THE TEA
"Flowers, flowers everywhere. It looks like fairyland," said Nan as
she stepped into the house the afternoon of the tea. From behind a
screen of roses issued soft music played by an unseen orchestra. All
up the stairway stood pots of graceful palms, the balustrades were
garlanded, the dining-room was a bower, the veranda a place beautiful.
Mr. Pinckney was the presiding genius of the occasion, his beaming face
appearing as a welcome as soon as the Corners arrived.
"My! What angels are these?" he said.
"They are the ones who belong to this Paradise," said Nan quickly.
"Do we look nice, Mr. St. Nick?" asked Jean. "Do you think my frock is
pretty? I have worn it only once before and I have on silk stockings.
Do you want to see them?" She held out a silken clad foot. "We are all
wearing our very nicest things that came from Europe. We think mother
is perfectly lovely, but Mary Lee won't say she looks prettier than the
señorita."
"What are we to do, Mrs. Bobs?" Jack asked eagerly. This opportunity to
help was dear to her heart.
"You are to hand around the salted nuts," she said, "and Jean can see
that every one has some of those chocolates. Mary Lee can pass the tea
as the señorita pours it and Nan can look after the café frappé, or she
can see that the candles don't burn down so low as to set fire to the
shades."
"I think those yellow shades are lovely," said Nan. "I am glad you
decided on them, for this is the land of sunshine and it makes
everything look sunshiny. I even feel so inside of me. I don't think
any one could express California in anything but yellow."
"Oh, Nan, Nan," said Mrs. Roberts, "you are always ready to say such
nice things. She will never have 'pale pink thoughts,' will she, Miss
Helen? They will have to glow a rich red or a golden yellow."
"Now, who is saying nice things?" said Nan kissing her. "I'd like to
stay right here, but I must keep an eye on Jack or she will be up a
tree or over a fence before we know it." And she went too to seek the
twins.
Jack, however, was quite conscious of the importance of keeping her
festal garments in good order, and so far, had done nothing to soil
them. She and Jean were walking around and around the table when Nan
found them. They were making note of all the decorations, and were
casting anticipatory glances upon the dishes of bon-bons and fancy
cakes.
"In the sweet by and by you shall have some," said Nan coming upon them.
"Are you sure the company won't eat them all up?" asked Jean anxiously.
"Yes, piggy-wiggy, I am sure they will not, and even if they should eat
all these there are plenty more where these came from. I saw the boxes
myself."
"Is there going to be ice-cream?" inquired Jack.
"Of course. Pretty little ices of different shapes; Mrs. Bobs told me
about them the other day."
"Oh, my, I wish the company had come and gone," exclaimed Jack
fervently.
"You inhospitable child. They haven't even begun to come yet, so you
will have to restrain your appetite for some time longer."
"I believe I'll go into the kitchen and see if they have opened the
ice-cream yet," said Jack suddenly. "Come on, Jean."
"You will do no such thing. That would be perfectly disgraceful at a
party. For pity's sake, don't let any one think you are so greedy.
You make me ashamed of you," said Nan severely. And the twins, feeling
that they must uphold the family name by appearing not to think of
such things, took their eyes from the array of goodies and stationed
themselves at the window to watch for arrivals.
"There's Carter," Jack presently announced.
"Anything I can do," said Carter putting his head in at the dining-room
where all were assembled. "I say, how swell you girls are. My, you look
stunning, Mrs. Corner; I like you in that rig."
Mrs. Corner laughed at the blunt compliment. "I'm glad I please you,
sir," she said. "If you want to make yourself useful you may go
up-stairs and ask the maid for my fan. I left it on the dressing-table,
I think; it is the one of gray ostrich feathers."
Carter bounded up the stairs and came back in a twinkling with the
pretty fan, a gift from Miss Helen to her sister. "Are you going to
keep these girls busy all the time, Mrs. Bobs?" he said. "Mayn't I have
one to talk to once in a while?"
