THE ARRIVAL
The girls were put on the train at Berwick and as Mrs. Berry was to
meet them at the station in New York, they were allowed to make the
trip alone.
"I think this train ride the best part of the whole thing," said Dolly,
as she took off her coat and hung it up beside her chair. "I do love to
ride in a parlour car; I wish we were to travel in it for a week."
"I like it, too," agreed Bernice. "Oh, girls, what fun we're going to
have! You won't like Uncle Jeff at first, he's awful queer; but there's
one thing sure, he'll let us do just as we like. He's very
good-natured."
"What's Mrs. Berry like?" asked Dotty. "I suppose we'll obey her?"
"Yes, but she's good-natured, too. I can twist her round my finger. Oh,
we'll have a high old time."
"S'pose Mrs. Berry shouldn't be there to meet us when we get in,"
suggested Dolly. "What then?"
"She will, of course," said Bernice. "But if she shouldn't, if the car
broke down or anything like that, we'd take a taxicab right to the
house."
This sounded very grown-up and grand to the two D's, who had had little
experience with taxicabs, and Dotty exclaimed with glee, "I'd rather do
that than go in Mr. Forbes' car! What a lark it would be! Oh, Bernice,
can we go somewhere in a taxicab while we're there?"
"I don't know, Dotty,--I s'pose so. But why should we? Uncle Jeff has
two cars, and the chauffeur will take us wherever we want to go."
"But I've never been in a taxicab,--without older people, I mean, and
I'd love to try it."
"Well, I expect you can," returned Bernice, carelessly. "I dare say you
can do pretty much anything you want to."
"But do behave yourself, Dot," cautioned Dolly; "you're so daring and
venturesome, I don't know what mischief you'll get into!"
"Oh, we won't get into mischief," laughed Bernice. "There'll be enough
fun, without doing anything we oughtn't to."
"Of course, I won't do anything wrong," declared Dotty, indignantly.
"But there are so many things to do, it sets me crazy to think of it!"
"I'm going to buy things," announced Bernice. "There aren't any decent
shops in Berwick, and I'm going to get lots of things in the city
stores."
"We can't do that," said Dolly, decidedly. "We haven't lots of money
like you have, Bernie; I'm going to see things. I want to see all the
pictures I possibly can. I love to look at pictures."
"I want to go to the theatre," and Dotty looked at Bernice inquiringly.
"Will we, do you s'pose?"
"Oh, yes, Mrs. Berry will take us. Perhaps we can go to matinees,
alone."
"I don't think we ought to do that," and Dolly looked distinctly
disapproving.
"Oh, come now, old priggy-wig," said Dotty, "don't be too awfully
'fraidcat!"
"It will be just as Mrs. Berry says," Bernice informed them. "Father
said I must obey her in everything. Uncle Jeff won't pay much attention
to what we do, but Mrs. Berry will. I wonder if Alicia will be there
when we get there."
But Alicia wasn't. As the girls came up the stairs into the great
station, they saw a smiling, motherly-looking lady waiting to welcome
them.
"Here you are!" she cried, and it wasn't necessary for Bernice to
introduce her friends, except to tell which was which.
"I feel as if I knew you," Mrs. Berry said, and her kindly grey eyes
beamed at them both. "Now I must learn to tell you apart. Dolly with
golden hair,--Dotty with black. Is that it?"
"Is Alicia here?" asked Bernice, eagerly.
"No; she's coming in at the other station. She won't arrive for an hour
or more. Where are your checks? Let George take them."
The footman took the checks and looked after them, while Mrs. Berry
piloted the girls to the waiting motor-car.
It was a large and very beautiful limousine, and they all got in, and
were soon rolling up Fifth Avenue.
"How splendid it all is!" exclaimed Dolly, looking out at the crowds.
"It seems as if we must get all snarled up in the traffic, but we don't."
"Kirke is a very careful driver," said Mrs. Berry, "and he understands
just where to go. How you've grown, Bernice. I haven't seen you for two
years, you know."
"Yes, I have. We're all getting to be grown-ups, Mrs. Berry. Isn't
Alicia?"
"I don't know. I haven't seen her for a long time. But she's at a very
fashionable school, so I suppose she is full of notions."
"What are notions?" asked Dolly, smiling up into the speaker's eyes.
"Oh, notions," and Mrs. Berry laughed, "well, it's thinking you know it
all yourself, and not being willing to listen to advice. I don't
believe you have notions, Dolly."
"No, she hasn't," said Bernice. "But Dotty and I have! However, I
promised Dad I'd obey you, Mrs. Berry, in everything you say, so I
don't believe you'll have any trouble with us."
