CHAPTER XVII
Madame Grundy was saying that winter that at last Kenneth Landor hadsettled down, though why he should take the trouble to burden himselfwith business cares when he had a rich, indulgent father was, from herpoint of view, wholly incomprehensible. Other people who knew Kennethbetter saw that his life had become full of purpose and regarded it asthe natural outcome of a nature like his--rich in possibilities. To thefather who was just learning to know the son, there was much that wassurprising in the intelligent way in which he grasped the greatcommission business and little by little made himself familiar withevery detail, showing that in his composition was much practicalability--talents unquestionably inherited. Of any ulterior motive whichhad led him on to these things Mr. Landor had no suspicion nor indeedhad any one save Dr. Ware, who kept his own counsel, and possibly Jack,whose fanciful imagination wove endless romances, the thread of whichbecame wretchedly entangled, for what could a poor boy do with twoheroines to one hero?
That was the stumbling block of our young author, for he never couldmake up his mind to choose between the Dale girls. First he would writeout a beautiful story in which his hero (and there was only one hero tohim) married Julie and was as happy as the day is long. This would havebeen eminently satisfactory if it had not been for a sort of feeling ofslighting Hester, who seemed to be lurking in the background of his talegazing at him with reproachful eyes. Jack the tender-hearted could notstand that, so zip!--would go all the paper, torn to shreds, and hewould patiently start all over again to give Hester a chance. Buthowever he arranged it, one was left out. He couldn't have it on hisconscience to make his hero a Mormon and so to one and one alone couldhe belong. This was all wrong, from Jack's point of view, but he did notknow how to make it any different and as it seemed to be a subject hecould not discuss with any of the three persons most concerned the poorboy gave it up in despair.
But if Jack was racked with indecision it was not so with KennethLandor, who had fallen in love with Hester at first sight. One hearsthat to fall in love at first sight is an experience belonging to bygonedays, and is quite unknown to the practical common-sense young people ofwhom in this generation one hears so much. Be that as it may, Kenneth,in spite of his worldly experience, was old-fashioned enough to be fullof sentiment and treasured in his mind every meeting with Hester down totheir first walk when she had dismissed him so summarily under thelamp-post. He could count them on the fingers of one hand, the actualhours he had spent with her, but between Dr. Ware and Jack he managed tokeep as well informed concerning her life as if he were in dailyintercourse with her; and it was his sole aim and ambition to put herstruggles to an end. The generous fellow had not Gremond's idea oftaking one of them away--he could not conceive of the little familybeing separated and his admiration of Julie was rapidly growing into anaffection that made him long to cast her life, too, in sunny places andmake a snug little home for them all. These were Kenneth's hopes anddreams--air-castles which sometimes took grim, fantastic shapes andoften tottered to the ground when he remembered that Hester might notdeign to look at him.
Suddenly into all this work and dreaming entered a new element,threatening to disturb the future with a terrible upheaval, for thenecessity that our country should go to war with Spain was talked ofopenly throughout the land. Rumors that war would be, had been, neverwould be declared were rife, suggested and contradicted in a breath,while the uncertainty of national affairs produced an excitement thatpervaded all classes and conditions of men.
Kenneth was one of those who believed in the war and whose whole spiritwas fired with a desire to do his part toward jealously guarding hiscountry's honor. At the same time, if he hoped to win Hester and make ahome for her it scarcely seemed as if it would accrue to his advantageto go away. These things were so in his mind that he longed for a chanceto see and talk with her, and then, as always, in his thoughts of her hewas confronted by the fearful consciousness that she might take nointerest in so unimportant a thing as himself. Nevertheless, he meant tomake himself important to her and it was therefore to him as to Gremond,a great disappointment that the girls had not put in an appearance atMiss Ware's reception and he had spent an anxious night speculating asto the cause of their non-appearance.
