Part 34 (2/2)
Betty detected the flicker of malice in her former housekeeper's voice.
They were on equal ground for once, and Miss Madison and Mrs. Mudd would shake hands with their President within consecutive moments. She smiled with some cynicism, but was too good-natured to snub the native ambition where it could do no harm.
”I saw Senator North to-day,” observed Mrs. Mudd, ”and he looked crosser 'n two sticks. He's mad because they'll have war in spite of him. I call him right down unpatriotic, and so do lots of others.”
”That disturbs him a great deal. He is much more concerned about the country making a fool of itself.”
”This country's all right, and we couldn't go wrong if we tried. Them that sets themselves up to be so terrible superior are just bad Americans, that's the long and the short of it, and they'll find it out at the next elections. If Senator North should take a trip out West just now, they'd tar and feather him, and I'd like to be there to see it done. They can't say what they think of his setting on patriotic Senators loud enough. And as for the President--”
”Well, don't criticise the President while you are under his roof. It is bad manners. Here we are. Will you go in first?”
”Well, I don't see why I shouldn't. I'll hurry on so they can see your dress; it's just too lovely for anything.”
Betty wore a white embroidered chiffon over green; she shook out the train, which had been over her arm ever since she entered the house.
Her name was announced in a loud tone, and she entered the pretty flowery Blue Room with its charmingly dressed receiving party standing before a large group of favoured and critical friends, and facing the inquisitive eyes in the central doorway. The President grasped her hand and said, ”How do you do, Miss Madison?” in so pleased and so cordial a tone that Betty for a fleeting moment wondered where she could have met him before. Then she smiled, made a comprehensive bow to his wife and the women of the Cabinet, and pa.s.sed on. Mrs. Mudd, who had shaken hands relentlessly with every weary member of the receiving party, reached the door of exit after her and clutched her by the arm.
”Say!” she exclaimed with excitement, although her drawl was but half conquered. ”Where _do_ you s'pose I could have met the President before? I know by the way he said 'Mrs. Mudd,' he remembered me, but I just can't think, to save my life. My! ain't he fascinating?”
Betty had laughed aloud. ”I am sorry to hurt your vanity,” she replied, ”but the President is said to have the best manners of any man who has occupied the White House within living memory.”
”What d'you mean?” cried Mrs. Mudd, sharply. ”D' you mean he didn't know me? I just know he did, so there! And he can pack his clothes in my trunk as soon as he likes.”
”Good heaven!” ”Oh, that's slang. I forgot you were so terrible superior. But you've got good cause to know I'm virtuous. Lands sakes!
I guess n.o.body ever said I warn't.”
”I don't fancy anybody ever did.”
They were in the East Room again, with the stars and stripes, the moving glitter of gold, the loud hum mingled with the distant strains of martial music.
”It's really inspiring,” said Lady Mary. ”I wish I could write a war poem.”
”I hope there is nothing coming to inspire war doggerel; the prospect of a new crop of war stories and war plays is too painful. We were all brought up on the Civil War and are resigned to its literature. But life is too short to get used to a new variety.”
”Betty dear, ennui has embittered you, and I must confess that I am a trifle weary of the war before it has begun, myself. Randolph, I think I prefer you should vote for peace.”
”I'm afraid we'll have no peace till we've had war first,” said Mr.
Montgomery, grimly.
”Oh, we're goin' to have war,” drawled Mrs. Mudd. ”Just don't you worry about that. Now don't blush,” she said in Betty's ear. ”Senator North's makin' straight for you. I suspicion you like him better 'n Burleigh--”
Betty had turned upon her at last, and the woman t.i.ttered nervously and fell back in the crowd.
Senator North and Miss Madison shook hands with that absence of emotion which is one of the conditions of a crowded environment, and Lady Mary suggested they should all go to the conservatory, where it was cooler.
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