him demurelyfrom under her heavy shaded brown eyes with a look which he perfectlyunderstood.
"What in the world is the matter with your friend, Mr. Russell?" thelook said plain as any words. For Jean was doing her level best to talkto the stranger and in return for her efforts he would not even turntowards her.
On first being introduced to Jacqueline the Professor had turned crimsonto the tips of his large ears, though in a measure he had been preparedfor one girl, since Ralph had mentioned a "Miss Ralston" in connectionwith the ownership of the Rainbow Mine. Later the meeting with Olive hadadded resentment to his confusion. Why had Merrit not warned him of whathe would have to endure? Jean was an impossible third. Why, no suchmisfortune as meeting with three girls had overtaken him since hereached the great womanless West! For though the West did have itstiresome quota of females, so far he had managed to escape speaking toany of them except on strictly business matters.
Well, he was in for it now, and would have to endure the evening as besthe could; yet already he had made up his mind to escape as soon asdaylight came in the morning.
Jean's well-meant efforts to make herself
agreeable to Ralph's friendwere entirely wasted; yet after dinner was announced the young Professorfound himself more at ease. For fortunately he had been placed on Mrs.Colter's left and next him was an empty chair--evidently for some memberof the family not at home he thought with a suppressed sigh of relief.
Overhearing Frank Kent ask some question of interest in regard to themine, Professor Russell forgot his embarrassment sufficiently to addseveral questions and comments of his own. And it happened to be duringone of his own speeches that an unexpected movement near him made himglance toward the empty chair.
"Great Scott! Was this a big wax doll about to take her place next him?"
Yet, though the doll was struggling with the chair and evidently tryingto draw it out from under the table, it never occurred to Henry TilfordRussell to render her the slightest assistance, in spite of the factthat she was smiling at him appealingly out of the very largest andbluest eyes he had ever seen.
The lateness of Frieda Ralston's entrance did not appear to havesurprised her family, who were entirely accustomed to it; however, themagnificence of her dinner toilet plainly did. For whatever had inspiredFrieda to dress up as she had? It was small wonder that she was late.
Even in the midst of her duties as hostess Ruth Colter's gray eyeswidened and it was on the tip of her tongue to scold Frieda for herfoolishness. Yet, recovering herself in time and recalling the presenceof their guests, she said nothing.
With a faint suggestion of reproach Jack shook her head at her sister,while Jean and Olive openly smiled at each other. So the situation wouldhave passed off without any unpleasantness if it had not been for JimColter. When would Ruth teach Jim that he was not to tease the Ranchgirls before strangers just as if they were tiny children?
With real astonishment and some mock admiration Jim stared at the latestcomer, at the same time giving a characteristic chuckle and low whistle.Then, in spite of the fact that Jack, who was sitting near, gave hisfoot a warning pressure, he exclaimed:
"What in heaven's name, Baby, does all that finery mean? You aren'tgoing to a ball later on this evening, are you, and forgotten to mentionit?"
Then, with everybody at the table staring at her, Frieda felt her lipsbeginning to tremble and her eyes fill with tears, as at last sheslipped into her place. Why should her appearance create so muchcomment? She had dressed up because she wished to and for no otherspecial reason.
Often in the past year when things at the Lodge had been dull for a longtime she had amused herself in trying on her pretty clothes. No one hadever objected before, but now, just because there were strangers, or atleast one stranger, present, she had to be made the object of familycriticism and ridicule. If only they were alone Frieda felt that shewould like to tell Jim and everybody just how hateful they were. For ofcourse there had been no thought in her mind of Ralph's guest when shehad put on her blue _crepe de chine_ dress with its low neck and elbowsleeves and floating chiffon draperies. The costume had been a presentfrom her sister, Jack, who always could save more of her income than sheor Jean. She had only wished to find out whether it was becoming to herand that was why she had also taken so much time and care in fixing herhair. Certainly she knew that Ralph's guest would be as old as thehills--Ralph had plainly stated that he would be.
Frieda gave a little start, which she promptly repressed so that no oneshould notice it, when she heard a pleasant voice whisperingunexpectedly close to her ear:
"Don't mind their teasing you; I think you look--just jolly."
And in reply Frieda smiled tremulously upon the newcomer.
He was old, just as she had expected--his hair was already beginning togrow thin upon the top of his head. He was slender and delicate lookingand of only medium height, yet his eyes were certainly the brownest andalmost the kindest that she had ever seen, in spite of the fact thatthey had a kind of absent, far-away expression even while they seemed tobe fastened upon her.
"Thank you," Frieda returned a second later, having by this timeregained both her lost dignity and self-possession. But this time theyounger Miss Ralston found their latest visitor displaying a curiouseccentricity. Now he was plainly laughing at her. Naturally Frieda couldnot have dreamed that Professor Russell, whom Ruth had finally concludedto introduce to her, considered her a little girl of about fourteen.Otherwise, not for anything in the world, would he have made the speechwhich he first addressed to her.
The truth was that this old-young Professor was extremely fond ofchildren and only objected to girls after they had grown up. Thenbecause he was so shy himself he had a keen sympathy for embarrassmentin other people. So it was to these two causes that Frieda owed hisfriendliness.
Nevertheless, as she was entirely unconscious of this fact, Friedacontinued to talk to him very calmly and comfortably during the entiremeal. He did appear surprised over an occasional remark of hers, but ashe hardly ever answered, Frieda guessed that this might be his method ofrevealing his appreciation of her attentions. Actually the two of themwere out on the porch with every one else vanished from sight for themoment before Professor Russell entirely awoke to the fact that, thoughhis companion was still extremely young, she could not exactly beregarded as a baby.