He managed by rising earlier than usual to get around to Dr. Ware'soffice on his way to business the morning after the reception; but,contrary to habit, that individual was already off. Much perturbed heworked harder than ever at the office and regretted that he had promisedto drive out of town to a wedding. He was in no mood for society, evenso charming as that of the Lennoxes. He was not a man who broke hisengagements, however, and therefore went home about three o'clock todress. When the Lennoxes called for him he sauntered out in his usualcharming manner and made the greater effort to be agreeable to eachmember of the party from the mere fact that it _was_ an effort. This isa form of unselfishness, trivial perhaps, but necessitating awillingness to put aside one's personal inclination, to thrust asideone's mood for the general good. Some people call it adaptability, sometact, some a desire to please, but in Kenneth Landor, as in many others,it was an unselfish wish to contribute his share to the generalentertainment. He was a man who recognized the duty of a guest to hishostess and did not look upon it as being all the other way. Havingadjusted himself to a purely impersonal philosophical attitude towardthe expedition, imagine his revulsion of feeling when Mrs. Lennox toldhim that the party would not be complete until they had picked up MissHester Dale whose sister, unfortunately, was unable to go with them. Aswe know, she delegated him to escort Hester down and we may know too,though no one on the coach suspected it, that he went up the fourflights of stairs two steps at a time and nearly ran down Jack who washobbling up on his crutches.
What if, when he and Hester went into the street together she wasimmediately appropriated by their host and given the seat of honorbeside him. Couldn't Kenneth _see_ her--every turn of her prettyhead--and wasn't he inwardly proud that she was chosen for thisdistinction and didn't he know that it would be his own fault if he didnot monopolize her later on?
As for Hester, she had never been in a merrier mood and chattered onlike a little magpie, forgetful of her sister's warning "not to talkherself black in the face." Every now and then she would heave a littlesigh and audibly wish Julie were there--a wish promptly seconded by herhost, who nevertheless was amply satisfied with his companion.
The mere sensation of bowling along over smooth roads and through thebeautiful environs of Radnor was in itself a novelty and delight toHester but she was raised to the seventh heaven of bliss when Mr.Lennox, after a talk they had had about horses, said:
"Wouldn't you like to take the ribbons, Miss Dale?"
"Oh!" she gasped, "but my gloves--I can't drive in these," holding uptwo white kid hands. She did not think it necessary to add that theywere her only pair.
"Take them off and I'll give you mine. You can manage even if they arebig. Try."
She tried and in another moment the gloves were on, the ribbons slippedinto her fingers and the control of four superb horses lay within herhands. Ah! how delicious it was to feel their strength and hers!
"What would Mrs. Lennox say if she knew I were driving?"
"She would not mind, but the others might. We'll never tell."
"Never."
They swung along at an even pace, but presently, as if conscious thatthe ribbons had changed hands, the horses became restive and finallytaking fright at an imaginary object, the leaders shied and plungedforward madly.
"Give them their heads!" commanded Mr. Lennox peremptorily.
"Don't drive at quite such a mad pace, please Mr. Lennox," cried a girlfrom the rear, "you frighten us nearly to death."
"Oh! it's all right," reassuringly, "they'll quiet down in a moment."
Hester with set lips and feet firmly planted was struggling to get themunder control. She did not speak nor did Mr. Lennox again, but hewatched her narrowly, alert and ready in a second to relieve her. Hethoug
ht her equal to the emergency and she was, for after half a mile oftearing madly over the ground, she succeeded in regaining control ofthem and the horses, recognizing the strength of an experienced hand,quieted down into the old habit of obedience.
"Good!" cried Mr. Lennox, "you're a crack whip, as I thought."
A little color came back into Hester's white face. "I'm so grateful toyou for not taking them away from me," she said. "I should have died ofhumiliation if you had."
"I thought I could trust you to pull through, but now that you haveproved your prowess--and I believe you just got the animals to playingtricks to show what you _could_ do, you sly young person--aren't you abit tired? Shan't I drive?"
