Part 5 (1/2)
Jerome had just pa.s.sed a silver platter to Madam Stewart, his hands trembling so perceptibly as to provoke from her the words: ”Have you a chill, Jerome?” as she conveyed to her plate some of Cynthia's delicately fried chicken.
Jerome made no answer, but started toward Peggy's chair. He never reached it, for at that moment a deep voice boomed in from the hall:
”Peggy Stewart, ahoy!”
With the joyous, ringing cry of:
”Daddy Neil! Oh, Daddy Neil!” Peggy sprang from the table to fling herself into her father's arms, and to startle him beyond words by bursting into tears. Never in all of his going to and fro, however long his absences from his home, had he met with such a reception as this.
Invariably a smiling Peggy had greeted him and the present outbreak struck to the very depth of his soul, and did more in one minute to reveal to him the force of Harrison's letter than a dozen complaints.
The tears betrayed a nervous tension of which even Peggy herself had been entirely unaware, and for Peggy to have reached a mental condition where nerves could a.s.sert themselves was an indication that chaos was imminent. For a moment she could only sob hysterically, while her father held her close in his arms and said in a tone which she had never yet heard:
”Why, Peggy! My little girl, my little girl, have you needed Daddy Neil as much as this?”
Peggy made a gallant rally of her self-control and cried:
”Oh, Daddy, and everybody, please forgive me, but I am so surprised and startled and delighted that I don't know what I'm doing, and I'm so ashamed of myself,” and smiling through her tears she strove to draw away from her father that he might greet the others, but he kept her close within his circling left arm, as he extended his hand in response to the effusive greeting of his sister-in-law.
With what she hoped would be an apologetic smile for Peggy's untoward demonstration, Mrs. Stewart had risen to welcome him.
”We must make allowances for Peggy, dear Neil. You came so very unexpectedly, you know. I hardly thought my letter would be productive of anything so delightful for us all.”
”I fear it was not wholly, Katherine. I had several others also. How are you, Doctor? I see you haven't quite abandoned the s.h.i.+p. Well, I'm glad of that; I need my executive officer and my navigator also.”
At the concluding words Mrs. Peyton smiled complacently. Who but she could fill that office? But Captain Stewart's next words dissipated that smile as the removal of a lantern slide causes the scene thrown upon the screen to vanish.
”Yes, indeed, my navigator must get busy. She's had a long leave, but I need her now and she's never failed me in heavy weather. She'll report for duty on the thirtieth, thank the powers which be. h.e.l.lo, Jerome!
What's rattled you like this? Next time I set my course for home I'd better send a wireless, or I'll demoralize the whole personnel,” and Neil Stewart's hearty laugh brought a sympathetic smile to Dr.
Llewellyn's and Peggy's lips.
And well it might, for in the background the minor characters in the little drama had filled a role all their own. In the doorway stood Harrison, bound to witness the outcome of her master-stroke and experiencing no small triumph in it. Behind her Mammy, with characteristic African emotion, was doing a veritable camp-meeting song of praise, though it was a _voiceless_ song, only her motions indicating that her lips were forming the words, ”Praise de Lawd! Praise Him!” as she swayed and clasped her hands.
But Jerome outdid them all: At his first glimpse of the master he was so fl.u.s.tered that he nearly collapsed where he stood, and his platter had a perilous moment. Then, crying, ”Glory be!” he beat a hasty retreat intending to place it upon his serving table, but growing bewildered in his joy, inadvertently set it upon a large claw-foot sofa which stood at the end of the dining-room, where Toinette, ever upon the alert, and _not_ banished from the dining-room as poor Tzaritza had been, promptly pounced upon the contents, and in the confusion of the ensuing ten minutes laid the foundation for her early demise from apoplexy.
”Brace up, Jerome, I'm too substantial to be a ghost, and nothing short of one should bowl you over like this,” were Captain Stewart's hearty words to the old man as he shook his hand.
”Asks yo' pardon, Ma.s.sa Neil! I sho' does ask yo' pardon fer lettin'
mysef git so fl.u.s.trated, but we-all's so powerful pleased fer ter see yo', an' has been a-wanting yo' so pintedly, that--that--that--but, ma Lawd, I--I--I'se cla'r los' ma senses an', an--Hi! look yonder at dat cussed dawg _an'_ ma fried chicken!”
For once in her useless life Toinette had created a pleasing diversion.
With a justifiable cry of wrath Jerome pounced upon her and plucked her from the platter, in which for vantage she had placed her fore feet.
Flinging her upon the floor, he s.n.a.t.c.hed up his dish and fled to the pantry, Neil Stewart's roars of laughter following him. Toinette rolled over and over and then fled yelping into her mistress' lap to spread further havoc by ruining a delicate silk gown with her gravy-smeared feet. Tzaritza, who had followed her master into the room, looked upon the performance with a superior surprise. Neil Stewart laid a caressing hand upon the beautiful head and said laughingly:
”You'd blush for that little snippin-frizzle if you could, wouldn't you, old girl? Well, it's up to you to teach her better manners. She's young and flighty. The next time she starts in on any such rampage, just pick her up and carry her out, as any naughty child should be carried.
Understand?”
”Woof-woof,” answered Tzaritza, deep down in her throat.