Part 21 (1/2)
”Peter,” she managed to whisper to him, ”I have a feeling that something _awful_ is going to happen!” Then Mrs. Todd and Mrs. Sniggs had come through the gate and she had gone forward to meet them.
It was Webb who gave Nancy a hint of the real truth. He was, as he expressed it, ”so gol darn flubberin' mad at the hul parcel of womenfolks he'd liked to burst!” Gossip had crept to the post-office stoop and Webb had sensed what was going on. ”Skunks--beggin' your pardon, Miss Anne, but that's _what_!”
Nancy had a moment of panic; her eyes sought wildly for Peter Hyde.
Then her fighting blood stirred. ”Thank you, Webb,” she said with well-a.s.sumed calmness. ”Don't worry a bit! We'll show them--we'll act just as though we hadn't invited anyone else!”
But her nonchalant manner cloaked real distress. There was Miss Sabrina, proud Miss Sabrina who had opened the doors of her trouble for all Freedom to come and gape at--Nancy knew it had not been easy!
There was pretty, fluttering, expectant Aunt Milly in the dress she had had made when she was eighteen; Nonie who had dreamed of throngs of guests paying homage before her; and B'lindy, who had made a cake that was ”like as a twin to the one my mother made for the Gov'nor!” What would _they_ say?
Was she not, indirectly, the cause of the humiliation that threatened them?
Nancy hurried to Peter Hyde where, in a corner of the garden, he stood paying court to Nonie. In answer to his pleasant nonsense Nonie's delighted laughter was rising shrilly. Nancy sent Nonie back to Aunt Milly. Then she caught Peter's arm.
”Peter! _Pe-ter_! Quick--come behind this bus.h.!.+ I'm--I'm--I've got to cry----”
And to Peter Hyde's consternation Nancy _did_ burst into tears.
”For Heaven's sake, Nancy, what----”
”I'm just--_mad_,” Nancy blurted from behind a handkerchief. ”The--the _cats_!” She lifted her head, relieved by her sudden outburst. ”It's that Mrs. Eaton again! She's--just--getting even!” She told what Webb had said. ”And here's the--party--and no one will come! Aunt Sabrina will never, never get over it. And B'lindy--I _wish_ I could run away.”
Peter Hyde wanted very much to laugh, but the real distress in Nancy's face touched him. He patted her consolingly.
”Can't I do something? Can't Webb and I round 'em up at the point of a gun?”
”N-no, it's too late! We've just got to act as though the--the garden was _full_ and make the best of it! I wanted it to be _such_ a success. I wanted it to be a party that Nonie 'd never forget. And I wanted everyone to see Aunt Milly! Oh, why, oh, _why_ doesn't something happen!” For Nancy had suddenly remembered the huge pails of ice-cream and the cake that was ”like as a twin to the one my mother made for the Gov'nor.”
At that moment the loud whirring of an automobile caught their attention. Nancy, red-eyed, peeped from behind their bush.
”It's at our gate!” she cried. ”_Peter_----” she clutched his arm.
From the tonneau a tall man was alighting. To Nancy there was something vaguely familiar in the sharp-featured, clean-shaven face and in the ma.s.s of wavy white hair that fringed his coat collar.
”_Peter, it's--it's--Theodore Hoffman!_”
CHAPTER XIX
THE MASTER
A bolt from the cloudless blue could not have startled the little gathering on the lawn more than did the arrival of the distinguished stranger at the gate of Happy House. Moreover, French Mercedes cars did not often pa.s.s through North Hero; this was purple and cream color and the chauffeur wore purple livery. And the man who walked up the path had a bearing that distinctly set him apart from ordinary mortals.
Nancy, in a panic, wanted the earth to swallow her, but as the earth was very solid, she had no choice but to drag herself forward. She had, only a moment before, prayed that something would happen--and something had!
Peter Hyde had rushed forward to greet the newcomer and this had given Nancy a moment to rally her scattered wits. She was too busy whispering an explanation to Miss Sabrina to notice how friendly had been the master's greeting to Peter.
”Miss Leavitt, may I present Mr. Theodore Hoffman--and Miss Anne Leavitt.”
Peter's voice was as steady as though he was introducing any John Smith; there was even a twinkle in his eye, as it caught Nancy's glance, that seemed to say: ”I have brought the master to you--now!”
There was a gentleness in the keen, deep-set eyes, a friendliness in the musical voice of the master that suddenly quieted Nancy's fluttering nerves. Time and again, at the very thought of this meeting, she had been so frightened and now--she was not a bit afraid.