"Oh! thank you, yes, but I--I enjoyed it."
She was very quiet after that, and presently when they reached the houseand Landor sprang off and turned to lift her down, the two bright redspots in her cheeks did not escape him nor the subdued manner so unusualto her.
As they passed into the house Hester saw in the hall a large table piledhigh with small white boxes and she shuddered as she thought how theyhad spent half the night over the completion of those innocent lookingthings. The satin bows actually had a "perky" look as if the ribbon hadjust tied itself without any trouble whatever! Turning her back on themabruptly she followed Mrs. Lennox into the drawing-room, where theceremony took place a few moments after their arrival.
It was a simple wedding with no bridesmaids nor ushers nor adjuncts ofany kind, and the bridegroom had so large a family connection that onlyintimate friends had been added to the list so that the reception tookon the informal character of a large family gathering. When the bridehad been kissed all around, including every male cousin, in spite of thelaughing protests of the bridegroom, she led the way into thedining-room for supper.
"May I take you out, Miss Dale?" asked a dapper young fellow who hadjust been presented to Hester.
"Thank you, I--"
"You can't walk off with Miss Dale in that calm fashion, Charley," saida voice back of them, "she's promised to come to supper with me."
Hester had no recollection of any such compact so she looked up and saidmischievously, "What a wonderful memory you have, Mr. Landor," turningthe while as if to move off with the younger man.
"You come with me, won't you?" urged Charley Bemis, "Landor alwaysclaims the earth and never gives us younger fellows a chance. We'll haveto hurry a bit, Miss Dale," looking at her entreatingly, "if we want tosee the bride cut the cake."
"The cake!" she repeated, suddenly shrinking back. "Oh! Mr. Bemis, yougo on without me, will you? I--"
"Run along, Charley," said Landor. "Miss Dale and I will follow. Thedining-room will never begin to hold us all anyway, so if we do not getin you look us up and tell us who got the ring. You may get it yourselfif you hurry, who knows!"
"Oh!" said Hester when the man had departed, "I couldn't go in there--Ijust couldn't."
"Of course not," emphatically, "it is much too crowded. They've coveredin the piazza by the dining-room. Won't you let me bring you somethingto eat out there?"
"How could you fib to that boy so!" exclaimed the girl at the same timesignifying her willingness to be led to some less crowded spot.
Kenneth laughed. "You drove me to it. Do you suppose I intended to lethim walk off with you under my very eyes?"
"Why not? I'm sure he seemed a very _nice_ boy," with marked emphasis.
"Oh! yes, he's nice enough," cheerfully, "quite nice, now you mentionit, but I'm not just yearning for his society at the present moment."
"Perhaps I am," getting a wistful far-away expression in her eyes thatwas tantalizing.
"Here we are," said the man abruptly as they reached a semi-circularpiazza where tables and chairs had been placed. "If you will sit down,Miss Dale, I'll look up Mr. Bemis immediately."
"Thank you," demurely, "but if it _should_ happen that you found thesupper first, would you mind bringing that instead? I am _so_ hungry,"with a pathetic droop at the corners of her mouth.
He went off on air, returning followed by a waiter almost before she hada chance to miss him.
And what a gay little supper that was! They had a small table quite tothemselves, where Landor played host and was solicitous in providing forall her wants. Mr. Lennox, wandering about with an eye to his party,smiled across the piazza at her and reported to his wife that Hester wasbeing well taken care of. Half unconsciously the girl herself was awarethat her slightest wish was anticipated and she caught herself wonderingas she played with her ice, whether it was chance or design that led Mr.Landor to avoid having any cake served at their table. It was everywhereelse in abundance; hundreds of colored frosted cakes that seemed toHester like so many little imps grinning at her and crying, "You mademe--you made me!" This fantastic notion wrought itself into her tiredbrain until she wanted to scream out from very nervousness and causedKenneth to say, as if divining her thoughts:
"You are tired, Miss Dale. I am afraid you had an anxious night of it. Ihope your father is better this morning."
