The invited guests were in scarcely more of an anticipatory flutter than
Miss Susanna herself. She had broken down her prejudice against girls
partly out of curiosity to see and know Marjorie's friends, partly
because of her growing fondness for Marjorie. The innocent beauty of the
young girl, and her utter lack of conceit and affectation, had made a
deep impression on the suspicious, embittered old lady. She had no
expectation of liking Marjorie's friends as she was learning to like the
courteous, gracious lieutenant. It was her skeptical opinion, uttered to
Jonas, that, if _one_ of the "new ones" turned out to be half as worthy
as "that pretty child," she would not regret the experiment.
"You may take me for an old fool, Jonas," she declared to her faithful
servitor of many years. "Here I am entertaining college misses after
I've sworn enmity against them for so long. Well, everything once,
Jonas; everything once. If I don't like 'em, they won't be invited here
again."
"The young lady's friends will be all right, Miss Susanna," Jonas had
earnestly assured. "She is a fine little lady."
The "young lady's friends," however, were seized with a certain amount
of trepidation when, on the designated afternoon, they advanced on
Hamilton Arms, looking their prettiest. Each had worn the afternoon
frock she liked best in honor of her hostess. Marjorie, Leila and Jerry
headed the van, Leila bearing in her arms a huge box of roses. Marjorie
had insisted that Leila must present these to Miss Susanna. Leila had
sturdily demurred, then accepted the honor thrust upon her. All the way
to Hamilton Arms she had kept the party in a gale of laughter with the
humorous presentation speeches which she framed en route.
Within a few steps of the house her fund of words deserted her. "Take
these yourself, Marjorie," she implored. "I am in too much of a glee at
my own foolishness. I shall laugh and disgrace us all if I undertake to
give her the roses."
"You'll be all right, you goose. I refuse to help you out." Marjorie
waved aside the proffered box. "Rally your nerve and say the first thing
that occurs to you. It will be sure to be the best thing you could
possibly say."
"I doubt it. Well, I can but take firm hold on the box and make the best
of a bad matter." Leila grasped the box with exaggerated force, cleared
her throat and burst out laughing. She continued to laugh as they
ascended the steps. She had hardly straightened her face when Jonas
answered the door and ushered the guests over the threshold they had
never expected to cross.
"I have not seen so many girls at close range for a long time,"
announced a brisk voice. Miss Susanna had come from the library into the
hall to greet her visitors. She was attired in a one-piece dress of dark
gray silk with a white fichu at the throat of frost-like lace.
"How are you, my child?" She now took Marjorie's hand. "And these are
your friends." Her bright brown eyes were inspecting the group of young
women with a kind of reflective curiosity. "Introduce them to me and
tell me each name slowly. I wish to know each one by name from now on. I
used to have a good memory for names."
Marjorie complied with the instruction, adding some friendly little
point descriptive of each chum. This evoked laughter and helped to ease
the slight strain attached to the presentation. Leila then proffered the
box of roses with a frank, "Here is our good will to you, Miss
Hamilton."
"What's this?" Miss Susanna viewed the long box in amazement. A swift
tide of color rose to her cheeks. She reached for it mechanically as
though uncertain what to do next. She held it for an instant, then said:
"I thank you, girls. You could have done nothing that would please me
more. I love flowers; particularly roses. Come into the library now and
let us get acquainted."
In the library Miss Susanna explored the florist's box with the pleasure
of a child. She exclaimed happily over the masses of gorgeous roses as
she lifted them from the box and inhaled their fragrance. She sent Jonas
for vases and arranged them to suit her fancy, talking animatedly to her
guests as her small hands busied themselves with the pleasant task.
The girls gathered informally about her, looking on with gratified eyes.
The flower gift had established a bond of sympathy between them. Already
Miss Susanna was beginning to glimpse the reason for Marjorie's devotion
to her special friends. The girls also understood Marjorie's growing
interest in the last of the Hamiltons. Miss Hamilton had an oddly
fascinating personality which commanded liking.
"There!" Miss Susanna exclaimed, as the last rose went into a vase to
her satisfaction. "I shall leave them in the library while you are here.
Afterward I shall take my posies to my room. They will be the last thing
I see tonight and the first in the morning. I have selfishly fussed with
my lovely roses instead of giving you hungry children your tea. We are
going to have it in the tea room today. I will ask you to come now."
She led the way from the library to an apartment directly behind it. A
subdued chorus of admiration ascended from the guests as they stepped
into a room which was quite Chinese in character. The walls were hung
with rare Chinese embroideries and delicately-tinted prints. A pale
green matting rug with intricately-wrought lavender and buff characters
covered the floor. The tables and chairs were of polished teak,
beautifully inlaid with mother of pearl. In one corner was a tall
Chinese cabinet topped by two exquisite peachblow vases. Here and there
were other vases of value and beauty. It was an amazing room. With so
much to look at, it required time to appreciate fully its worth from an
artistic point of view.
