CHAPTER IX--TEN EYCK HALL
Ten Eyck Hall, with its high-peaked roofs, its rambling wings andinnumerable dormer windows, seemed to the four girls the very home ofromance.
It was an enormous house built of brick, turned a faded pink, now, fromage, which made a delicate background for the heavy vines that shadedthe piazzas and balconies and clambered up to the roof itself.
The handsome old master of this charming house leaped to the ground aslightly as one of his nephews, the moment the automobile drew up at thefront door. Lifting his hat he made a low, old-fashioned bow.
"Dear ladies," he said, "you are as welcome to my home as the flowers inspring!" Giving his arm to Miss Stuart, he conducted her up the frontsteps. The great double doors flew open as if by magic, and the partyfiled into the vast center hall, on each side of which stood theservants of the household, headed by the butler and his wife, thehousekeeper.
"Dear me," exclaimed Miss Sallie, "I feel as if I were entering abaronial castle. Why did you never tell me years ago you owned such afine place, John Ten Eyck?"
"Because I didn't in those days, Sallie," answered the major. "Therewere several heirs ahead of me then. But I always wanted you to come andsee it. Don't you remember my mother wrote and asked you to make us avisit? But you were going abroad, that summer, and couldn't come."
"Well, I was a very foolish girl," replied Miss Sallie. "But better latethan never, John, and it will be a pleasure to see the young peopleenjoy themselves in this beautiful house."
Some of the young people were already plainly showing their delight andpleasure in the visit. The major made a smiling gesture toward the fouryoung girls, who, with arms around each other's waists, were strollingup the great hall toward the fireplace at the far end, pausing here andthere to look at the fine old portraits and curious carved cabinets andsettees. Many of the latter had been collected by the major during histravels abroad.
"I feel like a princess in a castle, Major," called Ruth.
"And here comes one of the princes, my dear," answered the major,glancing up at the broad staircase which occupied one side of the hall.All eyes followed the direction of his gaze, and an exclamation ofsurprise escaped the lips of the automobilists. For there, on thelanding of the staircase, looking down at the little group of peoplebelow as calmly as a real prince might regard his subjects, was themotor cyclist.
"Why, it's Mr. Martinez!" exclaimed Miss Sallie. "How are you?" she saidgraciously, as he descended the broad staircase. "We had no idea youwere a friend of the major's, too."
"Nor had I, Madam," replied the young man, as he bowed low over MissStuart's hand and acknowledged the greetings of the girls. "I did notknow who Major Ten Eyck was when he was stopping at the hotel, or Ishould have presented my letter there. It was a surprise to find in himthe same gentleman I had come down to meet, and it is, indeed, a greatpleasure and surprise to meet you and the young ladies so soon again."
"Martinez is the son of an old friend of mine, Jose Martinez of Madrid,"broke in the major. "But how did you happen to meet him?"
Miss Stuart explained that he was the brave young man who had saved themfrom the attack of the drunken tramp.
"My dear Jose," exclaimed the major, grasping him cordially by the hand,"you were brave. It was an act worthy of your father, and I can say nomore for you than that."
The young man flushed, and for the first time in their acquaintanceshowed signs of real embarrassment.
"It was nothing," he said. "The man was drunk and drunken men are easyto manage."
"But he was not easy to manage," exclaimed Ruth. "He was a giant in sizeand strength."
The young foreigner shrugged his shoulders and the flush deepened on hisface.
"Well, well," laughed Major Ten Eyck, "we won't embarrass you any moreby insisting on your being a hero whether you will or no. Here comesMary to show you to your rooms, ladies. You look as fresh as themorning, but after a night spent in a Gypsy camp perhaps you would liketo spruce up a bit before luncheon. Come along, Jose, and let me showyou my library. I am very proud of my collection of Spanish books. Iwant your opinion of them."
The major waved his hand gallantly to the five women who were followingthe housekeeper up the carved oak staircase to the regions above.
"Am I awake, or asleep?" asked Mollie. "This whole morning has seemedlike a dream, and now this lovely old house----"
"And the lovely old major, in the lovely old house," added Ruth.
"Isn't he a dear!" pursued Mollie. "I wonder if Miss Sallie is sorrynow," she continued to herself. "If he were as gentle and charming whenhe was young as he is now, I don't think I could have been cross withhim, ever."
