THE GUEST AT GREATLARCH
The organ hall at Greatlarch was a massive west wing, with transepts
looking north and south. The hall, as large as a small church, was
Corinthian in design, with side walls of antique oak, marvellously carved
and gilded, that had been brought from England in panels. High above the
antique oak cornice rose the vaulted, coffered ceiling and at the east
end was a balcony that might be reached from the second story. A rose
window in the third story also looked down into the beautiful room.
In the semicircular west end was the great organ, and at its keyboard sat
Homer Vincent, his capable hands caressing the keys with a gentle yet an
assured touch. He usually spent the hour before dinner at the organ, and
those who knew him could divine his mood from the music they heard.
Tonight his mood was variable, uncertain. He struck slow, close harmonies
in a desultory fashion, his fine head bowed a trifle as if in deep
thought. Then, suddenly, he would lift his head, and the organ would peal
forth a triumphant strain, like a song of victory. Or some crashing
chords would resound for a moment, to be followed by a silence or by a
return to the slow, meditative harmonies.
Sometimes he would play works of the masters and again he would drift
into improvisations of his own.
As the dinner hour drew near, Anne Vincent came from her room on a
mezzanine floor, and went directly to the gallery that overlooked the
organ room.
A slight little lady, a spinster of forty-seven, she had enough
pretensions to good looks to warrant her pride in dress. Her hair would
have been gray, but for discreet applications of a certain concoction.
It would have been straight, but for the modern invention known as a
permanent wave. And so, she presented to the world a beautifully coifed
head of dark-brown hair, whose frantic frizz was persuaded to lie in
regular, though somewhat intractable waves. Her eyes were gray, like her
brother’s, but more bright and piercing. Her air was alert, observant and
interested. Where Homer Vincent showed utter indifference to the universe
at large, his sister manifested interest, even curiosity, toward all
mundane matters.
Her slight figure was youthful, her manner animated, and her clothes were
in exquisite taste and bore the labels of the best modistes.
Tonight she wore a Georgette gown of a pale apricot color, simply made,
but with delicate, floating draperies that betokened the skilled hand of
an artist. Her only ornament was a large and perfect ruby, set in finely
wrought gold work.
With a light step she tripped down the short mezzanine stairs to the
upper front hall. This was no less beautiful than the hall below. It was
flanked on either side by four Corinthian columns with gilded capitals,
and the panelled ceiling was modelled after one in the Ducal Palace at
Venice.
Save for the Tower rooms on either side, this hall took up the entire
front of the house, and from it a balcony rested on the portico above the
main entrance.
Through the hall Miss Anne went, her high-heeled slippers making no sound
on the rugs, which were skins of polar bears.
Through to the balcony above the organ room she passed and stood, one
slim hand on the carved balustrade, looking down at her brother.
“Poor Homer,” she thought to herself; “he doesn’t know what to do. But of
course Mr. Johnson is right in the matter,—and of course he knows—my! it
means a lot of money! Well, Homer has plenty—if he will only think so. A
strange man, that Mr. Johnson—now I think I like him,—and then—I don’t—I
wish I—but, of course,—my heavens! here he comes now!”
Anne Vincent looked up with a smile as Haydock joined her on the balcony.
The man was still rolling his eyes about as if in a very ecstasy of
delight in what he saw.
This was his first glimpse of the organ, as after their talk Vincent had
sent him to his room to tidy up for dinner.
“I regret my informal attire—” he began, as he joined Miss Anne, but she
brushed aside his apology.
“It’s all right,” she said; “we’re always informal when we’re alone. Now
I should like elaborate dress every night, but my brother and my niece
wouldn’t hear to such a thing. So you’re quite all right, Mr. Johnson.
What do you think of the organ?”
“I have no adjectives left, Miss Vincent. The whole place stuns me, I
can scarcely believe I am in America,—I feel transported to the France of
the Renaissance.”
“You are familiar with the history of that period?” She looked at him
curiously.
“No,” he replied, honestly enough. “No, I am not. But I know this is all
of that era, and anyway, it so overwhelms me, I can’t quite analyze my
emotions.”
“Yes, I felt like that when we first came here. But five years have made
me feel at home in this atmosphere. Your room, Mr. Johnson, is just above
my own. It looks out on the south gardens and I am sure you noticed the
lagoon and the Greek Temple?”
“Of course I did, though the twilight view made me only more anxious to
see it all by daylight.”
“Which you can do in the morning. My niece will be here then, and she
will show you the grounds. That Greek Temple is a Mausoleum.”
“A wondrously beautiful one!”
“Yes, is it not? And now, dinner is served,—come Mr. Johnson,” and then,
“Come, Homer,” she called to her brother at the organ.
Vincent met them in the lower hall, and ushered them into the Atrium.
