CHAPTER XVI
The order for the wedding-cake which had been a cause of suchtribulation to the girls had come through Mrs. Lennox for a young cousinof her husband's in whose marriage she was much interested. The orderconsisted of a bride's cake, a round wedding-cake, two hundred boxes andin addition some thirty dozen small assorted cakes to be served with thesupper. The bride's mother had given the girls a fruit-cake recipe whichhad been many years in her family and had asked them to make the cake atleast a month before the wedding that it might "age," as the saying is.Hours easily counting into days had gone into the preparation of thefruit alone for this large order before the work of putting the caketogether began; and then to make the twenty loaves, each of which whendone resembled in size a two-quart brick of ice-cream, it was necessaryto mix and cook the dough in installments. But as Julie told Dr. Ware,that was as child's play to the intricacies of the frosting and thecatastrophe that ensued; and the nervous as well as the physical strainof that, coming on top of all the rest of the work which the orderentailed, told severely on the girls, especially Julie, though she wasup with Hester at six the next morning packing the boxes into the woodencase which was to take the cake to its destination.
The round loaf over which Julie had expended so much anxious thought waswrapped in sheet after sheet of cotton wadding to protect the elaboratefrosting from breaking, and resembled when laid in its box a small-sizedsnow drift. Hester printed "handle with care" in so many places on thewooden box cover that the expressman when he came could with difficultydistinguish the address; while Bridget cautioned him with such emphasisto carry it "like it wuz a baby, shure," that the man finally turned onher and asked if she thought he played football with his packages. Itwas an intense relief to them all when he had carried down the boxes anddriven away, though their suspense would not really end until theylearned of its safe arrival in the country town twenty miles away. Andthat they would know that same afternoon, for the mother of the bridehad asked them to the wedding and Mrs. Lennox had been most urgent ininsisting upon their going out with her, just, as she put it, for a"little country spree."
Mrs. Lennox had arranged a charming program whereby the girls should beof the party she and Mr. Lennox were to take out on their coach, but asthe morning wore on and Julie found each hour's work more difficult shefinally told Hester she felt too tired to consider such an expeditionand should remain at home. It was so unusual for Julie to admit fatiguethat Hester felt alarmed and attempted to order her immediately to bed,saying she and Bridget could easily get through the rest and she shouldnot go to the wedding without her. But Julie insisted, not only inworking on into the afternoon when the orders for the day were at lastcompleted, but in persuading Hester to consent to go to the wedding--aconsent reluctantly given, for she was loath to go off without hersister. Having gained it, however, Julie dispatched a note to Mrs.Lennox begging to be excused from the party and turned her attention tohelping Hester get ready when their work was done.
Whereas, owing to her delicate constitution, Julie's fatigue usuallyshowed itself in complete physical exhaustion, Hester's frequently tookthe form of intense mental excitement, when the chords of her buoyantnature were strung to their highest pitch. At such times she talkedincessantly, laughed immoderately and was so restless that Julie alwaysthreatened to tie a string to her. She was in such a mood thisafternoon, laughing and capering about, performing such ridiculousantics that Peter Snooks, who aided and abetted these moods, was barkingwith joy while Julie despaired of ever getting her clothed, not tomention restoring her to her right mind.
"You are a darling to help me but I don't love you at all for making mego when you are too ill to budge. I've a good notion not to mind you,anyway! Why should I? I'm bigger 'an you!" dancing about on her toes toincrease her height, which possibly measured some two inches more thanher sister's.
Julie caught her on the fly and thrust a dress skirt over her head,hooking it together without loss of time. "I'm going to have a nicequiet rest with Daddy," she said, "and will be all right when you comehome. I want to hear all about the wedding and whether the cake gotthere and everything, so do go, there's a dear girl, and you'll have abeautiful drive and a good time into the bargain."
"And feel like a pig because you are not there. That will be pleasant,won't it! Is that the doorbell? Do peek out the window like a dear andsee if the coach is there."
