"I saw you talking with Cyril Langdon just before we left the drawing-room. He is ill at ease, because Peggy is teasing him, but when he chooses to talk he is very interesting. Do make Peggy stop, she is spoiling his evening. Ask him,--oh ask him about the Tech. athletics or anything, Jotham, can"t you?"
Jotham, as usual, glad of an opportunity to please Randy, succeeded in drawing Cyril into a conversation which proved interesting to all, and made the boy forget his discomfiture.
Peggy was aware of a vague wish that she had been more merciful, and resolved another time to help, rather than hinder a conversation.
Later, when the gay little party returned to the drawing-room, Randy begged Miss Dayton to favor her friends with some music. Helen, ever ready to give pleasure, seated herself at the piano, Professor Marden standing beside her, ostensibly to turn her music, but in truth to watch her graceful fingers upon the keys.
Her audience was enthusiastic, and not to be satisfied with one selection.
Helen smilingly acceded to their requests, and when she arose from the piano she was greeted with generous praise.
Among the happy faces Randy saw one less bright than the others. It was Polly Lawrence, and Randy wondered what had caused a frown upon the usually smiling face. "It would never do to ask her why she isn"t enjoying my party," she said to herself, "but I do wish she looked happier. I am so happy this evening, that I wish everyone else to enjoy every moment of it.
I believe I"ll ask her to sing for us. She sings nicely, and perhaps she would be pleased to, if she knew we wished it."
Accordingly, Randy hastened to Polly who was standing apart from the guests, and looking as if in anything but a pleasant mood. Her face brightened, however, when told that it would be a pleasure to hear her sing, and after a little urging, she consented. She possessed a light soprano voice which had been carefully trained, and when she chose, she could sing most acceptably.
On this especial evening, it pleased her to do her best, and she delighted her friends with a number of songs, for which Miss Dayton played the accompaniments. Polly received unstinted praise for her singing, and she therefore, upon her return, told her aunt that the party was a success.
At the end of the drawing-room, Nina Irwin was merrily chatting with a number of her friends, and Polly hastened to join the group, where she was soon laughing as gaily as the others, and apparently as happy.
Near the centre of the room Miss Dayton and Randy, Jotham and Professor Marden stood, evidently engaged in the discussion of a most interesting subject, and as Aunt Marcia joined them, she was asked to give her opinion.
"What has been my greatest pleasure in life?" She smiled as she repeated the question, and turned for a moment and looked long and earnestly at her portrait, then she said,
"When that picture was painted and was first seen by my friends, some one remarked,
""Oh, how dearly above all else Marcia prizes a gay life!"
"I have always enjoyed social pleasures," she continued, "but if I were to say that one thing, above all else, gave me true delight, I should say, that to make others happy had ever been my greatest joy."
"Pardon me, if I venture to say that that is the charm which has preserved your beauty," said the young tutor, gravely bowing to Aunt Marcia, who, sweeping a low courtesy, acknowledged the courtly speech which was uttered in such evident sincerity.
"And, in return let me say, that the young man who thinks it worth while to pay a graceful compliment to one who is quite old enough to be his grandmother, proves himself to be a worthy descendant of his talented father, a perfect gentleman of the old school," replied Aunt Marcia; and Helen saw the quick flush of pleasure on the professor"s cheek. His love for his father amounted almost to worship, and Aunt Marcia could have chosen no word of praise which would have moved him so deeply, or pleased him more surely, than to thus have declared him, to be a "worthy descendant."
Other young people joined this central group, and Nina at the piano played softly a dreamy nocturne which seemed a gentle accompaniment to the conversation.
In the shadow of a tall jar of ferns Jotham was looking at Randy, and thinking that while the white party gown was very charming, it was also true that Randy at home in a pink sunbonnet had been well worth looking at.
"How serious you look," said Randy, "are you thinking that to-night"s pleasure will mean many hours of hard study to-morrow, Jotham?"
"No, indeed," he answered with a laugh, "I am not allowing a thought of study to mar to-night"s enjoyment. I was just wondering, Randy, why some girls are very dependent for a good appearance, upon what they wear, while one girl whom I know, can look equally well in a party gown or a gingham dress and sunbonnet."
Randy blushed as she said, "O, Jotham, has Professor Marden been teaching you to pay compliments, along with your other studies?"