This, perhaps the most imposing feature of the house, was a pure and
perfect example of Greek Ionic architecture.
From the floor of native white marble, rose sixteen monolithic columns
with gilded capitals and bases of Bois de Orient and Vert Maurin marble.
The side walls were of Rose of Ivory marble quarried in the Atlas
mountains of North Africa.
These details Homer Vincent told his guest as they passed through the
great room, and drew his attention to the tall plate-glass windows that
formed the whole southern end.
Between the Ionic columns of the semicircular south portico could be seen
the lagoon with its fountain, and at its far end gleamed the pure white
of the Greek Temple against a dark setting of pines and larches.
Johnson sighed as they turned to the dining-room, another marvel of
Italian Renaissance, in antique English oak, with tall chimney-piece of
French Griotte and Belgium Black marbles.
“I wonder,” Haydock said, whimsically, as they took their seats, “if
the native marble of Vermont resents the presence of these imported
strangers.”
“I have thought that, too,” and Miss Anne’s eyes twinkled, “I am sure it
is the case.”
“They dislike one another,” Vincent said, taking up the jest. “The
Italian and African marbles scorn the Vermont stone, however pure
and white. But they are silent about it, for the most part. In our
living-room is a chimney-piece of Porte Venere or ‘Black and Gold’
marble from Spezia, which, with its gold bronze ornaments is one of the
handsomest and most expensive features of the house. You will forgive my
descanting on these things, Mr. Johnson, but I own up that this house is
my hobby, and I am a bit daft over it.”
“I don’t wonder,” declared Haydock, with honest enthusiasm. “And I am
glad to hear these details. Of course, I am especially interested,
because of—”
“I am going to ask of you,” Vincent interrupted him, “not to discuss
during dinner the business on which you came here. It is,” he smiled,
“bad for our digestion to think deeply while eating, and too, I want you
to do justice to the art of my cook.”
The dinner, indeed, as well as the service of it, was entirely in harmony
with the surroundings, and though there was no unnecessary pomp or
ceremony, the details were perfect and correct.
Mellish, like a guardian spirit, hovered about, and two waitresses under
his jurisdiction were sufficient to insure the comfort of the party.
“I am sorry your niece is not at home,” Haydock said, as Rosemary’s name
was casually mentioned.
“You shall see her tomorrow,” Vincent promised. “This evening we must
have another confab in my study as to our business, and I trust we shall
settle it to the satisfaction of all. Mr.—er—Johnson, you must remain
here for a time as our guest.”
“Thank you,” Haydock said, simply. “I trust I may do so.”
He looked at Miss Anne, as if expecting a confirmation of the invitation,
but she said nothing.
“I suppose,” he said, “that, having your sister and your niece, you have
not felt the need of a wife as chatelaine of this wonder-home.”
Homer Vincent smiled.
“I’m afraid,” he said, “no wife would put up with my vagaries. I’m not an
easy man to live with—”
“Oh, now, Homer,” his sister protested, “you sha’n’t malign yourself. If
my brother is a bit spoiled, Mr. Johnson, it is because my niece and I
pet and humor him. It is our pleasure to do so. You see, my brother is a
very remarkable man.”
“And my sister is blindly prejudiced in my favor,” Vincent tossed back.
“We are a very happy family, and perhaps the more so that each of us
follows his or her own sweet will.”
Although no outward change took place on the features of the
blank-countenanced Mellish, yet could one have seen into his brain, there
was indication of unseemly derision and unholy mirth.
For, as a matter of fact, every one at Greatlarch, whether family, guest,
or servant, followed the sweet will of Homer Vincent.
At least, he did if he knew what was good for himself.
Yet Vincent was no tyrant. He was merely a man whose only desire in life
was creature comfort; whose only pursuit was his own pleasure; whose only
ambition was to be let alone.
His sister and niece might do what they would, so long as they did not
interfere with his plans. His servants might have much liberty, many
indulgences, if they would but attend perfectly to his wants or needs.
Guests could have the freedom of the place, if they kept out of his way
when not wanted.
Homer Vincent was not so much selfish as he was
self-indulgent,—self-centered. He was scholarly and loved his books;
musical, and loved his organ; artistic and æsthetic, and loved his house
and his collections; he was of an inventive turn of mind, and loved to
potter about in his various workrooms and laboratories, without being
bothered as to what he was doing.
In return for these favors he gave his sister and niece pretty much a
free hand to do as they chose, checking them now and then in the matter
of expenditures. For though the Vincent fortune was large, it was not
inexhaustible, and the upkeep of the place was enormous. Yet it must be
kept up in a manner to please Homer Vincent’s ideas of comfort, even
though this necessitated curtailing the hospitalities toward which Miss
Anne and Rosemary inclined.