Julie did as she was requested and reported the arrival of the coachjust as Bridget appeared and announced that Mrs. Lennox had sent Mr.Landor up to ask if she were ready.
"Do you suppose he is going?" whispered Hester. "Oh! Julie dear, can'tyou go in and see him?"
"Not much! Here are your gloves and have you got a handkerchief? Can'tfind one? Never mind, here is one of mine. Now run along and kiss Daddyand hurry--it is dreadful to keep people waiting. You look as fresh as alark but don't talk yourself black in the face," admonishingly."Remember 'silence is golden,'" she called out when she had recoveredher breath from Hester's parting hug.
She heard Mr. Landor expressing regret that the elder Miss Dale was notto be of the party and then she heard nothing more; but in most plebeianfashion she and Bridget and Peter Snooks peeped out of the windowwatching their departure, as did also Jack from the floor beneath. Theysaw Mr. Landor help her up to the box seat of the coach beside Mr.Lennox and sent down answering smiles to the parting wave of her hand.
"Belikes I bet the young gentleman's disappointed he ain't got herhisself," commented Bridget. "She's the prettiest of the whole lot!"
"Didn't she look lovely, Bridget! She always does when she is soexcited."
"It's a lot more excited she'll be when she gets back an' finds you nobetter, Miss Julie, so I'm just goin' to put you to bed. You do look ina way as I don't like, an' small wonder, the way you whip your poorfrail little body along to do the work of ten!"
"Nonsense, Bridget! I am not frail, you must not talk that way. I amjust tired out to-day and I couldn't brace up and be agreeable topeople--I don't want to be agreeable--I want to be cross, so I adviseyou to keep out of the way."
Bridget acted upon this suggestion by picking her up in her greatmuscular arms and marching into her bedroom. There laying her down sheleft to brew her a cup of tea--faithful Bridget's panacea for every woe.Having returned and administered this she proceeded to undress her.
"I was going to lie down with Daddy," expostulated Julie feebly.
"You'll do nothin' of the sort," commanded Bridget. "You ain't fit to beseen with that look in your face. I'm goin' to tuck you into bed an'darken the room an' we'll see what sleep'll do for yez."
As if this petting were more than she could bear, Julie buried her headin the pillow with a movement that made the woman suspicious.
"What is it, darlint?" she cried, smoothing her hair. "Can't you tellyour old Bridget about it?"
"Nothing," said a muffled voice.
"Shure it's rest yez want, darlint. I seen how yez kep' up all day soMiss Hester'd not be after knowin' how dead beat yez wuz an' now ye'veclean gone all to pieces. Jus' cry it all out dearie, an' it's like anew person you'll be. 'Taint no small wonder yer wore out, with theworryin' an' frettin' that goes on inside yer an' always a cheery smileoutside. Yer old Bridget knows! And may the blessed saints take yez outof this business before yez drop dead in yer tracks, sez I, every nighton my knees--an' I don't care who's after knowin' it!" She gave the girla loving motherly kiss and thus encouraged Julie cried her heart out onher shoulder.
This was an unusual proceeding, for Julie seldom cried in these days.She had learned when her emotions threatened to overcome her to stiffenher chin and swallow hard, hard, hard,--until the tears were forced backand only a drawn look about the mouth told of the battle royal. Shevalued each victory, however trifling, for tears are weakening andself-control is a mighty weapon in the equipment of a soldier. To-dayshe was weak bodily and the petting utterly unnerved her, so that shecried until she could cry no longer and finally fell asleep from shee
rexhaustion.
When she awoke it was with a confused sense that it must be the middleof the night and that something was wrong, for Bridget stood over her.
"Are yez wakin'? That's right, dearie. You've bin sleepin' these twohours an' there's a gentleman to see yez."
"What?" dazedly, rubbing her eyes.
"A gentleman to see yez--he didn't give no name."
"Probably he has come to give an order. Couldn't you look after him,Bridget?"
