Madelaine was most gracious in these days to Winston Graham, a pampered youth whom Wayland had despised from his babyhood, and had tyrannized over at school. Now the tables were turned. Years had improved Winston, and any lack of brilliancy was more than atoned for by an ample fortune, in the management of which he was showing unexpected shrewdness.
For the moment that foolish fan had brought him a little pleasure.
There could be no doubt Madelaine guessed the sender. Somebody was absurd, she said; if she were certain who sent it, she would return it,--and then she smiled bewitchingly over the gauzy trifle that had cost more than half a month"s salary.
Miss Sarah was in some measure to blame. She should have taken her nephew into her confidence. Such things as taxes and unexpected plumber"s bills did not present themselves to his mind, and when he presently found himself in debt, he went so far as to wonder if she might not be able to help him out,--temporarily, of course.
It was not till matters had grown desperate that he decided to do this. Wayland was not in the habit of getting into debt, and an insistent tailor and florist made his life miserable. With masculine obtuseness he chose the most unpropitious moment. Miss Sarah, after a hard day, had dropped into an easy-chair for a little rest after dinner. Wayland had forgotten the absence of the cook, and in the lamplight his aunt looked placid and comfortable.
"Aunt Sarah," he began, "I am rather hard up just now--"
"Never mind, dear, I can get along, I think. You can pay me back sometime when it is convenient."
"Yes, I mean to,--but I have been a fool. I--I am going to turn over a new leaf,--not go out any more, and save up," Wayland stammered.
Usually to a remark of this kind his aunt would respond with consoling a.s.surance that he was young and must have a little pleasure; but to-night she only said with a sigh it would perhaps be better; that when one was poor the only peaceful thing was to accept it.
"Then I suppose you couldn"t lend me a little?" he faltered.
"Lend?" Miss Sarah sat up very straight. "Oh, Wayland, are you in debt?"
"Oh, well, if you can"t it is all right; but you needn"t jump all over a fellow."
"I do not understand what you mean by "jumping all over you." I certainly don"t feel like such gymnastics. But I want you to tell me honestly the state of affairs."
The truth was hard to extract. Wayland was sullen, apologetic, and contrite by turns. At last it came out. He owed one hundred and fifty dollars.
"I am sorry." Miss Sarah sank back in her chair. "I fear you have been very foolish. To go in debt seems to me not quite honest. But I am glad you told me. I"ll try to help you; and you"ll promise, won"t you, not to do this again?"
Somehow his aunt"s low, controlled tone exasperated Wayland far more than if she had shown anger. "I guess if you knew what other fellows spend, you wouldn"t think I was so awful. Of course I am sorry, and of course I don"t mean to do it again," and he flung out of the room.
Two days later Miss Sarah alarmed the household at the breakfast table by fainting, something she had never been known to do before. Simple restoratives proved of no avail, and Wayland rushed off to the nearest telephone to call a physician, almost running over Miss Pennington, who was starting for a morning walk.
"Could I be of any help?" she asked as he hurriedly explained.
"If you would," Wayland cried gratefully.
Norah entered upon a scene of confusion. Old Mrs. Leigh was frightened out of her senses, and no one seemed able to think what to do. Knowing something of illness and possessing a cool head and steady hand, Norah took command; and when the doctor arrived, Miss Sarah was beginning to recover consciousness.
She was ordered to bed at once; and when she ventured to expostulate feebly, Norah said: "Now, Miss Sarah, we can manage things for to-day.
For once trust to your friends and don"t worry. You will get well just so much sooner."
Miss Sarah looked up in to the bright face that bent over her. "You are very good. Perhaps I will,--just for to-day."
"She is threatened with pneumonia; she must have a nurse," the doctor said, outside her door.
It was the beginning for Miss Sarah of a serious illness which in one way and another involved a number of her neighbors. Owing to the prevailing epidemic, it was at first impossible to get a satisfactory nurse, and Norah and Miss Virginia Wilbur offered their services. Miss Wilbur also lent her cook until Anne should be able to return, saying she and Charlotte could do very well with Martha.
In the shop Alex took Norah"s place. Norah herself suggested it with some hesitation, thinking Mrs. Russell might object; but this lady, like many others, had somewhat modified her opinion of the shop. "You know," she explained on more than one occasion, "those young women are most interesting. Miss Carpenter, indeed, has a great deal of elegance. Alex, with her eccentric ideas, is delighted with them, and was so anxious to go I could not refuse."