Homer was kindly by nature; he really disliked to deny Anne anything she
wanted, but, as he said, they couldn’t entertain all Hilldale all the
time, especially as they had no desire to accept return hospitalities.
And if Miss Anne did have such an undesirable desire, she kept it to
herself, for she adored her clever brother.
Her other brother, the father of Rosemary, had died five years before,
an event which resulted in the girl’s coming to live with these relatives.
The household was harmonious,—if and when the two women sank their own
wills in the will of Homer Vincent. Otherwise not.
Not that there was ever any friction, or unpleasantness.
Vincent had a way of attaining his end without such. And, perhaps through
habit, perhaps following the line of least resistance, both the older
woman and the girl willingly capitulated when conditions required it.
For Rosemary loved her Uncle Homer, and Miss Anne fairly worshipped him.
It went without saying, therefore, that Vincent’s hint that business
matters should not be discussed at the table, was effectual.
Haydock acquitted himself fairly well. The interest he felt in the
business which had brought him thither, and the absorbing entertainment
of this beautiful home, filled his mind to the exclusion of all else. And
since the first subject was for the moment taboo, he pursued the other
with zest.
“The man who built this was a genius,” he declared.
“It was built,” Vincent informed him, “by a prominent firm of New York
architects, but as they faithfully copied an old French chateau, they
had little need for originality. Of course it was a folly. These great
palaces often are. After getting it, the owner found he hadn’t sufficient
fortune left to keep it up. So it came into the market, and years later
I was fortunate enough to get it at a great bargain. Probably I paid not
half of the original building cost.”
“Lack of funds wasn’t the only reason that Mr. Lamont wanted to sell it,”
Miss Anne said, with a glance at her brother.
“No,” and Homer Vincent looked grave. “There is a tragedy connected with
the place, but I try not to let it affect my nerves or even linger in my
memory. I wish you would do the same, Anne.”
“Oh, it doesn’t get on my nerves, Homer, but I can’t put it out of my
memory, altogether. I am reminded of it too often.”
“May I hear the story?” asked Haydock, looking from one to the other.
“If you wish,” Vincent said, a little unwillingly; “but it’s not a
cheerful one.”
“Anything connected with this wonderful place must be of interest,”
Haydock declared, and Anne Vincent began the tale.
“It’s a ghost story,” she said, her eyes showing a sort of horrified
fascination. “You see, Mrs. Lamont, the wife of the former owner, was
murdered in her bed—”
“Now, Anne,” her brother interrupted, “we don’t know that she was—it may
have been a suicide.”
“No,” Miss Anne declared, positively, “she was murdered, and her ghost
still haunts the place.”
“Have you seen it?” Haydock asked. He had deep interest in the occult.
“I haven’t seen it,—but I’ve heard of it,” she replied, in a whisper.
“What do you suppose it does? It plays the harp—the Wild Harp!”
“Oh, come now, Anne, don’t bore Mr. Johnson with your fairy tales.”
Homer Vincent was in the best possible humor. He had had a dinner that
exactly suited him, perfectly served, and now as he pushed back his
chair a little, he was raising a cigar to his lips, knowing that at the
instant it reached them a lighted match, in Mellish’s careful hand,
would touch the other end of it. Knowing, too, that an ash-tray would
materialize on the exact spot of the tablecloth that he wished it, and
that, simultaneously, his coffee cup would be removed.
These things were necessary to Homer Vincent’s happiness, and his
thorough drilling of Mellish had made them immutable.
He had instructed the butler long ago to measure carefully with a
yardstick the exact distances between the four table candlesticks as well
as their distance from the edge of the table.
Yet Vincent was no “Miss Nancy,” no feminine or effeminate fusser in
woman’s domain. All details of housekeeping were left to Miss Anne, whom
he had also trained. But the most infinitesimal derelictions from exact
order and routine were noticed and reproved by Homer Vincent and rarely
indeed did the same error occur twice.
In fact, after his five years of occupancy, he had his home in perfect
running order, as he conceived perfection.
Banquets were never given, house guests were rare, callers infrequent,
because none of these things contributed to the comfort of Homer Vincent.
His tranquil days were occupied with his pleasant avocations indoors,
varied by motor trips, horseback rides, or country rambles.
His stables and garage boasted the finest horses and cars, and in
addition he was seriously contemplating an aeroplane. Indeed, he had
already ordered plans drawn for a hangar.
All of his belongings were at the service of his sister and niece at such
times as he did not himself require them. It was their duty to find out
when these times were.
But the two women had no trouble about this. Vincent was not
unreasonable, and both Miss Anne and Rosemary were astute enough to read
him pretty well.
