WIN WONDERS
"Mother," said Win solemnly, "I shook in my shoes this afternoon.
Didn't you notice the lurid mixture of colors I was daubing on my
block? And all because I knew you were having psychic thoughts and I
was so afraid you would say what I thought you were thinking and
startle Estelle. I wanted so much to know myself just what you were
driving at with your watch-chains that I almost chewed my tongue off
trying not to speak."
"I know it," said Mrs. Thayne. "I felt you quaking, Win, and decided to
keep still. After all, the only sensible way was to find out definitely
that name. Estelle is so proud and so reluctant to accept help that one
must move carefully in trying to smooth her pathway."
The two were alone in Mrs. Thayne's room after the happy picnic at
Corbiére. Through the open window floated the occasional sound of
voices from the end of the terrace where Roger, Edith, and Frances
stood watching the steamer for Southampton round Noirmont Point.
"And now that I do know the name, I am still uncertain what is best to
do," reflected Mrs. Thayne. "But you asked about the chain, Win. The
moment I saw that one of Estelle's I knew that I had seen a similar one
in the United States. For a time I could not place it, and really it is
a thing of unusual workmanship and not likely to be largely duplicated.
Then it came to me in a flash that Carrie Aldrich often wears a chain
like that and once told me that it had belonged to her mother."
"But I never knew that Mrs. Aldrich was English," said Win wonderingly.
"I thought she'd always lived in Boston."
"I knew that she was a Canadian," replied his mother, "but she was
educated in the United States and married an American. To trace her
ancestry never occurred to me. She is so thoroughly and completely
American that one would never think of her forefathers as being
anything else.
"I can hardly keep silent," she went on. "When I think of Carrie alone
in that huge house in Boston, with her big income and her still bigger
heart and only her charities to fill it and to occupy her time, and
then think of Estelle, so proudly trying to support herself and Edith
in a land where self-support for women is not easy,--why, Win, it seems
as though I must tell her on the spot. And yet, if I do, I am quite
sure Estelle will just shut herself up in the armor of her pride and
refuse to make herself known. Taking both the testimony of the chains
and the very pronounced family resemblance, there can be no reasonable
doubt of the identity."
"I think Estelle would refuse," said Win slowly. "She's foolishly
proud. She thinks, Mother, that you pay more than the house is worth
and so she does her level best to make it up to us in other ways."
"I believe I will write to Carrie," mused Mrs. Thayne. "She'd be
interested and anxious to see the girls. I'm sure she doesn't realize
that she has any cousins in England."
"Mother," said Win with deliberation, "why don't you ask Mrs. Aldrich
to come over and visit us for a little? You'd like to have her and so
would we. Probably she has nothing especial to keep her at home and
might be glad to be let out of a month or two of winter."
"That's a bright idea, Win!" exclaimed his mother. "Only I suppose she
has several pet charities that she will feel she can't leave at short
notice."
"In that case," replied Win, "probably you'd better write her about the
girls, only do tell her to come and see for herself. It strikes me that
nothing but knowing each other would ever really bring them together."
"Win, you are so like your father," said Mrs. Thayne affectionately.
"Your minds work alike. I find I'm growing to depend more and more upon
your judgment."
In the dusk Mrs. Thayne could not see the flush that spread over her
son's thin face. To be likened in any way to Captain Thayne was praise
indeed for Win.
"I only wish I could take more off your shoulders, Mother," he said
briefly, "instead of being a great lazy lump that the whole family has
to take thought for."
"Here's Annette with letters," said Mrs. Thayne. "Why, I did not expect
mail until tomorrow."
Some moments passed until Win was aroused from his own correspondence
by a sudden surprised exclamation from his mother.
"Never say you don't believe in special providences. This seems almost
incredible, but here is a note from Mrs. Aldrich, written from London!
She's come over to attend some charity congress and wants me to run up
for a few days."
"Then it is meant that you should, Mother," said Win, smiling. "That
coincidence hasn't happened for nothing. You can tell her about the
girls much more convincingly than it could be written, and bring her
back with you to see them. It will all be natural and Estelle will
never suspect."
"I'll do it," said Mrs. Thayne, but the next second a shadow crossed
her face. Her sharp-eyed son instantly saw and interpreted.