"Indeed, no," was the answer. "He meant every word which he said to Miss Dayton"s aunt, as truly as I meant what I said to you, and Randy," he continued, "you and I have been here in the city all winter, have seen its life and stir and bustle, and you have seen much of the social side of the problem which is puzzling me. Is it so much better, this city life, than the home life in the country? There, every busybody is interested in his neighbor; here, we are met on every hand by strangers who do not know, or wish to know anything in regard to us. Here a hundred strangers in the great railway stations are objects of but little interest. Randy, do you realize the commotion which one arrival with a hand-bag causes at the little station at home? I tell you, Randy, one is large in a little country town, and small, so small in a great city."
"One is never small, wherever he may be, in the hearts of his friends, Jotham," was the sweet reply, "but in regard to home, there is no place like it. I enjoy all the brightness, the study, the fine pictures which I have seen and the rare music which I have heard; but, Jotham, I am at heart a country girl, and while I like to be here, if I were to choose "for always," as little Prue says, I"d choose the mountains and the streams at home.
"I shall not leave behind the knowledge which I have gained. I shall be all the happier because of it, but home is home, isn"t it, Jotham?"
"Indeed it is," answered Jotham, heartily.
And now the carriages were beginning to arrive, and in twos and threes the guests departed, a.s.suring Randy and Helen that the evening had been one of rare pleasure.
Jotham and his tutor left together, promising their charming hostesses that they should soon find leisure for a call. And when the last guest had departed, and Randy, Helen, and Aunt Marcia looked about the flower scented rooms, Randy said, with a happy sigh,
"Oh, what a lovely, lovely party! I was sorry to see them go. I am not even tired. No one could be tired during such an evening."
"Dear Randy," said Helen, "it was indeed a pretty party, and well worth my effort to make it a success. You were an ideal little hostess, Randy, you did your part to perfection."
"Why, I was only just myself. I was not at all fine," said Randy in amazement.
"That is just the secret of your success," Helen replied. "Always be just your own true self, and no one in all the world would ask for more."
CHAPTER XI
TIMOTHEUS AND HIS NEIGHBORS
"Whao! Whao! I tell ye. Be ye deef, or be ye jest contrary?
"I b"lieve them critters "d like ter see me wait "til June fer plaoughin"."
The ill-matched pair came to a standstill, and so listless was their bearing, that one would say that having decided to halt, nothing would induce them to again draw the plough.
"There, ye can rest naow, fer a spell, "til ye git yer wind, an" then I"ll set ye at it agin."
One of the horses snorted derisively, but Jabez Brimblecom cared little for that. He drew from his hip pocket a large envelope, and opening the letter which it contained, adjusted his spectacles and laboriously read it for the third time.
"Wal, all I got ter say "baout it is, that it"s pooty full er big words, an" flourishes, but biled daown, it "maounts ter jist this; Sabriny"s sot her mind on makin" us an" everlastin" long visit. I shan"t hev ter stand much on"t, however; I"ll be aout doors most of the time, when I _have_ ter, an" I vum I"ll be aout all the rest of the time because I _choose_ ter.
"Sabriny"s a team, an" so"s Mis" Brimblecom. They never did pull together.
Not but that they _pull_ "nough, only it"s allus the opposite ways. I don"t stay in doors much arter she arrives! No, Siree!
"G"lang there! G"lang I say!
"Well, fust ye won"t stop, an" then ye won"t budge! I vaow I never see a pair er critters like ye, "cept my wife an" cousin Sabriny!"
When at last the pair concluded to move, they started forward with a most surprising lurch, and Jabez Brimblecom found his hands full in guiding the plough, and the two horses who, having decided to bestir themselves, tramped diligently back and forth, leaving the long rows of furrowed earth as evidence of their willingness to work when their ambition was aroused.
Again they stopped to rest and again Mr. Brimblecom fumbled in his pocket for the envelope, but he did not take it out.
"Why didn"t she write the letter "stead er gittin" that husband er hern ter write fer her? I"d "nough rather she"d told Mis" Brimblecom she wuz comin", "stead er leavin" me ter tell her. She"ll be mad"s a hornet, an" I vaow I won"t blame her.
"G"lang there! Wal, I"ll be switched if she isn"t comin" daown ter the bars naow. Wonder what"s up?"
"Jabez! Jabez! _Ja--bez!_"