“To-morrow everybody will know it!” she ejaculated.
“Know what?”
“That Mr. Grimshaw couldn’t find us.” And crystal drops began again to race down her cheeks.
“You cry-baby!” said Hugh, regarding her curiously1. “Here, I have more of a handkerchief than that. Come here and I’ll bail2 while you pour.”
“Oh, am I crying?” she returned, distractedly mopping her cheeks. “I must speak to Damaris as soon as Grandpa gets through. You don’t know what it is to live in a little town.”
“Oh, is that it?” returned Hugh, regarding her flushed, troubled face, and thinking it was as sweet as a dew-washed flower. “They’ll say we eloped, eh? I’ll tell the world I thank ’em for the compliment.”
Colonel Duane here reappeared and Millicent dashed by him into the house. He seemed to be serenely3 unaware4 of his grandchild’s[188] excitement, and, telling Hugh not to talk, but to rest, he seated himself a little way off, and Hugh had the full benefit of the one-sided conversation within.
It was a particularly cheerful and care-free voice speaking, with little gulps5 in the throat that caught it at unexpected moments.
“Oh, yes, Damaris, it’s Millicent. I was sorry Mr. Grimshaw had to trouble you.”
“Oh, yes, I’m home. It was such a beautiful day, you know, we walked over.”
“Yes, Mr. Stanwood had business with Grandpa, and—and he didn’t understand that Mr. Grimshaw—What? Yes, didn’t know that he was expected to wait for the carriage. What? Yes, it was queer Mr. Grimshaw didn’t see us. We were just—walking along, you know, just walking along. What? Yes, he’s here. He and Grandpa are together. Did you say Mr. Grimshaw looked scared? Why, what for? Yes, of course, Mr. Stanwood isn’t entirely6 strong yet. Oh, that’s all right. I just wanted you to know that nobody is lost, strayed, or stolen.” Suddenly, with great dignity, the voice changed. “No, no, indeed. Good-bye.”
When Millicent went back to the piazza7 after washing her face and applying powder[189] where it would be most effective, she found her grandfather seated by his recumbent guest and asking him about his previous studies.
“You might bring Mr. Stanwood a cup of bouillon, Milly,” said the Colonel, and the girl went back into the house.
When she reappeared, her own fresh, fair, and demure8 self, bearing her offering, Hugh looked at her approvingly.
“My life is just one tray after another,” he said.
The patient had just taken his last swallow when a sound of wheels was heard. Miss Frink’s victoria stopped before the gate, and that lady herself dismounted and came up the path. Colonel Duane hastened to meet her. Millicent stood up, holding the tray undecidedly, with an expression of face which seemed to be bracing9 for a coup10 de grace, and Hugh flung a long leg out of the hammock.
“Lie still, Hugh,” ordered the visitor, waving her parasol authoritatively11.
Hugh withdrew the leg. Miss Frink had never walked up on that piazza before, although it was her own property. She looked around approvingly.
“You’ve made this place lovely, Colonel Duane.”
[190]
“Well, we think it is a good deal of a paradise this time of year.”
Colonel Duane lifted Millicent’s tray and carried it into the house, and the girl took a chair near the visitor.
“You didn’t come by the road. There was only one other way you could come.”
No one in the world ever looked guiltier than Millicent at this moment. Her awe14 of Miss Frink kept her eyes dry and very large, but she saw her job disappearing, and herself stingingly rebuked15.
Miss Frink’s gaze turned upon her.
“What was your idea?” she asked bluntly, but she was conscious of the picture made by the blue-gowned girl against the background of apple blossoms.
Millicent’s lips opened and closed several times without a sound emerging.
Miss Frink laughed, and exchanged a look with Hugh.
“You took him down Lover’s Lane. That’s what you did,” said Miss Frink, regarding the[191] girl accusingly. “Of course, it’s ever so much more romantic than the highroad; but we’ve got to build Prince Charming up before you can cut up any such didos as that.”
“Oh, Miss Frink!” It was a gasp16, not only of extreme embarrassment17, but also of relief that the matter might be treated jocosely18.
