CHAPTER XIII
"A LITTLE RIFT WITHIN THE LUTE"
"BUT, my dearest sister, what is the matter with Betty? You wereperfectly right, she isn't one bit like herself and neither is Anthony.I don't even believe she was particularly glad to see me when I stoppedover in Concord with her for a few days."
Polly O'Neill was in her sister Mollie's big, sunshiny living room inher splendid old farm-house near Sunrise Cabin. There was no speciallyhandsome furniture in the room, perhaps nothing particularly beautifulin itself, yet Polly had just announced that it was the very homiestroom in all the world and for that reason the nicest.
There were low book-shelves on two sides of the room, for though Mollienever read anything except at night when her husband read aloud to her,Billy Webster kept up with all the latest books, fiction, history,travel, besides subscribing to most of the magazines in the country.Indeed, although he and Polly often quarreled good-naturedly, Polly wasopenly proud of her brother-in-law, who had turned out to be a moreintelligent and capable man than she had ever expected.
But besides Billy's books there were lots of old chairs, some of themrather worn, but all delightfully comfortable; a great big table, nowlittered with children's toys; the old-fashioned couch upon which Pollywas reposing; some ornaments belonging to ancestral Websters and a tallgrandfather's clock, besides half a dozen engravings and etchings on thewalls.
Mollie was sitting in a low chair dressing a big china doll. Thesunshine lingered on her dark hair, her plump pink cheeks and her happyexpression. For she was in a delightful state of content with the world.Was not her beloved Polly at home for the Christmas festivities and werenot Billy and the children and her mother in excellent health andspirits?
Yet she looked a little uneasy over her sister's question. For Betty wasnearer to her heart than any one outside her own family.
"So you noticed it too, Polly?" she returned, stopping her work for amoment and gazing out the great glass window. Outside in the snow herthree children were playing, her little girl, Polly, and Billy and Dan.Bobbin was standing a short distance away watching them intently.Indeed, ever since her arrival at the farm she seemed to have donealmost nothing except look and look with all her might and main. Thegirl seemed scarcely to wish either to eat or sleep. And at first thishad worried her new friends, until suddenly Polly had realized what awonderful new experience Mollie's home and family were to this child whohad never seen anything in the least like it in her whole life.
But Mollie was not watching the children. Polly got up and leaned on herelbow to discover what had attracted her sister's attention. For only afew moments before the children had been sent outdoors to keep them fromtiring the aunt whom they adored.
No, Mollie's gaze was fastened on a big man who had just approachedwearing a heavy overcoat and a fur cap and carrying a great bunch ofmistletoe and holly in his hands, which he was showing with carefulattention to the little girl visitor.
"Here comes Billy," she explained. "Perhaps he can tell us."
Of course Polly laughed. "Gracious, dear, isn't there anything in theworld you won't let your husband decide? I should think that even Mr.William Webster could hardly tell us what is troubling our belovedBetty. And I don't know that it is even right to ask him. You see, oldmaids are shy about these things."
But in reply Mollie shook her head reproachfully. "I was only going toask Billy about the difficulty Anthony is having with his position asGovernor," she explained. "You see, I know there is some kind of talk.People are saying he is not being as honest as they expected. There is abill which ex-Governor Peyton and Meg's husband, Jack Emmet, and herbrother, John, are trying to get through the Legislature. Most peopledon't think the bill is honest and believe Anthony should come out andsay he is opposed to it. But so far he has not said anything one way orthe other. I thought maybe Betty was worrying because people werethinking such hateful things about Anthony. I simply couldn't stand itif it were Billy."
"Wise Mollie!" her sister answered thoughtfully. "You may be right, butsomehow there seemed to me to be something else troubling Betty. If itwere only this political trouble, why shouldn't she have confided inme?"
But at this instant William Webster came into the room with a dozenletters and almost as many newspapers in his hands. Six of the lettershe bestowed on Polly, who opened five of them and stuck the sixth insideher dress.