He required Anne to be always present to preside at his table. To be
sure, he did the presiding himself, but he wished her at the head of the
board always. This precluded her accepting invitations which did not
include him or which he was not inclined to accept. However, the placid
lady was more than willing to defer to his preferences.
Rosemary was allowed more freedom in these matters and went to visit her
girl friends as often as she chose. Having them to visit her was another
matter, and only to be suggested with the greatest discretion and
careful choice of opportunity.
“Yes,” Miss Anne was saying, “and, do you know, Mr. Johnson, my room,—my
bedroom is the one she had, and the one that is said to be haunted by her
ghost!”
“Really, Miss Vincent? And are you not timid—?”
“Not a bit! You see, it is the loveliest room in the house,—except
brother’s, and I would be silly to refuse it because of a foolish
superstition.”
“Just below my room, you said, I think?”
“Yes, facing south,—looking out on the lagoon and fountain and on down to
that beautiful marble Temple—”
“That is a tomb!” finished Vincent. “Any other woman would be scared to
death to look out on that view, but I believe my sister enjoys it.”
“I surely do, Homer. Often I look out there on moonlight nights and
feel sorry for the poor lady. And—” her voice fell, “sometimes I hear
her—playing on her harp—”
“Oh, come now, Anne, you’ll get Mr. Johnson so wrought up he won’t dare
sleep in his own room, which of course has the same outlook!”
“I’m not superstitious,” Haydock averred. “In fact, I should like to hear
the ghostly harp—though I cannot say I’d welcome a spook visitor!”
“Let us look out in that direction,” said Vincent, rising. His idea of
Anne’s presiding was to have her ready to arise at his signal, not the
other way.
He led them back through the Atrium and on out to the great semicircular
portico that was the southern entrance.
“It’s chilly,” he said, as he opened a long plate-glass door. “Better
stay inside, Anne. Just a moment, Mr. Johnson, unless you think it too
cold?”
“No, I like it,” and Haydock stepped out into the crisp night air.
“Feels like snow,” said Vincent. “Now, of course, tomorrow you can see
this in the sunlight, but in this dim murk, with the shadows so deep and
black, it is a picturesque sight, is it not?”
“It’s wonderful!” Haydock exclaimed, looking across the black water of
the lagoon, where the dimly seen fountain did not obscure the faint gleam
of white marble that was the Mausoleum.
“You like to keep that thing there?” he asked, curiously.
“Why not?” and Vincent shrugged his shoulders. “Since it doesn’t worry
the ladies, and I have no fear of spooks, why should I have it removed?
It is exquisite, the Temple. The model, as you can scarcely see now, is
that of the Parthenon.”
“How did the story of the haunting come about?”
“Since it is supposed that the lady was murdered, it would be more
strange if such a story did not arise. It was long ago, you know. I’ve
been here five years, but before that the house stood empty for nearly
twenty years. In that time many legends found credence, and many ghostly
scenes were reported. Apparitions flitting round the tomb are the most
common reports, but strains of a wild harp also are vouched for. Indeed,
my sister thinks she has heard them.”
“Have you?”
Homer Vincent hesitated, and then said, “There have been times when I
thought I did. But of course it was imagination,—stimulated by the weird
aspect of the place. Look at that thicket back of the Temple. Even now,
you can seem to see moving shadows.”
“What is behind there?”
“It is a sort of undergrowth of low pines and birches, scrub oaks and
elms, a tangle,—almost a jungle, of vines and canebrakes—”
“Swampy?”
“Not quite that,—though mucky after a long rainy spell. I threaten now
and then to have it all cleared out and drained,—but I haven’t got at it
yet. It is more or less fenced off,—you can just see the low stones—”
“Yes, they look like gravestones.”
Vincent smiled. “They do. That adds to the spookiness. Do you know the
villagers, before I came here, called the place Spooky Hollow?”
“And a good name, too!” Haydock shivered. The atmosphere of gloom was
beginning to tell on his nerves. “Guess I’ll seek the bright lights! It’s
fairly creepy out here!”
Vincent turned toward the house, his slight limp showing itself a little
as he crossed the tiled terrace.
“It is all most wonderful,” Haydock summed up, as they re-entered, “but
it does not make me forget my mission here—”
“Let that wait, my dear sir, until we are by ourselves.”
For the ubiquitous Mellish was in silent waiting to open the door wider
for them, to close it, and to stand at attention for orders.
Haydock perceived the man was a bodyservant of his master rather than a
mere butler.
“And now,” Vincent said, “we will again seek my own private room, and
settle the business. After that, I trust we shall all sleep contented and
serene. Come, Anne, we want your advice and opinions.”
Miss Vincent joined them, and as they passed into Homer Vincent’s Tower
room, Mellish, looking a little regretful, returned to his domestic
duties.