"How did you know?"
"We--we missed you at the reception," evasively, "and when Dr. Ware wentoff I had my suspicions."
"It was not Daddy," she said quietly, "it was--other things." Then in alighter tone, "Don't look so solemn, please, I want to be gay and forgetlast night."
"What would happen, Miss Dale, if I were to lecture you?" smiling ather.
"Try and see," teasingly. "Probably I shall laugh. I usually do whenJulie scolds me and then she laughs too and that spoils the effect.Well, begin. What is the greatest of my enormities? Have you made out alist?"
"Will you promise me something?" earnestly, leaning forward with apleading expression on his handsome face.
"Perhaps. I am in a most docile mood at this moment."
"Then promise me you will do no more driving. You are not equal to itto-night, indeed you are not, and it takes all the strength out of you."
"How do you know I drove? Did Mr. Lennox tell you?" regarding him withraised eyebrows.
"No--but I knew."
"If you are one of those mysterious persons who always know everything,I am going to avoid you," she laughed, feeling herself flush under hisearnest scrutiny.
"You have not promised," he persisted.
"Did I promise to promise?" with a swift provoking glance from under herlong lashes.
"Miss Dale," pleading, "I never asked a favor of you before."
"Why should you?" wrinkling up her forehead and wishing he had not sopersuasive a voice.
"I know--probably you think it is impertinent, but" coaxingly, "if youwould just this once,--"
"Well, is this where you sneaked off to?" cried a voice beside them; "apretty chase you've led me!" and Charley Bemis dropped into the nearestchair and held out a plate to Hester. "See here, Miss Dale, you wouldn'tgo to the mountain, so I've brought the mountain to you. The bride cutthe cake long ago but I saved my piece to eat with you. Landor doesn'tget a crumb."
Landor looked as if he would like to stuff the whole slice down theman's throat. The girl smiled and resigned herself to at least make apretense of eating the thing she had tried so desperately to avoid.
"There is something in your half," suggested young Bemis significantly.
"Is there?" replied Hester, wishing his enthusiasm were less. "You findit for me."
He cut her piece and pulled out something wrapped in paraffine paperwhich proved to be a shining gold dollar.
"Oh! you've got it!" he cried. "Miss Dale's got the money," turning toannounce it to the whole piazza, "she's going to be rich!"
"How nice of you to prophesy such good fortune," she replied picking upthe coin and rising. "Won't you come and help me find Mrs. Lennox andtell her about it? I am sure Mr. Landor will excuse us?"
Kenneth, who had risen, bowed low and wondered how so adorably pretty agirl could be so stony-hearted. He was utterly confounded when, as shebrushed by him she slipped something in his hand with a whispered"That's f
or luck," and vanished with Bemis in attendance. A quickindrawing of his fingers into the palm of his hand told Landor a littlecoin lay within his grasp. A half-smothered ejaculation escaped him! Herluck she had passed on to him! Did he dare attribute to it anysignificance? No outward sign betrayed his inward perturbation as hesauntered into the house to join the other guests.
Whether it was Kenneth's skillful management or a preconceivedarrangement on Mrs. Lennox's part or just Fate, deponent saith not, butthe fact remains that when the coach started off again that evening,Hester found herself ensconced on the back seat with Landor, the rest ofthe party chatting gayly in front of them, the guards well in the rear.
"Miss Dale," Landor said when they had ridden some moments in silence,"are you too tired to-night to let me talk to you a little, seriously?"He had no desire to lose any time.
"Then you think I can be serious?"
"I know you can, only you never choose to be with me."
"I _am_ an awful tease," she admitted, touched by his wistful tone, "butI can be the most serious person in the world and I should like to haveyou to talk to me, only--you are not going to scold me any more, areyou, Mr. Landor? I think I am really too tired for that." Her lowmusical voice seemed to drift to him plaintively through the darkness.