While there were several small tables, there was a large oblong one
which would seat the party. It was laid for tea and graced by the most
wonderful tea set the girls had ever seen. It was of faint, almost
translucent, green banded by an odd Chinese scroll border in silver.
"What a perfectly wonderful room!" gasped Vera, her hands coming
together in an admiring clasp, so characteristic of her.
Her approval was echoed by the others. The mistress of Hamilton Arms
piloted them to the large table, taking her place at the head of it.
"Have your tea first, then you may explore Uncle Brooke's famous tea
room as much as you please." Miss Susanna glanced about at the circle of
eager young faces with a bright smile. She was enjoying this innovation
so much more than she had thought she might. "This will really be a meat
tea. I know you girls will need something more substantial than tea and
cakes, as you won't be home in time for dinner."
The invaluable Jonas now appearing, an appetizing collation consisting
of creamed chicken, hot muffins, a salad and sweets was served, together
with much tea and more talk and laughter. The girls were hungry enough
to enjoy every mouthful of the delicious food provided by their hostess,
agreeing with Marjorie as to the super-excellence of the tea.
"Please tell us about this tea room, Miss Susanna," coaxed Marjorie. The
repast finished, the party still sat at table. "I suppose it was planned
and arranged by Mr. Brooke Hamilton."
"Yes; it is considered the finest private tea room in America," was the
reply. The odd part of this room is that every article in it was a gift
to my great uncle. Shortly after LaFayette's visit to America, when
Uncle Brooke was a young man in his early twenties, he embarked on a
business venture to China. He expected to be gone only a year. Instead,
he remained in China for twelve years. Unlike many persons, he did not
antagonize the Chinese. They learned to appreciate him for his nobility,
and became his firm friends. Every now and then, someone would make him
a present. A true Chinaman will give the best he has if he wishes to
give.
"Uncle Brooke was so much pleased with his growing collection of things
Chinese, that he announced his intention of having a Chinese room in his
home when he returned to America," continued the old lady, a gleam of
pride in her eyes. "He told his Chinese friends of his idea and they
were delighted. Eventually a rich noble, who had been one of Uncle
Brooke's truest friends, died. He bequeathed a priceless collection of
Chinese antiquities to my ancestor. Among them was this tea set, those
two peachblow vases, and that print on the east wall. When he returned
to America it took him six months to arrange this room to his
satisfaction. He arranged it and pulled it to pieces dozens of times
before he produced the effect he desired."
"Do you remember him, Miss Susanna?" asked Marjorie eagerly, then
blushed for fear her question might be considered too pointed by her
hostess.
"Very well, indeed. I was a young woman when he died. He was
seventy-nine years old the week before his death. My father was the son
of his only brother who was several years older than Uncle Brooke.
Father was an invalid during the last years of his life. We came here to
live when I was twelve. As a child, Uncle Brooke would often take me for
walks about the estate. He taught me the names and habits of trees,
shrubs and flowers. He was a true nature man."
"It seems odd to hear so much, all at once, of Mr. Brooke Hamilton,"
observed Helen. "We have not heard anything of him before except what
little is known on the campus. He is almost a mystery at Hamilton
College."
"The fault of the college," retorted Miss Susanna with bitterness.
"There was a time when the college board might have had the data for his
biography. That time has passed. They shall never have one scrap of
information concerning him from me. What I have told you of him today is
in strict confidence. I have spoken freely of him because Marjorie has
assured me that you are to be trusted. Were you to break this
confidence, I would refuse to verify whatever you might tell and forbid
any publication of the information."
Miss Hamilton glanced defiantly about the circle. Her kindly expression
had entirely vanished.
"We can but assure you of our discretion." It was Leila who made an
answer, a hint of wounded pride in her blue eyes.
"You can trust us, Miss Susanna," added Marjorie, smiling bravely. She
was experiencing a queer little sinking of the heart at the displeased
old lady's intent to permanently withhold from the college the true
history of its founder.
"I daresay I can, child. Let us change the subject. It is unpleasant to
me. You girls had better walk about the tea room and enjoy the curios
until I recover my good humor."
Prompt to obey the mandate, the girls spent at least a half hour in the
Oriental room, examining and admiring the departed connoisseur's
individual arrangement of a marvelous collection. Miss Susanna sat and
watched them, almost moodily. Returned to the library, the sight of her
roses mollified her. She decided to do a certain thing which had risen
to her mind. The desire to give pleasure to these young girls who had
thought of her conquered her sudden gust of spleen against Hamilton
College.
"Would you like to see my great uncle's study?" she asked, turning from
the flowers to her guests.
"Oh!" Ronny drew a wondering audible breath. She could hardly believe
her ears.
The others laughed at her, but the eager light in their eyes told its
own story.
"May we see it, Miss Susanna?" Vera's tone was almost imploring.