"You certainly may," she told him. "I only want to make them useful so
as to give an excuse for their presence at a grown-up function. If you
see signs of weariness on any of their faces you may instantly drag
off the tired one and give her your restful society."
Carter looked at her gravely. "Was there a subtle suggestion in that
last clause? Did it hint of my being something of a sleep inducer, a
Mrs. Winslow's soothing syrup?"
"Take it as you please," said Mrs. Roberts teasingly.
"Mr. Pinckney and I will flock together," said Carter, "if things get
too desperate. There comes the first instalment of guests now. Get to
your places, you befrocked people and let me escape while I can, or I
shall be taken for the head waiter." He stepped through the long window
leading upon the veranda as Miss Dolores took her place before the tea
urn, Mary Lee her willing satellite.
Soon the murmur of voices filled the rooms and the girls were kept busy
in their various tasks. At last there was a lull and Nan slipped out
upon the veranda. Carter beckoned to her. "I want you to come here," he
said. "I observe a tired expression upon your expressive countenance.
I want to show you something." He took her to the edge of the veranda.
"Look over there under that little clump of trees," he directed.
Nan did as he suggested. "Why, it's Jack," she said. "Who is that with
her?"
"You'll never guess," said Carter. Jack was sitting flat on the ground
in front of a spick and span little lad. Both were engrossed in a
game of mommely-peg which Jack played with as much dexterity as her
companion.
"Who is the boy?" queried Nan.
"He came with his mother," said Carter. "I understand he was invited to
meet the young ladies Corner, though he and Jack have met before under
quite different circumstances."
The boy's back was toward Nan. She went around to the other side the
better to see his face. "It can't be," she exclaimed turning to Carter.
"It is," he returned.
"Not _The Boy_, Jack's ancient enemy."
"The same."
"I can't believe it."
"Neither could I, at first, but I have been interviewing him and I
find I am not mistaken. He and Jack are getting as thick as thieves. I
think she has descanted upon her locket and chain, her frock, her sash,
her silk stockings and slippers, and I am not sure but she has taken
off her hair ribbon to show him the 'crawlity' as Jean says. They have
been my sole entertainment for the past half hour, for Mr. Pinckney is
engaged in making love to an old lady with white curls."
"Nonsense!" said Nan. "Old people like that don't make love."
"Don't they?" returned Carter. "I mean to when I'm that old."
"You silly," returned Nan contemptuously.
"Returning to the subject of Jack," said Carter, "she seems to have
made a profound impression. I am sure Master Clarence Opdyke is greatly
struck."
"That's what he was the first time he met Jack," said Nan laughing.
"Oh, Nan, what a pun," groaned Carter. "It is unworthy of a girl of
your brilliant intellect. Say, have you had any of those delectable
eatings in there, or have you been so busy feeding the animals that you
didn't get a chance to slide anything into your own mouth?"
"Oh, I'm waiting till every one goes when we are to have our fill.
You'd better wait till then, too."
"So I intend to do; I shall get much more thereby."
"Greedy. Doesn't the señorita look lovely?"
"Yes, but your mother beats the bunch; she's a daisy in that frock."
"That's what I think," said Nan emphatically with a fond look toward
the open door through which could be seen the receiving party.
"Miss Helen is a close second," said Carter with a glance at the
little figure with white hair.
"Yes, she is a darling, too," returned Nan.
Carter laughed. "That's one of the things I like about you all; you're
so awfully fond of one another and aren't ashamed to show it."
"Why should we be?" Nan's eyes had wandered to where Jack sat. "She is
a little rapscallion to go off and leave the salted almonds to take
care of themselves. That's just like Jack; she is so eager to help
always, but she doesn't stick to things. I'm afraid," continued the
girl, "I am a little that way myself, though I am trying to get more
stickable. Aunt Helen says that is where girls so often fail. She says
they need concentration and that is why she thinks college is good for
them. I hate mathematics yet Aunt Helen says I ought to study them
particularly just because I don't like to."
"For my part I never find them much of a grind," said Carter. "Look at
those youngsters now; you would suppose they were little turtle doves,"
for the two children, hand in hand, were wandering down the garden walk.
