Part 21 (2/2)
”If they weren't the same, where on earth could he have bought any like them? They don't make them in this country,” he said, when he told me of it.
Harvie, having awakened to the fact that Annie was a very charming, beautiful girl, whom he had for years looked upon as a kind of sister but who was not a sister and was moreover very much admired by other members of his s.e.x, now was making up for lost time as fast as possible.
He had no feeling of _n.o.blesse oblige_ in regard to Sleepy. He surely had as much right to love Annie as George Ma.s.sie had and more right to tell her of it, since she was almost his sister. He hovered around her to the last, doing a million little things to help her and a.s.suring her in the meantime of his undying affection, but Annie never did seem to understand that he was being any more than a big brother to her. Never having had a big brother, she did not know that big brothers do not as a rule express their love for the little sisters in such glowing terms.
George Ma.s.sie went gloomily off when the house-party broke up. He felt that he could not in decency stay longer at Maxton since all the others were leaving, although he longed to be near Annie. He sought me out on the boat when we were bound for Richmond and sighing like a furnace sank down by my side. If it had been a sailboat we were traveling in instead of an old side-wheel steamboat, I am sure the great sigh he heaved would have sent us faster on our way.
”Something fierce!” he muttered.
”Yes, it is hard, but maybe they will come back sometime, or perhaps when you get your degree you can go over to England and see her.”
”Get my degree! Do you think I am going back to the University? Not on your life!”
”But what will you do? You must have some ambition,” I said rather severely.
”Yes, I've got ambition all right; I'm going to do my bit in France as stretcher bearer. I decided last night.”
”Really?”
”Sure! I'm just wasting my time at the University. I talked it out with Annie. She has lots of feeling about England and the war, and if she cares, then it is up to me to help her country some.”
”Oh, Sleepy! I think that is just splendid of you,” I cried. ”When will you go?”
”Ahem--I'm thinking of going on the same boat with Mr.--Sir Arthur Pore.”
I could not help laughing.
”Does Annie know?”
”No, I was afraid she might make some objection. I think I'll just surprise her on the steamer.”
”Won't you have to get pa.s.sports and permits and things before you can go?”
”Yes, I'll set the ball rolling as soon as I get to Richmond. Mr. Tucker is attending to Sir Arthur's and I guess I'll go see him as soon as we land. He knows how to do so many things.”
That was certainly so. Mr. Jeffry Tucker not only could and would match zephyr for old ladies, but he knew just how to get pa.s.sports for pompous English n.o.blemen who had but recently kept country stores on the banks of the river, and for the lovely daughters. He also knew how to get rushed-through pa.s.sports for rich young medical students who had taken sudden resolutions to do a bit in France because of a kind of vicarious patriotism.
George Ma.s.sie had a busy week. He must rush off to see his people, who no doubt were quite confounded by his unwonted energy. He must get the proper clothing for his undertaking and also make his will, since he had quite an estate in his own name. He must tell many relations farewell and explain as best he could his sudden pa.s.sion for carrying the wounded off of the battle fields.
When he came in to tell the Tuckers good-by before he went to New York to embark on the steamer with the unsuspecting Pores, he looked almost thin and quite wide awake, so they told me.
The Tuckers had tried to persuade me to wait in Richmond with them for a few days before going to Bracken so that together we could see the last of our little English friend, for Sir Arthur and Annie were to take a train in Richmond for New York. But I had been too long away from my father and felt that I must hasten home to him.
Needless to say that Zebedee had the pa.s.sports all ready for them to sign and berths engaged on the New York sleeper and pa.s.sage on an English vessel, sailing the following Sat.u.r.day.
Tweedles told me that Annie clung to them at parting as though they had been a life rope. The poor girl felt that she was going into a strange cold world. It must have been even worse for her than the memorable time when she started on what she thought was going to be that lonesome, forlorn journey to Gresham. That trip had proven to be very enjoyable in spite of all her fears; and perhaps this journey across the ocean was not going to be so very forlorn, either.
I should not relish much the idea of a trip with Sir Arthur Ponsonby Pore. I can fancy his aloof manner with fellow pa.s.sengers, who perhaps were seeking acquaintance with his lovely daughter; his disregard for the comfort of others; his haughtiness with the steward. The only way to travel in peace with the baronet would be to have him get good and seasick before the vessel got out of sight of Sandy Hook, and stay so until she was docked at Liverpool. Then he might prove a very pleasant traveling companion, provided he was so ill that he had to stay in his bunk.
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