CHAPTER XV
Radnor society was all agog over the second appearance of MonsieurGremond, and no sooner was his coming made known than Renshawe wasfairly deluged with invitations for his guest.
Miss Ware took that occasion to give a big reception to whichmagnanimously, "those Dale girls" were invited. This was the onlyoutcome of the after breakfast talk many weeks before with her brother.To tell the truth, the interest in them kindled at the moment by hisenthusiasm, waned, and she never arranged the little party for which hehad told her she had such a talent. Not that she altogether meant towaive her promise; she compromised with her conscience by tellingherself that she had not yet gotten around to it. Here then was heropportunity and the girls were invited to the reception not only by cardbut personally. She only succeeded, however, in extracting a halfpromise from them to come, for they were having an anxious time over anew departure in their work and were little inclined for socialdissipation.
Kenneth Landor gave a stag dinner at his club in honor of the Frenchmanon the night of his arrival and Dr. Ware entertained Renshawe, Gremondand Landor at the same place later in the week, dining them informallybefore his sister's reception. Dr. Ware greatly enjoyed the society ofyounger men, who sought him in many capacities and as a counselor foundin his quick comprehension of their difficulties many a solution ofproblems which to the young so often seem insurmountable. Then it wasthat the wisdom grown out of his vast experience of life gave itselffreely to those who came to him, and many a man and woman left hispresence cheered by the grip of his hand, strengthened by the kindlinessthat looked out from his eyes and pervaded his whole personality. On hislighter side, as a delightfully congenial companion, he had no equal inRadnor and this rubbing up continually against a younger point of viewtended to freshen his mind and keep him in touch with much thatotherwise, through the exigencies of his profession, would have escapedhim.
"I do not want to seem inhospitable," he was saying that evening as thefour men sat together at dinner, "but we must not linger too long overour cigars, or my sister will hold me responsible for keeping you awayfrom her." He had his own reasons for wanting to arrive fairly early.
"In that case we'd better move along, Landor," said Renshawe rising."Dr. Ware," turning to his host, "will you take Gremond with you or waita few moments while we look in at a committee meeting upstairs. We willnot be long if you both care to wait."
"I am in the hands of my friends," said Gremond.
"We will wait, by all means," replied the Doctor, consulting his watch."It is not much after nine now."
Thought transference was a psychological phenomenon over which Dr. Warehad pondered much, and a startling instance of it was borne in upon himwhen after the other men had departed, Monsieur Gremond turned to himand said abruptly, without any preamble:
"May I ask, Dr. Ware, if you know in this city a family of Dales? Inparticular a Mademoiselle Julie Dale?"
"Why yes, I believe so," said the Doctor who was nothing if notnon-committal, "do you?"
He was totally unprepared for the effusive manner in which the Frenchmanliterally fell upon his neck, exclaiming, "Oh! my friend, I thank you, Ithank you!"
Masculine demonstration is not particularly pleasing to a man ofAnglo-Saxon blood and Dr. Ware, in order to prevent a further exhibitionof it, drew away slightly and offered his guest a fresh cigar.
Monsieur Gremond shook his head. "I will not smoke--I will do nothingbut ask you questions--if I may. Oh! you cannot think what it means toknow I have found her!"
"Have you been searching for Miss Julie Dale?" asked the Doctor, puffingclouds of smoke into the air.
"Searching? Ah, if you but knew! I have been across your continent toCalifornia only to learn that she had long ago left there and come toyour eastern coast, presumably here, though no one at the hotel knewdefinitely about her."
"You are especially interested in Miss Dale, I take it," said the Doctorquietly. "In that case perhaps I should tell you that I stand somewhatin the relation of a guardian to her and her sister. You may talk quitefrankly with me if you care to do so."
It was impossible to restrain or even resent the hand-shake with whichthe younger man expressed his appreciation.
"The Fates have been kind!" was his exclamation. "I am rewarded for mybitter disappointment. Is Monsieur Dale dead?" he asked suddenly.
"Not dead, but so ill that he is no longer able to look out for theirinterests--the privilege, therefore, devolves upon me."
"I wish to marry Mademoiselle Julie," said the Frenchman with adirectness Dr. Ware liked. "I came to this country chiefly for thepurpose of taking her back with me. I knew them at Los Angeles two yearsago and Monsieur Dale liked me--at least I do not think he disliked me,for he allowed me to be much in his daughters' society. I realize thatto you I am quite unknown, but Renshawe will vouch for me and anyquestions you may care to ask about my family or my future I shall bemost happy to answer."
