The groom ran down the stone steps of the house and held open the door of the automobile while the lady got out, then Mr. Alexander locked the engine and followed her.
"No use talking, Ma is a wizard when she makes up her mind to do a thing," said Dodo to her companions. "There"s a car, and there"s Pa driving it, so that shows it is just like our old one, or he couldn"t handle it so cleverly."
The excitement caused by the appearance of the car that was to carry half of the party on the proposed tour, was the only thing that saved the Alexanders from discovery of the little plot. But Angela had taken notice of Dodo"s surprise and unconscious admission, and she soon ferreted out the fact that the Alexanders purchased the handsome large touring car that very morning. That it was up-to-date and of a sporty appearance, went without saying, for Mrs. Alexander would see to that, all right. And the fact that a fabulous price was paid for the new car solved the discovery made by Angela, for the price paid proved, to her satisfaction, that the Alexander fortune could easily stand a check like the one paid to the motor company.
At luncheon that day, Mrs. Alexander led the conversation without interruption. Sir James had gathered from his daughter that the car was a recent purchase, and he could approximate the sum paid for it. Now he felt relieved to find this American lady so willing to be the victim of his carefully-laid plans.
"I saw just the kind of roadster I want," said she, "but I guess I won"t buy it until we get back from the tour. Ebeneezer says it will keep a couple of weeks, and I agreed with him. We"ll go on with the old car, now, and I"ll buy the new one, for myself, when we return."
Sir James and Angela exchanged glances when they heard this woman speak of buying high-priced cars as glibly as she would mention buying a new glove.
"Well, I won a point out of this business, too," chuckled Mr. Alexander.
Everyone paid strict attention to what he was about to say, for he generally caused a general laugh with his remarks; and everyone liked him so genuinely that they would have listened eagerly whether he was amusing or contrariwise.
"Ebeneezer, remember what I told you just before we came in!" warned his wife.
"Yeh, but I"m not alone with you now, Maggie," said he.
"_Please_ don"t call me "Maggie," Eben. You know my name is "Margaret","
cried Mrs. Alexander, beside herself at her husband"s shortcomings.
"Don"t worry, Maggie. Us folks know it is a pet name," chuckled the little man. "But what I was goin" to say, is: I won a hard fight whiles I was out this mornin" with my wife. She"s promised to let me smoke my old pipe if I agree to drive the car just like she wants."
His happy laugh was echoed by his friends, especially by the men who felt in sympathy with him. They say that a woman can never understand, because she cannot appreciate, the solace of an old pipe.
Then the interesting part of the programme of the tour began-the arrangement of the members of the party for the two cars.
"I say, let the girls go in my car, Pater, and let Mr. Alexander drive the adults," suggested Jimmy, eagerly.
"Yes, that sounds very good, if the youngsters will agree to follow our advice carefully, and behave as if a chaperone was in the car with them," added Sir James.
"Oh, so many chaperones in the second car will suffice," laughed Nancy.
"You arrange matters so independently in America, that I suppose it will be all right, from your point of view," admitted Lady Osgood, glancing at Angela for her opinion.
"Yes, and one young man with so _many_ girls, must behave himself, you know. So everyone will see it is quite proper for us to travel without an older woman in the car."
All this fuss about "Mrs. Grundy" made Dodo laugh, and she freely confessed how silly it all really was to a sensible girl.
The plans were perfected that they were to start on the tour early the following morning, driving southward from London and following the coast as far as Brighton. On the northward route they would travel as far as Holyhead and then cross to Ireland; then tour to the farthest northerly point on the Irish coast and cross over again to Scotland. And lastly, follow the automobile route to Edinburgh and southward again to London.
They figured that two weeks ought to be sufficient for this trip, but a few days more would not really make much difference, as Mr. Ashby could leave them at any time, if necessary, and go on to London by train.
That afternoon they used the two cars to drive about the city of London and visit the parks, and other famous sights. The exterior of The Tower of London, Nelson"s Monument in Trafalgar Square, the Houses of Parliament, the Museums and Art Galleries, and other noted places were seen on this drive, but the visiting of these individual buildings and their contents, was left until the return from the trip.
That night, Jimmy was carefully instructed as to his cue and part in this trip. Before he returned, he was to have proposed and been accepted by one of the rich girls he would have to choose from on the drive.
There was not much difference between them, said his parents, but of the four girls, it was probable that Dodo had the most money and could be more agreeably handled, as her parents would prove to be easily influenced by the t.i.tle.