“You’re barking up the wrong tree,” said Hugh, grinning. “I’ve found out what she did it for. She was hiding me.” Miss Frink grimaced19 her glasses off. “Yes, madam, she lives in a small town and she was hiding me.”
“And set every dog and goose to barking and cackling,” declared Miss Frink.
“But I revenged myself on her. I waited till we came to a mossy couch under an apple tree, and then I keeled over.—Look out”—a warning hand toward Millicent—“don’t you cry now. She was the best little sport you ever heard of. I nearly crushed her poor little wing while she and Colonel Duane were getting me up here, and they have filled me with the milk of human kindness and beef tea ever since.”
“It was all Grimshaw’s stupidity,” said Miss Frink. “I put it in his hands and he didn’t order the carriage in time.” Her lips twitched20 amusedly. “He tried to shift the responsibility,[192] and make out that you preferred to walk; but I X-rayed him. He hadn’t a chance. Did I ever tell you, Hugh, to beware of my X-ray mind?” She regarded him quizzically, admiring his beauty as she always did. “Double-dealing hasn’t a chance with me. I always see directly through it.”
Hugh rearranged his pillows. “Quite a business asset, I should judge,” he returned, and for a minute his complexion21 matched the hectic22 hue23 of Millicent. Why should Miss Frink be boring into him, as it were, with her dark, bright eyes?
“So when Grim got through the account of his pilgrimage, I knew you must have come by Lover’s Lane.” The speaker suddenly turned again upon the young girl with a smiling frown.
“Oh, Miss Frink, I can’t tell you how sorry I am!” Millicent’s hands were clasped.
“Now, be careful,” broke in Hugh. “Remember the size of your handkerchief.”
“I’ll try not to cry,” she responded, her voice teetering, as it were, like a person trying to keep his balance on a tight rope. “I’m so thankful if you’re not vexed24 with me. I do think now it was awfully25 stupid; but you know what Farrandale is.”
[193]
“Bless me!” said Miss Frink. “Then the child really was trying to hide you!”
Miss Frink gave her rare laugh. Millicent was so pretty against the apple blossoms, and so genuinely disturbed, and Hugh so handsome and amused, she thoroughly27 enjoyed the situation.
“Didn’t I say you set all the geese to cackling? I will call a town meeting and announce that there is nothing in it. How will that do?”
Millicent struggled not to feel embarrassed. “With your X-ray mind you’ll know there isn’t,” she returned, with more spirit than Hugh had given her credit for.
Colonel Duane reappeared with another tray. It bore tea and little cakes this time. Miss Frink liked the way his granddaughter sprang to his assistance and arranged everything on the porch table. Colonel Duane was a gentleman of the old school and his breeding showed in Millicent. She liked their simplicity28 and fineness. The girl’s job was never safer.
When tea was served, Millicent opened a subject near her heart.
[194]
“Miss Frink,” she said, “will you let me beg a favor of you?”
“Certainly. Speak right up.”
“It is about Damaris. I have experimented, and I can fix her hair so you would never know it was bobbed.”
The caller eyed her sharply. “Are you tired of reading to me?”
“No, indeed!” The ejaculation was earnest. “But couldn’t she have my place in the gloves, if—if I show you the way I can fix her hair? And she is so attractive, and bright, and pretty, and people would love to have her fit them, and she knows so many people—” The girl stopped, it was so extraordinary to be talking courageously29 to Miss Frink.
That lady turned toward Colonel Duane. “Your granddaughter would make a good press-agent, wouldn’t she?”
“Then if people didn’t believe her she would cry,” remarked Hugh.
“What’s all this about your crying, Millicent?” asked Miss Frink.
“When I’ve done wrong, like making Mr. Stanwood too tired and—and having everybody talk about it, I cry; that’s natural, isn’t[195] it? But never mind his teasing. I wish I could get the place for Damaris.”
“This generation is so full of silly girls,” said Miss Frink. “Hugh, have you your mother’s picture in your pocket?”
He blinked, and colored again. Throwing his long legs out of the hammock, he sat up against the netting. “I didn’t tell you it was Mother,” he blurted31 out.
“No,” said Miss Frink quietly. “There are a number of things you didn’t tell me.”
Hugh felt in his pocket and produced the case.
“You don’t have to tell her things,” said Millicent—“with an X-ray mind, you know.”