Meanwhile, Barbara was saying to Miss Stuart:
"No; we never told Mr. Martinez where we were going, or mentioned themajor's name, so of course he had no way of knowing that we were cominghere. It is curious, though," she went on thoughtfully, "our meeting himhere. I wonder when he arrived?"
"Yesterday, I suppose," replied Miss Sallie. "Or it may have been thismorning. However, it doesn't make any difference. I am glad, at least,that a friend of ours can show him some hospitality in return for hiscourageous act."
By this time they had reached the top of the stairs and had a glimpse ofanother hall corresponding to the one below, at one end of which was agreat casement window with a broad cushioned window-seat under it. Theother end, where the stairs turned, was lighted by an enormous stainedglass window.
Little exclamations of rapture escaped the girls as they tripped overthe softly carpeted floors to their rooms, which were on the left sideof the hall. Opposite were the major's rooms, so Mary explained, whilethe young men were all quartered in the right wing except Mr. Martinez,who had a room at the end of the hall on the same side as the major'ssuite.
"I could live and die in a house like this, and never want to leave it,"cried Bab, her eyes sparkling with pleasure as Mary opened the doorleading to the room that had been assigned to Ruth and her.
They could have a room apiece, if they wished it, the housekeeper said,but when it was discovered that this would necessitate two of the girlstaking rooms in the right wing, many passages and corridors away fromthe others, all said they would rather share the rooms on the main hall.Mary looked somewhat relieved at this. It was evident she was not infavor of the right wing for the girls, either; although she did notexplain her reasons.
In the large old-fashioned bedrooms, hung with chintz curtains andfurnished with mahogany that would have been the joy of the antiquedealers, were already placed the boxes and satchels of theautomobilists. Two neat housemaids were engaged in unpacking theirthings and placing them in the drawers of the massive highboys andwardrobes.
"Bab," exclaimed Ruth, giving her friend an affectionate little shake,"this is worth two highwaymen and a night in a Gypsy camp. I feel as ifI were in an English country house. I feel we are going to have aperfectly wonderful time. And, somehow, the young Spaniard adds muchlyto the whole thing. He seems to belong in the midst of carved oak andPersian rugs, doesn't he, Barbara, dear? As he stood on those steps helooked like an old Spanish portrait. All he needed was a velvet cape, asword and a plumed hat."
"Well, that seems a good deal to complete the picture, considering hewas wearing an ordinary pepper and salt suit," observed Barbara.
"I don't believe you like Senor Jose Martinez," said Ruth.
"Oh, yes I do," replied the other. "I like him and I don't like him. Hiseyes are just a bit too close together, and still he is very handsome.But give me time, give me time. I don't enjoy having my likes hurriedalong like this. If he can play tennis, ride horseback and dance as wellas he can knock down a tramp, he will be a perfect paragon among men.Look here, Ruth," she continued, exploring the various closets, "do youknow we have a bathroom all to ourselves? Did you say that Major TenEyck was poor when Miss Sallie threw him over?"
"Well, he wasn't rich at that time," replied Ruth; "that is, notaccording to Aunt Sallie's ideas, but si
nce then, she tells me, an unclehas left him lots of money."
"Now, for a bath!" cried Barbara, as she turned the water on in the tub.
"Don't use too much of it," called Ruth. "I never saw a country housewhere the water didn't run short, no matter how grand a place it was.Remember the drought, Bab, and leave a little for your fainting friend."
The girls had barely time to bathe and dress, when a deep gong soundedin the hall. The five automobilists, refreshed by their belated baths,and dainty in crisp ducks and muslins, filed down the great staircase atthe sound. Miss Stuart, in a lavender organdie, her white hair piled ontop of her head, led the procession.
The major, waiting for them at the foot of the steps, smiled rathersadly as he watched the charming picture. The five young men groupedtogether at the end of the hall, came forward at sight of the ladies.Three of them at least were rather shy in their greetings, especiallythe English boy, Alfred Marsdale, who was only seventeen and stillafraid of American girls. Stephen and Martin Ten Eyck, boys of sixteenand seventeen, were also rather green in the society of girls. They hadno sisters and their vacations had been spent either at Ten Eyck Hall orout West on their father's ranch. And an avalanche of four pretty,vivacious young women, advancing upon them in this way, was enough tomake them tongue-tied for the moment. Jimmie Butler, who was nineteenand had seen a deal of life all over the world with his mother, awell-to-do widow, was proof against embarrassment, and the youngSpaniard also seemed perfectly at his ease.
