Part 4 (2/2)
”Oh, she has such a sweet, sweet face,” murmured Belle, who was fair, and who had always longed to be dark.
”Is there a bed ready,” Janet asked Mrs. Kimball.
”Yes, Madam, in the blue room.” The Kimball family had a habit of distinguis.h.i.+ng chambers by the color of the wall papers.
”That will do. We'll take her there. I think a little rest and food is all she needs. She looks as though she had walked far to-day.”
A glance at the worn and dusty shoes confirmed this.
”Can we carry her, or shall I call John?” asked Cora, referring to the one man of all work, who kept the Kimball place in order.
”Oh, I think we can manage,” said her mother. ”She is not heavy.”
It was not until Cora and her mother lifted the girl, that they realized what a frail burden she was in their arms.
”She's only a girl, yet she has the face of a woman, and with traces of a woman's troubles,” whispered Belle, as Cora and Mrs. Kimball, preceded by Janet to hold aside the draperies, left the room.
”Yes. And I wonder what she meant by speaking of her father and Sea Horse Island in the way she did?” spoke Bess. ”It sounds almost like a mystery!”
”Oh, you and your mysteries!” scoffed Belle. ”You'd scent one, if an Italian organ grinder stopped in front of the house, looked up at your window, and played the Miserere.”
”I might give him something to eat, anyhow,” snapped Bess--that is, as nearly as Bess ever came to snapping, for she was so well ”padded,” both in mariners and by nature, that she was too much like a mental sofa cus.h.i.+on to hurt even the feelings of any one.
Cora came down presently, announcing:
”She is better now. She took a little of the bouillon, but she is very weak. Mother insists on her staying in bed. She really seems a very decent sort of a person--the girl, I mean,” added Cora quickly, with a little laugh. ”She was so afraid of giving trouble.”
”Did she tell anything of herself?” asked Bess.
”She tried to, but mother would not hear of it until she is stronger.
I really think the poor thing was starving. She can't make much of a living selling lace, though some of it is very beautiful,” and Cora picked up from the library door the length that had dropped from the girl's hand.
”Wasn't it strange--that she should come in and seem so worked-up over the mention of Sea Horse Island?” spoke Belle.
”It was,” admitted Cora. ”We shall have to find out about it later--she was on the verge of telling us, when she fainted. But, girls, if I am to go get Jack, it's time I started. Are you coming?”
”Suppose we go in our car,” suggested Bess.
”You may want all the room you have to spare in yours, Cora, to bring back some of his luggage. And perhaps some of the boys besides Walter may come on from Exmouth with Jack. In that case--”'
”Exactly!” laughed Cora. ”And if they do you want to be in a position to offer them your hospitality. Oh, Bess! And I thought you would be true to Jack; especially when he is so ill!”
”Cora Kimball! I'll--” but Bess, her face flaming scarlet, found no words to express her, at least pretended, indignation. ”Come on, Belle,” she cried. ”We won't let a boy or young man ride in our car, not even if they beg us!”
”Oh, I didn't mean anything!” said Cora, contritely. But Bess simulated indignation.
The throb of motors soon told that the three girls were on their way.
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