CHAPTER IV-THE TOUR OF GREAT BRITAIN
Early the following morning, the two large cars were in front of Osgood House, ready for the start. Jimmy managed to get Ruth to occupy the front seat beside him, as he preferred her company to that of the other girls. His car was to lead the way, because he knew the roads quite well; the second car would follow with Mr. Alexander driving it.
They drove through the suburbs of London to Guildford, and then southward. As they went, the English Channel could be glimpsed from the knolls, every now and then, with the lovely rolling country on all sides except in front.
"Jimmy," called Mr. Fabian at one of the stops made to allow the girls to admire the view, "if it will not take us too far out of the way, I"d like to visit Hastings where the historical ruins can be seen. My students will there see several unique lines of architecture that can never be found elsewhere in these modern days."
"All right, Prof.; and after that I can take you to see Pevensky Castle, another historic ruin," returned Jimmy.
So they turned off, just before coming to Brighton, and visited the ruins of the castle said to have been built by William the Conqueror.
Cameras were brought forth and pictures taken of the place, and then they all climbed back into the automobiles.
"Now for Pevensky Castle, near which William is said to have landed in 1066," announced Jimmy, starting his car.
Fortunately, this day happened to be one of the visiting days at the old ruins, and they had no trouble in securing an entrance. Mr. Fabian and his interested friends found much to rejoice their hearts, in this old place; but Jimmy had persuaded Ruth to remain in the car with him, so that he could have her companionship to himself.
As Mrs. Alexander was the last adult to leave her new car, she saw Jimmy hold to Ruth"s hand and beg her to stay with him. This was contrary to her scheme of things, but she had to follow the rest of the party at the time. While she went, she planned how to get back immediately and frustrate any tete-a-tete of Jimmy"s, unless Dodo was the girl.
Mr. Alexander had settled himself down in his car for a nice little smoke with his pipe, as per agreement with his spouse, so he was not interested in the lover-like scene Jimmy was acting in the other car.
But all this was changed when Mrs. Alexander suddenly returned from the ruins, and joined the two young people in Jimmy"s car.
"It"s so very tiresome to climb over tumbled down walls and try to take an interest in mouldy interiors," sighed she, seating herself on the running-board of Jimmy"s car.
That ended Jimmy"s dreams of love for the time being, but in his heart the youthful admirer heartily cursed Dodo"s mother. She sat unconcernedly dressing her face with powder and rouge, then she lined up her eye-brows, and finally touched up her lips with the red stick. When the toilet outfit was put away in her bag, she sat waiting for the others to reappear from the castle, feeling that she had done her duty by her family.
At Chichester, the next stopping place on the route, Mr. Fabian led his friends to the old cathedral; as before, Jimmy had Ruth wait with him while the others went to inspect the old place. This time, Mrs.
Alexander made no pretence of leaving, but remained on guard beside the young people. Jimmy gritted his teeth in baffled rage, but he could say nothing to the wily chaperone.
After the tourists got back in the motor-cars, Portsmouth, Porchester, Southampton and Christ Church were reeled off speedily. At Christ Church they stopped long enough to see the carved Gothic door at the north entrance, and the Norman architecture of the interior of the Priory-a famous place for lovers of the antique and ancient.
Ruth jumped out and went with her friends when they visited the Priory, and Jimmy had to console himself with a cigarette. Mrs. Alexander endeavored to enter into conversation with him, but he was too surly for anything.
That evening they reached Exeter, and stopped for the night at the New London Inn, a veritable paradise for the decorators of the party. Its public-room and bed-rooms were furnished with genuine old mahogany pieces centuries old. Settles, cupboards, and refectory tables stood in the main room downstairs, while old Sheraton tables, Chippendale chairs, ancient, carved four-posters, and highboys or lowboys, furnished the guest-chambers.
"Nolla, did you ever see so many lovely old things!" exclaimed Polly, as they admired one thing after another.
"I wish we could steal some of them," ventured Eleanor, laughingly.
"Maybe the owner will sell some," suggested Polly.
But Mr. Fabian learned later, that the inn-keeper was as great an enthusiast and collector of antiques as the Americans, and would not part for love or money, with any piece in his collection.
In the morning Mr. Fabian escorted his friends to the cathedral of Exeter, explaining everything worth while, as he went.
Jimmy had ascertained, the night previous, that Ruth purposed going with her friends, so he refused to get up in the morning, sending down word instead, that he felt bad. He hoped this might induce Ruth to remain and comfort him, but he learned later that she had gone gayly with the others, when they started out for the old edifice.