"I'll not overdo, Mother," he said immediately. "Trust me to rival the
sloth in idleness. I promise you that I won't stir one step out of my
usual routine."
"But there's Roger," mused his mother.
"Oh, Roger is walking the straight and narrow path of virtue. Ever
since ex-scoutmaster Bill Fish rescued him from a desert island, he's
been meekness itself. Makes me smile to see his star-eyed devotion.
This plan is too evidently designed, for you to give it the cold
shoulder."
"It does seem so," agreed his mother. "Well, I'll go by Saturday's
boat. Win, don't you think it would be best not to say anything to Fran
and Roger? We will tell them after I have seen Carrie."
"I certainly do," Win declared. "Fran couldn't keep that secret one
half day. It wouldn't interest the kid."
The absence of the family did not prevent Win's enjoyment of the Manor
library and during his mother's stay in London, he paid it several
visits. Evidently the servants had been instructed to expect and make
him welcome, should he appear, for a smiling face answered his ring and
the fire in the library was invariably lighted on his arrival. But
Win's conscience would not allow him to neglect Roger even for these
delightful hours of solitude, so this pleasure was only occasional.
With the pony and gingle they explored many of the lovely Jersey lanes
and headlands, for driving seldom tired Win. Half a morning passed in
this fascinating occupation left Roger ready to spend the time before
luncheon in preparing his lessons. When they were over in the
afternoon, Mr. Fisher usually suggested kicking football on the beach
or led Roger a walk sufficiently strenuous to leave him disposed for a
quiet evening. Estelle and Nurse both thought Roger "good as gold," and
did not realize how much of his virtue was due to the forethought of
brother and tutor.
One morning Estelle had errands in town and invited Roger to go with
her. Hearing his joyful acceptance, Win as gladly betook himself to the
Manor.
Spring was far advanced now, potatoes were being planted and other
early vegetables already showing in green rows. Under the trees on the
Manor grounds wild snow-drops starred the grass. Win wandered into the
formal garden enclosed by a hedge of box so clipped as to form a solid
wall with square pillars topped by round balls of living green. In the
background posed two peacocks, also clipped from box. What patience,
time and care had been required to bring that hedge to such perfection!
Early roses were now plentiful and as Win sauntered through their
fragrant mazes, he realized how much loving thought had been expended
through the centuries on this old garden. Sad indeed that the present
owner of Laurel Manor was the last Richard Lisle.
Win's reverie was broken by the passing of Pierre, with a pleasant
"_Bon jour, M'sieur_," and a touch of his cap. Pierre carried a rope
and crowbar, unusual implements for a gardener's assistant.
Win watched him idly down the laurel-bordered drive and then went into
the library, followed by Tylo, who seemed depressed in the absence of
his mistress.
About eleven, Win was visited by Yvonne, bringing a glass of milk and a
plate of biscuit, which she placed beside him with a politely murmured
"M'sieur labors so diligently!"
"Thank you, Yvonne," said Win. "It's good of you to bring that. Do you
know when the Colonel and Miss Connie are expected?"
"No word since they arrived at Paris," replied Yvonne in her daintily
accented English.
"It is Pierre who hears from M'sieur Max, a letter, brief indeed, but
explicit, that certain matters may arrange themselves in readiness for
the coming of M'sieur Max."
Win looked puzzled. For a second Yvonne stood regarding him, her head
slightly on one side.
"Word will perhaps arrive on the morrow," she volunteered. "Is the milk
to M'sieur's liking?"
"Very much. Thank you, Yvonne."
The trim little maid replenished the fire, replaced a daffodil fallen
from a vase, patted Tylo, gave him a biscuit and vanished as
noiselessly as she came.
Left alone, Win began to walk slowly up and down the library, wondering
about the matters which were "to arrange themselves." The tools Pierre
carried, the direction in which he was walking, to Win's alert mind
suggested the Manor cave. Had Max told Pierre to complete clearing away
that heap of stones and if so, why?
Never in his life had Win been so tempted to break his word. In spite
of the voluntary promise to his mother to do nothing in the least
unusual, it seemed as though he _must_ go and see what was taking place
in the cave.
"Pierre would help me up," he told himself.
"Yes," came the instant answer, "but Roger gave you all the help he
could and yet you were in bed two days and felt ill for a week."
