OLIVE'S ANSWER
JEAN BRUCE'S task did not prove any simpler than she had anticipated.
For one thing, events at the castle left little time for leisure or for
making individual plans of one's own. Almost every hour there were
visits from the neighbors of surrounding country estates, calls to be
returned, riding parties, dinners and dances. For the Kents seemed
determined to give Ruth and the Ranch girls as agreeable an impression
as possible of English country life. And the time was short, since Ruth
and Jim were soon to be married.
Undoubtedly Frank's family had taken a decided fancy to his American
friends, but if one of the number was a greater favorite than the
others, assuredly it was Jim Colter.
At first Jim had strenuously resented becoming a visitor at Kent Castle.
The idea of having to hobnob with titles, as he put it, was extremely
distasteful. He was sure that he would turn out to be an embarrassment
to Ruth and the girls, and that Frank would be sorry for having invited
him. Nevertheless, when Ruth, and therefore the four Ranch girls,
positively refused to leave without him, Jim was compelled to give in.
And now, when there was no opportunity for the overseer of the Rainbow
ranch to be with Ruth, he and Lord Kent were inseparable. The two men
were as unlike as any two extremes could be, and yet they were alike in
that each man was absolutely himself. Lord Kent represented all that
money, education and a high position can do; Jim only what good sense, a
strong heart and energy can accomplish. Yet so far had Jim Colter
learned to forgive Lord and Lady Kent, that actually he had consented
that his marriage to Ruth take place from their home and that the
ceremony be performed at the little English church nearby. He and Ruth
had both been unwilling to delay their wedding until their return home
and had also objected to the strangeness of a wedding in London. So now
everything had been delightfully arranged. They were to be married at
high noon with the Ranch girls as their attendants and only a few
intimate friends of their host and hostess present.
Yet, in spite of their expressed wish to have "no fuss or feathers,"
according to Jim's description, necessarily there were many reasons why
Jean found it peculiarly hard just then to have her quiet interview
alone with Olive. Especially when the interview must appear as an
entirely accidental one.
Nevertheless, Jean did manage to keep one of her promises to her cousin.
She did very often succeed in interfering with any situation which would
apparently throw Frank and Jack together without the rest of the party.
And many times in the face of this, Frank would then seek out Olive's
companionship. So that in the days of her watchfulness Jean herself
became more and more puzzled and anxious. Finally, however, came her
desired opportunity.
Frank had begged as a particular favor that the house party ride or
drive as they preferred to a famous old ruin in the neighborhood. And
just as they were about to leave Olive had suddenly pleaded a headache,
entreating to be left behind. To Jack's and Ruth's requests to remain
with her, Olive had insisted that she would be far more apt to recover
if she might stay alone. And as this was a perfectly sensible statement,
both her friends agreed. Jean, however, made no such offer, said
nothing of her own intentions, but simply, when the party started, could
not be found. Nevertheless, she had left a proper explanation with one
of the servants, so that no time was lost in searching for her.
As Olive had looked really ill, Jean first went for a long walk, hoping
to give her a chance to recover before having their talk.
Tip-toeing softly in at about four o'clock in the afternoon, she found
her friend lying on the bed with a shawl thrown over her. And even in
the semi-light of the great oak chamber Jean could see that Olive's face
was white, and that there were circles about her eyes.
"I would not have let you come in if I had known who you were. I thought
you were one of the maids," Olive protested querulously. And her manner
was so unlike her usual gentle one that the other girl's heart sank.
"I didn't know; I am sorry. I thought you were better or that I might do
something for you," Jean explained hurriedly, making up her mind not to
approach the subject she had anticipated for anything in the world.
Then both girls were silent for a few moments. And finally Jean tried to
slip quietly out of the room.
A voice from the bed called her back. "Don't go, dear. I am sorry I was
cross. I believe I am homesick today. I have been thinking a whole lot
of Miss Winthrop and wanting to go back to my own country. Dear me, I am
glad Ruth and Jim are so soon to be married and we shall then be sailing
for home!"
Jean smoothed Olive's dark hair back from her lovely Spanish face.
"I am glad Jack is not hearing you say this, Olive child," she
whispered. "Think how jealous it would make poor Jack feel to hear that
you felt nearer Miss Winthrop than you do to her. I thought you used to
love her best."
"I did. I do," Olive replied faintly. "But Jean, haven't you or Ruth
guessed that we are not going to be able to keep Jack at the old ranch
always, much as she adores it. Frank Kent is deeply in love with Jack.
And I believe Jack cares for him. Of course I know you will think this
strange after the other affair with Captain Madden. But that is just the
reason why Jack will be able to realize she is in love with Frank. Her
feeling for him is so entirely different."
Jean was glad that her own face was in shadow. This was her opportunity.
But what could she, what should she say?
"Why Olive, I don't believe for a moment old Jack cares a great deal
about Frank," Jean protested, trying to make her manner appear as light
as possible under the circumstances. "Indeed, I am almost sure of it. It
must be a fancy on your part, for I am almost sure Jack thinks that
Frank cares for you."
"Then she is very foolish," Olive returned.
"But why foolish? It seems to me Frank is always preferring to go off
alone with you. And he always has been tremendously fond of you. Once he
told me that he thought you quite the prettiest of the four of us."
The other girl laughed. And Jean wondered if it was her imagination or
if there was a sound in Olive's laugh which she did not like.
"Frank has always cared for Jack. It would have been absurd of me ever
to have failed to see it. Why, he began caring when we were almost
children at the ranch. He has always been a good friend to me, but
nothing else. And lately, if you have suspected anything because we have
been alone together, it was only because poor Frank wished to talk to me
about Jack. He does not believe that she cares for him in the least. He
says that once when he began to try to tell her she stopped him
immediately. Frank is afraid Jack may still have some feeling about the
old affair. I have done my best to make him see things differently. And
he has no right not to make Jack listen to him, even if he believes she
may refuse him. Deep down in her heart Jack has always cared for Frank.
Don't you think so yourself, Jean?"
"I--oh, I don't know anything about it. I am so surprised!" Jean
stammered.
"Frank has asked me to talk to Jack, to find out if she would be wounded
by his telling her of his love so soon after Captain Madden. But
somehow, Jean," and here Olive's voice faltered, "I don't believe I know
how to do it very well. Why, if I began poor Jack might think that I had
believed Frank in love with me and was telling her this to prove to her
I had no feeling for him. It would be like old Jack to get some such
absurd fancy as that into her head. And then, of course, we both know
that Jack would rather die than give poor Frank the slightest chance."
"But don't you care for Frank?" It was on the tip of Jean Bruce's tongue
to ask Olive this question. Yet just in time she stopped it.
Never so long as she or any one else lived could this question be put to
Olive Van Mater. By her own words and manner had she not chosen forever
to silence it. And actually Jean herself did not know what to think. It
was so easy in this world to receive a false impression.
"Would you like me to tell Jack then, Olive dear?" Jean queried, for her
own sake keeping her eyes away from her friend's. "Of course I should
not dare say anything about Frank's feelings. But I could kind of
intimate what you have just told me."
Olive drew the cover a little closer about her. "You are awfully good,
Jean. Yes, that will be best. Now, please, you won't mind if I ask you
to leave me. And will you make my excuses to Lady Kent at dinner? My
head really aches too severely for me to come down."