"Thank you." There was silence for a moment and then the Doctor saidslowly, "Have you reason to suppose that Miss Dale will marry you?"
"Ah! that I do not know,--but she will--she must! Our intercourse was soperfect that life without her is incomplete. And she seemed always veryhappy with me. Has she never spoken of me or those days?"
"I think not," replied the Doctor, remembering that according to hissister that was in a man's favor. "But it is not at all unnatural," hehastened to say kindly, "we have gone little into the past since theyhave been living here--for many reasons."
"Will you tell me where they live and have I your permission to call onthem to-morrow?" asked the Frenchman eagerly.
"Better than that, Monsieur, Miss Dale and her sister will be at mysister's reception this evening. It will give me great pleasure to seethat you meet her at once. Many changes have taken place since you lastsaw her, but of all that she will prefer herself to tell you. You willfind her developed from a winsome, lovable girl into a noble young womanwhose attractions in every way are greater--"
"Not greater than when I knew her--that cannot be possible," interruptedthe Frenchman. "To think that within the hour I shall see her! How can Iexpress to you my intense gratitude for all this?"
"By making her future all she has a right to expect from the man to whomshe entrusts it," said the Doctor earnestly. "For the rest, we will talkthings over more thoroughly in a day or two. I think," he said rising,"that Renshawe and Landor have forgotten us. Suppose after all we go onand let them follow at their leisure."
And Monsieur Gremond readily assenting, Dr. Ware called a cab, whichsoon left them at his door.
The house was already crowded and Miss Ware gave her brother a look ofdispleasure which she considered his tardy appearance merited. It wasnot more than a fleeting frown, however, for Monsieur Gremond followedclose at his heels and what hostess could fail to wreathe hercountenance in other than most charming smiles to greet so distinguisheda guest! Dr. Ware presented a number of persons to him and saw him welllaunched before he left him to go in search of the Dale girls. He rubbedup against Kenneth Landor presently and secured his aid as a scout toreconnoiter, for in his semi-capacity of host he found it difficult toignore the people about him in pursuit of two elusive young women.
Kenneth appeared at the Doctor's elbow in the course of half an hour andconfided to him that they were nowhere visible--"upstairs or downstairsor in my lady's chamber." He wore such a dejected look that the Doctorlaughed and asked him why he wasn't up to his old tricks--weren't theredozens of pretty girls in the room? Kenneth merely raised his eyebrowsexpressively and the Doctor laughed again and reminded him that suspensewas stimulating. Then he bethought him of Monsieur Gremond anddiscovering that individual, answered the questioning look in his eyeswith an encouraging nod and managed to go over and say, in spite of thepeople by whom the Frenchman was surrounded, "She has not come yet butyou shall know the instant she does."
When an hour passed and they did not appear he accosted his sister whowas still standing
at her post receiving.
"Where are the girls?" with difficulty getting her attention.
"Girls? what girls? It seems to me there is no lack of them."
"I mean the Dale girls. Didn't you send the carriage for them as Idirected?"
"Of course I did. They--how _do_ you do, Mrs. Smartset--and Mr.Smartset, charmed I'm sure."
The Doctor stood back and patiently waited while an influx of guestspassed before her. When an opportunity offered he spoke again.
"They are not here, Mary. If you can give me a moment I would like toknow why."
"You wouldn't have me neglect my guests to discuss those Dale girlswould you? _Must_ you be going, Mrs. Marston, and your daughter too--sogood of you to come--goodnight. They are not coming," she said in anaside to her brother, "the carriage came back with a note. I had no timeto read it and I do not remember where I put it. Now for pity's sake goand look after people and don't worry me any more about them! Ah, Mrs.Lennox, this is really charming to see you," as that individual entered.
It was no easy matter to escape to his office but Dr. Ware did it andsent for Kenneth.
"I have just learned that my little girls are not coming," he said whenKenneth had joined him there. "I fear, my boy, that something is wrongand I am off. If people miss me say I was called away to a patient.Every one knows I am not to be counted on socially. Then there isGremond. He knew the girls long ago and has been looking forward tomeeting them to-night. Tell him they were prevented at the last momentfrom coming and give him their address so he can call if he likes." Itwas characteristic of Dr. Ware that he left nothing undone.
