"Olivetta, you should know that that is against my principles." She tried to instill proud rebuke into her voice. But just here was the pinch--or one of them. To cover the excess in her expenses she had already borrowed--secretly, for she would never have had it come to Judge Harvey"s knowledge--from her bank to the very limit of her personal credit.
Olivetta"s distressed eyes fell upon one of the jewel cases which Marie had left in the sitting-room.
"There are your jewels, Caroline. But, of course you wouldn"t consider raising money--"
"On my jewels! How can you think of such a thing!"
"Of course not, of course not," fluttered Olivetta. "Please forgive me, Caroline. I do so admire your strict principles!"
Mrs. De Peyster accepted apology and tribute with a forgiving nod. But just here was another of the pinches. The previous spring, while in Paris, she had had her jewels most confidentially replaced with excellent imitations; and the original stones were at this moment lying as pledges in the vaults of a Parisian banker.
"But, Caroline," pursued the sympathetic Olivetta, "can"t you cut down expenses and remain in town? What with your credit, you have enough for that!"
"Remain in town, when everybody is leaving?" cried Mrs. De Peyster.
"Are you out of your senses Olivetta? Why, people would never stop talking about it!"
"Of course--you"re right--forgive me," stammered Olivetta. "But you might go to some modest resort for the summer--or--or--go to Europe in a more modest way."
"Olivetta, you grow more absurd every moment!" exclaimed Mrs. De Peyster. "You know it has long been my custom to spend the first half of the summer in Europe, in a style befitting me, and to spend the second half in Newport. To do less would set people talking, and might endanger my position."
"Of course! Of course!" cried the humbled Olivetta.
"I hope you fully realize my dilemma."
"It is terrible--terrible!" Olivetta"s tone was slow, and full of awed dismay. "You must maintain your social position and there is no money!"
"Just so."
Detailed horrors of the situation began to move in spasmodic procession through Olivetta"s mind.
"And your pa.s.sage is taken on the Plutonia--and it has been widely announced that you are leaving for Europe--and that newspaper is going to print your picture among the social leaders who have sailed--and, oh, Caroline, all those reporters are going to fill the papers with long articles about your going!"
A new horror, that till then had escaped Mrs. De Peyster"s inventory, a horror out-climaxing any in Olivetta"s tragic list, burst suddenly upon Mrs. De Peyster. Her face went pale, fell loose.
"Mrs. Allistair!" she barely articulated.
"Mrs. Allistair?" Olivetta repeated blankly.
"Don"t you see--if I stay at home--don"t sail--Mrs. Allistair will use it as capital against me--and she"ll ride over me to--"
"Caroline!" gasped the appalled Olivetta.
Mrs. De Peyster stood up, rigid with desperation.
"I simply must sail!" she cried.
"Of course you must! Can"t you think of some way out of it? I never knew you unequal to an emergency!"
Mrs. De Peyster, her brow knitted with agitated thought, walked slowly to one of her windows and stood looking down into the pleasant bustle of Washington Square. Olivetta watched her intently, waiting for the brilliant plan that would be the result of her cousin"s cogitations.
But the minutes pa.s.sed, Mrs. De Peyster did not move, and Olivetta"s gaze wandered about the large, luxurious sitting-room. Her mind roamed afar to the desolate realm which she inhabited, and she thought of her own sitting-room, dark and stingily furnished, and rather threadbare, in which she was expecting to spend the summer, save for a few weeks at a respectable, poor-relations" resort. She sighed.
"If it wasn"t for your social position," she said, half to herself, "it really wouldn"t be so bad to spend the summer here."
Mrs. De Peyster must have heard, for she turned slowly about and gazed at Olivetta--gazed at her steadily. And gradually, as she gazed, her whole appearance changed. The consternation on her face was succeeded by calm resolution. Poise and dignity returned.
"You have an idea, Caroline?" cried Olivetta, struck by her look.
"Wait!"
Mrs. De Peyster stood silent for yet a few more moments. Then, completely her dignified and composed self, she stepped toward her bedroom. Olivetta"s eyes followed her in wondering, worshipful fascination.
Mrs. De Peyster opened the door.
"Matilda!"
The housekeeper instantly appeared.
"Yes, Mrs. De Peyster."
"Matilda, call William and have him waiting in the hall till I summon him. Come back immediately."
"But, Cousin Caroline, what is it?" asked Olivetta excitedly, as Matilda went out.
"Wait!" said Mrs. De Peyster in a majestic tone.
A minute pa.s.sed, Mrs. De Peyster standing composedly by the fireplace, Olivetta gazing at her in throbbing suspense. Then Matilda returned.
Her Mrs. De Peyster summoned to her side.
"Matilda, you have proved your loyalty to me by twenty years of service," she began, "and you, Olivetta, I know are completely devoted to me. So I know you both will faithfully execute my requests. But I must ask you not to breathe a word of what I tell you, and what we do."
"I?" cried Olivetta. "Never a syllable!"
"Nor I, ma"am,--never!" declared Matilda.
"But first, Matilda, I must acquaint you with a situation that has just arisen." And Mrs. De Peyster outlined such details of her predicament as she thought Matilda needed to know. "And now, here are my orders, Matilda. The house, of course, is being boarded up as usual. All the servants are sent away except William; and that order, if you have given it, for a maid for me is to be countermanded. You, Matilda, are to remain here alone in charge of the house as has been your custom. The report that I am sailing is to be allowed to stand.
But in reality--"
"Yes, in reality?" cried the excited Olivetta.
"In reality," continued Mrs. De Peyster calmly, for she knew how a _denouement_ is heightened by a quiet manner--"in reality, I shall, during the entire summer, stay here in my own house."
"Stay here!" e.j.a.c.u.l.a.t.ed Olivetta.
"Stay here!" exclaimed Matilda.
"Stay here. Chiefly in my suite. Secretly, of course. No one but you two will ever know of it. By staying here, I shall be practically at no expense. But the world will think I am in Europe, and my position will be saved."
Staggered as she was, Olivetta had remaining a few fragments of reason.