Part 4 (1/2)

”Come in!”

”Here he is, mother.”

The lad stepped into warmth, subtle fragrance, and many candle lights.

The great lady was just rising from a chair in front of her mirror, brocaded, powdered, and starred with jewels. So brilliant a vision almost stunned the little stranger and it took an effort for him to lift his eyes to hers.

”Why, _this_ is not the lad you told me of,” she said. ”Come here! Both of you.” They came and the lady scrutinized them comparingly.

”Actually you look alike-and, Harry, you have no advantage, even if you are my own son. I am glad you are here,” she said with sudden soberness, and smiling tenderly she put both hands on his shoulders, drew him to her and kissed him, and again he felt in his eyes that curious sting.

”Come, Harry!” With a gallant bow Harry offered his left arm, and gathering the little Kentuckian with her left, the regal lady swept out.

In the reception-room she kept the boy by her side. Every man who approached bowed, and soon the lad was bowing, too. The ladies courtesied, the room was soon filled, and amid the flash of smiles, laughter, and gay banter the lad was much bewildered, but his face showed it not at all. Barbara almost cried out her astonishment and pleasure when she saw what a handsome figure he made in his new clothing, and all her little friends were soon darting surrept.i.tious glances at him, and many whispered questions and pleasing comments were pa.s.sed around. From under Hugh's feet the ground for the moment was quite taken away, so much to the eye, at least, do clothes make the man.

Just then General Willoughby bowed with n.o.ble dignity before Mrs. Dale, and the two led the way to the dining-room.

”Harry,” she said, ”you and Barbara take care of your cousin.”

And almost without knowing it the young Kentuckian bowed to Barbara, who courtesied and took his arm. But for his own dignity and hers, she would have liked to squeal her delight. The table flashed with silver and crystal on snowy-white damask and was brilliant with colored candles.

The little woodsman saw the men draw back chairs for the ladies, and he drew back Barbara's before Hugh, on the other side of her, could forestall him. On his left was Harry, and Harry he watched keenly-but no more keenly than Hugh watched him. Every now and then he would catch a pair of interested eyes looking furtively at him, and he knew his story was going the round of the table among those who were not guests in the house. The boy had never seen so many and so mysterious-looking things to eat and drink. One gla.s.s of wine he took, and the quick dizziness that a.s.sailed him frightened him, and he did not touch it again. Beyond Barbara, Hugh leaned forward and lifted his gla.s.s to him. He shook his head and Hugh flushed.

”Our Kentucky cousin is not very polite-he is something of a barbarian-naturally.”

”He doesn't understand,” said Barbara quickly, who had noted the incident, and she turned to her cousin.

”Papa says you _are_ going to live with us and you are going to study with Harry under Mr. Brockton.”

”Our tutor,” explained Harry; ”there he is across there. He is an Englishman.”

”Tutor?” questioned the boy.

”School-teacher,” laughed Harry.

”Oh!”

”Haven't you any school-teachers at home?”

”No, I learned to read and write a little from Dave and Lyddy.”

And then he had to tell who they were, and he went on to tell them about Mother Sanders and Honor and Bud and Jack and Polly Conrad and Lydia and Dave, and all the frontier folk, and the life they led, and the Indian fights which thrilled Barbara and Harry, and forced even Hugh to listen-though once he laughed incredulously, and in a way that of a sudden shut the boy's lips tight and made Barbara color and Harry look grave. Hugh then turned to his wine and began soon to look more flushed and sulky. Shortly after the ladies left, Hugh followed them, and Harry and the Kentuckian moved toward the head of the table where the men had gathered around Colonel Dale.

”Yes,” said General Willoughby, ”it looks as though it might come.”

”With due deference to Mr. Brockton,” said Colonel Dale, ”it looks as though his country would soon force us to some action.”

They were talking about impending war. Far away as his wilds were, the boy had heard some talk of war in them, and he listened greedily to the quick fire of question and argument directed to the Englishman, who held his own with such st.u.r.diness that Colonel Dale, fearing the heat might become too great, laughed and skilfully s.h.i.+fted the theme. Through hall and doorways came now merry sounds of fiddle and banjo.

”Come on, cousin,” said Harry; ”can you dance?”

”If your dances are as different as everything else, I reckon not, but I can try.”