Barbara Ladd

  CHAPTER XIII.

  To both Mistress Mehitable and Barbara the new order of things proveditself, all through that first day, supremely satisfactory; and eachvowed most solemnly in her heart that she, at least, would not be theone to blame if it did not last. During the afternoon, when DoctorJohn and Doctor Jim were drinking a pot of tea with them, and wonderingdelightedly at the unexpected atmosphere of peace, Barbara asked,suddenly:

  "How did you ever manage, Aunt Hitty, to get Doctor John and Doctor Jimoff after me so quickly. I thought I had _such_ a good start! And how_did_ you know which way I was going?"

  Both men looked meaningly at Mistress Mehitable, but failed to catchher eye. Doctor Jim began to shake his head violently, but stopped inconfusion under Barbara's look of questioning astonishment. ButMistress Mehitable, serenely unconscious, answered at once:

  "Old Debby Blue," said she, "with whom you breakfasted, rode over asfast as she could to Doctor Jim with the news. The poor old woman wasnearly dead from her exertions, I think you told me, Jim. She has agood heart, and truly loves you, Barbara. I am sorry if I have seemedharsh to her at times."

  Barbara's eyes grew wide, her face darkened ominously, and her full,bowed lips drew together to a straight line of scarlet. Doctor Johnsat up straight, with twinkling eyes, expecting the outbreak of acharacteristic Barbara storm, such as he always enjoyed in his big, dryway. But Doctor Jim made haste to interpose.

  "You mustn't be too hard on Debby, Barbara, because she told what shehad promised not to tell. What else _could_ she do? You know wellenough she couldn't stop you herself, you headstrong baggage. I won'thave you unfair to Debby. She loves you, and nearly killed herself tosave you!"

  Barbara's look of anger changed to a sort of obstinate sullenness foran instant. Then with an effort she forced herself to smile, whiletears sprang into her eyes.

  "Of course, Debby was right," she acknowledged. "But I wish she'd doneit some other way. She shouldn't have let me trust her. She _fooled_me when I trusted her. Oh, I'll _forgive_ her, of course," shecontinued, bitterly, "but never, never, will I _trust_ her again!"Then she sprang up impetuously, and ran and flung both arms aroundMistress Mehitable. "_Of course_ I'd forgive her, anyway, because ifshe hadn't fooled me I might have never found out how lovely youwere,--honey!"

  Both Doctor John and Doctor Jim were breathless with amazement for amoment. What was this miracle? Whence came this understanding andthis sympathy, all in a night? They saw a new glad warmth in MistressMehitable's eyes. They exchanged significant glances.

  "All I can say, Barbara," growled Doctor Jim, at length, "is thatyou've been a long while finding out what ought to have been as plainas the nose on your face,--eh, what?"

  "For a young lady who was able to discern at first glance thefascinations of Jim Pigeon," chimed in Doctor John, "I think you havebeen rather undiscriminating, Barbara!"

  "She could see two battered old tallow dips, when she couldn't see themoon!" added Doctor Jim, solemnly.

  There was always a relish of peril in rallying Barbara, whose audacityin retort was one of the scandals of Second Westings. She flashed herwhite teeth upon them in a naughty smile, and her eyes danced as shekissed Mistress Mehitable on both cheeks.

  "Of _course_," she cried. "Nobody knows better than you two great bigdears what a perfect little fool I've been, not to be in love with AuntHitty all this time."

  "Barbara!" protested Mistress Mehitable, in a tone of rebuke,--and thenagain, bethinking herself, "Barbara, child!" in a tone of appeal.

  "But now, you can tell a hawk from a handsaw, eh, baggage?" chuckledDoctor John; while Doctor Jim exploded noisily, and then, checkinghimself, cast upon Mistress Mehitable a glance of apprehension.

  But Barbara had heeded neither the rebuke nor the appeal.

  "I know, I know," she went on, clapping her hands with delight. "Youdidn't _want_ me to find her out,--you didn't want me to know howlovely she is! Conspirators! I won't love you any more, either ofyou. And I'm going to keep Aunt Hitty all to myself here; and not letyou even _see_ her; and make you both so jealous you'll wish you hadlet me run away in the canoe and get drowned in the rapids."

  "Barbara, Barbara," murmured Mehitable.

  Doctor Jim wagged his great head, and growled inarticulately.

  "It's we who are the victims of conspiracy, John," said he. "IfMehitable and Barbara have discovered each other, what becomes of us,I'd like to know! But it sha'n't last. We'll sow seeds of dissensionpresently,--eh, what?"

  "Just let us wait till Bobby Gault comes!" suggested Doctor John, withgentle malice.

  Barbara's face grew grave on the instant.