"I don't know that I approve of the new friendship," said Nan. "I
thought he was a perfectly horrid little boy when I saw him."
"So did I. He's a spoiled one, I fancy, none too well brought up, full
of mischief and allowed to run wild."
"I wonder what sort of looking woman his mother is," remarked Nan.
"I think I'll try to find out. Most of the people have gone, but she
must still be here or Clarence--what a name--would be gone, too." She
stepped down into the garden and came up to Jack who was showing off
the beauties of the place with an air of proprietorship.
"I've been here before," said Clarence sturdily.
"Yes, but I come 'most every day," returned Jack, "and I know where
everything grows. I'll show you the _paisano_, too. We have one Mr.
Roberts gave us; he's getting awfully tame."
"Who's your friend, Jack?" said Nan, "and why aren't you in the
dining-room?"
"Why aren't you?" returned Jack.
Nan smiled. "I'm not needed there now, for almost every one has gone."
"Then I'm not needed either," said Jack. "Mrs. Bobs said we could come
away when we got tired, and I got tired."
"Evidently that is just what happened," said Nan. "Why, I've seen this
boy before, haven't I?" she continued.
Jack looked down consciously at the bows on her slippers, and Clarence
regarded the toes of his pumps with an abashed expression.
"His name is Clarence," said Jack. "You didn't know that, did you, Nan?
And we're friends now, aren't we, Clarence? He's going to give me an
ostrich egg; he's got two."
"Is that because you wanted to stick a hat pin in him?" asked Nan with
a laugh.
"I don't want to any more; we're friends," said Jack as if that
accounted for everything.
"Where's your mother, Clarence?" asked Nan.
"She's in there with the rest of the women," he replied.
"What does she look like? Is she tall or short, fat or thin?"
"Why I don't know; she's just a woman, you know." Clarence's ideas were
rather hazy in matters of description.
"Oh, I see," returned Nan. "Well, I will leave you now. Jack, don't
tear your frock and don't go too far from the house; we are going to
have our tea directly."
"I got a man to give Clarence some cake and ice-cream and things,"
said Jack, "and then we came out here, but I haven't had any. Come on,
Clarence, let's go in; maybe you can have some more if there is enough."
Clarence thus cajoled, followed willingly. "Show me which is your
mother," said Nan to him.
"She's over there," Clarence told her; "the one with a feather in her
hat talking to the old lady."
Nan nodded. "I see. All right, you stay here so she'll know where to
find you."
Mrs. Opdyke, over-dressed, voluble, and full of theories was just the
kind of woman whose affairs abroad compelled neglect at home. Clarence
ran wild while she went from club to meeting, from meeting to tea,
from tea to club again. Her voice was always ready to argue, to set
forth opinions, to state conditions. She was a star member of the
many organizations to which she belonged, but the less said about the
fulfilment of her duties as mother the better. It was because of this
that Mrs. Roberts thought it would be a good thing to throw Clarence
into the society of four nice little girls. Of his passage at arms
with Jack she knew nothing, and it was Carter who finally told her of
it. This was after all had departed and the tired ladies were enjoying
a peaceful hour. The girls were being served with their share of the
dainties at a small table at which Mr. Pinckney jovially presided and
they were having a royal time.
"Mrs. Opdyke is a most interesting woman," said Mrs. Roberts, "and
Clarence is a bright boy, but full of mischief. His spirits must have
some outlet and as his mother has not the time to direct his amusements
he does all manner of things he should not. This chance meeting to-day
is certainly a funny sequel to that first conflict."
"I didn't like the little rat when I first saw him," said Carter, "and
I'm not sure now that I wouldn't like to take him out and give him a
good thrashing. He needs a healthy system of discipline."
"Poor little chap," said Miss Helen commiseratingly. "What we ought
to do, Carter, is to teach him how he ought to behave. You could gain
a great influence over him, for there is nothing a small boy so much
admires and so much wants to imitate as a young person who has not
forgotten what it is to be a boy and yet is what he considers a young
man. Give a youngster like Clarence plenty of good healthy interests
and he will not get into mischief."