"You may. Another time, when all of you come to see me, I will show you
about the house. It is well worth seeing. My great uncle gathered beauty
from the four corners of the earth. He loved to travel and brought back
with him the treasure of other lands. I should like you to see the
study. It holds one thing, in particular, in which I am sure you will be
interested."
"There is no corner of this house without interest," Leila said warmly.
"I am sure of that."
"So it seems to me," nodded Miss Hamilton. "I have lived in it many
years. I am not over the wonder of it yet. At times I am sorry that
others cannot enjoy it with me. Again I am glad to be alone."
Following the old lady, who mounted the broad staircase as nimbly as any
of them, they found on the second landing the same solid magnificence of
furnishing that marked the first floor. Down a long hallway, which
extended back from the main reception hall, they went. At the end of the
hall was a door of heavy walnut, its upper half of stained glass. This
their guide opened. They were now seeing the room where the founder of
Hamilton College had spent so many hours planning the institution which
bore his name.
The murmur of voices died out among them as they stepped into the study.
Compared with other rooms in the house which the girls had seen, it was
rather small. The floor was bare save for one medium-sized rug in the
center of the room, on which stood a heavy-legged mahogany writing
table. A tall desk, a book-case, three high-backed chairs and a filing
cabinet, all of carved mahogany, completed the furnishings, plus one
broad-seated chair, leather cushioned, and with a rounding back. It was
drawn up before the library table; Brooke Hamilton's own chair.
The most notable object in the study was a framed, illuminated oblong
about five feet long and perhaps two and a half feet wide. It was hung
at a point on the wall directly opposite the founder's chair.
"This is what you wished us to see, isn't it?" Marjorie cried out,
stopping in front of the oblong. "I think I know what it is."
"Tell us, then." Miss Susanna was smiling fondly at the animated face
Marjorie turned toward her.
"The maxims of Mr. Brooke Hamilton," she guessed breathlessly. Her eyes
traveled slowly down the oblong. "There are fifteen of them," she
announced. "What a beautiful illumination!"
"Yes; they were his favorite sayings. He originated them all except the
first one. More, he lived up to them." The old lady's intonation had
grown singularly gentle.
A reverent silence visited the study as the knot of girls gathered about
the oblong to read the sayings of one long gone from earth. The colors
used in the illumination were principally blue and gold with mere
touches of green and black. Red had been left out entirely from the
color scheme.
"Remember the stranger within thy gates."
"To the wise nothing is forbidden."
"Becoming earnestness is never out of place."
"Let thy gratitude be lasting."
"Ask Heaven for courtesy; the supply is greater than the demand."
"Make thy deference to age not too marked."
"Truth flies a winning pennant."
"Beware, lest what seems unattainable falls too near thine hand."
"Let thy learning be seasoned with merriment."
"O, Justice, how fair art thine heights!"
"Be motivated by the grace of God."
"Be not secret; be discreet."
"For the gift of life give thanks."
"The ways of light reach upward to eternity."
"To stumble honorably is to learn to walk."
Such were the informal rules of conduct which Brooke Hamilton had carved
for himself with the blade of experience.
"We have five of these at the college, Miss Susanna." Ronny finally
broke the spell which had fallen. "The first, third, fourth, seventh and
ninth. 'Remember the stranger within thy gates,' is over the doorway of
Hamilton Hall. The ninth one is in the library and the third, fourth and
seventh are in the chapel."
"I knew some of them were there. The first he had placed over the door
of Hamilton Hall. The others were to be presented to the college as the
students earned them."
"Earned them?" queried Muriel impulsively. "I don't understand----" She
broke off, coloring at her own temerity. Her companions were also
looking slightly mystified.
"His idea was this. He wished to reward any particularly noteworthy act
on the part of a student, of which he chanced to hear, by an honor. The
recipient was to receive a citation in chapel and one of his favorite
maxims, decoratively framed, was to be hung in one of the campus
buildings. A record of the citation was to be established in an honor
book kept in a special niche in the chapel. This was one of his later
ideas. He did not live to carry it out. I don't know how they managed to
get hold of four of his sayings. They have no right to them."
Acridity again dominated Miss Susanna's tones. She appeared to resent
deeply the fact that the college authorities held any information
whatsoever regarding her famous kinsman.
"Maybe a person who knew your great uncle remembered these four maxims
of his and they were thus handed down," suggested Lucy, always
interested in a mystery.
"I wish we had them all; everyone of them!" Marjorie gave an audible
sigh of regret. "I can't help saying it, Miss Susanna. It is the way I
feel about these true, wonderful sayings of Mr. Brooke Hamilton."
"You may say it without offending me, my dear. I understand you and your
affection for Hamilton College. _He_ would have liked you to say it.
_He_ never held a grudge. I have held one many years. I shall continue
to hold it." Miss Susanna crested her stubborn head. "It is a supreme
pleasure to me to know that I have thwarted the college board in some
respects. I shall continue to thwart them."