Part 44 (1/2)

”They say it is a difficult thing to arrange carriage parties with success,” observed Mr. King. ”I don't find it so in the least,” he added, complacently, just on the point of telling the driver to give the horses their heads. ”But that is because I've such a fine party on my hands, where each one is willing to oblige, and--”

”Ugh!” exclaimed Tom Selwyn, with a snort that made the old gentleman start. ”I'm going to get out a minute--excuse me--can't explain.” And he vaulted over the wheel.

”Bless me, what's come to the boy!” exclaimed Mr. King; ”now he's forgotten something. I hope he won't be long.”

But Tom didn't go into the hotel. Instead, he dashed up to carriage number one. ”Get out,” he was saying to Jasper, and presenting a very red face to view. ”I'm going in here.”

”Oh, no,” said Jasper; ”it's all fixed, and I'm going to stay here.”

And despite all Tom could say, this was the sole reply he got. So back he went, and climbed into old Mr. King's carriage again, with a very rueful face.

Old Mr. King viewed him with cold displeasure as the driver smacked his whip and off they went to join the rest of the party.

”You must go first,” sang out the little doctor, as Grandpapa's carriage drove up; ”you are the leader, and we'll all follow you.”

”Yes, yes,” shouted the parson, like a boy.

And the occupants of carriage number one saying the same thing, Grandpapa's conveyance bowled ahead; and he, well pleased to head the procession, felt some of his displeasure at the boy sitting opposite to him dropping off with each revolution of the wheels.

But Tom couldn't keep still. ”I didn't want to come in this carriage, sir!” he burst out.

”Eh! what?” Old Mr. King brought his gaze again to bear upon Tom's face.

”Well, you are here now,” he said, only half comprehending.

”Because Jasper won't take the place,” cried Tom, setting his teeth together in distress. ”That's what I got out for.”

”Oh, I see,” said Mr. King, a light beginning to break through.

Tom wilted miserably under the gaze that still seemed to go through and through him, and Polly looked off at her side of the carriage, wis.h.i.+ng the drive over the _Tete Noire_ was all ended. Old Mr. King turned to Phronsie at his side.

”Well, now,” he said, taking her hand, ”we are in a predicament, Phronsie, for it evidently isn't going to be such an overwhelming success as I thought.”

”What is a predicament?” asked Phronsie, wrenching her gaze from the lovely vine-clad hills, which she had been viewing with great satisfaction, to look at once into his face.

”Oh, a mix-up; a mess generally,” answered Grandpapa, not pausing to choose words. ”Well, what's to be done, now,--that is the question?”

Tom groaned at sight of the face under the white hair, from which all prospect of pleasure had fled. ”I was a beastly cad,” he muttered to himself.

Phronsie leaned over Mr. King's knee. ”Tell me,” she begged, ”what is it, Grandpapa?”

”Oh, nothing, child,” said Grandpapa, with a glance at Polly's face, ”that you can help, at least.”

Polly drew a long breath. ”Something must be done,” she decided. ”Oh, I know. Why, Grandpapa, we can change before we get to the halfway place,” she cried suddenly, glad to think of something to say. ”Can't we? And then we can all have different places.”

”The very thing!” exclaimed Mr. King, his countenance lightening.

”Come, Tom, my boy, cheer up. I'll put Jasper and every one else in the right place soon. Here you, stop a bit, will you?”--to the driver.

”K-lup!” cried the driver, thinking it a call to increase speed; so the horses bounded on smartly for several paces, and no one could speak to advantage.