"No, miss," with an air of suppressed excitement, "his business isparticular with you. Go bathe your face, Miss Julie, an' I'll have youdressed in a jiffy."
"Well, I am a pretty looking object," commented the girl with a glancein the mirror as Bridget let some light into the room.
"Never you mind, you're feelin' much better an' you souse your eyes goodwith hot water--they'll look natural enough--an' it's gettin' kindertwilight in the parlor now anyhow," consolingly.
"What is the matter with you, Bridget, are you daft?" seeing her bringforth from the closet a French gown she had never worn in Radnor. "Youknow I never would put on such a thing to go in to see a customer. Getme a fresh shirt waist like the old dear you are."
"Oh! Miss Julie, just this once, please," in such a coaxing tone thatJulie found it hard to refuse her but she simply said:
"I couldn't, Bridget, not even to please you," and checked herinclination to smile at the vicious manner in which Bridget got out ashirt-waist and jabbed in the studs and cuff-buttons.
Immensely refreshed by her nap she went down the hall with a light heartand entered the little sitting-room to be greeted by a stranger whoeagerly seized both her hands and cried:
"Mademoiselle, Mademoiselle, this is indeed a joy to find you!"
At the sound of his voice she trembled from head to foot and endeavoredto withdraw her hands but he held them in a firm clasp and led her overto the window.
"I want the light to shine on your face, Mademoiselle, as it did insunny California. Am I too bold--have I startled you?"
Still she did not speak and he dropped her hands as moving back a littlehe said penitently, "Forgive me, I am rough and have frightened you. MayI sit down, Mademoiselle?"
She dropped into the nearest chair and waved him to another as she said:"I did not expect you here, Monsieur Gremond."
"Not expect me! Did you not know I was in Radnor?"
"Oh! yes," laughing a little for she was beginning to recover herself,"but the two are not synonymous."
"You are jesting, Mademoiselle. Surely you know--you must know that onlyone thing would bring me to this country as soon as I came out of thewilderness." There was a world of meaning in his eyes, but Julie choseto ignore it.
"Your friendship with Mr. Renshawe has been of long standing, has itnot?" she asked evasively.
"Oh! Mademoiselle Julie, it was not Renshawe--do not hold me aloof--haveyou forgotten the dear old California days?"
"One might have been led to suppose you had," she said quietly, "youdisappeared so suddenly and--"
"But I wrote," he interrupted, "and though you never replied I meantalways to return when I had accomplished something. Did you not feelthat instinctively, Mademoiselle? Many things have happened to me sincethen and to you, also, your guardian said."
"My guardian?" she repeated. "Do you mean Dr. Ware?"
"He gave me permission to call and said you might have many things tosay to me," looking at her rather perplexedly. "Will you tell me allabout it, Mademoiselle?"
"Tell you," she cried springing up and confronting him, "tell you as ifit were a book I were reading all the sorrow and wretchedness and miseryof these past eight months! No, a thousand times no! It would notinterest you!" She threw back her head defiantly. "Why," she demandedfiercely, "did you find us out? We have no part in the world to whichyou belong! Could you not know that to see you would bring back thepast, intensify the contrast between then and now--hurt us like thethrust of a sword? Oh! how could you come?"
"I came because I--" and then breaking off suddenly he said gravely, "Ifyou think your affairs are of no interest to me you would perhaps preferthat I ask no questions, even though I do not understand."
"Oh! I did not mean to be rude," she exclaimed, her burst of resentmentover, "how could you understand and how can I explain? Dear Daddy isenduring a living death--everything is changed--we are professionalcaterers--working women--you will not begin to comprehend that and nodoubt it shocks you. The dignity of labor is not a popular theme on theother side!"
"Mademoiselle, have you only unkind things to say to me--me, who wouldhave given my life to have averted them or helped you through all this?You do not seem to comprehend that I love you--love you--have journeyedout to Los Angeles and back to find you and now,"--he drew in hisbreath, "ah! now I never mean to let you go." He took a step toward herbut she eluded him, standing well back in the room where he could notsee how her lips trembled as she said:
"You must not talk to me like this; I--I cannot bear it. I am allunstrung to-day and you startle me with your calm air of taking thingsfor granted."