"Land, no! I don't expect any. Now, let me see; I've two big rooms for
you all, with two beds in each. I suppose you'll room with your cousin,
Bernice, and these other two girls together?"
"Yes, indeed," said Dolly, quickly, for she had no idea of rooming with
any one but Dotty.
"That settles itself, then."
"But suppose I don't like Alicia," said Bernice, doubtfully. "Suppose
we quarrel."
"All right," and Mrs. Berry nodded her head, "there are other rooms. I
don't want you to be uncomfortable in any particular. I thought you'd
like it better that way. The two rooms I've fixed for you, are two big
ones on the second floor. Mine is on the same floor, in the rear. Your
uncle's rooms are upon the third floor."
"I think it sounds fine," declared Bernice, "and I'm sure I'll get on
with Alicia, if she does have 'notions.'"
And then they reached the big house on upper Fifth Avenue, and as they
entered, Dolly felt a little appalled at the grandeur everywhere about
her. Not so Dotty. She loved elegance, and as her feet sank into the
deep soft rugs, she laughed out in sheer delight of being in such
beautiful surroundings. Mrs. Berry took the girls at once to their
rooms, and sent the car for Alicia.
"I'll give the front room to Dotty and Dolly," she said to Bernice;
"and you can have the other. It's quite as nice, only it looks out on
the side street, not on the Avenue."
"That's right, Mrs. Berry. Dot and Dolly are more company than Alicia
and I are. We're really members of the family. I was so surprised at
Uncle Jeff's inviting us. Why did he do it, anyway?"
"Why, indeed!" said Mrs. Berry, but her expression was quizzical. "No
one can tell why Mr. Forbes does things! He is a law unto himself. Now,
girls, your trunks are coming up. And here are two maids to unpack for
you and put your things away. You can direct them."
Mrs. Berry bustled away, and two neat-looking maids appeared, one of
whom entered Bernice's room and the other attended on Dot and Dolly.
"Which frocks shall I leave out for dinner?" the maid asked, as she
shook out and hung up the dresses in the wardrobe.
"The blue voile for me," replied Dolly, "and--er--what is your name?"
"Foster, miss," and she smiled at Dolly's gentle face.
"And the rose-coloured voile for me," directed Dotty. "You'll find,
Foster, that our frocks are pretty much alike except as to colour."
"Yes, ma'am. And these patent leather pumps, I daresay?"
"Yes, that's right," and Dotty flung herself into a big easy-chair and
sighed in an ecstasy of delight that she really had a ladies' maid to
wait on her. Dolly didn't take it so easily. She wanted to look after
her own things, as she did at home. But Dotty motioned to her not to do
so, lest Foster should think them inexperienced or countrified.
Their simple belongings were soon in place, and the two D's wandered
into Bernice's room.
Here everything was helter-skelter. Finery was piled on beds and
chairs, and hats were flung on top of one another, while shoes and
veils, gloves and hair-brushes were scattered on the floor.
"It's my fault," laughed Bernice, "don't blame Perkins for it! I'm
hunting for a bracelet, that has slipped out of my jewel case, somehow.
It must be in this lot of stockings!"
It wasn't, but it turned up at last, inside of a hat, and Bernice gave
a little squeal of relief.
"That's all right, then!" she cried; "I wouldn't lose that for worlds!
It's a bangle father gave me for Christmas, and it has a diamond in the
pendant. All right, Perkins, put the things away any place you like.
But save hooks and shelves enough for my cousin Alicia. She'll be in
this room with me."
Each large room had what seemed to the two little women ample room for
clothes. But Bernice had brought so much more than they did, that her
things overflowed the space provided.
"I'll wear this to-night, for dinner," she said, pulling out a light
green silk from a pile of frocks.
"Oh, Bernie!" exclaimed Dotty; "not that! That's a party dress, isn't
it?"
"Not exactly. I've more dressy ones. But it is a little fussy for a
quiet evening at home, I suppose. Well, what shall I wear?"
"This?" and Dotty picked out a simple challie.
"Oh, gracious, no! That's a morning frock. I guess I'll stick to the
green. Don't you think so, Perkins?"
"Yes, miss. It's a lovely gown." The maid was interested in the girls,
her life in the quiet house being usually most uneventful. This sudden
invasion of young people was welcomed by all the servants, and there
were many in Jefferson Forbes' palatial home. Mrs. Berry had engaged
several extra ones to help with the increased work, but the two maids
assigned to the girls were trusted and tried retainers.
And then, there was a bustle heard downstairs, a peal of laughter and a
perfect flood of chatter in a high, shrill voice, and with a bounding
run up the staircase, Alicia burst into the room where the three girls
were.
