Part 6 (1/2)
On Sunday morning Neil Stewart, with Mrs. Stewart and Peggy drove into Annapolis to attend service at the Naval Academy Chapel where their entrance very nearly demoralized Polly Howland, no hint of their intention having been given her. They were a little late in arriving and the service had already begun. As Polly was rising from her knees after the first prayer Peggy was ushered into the pew, and Polly, _Polly_ under all circ.u.mstances, cried impulsively:
”Oh, lovely!” her voice distinctly audible in the chancel. Whether the Chaplain felt himself lauded for the manner in which he had read the prayer, or was quick to guess the cause of that unusual response, it is not necessary to decide. Certain, however, were two or three distinct snickers from some pews under the gallery, and Polly nearly dove under the pew in front of her.
There was no chance for the thousand and one topics of vital importance to be even touched upon while the service was in progress, but once the recessional rolled forth Peggy's and Polly's tongues were loosened and went a-galloping.
”Oh, Daddy has a plan for the afternoon which is the dearest ever,”
announced Peggy, the old light back in her eyes, and the old enthusiasm in her voice.
”Tell it right off then. Captain Stewart's plans are the most wonderful ever. I'll never forget New London,” cried Polly.
”Why, he wants you and the Little Mother and Durand and Ralph and Jean and Gordon--”
”Gordon?” echoed Polly, a question in her eyes.
Peggy nodded an emphatic little nod, her lips closing in a half-defiant, half who-dares-dispute-his-judgment little way, then the smile returned to the pretty mouth and she continued, ”Yes, Gordon Powers and his room-mate, great, big Douglas Porter, and Durand's new room-mate, Bert Taylor, he comes from Snap's old home, so Daddy learned, to come out to Severndale this afternoon for a real frolic.”
She got no further for they had reached the terrace in front of the Chapel by that time where greetings were being exchanged between many mutual friends and the two girls, so widely known to all connected with the Academy were eagerly welcomed back.
Meanwhile, out on the main walk the Brigade had broken ranks and the mids.h.i.+pmen were hurrying up to greet their friends. Captain Stewart was a favorite with all, and one of the very few officers who could recall how the world looked to him when _he_ was a mids.h.i.+pman. Consequently, he was able to enter into the spirit and viewpoint of the lads and was always greeted with an enthusiasm rare in the intercourse between the mids.h.i.+pmen and the officers. Mrs. Harold was their ”Little Mother,” as she had been for the past five years, and Peggy and Polly the best and jolliest of companions and chums, their ”co-ed cronies,” as they called them.
Mrs. Stewart they had met in New London, but there was a very perceptible difference in their greeting to that lady: It was the formal, perfunctory bow and handclasp of the superficially known mids.h.i.+pman; not the hearty, spontaneous one of the boy who has learned to trust and love someone as Mrs. Harold's boys loved and trusted her.
The crowd which had poured out of the Chapel was soon dispersed, as everybody had something to call him elsewhere. Our group sauntered slowly toward the Superintendent's home where Captain Stewart left them and went in to make his request for the afternoon's frolic. It was promptly granted and orders were given to have a launch placed at his disposal at two-thirty P.M.
Such a treat, when least expected, sent the boys into an ecstatic frame of mind, and when the bugle sounded for dinner formation they rushed away to their places upon old Bancroft's Terrace as full of enthusiasm as though averaging eight and ten instead of eighteen and twenty years of age.
CHAPTER VI
A NEW ORDER OF THINGS
That Sunday afternoon of October first, 19-- was vital with portent for the future of most of the people in this little story.
It took but a short time to run out to Severndale, and once there Neil Stewart made sure of a free hour or two by ordering up the horses and sending the young people off for a gallop ”over the hills and far away.”
Shashai, Silver Star, Pepper and Salt for Peggy, Polly, Durand and Ralph, who were all experienced riders, and four other horses for Douglas, Gordon, Jean and Bert, of whose prowess he knew little. He need not have worried, however, for Bert Taylor came straight from a South Dakota ranch, Gordon Powers had ridden since early childhood and Douglas Porter had left behind him in his Southern home two hunters which had been the joy of his life. But Jean Paul Nicholas, Ralph's little pepper-pot of a room-mate, had never ridden a horse in his life, and the running he would come in for at the hands of his fellow mids.h.i.+pmen if they suspected that fact might have made almost any other lad hesitate before taking his initial spin in the company of experts. Not so little Jean Paul with his broad shoulders, the brace of an Admiral and his five-feet-six-inches; a veritable little bantam-c.o.c.k, and game to the finish.
As the happy cavalcade set off, waving merry farewells to the older people gathered upon the piazza, Tzaritza bounding on ahead, their route led them past the paddock where Shelby and old Jess, with several others connected with the estate, stood watching them. Shelby as an old hand and privileged character, took off his hat and waved it hilariously, as he called out:
”Well _that_ is one sight worth while, Miss Peggy. We've got our _own_ girl back again, praises be!” while old Jess echoed his enthusiasm by shouting:
”Praise de Lawd we _has_, an' we got de boss yander, too!”
”Sure thing, Shelby!” answered Durand.
”He's all right, Shelby!” cried Ralph.
”Nicest Daddy-Neil in the world,” was Polly's merry reply, then added, ”Oh, Peggy, look at Roy! He's crazy to come with us,” for Roy, the little colt Peggy had raised, was now a splendid young creature though still too young to put under the saddle.
Peggy looked toward the paddock where Roy was running to and fro in the most excited manner and neighing loudly to his friends.