Part 28 (1/2)

Facing her with his straightforward soldierly manner, he said, inquiringly, ”Well?”

She returned his look with steady frankness. ”I can't tell you what I think about it all now, John dear. Sometime, perhaps, I may try. It is too big--too vital--too close. I am glad I came. I am sorry, too.”

So he took her to her waiting car.

For a moment he stood looking thoughtfully after the departing machine and then, with an odd little smile, went back to his work.

CHAPTER XVII

IN THE NIGHT

Helen knew, even as she told the chauffeur to drive her home, that she did not wish to return just then to the big house on the hill. Her mind was too crowded with thoughts she could not entertain in the atmosphere of her home; her heart was too deeply moved by emotions that she scarcely dared acknowledge even to herself.

She thought of the country club, but that, in her present mood, was impossible. The Interpreter--she was about to tell Tom that she wished to call at the hut on the cliff, but decided against it. She feared that she might reveal to the old basket maker things that she wished to hide. She might go for a drive in the country, but she shrank from being alone. She wanted some one who could take her out of herself--some one to whom she could talk without betraying herself.

Not far from the Mill a number of children were playing in the dusty road.

Helen did not notice the youngsters, but Tom, being a careful driver, slowed down, even though they were already scurrying aside for the automobile to pa.s.s. Suddenly she was startled by a shrill yell.

”h.e.l.lo, there! h.e.l.lo, Miss!”

Bobby Whaley, in his frantic efforts to attract her attention, was jumping up and down, waving his cap and screeching like a wild boy, while his companions looked on in wide-eyed wonder, half in awe at his daring, half in fear of the possible consequence.

To the everlasting honor and glory of Sam Whaley's son, the automobile stopped. The lady, looking back, called, ”h.e.l.lo, Bobby!” and waited expectantly for him to approach.

With a look of haughty triumph at Skinny and Chuck, the lad swaggered forward, a grin of overpowering delight at his achievement on his dirty, freckled countenance.

”I am so glad you called to me,” Helen said, when he was close. ”I was just wis.h.i.+ng for some one to go with me for a ride in the country.

Would you like to come?”

”Gee,” returned the urchin, ”I'll say I would.”

”Do you think your mother would be willing for you to go?”

”Lord, yes--ma, she ain't a-carin' where we kids are jest so's we ain't under her feet when she's a-workin'.”

”And could you find Maggie, do you think? Perhaps she would enjoy the ride, too.”

Bobby lifted up his voice in a shrill yell, ”Mag! Oh--oh--Mag!”

The excited cry was caught up by the watching children, and the neighborhood echoed their calls. ”Mag! Oh, Mag! Somebody wants yer, Mag! Come a-runnin'. Hurry up!”

Their united efforts were not in vain. From the rear of a near-by house little Maggie appeared. A dirty, faded old shawl was wrapped about her tiny waist, hiding her bare feet and trailing behind. A sorry wreck of a hat trimmed with three chicken feathers crowned her uncombed hair, and the ragged remnants of a pair of black cotton gloves completed her elegant costume. In her thin little arms she held, with tender mother care, a doll so battered and worn by its long service that one wondered at the imaginative power of the child who could make of it anything but a shapeless bundle of dirty rags.

”Get a move on yer, Mag!” yelled the masterful Bobby, with frantic gestures. ”The princess lady is a-goin' t' take us fer a ride in her swell limerseen with her driver 'n' everything.”