Part 9 (1/2)
CHAPTER VI
A RIDE AND ITS CONSEQUENCES
Mrs. Winthrop White was talking earnestly to her brother, Major Dale.
She had come in from the Cedars the morning after the memorable ride in the Fire-Bird, and was now in the major's study, discussing the situation with Dorothy's father.
”But the child has had so many shocks lately, brother,” said Mrs.
White. ”It does seem the only practical plan is to remove her entirely from these surroundings. Of course, it will be hard for you to let her go away, but you must remember, Dorothy has always been a little over-strained with care for one of her years, and now that your means will allow it, she should have every possible advantage to make up for what she may have lost in the way of nerve force.”
”Oh, I am sure you know, sister,” replied the major, ”I would not deprive the child of anything she should have, no matter what it cost me, in money or--the loss of her company. She has certainly been my Little Captain, for I can always depend upon her to keep the young troopers in line--”
”But why remain here at all? You can give up business now. Do, brother, come and make your home with me. I really need you so often, when I have no one to advise with about the boys. And Joe and Roger would be so much better off with me to look after them. Mrs. Martin has done wonderfully well for her years, but she is no longer able to see to them properly. Just give up this place and come to the Cedars,”
urged Mrs. White.
”I would not know how to leave dear old Dalton or my newspaper,” mused the major. ”Of course you are very good to think of bothering with another family. Most women think one family enough to bring up.”
”Indeed, I need something to do,” argued the sister, ”and Roger would be a perfect treat to me. He is such a darling. Joe will go to school, of course (already taking it for granted that her invitation would be accepted), but I would have Roger taught at home for this year. He is too young to mix up with all the others.”
”I am sure it would be good for the children--”
”And for yourself! Why, you are not too old to enjoy your life. The idea of a man of less than fifty years, considering himself old,” and Mrs. White laughed in that captivating manner of hers, that had so often won her cause when all other arguments failed. ”And that school you speak of for Dorothy, the one in the mountains of New England, what did you call it?”
”The Glenwood School,” replied the major. ”Mrs. Pangborn, who conducts it, is an old friend of mine, and if I should trust Dorothy with anyone it would be with Louise Pangborn, for she knew Dorothy's mother and would be sure to take an interest in her daughter.”
”The very thing! Capital!” exclaimed Mrs. White enthusiastically. ”We must make arrangements at once. There is little time left before the term opens. Dear me, brother, some women may like to idle, but give me a girl to dress up for school! Perhaps because I have never had the joy for doing it for my own daughter, I so love to take up Dorothy and experiment on her. No girl at school shall be better equipped than Dorothy Dale--”
”Now take care, sister. We are plain folks, you know.”
”Not one whit plainer than your sister Ruth. I shall only get Dorothy things that befit her station, in fact the best dressed girls do not, by any means have more clothes than others. They simply have what is needed.”
”Oh, I know! I know I can depend upon you, Ruth. Only I also know you think Dorothy--”
”A wonderfully pretty and attractive girl, and one who must wear the right kind of clothes. There, I feel I am looking through the shops now. I must admit I have a weakness for pretty things, whether girls or their dresses.”
”Strange I should have so lately received a letter from Mrs. Pangborn inquiring about Dorothy,” remarked the major. ”I have it some place,”
and he pulled a packet of papers from his desk, soon finding the one wanted. ”There,” he went on, glancing over the missive, ”Louise says she has now two a.s.sistants, a Miss Crane and a Miss Higley.”
”Might I see the letter?” asked Mrs. White, already a.s.suming the mother part toward Dorothy, and feeling it her duty to know all she might be able to find out concerning the woman to whom Dorothy would be entrusted.
”Why, certainly,” replied the major, handing her the letter. She glanced over the paper. ”There,” she said presently, smiling. ”I fancy I see Miss Crane, whom Mrs. Pangborn describes as being such a favorite with the girls. And the other, Miss Higley--her name is enough. She must be the sort of teacher who does good work in cla.s.ses, but seems to put a damper on the girls' pranks. Of course, such a person is always valuable in a boarding school,” and she handed back the paper, ”but what a lot of trouble they can make! I went to a boarding school myself, you know, and I know and remember all about the Miss Higleys.”
”Then you think it would be a good plan to send Dorothy to Glenwood?”
and the major's voice showed that he looked favorably upon the proposition.
”Glenwood School, in the mountains of New England! I can see the tags on Dorothy's trunks,” she replied merrily. ”Nothing could be better.
And that splendid mountain air! Why, you won't know the child when she comes home for her holiday. But I am going to write this very morning.
Or will you do it? And I will write in reply to the next. Yes, I think that would be better. And now I am going right up to Dorothy and tell her all about it. The child had such a headache from her experiences yesterday that I insisted upon her lying down. Wasn't that the most absurd thing for those children to ride to town in the police patrol? The boys will never stop talking of it. And Tavia Travers thinks it the joke of her life. But Dorothy is not keen on that sort of jokes. She does not relish the curiosity which the incident has stirred up. I could see that this morning, when those school friends were talking it over with her.”