Flood Tide

  CHAPTER XV

  A REVELATION

  The morning of the pilgrimage to Belleport was a hectic one in the graycottage on the bluff. Before breakfast Celestina began preparations,appearing in the kitchen without trace of invalidism and helpingDelight hurry the housework out of the way, that the precious hoursmight be spent in retrimming the hat of black straw which already haddone duty four seasons.

  "Ain't it too vexatious," complained the irritated convalescent, "thatI don't wear out nothin'? This hat, now--it's as good as the day itwas bought, despite my havin' had it so long. I can't in consciencethrow it away an' get another, much as I'd like to. The trimmin' wason the front the first summer, don't you remember? Then we tried it onbehind a year; an' there was two seasons I wore it trimmed on the side.What are we goin' to do with it now, Delight? I've blacked it up an'can see no way for it this time but to turn it round hindside-before.What do you think?"

  The amateur milliner shook her head.

  "I've a plan," she smiled mysteriously. "Don't you worry, Aunt Tiny."

  "Oh, I shan't worry, child, if you take it in hand. I know that whenyou get through with it it's goin' to look as if it had come straightout of Mis' Gates's store over at the Junction. It does beat all whata knack you have for such things. You could make your fortune bein' amilliner. I s'pose you wouldn't want to face it in with red, wouldyou? Willie likes red, an' there's a scrap of silk in the trunk underthe eaves that could be stretched into a facin' with some piecin'."

  "I'm afraid you wouldn't like red, Aunt Tiny," the girl replied gently.

  "Mebbe I wouldn't," was the prompt answer. "Well, do it as you thinkbest. You never put me into anything yet that warn't becomin', an' Ireckon I can risk leavin' it to you."

  "Wouldn't you rather I helped you clear up the kitchen before I beganhat trimming?"

  "Mercy, no! Don't waste precious time sweepin' up an' washin' dishes;I can do that. Like as not 'twill take some of the stiffness out ofme. Besides, the work an' the millinery ain't the worst ahead of us.There's Willie to get ready. To coax him out of that shop an' into hisSunday suit is goin' to take some maneuverin'. I know, 'cause I haveit to do once in a while when there's a funeral or somethin'. It'slike pullin' teeth. There's times when I wish all his jumpers wasburned to ashes. An' as for his hair, he rumples it up on end 'tillthere's no makin' it stay down smooth an' spread round like otherfolks's."

  "Oh, we mustn't try to dress Willie up too much," protested Delight."I like him best just as he is."

  "Mebbe you do," the elder woman grumbled, "but the Galbraiths ain'tgoin' to feel that way. Why, what do you s'pose they'd think if Williewas to come prancin' over there for a dish of tea lookin' as he does athome? They'd be scandalized! Besides, ain't you an' me goin' to bedressed up? Ain't I got my new hat?"

  "Not yet," was the mischievous retort.

  "But I am goin' to have. No, sir! If I begin indulgin' Willie bylettin' him go all wild to this party in his old clothes, the next timethere's a funeral there'll be no reinin' him in. He'll hold it upforevermore that he went to the Galbraiths in his jumper. I know himbetter'n you do."

  "I suppose so."

  "An' I'm firmer with him, too," went on Celestina. "You'd have himclean spoiled. I ain't sure but you've spoilt him already past allhelp durin' these last ten days. Did you hear him at breakfast askin'me to open his egg? He knows perfectly well I never take off theshell. All I ever do for him is to put in the butter, pepper, an'salt; an' I only do that 'cause he's squizzlin' so to get out in thatshop that he ain't a notion whether there's fixin's on his egg or not.Let him get one of these ideas on his mind an' it's a wonder he don'teat the egg, shells an' all."

  "Poor dear!" The girl's face softened.

  "You pet him too much," said Celestina accusingly.

  "Don't you pet Willie a little yourself, Aunt Tiny?" teased Delight."You know you do. Everybody does. We can't help it. People just lovehim and like to see him happy."

  "I know it," the woman admitted. "Why, there's folks in Wilton (Icould name 'em right now) who would run their legs off for Willie.Look at Bob an' this Mr. Snellin' sweatin' in that shop like beaversover somethin' that ain't never goin' to do 'em an ounce of good--mebbeain't never goin' to do anybody no good. There's somethin' in him thatsorter compels people to stand on their heads for him like that. Ioften try to figger out just what it is," she mused. Then in a briskertone she asked: "How's the hat comin'?"

  "Beautifully."

  "That's good. Hurry it right along, for I'm plannin' to have dinner attwelve an' get it out of the way."

  "But the car isn't coming for us until three o'clock."

  "'Twill take that time to wash up the dishes an' rig Willie up."

  "Not three hours!"

  "You don't know him. We'll have our hands full to head him away fromthat thing he's makin'. All I pray is no new scheme ketches him whilehe's dressin', for 'twill be all day with the party if it does."