"Hello, Bernice, old girl!" she shouted, and flung her arms around her
cousin's neck, giving her resounding smacks on her cheek. "Golly!
Molly! Polly! but I'm glad to see you again! Forgotten me, have you?
Take a good look! Your long lost Alicia! 'Tis really she! And look
who's here! I'll bet a pig these two stammering, blushing young misses
are the far-famed Dolly and Dotty, but which is which?"
"Guess!" said Dotty, laughing, as Dolly stood dismayed, and half
frightened at this whirlwind of a girl.
"All right, I'll guess. Lemmesee! Dolly Fayre and Dotty Rose;--you see
I know your names. Why, the fair one is Dolly of course, and that
leaves Dotty to be you!"
"Right!" cried Dotty, and Alicia flew to her and grabbed her as
enthusiastically as she had Bernice.
"Oh, you chickabiddy!" she cried. "I foresee we shall be chums! I love
Towhead, too, but I'm a little afraid of her. See her steely blue eyes,
even now, fixed on me in utter disapprobation!"
"Not at all," said Dolly, politely, "I think you're very nice."
The calm demureness of this speech was too much for Alicia, and she
went off in peals of laughter.
"Oh, you're rich!" she cried; "simpully rich! WON'T we have fun! I'm
'most afraid I'll love you more'n the other one--the black haired
witch." And then Dolly was treated to an embrace that ruffled her hair
and collar and came near ruffling her temper. For Dolly didn't like
such sudden familiarity, but her good manners kept her from showing her
annoyance.
"Oh, you don't fool me!" cried Alicia; "I know you think I'm awful! Too
rambunctious and all that! But I'm used to it! At school they call me
That Awful Alicia! How's that?"
"Fine, if you like it--and I believe you do!" laughed Dolly.
"Mind reader! I say, Bernice, where am I to put my togs! You've
squatted on every available foot of property in this room! I thought it
was to be ours together! But every single bed in the room is covered
with your rags. I've two trunks of duds, myself."
"Two trunks! Why did you bring so much?"
"Had to have it. There's lots of things I carry around with me beside
clothes. Why, I've brought a whole chafing-dish outfit."
"Goodness, Alicia," exclaimed Bernice, "do you think Uncle Jeff won't
give us enough to eat?"
"I take no chances. But it isn't that. It's thusly. Say we're out of an
evening, and on returning, are sent straight to beddy-by. How
comforting to have the necessary for a little spread of our own! Oh,
I've tried it out at school, and I can tell you there's something in
it. But, where, ladies and gentlemen, WHERE I ask you, can I put it?
Bernice has all the places full."
"Leave it in your trunk," suggested Dolly, "until you want to use it."
"Angel child!" cried Alicia. "I knew you had some brain concealed among
that mop of yellow silk floss! I'll do that same, and be thankful if my
voracious cousin leaves me enough room for a few scant and skimpy
clodings!"
And then, as Perkins unpacked Alicia's trunks and Foster came in to
help, the room really seemed incapable of holding all.
"We'd better get out, Doll," said Dotty, laughing, as Alicia deposited
an armful of petticoats and dressing jackets in her lap.
"Oh, don't go! I want you to hold things till I find a place for them.
And, say, are your own wardrobes full?"
"No!" cried Dolly. "Just the thing! Put your overflow in our room,
we've less than a dozen dresses between us."
"Goodness gracious me! Oh, you're going to buy a lot in the city,--I
see!"
"No, we're not," said Dolly, who never sailed under false colours; "we
brought all we had, all our best ones. I mean. But we don't have things
like you and Bernice."
"You frank little bunch of honesty! Isn't she the darling! All right,
neighbours, since you insist, I'll put some seventeen or twenty-four of
my Paris confections in your empty cupboards."
Of course, Alicia was exaggerating, but she really did take half a
dozen frocks into the two D's room, and hung them in outspread fashion
right over their best costumes.
"And, now, since one good turn deserves another," she rattled on, "I'll
just toss my extra shoes and slippers into your lowest bureau drawer,
and my stockings into the next one. There's plenty of room."
So there was, by crowding the contents already there. But Alicia was so
quick of motion, and so gay of speech that they couldn't refuse to let
her have her way. And, too, it seemed inevitable, for there wasn't room
for Alicia's things and Bernie's in the same room, and the D's shelves
and bureau drawers showed much vacancy.
"Now, what do we wear this evening?" Alicia asked, tossing over her
dresses. "This, let us say?" She held up a low--necked evening gown of
silk tissue.
"No, you goose," said Bernice, decidedly. "Your respected uncle would
think you were crazy! Here, wear this."
Bernice picked out one of the least ornate, a pretty Dresden silk, and
then the girls all began to dress for dinner.