Without the shop these would have been lonely days for Charlotte, with Aunt Virginia absent so much of the time, and her friend Helen one of the grip victims. Miss Carpenter had exerted a peculiar fascination over Charlotte since the evening when she had come to her rescue.
Others might prefer Miss Pennington; Charlotte never wavered in her admiration for the more quiet member of the firm. On her way to school each morning she invariably crossed the street that she might pa.s.s the shop, and perhaps receive a smile from Marion.
This new enthusiasm overshadowed all former ones, and Miss Carpenter seemed by no means indifferent to the little girl"s adoration, making her welcome to run in and out at all times. After hours, or when business was dull, Charlotte would often talk to her about the Landors, and their Philadelphia home, and Miss Carpenter seemed quite ready to listen; but Charlotte"s curiosity about her cousin who lived across the street, was never satisfied.
Miss Sarah, to whom indirectly this cementing of the ties between the shop and its neighbors was due, called Norah to her bedside on the first day of her illness, and confided to her a certain railroad bond.
"I am afraid it will be some time before I am able to attend to this myself," she said, "so I am going to ask you to see if you can sell it for me. I went yesterday to see about it, but they told me to hold on to it for a while, if possible, and I thought I could perhaps wait; but now I want the money. It will have to go at whatever price it will bring. It is too bad to ask you,--you are so good."
Norah a.s.sured her she would not mind in the least, and leaving the patient in Miss Virginia"s hands she walked thoughtfully toward home.
She happened to know that there was considerable interest felt at present in the fluctuation of these bonds, for she sometimes read the market news to Mr. Goodman, and he had a few days before spoken of buying some. Was there any possible way by which she could sell Miss Sarah"s bond without sacrificing it?
At the corner she met Mr. Goodman, and at sight of him a sudden idea took possession of her.
"Mr. Goodman, can you tell me how G. W. & S. bonds are selling to-day?" she asked.
"Seventy-two they are asking to-day. A good thing if you want to buy.
They are bound to go up," was the old gentleman"s reply.
"Could you come in and let me ask you a few questions?" said Norah.
Mr. Goodman never objected to talking stocks and bonds, and therefore a.s.sented affably.
To the very evident amus.e.m.e.nt of Alex and Marion, Norah conducted her companion through the shop into the next room, flashing a mischievous glance over her shoulder as she pushed the door to. Giving the old man a chair, she seated herself opposite him; and leaning forward with her folded arms on the table, she told him of Miss Sarah"s illness and her need of money. "Now," she concluded, "she has one of those bonds, and I want to sell it for a thousand dollars."
"My dear young lady, you can"t do the impossible. Keep it six months and it may be at par."
"But she can"t wait. She must have the money,--at least she thinks so; and she is too ill to be argued with. I want to make her mind easy.
Why couldn"t--somebody--give a thousand dollars for it?" Norah"s heart beat quickly at her own daring. "What would be lost?"
"Why doesn"t somebody give her three hundred dollars, you mean?"
"No, that is not at all what I mean," urged Norah. "I think you said you were buying to sell? Now, if that bond is worth a thousand dollars six months from now, what would--anybody lose who gave that for it now? Only the interest on not quite three hundred dollars. That is, of course, taking for granted he expected to sell."
"Upon my word!" exclaimed Mr. Goodman. "What is she talking about? I didn"t say they would be at par in six months."
"Well, say a year, then. If you"ll buy the bond, I"ll pay the interest. I"ll give you my note," Norah said, laughing.
"It is the most astonishing proposition I ever heard," growled the old man.
"It is to help a neighbor out, and that is the best thing in life, particularly any one so brave and bright as Miss Sarah. She would never let us do it if she guessed, but I can tell her they are going up steadily. I think I can manage it." Norah beamed across the table.
Whether she had won or not was difficult to tell, for Mr. Goodman rose suddenly, b.u.t.toned up his coat, and saying he would see her the next day, strode off without so much as good evening.
"Norah, what made you do it?" Marion exclaimed when she heard the story. "Surely, it could have been arranged."
"I don"t know. It popped into my head when I saw him. It won"t do any harm to get some of his rusty dollars into circulation. I almost believe he will do it."
And she was right. Mr. Goodman gave her a check for a thousand dollars, and, moreover, suggested that if Miss Sarah did not need the whole amount at present, he could invest several hundred of it advantageously. And this was the kindest thing Giant Despair had done for many a year. As for Norah"s scheme for paying him interest, he only laughed at that.