"Do I, cherie?" tenderly. "But you see I love you and you are going tolove me, too."
"No," she replied, drawing still further back, "no, Monsieur Gremond, Iam not."
Something unflinching about the girl's quiet tone made the man saybeseechingly, "Ah! Mademoiselle Julie, do not kill me!"
"Kill you? You never thought whether you would kill me or not, did you,when you almost taught me to love you in those old days and then rodeaway? Many a man does that, expecting a girl to take everything forgranted and receive him with open arms when he returns. And many a girlwaits and waits, eating her heart out meanwhile. But I am not that kind,Monsieur!"
"Oh, Mademoiselle!"
"I was very fond of you--so fond that when I knew you were in town Iwondered whether I cared to see you--wondered whether I would have lovedyou had you loved me and last night I thought perhaps I should see youat the Wares'; but we did not go, and now you come to me and at thefirst sight of you I know it is not love--could never have been loveunder any circumstances!"
"Are you sure you know what love is, Mademoiselle?" and seeing the colorspread in a crimson wave over her face he cried, "Some one has stolenyou away from me! Tell me, is it not true?"
"What right have you to ask questions?" she demanded, angered by hisassumption of authority. And then more quietly, "We must not quarrel,Monsieur, we have been altogether too good friends for that. I want totell you that we are interested in your explorations and how proud weare to know that so many of your plans have been accomplished."
"It is nothing to me now."
"Fie, Monsieur! Are you going to cry baby because you can't have theworld all your way?"
"You are all my world."
Julie had heard this from other men under similar conditions, and thoughshe believed his disappointment to be genuinely bitter she knew thatlife could still hold out some hope even in the face of unrequited love.But how make him see it her way? In a moment she said:
"I am only a girl, Monsieur Gremond, but I think you want me to respectyou, don't you, and I certainly shall not be apt to if you are going tobe vanquished right before my very eyes."
"What a strange girl you are, Mademoiselle," he said, roused to acritical survey of her. "Most girls like their lovers to beinconsolable, but you threaten me with everlasting disgrace for refusingto be consoled. I don't understand it."
"No, you would not understand me, ever," said Julie cheerfully, glad tohave roused him at last. "You must go back to France and marry some nicesweet little thing who will perfectly adore you and you'll be 'happyever after,' as the story books say."
"I wish you would not dispose of me in such an off-hand fashion,"aggrievedly. "I am tempted to kidnap you and carry you off this momentto the steamer. She sails in the morning. Oh! couldn't you do it, _mapetite_?"
The vehemence of his tone really startled Julie who laughed to herselfafterward as she remembered how sh
e had shrank back in her corner as ifshe expected him to snatch her up bodily.
"Leave Hester," she cried aghast, "and Daddy and Bridget--and PeterSnooks and--and every-body to go away with you? Monsieur Gremond, youmust be mad."
"Then you do not know what love is." He rose and came over to her. "Willyou put your hands in mine, Mademoiselle? I am going--good-by. I supposeI have been a selfish brute to dwell altogether on my own troubles andnot sympathize with yours, but the truth is I am knocked out. Iundoubtedly, as you say, took too much for granted."
"Do not put us out of your life altogether," said Julie gently. "Someday perhaps you will really care for my interest and respect and all thethings I would gladly give you if you would have them."
"If you put it that way, perhaps--but it seems to me there is only onething," he said disconsolately.
"Then you are not half the man I take you to be!"
"I will be," asserted Gremond, his better nature responding to thisrebuke. "It is good at least to have been with you. Good-by,Mademoiselle, good-by."
For some time after he had gone Julie sat with closed lids trying toforget the last look of his eyes into hers, so persistently did it haunther; but within her heart surged a feeling of gratitude that there is anall-wise Providence who shapes our ends.