[Ill.u.s.tration with caption: Barbara completely ignored Sary.]
CHAPTER VI
THE HARROWING DETAILS
"Now, girls, come and see the guest-room Polly prepared for us. You know she is going to study interior decorating when she grows up--aren"t you, Polly?" said Anne, placing an arm protectingly about the girl"s shoulders and moving towards the chamber.
Polly brightened up at once, for she remembered the sofa that Anne had praised as having made a fine bed, and then there were the gorgeous bronzed shades that darkened the windows!
Polly stood at the head of the sofa watching eagerly for the effect of the decorating on the city visitors. Barbara stared at first in utter unbelief that her room could be so barren of comfort, then she turned and frowned darkly as the truth impressed her.
"Why! There"s nothing here--only an old bed, and a painted set of drawers such as our servants would fling out of the room!" Then she caught a twisted reflection of her face in the green mirror. It was too much!
She threw herself upon the sofa and laughed hysterically. Eleanor wondered at her sister"s discordant mirth but when she looked in the direction Barbara"s eyes were turned, she saw the cause.
"Verily, Anne, "pride goeth before a fall"--Poor Bob!" said Eleanor, cynically.
Anne could not hide a smile at the words but tried to smooth matters out by going to the window and speaking of the view.
"I"ve had landscape enough for one day, Anne, and could recover somewhat, if I had an opportunity, without having a family party about," retorted Barbara, meaningly.
Instantly, Mrs. Brewster turned and beckoned Polly to follow her from the room. The moment the door closed upon the hostess and her daughter, Barbara antic.i.p.ated her friend"s reproach.
"Anne, where were your brains when you recommended this awful place to father?"
"I had nothing to do with recommending it, Bob. Your father already knew of it and merely asked me to write Polly--my little pupil of a few years ago."
"But why didn"t you tell _me_ what to expect?" demanded the angry girl.
"Simply because I was asked not to mention any particulars that might prejudice you; and besides, you never asked me anything!" retorted Anne, feeling impatient with Barbara.
"What"s more, Bob, I can"t see any justice in making the poor Brewsters suffer for what your own father did! But I"m glad he sent us here--it is great!" declared Eleanor.
"Naturally, you find your level in a common country home and family!"
said Barbara in an unpleasant voice.
"Words never killed any one, Bob, so keep it up if it makes you feel better. I"m used to your complaints," laughed Eleanor.
"And allow me to add, Bob, that the Brewsters are _not_ common farmers.
Mrs. Brewster had a better education and has more sense than any woman--other than my mother--that I know; and Mr. Brewster is a fine man respected by every one that knows him. Even the government admires his intelligence and worth, and employs him in cases where they need expert agricultural advice and reports!" Anne spoke with frankness and warmth.
"The government employs all sorts of men in its need, but that doesn"t say the man is a gentleman, nor does it make his wife a lady. _Our_ mother is a lady and goes in the very best society in Chicago!" said Barbara.
"Society does not make the lady, but the lady makes society. Mrs.
Brewster could form the most exclusive set in Chicago if she cared for that sort of thing!" came from Anne, curtly.
"But it would take money, my dear--a farmer couldn"t afford an exclusive set!" jeered Barbara.
"If that is the case, the Brewsters could ride on Chicago society"s very crest! But they never brag about their money!" laughed Anne, sarcastically.
Barbara"s breath was suddenly taken away by this news but she recovered enough to say maliciously: "Oh, I see! That is why you take such a deep interest in John!"
"Barbara Maynard! you--you--if you dare say another word like that to Anne, I"ll--I"ll just pull your hair, so there!" cried Eleanor, running to Anne and throwing her arms around her neck.
Barbara felt ashamed of her words but she was too proud to confess it.
So she tried to excuse herself by saying: "Of course, one can"t be expected to fall right in with folks one never heard of before. Anne and you fancy a rural existence, so you naturally defend everything that goes with it. But I shall return home to-morrow on the very first train!"
"There is only one out a day, and you"ll have to ask a favor of the farmer before you can get to Oak Creek station!" added Anne, with a bit of triumph in her tone.
Having relieved her heart of some of its bitterness, Anne felt sorry for Barbara, so she endeavored to change the current of their thoughts.
She went to the window to raise the shade as far as it would go, and was struck with the wonderful sunset sky.
"Oh, girls! Come here and look at that glory!"
Eleanor rushed over, followed by Barbara who never wanted to miss anything good. All irritation was forgotten and healed as they stood gazing raptly at the beautiful view. The cliffs looked as if volcanic fires were again burning within their hearts, and the mist from the valley crept up to form an illusion of smoke rising from the sharply outlined peaks. A purple haze enveloped the mountains and the dusky-red streaks in the sky perfected the appearance of a vast eternal fire consuming the earth.
The sight had a salutary effect on the girls, and when they turned from the window, it was with the old friendship restored. But Barbara was of a complaining nature and must have something to find fault with. This time it found innocent objects to bear the grumbling.
"Where are we expected to sleep? Both in the same bed?"
"Of course! Isn"t it big enough? Why, I never saw such a wide bed; it"s large enough to hold a dozen of us," said Eleanor.
"Where is your room, Anne?" Barbara asked, ignoring her sister"s remark.
"I sleep here on the sofa," admitted Anne, fearing another scene.
"Sofa--impossible!" exclaimed Barbara.
"It is a bed-lounge, you know. It opens into the nicest bed!" explained Anne, taking hold of the loop that was partly hidden in the deep crease formed by the meeting of the seat and back.
"Watch me! I give a hard tug and presto! the upper half of the seat swings open and turns over like this. There we have a wide bed with ready-made mattress and all that goes to form a comfortable resting place."
Anne demonstrated her words and the city girls saw a low bed opened before their wondering eyes. The pillows and bedding were neatly folded and kept in a long shallow drawer under the sofa.
"How awful--to sleep on that!" cried Barbara. "It looks like great fun!
May I sleep here, Anne?" said Eleanor.
"Indeed you shall not! You will sleep with _me!"_ snapped Barbara. Then turning to Anne again, she added: "Where are the wardrobes?"
"Those curtains hide the shelves we will use. You will find nails driven into the board against the wall."
"What! hang our expensive clothes on these common nails!--With only a calico drapery to protect them!" gasped Barbara.
"Leave your expensive clothes in the trunks, then. I am," laughed Eleanor.