CHAPTER XXIV
"Clarice, dear," said Hope, "what _is_ the matter?"
"Oh," sobbed Mrs. Van Rensselaer, "_did_ you see it--_did you see it_? Aterrible thing! A terrible thing!"
"But _what_?" asked the girl wonderingly, "what could have frightenedyou so, _here_?"
Clarice, still hysterical, only sobbed and was quite incoherent in herexplanation. Hope looked stern, as though facing an unpleasant problemwhich baffled her for the time. Louisa had entered the room and stoodquietly to one side, looking in much surprise from one to the other. Fora moment Mrs. Van Rensselaer's sobs ceased.
The German girl touched Hope gently upon the shoulder.
"I tink it vas King Solomon," she said.
"Why, that was just it," said Hope. "You must have seen King Solomon,Clarice. It was only King Solomon; don't be afraid. I thought we had thehole well plugged up, but he must have made another one."
"You forget," interrupted Louisa, laughing softly.
"Oh, that's so!" exclaimed Hope. "We took the soap out and used it thismorning because we didn't have any other."
"And who's King Solomon, and what's that to do with soap?" demandedClarice, raising herself upon her elbow to the edge of the bed with afaint show of interest.
"King Solomon," explained Hope soberly, "is a friend who comes to visitus occasionally, and generally packs off what happens to be in sight. Wenamed him King Solomon--not because of his solemn demeanor, but forreason of his taking ways, and propensity toward feminine apparel."
"What are you talking about, Hope? I do believe this terrible place hasgone to your head! What makes all the noise in that other room?"
Mrs. Van Rensselaer seemed extremely nervous.
"That's the men coming in to their supper," replied Hope. "I think youmust have been nervous before you saw the rat. I'm sorry I wasn't herewhen you came, Clarice!"
"And so that horrible thing I saw was a rat!"
"Yes, just a common everyday wood-rat, for obvious reasons sometimescalled a pack-rat. But how did you happen to come up here, Clarice?"
"If I had known how far it was, and what a dreadful place I should find,I am afraid my great desire to see you couldn't have induced me toattempt it. How _can_ you stay here? I wish you'd go home, Hope!"
"Is that what you came to tell me?" asked the girl quietly. "If so, youmight just as well get on your horse and go back. I wrote you not tocome. You might have taken my advice--it would have been a heap better.You're not cut out for this sort of place. I don't know what in theworld I'm going to do with you to-night! I'll send you back to-morrow,that's one thing sure. One of us will have to sleep on the floor, orelse we'll be obliged to sleep three in a bed."
"Oh, I'll make me a bed on the floor," offered Louisa quickly.
"You won't do anything of the kind--the idea!" exclaimed Mrs. VanRensselaer, aghast. "Supposing that thing--that _rat_ should come!"
"We'll put the soap back in the hole again," replied Hope. "And KingSolomon will have to keep out. Before Louisa came I used to let him comein just for company's sake, but the poor fellow is a hopeless case.Clarice, I wish you hadn't come!"
"I wish so, too, if that will help you any," replied Mrs. VanRensselaer, lifting her pretty face dejectedly from her hands andlooking about the room in a woe-begone manner. "I'm awfully tired, Hope,and hungry, but I couldn't eat _here_ if I starved to death! Is thatroom in there _always_ so grimy and dirty? and what makes that terrible_odor_ about the place?"
"I think you'd better go back to the ranch to-night," suggested Hope.
Clarice moaned in deep discouragement: "Oh, if you knew how tired I am!But I can't stand it _here_--_I can't do it_! Let me get out in thefresh air, away from the odor of those pigs and chickens and _rats_, andsit down on the side of a mountain--anywhere, so that I can breatheagain!" After a moment's pause she suddenly exclaimed: "Hope, there'ssomething biting me! What in the world is it? I tell you there's aninsect on me!"
"Fleas," said Hope briefly. "The place is full of them. They don't biteme, and they don't bother Louisa much either. Poor Clarice, what troubleyou have got yourself into! I can't send you back to-night, that's onesure thing, you're too tired." She pondered a moment, deeply perplexed,then all at once a solution came to her. Her eyes brightened and shelaughed.
"I have it!" she cried. "I'll send one of the boys after Mr.Livingston's buggy and drive you over to Sydney's. They've got an extratent and a stack of blankets. William will get you a fine supper, andyou can be as snug as a bug in a rug."
"Hope, you're the dearest girl that ever lived!" cried Clarice. "I justdote on camping out in a nice clean tent!" But Hope had hurried away tofind the twins before the sentence was finished. When she returned, afew minutes later, Clarice exclaimed:
"But you don't intend to send me over there _alone_, do you? You girlswill go and stay with me? Come, you must! I'll not think of going alone.We'll have a regular camping-out party and I'll chaperon you."
"Old Father Jim and Sydney are chaperons enough," said the girl. "Butwe'll go along, since you happen to be our guest."
This decided upon, she made Mrs. Van Rensselaer lie down upon the bed,bathed her pretty, tired face with cool water, and commanded her torest until the twins returned with the conveyance.
Louisa clapped her hands in joy at the happy prospect of camping in atent. She declared in her pretty broken English that it had been her onegreat desire ever since she had been in the country. Then she becamesober again. Had not her Fritz spent months at a time in one of thosesmall, white-walled tents?