Win thought of questioning Pierre, but abandoned the idea as not quite
on the level. A note from Max had come on yesterday's steamer
presumably in company with the directions to Pierre. There was not a
word in it about the cave and if the writer had wanted Win to know what
was going on, he would have told him. No, Win's code of honor would not
permit him to find out by asking Pierre. And yet two weeks until Easter!
Win gave a long whistle, looked wistfully down to the sea and again
took up his book.
When he returned for luncheon at Rose Villa, he found Roger convulsing
Frances by his account of the morning spent in town with Estelle.
"It's lucky I don't have to do the marketing for this family," he
announced. "If you wanted cream now, where would you get it?"
"A dairy, of course, or a market," replied Frances.
"Wrong. Much cream you'd get! Try a fish-monger's."
At Roger's disgusted tone, Fran giggled, "Oh, I've learned a lot," he
went on. "Where would you ask for one of those paper patterns to cut
out a dress?"
"A dry-goods store," answered his sister.
"Do say a draper's if that is what you mean," continued Roger. "You
would only waste time. Go to a book-shop."
"I will," said Fran. "Thanks for the tip."
"I wanted to get weighed," said Roger, "because I know I am becoming a
shadow studying so hard. I asked Miss Estelle where to go and told her
I didn't think the nickel-in-the-slot machines were very
accurate--Well, what's wrong with that?"
Roger stopped for both Win and Frances were laughing at him.
"Here you are knocking English customs," said Win at last. "As though
Miss Estelle knew what a nickel was, let alone a slot machine, although
I have seen some of them."
"I don't see anything so funny," said Roger huffily. "Perhaps she
didn't know, but she was polite enough not to laugh and said the place
to get weighed was the hair-dresser's--"
"Oh, come off," said Win. "That's too much, even for us."
"Well, it is where we went and where the scales were," retorted Roger,
"but there weren't any pounds to it, only what they call stones. I
weigh exactly seven stone and I won't tell you how many pounds that is."
"Ninety-eight," said Win so promptly that Roger looked disconcerted.
"How did you know?" he demanded.
"From a book," replied his brother. "A little article that you don't
yet value as highly as you might. What next?"
"Oh, that was about all," said Roger, "except that Miss Estelle told me
I might choose some crackers, I mean biscuit, and to buy half a kilo. I
forgot and asked for half a litre and the clerk grinned very
disagreeably."
"Liquid measure instead of dry," commented Win in amusement. "After
luncheon, Roger, permit me to introduce you to some parts of your
arithmetic that you have evidently never examined. But go on."
"Then I stopped to look in a window and hurried to catch Miss Estelle
and ran into a big fat man who was wearing stiff leather gaiters and a
tam o' shanter. We came together rather hard," admitted Roger. "I
didn't hurt myself much because he was quite soft, but his tam fell off
and he said, 'Bless my soul, by George!"
"Roger, I can't stand any more," implored Frances.
"I don't follow the logic of that hair-dresser and the scales," mused
Win, when he had stopped laughing. "Is it before and after a hair-cut
or to see how much flesh the barber gouges out in a shave?"
"Give it up," said Fran. "There's the gong for luncheon and Edith
bringing the mail. I hope there's a letter from mother."
"There is," said Edith.
"Please excuse me, Miss Estelle, if I read it now," begged Frances,
settling into her seat at the table.
"Of course, dear," was the reply as Estelle took Mrs. Thayne's usual
place, for she and Edith were having their meals with the young people.
"Now, Roger, pause," exclaimed Win, suddenly. "What are you going to do
with that?" he added, as the attention of all was concentrated on the
surprised Roger who sat with arrested hand suspending above his plate a
spoon heaped with sugar.
"Whatever is he doing?" protested Estelle gently. "Such a mixture! How
can he eat sugar on his eggs?"
"Thought it was pancakes," explained Roger, indicating the omelet
before him, but relinquishing the sugar.
"Mother's coming on Wednesday," Frances announced happily. "And she's
met a friend in London, Mrs. Aldrich, who's coming with her for a few
days. Isn't that splendid, boys? You'll like her, Miss Estelle. She's
sweet."
"I shall be glad to see any friend of your mother's," said Estelle
cordially. Looking to see whether Roger was sufficiently supplied with
butter, she did not notice the smile with which Win glanced at her.