What an ending to the ball, the ball where she had danced so gaily and happily! Had they missed them yet? She had not been able to tell what "phones had answered her hurry call. She had only known that several persons got on the line and that her message had reached some ears, but whose she could not say.
The mob had started towards the front.
"Yes, we"ll go in the front way, now an" ever after," growled the leader. "Only las" week that ol" skinny Ella done driv me to the back do". I come up the front way jes" to tes" her an" she sent me roun" to the back jes" lak some dog. Whin we gits through, I reckon she"ll be glad enough if she"s got a back do" to go in."
Helen waited to hear no more but streaked around the opposite side of the house, bearing her ancient weapons. Peeping through the railing of the great gallery in front she espied George Wright calmly standing in the doorway which was flooded with moonlight.
CHAPTER XX
IN THE MEANTIME
Nan and Billy Sutton were the only persons at Weston who knew that Helen and Dr. Wright had left the house, and they, according to instructions, had kept mum.
"I hate for Helen to miss one teensy bit of the ball," Nan said. "She does so adore dancing."
"I should think she would. Anybody who can dance like that ought to like it. I think she is a ripper to go to those old grouches."
"Now, Billy, that is no way to talk! Those old ladies are really lovely.
You would have gone to them in a minute."
"Well, maybe! But I wouldn"t have enjoyed leaving this to go."
"Perhaps they will be able to come back. Miss Louise is an awful alarmist."
Supper was served, the waiters from Richmond taking affairs into their own hands, so that the untrained country servants at Weston were pushed into the background.
"Miss Helen done said I"s got quite a el"gant air in serving," grumbled Chloe, when she was not allowed to bear in the trays of dainties to the hungry guests. "I reckon these here town n.i.g.g.e.rs thinks they is the king bees. I don"t care what they says, I"s gonter git a sicond hep ter my Miss Helen."
The girl filled a tray with salad, croquettes, sandwiches and what not and made her way into the parlors. She peered around for her young mistress. The rooms were well filled with the country guests and many couples were having their supper in the nooks made by the skilful decorators of clumps of palms and evergreens. Chloe peeped behind them all and not finding her Miss Helen she went to Douglas.
"Whar Miss Helen?"
"Why, I don"t know, Chloe! What do you want?"
"I want my Miss Helen ter git her fill er victuals she ain"t had ter mess in."
"I haven"t seen her," laughed Douglas. "Ask Miss Nan."
"Miss Nan, whar Miss Helen?"
"Why, Chloe, she has gone away but may be back later."
"Whar she gone?"
"She told me not to tell, because she doesn"t want to disturb the others, but she has gone with Dr. Wright to see Miss Ella Grant, who is ill."
"Miss Ellanlouise is here to the ball, ain"t they?"
"No, they didn"t come."
"Miss Helen ain"t gone ter Grantly, is she?"
"Of course!"
Then poor Chloe dropped her tray, laden with goodies for her beloved mistress, and a mixture of salad and croquettes and sandwiches rolled over the floor.
"My Gawd! My Gawd!" shrieked the girl. "Whar the count? Whar Mr. Carter?
Whar that secondary?"
"What is it?" demanded the count sternly, as he stepped over the debris.
"My Miss Helen done gone ter Grantly!"
"Is that so? Why did she leave?"
His calm tones quieted the girl a little.
"She done gone with Dr. Wright----"
"Miss Ella Grant is ill and Helen went with Dr. Wright to look after her," put in Nan. "I don"t know why Chloe is so excited."
By this time the guests were crowding around the corner where Nan and Billy had ensconced themselves for what they thought was to be a quiet little supper.
""Cited! I tell you, you"d better git a move on you, you count and you secondary. The n.i.g.g.e.rs is planning no good fur Grantly this night."
"What negroes?" asked the count.
""Tain"t no diffunce what n.i.g.g.e.rs! You git out that little red devil of a mobile an" you licksplit ter Grantly as fas" as you kin, an" you take mo"n one gun."
If everybody had not been wrought up to a high pitch of excitement, they would have been amused to see this ignorant country black girl handing out orders to the Count de Lestis as though she were a d.u.c.h.ess and he a stable boy.
The count motioned to Herz and they turned and left the room.
"I get in on this!" cried Lewis Somerville.
"And I! And I!" from every male throat in the room.
Many of the farmers had pistols with them, deeming it more prudent to go armed on midnight drives through the lonely districts. Mrs. Carter fainted when it was explained to her where her daughter had gone and what the danger was. For once in her life, however, her husband had no thought for her. He left her to the ministrations of the farmer"s wife in the stiff green silk, and hastened out to climb on the running-board of the count"s little car, which was already under way.
In what seemed like a moment since the poor Chloe had dropped her tray, there was not a single white male left at Weston, except Bobby Carter and he was only left because Lucy held him, scratching and fighting to go to the rescue of his precious sister. Even the musicians from Richmond had joined the posse. The negro waiters stepped gingerly around with many superior airs, congratulating themselves that they were as they were and not as the ignorant country blacks.
Chloe sat on the floor and rocked and moaned, refusing to be comforted.
"I done what she tol" me was right!" was her cryptic remark which none understood.