Silently Miss Frink accepted the offered morocco case, and opened it under Millicent’s eyes.
“Isn’t she lovely!” exclaimed the girl.
“Yes. Look at that hair and compare Damaris’s with it. Does your sister resemble your mother?” Miss Frink suddenly addressed Hugh.
“I didn’t—I—yes, she does. You have been X-raying, Miss Frink. I didn’t tell you about my sister.”
“No, but Mr. Ogden did. She must be a very fine woman.”
[196]
Hugh regarded the speaker with parted lips. Was she about to release the sword of Damocles before these witnesses; or was this all she knew?
“But it will be growing all the time, you see,” said Millicent; and Miss Frink passed the photograph to the Colonel. “I wish you’d let me show you, Miss Frink.”
That lady’s lips twitched and the bright eyes were very kind as she looked at this girl who didn’t sprawl33, or loll in her chair, and who was fresh as Aurora34.
“Very well, I suppose I must listen to such a special pleader. I offered the position to Mrs. Lumbard, but she seemed to think that teaching music would be more in her line.”
“I can’t see her there,” said Millicent, shaking her blonde head seriously, “nearly so well as I can Damaris.”
“To tell the truth, neither can I,” returned Miss Frink.
“Then—then may I tell her there is hope?” asked Millicent eagerly.
“Yes. You might use it as a bribe35 to get her not to tell everybody of Mr. Grimshaw’s coming around with a search-warrant. Eh?” The speaker returned the photograph case to its owner. “It’s time I took this boy home. Have we some big books to carry, Colonel Duane?”
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curiously
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| adv.有求知欲地；好问地；奇特地 | |
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bail
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| v.舀（水），保释；n.保证金，保释，保释人 | |
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serenely
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| adv.安详地，宁静地，平静地 | |
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unaware
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| a.不知道的，未意识到的 | |
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gulps
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| n.一大口（尤指液体）( gulp的名词复数 )v.狼吞虎咽地吃，吞咽( gulp的第三人称单数 )；大口地吸（气）；哽住 | |
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entirely
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| ad.全部地，完整地；完全地，彻底地 | |
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piazza
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| n.广场；走廊 | |
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demure
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| adj.严肃的；端庄的 | |
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bracing
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| adj.令人振奋的 | |
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coup
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| n.政变；突然而成功的行动 | |
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authoritatively
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| 命令式地，有权威地，可信地 | |
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12
overdid
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| v.做得过分( overdo的过去式 )；太夸张；把…煮得太久；（工作等）过度 | |
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blandly
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| adv.温和地，殷勤地 | |
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awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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rebuked
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| 责难或指责( rebuke的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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gasp
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| n.喘息，气喘；v.喘息；气吁吁他说 | |
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embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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jocosely
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| adv.说玩笑地，诙谐地 | |
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grimaced
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| v.扮鬼相，做鬼脸( grimace的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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twitched
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| vt.& vi.（使）抽动，（使）颤动（twitch的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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complexion
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| n.肤色；情况，局面；气质，性格 | |
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hectic
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| adj.肺病的；消耗热的；发热的；闹哄哄的 | |
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hue
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| n.色度；色调；样子 | |
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vexed
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| adj.争论不休的；（指问题等）棘手的；争论不休的问题；烦恼的v.使烦恼( vex的过去式和过去分词 )；使苦恼；使生气；详细讨论 | |
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awfully
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| adv.可怕地，非常地，极端地 | |
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frankly
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| adv.坦白地，直率地；坦率地说 | |
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thoroughly
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| adv.完全地，彻底地，十足地 | |
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simplicity
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| n.简单，简易；朴素；直率，单纯 | |
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courageously
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| ad.勇敢地，无畏地 | |
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30
sipping
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| v.小口喝，呷，抿( sip的现在分词 ) | |
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blurted
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| v.突然说出，脱口而出( blurt的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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32
jingled
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| 喝醉的 | |
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sprawl
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| vi.躺卧，扩张，蔓延；vt.使蔓延；n.躺卧，蔓延 | |
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aurora
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| n.极光 | |
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bribe
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| n.贿赂；v.向…行贿，买通 | |
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