"I was going to be selfishly egotistical and talk about--about a friendof mine," hoping she had not detected how near he had come toblundering. "I wanted to ask your advice about him if you are quite sureyou are not too tired to listen, Miss Dale."
"Of course I am not. I should like to hear about your friend, Mr.Landor."
Was there ever a voice so sweet, he thought, or a girl so full ofcontradictions? One moment bewitchingly, aggravatingly whimsical, thenext revealing unfathomable depths of a nature which to him seemed thepurest and noblest in the world. Aloud he said:
"My friend is torn by a divided duty. He wants to go to the war but--"
"You think there will be war? Can't he go?" she interrupted. "It seemsto me every man must go who can."
"Yes, he can, but there are people whom he loves whom he hates toleave--more than that whom he wants to stay and protect. It is as if hiswhole future were at stake--not only his but theirs, and he can't seemto see his way clear."
"Are they old and dependent on him for support, these people?"
"No, but he wants them to become dependent on him and how can that be ifhe goes away?"
"If they love him," the girl said emphatically, "they will not stand inhis way."
"But he does not know that they love him or that they will ever lovehim. He only knows that he loves them and--oh! Miss Dale," sweepingaside this strangely complicated case, "if you had a brother in timeslike these, what would you do?"
"Do?" she cried; "why, I'd help him off to the front without a moment'shesitation! Julie and I would be the proudest girls in the world if wehad a brother to go to the war! If Daddy were well he would go--therenever was a finer officer than Daddy. Oh! Mr. Landor, you know us solittle that you've no idea how strongly we feel about these things.We've tried in our own small way, Julie and I, to be soldiers ourselvesand we think no sacrifice too great to make for one another and for ourcountry." In her earnestness she had forgotten the man beside her, thefriend and everything save the inspiration of those principles whichwere as the very air she breathed.
He made no reply, fearing to break the spell and startle her back intoher old elusiveness. This revelation of her inner self was very preciousto him.
Presently she said: "Perhaps I know a little how your friend feels,because I have always thought if ever I lived in war times I should goas a nurse, but now I could not consider such a thing."
"You? You are too young," he gasped, never dreaming of this possibility.
"No, I am not too young, but Julie could not carry on our business andtake care of Daddy, too, all alone, and my duty is here."
"You are doing active service in a field much harder than anything theymay see in Cuba," he said intently.
"Oh! no, don't say that; I do not deserve it; but you have talked to meso frankly about your friend that I wanted you to know I understand alittle, though I do not believe I have been of any help. But this much Iknow, if I were one of those people whom he loves, however much I mightneed him and perhaps want him,"--was her voice faltering?--"I shouldurge him to go and love him the better for going and believe that hisfuture and all connected with him would be the richer and the brighterfor the personal sacrifice."
There was an exultant ring in her low voice that set the man's heart tothrobbing with a pain strangely new and exquisite and so great was hisemotion that for some time he did not trust himself to speak. When hedid he said very gently:
"You _have_ helped my friend, Miss Dale, more than you have any idea andI thank you for him. Some day, perhaps, you will let him thank youhimself. I--I shall always remember your kindness to-night" (poorfellow, it was not easy to pick his words calmly when he longed to pourhis heart out to her). "I may not see you again for awhile; I--I amgoing away."
The coach drew up at her door and she was brought to a suddenrealization of her surroundings by the laughing salutations of the partyas they said goodnight. Kenneth had sprung to the ground and was waitingto assist her to alight. She was not conscious of the gentle, almosttender manner in which he lifted her down, but as he stood with baredhead holding the door open, for her, she stopped a moment and put outher hands impulsively.
"Is this good-by?" she said, her beautiful eyes looking full into his.
"Yes," with her hands close in his, "I shall go out with the firstregiment from Radnor."