Part 37 (1/2)
The father laughed. ”You have no idea how easily they perform their labor. Even the servant sings as cheerfully as though she was mistress of all, and indeed it would be hard to tell who fills that important position in this home. But I will do just as you and Ellen shall decide.”
They had reached the door, and were entering as the last sentence was being finished.
”Decide what?” interrogated Ellen.
”About those rooms at the hotel”; laughed the father.
”They will remain _in statu quo_ as long as they are paid for, will they not? As for me, I am in no hurry to leave my present quarters. My diploma is not yet secured in bread and pie making, and it would be unmanly in you to be the means of crus.h.i.+ng my ambition.”
”I think it my duty to nip in the bud any attempt at conspiracy. So while you all remain here in this pleasant sitting room, I will go into the parlor with my easy chair. Will you, my sister, invite Miss Anna to join me there? Unless your influence has diluted her frankness, she will reveal the whole matter. At any rate, this must be settled.”
”A capital suggestion! Anna shall be judge, jury and all, and we poor subjects will cheerfully abide by her decision.” And Ellen darted away after the young lady in question.
”For shame, to put me in such a dilemma!” exclaimed Anna, as she placed the flakey crust she was preparing on the pie tin; but the crimson wave that rolled over neck, cheek and brow did not escape the notice of her companion.
”O, you need not appear so much shocked at the thought of meeting him, for he will not make love to you. Never fear! The little foot of Lillian Belmont crushed all the romance out of his heart a long time ago. So, away; I can finish that pie while Rhoda is making the pudding.”
Anna obeyed without a word, and we will let her enter alone that quiet, pretty parlor where the wounded soldier was waiting.
”Two hours as I live!” exclaimed Ellen, as the clock on the mantel struck twelve.
”It takes time to settle long accounts,” replied the mother, quaintly.
”He is determined to go, I reckon”; interposed the father, cheerily; but Mrs. Pierson was silent.
”Dinner is all ready, and I am just as hungry! Can't I go and see how the matter stands?” This question was addressed to the widow, who was sitting by the window, looking out on the seared and fading gra.s.s.
There was a sad expression about the mouth, and a tremor in the voice not usually there, as she answered: ”Yes, dear; Rhoda does not like to wait without a cause.”
Amid laughing and jesting, the easy chair was drawn out, still containing its occupant, while Anna disappeared through an opposite door, and was not seen until the family had gathered around the well-filled table.
”Well, how is it, my boy?” queried Mr. St. Clair. ”How about Maple Grove Inn? Are we to leave such delicacies as these for others untried?”
”Anna is chairman of that committee, and is to hand over the report,”
replied George.
There was an expression on the face of the young lady thus appealed to that caused Ellen St. Clair to look quickly towards her brother, who met her wondering gaze with a comical smile very significant in itself, and made the sister exclaim: ”I should think both of you are 'chairmen,' if one was to judge from the amount of knowledge that seems lurking in your eyes. Out with it! What is the report?”
”Patience is one of the cardinal virtues, my dear,” suggested the father, gravely. ”Such an extended consultation requires much thought in the summing up.”
”I conclude by Miss Anna's silence that the pleasing office of 'reporter' is conferred upon her unworthy servant; therefore listen to the 'summing up';” and laying down his fork, with folded arms, George St. Clair leaned back in his easy chair. ”The question propounded, with its prelude, was something after this sort: I said, My dear girl, when I was well and strong I gave into your love and tender watchful care my two honored parents and one pretty little sister, and most faithfully have you regarded my trust; and now a fourth comes creeping and hobbling into your paradise of peace and comfort, and although he has nothing to recommend him, would pray to be admitted, not to your care, but to your heart and enduring love. Will you as cheerfully grant my pet.i.tion in this, as in the former instance? And her reply, after brus.h.i.+ng away a few of the cobwebs of the past, was 'I will, with the permission of my mother, who has a right to be consulted upon all such articles of transfer.'”
”I do declare!” burst from the lips of the sister. ”The great subject of remaining as honorary members of this most hospitable family, I believe, was not broached by the committee.”
”As to myself,” interposed the father, ”I am very naturally inclined, after placing in the hands of our hostess a sufficient sum for every expense, including the perplexities such an increase of family would cause, to remain in our present quarters until further developments.”
”Very likely!” interposed the mother with with a beaming face.
Anna had left her seat at the head of the table at the very commencement of this little speech, and the hostess sat with folded hands pale and trembling as one in a troubled dream. Mr. and Mrs. St. Clair looked at each other with surprise written all over their good-natured faces, but the sister was lost in amazement. She had not once thought such a union possible, and was not ready to give it sanction.