"You are not apprehensive of anything very serious, are you?" askedKenneth who himself felt more concern than he cared to show.
"No, no; why should I be? They may merely be tired out and have gone tobed or they may need me--I can't take any chances where they areconcerned, my boy."
"Of course not," said Kenneth with unusual emphasis. "If you are goingto walk over, Doctor, I'd like to go along with you."
"Take you away from the festivities? Nonsense! The girls in there wouldnever forgive me!"
"Oh! hang the whole business! I beg your pardon, Doctor, I forgot it wasyour sister's function."
The Doctor laughed. "Come along with me. You need ozone to restore yourplacidity, but go back again later, like an obliging chap, if only togive my message to poor Gremond."
They had been swinging along for several blocks in the cool night airwhen Landor broke the silence by exclaiming savagely, "What in thunderhas Jules Gremond to do with them!"
"With the Dales?" asked the Doctor innocently, inwardly amused atLandor's resentful tone. "He met them in California, I believe."
"Umph!" grunted Kenneth.
"Here we are," said the Doctor presently as they reached the house, "andthere are lights in their rooms, so they are up about something and itis well I came. Goodnight, and thank you for walking over with me,Kenneth."
"Dr. Ware," said the younger man wistfully, detaining him a moment onthe steps, "if there is anything wrong up there," with a motion of hishead toward the top story, "you'll let me know, won't you? And if Icould be of the slightest service you'll call on me without hesitation,won't you? Of course I know they've no possible use for a chap like mebut I'd move heaven and earth to do anything--to feel that I was reallyof service to them in any way."
"You could not be better employed, Kenneth," said the Doctor, lookingdown on him affectionately. "I shall remember what you say and I likeyou the better for saying it. Good-night."
Dr. Ware hastened into the house and up the long flights of stairsleading to the Dales' apartment and knocked at the door, hesitating atso late an hour to startle them by ringing the bell. Evidently they wereexpecting him, for steps came down the little hall and the door wasopened almost immediately by Bridget.
"The saints be praised!" she exclaimed, "but it's the Doctor!"
"You were expecting me, of course, Bridget," as she helped him off withhis coat.
"Bless your heart but I can't say as we wus, sir, glad though they'll beto see your blessed face."
"Of course I would come. Don't they know that by this time? Who is ill?Is the Major worse? I should have been here long ago had I not beenexpecting them at the house every moment."
"They ain't ill, sir, they're workin'", was her reply. "Maybe you'dbetter come right out to the kitchen an' see for yourself theircarryin's on. We're all at it to-night an' it's the fearful time they'vehad but it's all plain sailin' to the end now," she wound up hopefully.
Somewhat mystified, Dr. Ware followed and stood speechless on thethreshold of the kitchen. For there were the girls in their cotton gownswith sleeves rolled up to the shoulders working away at what were to himinexplicable things, while over in a corner sat Jack half buried in apile of small white boxes. The whole room presented the bustle of elevenin the morning rather than eleven in the evening.
"You bad Dr. Ware," said Julie playfully when she saw him, "what madeyou come?" She stopped her work a moment and whisking her apron over thechair Bridget had drawn out for him, motioned him to sit down. "We'rejust daubed with frosting from one end of the place to the other, but wecan't stop working a moment, so if you dare, risk a chair?"
The Doctor sat down. He would have taken the chair with the sameequanimity if it had been caked with frosting.
"Now what does this mean, at this hour?" he said.
"Didn't Miss Ware get our note? Oh! I am so sorry. We are terribly sorryto miss the reception, aren't we, Hester?"
"Um-um," said Hester absorbed in making elaborate frosting designs onsmall pieces of cake.
THERE WERE THE GIRLS IN THEIR COTTON GOWNS]
"We wrote her," continued Julie, "that we were detained by our work andI suppose if she did not get it that you thought when we did not appearsomething was the matter with Daddy. What a shame you had that anxietyfor nothing!"
"You must go straight back," said Hester. "We are getting on famouslyand you must not miss another minute of the reception."