Hope viewed the project with complete indifference. It mattered littleto her where she spent the night, so that she got her allotted hours ofgood, sound sleep. At first she was greatly perplexed as to how she wasgoing to make Clarice comfortable, but now that the matter had adjusteditself so agreeably she became at once in the lightest of spirits, theeffects of which were quickly felt by both Mrs. Van Rensselaer andlittle Louisa.
By the time the roll of wheels was heard, announcing the arrival ofEdward Livingston's conveyance, Clarice was fairly rested, and in amuch more amiable mood than previously.
"The only thing that's the matter with me now is that I'm hungry," shesaid.
"We'll soon fix that, too," replied Hope brightly. "The boys are backwith Mr. Livingston's team and it won't take us long to drive over tocamp. Get on your things, Clarice." She threw her own jacket over herarm and, picking up her hat, hurriedly left the room. "I'll be back in amoment for you," she said from the door. "Keep her company, Louisa, anddon't let King Solomon in!"
At the entrance of the house she met the soft-voiced twin just coming insearch of her.
"He's out there hisself with his outfit," he said disgustedly. "Thoughtit wasn't safe fer me to drive his blame horses, I reckon!"
She looked out and saw Livingston standing beside his team in the road.He was waiting for her. When she approached, his fine eyes brightened,but hers were gloomy--indifferent.
"Come," he said, laughing, holding out his hand to her. "You did notthink I would miss such an opportunity to get to see you! I haven'tpleased you, but this time I thought to please myself."
"I was in such a predicament," she cried, ignoring his hand, butforgetting her momentary displeasure. "A guest from the ranch, and noplace to put her. Then I thought of Sydney's, and that new tent, sowe're all going over there. I sent for your buggy, because Mrs. VanRensselaer has ridden a long ways, is all tired out--but I didn't meanto put _you_ to so much trouble."
"Is it a _trouble_ to see you?" he asked. "If it is, I want a great dealof just that kind of trouble."
"I'll go in and get her," she said quickly. "If you will drive her overthere, Louisa and I can go horseback."
He assented in few words, happy to do her bidding.
She started toward the house, then turned back absent-mindedly, asthough she had forgotten something that she was striving to recall.Finally she gave a little short laugh, and held out her hand. "You arevery kind," she sa
id, looking at him squarely.
He did not reply, but held the proffered hand, drinking in the languageof her eyes. She withdrew it slowly, as if loath to take it from hiswarm clasp, then flashing him one of her brilliant smiles turned oncemore and went quickly back to the house.
"You will ride over with Mr. Livingston, Clarice," she announced. "Hewouldn't trust the twins with his team."
"And who's _Mr. Livingston_, Hope," inquired Mrs. Van Rensselaer,adjusting her veil carefully before the small mirror. "I didn't supposeyou had a _Mr._ anybody up here in this terrible country! Why theprefix?"
"He's a white man," replied the girl, pulling down her hat to hide theflush that crept into her face. "An Englishman, Edward Livingston."
"An Englishman," mused Clarice, pulling on her gloves. "But what makesyou _Mister_ him, Hope? _Livingston_--wonder if he's any relation toLord Livingston? _Edward_ Livingston, did you say?"
"Oh, such a _nice_ man!" exclaimed Louisa, clasping her hands inrapture. "He is my goot, kind friend."
"And Hope's too, isn't he?" laughed Mrs. Van Rensselaer, at which remarkHope advised her to hurry up.
"But my dear, I _am_ hurrying just as fast as I can," she exclaimed. "Iassure you I am as anxious to get away from here as you are to have me.I don't see how you've ever stood it, Hope! The attraction must be verystrong. Come, own up, is it this _Mister_ Livingston? Why, I believe youare blushing. You're so black, though, I can't be certain. But it's agood name--Livingston. Come on; I'm ready to see this _Mister EdwardLivingston_!"
The three passed out of the room and through the large living roombeyond, on out of doors. The men had eaten their supper and gone out tothe stables, where they congregated in numerous groups--quiet groups,that any other time would have seemed suspicious to Hope.
Mrs. Van Rensselaer was led safely past the pigs and dogs withoutaccident, but at the corner of the house she drew back, filled withsurprise, and forgetful of all danger.
"Hope, I do believe that _is_ Lord Livingston," she whispered. "I knewhe was out in this country somewhere. Yes, I'm sure it is he. His wifelives in New York now," she rattled on; "but I don't know her except bysight. She goes in kind of a swift set, anyway, but he belongs to one ofthe best families in England. Isn't it surprising to run across him likethis? I'll go up to him and say--why, how do you do, Lord----"
"Come on," said Hope, interrupting and taking her by the arm. "Lord orno lord, you'll never get any supper if you don't hurry up!" Her facehad gone from red to white. She took Clarice by the arm and led her upto the buggy. "This is Mrs. Van Rensselaer, Mr. Livingston," she saidquickly, before that lady could speak, then turned abruptly about andwent to the stable for the saddle-horses.
Livingston helped Mrs. Van Rensselaer into the buggy, while Louisa ranafter Hope, quickly overtaking her.
"She says he hass a vife. I don't belief her!" she exclaimedindignantly, linking her arm through Hope's. "Don't you belief hereider!"
"I must believe it, little Louisa, because it is true!" said Hope. "Butif it were _not_ true, if it were _not_ true, I think I should be madwith happiness at this moment!"