LORDLY LAUNCELOT
The children of the town of Fairfax never forgot that afternoon at
Judge Jameson's. For years they had peeped through the hedge at the
fascinating Cupid of the Fountain, but never had one of them put foot
in the old garden, with its mysterious nooks and formal paths, which
lay in the shadow of the Great House.
But to-day with its gipsy band playing wild music, with its gaily
decorated tables, its awe-inspiring Perkins,--who with his satellites
offered food fit for the gods,--with its riot of spring color, it was
beyond their wildest dreams.
Before they went home they all assembled again in the great dining-room
from which the chairs had been taken, and on the polished floor every
one, old and young, danced the Virginia Reel, the Judge leading with
Miss Mary, and Mrs. Batcheller bringing up at the end of the line with
Jimmie Jones.
"It was a success, wasn't it," said Launcelot, when the children had
trooped away, and Anne and Mrs. Batcheller and the smiling Miss Mary
had been driven home in the Judge's carriage.
"Yes," said Judy, abstractedly, watching the musicians, who were having
their refreshments under the lilac bushes.
"What handsome faces they have," she said, "so dark and wild. And
their lives are so free--grandfather says they just roam around from
place to place, living in the woods and picking up a little money here
and there. He says their camp is just outside, and when he was driving
yesterday, he saw one of them playing and asked them if they wouldn't
come here to-day."
When the gipsies had finished they rose and went down the path towards
the gate. They were talking and laughing with a vivacious play of
feature and a recklessness of gesture that proclaimed them the
unconscious children of nature.
"How I wish I could go with them," said Judy, impulsively, as the young
leader of the band took off his hat and waved them a debonair
"good-bye." "How I wish I could go!"
But Launcelot shook his head. "It's all very romantic from the
outside," he said, "but the women don't have a very good time. They
tramp the dusty roads in summer and almost freeze in their open wagons
in the winter, and they bear most of the burdens. Those men are
handsome, all right, but some of them are brutes."
As he spoke the leader of the band came back up the path.
"Come to our camp, pretty lady," he said, flashing his dark eyes upon
Judy, "and our queen will tell your fortune. For a piece of silver she
will tell you the things that are past and the things that are to come."
"Oh, will she?" asked Judy, eagerly. "Will you be at the camp next
Saturday?"
"We will be there until you come," said the gipsy with a glance of
admiration at her vivid face.
But Launcelot's hand was clenched at his side. He did not like that
fellow's face or his manner, he told himself, and Judy should not go
near that camp if he could help it.
"You don't want to have your fortune told, Judy," he said, a little
roughly.
Judy's eyebrows went up in surprise. "I do," she said. "It's fun."
"It's silly," contended Launcelot, doggedly.
The gipsy's eyes flashed from one to the other.
"You will come," he urged, ignoring Launcelot, and addressing his
question to Judy.
"Yes."
"On Saturday?"
"Yes."
"Good; we will welcome you, pretty lady." And with a defiant glance at
the big angry boy, the dark Hungarian swung down the path, singing as
he went.
"You are not going," said Launcelot, when the man was out of sight.
"I am."
"Then I shall tell the Judge."
"Telltale."
Launcelot stood up and glowered at her.
"Who do you think will go with you?"
"You." There was a laugh in Judy's eyes, as she made the impertinent
answer.
"I won't."
"Not if I ask you?"
"Not under any circumstances. It isn't the place for you, Judy."
Then he sat down beside her. "Look here," he said, in a wheedling
tone, "if I were really your big brother, I wouldn't let you go. Can't
you let me order you around a little, just as if I were--?"
Judy caught her breath. Why would he use that tone? It always made
her feel as if she wanted to give in--but she wouldn't.
"I am going," she said, slowly, although she did not look at him, "if I
have to go alone."
"Then I shall tell the Judge."
"Oh," Judy's tone was cutting, "I always did hate boys."
For a moment Launcelot's face flamed, then most unexpectedly he laughed.
"You don't hate me, Judy," he said, "you know you don't."
"I do."
"No, you don't," he went on, and there was no anger in his voice, only
good-natured tolerance that made Judy's temper seem very childish.
"You are angry now. But you are not that kind of girl--"
"What kind of girl?"
"Changeable."
"Oh, I don't know."
But Launcelot insisted. "You are not changeable, Judy, and you know
it."
And finally Judy gave in. "No, I'm not, and I don't hate you, but I
hate to be told I can't do things."
"You will have to get used to it--" daringly.