  "Of course, Aunt Hitty, they have told you all about Robert," she said,earnestly, "but all they know about his reasons is what he told themhimself, you know. And he was determined to shield me, of course. Butit was _all_ my fault. How could he know how bad and foolish I was? Ijust mixed him all up; and it makes me ashamed to think how horrid Iwas; and I will never forgive myself. But you mustn't let themprejudice you against Robert, honey,--but just wait and see what youthink of him yourself, won't you, please?"

  Mistress Mehitable smiled, and exchanged looks with Doctor John andDoctor Jim.

  "Really, dear," said she, "they have not given me any very badimpressions of Robert. I think both Doctor John and Doctor Jim knewwhere to put the blame. And _I_ know, too!"

  Barbara looked at her doubtfully. Such complete acceptance of herposition almost seemed unkind and critical. But her aunt's smilereassured her. This was not criticism, but something as near railleryas Mistress Mehitable would permit herself.

  "I believe they have been abusing me behind my back,--and theypretending to love me!" cried Barbara, tossing her head in saucychallenge.

  "Never, child; we hug our delusions, Jim Pigeon and I," said DoctorJohn.

  "No, hug me," laughed Barbara, darting around the tea-table and seatingherself on his lap.

  "You are our worst delusion, baggage!" said Doctor Jim, shaking a largefinger at her. "And now I see you're setting out to delude your pooraunt, after making life a burden to her for two years. And poor BobbyGault,--he'll find you a delusion and a snare!"

  "I think you are unkind, even if you are just in fun," protestedBarbara, half offended, half amused. But at this moment both men roseto go. Doctor John, as he raised his towering bulk from the chair,lifted Barbara with him as if she had been a baby, held her in his armsfor a moment while he peered lovingly and quizzically into her swiftlyclearing face, gave her a resounding kiss, and set her on her feet.

  "Bless the child!" said Doctor Jim, noticing now for the first time thechange in appearance. "What's become of our little Barbara? How she'sgrown up over night!"

  "And how her petticoats have grown down!" added Doctor John, backingoff to survey her critically. "Tut, tut, the wanton hussy! How didshe dare to kiss me! Goodness gracious! To think I had a young womanlike that sitting on my lap!"

  "You had better be careful what you say, Doctor John," retortedBarbara, firmly, "or I _will_ be grown up, and never kiss you or letyou hold me on your lap any more!"

  "I humbly crave your pardon, gracious fair. I am your most devoted,humble servant!" said Doctor John, setting his heels together at aprecise right angle, and bowing profoundly over her hand till hisbrocaded coat-tails stuck out stiffly behind him.

  Barbara rather liked this hand-kissing, after Robert's initiation, andtook it with composure as her due. Why should she not have her handkissed, as well as Aunt Hitty? But Doctor Jim made his farewell indifferent fashion.

  "I won't have her grow up this way!" he growled, snatching her up andholding her as if he feared she would be taken away from him. "She'sjust our little Barby, our little, thorny brier-rose! Eh--what?"

  "Our _barby_ brier-rose, you mean!" interjected Doctor John, with achuckle.

  But every one ignored this poor witticism, and Doctor Jim continued,while Barbara softly kicked her toes against
his waistcoat. "It wouldbreak my heart to have her grown up, and young missish, and prim. Whathave you done to her, Mehitable?"

  Mistress Mehitable gave a clear little ripple of laughter, flute-likeand fresh. She was feeling younger and gayer than she had felt foryears.

  "I have just tried to carry out your own suggestion, Jim!" said she,cheerfully. "I must say, I think it was a very wise suggestion. Ihave handed Barbara over to her own care, that's all. I am sorry youdon't like the results!"

  "Don't worry, Doctor Jim!" cried Barbara, purchasing her release bykissing him hard on both cheeks. "Don't worry about me being changed.I was _born_ bad, you know. And I'm afraid I'll be just as bad as everby to-morrow--except to Aunt Hitty! If I'm bad to you any more,dear,"--and she turned impetuously to Mistress Mehitable,"I'll--I'll--" and feeling a sudden imperious threat of tears, she fledaway to her own room. It had been a wonderful, wonderful day for her,and she felt that she must have a little cry at once. On her white bedshe wept deliciously. Then she thought, and thought, and thought, andmade resolves, in sympathetic communion with her pillow.

  In the parlour below, Doctor Jim had said, before leaving:

  "I think you are going to get a lot of comfort out of her now,Mehitable, eh, what?"

  And Doctor John, troubled by a maudlin kind of moisture about his eyes,had said nothing.

  And Mistress Mehitable had said, fervently:

  "I hope she is going to get a lot of comfort out of me, Jim. I seethat I have been greatly in the wrong!"