Ten minutes later Billy Webster looked up from the paper he was reading."See here," he said, "I don't like this. This paper comes pretty nearhaving an insulting letter in it concerning Anthony Graham. Of course itdoes not say anything outright, but the insinuations are even worse.See, the article is headed: 'Is Our Reform Governor So Honest As WeSupposed?' Then later on the writer suggests that Anthony may not beabove taking graft himself. Everybody knows he is a poor man."
Afterwards there was an unusual silence in the big room until Billyturned inquiringly toward his wife and sister-in-law.
"Don't take my question in the wrong way, please," he began rathertimidly. "But is Betty Graham a very extravagant woman? I know she wasbrought up to have a great deal of money, and although she was poor fora little while that may not have made any difference. You see, AnthonyGraham is absolutely an honest man, but everybody knows that he adoreshis wife----"
Billy stopped because quite in her old girlhood fashion Polly had sprungup on her sofa and her eyes were fairly blazing at him.
"What utter nonsense, Billy Webster! You ought to be ashamed of yourselffor suggesting such a thing. In the first place, Betty is notextravagant, but even if she were she would most certainly rather bedead than have Anthony do a dishonest thing on her account. Besides, ifAnthony is your friend and you really believe in him, you ought not todoubt him under any possible circumstances." Then Polly bit her lips andcalmed down somewhat, for Mollie was looking a little frightened as shealways did when her sister and Billy disagreed. However, her sympathiesthis time were assuredly on her sister's side.
"If you had only belonged to a Camp Fire club as we did with BettyAshton you would never have doubted her even for a second, Billy. I knowyou don't really," Mollie added, somewhat severely for her. "Oh, dear, Inever shall cease to be grateful for our club! All the girls seem almostlike sisters to me, and especially Betty."
Billy Webster folded up his paper and glanced first at his wife and thenat his sister-in-law.
"I beg everybody's pardon," he said slowly, "and I stand rebuked!Certainly I did not mean really to doubt either Anthony or Betty for amoment. But you are right, Mollie dear, that Camp Fire Club certainlytaught you girls loyalty toward one another. I don't believe people daresay nowadays that women are not loyal friends, and perhaps the Camp Fireclubs have had their influence. But some day soon I believe I will go upto Concord and see Anthony. Perhaps he might like to talk to an oldfriend."
"He and Betty and the children are coming to Woodford for Christmas,"Mollie announced contentedly, whipping away at the lace on the doll'sdress now that peace was again restored. "Betty says she can't miss thechance of spending a Christmas with Polly after all these years.Besides, she is curious about Bobbin. I hope Sylvia will come too. Shewon't promise to leave her old hospital, but I believe the desire to seePolly will bring her here. You know she writes, Polly, that you arepositively not to come to her for the present."
Her sister nodded, but a few moments later got up and went up alone toher own room.
Their talk had somehow made her feel more uncomfortable about Bettythan she had in the beginning. Somehow she had hoped that Mollie wouldnot be so ready to agree with her own judgment. Yet most decidedly shehad noticed a change in Betty during her short visit to her. Betty wasno longer gay and sweet-tempered; she was nervous and cross, sometimeswith her husband and children, now and then with the two girls who werespending the winter with her, Angelique Martins and Faith Barton.Moreover, she had gotten a good deal thinner, and though she was aspretty as ever, sometimes looked tired and discontented. Besides, shewas living such a soci
ety existence, teas, balls, dinners, receptionsalmost every hour of the day and night. No wonder she was tired! Ofcourse Anthony could not always go with her; he was far too busy and hadnever cared for society. For a moment Polly wondered when Betty and herhusband managed to see each other when they were both so occupied withdifferent interests. Yet when they had married she had believed themabsolutely the most devoted and congenial of all her friends.
Well, Betty need not expect finally to escape confessing her difficulty.Even if there was no opportunity for an intimate talk during theChristmas gayeties they must see each other soon again. Either she wouldgo to Concord or have Betty come again to Mollie's.
Then Polly cast off her worries and settling herself comfortably in abig leather chair by the fire took out the letter concealed inside herdress and began reading it.