"Pay board! Not she. She wouldn"t pay anything so long as she has a relative to live on. She"s saved all her life. But n.o.body"ll get any good of it till she"s dead."
This talk stopped when their hostess entered, changing to more general themes; but the interest revived when men"s voices took up the tale.
"Yes--wants her will made again. Always making and unmaking and remaking. Harmless amus.e.m.e.nt, I suppose."
"She wastes good money on both of us--and I tell her so. But one can"t be expected to absolutely refuse a patient."
"Or a client!"
"No. I suppose not."
"She"s not really ill then?"
"Bless you, Ruthven, I don"t know a sounder old woman anywhere. All she needs is a change--and to think of something besides herself! I tell her that, too--and she says I"m so eccentric."
"Why in all decency don"t her son do her doctoring?"
"I suppose he"s too frank--and not quite able to speak his mind. He"s a fine fellow. That paper of his will be a great feature of our convention. Shame he can"t go."
"Why can"t he? Can"t afford it?"
"That"s just it. You see the old lady don"t put up--not a cent--and he has all he can do to keep the boys in college." And their conversation stopped, and Grandma heard her own voice--inviting the doctor up to her room--and making another appointment for the lawyer.
Then it was the young minister, a cheerful, brawny youth, whom she had once described as a "G.o.dless upstart!"
He appeared to be comforting young Mrs. Grey, and commending her. "You are doing wonders," he said, as their voices came into hearing, "and not letting your right hand know it, either."
"You make far too much of it, Mr. Eagerson," the soft voice answered, "I am so happy in my children--my home--my husband. This is the _only_ trouble--I do not complain."
"I know you don"t complain, Mrs. Grey, but I want you to know that you"re appreciated! "It is better to dwell in a corner of the housetop, than with a woman in a wide house"--especially if she"s your mother-in-law."
"I won"t allow you to speak so--if you are my minister!" said young Mrs.
Grey with spirit; and the talk changed to church matters, where the little lady offered to help with time and service, and regretted that she had no money to give.
There was a silence, save for small confused noises of a day time household; distant sounds of doors and dishes; and then in a sad, confidential voice--"Why is Grandma so horrid? And why do I have to love her? How can you love people you don"t, Lady Isobel?"
Grandma was really fond of quiet little Josephine, even if she did sometimes snub her as a matter of principle. She lay and listened to these strictly private remarks, and meditated upon them after they had ceased. It was a large dose, an omnibus dose, and took some time to a.s.similate; but the old lady had really a mind of her own, though much of it was uninhabited, and this generous burst of light set it to working.
She said nothing to anyone, but seemed to use her eyes and ears with more attention than previously, and allowed her grand-daughter"s small efforts toward affection with new receptiveness. She had one talk with her daughter-in-law which left that little woman wet-eyed and smiling with pleasure, though she could not tell about it--that was requisite.
But the family in general heard nothing of any change of heart till breakfast time on Christmas morning. They sat enjoying that pleasant meal, in the usual respite before the old lady appeared, when Sarah came in with a bunch of notes and laid one at each plate, with an air of great importance.
"She said I was to leave "em till you was all here--and here they are!"
said Sarah, smiling mysteriously, "and that I was to say nothing--and I haven"t!" And the red-cheeked girl folded her arms and waited--as interested as anybody.
Uncle Harry opened his first. "I bet it"s a tract!" said he. But he blushed to the roots of his thick brown hair as he took out, not a tract, but a check.
"A Christmas present to my son-in-law-by-marriage; to be spent on the improvement of talking machines--if that is necessary!"
"Why bless her heart!" said he, "I call that pretty handsome, and I"ll tell her so!"
Papa opened his.
"For your Convention trip, dear son," said this one, "and for a new dress suit--and a new suit case, and a new overcoat--a nice one. With Mother"s love."
It was a large check, this one. Papa sat quite silent and looked at his wife. She went around the table and hugged him--she had to.
"You"ve got one, too, Louise," said he--and she opened it.
"For my dear daughter Louise; this--to be spent on other people; and _this_" (_this_ was much bigger) "to be inexorably spent on herself--every cent of it! On her own special needs and pleasures--if she can think of any!"
Louise was simply crying--and little Josephine ran to comfort her.
"Hold on Kiddie--you haven"t opened yours," said Uncle Harry; and they all eagerly waited while the child carefully opened her envelope with a clean knife, and read out solemnly and slowly, "For my darling Grand-child Josephine, to be spent by herself, for herself, with Mama"s advice and a.s.sistance; and in particular to provide for her party!"
She turned over the stiff little piece of paper--hardly understanding.
"It"s a check, dear," said Papa. "It"s the same as money. Parties cost money, and Grandma has made you a Christmas present of your party."
The little girl"s eyes grew big with joy.
"Can I?--Is there really--a party?"
"There is really a party--for my little daughter, this afternoon at four!"
"O where is Grandma!" cried the child--"I want to hug her!"
They all rose up hurriedly, but Sarah came forward from her scant pretense of retirement, with another note for Dr. Grey.
"I was to give you this last of all," she said, with an air of one fulfilling grave diplomatic responsibility.
"My dear ones," ran the note, "I have gathered from my family and friends, and from professional and spiritual advisers the idea that change is often beneficial. With this in mind I have given myself a Christmas present of a Cook"s Tour around the world--and am gone. A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to you all!"
She was gone.
Sarah admitted complicity.
"Sure she would have no one know a thing--not a word!" said Sarah. "And she gave us something handsome to help her! And she"s got that young widder Johnson for a companion--and they went off last night on the sleeper for New York!"
The grat.i.tude of the family had to be spent in loving letters, and in great plans of what they would do to make Grandma happy when she came back.
No one felt more grateful than little loving Josephine, whose dearest wishes were all fulfilled. When she remembered it she went very quietly, when all were busy somewhere else, climbed up on the step ladder, and took down the forgotten phonograph from the top of the wardrobe.
"Dear Grandma!" she said. "I do hope she liked it!"
CHRISTMAS LOVE