"Come along, young people," said the major, giving his arm to MissSallie and leading the way to the dining room.
Soon they were all gayly chatting at an immense, round table of blackoak, so highly polished that it reflected the silver and china and thefaces of the guests in its shining board.
"Miss Barbara," said the major, "suppose you let us have a history ofthe attempt at robbery? Since it was your courage and presence of mindthat drove the robber away you ought to be the one to give the mostconnected account. Miss Stuart tells me that he was a giant with a deepbass voice, but that the sight of a pistol made him cut and run like arabbit. You have not heard, Jose," continued the major, turning toMartinez, "that our ladies were in danger of being robbed last night andwould have been but for Miss Barbara, who drove off the robber with apistol?"
"Is it possible?" replied Jose, looking at Barbara with admiration. "Butthere must be a great many robbers in this country. Almost as numerousas in the mountains of my own country. And what was the appearance ofthe robber, may I ask, Miss Thurston? Was he again a tramp?"
"He was not a giant," answered Barbara. "He struck me as being rathershort and very slender, so slender that it made him appear taller thanhe was. His voice was curious. I could not describe it, and I thinkreally it was disguised. He spoke only a few times. He wore a mask thatcompletely covered his face, and a slouch hat, so there was no tellingwhat his hair was like; but he gave me the impression of being dark. Ithink he was a coward, because he ran so fast when I pointed the pistolat him."
"Do you suppose he's hiding in the woods now, Major?" asked Mollie. "Wewere walking there all morning, but we had nothing to be robbed of."
"Oh, he is probably running still," replied the major. "But what isquite plain to me is that it was somebody who knew you expected to makethe trip. This robber had evidently prepared beforehand for the attack.He had chopped holes in the bridge, painted the sign, fastened the ropesacross, and had arranged the whole thing during the morning. But he hadnot reckoned on your little pistol, Miss Barbara, had he? Ah, you are abrave girl, my dear, and they tell me that this is only one among manyacts of heroism of yours."
Barbara blushed.
"I am sure any of the others would have done the same thing, Major, ifMr. Stuart had given them the pistol."
"Do the ladies in America carry firearms?" asked Alfred Marsdale,looking from one to another in a hesitating, embarrassed way.
"Why, certainly, Alfred, my boy," replied Jimmie Butler. "Don't you knowit's dangerous, in this country, for a woman to walk on the streetsunarmed unless she is dressed like a suffragette? And then she doesn'tneed a pistol to make people run from her."
"Now, you're joking, Jimmie," said Alfred.
At which everybody laughed until they all felt that they had known eachother much longer than just a few hours.
"While I think of it," observed the major, "I have only one request tomake of my guests, and that may seem like a very inhospitable one, butyou will all understand, I know. Don't be too lavish with the water."
Ruth and Barbara looked at each other and smiled.
"I mean," continued the major, "don't fill the tubs to the brim. Ahand's depth is the allowance; or we shall be high and dry without anywater and no prospect of any unless a rain comes. This interminabledrought has dried up every brook on the place and the cisterns are lowerthan they have ever been before. We keep one cistern always full--not somuch in case of drought as in case of fire; it might be needed someday."
They all promised to bathe in what Jimmie Butler called "two-fingers ofwater."
"If the water gives out," said Jimmie, "we'll beautify our complexionsby bathing in milk. I think I need a lotion for a delicate skin,anyhow." Jimmie's nose was a mass of freckles.
"You would have to have your face peeled, Jimmie," said Stephen, "beforeyou could call it delicate."
"Excuse me," replied Jimmie, "my indelicate skin then."
"I have not made any plans for your entertainment this afternoon, youngladies," the major was saying. "Miss Stuart is determined that you mustlie down and sleep off the effects of the Gypsy camp. But to-morrow weshall have a picnic to make up for it, and Miss Ruth may take her teabasket, since we have none in this household."
"I'm not a bit tired now," said Ruth.
"Neither are we," echoed the other girls as they rose from the table.
"Well, suppose we make a compromise," said the major, "by showing youover the house? After that sleep must be your portion, eh, Sallie?"
"It must, indeed," replied that lady firmly, and all adjourned to thelibrary.