"Yes, _honor bright_, Lancy. I"ll whistle, or try to, if they don"t hiss me when I begin. Now, turn back, and let us get home as quickly as possible; there will be a lot of humble pie waiting for me. I may as well eat it and have it done with. I feel worse to meet your mother than all the rest."
"You forget that I have an errand at the Four-Mile House. That will give us a chance to get warmed, and then for a wild drive home."
When they arrived at the hotel they were glad to find the parlor vacant, for they could monopolize the fire that burned so brightly in the grate, besides enjoying the liberty of free speech.
"You may as well lay aside your wraps, Dexie, as we will not start for home for half an hour," said Lancy, as he returned from an interview with the landlord.
When the sleigh was again brought to the door, there was a triumphant look in Lancy"s face that contrasted well with the rosy cheeks of his companion.
"We will have the wind in our faces going home, Dexie, so be sure and wrap up your mouth and throat. It will never do to spoil your whistle after all.
I tell you what, Dexie," he added, as he helped her adjust the fleecy scarf, "I feel myself quite a diplomatist, and I shall claim remuneration for this afternoon"s work. Do you know what will square the bill?"
"Possibly I may guess your terms, sir, but I shall claim the usual three months" credit," and a saucy face was lifted to his.
"Not three hours shall I wait," he laughingly replied, as he followed the figure that pa.s.sed so swiftly from his arms. "I have a good notion to claim "cash on delivery,"" helping her into the sleigh.
"I fancy you would not find it easy to enforce your claim, sir."
"Don"t be too sure of that, my Dexie. I have had too hard an afternoon"s work to do it for nothing, and "kiss number two" would settle the account."
There was no chance for further conversation, for Lancy needed to give his attention to the spirited animal before him. It was generally a "wild drive" when Bob wore the harness, unless he were kept well in check, and to those who hastily took the side of the road as the sleigh flew by, it did indeed look like a "wild drive," for the pace never slacked until the house was reached.
There were many anxious eyes on the lookout for their arrival, as Dexie noted with shame, but she determined to face the matter boldly, and if possible make some amends for the trouble and anxiety she had caused.
The front door of both houses opened simultaneously as the sleigh drove up, Mr. Sherwood appearing at one and Cora at the other, and a hundred questions could not have asked more than the one word which fell from the lips of both--
"Well?"
Dexie sprang out on the sidewalk, and with a wave of her hand in Lancy"s direction, answered the question in dramatic tones:
"See! the conquering hero comes!"
That was enough; they all understood her, and Elsie, who was standing on the doorstep, flew into the house where the busy needles were flying, shouting as she ran:
"Yes! she is going! Lancy has managed her! She is all right again!"
"There, save that little comedy till by and by, and come in here," said Mr.
Sherwood, smiling, in spite of himself at the way Dexie had announced her surrender.
"Come into our house as soon as you can, Dexie," Cora called after her retreating figure. "We want you for something."
What a feeling of relief her arrival caused! They had scarcely realized how great was the tension until their anxiety was removed. But all seemed to breathe more freely, and the preparations for the concert went briskly on.
Dexie threw off her wraps in the hall, and followed her father into the sitting-room, where Aunt Jennie sat waiting.
"You are back, my dear," was the aunt"s quiet greeting.
"Yes, auntie, and ready to eat all the humble pie you have prepared for me."
"I have prepared none, my dear, but I am pleased to see that you are ready and willing to eat some. Your father has pa.s.sed a miserable time waiting for your appearance."
"Poor papa!" and Dexie threw her arms around his neck. "How horrid I have been, to be sure. Now, lay on the stripes easy, and I"ll promise not to do so any more," and she playfully held out her hand.
"You had better not, you little tyrant," drawing her to him. "I believe my hair has turned grey with the anxiety you have caused me."
"Oh, so it has! here is one hair quite grey; yes, actually two of them!
I"ll show you," and a couple of hairs were withdrawn with a jerk.
"Stop! you torment," catching her by both arms. "Isn"t it enough that my hair has turned grey? Must you make me bald as well? I thought Lancy was going to sober you down before he brought you back. I"ll have to call him in to finish his job."
"No, I"m going to be good, I really am; so say you are not cross with me any more, then I must run off and see about my dress."
"Well, I"ll forgive you this time; but if you cut up any more such capers, I"ll hand you over to young Gurney for good."
"But I won"t be handed over, you dear old papa," giving him a squeeze that almost choked him. "I will not exchange my papa for the best-looking young gentleman you can find in the city. But, papa! do persuade Gussie to leave my shortcomings alone, for the next few hours at least," she added, in a low tone.
"I will see that she does not annoy you. Now, don"t you think you had better go and practise awhile?"
"Couldn"t think of it, papa mine!" Then, taking her father"s face between her two hands, she looked earnestly into his eyes, saying: "Do you think there is the _least_ danger of me breaking down to-night? Do you? Confess the truth, sir!" she laughingly demanded.
"Well, no; I don"t think there is."
"Neither do I. Trust your naughty tomboy; she is going to "eclipse all her former efforts and cover herself with glory." But, wait you till I see Mr.
Ross," and she shook her head. "I will forgive him for _this_ night only, and then--well, never mind! How is mamma? Is she very angry with me?" she added, presently.
"Not so much as might be expected. You must let her see you when you are dressed."
"Oh! Aunt Jennie, _did_ you see anything of a stray parcel, with some lace and other things inside of it? or have I really tossed it into the street?"
"It is in at Mrs. Gurney"s with the rest of your apparel for to-night. I have just finished Gussie"s suit, and she is all ready to dress. Gloves and all are waiting upstairs."
"Oh, dear! what shall I do, auntie? I completely forgot the gloves. That abominable handbill turned my brain, I do believe; and I thought I was learning to control my temper! Oh, dear!"
"Don"t fret, my dear! The best of us are put out sometimes. But everything has been prepared for you in at Mrs. Gurney"s; for Lancy"s success rests on your appearance, and they were all anxious on his account as well as your own."
"Well, I suppose I must go in next door and apologize; but I would rather get a switching than see Mrs. Gurney."
Dexie"s appearance was heralded by a number of little voices, as she made her way to the sewing-room with heightened color and eyes bright with unshed tears.
"I beg pardon of each one of you, separately and collectively," Dexie began. "I never dreamed that my fit of temper was going to affect both households. You are more than kind, and I have no words to thank you."
"Well, don"t do it, then," said Elsie; "save your breath, and run upstairs and see your dress, instead. Come, let me show you the finery."
"Where is your mother? I must see her a moment. How does my nose look now, Elsie?" she added, as they went through the hall.
"It looks as if it ought to be tweaked again, you bad girl! But oh, Dexie!
your dress is lovely."