  Fortunately no such misadventure befell. Willie was corralled, hisprotests smothered, and he was led placidly away by Bob, to emergeafter an interval resigned as a lamb for the slaughter. Even thehomespun suit could not wholly banish his native charm, for after itwas once on he forgot its existence and wore it with an ease almost toooblivious to suit Celestina.

  Not so she! On the contrary she issued from her chamber conscious ofevery article of finery adorning her plump person. She settled,unsettled, resettled her hat a dozen times, and tried no less than ascore of locations for her large cameo pin. Her freshly washed lislegloves had unfortunately shrunk in the drying and refused to go on atthe finger tips, and from each digit projected a sharply defined gloveend which kept her busy pushing and pulling most of the afternoon. Sooccupied was Delight with tying Willie's cravat and rearranging thespray of flowers on Celestina's bonnet that she had not a moment toconsider her own toilet which was hastily made after everything elsewas done. Yet as Robert Morton looked at her, he thought that nothingcould have graced her more completely than did her simple gown ofmuslin. There was in the frock a demureness almost Quaker-like whichas a foil for her beauty breathed the very essence of coquetry. Whatlover could have failed to feel proud of such a treasure?

  Nevertheless, Bob had his qualms about the prospective visit. He wasnot concerned for Willie or Celestina. They were what they were andany one of discrimination would recognize their worth. Nor did heentertain fears for Delight or the Galbraiths. All of them could berelied upon to meet the situation with ease and dignity. ButCynthia--what would be her attitude? Of late, when she had come overin the car with Mr. Snelling, she had maintained a distant politenesswhich would have been amusing had it not been ominous. He wondered howshe would conduct herself today, not alone toward him but toward thegirl whom she could not but regard as her rival. How much did sheguess, he speculated, of the romance that was taking place in therose-covered cottage on the bluff. And if she had guessed nothing,might not Snelling, leaping at conclusions, have gone back to Belleportthere to spread idle gossip of the love-story? What would HowardSnelling know of the delicate situation 'twixt himself and Mr.Galbraith's daughter? And even though no rumors of the affair reachedCynthia at all, Robert Morton was old enough to sense the hazard ofintroducing one woman to another.

  Well, the risk must be taken; there was no escape from it now. Even asthese disquieting imaginings chased themselves through his mind, thecar stopped before the door and Roger Galbraith, who had come to meetthe guests, entered at the gate. No courtesy that would add to theircomfort had been omitted. There were rugs and extra wraps, and a drivealong the shore road had been planned as an added pleasure.

  Willie, his back actually turned on his beloved workshop, was in theseventh heaven.

  "What you settin' on the peaked edge of the seat for, Celestina?" heasked when once they were in the automobile. "The thing ain't goin' toblow up or break down. Let your whole heft sink into the cushions an'enjoy yourself. 'Tain't oft
en you get the chance to go a-ridin'."

  His joy in the novel experience was as unalloyed and as transparent asa child's.

  "My soul!" he ejaculated as the vehicle turned at last into the broadavenue leading to the Galbraith estate. "Ain't this a big place!Big's a hotel an' some to spare."

  Even after the introductions had been performed and he had sunk into awicker chair beside his host, with a great pillow behind him to keephim from being swallowed up and lost entirely, he abated not a whit ofhis gladness, admiring the flowers, the smoothly cut lawns, and theocean view until he radiated good humor on all sides. But it was whenthe tea wagon was rolled out and placed before Madam Lee that hisinterest was not to be curbed.

  "Ain't that cute now?" he commented, his eyes following theunaccustomed sight with alertness. "The feller that got a-holt of thatidee found a good one. Trundles along like a little baby carriage,don't it?"

  Nothing would satisfy him until he had examined every part of theinvention, and Celestina trembled lest then and there his brain bestimulated to action and he make a bolt for home to complete withoutdelay some sudden scheme the novelty had engendered. However, no suchcalamity occurred. He drank his tea with satisfaction and waspresently borne off by Mr. Galbraith to inspect a recently purchasedbarometer. After he had gone the company broke up into little groups.Mrs. Galbraith and Celestina betook themselves to a shaded corner,there to exchange felicitations on Miss Morton's nephew; Roger,Cynthia, and Bob perched on the broad piazza rail and discussed therecent boat race; and Madam Lee was left alone with Delight. RobertMorton looked in vain for Mr. Snelling but he was nowhere to be seen,and presently he learned that that gentleman had taken one of the carsand gone for an afternoon's spin to Sawyer's Falls. Whether hisabsence was a contributory cause or not, certain it was that for thetime being at least Cynthia lapsed into her customary friendly mannerand quite outdid herself in graciousness.