"You want to get me out of the way, I suppose, so you can keep up thisorgy until all hours. I know you, you minx! I shan't budge until I knowall about it so you may as well begin." He surveyed the group with asmiling imperturbable manner that was impossible to withstand. Jack,gazing at him out of the corner of his eye, thought he had never seen sosplendid a gentleman and indeed his evening clothes became the Doctortremendously so that he had never looked more handsome nor distinguishedthan at that moment as he sat among them leaning back in the kitchenchair.
"It is all this wedding-cake," said Hester disgustedly. "It has actedlike Sam Patch!"
"It is the first we have ever done," explained Julie. "We took an orderfor two hundred boxes of cake and a big loaf, all for a wedding, and wemade the cake a month ago. Oh! such a time as we had! You see, we aresuch ignoramuses that we have to wade through endless wrong ways beforewe discover the right one and we thought we had all the loaves properlyfrosted to cut for the boxes; but when we tried to cut the slices allthe frosting fell off and so we had to begin all over again. Then wedecided it would be better to cut the cake up into pieces for the boxesfirst and frost each one separately and--"
"_We_ didn't any such thing!" interrupted Hester. "That was Julie'sbrilliant inspiration and she worked out all the frosting designs too.The big loaf and the bride's cake are perfect beauties. Did you know thebride's cake always had a ring and a thimble and a coin hidden in it forluck? Just look at the cakes over there," waving her hand toward a sidetable, "aren't they distinctly professional? Julie's been hanging aroundcaterers' windows with her nose pressed against the glass studying theirfancy frosted show pieces until I wonder she hasn't been arrested for asuspicious character. Of course that childlike and bland countenance ofhers was greatly in her favor but," resignedly, "I was prepared for theworst."
"Miss Hester will have her laugh," said Bridget, "but 'tain't nolaughin' matter this job they're putting through!"
"Now
Bridget, you keep still," expostulated Julie. "She has beenscolding us all the evening," to Dr. Ware, "and frightening poor Jack todeath, hasn't she, Jack? Jack came to bring Daddy's paper, you know,which he prints in great style since Mr. Landor has given him a printingpress, and when he found we were busy he begged so hard to come out tothe kitchen and help that we just had to let him. He's been helpingBridget cut paraffine paper into squares--for each piece of cake has tobe wrapped separately before it goes into its box--and they have cut allthe white ribbon into pieces the right length to tie around the boxesand now they're uncovering the boxes and getting them ready for the cakeas soon as the frosting dries. Jack has been invaluable, hasn't he,Bridget?"
"Humph!" grunted Bridget, with whom, nevertheless, the boy was a primefavorite.
"Good heavens! Julie," cried the Doctor, "does one little box ofwedding-cake mean all that?"
"Two hundred do," smiling, "but another time we'll know better how to goat it."
All during this conversation she and Hester had been bending over thebig work-table making curious evolutions with frosting bags over thepieces of cake spread everywhere about the room. Presently Hesterdropped her bag and sat down.
"Well," she exclaimed, "I believe they are done--that part. Dr. Ware,"turning to him suddenly, "doesn't it strike you as funny that instead ofdisporting ourselves gayly in the festivities of the town we should bewasting our youth and beauty--doesn't that sound just like a book!--ouryouth and beauty over aggravating old things like these?" with adisgusted look at the wedding-cake. "You do not seem to laugh but Ithink it's tremendously funny. Dear me!" to the air, reflectively, "howtrying it must be to get on without a sense of humor!" Then with anentire change of tone, "We did want to go awfully, especially as we hada suspicion that some one might be there. I wonder," dreamily, "if hewas."
"I fancy so," said the Doctor, hardly knowing whether or not to take herseriously. "Come back with me now and find out."
"Can't," said Hester, "but you might be an angel and tell us if we knewany one there."
"Let me see, there was Landor--"
"Oh! bother Mr. Landor!" with a toss of her head. "He's omnipresent!"
"Um," thought the Doctor, "I've struck the nail on the head." Outwardlyhe said, "Then there was Renshawe,--you know him, do you not, and aguest of his who was tucked under my wing--apparently for protectionagainst the wiles of the women who are trying systematically to spoilhim with adulation."
"I know him," said Hester, "that is Monsieur Jules Gremond."
"Yes," replied the Doctor, "I thought you would guess. He told me heknew you girls and I believe he is hunting my house over for you at thismoment." He was talking to Hester but watching Julie narrowly.