"Oh--you needn't think _you_ can order me around, Launcelot, in that
lordly way--"
She faced him defiantly. Her eyes were glowing with excited feeling.
She looked like a young duchess in her anger. After the pictures, she
had twisted her hair on top of her head in shining coils, and the dress
she wore was a quaint mull that had been her grandmother's, a thing of
creamy folds and laces that swept the floor. Launcelot felt suddenly
very crude and impertinent to be dictating to this very stately young
lady. But her next remark made her a child again, and brought him
confidence.
"I have always had my own way--and I shall do as I please."
Launcelot got up lazily. "All right," he said, and held out his hand,
"good-bye. I promised mother that I wouldn't be late."
But Judy did not seem to see the hand. She leaned against one of the
big pillars indifferently, and looked out over the garden, Launcelot
waited a moment, and then his hand dropped.
"Oh, I suppose you and I will have to quarrel now and then," he said,
"we are both so obstinate," and he smiled to himself as Judy frowned
darkly at the word, "but I don't see any use in doing it now, when we
have had such a nice day--"
With one of her quick changes of mood Judy beamed on him. "Oh, hasn't
it been nice," she said. And then she held out her hand. "Good-bye,"
she smiled.
But as he went down the path she called after him.
"If you meet Tommy Tolliver, tell him I want to see him."
He stopped. "What do you want him for?" he asked, suddenly suspicious.
"I sha'n't tell you."
"You needn't think you can get him to take you to the gipsy camp," said
Launcelot.
"He will take me if I ask him."
"No, he won't."
"Why not?"
"Because I shall tell him beforehand that if he takes you out there I
shall thrash him within an inch of his life."
"What?" gasped Judy.
"I shall do it," said Launcelot, and as he swung down the path, Judy,
looking after the straight, strong figure, knew that his threat was not
an idle one.
And yet, after all, if it had not been for Launcelot, Judy would never
have gone to the camp. She had debated the question and had decided
that the game was not worth the candle. She had approached Tommy
Tolliver, and his numerous excuses convinced her that Launcelot had
been before her. She had hinted her wishes to Anne, only to be met by
that virtuous maiden with "Oh, Judy, I should be afraid--they look so
dark and wild--and besides we ought not to go--" She even suggested a
drive to the camp to the Judge, but he had said: "It is not a place for
you, my dear," as if that settled the question.
Then, too, she had other plans for Saturday, for Launcelot planned to
drive his mother and Judy and Anne to Lake Limpid, and they were to
take an early boat for a little resort where they were to meet some of
Mrs. Bart's friends.
Judy stayed with Anne all night, so as to be as near the Barts as
possible, for there was a drive of five miles, and the boat left at
eight o'clock.
"Do get up, Judy," begged Anne, on Saturday morning, as she stood in
front of her little mirror, her hair combed, her shoes polished, and
her last bow tied.
But Judy dug her rumpled head deeper into the pillow.
"'If you're waking, call me early, call me early, mother, dear,'" she
murmured, having improved her acquaintance with Tennyson during the
week.
"Well, it isn't early," said Anne, sharply. "You will be late, Judy,
and we must catch the boat."
Judy sat up rubbing her eyes. "Oh, it won't hurt Launcelot to wait a
little. He thinks he can manage everybody--but he can't dictate to me,
Anne. I am not as meek as you are."
"I'm not meek," flared Anne, whose usually sweet temper had been
somewhat ruffled in her efforts to wake Judy. "But Launcelot is a very
sensible boy."
"Oh, sensible," groaned Judy. "I _hate_ sensible people."
"What kind of people do you like?" demanded Anne, indignantly.
"Unsensible ones?"
"Yes. Dashing people and lively people and funny
people--and--and--romantic people--but sensible people, oh, dear," and
she buried her head again in the pillow.
"Judy, _get up_."
"I'll be ready in time."
"No, you won't. And breakfast is ready. Judy, get up."
A gentle snore was the only answer.
"Oh," and Anne flung herself out of the room, "if you are late, Judy
Jameson, I can't help it."
She went down-stairs and ate her breakfast. But no sign of Judy.
"Judee--ee!" she called up the stairway, and "Judee--ee!" she called
again from the garden, where, with Belinda and Becky, she stood
awaiting the arrival of the carriage.
"Judith, my dear," expostulated the little grandmother, climbing the
stairway slowly, "Judith, my dear, you really must hurry. You will
have to go without any breakfast--I--"
She opened the door of the little bedroom and stopped short.
The bedclothes had been thrown over the foot-board, the pillows were on
the floor, Judy's clothes were gone, and the room was empty!