"I'm not so sure that he is a subject for reform," said Carter with the
intolerance of youth. "He will have to improve his views of how a girl
should be treated before he gets any consideration from me."
"What could you expect," said Mrs. Corner, "when Jack did not act like
a girl? She did not command courtly attention, I am sure."
Carter laughed. "Well, perhaps not, but he will have his eyes opened
before I am through with him."
But indeed Jack, in the character of a dainty, fairylike creature, all
fluffy frock, silkened sash and slippered feet, was quite a different
person from the little scratch-cat who had flown at Clarence as Li
Hung's avenger, and after being borne away with reluctant feet from the
tea, he could not be persuaded to remain, but was back again at the
Roberts' gate, a wistful figure, as soon as his mother's absence from
home gave him an excuse to escape, and when Jack graciously invited him
in he was her shadow until the time came for her departure.
Thereafter every afternoon saw him hanging around the entrance to the
Corners' garden waiting for Jack to appear. Nan called him the tame
bear and nicknamed him Teddy. Carter pretended to be jealous and said
that Clarence had cut him out, while Mrs. Corner watched carefully
to see whether the benefit to Clarence outweighed the possible
disadvantage to her own children. But since there were four girls to
the one boy and each was a self-appointed mentor the advantage to
Clarence at last began to tell.
"We're making a real nice boy of him," Jean said complacently. "He
doesn't say Gol darn any more and he doesn't pull off the flies' legs
and wings like he used to, 'cause Jack and I showed him how it felt. We
were going to tie his hair to the hedge like he did Li Hung's but it
wasn't long enough. He said we were screamish when we began to crarrel
with him about the flies."
"Do you mean you screamed?" said Carter, to whom the remark was
addressed.
"No of course not," said Jack; "she means squeamish. Aren't you used to
her way of talking yet? You ought to be by this time."
"I am very stupid," said Carter meekly.
"I told him if he didn't say Gol darn or Gosh gorm for a week, I'd
ask you to take him next time we go out in the automobile," said Jack
following up her advantage.
"Now," said Carter, "that's a straw too much. When you have deserted me
for a little unlicked cub like that and I get you away from him only by
inviting you to ride you want him to go along, too. I protest."
"Oh, but it will only be once," said Jack.
"Yes, I know how much it will. Give him an inch and he'll take an ell.
Next thing you will be refusing to go with me at all unless he is
invited, too, you're getting so thick with him."
"No, I'll not," persisted Jack. "I'll never ask but once. He has never
been in an automobile and you see it's the only way to keep him from
saying those horrid words. He says he'll have to say something, so I
told him he could say, Dog it all; that doesn't sound so bad as the
others. You can't really dog anything, can you?"
"He dogs your footsteps," returned Carter.
Jack looked at him speculatively, and thought over this statement.
"Well," she said finally, "it isn't a very bad thing even if you can do
it, so I reckon it is the best thing he can say after all. Will you let
him go, Carter?"
"I will upon one condition."
"What?"
"That you will sign a paper which promises that you will never ask
for him but once. I'll prepare it now." He gravely wrote out a formal
document which he read impressively to Jack who signed her name to it
in very black uneven letters, and Carter professed himself satisfied.
The very next day Clarence had the bliss of taking his first ride in
a motor car during which time he proved himself so entertaining that
the following afternoon Jack and Jean were amazed to see Carter's car
whiz by with Clarence again as passenger. He waved his cap exultantly
and Jack experienced a real feeling of jealousy. If Clarence had been
usurping Carter's place in her affections now the tables were turned
and the little boy was now superseding her in Carter's affections.
Jack did not like it a bit and Carter could have taken no surer way of
sending Clarence into the background, for never again did Jack so much
as hint that Clarence would like a ride.
For two whole days she turned her back on the pair of them, and
occupied herself with playing dolls with Jean in a sequestered
corner of the garden never appearing in spite of Carter's whistle or
Clarence's call.