  Bob relaxed his tension. The afternoon was moving on with moreserenity than he had dared hope, and inwardly he began to congratulatehimself on the success of it. To judge from appearance every one wasin the serenest frame of mind. Willie was beaming into his host'sface, and both men were laughing immoderately; Celestina, from thesnatches of conversation that reached him, was relating for Mrs.Galbraith's benefit the symptoms of her late illness; and Madam Lee waschatting with Delight as with an old-time friend. Bob longed to jointhem, but prudence forbade his leaving Cynthia's side. Moreover hesuspected the tete-a-tete was of the old lady's arranging and he darednot break in on it. If Madam Lee desired his presence, she was quitecapable of commanding it by one of those characteristically imperiouswaves of her hand. But she did not summon him. Instead she sat withher keen little eyes fixed on the girl opposite as if fascinated by herbeauty. Once Bob heard her ask Delight of the Brewsters and caughtfragments that indicated they were talking of the child's early life inthe village.

  It was Celestina who at length broke in on the conversation.

  "I guess we must be thinkin' of goin', Delight, don't you? We have along ride back, you know."

  "Delight!" echoed Madam Lee, repeating the word with surprise.

  "A queer name, ain't it?" Celestina put in. "So old-fashioned an'uncommon! When the child first come here folks couldn't believe but'twas a pet name her dad had given her; but the little thing insisted'twas what she was christened."

  "Father said I was named for my mother and my grandmother, Delight Lee."

  There was a gasp from the stately old lady in the chair. Withconvulsive grasp she caught and held the girl's wrist.

  "Your father was Ralph Hathaway?"

  "Yes," was the wondering reply. "How did you know?"

  No answer came.

  "Mother!" cried Mrs. Galbraith, coming swiftly to her side and bendingover the form crumpled against the pillows.

  Her face, too, was pale, and even Mr. Galbraith looked startled.

  "Don't take on so, mother," her daughter whispered. "Control yourselfif you can. There may be some mistake. It is unlikely that--"

  "There is no mistake," came in a hollow voice from the woman huddled inthe chair, who regarded Delight with frightened eyes. "She is mydaughter's child, sent by the mercy of heaven that I might make amendsbefore I went down into the grave."

  Tense silence followed the assertion.

  "Did your father never tell you anything, my dear, of his marriage?"went on Madam Lee in a tone that although firmer still trembled.

  "No."

  "Then I can tell you--I, who drove your mother from my house when sherefused to wed a man she did not love."

  Delight's great eyes widened with wonder.

  "Yes," went on the elder woman with impetuous haste, "look at me. Ihave grown older and wiser since those days. But I was proud when Iwas young, and self-willed, and determined to have my way. I had threedaughters: Maida, whom you see here, Delight and Muriel. We lived inVirginia and my children's beauty was the talk of the county. Maidamarried Richard Galbraith, a descendant of one of our oldest families,and I rejoiced in the alliance. For Delight, my second daughter, Ichose as husband the son of one of my oldest friends, a rich younglandholder who although older than she I knew would bring her name andfortune. But the girl, high-spirited like myself but lacking myambition, would have none of him. All unbeknown to any of us, she hadfallen in love with Ralph Hathaway, a handsome, penniless adventurerfrom the West. There was nothing against the man save that he wasyoung, headstrong, and had his way to make, but he balked me in myplans and I hated him for it. In vain did I try to break off thematch. It was useless. The pair loved one another devotedly andrefused to be separated."

  Madam Lee ceased speaking for an instant; then went on resolutely.

  "When I say my daughter had all the Lee determination, you will guessthe rest. She fled from home and although I spared no money to traceher, I never saw or heard of her again. The next year, as if injudgment upon me, Muriel, my youngest child, died and I had but onedaughter remaining. It was then that, saddened and chastened bysorrow, I regretted my narrowness and injustice and prayed to God forthe chance to wipe out my cruelty. But my prayers went unanswered, andall these years forgiveness has been denied me. Now I am old but Godis merciful. He has not let me die with this weight upon my soul."

  She bowed her head on Delight's shoulder and wept.

  "Your mother?" she whispered, when she was able to enunciate the words.

  "My mother died in California when I was born. Then my father took tothe sea and carried me with him. We sailed until I was ten years old,when his ship--"

  "I know," interrupted Madam Lee gently. She gave a long sigh. "We--wemust speak more of this later," murmured she. "I am tired now."

  As she dropped back against the cushions, Celestina rose softly andmotioned the others to follow her; but when Delight attempted to slipaway the hand resting on hers tightened.

  "You are not leaving me!" pleaded the old lady faintly.

  "I will come back again," answered the girl in a soothing tone.

  "When? To-morrow?"

  "If you wish it, Madam L--"

  "Call me grandmother, my child," said the woman, a smile rare in itspeace and beauty breaking over her drawn countenance.