"There! Julie Dale," exclaimed her sister triumphantly, "what did I tellyou! I knew he would not forget us. She swore, Dr. Ware, that he wouldhave forgotten our very existence and I vowed that he carried her imagearound on his heart and all sorts of high-sounding things. Shouldn'twonder if they were true, too," to Dr. Ware confidingly, "and youneedn't blush so furiously about it, either, Julie Dale?"
"I am not blushing," protested poor Julie who was crimson, "and I'llhave Bridget carry you off bodily if you don't stop talking suchnonsense. Don't you mind what she says, will you Dr. Ware?" pleadingly."She would rather tease than eat any day."
Julie's embarrassment did not escape the Doctor and there was a twingeof pain in his heart as he said to her gently, "She is a naughty littlegirl, Julie, but she is right when she says your old friend MonsieurGremond has not forgotten you. He inquired with great interest about youall and asked my permission to call upon you."
To this Julie made no reply and for some moments there was silence, whenat last Hester sidled up to her and in her most wheedling voice said,"Forgive me, please, I did not mean to be naughty."
Julie gave her a hearty kiss and in the laugh that followed they alljoined, even including Jack, who had found the situation almost painfula moment before when he thought his adored Miss Julie's feelings hadbeen hurt. Perhaps the good Doctor did not laugh with his accustomedzest but if so no one detected it, least of all Hester who gave him abig hug by way of magnanimously forgiving him for being cross to her andsaid emphatically:
"You _must_ go home. Miss Ware will be having a thousand fits, not tomention all the guests who are probably looking everywhere for you."
"I have been called out to see a patient," replied the Doctor. "Everyone knows it by this time, only they do not know that instead of one Ifind four," with a sweeping glance that embraced them all, "and not aninch do I stir until I see this case through. So you might as well makeup your mind to put up with me and I want something to do. Come, Jack,show me how to take hold with you. I needn't be condemned as utterlyworthless just because I am a man."
In spite of their protestations Dr. Ware was as good as his word,busying himself in Jack's corner, and with so many hands the work wentforward swiftly. It was all smooth sailing now, as Bridget said, for thecritical and difficult part was done and the next two hours in which thelittle group sat about the kitchen table wrapping, boxing and tying thecake was immeasurably shortened by Dr. Ware, who told them interestinganecdotes, experiences of his life that made Jack long to have the nightlengthen out indefinitely. But that which the Doctor most dwelt upon,knowing well it was what the girls most liked to hear, were stories ofthe days when he and Major Dale fought side by side for the Union of thecountry in that war which was as much of a reality to these girls as ifthey had taken part in every military engagement.
And Dr. Ware went home in the wee small hours with his mind in a tumultof thought. Distress that the girls had had such a night of it formedonly a part of his disturbance, for above this fact, which in moretranquil moments would have been pre-eminent, was the consciousness thata new and central figure had arisen on the scene--yesterday a strangerto him, to-day the hero of a drama which was to the Doctor as his verylife.
He sat a long while in his study when he reached home, pondering overthe future and the change that seemed imminent to the girls and hewondered what the outcome would be should Gremond take Julie's life intohis keeping. Was he worthy of her--_was_ he? How on so short anacquaintance could he tell? And did she love him--_did_ she? Beset byall these unanswerable questions he paced up and down the room, his slowmeasured tread like an accompaniment strengthening the minor harmoniesin which his thoughts that night were set.
His Julie! His little girl! Ah! she was no child to choose her loverlightly and if she loved him, trusted him to make her future, all wouldbe well. He thought of her as he had left her, sweet and dainty in spiteof the little dabs of sugar and frosting that stuck to the quaint blueapron which nearly covered her from head to foot. He remembered herembarrassment when Gremond's name came up and kept that picture of herlong before his eyes as if to accustom himself to this new aspect. Heremembered too how flushed her cheeks were over the work and the tiredshadows under her eyes told him plainly enough the relentless demand shewas making upon her strength. Gad! those girls had been working eighteenhours at a stretch! Eighteen hours! It wasn't the first time, either!And he, who would give his life to make things easier, was powerless--toanother man would be given the right! Good heavens! Did Gremond realizehis privilege? As if suddenly weary the Doctor flung himself down in hischair and heaved a sigh. Presently his lids drooped heavily. When heopened his eyes the room was flooded with sunlight.